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Missionaries

    Looney Lasagna

     July 20. Sang in ward choir, last day of dog sitting for twins (they started Thurs), my cfm lesson, stake lunch bag drive due, ministering visit, missionaries coming for dinner, fsy youth event, new member lesson Lesson Notes --- CFM 7/20/25 1) Name-- may change but council applicable  2) Service... the Lord invites us to help people in need around us. D&C 81:4–5. ... How can I “lift up” those hands? What might “feeble knees” mean? How are they strengthened? How does the Savior do these things for you? Perhaps studying this verse has brought to mind someone you could “succor,” “lift up,” or “strengthen.” What will you do to minister to that person?  D&C 82:18–19... What else do we learn about service? “Teachings of Thomas S. Monson: Rescuing Those in Need” VIDEO  3) Commandments -- commandments are evidence of God's love for us. D&C 82: 8-10 ... VIDEO 

    Keōpūolani Sails to Lāhainā

    On the arrival of the American missionaries in April 1820, all the chiefs were consulted respecting the expediency of their establishment in the islands. Some of the chiefs seemed to doubt; but Keōpūolani without hesitation approved their proposals.    (Keōpūolani Memoir) Keōpūolani welcomed them. As the highest ranking ali‘i of her time, her embracing of Christianity set a crucial seal of approval on the missionaries and their god.  (Langlas & Lyon) Keōpūolani was the daughter of Kīwalaʻo. Kīwalaʻo was the son of Kalaniʻōpuʻu by Kalola (sister of Kahekili.)  Her mother was Kekuiapoiwa Liliha, Kīwalaʻo sister.  She was aliʻi kapu of nī‘aupi‘o (high-born – offspring of the marriage of a high-born brother and sister or half-brother and half-sister.) Her ancestors on her mother’s side were ruling chiefs of Maui; her ancestors on her father’s side were the ruling chiefs of the island of Hawai‘i.  Keōpūolani’s genealogy traced back to Ulu, who descended from Hulihonua and Keakahulilani, the first man and woman created by the gods. In the year 1822, while at Honolulu, she was very ill, and her attention seems to have been then first drawn to the instructions of the missionaries.  (Anderson) On April 27, 1823, the Second Company (First Reinforcements) arrived in the Islands. On board were missionaries Reverend Artemas Bishop and Mrs. Bishop, Dr. Abraham Blatchley and Mrs. Blatchley, Mr. Levi Chamberlain, Mr. James Ely and Mrs. Ely, Mr. Joseph Goodrich and Mrs. Goodrich, The Reverend William Richards and Mrs. Richards, The Reverend Charles S. Stewart and Mrs. Stewart, and Miss Betsey Stockton. In May 1823, Keōpūolani and her husband Hoapili expressed a desire to have an instructor connected with them. They selected Taua, a native teacher sent by the church at Huaheine, in company with the Rev.William Ellis, to instruct them and their people in the first principles of the Gospel, and teach them to read and write. (Memoir) Keōpūolani requested, as did the king and chiefs, that missionaries might accompany her. As Lāhainā had been previously selected for a missionary station, the missionaries were happy to commence their labors there under such auspices.  (Keōpūolani Memoir) Liholiho (King Kamehameha II) was the son of Kamehameha and Keōpūolani. Like his father, Liholiho had loved foreign ships; over time he had collected a sizable fleet of Western vessels, which, with guns and training by the foreigners, were a major asset in unifying and maintaining his kingdom across the islands. Liholiho purchased Cleopatra’s Barge and her cargo for 1.07-million pounds of sandalwood, worth $80,000 at the time.  On January 4, 1821, King Liholiho took formal possession of Cleopatra’s Barge, appointing his personal secretary, Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Rives, as temporary captain. That ship was to take Keōpūolani to Lāhainā. “On the 26th of May [1823] we heard that the barge was about to sail for Lahaina, with the old queen and princes; and that the queen was desirous to have missionaries to accompany her; and that if missionaries would consent to go, the barge should wait two days for them.” “A meeting was called to consult whether it was expedient to establish a mission at Lahaina. The mission was determined on, and Mr. [Stewart] was appointed to go: he chose Mr. [Richards] for his companion, who was also appointed the next day. On the 28th we embarked on the mighty ocean again, which we had left so lately.” (Betsey Stockton) As noted in Rev Stewart’s book of his time in Hawaii “The Cleopatra’s Barge, at sea, May 30, 1823. On Wednesday, the 28th, Mr and Mrs Richards, [Harriet Stewart] and myself, [Betsey Stockton] and [Stewarts’ son Charles – born at sea on the way to the Islands], with William Kamahoula, and Mr. [Elisha] Loomis, who makes the voyage to see us established at our station, embarked with the queen Keopuolani for Maui.” “Our designation was so unexpected, and departure so sudden, that we had scarce leisure to turn a thought on the separation about to take place from our fellow laborers, or to cast a glance of anticipation at the possible trials that might await us, in a distant and solitary district of the islands.” “The topsails of the barge had long been unfurled as a signal for sailing, before we had completed our preparations, and the last package was scarcely secured, before the farewell