Arrival In Japan

My flight from Seattle to Japan was good, and I arrived safe and sound in Tokyo on Monday. Verdun Korvemaker, originally from Canada, and Dalton McGuiness, originally from New Zealand, were waiting just past customs, along with Stanley Morrison who is here visiting from Nebraska.

We took the subway/train system to the brother's apartment, about an hour of travel. This transit system is one of the busiest in the world, people streaming through stations and platforms by the thousands, and every last one quiet, polite and orderly. I learned something new - that fourteen people can easily fit into a three foot square area inside a train if you stand close. No problem.

After getting moved in, we walked to a tiny restaurant nearby for an incredible supper of sushi and takoyaki, which is breaded octopus. Included was a bowl of miso soup with tuna fish cheeks. I love miso soup and have had it often in sushi restaurants in the United States, but the fish cheeks were new. Rather sweet, great with the saltiness of the soup.

Early morning view from apartment. Doors on street level roll up and reveal small shops and restaurants.

Following supper, a night at the apartment on traditional bamboo mats rolled out on the floor. I slept like a jet lagged American, with only one interruption, a good jolt of the building around midnight. The country has experienced many of these aftershocks since the earthquake and tsunami, and likely will for some time.

Tokyo is quite a ways south of the area where the tsunami hit, so I have seen none of the terrible destruction. There is some minor damage to older buildings in the Tokyo area that is visible, mainly in the form of broken roof tiles, so I did see some roofs on houses that had plastic tarps over the damaged areas. The only other thing I've seen is a few escalators in the train stations that are turned off to help conserve power, since there is a shortage. Small signs in contrast to the horrible loss of life and property that so many now know.

Back on the train the next morning for more lessons in people to space ratios, then a flight to Sapporo on the North island of Hokkaido, for the first convention. Wonderful to see the workers and a few of our friends waiting at the airport. A new country to me, a new language, new customs, new food, new sights of every kind. In the middle of it all, a familiar spirit that was not new in any way - the spirit of love in Christ.

My room for the next few nights, shared with Stanley Morrison.

Had a visit today in to the main part of the the city of Sapporo, which is about two million people. Very much enjoyed the experience, and am now settled in to my room at the convention place. The facility is a youth hostel for athletic events normally, but we are the only ones using it this week. Small dormitory type rooms where everyone stays, a classroom for the meetings, and a cafeteria room for eating. Convention will start Thursday evening, and will go through Sunday. There are to be around fifty people here, friends and workers combined.

Speaking list so you can follow along.

I'm enjoying my time in every way, and looking forward to fellowship with my brothers and sisters here. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! I'll post again next week.