Christmas Highlights

Okay, I am a little late at getting to this, but here are a few highlights from Christmas 2011 in Kumamoto.


Kumamon, the mascot for Kumamoto says, "Merry Christmas!"



Tsuruya, a local department store.

Downtown and Kumamoto Castle

Kuwamizu Lutheran Church

Kuwamizu Lutheran Church's Advent Christmas Tree--We added new decorations each week of Advent.

By far, my favorite activity this Christmas was seeing my kindergarten class perform their Christmas pageant.  They were amazing!  It was so touching to see these young children sharing the story of our faith.

An angel visited Mary to tell her that she would have a baby, the Savior of the world.

The time came for Mary to have her baby, but no rooms were available in Bethlehem.

Meanwhile, the shepherds were watching their sheep at night.

Suddenly, angels appeared to tell them the good news...The Savior was born!

Many people came to worship Jesus, including wise men from far away.  Thousands of years later, we too can celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

Preparing for Christmas

This is the chapel speech I gave Monday morning.  As you read it, please consider what you are doing to prepare for Christmas this year.

Today’s Bible reading is from 1^st Peter 1:13.  “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

What do you prepare for?  You prepare for rain by carrying an umbrella.  You prepare for cold weather by wearing a coat, scarf, and gloves.  You prepare for a test by studying.  You prepare for a championship game by practicing extra hard.

Everyone knows that there are four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.  But, did you know that churches also have seasons?  This is the season of Advent.  Advent is the month before Christmas when we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Jesus was born over two thousand years ago, but people were excited about his birth long before that.  People waited and prepared the way for the birth of Jesus.  Every baby’s birth is a miracle, but Jesus’ birth was the best miracle of all. 

Jesus was God’s one and only son.  Everyone waited for the birth of Jesus because he came to Earth to save us.  He sacrificed his life so that we could spend eternity with God in heaven.  Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, but it’s also about celebrating our salvation through Jesus Christ.

So, how do you prepare for this amazing holiday?  I usually decorate my apartment and bake Christmas cookies to give to friends.  I play Christmas music to remember the joy of the Christmas season.  I read about the birth of Jesus in the Bible, and I celebrate that birth at Christmas Eve church services.  This year, as you prepare for Christmas, please remember why we celebrate Christmas—JESUS!

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for sending your son to Earth.  Thank you for the Christmas season to remember Jesus’ birthday.  Help us prepare for Christmas by remembering that Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season.

In Your name we pray, amen.

The Potter's Perfect Touch

“O Lord, you are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”  --Isaiah 64:8

Earlier this fall I went to a tiny village in Oita Prefecture that is known for its amazing pottery.  Onta is such a small village that it only has ten households, but they all work together to create these traditional crafts.  All the techniques of pottery-making and the talents of this unique style are passed down from each father to his oldest son.

The process of preparing the clay is very interesting.  The clay comes from a nearby town and is then pounded using a giant wooden hammer.  A river runs through this village, and the water provides the energy and force to opporate the hammer.  The water fills a tube, which in turn weighs down the handle of the giant hammer and pushes the top of the mallet up.  When the water drains out the bottom of the handle, the top of the hammer strikes the clay with a tremendous force.  Anywhere in Onta, you can hear the sound of the giant hammers striking the clay every few seconds.

Next, the clay is filtered in pools and dried.  After that, the clay is kneeded and formed with a traditional kick-wheel.  I heard that the men usually form the pottery and that the women usually do the glazing and painting.

After the poettery is formed, it needs to dry some more in the sun.

Then, the pottery is ready for the kiln.  The kilns are only fired 4 or 5 times a year though because it is quite an undertaking.  The wood-fed kilns are kept at about 1250 degrees celcius for 30 or 40 hours, so it means many long and sleepless hours of hard work. 

The  pottery is typically glazed using earth tones such as greens, browns, and blacks.  Many of the patterns and styles have been used for hundreds of years, but the styles also continue to develop as the artists apply their own unique touches.  Although the pottery may look similar, upon closer inspection, one sees that each item is uniquely designed and formed.  In fact, the Onta pottery is so special, that in 1995 it was officially declaired “Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan.”  The pottery is a beautiful creation that reflects the dedication and devotion of the potter.  Tremendous time and effort is put into each work of art, and the pottery in turn reflects the master craftsmen’s care.

I spent such a beautiful fall day in Onta, and I feel so blessed to have had that experience.

Now, let us pray.

Heavenly Father and Creator,

Thank you for the care and attention that you put into forming each and every one  of us.  Thank you for making us unique and special.  You placed hopes, dreams, and talents in our lives that  make us exceptional.  Help  us to unilize these gifts as we serve you.

In Your name I pray, amen.

Lessons From The Best Teacher Ever (Hint: It's not me!)

One of the interesting parts of my job involves writing and presenting chapel speeches every 2 or 3 weeks.  I do my part in English, while the chaplain alternates with me and reads the Japanese translation.  The number one thing I try to focus on as I prepare a chapel speech is my audience.  I am speaking to junior high and high school students primarily, but the teachers are also listening.  The goal is to help students learn more about Christianity while also learning some English.  Most of the students are not Christian, so it is important for me to explain very basic Christian ideas while using very simple English.  I try to talk about issues that matter to teenagers and use examples that students can relate to.

Jesus understood how to connect with the crowds he taught.  He used words that people knew and understood, and he considered the background of his audience.  When possible, he used examples and analogies from people’s everyday lives.  Jesus could have tried to impress people with his vast intimate knowledge about God or used fancy words that a person could only decipher if they had a dictionary handy.  Instead, Jesus chose to teach ordinary people in a way that best showed just how extraordinary God is.