hymn and benedictions of our friends were sounding in our ears, and we hurried to the open bosom of the Pacific.” “Left to the deliberate contemplation of our position, we almost trembled at the responsibility resting upon us, and at the arduous duties in prospect. Every thought was exquisitely awake to the life on which we had now actually entered.” “Months indeed had passed since we bade adieu to our country, home, and friends; but during a voyage of 18,000 miles, we had still been surrounded by those we loved; and for the last few weeks, though on heathen shores, we had been calmly reposing in the bosom of a band of intelligent and affectionate Christians, without a participation of their labors and their cares. …” “We were fully alive to the contrast; and, in the anticipation of the privations and trials, by which we believe the work in which we are engaged must be accomplished, we could scarce refrain exclaiming, ‘Farewell ease – farewell comfort – farewell every wordly joy.’” “But with these feelings there was no mingling of despondency. No, in the kind providence of God, every circumstance attending our situation is too auspicious to admit the indulgence of any unbelieving fear of the ultimate success of our enterprise. “We had been on board scarce an hour, before the polite and kind attention of those under whose immediate and express patronage we had embarked, made us almost forget that we were not still in the bosom of beloved friends. …” “[I]n the evening, while a splendid moon gave a softened beauty to the receding promontories of Oahu, and brought to light the distant shores of Molokai and Lanai, overtopped by the loftier heights of Maui …” “Previous to our embarcation, we had but little opportunity to judge, from personal intercourse, of the degree of civilization to which the chiefs have attained in minor points, and were somewhat surprised at the ceremonious attentions paid us.” “Immediately on reaching the vessel, we were informed that the after-cabin was appropriated exclusively to-our use; though there were not less than two hundred persons on board, many of them high chiefs, with their particular friends; …” “… and we had hardly cleared the harbor, when the steward waited on us, to know what we would order for dinner, and at what hour it should be served. “Mr [Anthony] Allen had sent us a fine ready-dressed kid, with some melons, for our passage; and Mrs [Hiram] Bingham had kindly prepared coffee and other refreshments; but our table has been so regularly and comfortably spread, that our basket of cold provisions remains untouched.” “This attention is the more noticeable, because the trouble is entirely on our account, all the natives eating their favorite dishes on their mats on deck. Kalaimoku [Kalanimōku], from courtesy, very politely took his seat with us the first time we sat down. to, meal, but excused himself from partaking of the dinner, by saying that he had eaten above.” “There was something also in the attentions of the king to his mother, when leaving Honolulu, that had a pleasing effect on our minds. This venerable old lady was the last person that came on board.” “After we had reached the quarter-deck of the barge, she appeared on the beach, surrounded by an immense crowd, and supported by Liholiho in a tender and respectful manner.” “He would let no one assist her into the long-boat but himself; and seemed to think of nothing but her ease and safety, till she was seated on her couch, beneath an awning over the main hatch.” “The king continued to manifest the utmost affection and respect for her till we got under way; and, apparently from the same filial feelings, accompanied us fifteen miles to sea, and left the brig in a pilot-boat, in time barely to reach the harbor before dark.” (Charles Stewart) “On their passage [Keōpūolani] told [the missionaries] she would be their mother; and indeed she acted the part of a mother ever afterwards. On the evening of Saturday, the clay of their arrival, she sent them as much food, already cooked, as was necessary for their comfort at the time, and also for the next day, which was the Sabbath.” “In the morning of the 31st, we all came on deck, and were in sight of land. In the middle of the day we came to anchor; the gentlemen left the vessel to see if they could obtain a house, or any accommodations for us. They returned in a few hours with Mr. Butler, an American resident, who had kindly offered us a house.”  (Betsey Stockton) “Immediately on their arrival, [Keōpūolani] requested [the missionaries] to commence teaching, and said, also, ‘It is very proper that my sons (meaning the missionaries) be present with me at morning and evening prayers.’” “They were always present, sung a hymn in the native language, and when nothing special prevented, addressed through an interpreter the people who were present, when Taua, or the interpreter, concluded the service with prayer.” (Keōpūolani Memoir) “In the afternoon our things were landed, and we took up our residence in Lahaina. We had not seen a tree that looked green and beautiful since we left home, until we came here.” (Betsey Stockton) On April 24, 1873, while serving as Sheriff on Maui, William Owen Smith (a son of missionary Lowell Smith) planted Lāhainā’s Indian Banyan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lāhainā. © 2025 Ho‘okuleana LLC

