12/11 Sunday: Koganehama Church

Things are going pretty well here.  It's Sunday night, and we're heading into a day off tomorrow. Nice.  The gals are sitting around the table rehearsing for a Ladies Tea this Tuesday which doesn't need the guys. They're figuring out which 5 songs will work best.  Keith and I are doing some laundry.  Mika joined us yesterday in IshM, stayed overnight and was with us today, but has gone home for the night.  Rachel's temporary bug is gone, and she was full speed ahead today.  

This morning we all had a chance to sleep in, and I made it until about 7 AM - good for me!  We did our own breakfasts, and then rehearsed from 10:00 - 11:15.  We were supposed to do 60 minutes at church today so needed to add a several more songs.  It was really sounding good.  We left at 11:30, and since it was such a nice day, we took local roads to Matsushima where we took some photos and had lunch: ramen, soba, udon, scallops, etc.  

Matsushima - one of the "3 Most Beautiful Spots" in Japan

Matsushima lunch: (l-r) Mika, Rachel, Keith, Bev, Andy, Celia, Cheri, Anne; Mark taking photo

Squid for Keith

         Then up to Ishinomaki and arrived at a new church plant in Watanoha area.  Andy said the church has gotten started since the tsunami.  They are meeting in a reworked house just a street or two from the houses we worked on in June.  (BTW, those places are looking pretty good.)  

The church service started at 3 PM, and because the the plan got changed, we sang for 30 min instead of an hour.  The fun thing was that the place was packed with about 60 people in two rooms plus an overflow, and even 2 or 3 guys standing outside looking in the kitchen window.  The tricky thing was that even though we got there an hour early, we didn't get a chance to warm up or sound check the room (because of a group hula lesson being taught as a community outreach before church), and we encountered a few wobbles along the way.  Nothing disastrous and most people wouldn't have noticed, but we did - especially because we had sung so well in our rehearsal.  Oh well, it was a good experience, and a great connection with people.

Arriving at the Koganehama Church

Caroling at Koganehama Church: Mika, Bev, Rachel, Celia, Mark, Keith, Cheri

Because we have an extra bonnet and an extra top hat, we have been inviting 2 audience members to come up and join us on Jingle Bells.  This time, I asked for a girl and a boy, and after much coaxing, a little girl - maybe 3 yrs. old - slowly came up.  She was cute and Mika helped her tie on the bonnet and stayed with her the whole song.  No boy came up, so I asked for a man, but no man volunteered.  So I noticed the pastor, and invited him to join us, and he was a good sport and did.  I think it built a good bridge with him and the church, esp the many newcomers.  

After we finished, we stepped outside because by now, there was no room in the inn.  The pastor preached for about 30 min, then as he closed in prayer we had another slight earthquake - nothing like yesterday and only noticeable if you were completely still.  Many people hung around afterwards; saw the pastor in a long conversation with a middle-aged guy.  Several people bought CDs and books too, so I'm glad for the long-term influence they will have, and also glad for Gary B to get some extra income.

Close "fellowship" after a packed service

We came home, had a good supper.  It was Rachel's turn and she prepared "tomago gohan" a family concoction her dad used to make: boiled egg smushed in with rice and a touch of soy sauce.  It's actually pretty good…

Tomorrow, we're driving into Sendai and after lunch with Mika and Hidemasa, we'll do some sightseeing and shopping - Mark's translation: go to Starbucks - and have supper there and return home.  It'll be nice to have a short break before this next week.

The days seem full, and the drive to and from Ishinomaki make them seem extra long.  This music ministry is much as we hoped.  Good music and the interesting costumes drawing a crowd, then many new connections being made for Gilberts and the other ministries they are collaborating with. I'd like to try a spontaneous concert somewhere, say at a mall or even the eki, just to see what kind of response we'd get.  Andy and Lorna seem quite happy with it all, so that's great.  I'm looking forward to seeing the coffee house this week and also the camper van.  Will be talking things over with them about future teams, funding their projects, etc.  Also plan to contact Saitos tomorrow, and hope to connect this coming week.