Kashima san was my homestay for the first two weeks of the trip, while I was at Inochi no Izumi Christ Church.
Kashima-san <3!
She lives alone and doesn’t speak English very much, and I was SCARED. ”Omigosh. This is going to be awkward. It’s going to be just me and her. I won’t have anyone to hide behind. EEK.”
The first day is kind of a blur. I don’t remember exactly how I started to feel comfortable around her, but we hit it off~ =D Before I met her, I had heard that she sleeps in. Shelley told me that she woke up at 12:00. Everyday. O.O
But she got up at 9:00 every morning to make me breakfast.
Kashima-san has two sons, both live out of the house. Her younger brother lived down stairs, but I never saw him. When I was helping her with the dishes one morning, she was really happy and said that it was like having a daughter. <3
my room at Kashima-san's. my clothes still smelled like it for a while ^.^
I thought she would be lonely, and in someways I’m sure she is, but the lady keeps herself busy. She doesn’t have to work, but she does pottery, used to do stained glass windows (beautiful), takes English classes, and goes to Bible study at Hamadera Bible Church. She hangs out with church people on a regular basis, and is always there for people who need ministering.
She is a great hostess:
dinner at Kashima-sans house with the team and Inochi people
ladies in the kitchen, kashima-san on the far right
corner where the ladies were talking, this is where kashima-san and I ate breakfast <3
takoyaki at Kashima-san's house, two-days after the dinner
Kashima-san was worried about the "genki" or energetic kids. these are only a few of them. they were definitely "genki" phew.
She also lugged her pottery materials to church and hosted a pottery making time for church people. Sorry, no pictures. I was fixated on my cup (I think it was a cup).
She’s dealt with trial after trial with her family. Her two sons who live away from her have little contact, and her mother is in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s disease. She used to take care of her mother in the beginning stages of the illness, but it became too much for her to handle alone. When her mother was diagnosed with the condition, she prayed for her salvation and faithfully shared the gospel with her. Even with the dementia of her mind, Kashima-san’s mother was saved. Kashima-san shared this and expressed her amazement at the God who saves even those with impaired minds.
She gave me an honest assessment of herself while God was taking her through these trials. She said that she often questioned God asking, “Why? Why my mother? Why my son? Why is this happening?” but she continued to place her faith in God, and gathered strength from His grace. She continues to love her sons with tenderness and grace, though she must also have wept for them. She remains cheerful and works joyfully for God’s kingdom.
Kashima-san doesn’t do things in a loud way. She just does it. (Not that she’s a quiet, demure Japanese woman either. She’s quite spunky). Of all the unbelievers I met during the first two weeks, more than half of them came through Kashima-san. She invited three of her friends from English class to B&E, and her closest childhood friend to the retreat. She shared the gospel with them, and continues to maintain the friendships.
She told me that her best friend was coming to the retreat, and asked me to, “Please, talk to her about God.” Her friend’s name is Senba-san.
Senba-san
At the retreat I got to ask Senba-san about her relationship with Kashima-san, and how she started attending Bible study with Kashima-san. I couldn’t understand a lot of what she was saying but I got one part. She said that she saw Kashima-san going through a lot of difficult things with her family, but still staying strong because of her faith. She had grown up with Kashima-san, and saw how her faith had changed her. Senba-san wondered what kind of faith this was, and started to attend bible study with her.
I got to tell Kashima-san about my family, too. I told her about how lazy I am about helping my mom around the house, and she just said, quite frankly, “Yea, that’s bad.” I told her that my mom’s favorite color was turquoise, so she gave me a turquoise cup that she had made to give to my mom. <3
I emailed her a few weeks ago, and she said, “お母さんの てつだい してね❤ (Help your mom, okay? <3)”
yes. i look like a giant next to her. that is the theme for most of my pictures in Japan. Oh yea, and that's my wallet she's holding. I left it sitting on a chair. -.-
I have the best people praying for me, and He’s been changing my heart.
:]]]
this was heart-warming.