    The priest who blew up his own church—Part II

    (Click here if you missed Part I!) With anti-clerical, anti-Catholic laws in force in Mexico, the priests and faithful were suffering persecution and martyrdom. From New Mexico, Fr. Braun and another intrepid Franciscan volunteered on three trips to assist their Franciscan brethren across the border. They would disguise themselves as businessmen to buy Franciscan property and save it from confiscation. St. Joseph’s Apache Mission was at last completed (except for the windows, which the community couldn’t afford and which would be added later) in 1939 and dedicated on the Fourth of July. A recent photo of St. Joseph’s Mission (photo by Jocnewt/CC BY-SA 3.0) That year, another world war broke out. At this point, you can probably guess what Fr. Braun did next. He reported for duty as an Army chaplain in the Philippines in November of 1940. He served the soldiers of the New Mexico National Guard during the infamous Battle of Bataan in early 1942 and, along with them, was taken prisoner by the Japanese. During the time of his imprisonment, he suffered torture, multiple diseases, and starvation, but none of that stopped him from caring for the sick and dying, burying the dead, and celebrating Mass in secret before convincing the Japanese to allow services. He gave up his own rations and craftily stole food for the starving prisoners—becoming so adept at it that he was nicknamed “Al Capone.” He gave the prisoners solace and strength even when they were loaded onto the infamous “hell ships” which the Japanese utilized to ship the prisoners north and prevent their liberation. Three and a half years of imprisonment elapsed before Fr. Braun and the surviving prisoners were freed in August of 1945. Only a little over half of the New Mexicans who served in Bataan made it home. After the war, Fr. Braun returned to St. Joseph’s and rededicated the church to the veterans of both World Wars. For his actions in the war, he received a second Silver Star and the Legion of Merit. But as much as he loved St. Joseph’s Mission, Fr. Braun’s health—deeply impacted by his years as a POW—required him to take less strenuous posts. His final mission would be to the “Golden Gate Barrio,” an impoverished Hispanic community in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1949. There, despite his injuries, he served his parishioners with vigor, building up a vibrant parish community. Among the projects he spearheaded was a new church, Sacred Heart, which was dedicated in 1956 and still stands today. A memorial to Fr. Braun in Phoenix (photo by Visitor7/CC BY-SA 3.0) Fr. Braun spent the evening of his long life in the care of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Despite the amputation of one leg and confinement to a wheelchair, he kept his indomitable spirit, celebrating Mass for the nuns and other residents up until five days before his death. He passed from this world on March 6th, 1983. His body was returned to his beloved Mescalero and buried at St. Joseph’s Mission, as he had wished. And this, at last, is the end of Fr. Braun’s story—quickly summarized. What a saga. What a life lived to the absolute fullest for Christ. It’s certainly a life that illustrates God’s words in the book of Joshua: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Take this inspiration on your next journey with our Strong and Courageous Journal, featuring a rustic, leather-like cover and the words from Joshua debossed on the back. The perfect place to chronicle your days, plan your adventures, or jot down favorite quotes. A great gift for Confirmation! Available today at The Catholic Company! The post The priest who blew up his own church—Part II appeared first on Get Fed™.

