Hello From Tokyo

*Click on pictures to enlarge.

 I'm writing this from Tokyo, arrived here on Monday from the island of Hokkaido. A big difference in geography and culture, as Hokkaido is primarily an agricultural area once you get out of the city of Sapporo. Lots of corn, potatoes, and dairy farms in the valleys, with beautiful mountains in the distance.

Sapporo Convention

We had a great convention at Sapporo, about forty of us total. As is to be expected, the earthquake and tsunami has created a nation that is mourning, and it was mentioned frequently in testimonies and messages from the workers.

The elder and his wife of the meeting at Sendai, Yoshio and Mitsko Narisawa live near where the tsunami struck, and it came within about six miles of their home. He just retired a few weeks ago from teaching at a university, and told me that when the earthquake hit, he was at work on the fifth floor. He said that the building shook so hard he could not stand and said “It felt like it went on for twenty minutes, but I found out later that it was only six minutes."

He drove home, normally less than a half hour drive, but it took him over two hours because of the traffic. No trains or buses running, which are the primary form of transportation, no traffic lights, and the road was heaving up and down. Once he arrived, he found his wife safe, and their home still standing although with significant damage. Many of the neighbors homes had been destroyed.

There are still aftershocks day and night, some fairly strong, and they were exhausted from the stress when they arrived at convention. In spite of it all, they are deeply grateful, and he mentioned several times how thankful he was for a “kingdom that cannot be moved.” This feeling was very real in our little group, an oasis of stillness in the middle of a horrible storm.

My friend Michelle at Sapporo.

I quickly grew attached to everyone, and by Sunday it was hard to say goodbye. As we were leaving, someone mentioned the several hundred children who are now orphans because of the tsunami, and how terribly afraid and confused they must be. I'm thankful God's children are not orphans, but know the very real care and love He gives.

Bridge on grounds of Emperor's Palace.

The last few days have been spent exploring the incredible place that is Tokyo. The city is vast, with the Emperor's Palace at the very center, and the city expanding out around it. Streets originally were built in a way to make the palace easier to defend from enemy samurai during feudal times, so they curve and wander and take abrupt turns in ways that are the opposite of our grid system.

Within a thirty seven mile radius of the palace live thirty million people. They are served by the busiest subway/train system in the world, averaging a little over six million riders daily. This figure normally doesn't include me, but they were quite accommodating in adding one person to the count for a few days. 

Nothing special happening, ordinary evening street traffic.

I absolutely love the feel of this city teeming with energy and life. Thousands of people streaming down sidewalks, bowing as they conduct business in stores and restaurants, orderly traffic with no honking of horns, exquisite food with subtle flavors and gorgeous presentation in even the simplest dish, strangers stopping to ask if you need assistance if you look like you are a bit lost, the largest fish market in the world, and elegant Japanese gardens scattered throughout the city. A beautiful place.

Main building where convention is held, behind flags.

Initials are interpreter.

The convention here is at a youth center built for the Olympics. It's a fairly large complex with multiple buildings, and we share it with several thousand students who are here for various conferences and events. Small dorm style rooms where we sleep, and a classroom for meeting. We all eat at a common cafeteria, so it's a nice chance to meet and visit with other folks in addition to our friends. About a hundred people are expected at this convention, and I'm very much looking forward to time with my brothers and sisters in Tokyo. Hope this finds all well!