Stephanie's Birthday -We celebrated Stephanie's golden birthday this past week by going to her favorite "conveyor belt" restaurant in Oji . She ate seafood to her hearts content and enjoyed chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream when we returned home. KCS makes a big deal of birthdays so she has been sung to, gifted and wished happy birthday for the better part of the month.
Reiko, the kids' adopted Japanese grandmother, remembered Stephanie's birthday and gave her a Totoro puzzle and frame to mount it in once she puts the puzzle together. She also received e-mail, phone and Skype messages from friends in the states wishing her a happy birthday which let her know she was not forgotten.
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| Stephanie's golden birthday in Japan |
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| Birthday cake and presents |
Michiro and Yoko Nakashima -We traveled to Kobe on Saturday and stayed with Michiro and Yoko Nakashima. They are long time family friends whom Bob had not seen since he was last in Japan about 25 years ago. We learned the story of how Yoko and Priscilla, Bob's late mother met in Virginia when they were both in married student hosing at the University of Virginia. Bob's father William and Michiro were both in medical school when Priscilla noticed the Nakashima's were new on campus and knocked on Yoko's door to introduce herself.
Yoko shared how she cared for the Chadduck children a couple days a week and how she and Priscilla shared a life long love of music and singing. Yoko still sings with her Kobe Women's University choral group and has done so for 50 years. We were treated to a brief choral performance when some of the women from Yoko's choral group showed up to talk with her.
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| Yoko Nakashima and some of her choral group members |
I have corresponded with the Nakashima's for over fifteen years and last weekend was the first time meeting them face to face. We went to dinner and heard amazing stories of Michiro's experiences in mountain medicine and their travels abroad to the US and Nepal as well as many climbing adventures.
What and inspiration this couple is. They are in their early 80's and so full of life, adventure and have incredible stories of travels, achievements and life experiences. We had a delightful visit. Our children were amazed at the stories and adventures the couple has experienced and really enjoyed their time with them. What a great visit and we so appreciate their hospitality and good company.
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| Visit with Yoko and Michiro Nakashima and their son in-law in Kobe, Japan |
Kobe Quarter Marathon -We ran the Kobe quarter marathon this past weekend and had a great time. We did not train enough but managed to run the entire race. Fun to take part in a huge marathon and run through the streets of Kobe. This was my first time in Kobe and it was a very fun city to visit. Wish we had the whole weekend to take in the sights and visit more. We hope to return in the near future to see Yoko in one of her holiday choral performances.
Fun finishers towel, medal and sport shirt even for the quarter marathon finishers! Lucky us, woohoooo!
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| Kobe quarter marathon - Kobe, Japan |
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| Even quarter marathon finishers received the cool towel, medal and shirt. Wooohooo! |
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| Fun family trip to run the Kobe quarter marathon |
Dinner with Haruka and Miko -While in Kobe near Mukogawa Women's University, we caught up with Haruka and Miko. They were MFWI students in the states about eighteen months ago and this was the first time we have seen them in Japan.
Our visit was short but dinner and together was great.
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| Dinner and a brief visit with Haruka and Miko in Kobe, Japan |
Thank you to our friends, family and supporters who continue to pray for us and send us note and e-mails of encouragement. Your kind words let us know we are in your thoughts and missed. Receiving these communications has been wonderful around special days like birthdays when one might tend to get a little homesick. Your prayers and notes are really appreciated and mean a lot to us. So, thank you again for your kind gestures and messages.
In Christ,
K. Chadduck