    The priest who blew up his own church

    If you scroll through the life story of Fr. Albert Braun, OFM, you’ll wonder how such a life could be real—and not just a storyline from a movie! By the time he died at the age of 93, Fr. Braun had accomplished more than seems possible in one lifetime. His work spanned the globe, from his ministry among the Mescalero Apache in New Mexico to his service as a chaplain in not one but two World Wars. Born to German immigrant parents in Los Angeles in 1889, John William “Bud” Braun was not the most typical candidate for the priesthood. As a child, he was mischievous, short-tempered, and a bit of a prankster. “I’ve been in trouble all my life,” he would later laugh. When he turned up at a Franciscan high school preparatory seminary in Santa Barbara, he was accepted. But they told him he was too stubborn to be a priest. Defying expectations once again, he persevered, professed solemn vows in 1912, and was ordained in 1915. He was assigned to the Mescalero Apache in southern New Mexico, a rugged outpost of 720 square miles with a decaying church. Though he shared no common language with the people of the reservation, Fr. Braun threw himself into the work. He learned all about the Apache people and ranged from one end of the reservation to the other, often on horseback, accompanied by his native interpreter, Eric. The people loved this enthusiastic, hardworking priest, and as numbers swelled in the little chapel, Fr. Braun set his sights on building a new one. But that would have to wait. With the U.S. joining World War I in 1917, Fr. Braun volunteered as an Army chaplain. He was sent to France, where he served during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the enormous final battle of the war. He insisted on serving the soldiers in the extreme danger of the front lines, and did so with his characteristic courage, receiving both the Purple Heart and Silver Star. Fr. Braun then returned to the Mescalero. Inspired by the great churches of Europe, he was determined that they should have a beautiful church, too. But his request to replace the dilapidated church was denied. You’ll never guess what he did next. He filled the cracks in the deteriorating church with a payload of gunpowder. And then…BOOM. It worked. The building was condemned and he received permission to build a new one—but was given no money to do it with. As you’ve probably figured out by now, Fr. Braun was never deterred by challenges. “Insignificant!” was his common response to any obstacle. With $100 of Army pay in his pocket, he hopped on a train to the other side of the country—Philadelphia!—to meet with architect William Stanton. Inspired by Fr. Albert’s vision, Mr. Stanton drew up plans for the new chapel pro bono. Then, back on the reservation, Fr. Albert got to work with a team that included Apache volunteers, a friend from California, and Franciscan friars fleeing the religious persecution in Mexico. Speaking of Mexico, you’ll never guess what he did next. Tune into tomorrow’s Get Fed to find out! In the meantime, you should probably start packing—because you’ll be ready for an adventure by the time you’re done with Fr. Braun’s story! While you’re organizing your saddlebags, be sure to clip on a St. Michael Brave Beads Tenner Rosary. Handcrafted from fire-and-earth-colored jasper beads and outfitted with a handy carabiner clip, this tenner is designed to go wherever the adventure trail leads. Order yours from The Catholic Company today! The post The priest who blew up his own church appeared first on Get Fed™.

    “Love Always For Hawaiʻi”

