America My Land

  At our senior home, T-san,  104 old woman is here. She and I  have worked together to write her autobiography for past 2 years. Finally it was completed. Substantial author is this T-san though, all sentences were written by me. This is written in both Japanese and English.

My compositions are not rhetorical even in the Japanese parts.However, for T-san’s descendants, this book contains enough information to trace their roots in Japan. I think that if we were to take more time we would find more interesting stories, but we must finish up now, in deference to her age.

This cover photo was taken when T-san was 21 years old , 3 years after her first arrival to America in 1924.

Senior, visiting a senior

I have  old Christian couple friends, Ana and Rick,  in San Francisco.  About a decade ago, I  guess Ana saw our news paper add and called me, saying "Please visit my parents in San Jose. They are Japanese. They don't know Jesus".  So I visited Ana's parents,  Rick and Nancy. Actually they were Niseis(Second generation of Japanese imigrant), but especially Nancy spoke Japanese with no accent. Nancy soon accepted Jesus and went home about 8 years ago.

Then Rick sold his house and went to his daughter's house in San Francisco. Ana sometiomes called me and asked prayer for Rick's salvation. Rick had never confessed his faith in Jesus.  While after Rick moved to San Francisco, he entered a skilled nursing facility in San Francisco Japan town.

Recently, I received a phone call from Ana. So Cynthia and I visited Rick. This time we accampanied T-san, 103 year old lady.

We found out, Rick was now a Christian. Ana and John were there too. I introduced T-san to them. They were so surprised on learnng T-san's age, even though Rick was 97.

Actually Rick was under the hospice care. I think he will go home soon. However, I said to him, "Rick, do you remember me. I am a Japanese pastor, Abe Ishihara. I used to visit your home in San Jose. Your wife was still aleve in those days." Then it seemed he remembered me.

T-san was great. She spoke to Rick, " You are only 97 years old. You are youger than I. Gambare, gambare! ( Have confidence to live!)

I mentioned about T-san 's salvation to Ana and John. They were amazed very much.

We were  in peace, because those seniors were under the care of our Lord Jueus.


On our return, we went to San Francisco Japan town and had fellowship with some coffee and cake. It was another wonderful day.

(Photo:  at San Francisico J-town with Ana, John and T-san)

Yuai-Kai

In San Jose, we have Yuai-Kai. Yuai-Kai is a Japanese American Community Senior Service.

http://www.yuaikai.org/

Our seniors usually go there twice a week. However, our 103 year old lady Tsan recently does not want to go anymore, because most of her friends have already gone.

Last week our church invited Japanese musicians, Miho Yoshimura, renowned soplano singer and Kazuko Chen, talented panist. We asked them to perform at Yuai-Kai. So they did. Before About 30 seinors, Miho sang and Kazuko played the piano. They enjoyed very much.

I asked Tsan,  "Why don't you go there?"  So she also went Yuai-Kai concert.  People were  also glad to see Tsan.

Tsan baptized

Our 103 year old Tsan baptized last Sunday. Our home is Christian oriented as we have stated. However, of course to participate all religious activity is vluntaly basis. As a pastor, I think that residents' spiritual care is also very importat. Recently around us, a xcouple of people passed away, so even 103 year old lady, might feel something heavenly thing.

She accepted Jesus as her Savior, so I baptized her.