Kure, Japan the Yamato Museum –
The latter part of our short trip we went to Kure, the largest ship yard in Japan and walked the grounds of the Yamato Museum. We were unable to enter the museum because it was a Japanese national holiday. But we were able to observe some of the submarines outside on the grounds and read about the Japanese naval achievements including the building of the Yamato and its history.
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| Yamato Museum - Kure, Japan |
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| Submarine at the Yamato Museum |
Matsuyama City -We stayed in Matsuyama City and you could see Matsuyama Castle from out our hotel window. The castle was beautiful at night all lit up and glowing on the top of an island surrounded by a mote.
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| Matsuyama Castle - Ehime, Japan |
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| Grounds surrounding Matsuyama Castle |
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| Entrance to Matsuyama Castle - Ehime, Japan |
The streets in town were all lit up with beautiful Christmas lights and ornate designs for the holidays. We enjoyed the Christmas music in the shops and holiday scenery a lot.
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| Christmas lights of Matsuyama, Japan |
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| We road the Ferris wheel in the background perched upon the 10 story building. WOW what a view! |
While in Matsuyama we toured the local shops surrounding the very popular Dogo Onsen. An onsen is a public bath house or hot springs and is very popular in Japan. There are gender specific bathing areas and the waters of the hot springs are often known for their healthful and healing properties. Most onsens have pretty strict rules and bathing suites are NOT part of the attire for visiting an onsen.
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| Our Dogo onsen experience...maybe someday |
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| Dogo Onsen - Ehime, Japan |
I have been invited many times to attend the onsens in our region but have not been able to get past the required attire - oh yeah - NOTHING! I continue to hear how this is one of the most amazing experiences in Japan and how when it is so cold and you just cannot get warm going to the onsen is wonderful.
I guess I just have to take their word for it because thus far I have not been able to bring myself to go. Many people have teased me and said oh yeah, like it must be a westerner thing and they think it is just too bad that I am missing out. Maybe one of these days I will get the courage to try it.
Christmas in Japan –
We had our first Christmas in Japan and thanks to Bob and my parents it had many of the same elements from the states. We skyped with my parents so they were able to see the kids open their presents and we were all able to wish one another Merry Christmas.
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| Christmas tree and a crackling tv screen? |
We met with a few other missionary families and celebrated our savior’s birth with a wonderful potluck dinner and good fellowship. We are grateful for so many wonderful friends and family who have been so kind and generous to include us in their plans. Actually, we were really busy with Christmas activities during the month of December. KCS had a large Christmas program, Hope Chapel had Christmas caroling and we also had Christmas festivities at the Clark’s International Night.
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| Christmas day at the Sainio's with Mikako and Anniinia |
We kept up a few of our family traditions by hanging a Merry Christmas sign on our front gate, stringing lights along our front flower bed and baking several kids of cookies and taking them to our neighbors. I even took a bag to the local post office workers who I interact with regularly. We were blessed by the opportunity to meet and talk with many neighbors as we delivered the treats. Many people were very surprised to get a gift and it was really fun to share a little bit of our family Christmas traditions.
Update Regarding Stephanie's Ankle Injury -Thank you so much for your prayers and e-mails regarding Stephanie's biking injury. She is healed now and running again at full speed. It warmed my hear to see her take off across the open fields in Hiroshima running full speed without any pain or limping. I am still praising God for his mercies and that her Achilles is intact and she is able to run, dance and jump to her hearts content. This is a pretty recent picture of the injury. The top of the scar is filling in daily and is almost completely filled in as you can see.
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| So here is her ankle all healed and looking the best it has since the injury. |
Once again, so much to share but too much for one entry.We are blessed to be a part of what God is doing at KCS, Hope Chapel and in Japan. Thank you for your words of encouragement, support and prayers. I am regularly overcome with emotion when I think of how God transplanted us here to KCS to invest in the lives of students for His greater purposes. To God be the glory, great things He has done for sure!
In Christ,
K. Chadduck