    When the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame honored ‘Hawaiʻi Aloha’ as one of five traditional songs as a ‘Famous Song’ (1998,) they noted, “For more than 100 years, love of the land and its natural beauty has been the poetry Hawaiian composers have used to speak of love. Hawaiian songs also speak to people’s passion for their homeland and their beliefs.” The Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame further noted, Hawaiʻi Aloha is “widely regarded as Hawaiʻi’s second anthem”. (Hawaiian Music Museum) “It is performed at important government and social functions to bring people together in unity, and at the closing of Hawaiʻi Legislative sessions. Today, people automatically stand when this song is played extolling the virtues of ‘beloved Hawaiʻi.’” Hawaiʻi Aloha was written by a Protestant missionary, Lorenzo Lyons. “In 1998, The Advisory Board honored these traditional songs for their beauty and their messages, which have made them popular, with concert performers and recording artists, as well as the public.” Hawaiʻi Aloha has three verses, but most typically sing the first verse and repeat portions of the chorus: E Hawaiʻi e kuʻu one hānau e Kuʻu home kulaiwi nei ʻOli nō au i nā pono lani ou E Hawaiʻi, aloha ē Hui: E hauʻoli nā ʻōpio o Hawai`i nei ʻOli ē! ʻOli ē! Mai nā aheahe makani e pā mai nei Mau ke aloha, no Hawaiʻi Reverend Lorenzo Lyons was fluent in the Hawaiian language and composed many poems and hymns; his best known and beloved work is the hymn “Hawaiʻi Aloha” sung to the tune of “I Left It All With Jesus.” He wrote it in about 1852. Here’s the English translation: O Hawaiʻi, o sands of my birth My native home I rejoice in the blessings of heaven O Hawaiʻi, aloha Chorus: Happy youth of Hawai`i Rejoice! Rejoice! Gentle breezes blow Love always for Hawaiʻi Click HERE for a link to Hawaiʻi Aloha – sung by Ledward Kaʻapana, Dennis Kamakahi & Nathan Aweau – written by a missionary. Collaboration between native Hawaiians and the American Protestant missionaries resulted in, among other things, the introduction of Christianity, the creation of the Hawaiian written language, widespread literacy, the promulgation of the concept of constitutional government, making Western medicine available and the evolution of a new and distinctive musical tradition. Oli and mele were already a part of the Hawaiian tradition. “As the Hawaiian songs were unwritten, and adapted to chanting rather than metrical music, a line was measured by the breath; their hopuna, answering to our line, was as many words as could be easily cantilated at one breath.” (Bingham) Some songs were translations of Western songs into Hawaiian; some were original verse and melody. Hawaiʻi Aloha is an example of the music left as a lasting legacy by the missionaries in the Islands. Missionaries used songs as a part of the celebration, as well as learning process. “At this period, the same style of sermons, prayers, songs, interrogations, and exhortations, which proves effectual in promoting revivals of religion, conversion, or growth in grace among a plain people in the United States, was undoubtedly adapted to be useful at the Sandwich Islands. … some of the people who sat in darkness were beginning to turn their eyes to the light”. (Bingham) “The king (Kamehameha III) being desirous to use his good voice in singing, we sang together at my house, not war songs, but sacred songs of praise to the God of peace.” (Bingham) Hawaiʻi Aloha was not the only popular song written by the missionaries. One of the unique verses (sung to an old melody) was Hoʻonani Hole ‐ Hoʻonani I Ka Makua Mau. Missionary Hiram Bingham wrote/translated it to Hawaiian and people sang it to a melody that dates back to the 1600s – today, it is known as the Hawaiian Doxology. “In 1872, (Lyons) published Buke Himeni Hawaiʻi containing over 600 hymns, two thirds his own composition. Some years later he prepared the Sabbath School Hymn and Tune Book Lei Aliʻi.”” “The Hawaiians owe entirely to his exertions their introduction to modern enlivening styles of popular sacred music.” (Hawaiian Gazette, October 19, 1886) The image shows the lyrics in Hawaiian and English © 2025 Hoʻokuleana LLC

    A Testament of Faith: The Bürklin Family’s Century-Long Partnership with the Chinese Church

