Gary and Barbara – Page 4 – Life and Ministry in Japan

Our first day of vacation was yesterday, August 27. So for a week I’m away from all the pressing items that face me when I’m at my desk. But not surprisingly, this evening I’m still sitting at my laptop… reviving our dormant blog site rather than editing the next issue of Japan Harvest magazine. Barbara is relaxing by doing a crossword puzzle across the table from me.

Ironically, now that it’s cooled off in Tokyo, we’ve left the Tokyo area for “Fujigoko” (the “Five Lake Area” near Mt. Fuji) for a week’s vacation. We’re staying at a SEND International missionary cabin next to Lake Yamanaka and finding ourselves wearing sweaters in the evening.

For our anniversary today, a friend recommended a restaurant on the other side of the lake…

Looks like something out of a fairy tale.

First came the hors d’oeuvres
Left to right – Deep fried cheese, honeydew melon under raw ham, mashed potato under salmon under grapefruit – all tasty!

Ready to dig into “mountain soba” noodles (Gary) and ravioli (Barbara). Had a couple of nice conversations with the owner-wife/waitress. (I think her husband was cooking.) She took our pictures for us, and shared a bit about the construction process last year… having daily discussions with the carpenter as their ideas for the details of the building constantly developed (changed?) for this unique structure!

Ravioli close up and on parade

Across the room from us.

The adjoining room.

Down the stairs to the restrooms.

Twenty-nine years today!

The line of cars stops. We’re about 200 meters from our destination, but still need to cross the tracks. This evening we’re running session four of The Marriage Course and carrying most of the food for the dinner, as well as the tape for the video lecture. We see the signals flashing, and suspiciously, a train is sitting at a standstill in middle of the crossing. Cars are turning around and coming back in our direction. We grab a cell phone and call someone coming to the course to tell them we’re stuck on the other side of the tracks. They give us the news. Someone just jumped in front of the train.

Railroad suicide is so frequent in Tokyo that rather than being a shock, for most people a jinshin jiko (“personal accident”) tends to be viewed as an inconsiderate irritation. With nearly 2000 train-related suicides in Japan a year (and over 30,000 suicides of all types), it’s easy to lump these individual tragedies into a collection of cold statistics. But this case strikes especially close to home. Just a few yards away is the campus of the Christian Academy in Japan. With hope and help so close at hand, yet another depressed soul chooses to give up on life.

Before long, traffic returns to normal. For most, this evening’s interruption will soon be a distant memory. But during the next twelve months, thousands more will seek the same drastic solution to their inner pain.

Everyday they pass me by,
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?

On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize, people need the Lord?

People Need the Lord
By Greg Nelson, Phill McHugh
© 1983 River Oaks Music Company (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Shepherd’s Fold Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)