    For over a century, the Bürklin family has been closely intertwined with the growth of the Chinese church, walking alongside Chinese believers in faith and service. Their journey began in 1925, when Gustav Bürklin (林立德) left Germany to answer God’s call as a missionary in China. There, he met a fellow missionary equally committed to sharing the gospel. They married and raised their children in China, including Werner Bürklin (林明膽), who later continued their legacy of service. Despite language barriers and a challenging ministry environment, the Bürklin family developed deep and lasting relationships with Chinese Christians. Werner, deeply influenced by his parents, became an evangelist, traveling the world while maintaining a profound connection to China. When China reopened in the 1980s, he returned to serve the church through leadership training and theological education. His son, Erik Bürklin (林銘立), did not initially see himself following in his father’s footsteps. However, after joining China Partner, he discovered his own calling to support and equip the next generation of Chinese Christian leaders. A Century of Partnership: Serving, Not Directing The Bürklin family’s ministry has never been about promoting a particular church structure or imposing outside methods. Instead, their focus has been on serving and strengthening Chinese believers, recognizing that the Chinese church should lead its own growth. As Erik puts it: “We are not here to tell the Chinese church what to do; we are here to serve them.” Through China Partner, the Bürklin family has provided theological training, pastoral resources, and leadership development for Chinese Christian communities. Their work has never been about planting churches or evangelizing but about equipping and encouraging Chinese believers as they lead their own churches and ministries. Over the years, many who participated in China Partner’s training programs have become pastors, seminary professors, and church leaders. The impact of this ministry is not measured in numbers but in the relationships formed and the long-term spiritual growth of those they have served. At the same time, the Bürklin family has always understood that God’s work is far greater than any single ministry or individual effort. Their role has never been to introduce something new but to walk alongside their Chinese brothers and sisters, learning from them, supporting them, and witnessing God’s faithfulness in China. A Legacy of Faith and Love Born and raised in China, Werner Bürklin held a deep connection to the country. He often described himself as “like an egg—white on the outside, yellow on the inside,” reflecting his deep cultural and spiritual ties to China. His love for the Chinese church was so profound that he even expressed a desire to be buried there, seeing China as his true home. At the heart of the Bürklin family’s story is an unwavering trust in God’s sovereignty. They have never sought to build their own legacy but have always understood that it is God who builds his church. Erik echoes this sentiment, recalling Jesus’s words to Peter: “On this rock, I will build my church… It is God who continues to build his church, and it is our privilege to take part in his mission.” This understanding has shaped their ministry with humility, recognizing that the Chinese church is not dependent on foreign involvement but is sustained by God himself. The Bürklin family simply walks alongside Chinese believers as fellow laborers in Christ’s kingdom. Looking to the Future: Walking Together in Faith As the Chinese church continues to grow and face new challenges, the story of the Bürklin family serves as a reminder of what true partnership in ministry looks like. Their journey highlights the importance of walking alongside rather than leading, empowering rather than controlling, and serving rather than directing. As 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the Bürklin family’s journey in China, this milestone is not just a celebration of history—it is a testament to God’s faithfulness and the strength of the Chinese church. The church in China has flourished not because of foreign involvement but because of God’s hand at work among his people. Regardless of church affiliation or background, God is at work in China’s Christian communities in powerful ways. His church is diverse, resilient, and ever-growing. To learn more, KAIROS has produced a video documenting the Bürklin family’s story and its impact on the Chinese church. This film offers a glimpse into a century-long journey of faith and service, encouraging all who seek to engage in God’s work. As we reflect on this legacy, let us also consider how we can pray, learn, and support God’s mission in China, not as outsiders, but as fellow participants in his unfolding work.

    Weeks of contrasts

    It's been been another couple of weeks full of contrast. (Sorry, this is a little bit long, nice photos and a bit of Japanese history and culture, though.) Last week Monday: was CAJ’s winter break, which meant Monday and Tuesday off for teachers and students alike. The monthly Kanto gathering of people associated with our mission happened to fall on Monday, so David was able to join for the first time in 18 months (he’s usually working, and of course, we were out of the country for a year). It was a great day of catching up with friends and colleagues. But also it was loud because the room isn’t large for the 40 or 50 who gathered. To have conversations with someone in front of you, you practically had to shout at people. Sad, but true. And tiring. We stayed a little longer, not to watch a certain popular football match that was being shown, but to record a couple of videos with my short term worker. Plum blossoms are one of the first  to bloom in late winter, bringing the promise of spring with them. The inside of this building is shown in the next photo. It was built by an architect in 1942 for himself. Tuesday: we had various half-baked plans for the day, but these all got thrown out when we got an invitation to hang out at a park with colleagues. It’s not a great time of the year to go to a park (end of winter deadness plus cold), so we chose to go to the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. It’s inside the large park I’ve often written about here. I’m the only one of the four of us who’d been inside, but that was for the purposes of a photography workshop, not actually reading the signs and learning about the many buildings that have been relocated to this spot. It was fascinating!  I've included a few photos along with captions (the brochure they gave us in English was very helpful). Inside the house shown above. The high ceiling is unusual and as it faces south, the room was bright, even on a cold winter day. This is a farmhouse, a fairly well-off farmer, I suspect. Part of the inside was  an earthen floor. This is from the mid-Edo period (1680–1745). The thatched roof of another farmhouse. This was a fairly prestigious upper-class farmhouse. It's a little difficult to imagine how they lived because there was little furniture in these traditional-style homes. But these roofs are amazing. I can't image that there are too many people around these days who are skilled in the art of building and maintaining roofs like these. I can't remember exactly which house this was in. There were two large houses right next to one another. One of them was the home of Korekiyo Takahashi, who played an important role in Japanese politics in the early 1900s. He was Prime Minister (1921–22) and, in 1936 he was the finance minister. This house has a couple of rooms upstairs that were Takahashi's study and bedroom and where he was assassinated in a coup in 1936, known as the "February 26 incident". We'd never heard of this incident. Several leaders were killed, but then 19 were executed and 40 imprisoned for their involvement. This is in the commercial section of the museum, a little street full of former shops. This is  a kitchenware store built in the late 1920s. The outside is covered by copper plates. Oil-paper umbrella shop And this beautiful public bathhouse. What was amazing about this is how little Japanese bathhouses have changed in the last 100 years.Outside of the bathhouse.. The features are similar to temples and shrines, with carvings of  gods of good luck above the entrance. There were lots of bilingual signs around with tonnes of information. I'd love to go back. One I sign took a photo of was in this bathhouse. I'll transcribe most of that here: We can find a connection between the origin of the bathing in Japan and the custom in which human beings purify their mind and body with water. In Japan where rice has been cultivated with abundant water resources since BCE, water was a holy element that fosters life and washes away kegare [lit: uncleanness], a polluted and evil condition, and purge things. In a part of the Account of the Easterners: Account of the Japanese people, which recorded the situation of Japan in the circa 3rd century in the Book of Wei of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the official history of China, described a custom in which a family who lost their members immersed themselves into water in a white costume after the funeral to purge kegare. The manner of purification of the mind and body with water was diversified into a variety of practices such as immersion into rivers and waterfalls and remains today. Apart from it, the manner of rinsing hands and mouth at chōzuya (fountain for purification) when the people visit shrines is another transformation of the custom that continued to exist. Bathing, in which people artificially boil water and use the hot water and steam from it, was introduced to Japan around the 6th century with the arrival of Buddhism. The Buddhist temples were equipped with bathing facilities in which Buddhist monks cleanse their minds and bodies and heal their illness in steam which were required to accord with the teaching of Buddha. These facilities were later opened to the public . . . and spread widely over Japan along with having been associated with the propagation of Buddhism.  Public bathing in Japan peaked in the 60s, I think, and then began to decline as people increasingly had bathrooms in their own homes. Most people these days indulge in public bathing as a relaxing pastime, something you might go out to do on a day off. But back to Tuesday: by 3 the warmest part of the day was past and a cold wind had whipped up…and also whipped up the dust and lots of dead grass. It was nasty. Just outside the museum was a large Pottery Market. Massive, actually. All in well-secured, but open tents. We poked our noses in just for a short while, but refrained from buying anything. All the beautiful dishes were covered in dirt and grass from the wind! Needless to say, we hurried back to the car to get out of it all. Wednesday to Friday: it was back to work at my desk at home. I had a lot of things waiting for my attention and really that’s what I did for the next three days. First day and a half I mainly focused on magazine matters and from Thursday afternoon I turned attention to OMF social media. It was satisfying. Saturday: I went into our nearest big city centre for lunch with some other mums with kids who have significant special challenges. This loosely affiliated group gets together for lunch every other month, but I don't often make it. A very diverse group of women, and interesting conversation about our lives. The adventure really began after I left them. I got back to the train station and found that half an hour earlier there'd been a fire near my home station and the line was closed for now. It was 3 pm and the day was already fading, I needed to decide how I was going to get home. Incidents like this quickly bring up feelings of insecurity and fragility in a foreign country. I'm very comfortable with trains in our part of Tokyo, but how easily that comfort can be disrupted! I was 17 km from home, not far, but far enough. On a Saturday afternoon, in Tokyo, that is a 50–60 minute drive. Now I have some distance from the incident, I can see some other options, but in the heat of the moment my main thought was: can David drive and pick me up (he was at home with the car) and my second thought was: how far can I walk before he gets here? So that's what we did: I walked west and he drove east. We met up 50 minutes later, he'd driven 13 km and I'd walked 4. The walking was good and took me to a spot that was much easier for David to find me and drive around (less congested). In the end it took nearly 2 ½ hours to get home. The train would have taken about 20 minutes, plus the walk home. That's why we take the train! Sunday: it was a pretty usual day. We rode to church mid-morning, bought lunch at a convenience store across the road, ate lunch with various others who stayed, then rode home. And then chatted and played online games with our kids for 90 minutes before having dinner. Then back to Monday which was another people-intense day, the way all the weeks in February have started. Yesterday I spent time in the morning catching up with a colleague, and in the afternoon was back at my desk catching up with many things that had been waiting. I love both being with people and working at home at editing, writing, and admin tasks. And this month has had both in abundance and relatively well balanced. I'm thankful. I'm still pondering my current responsibilities and wondering if I should seek to add anything else to them. In weeks like I've described above, I've had more than enough to keep me out of trouble ;-) and it makes me think that it would be foolish to eat up the margin that I do have by adding more. I have to remember these kinds of weeks when things get quieter for a time, remembering to savour the quiet times.  It reminds me of a some Bible passages: 1There is a time for everything,and a season for every activity under the heavens:2a time to be born and a time to die,a time to plant and a time to uproot,3a time to kill and a time to heal,a time to tear down and a time to build,4a time to weep and a time to laugh,a time to mourn and a time to dance,5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,6a time to search and a time to give up,a time to keep and a time to throw away,7a time to tear and a time to mend,a time to be silent and a time to speak,8a time to love and a time to hate,a time for war and a time for peace. 9What do workers gain from their toil? 10I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no-one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil – this is the gift of God. 14I know that everything God does will endure for ever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. (Ecclesiastes 3, NIV) And also: He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth.’11The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46, NIV)

    The missionary’s wife and the “Veggie tale”!

    M and J were a missionary couple who were working in Uganda. (Story was first posted in Feb 2013) Every week they sent updates on their progress with evangelism in the community or the growth of the local church and new orphanage that they are setting up. Some times there were moments of deep heart ache (especially when the gospel was rejected) but nothing lightened up my heart with a good old laugh than this particular week’s ‘veggie tale’. Apparently not every thing that is green and leafy is lettuce: The Mistake – (J writing) While at the trading center on Saturday, I saw two ladies sitting on the veranda of a little restaurant with bags of green leaves for sale. The leaves were a lovely shade of green, and I thought I should buy some of them and take them back for our orphan children to eat. I asked the ladies how much one bag would cost, and they replied, “It is seven hundred shillings.” That seemed a little high to me for greens so I went into the little restaurant and gave out some more tracts and asked the owner (who happened to be a lady that I knew quite well) how much a little bag should cost. She said that 700 shillings was the usual price. So I went back outside and started digging in my purse for the money. I was going to buy 7 bags to take home so there would be enough for all of the children to enjoy. As I was digging in my purse, the lady inside the restaurant called out, “Who are you buying that for?” I replied that I wanted to take it back for the children at home. “What children?” she asked. I told her that we now had orphans living with us and that I wanted to take back some greens for them to eat. She then replied, “Those aren’t greens!” I had almost bought and taken home to our children seven bags of . . . marijuana! O ME!! Remember missionaries in your prayers this week. Related articles Wahtoto Children’s Choir (henriphotography.wordpress.com) God Loves Uganda: Roger Ross Williams’ critical documentary on Christianity’s modern crusade (coolhunting.com)

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