Some chapel speeches that I write are better than others, but it is still my hope that I can follow Jesus’s example of how to be a good teacher.  Here is just one of my recent chapel speeches, but I plan to post others in the future.  Enjoy!

Today’s Bible reading is from Ephesians 3:17b-19.   “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

What is your dream for the future?  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Recently, I read a story about an amazing Japanese Christian named Shimeta Niishima*.  He was born in 1843, and he was the son of a samurai.  He studied hard to become a good samurai and a good scholar.  When he was 16 years old, his dream was to learn about the world.  He wanted to be a scholar-warrior.  Then, he could help Japan trade with other countries and understand ideas from all over the world.

Niishima secretly read books from other countries and studied the Bible.  At that time, signs said, “Reward for the capture of Christians!  Death to the followers of Jesus.”  Niishima knew it was dangerous, but he believed in God and became a Christian.

It was also illegal at that time to leave Japan, but Niishima wanted to learn more.  He secretly got on a ship and went to America.  In America, he studied very hard.  He went to a preparatory school, college, and then seminary to become a pastor.  Niishima’s new dream was to start a Christian university in Japan.

After ten years, Niishima returned to Japan.  In 1875, he built Doshisha Academy in Kyoto.  He was only 32 years old, but he had already accomplished many things.  Niishima wanted Doshisha to become a university to make Christian leaders for Japan: lawyers, professors, ministers, businessmen, and statesmen.  He devoted his life to making his dream come true.

In 1890, Niishima showed his strong faith as he said his last words, “Peace, joy, heaven!”  After he died, other people carried on this work. 

Today, Doshisha is a university with over 25,000 students.  It is a symbol of Niishima’s faith, hard work, and dreams.  I hope that all of us can follow Niishima’s example, and achieve great things in the future.

Let us pray.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the chance to learn.  Help us to do our best and to work hard as we study.  Please guide us as we try to achieve our dreams.  In Your name we pray, amen.

* Information taken from the book Ten Against the Storm by Marianna Nugent Prichard and Norman Young Prichard.

Respect-for-the-Aged Day

Today is Respect-for-the-Aged Day in Japan.  According to the book Japan at a Glance, this is “[a] day to express respect for aged people, to thank them for their contributions to society over many years, and to celebrate their longevity.”

On a regular basis I struggle to guess the age of Japanese people because they usually age very well and look younger than their true age.  What’s their secret?  Do all the pickled foods that Japanese people eat somehow preserve their lives too?  Well, until recently, the typical Japanese diet relied heavily on vegetables, with little meat.  Fresh seafood is commonly available all over Japan, so this low fat option is utilized.   Also, traditional Japanese sweets often incorporate sweet beans and have a much lower sugar content.  As time has passed, McDonalds, KFC, and other fried foods have worked their way into Japan more and more.  The more a person sticks to a traditional Japanese diet, though, the more their health and body reflect that.

Church women at the reception

Traditional Japanese Sweets

Another impressive quality is just how active people stay, even when they are well into their golden years.  Bicycles and walking play a big part in transportation, so an active lifestyle is a part of daily living; that is one thing that I especially enjoy about living in Japan.

So, how does one observe this national holiday?  Most people observe it by enjoying a day off of work or school, but there are other activities as well.  Yesterday, after the church service, there was a reception for members who are 70 or older.  The participants enjoyed traditional green tea and sweets (including the previously mentioned sweet bean paste).  An MC interviewed a few of the elderly participants, and then everyone played a sort of Mad Libs game.  I admit that I didn’t really follow all of this though with the language barrier and all. 

One of the most impressive qualities about Japan is that in small ways, every day is Respect-for-the-Aged Day.  Elderly people are valued for their wisdom and experience.  I regularly see younger people giving up their seats on trains or buses so that the elderly can sit down.  Also, older people are usually addressed with very polite forms of Japanese to show respect.  We could learn a lot from the way that the Japanese culture honors and celebrates the elderly, even though there is not a specific day set aside to do this in America.

Another Milestone

I hope everyone had a good summer and managed to find some quality time with friends and family.  In Japan we have year-round school, but we do get about a month off for summer vacation.  I felt so blessed to spend the majority of that time with my family back in Iowa.

Whenever I’m in my hometown, it conjures up images of my childhood: playing in the backyard with my brothers, family gatherings with my extended family, and carefree days.  Whether I was running through sprinklers or trying to catch lightning bugs, I remember a childhood full of fun and simply living in the moment.

During my trip to Iowa this summer, I also enjoyed making fun memories with my niece, 3 nephews, and the rest of my family.  One of my highlights was definitely the day I spent with my parents and both brothers’ families at the Des Moines Blank Park Zoo.  It’s not every day that I get to see lions and penguins, but then again, with living abroad, it’s not every day that I get to see the joy on the faces of the little ones either.  I love my job and serving in Kumamoto, but spending time away from family is definitely one of the biggest challenges of my job.

I did many fun activities while I was back but, I also found the experience very eye-opening.  When I was a kid, my biggest concerns were scraping my knee or having my brothers tease me.  On Sunday I’m turning 30, and now I’m convinced that the older a person gets, the bigger their problems seem to get.  While I was back, I witnessed the hardships my parents experience every day in coping with an elderly mother whose dementia is rapidly increasing, and two other elderly parents who have health issues piling one on top of another.  I don’t know if my grandparents will still be around by the next time I get back to Iowa, and that is a hard reality to face.  Even just seeing the daily difficulties my brothers and their families experience, shows me that life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect. 

So where does this leave us?  What do we do when there is so much beyond our control and when we see problems that seem so overwhelming?  For starters, we have to acknowledge that we can’t deal with it alone.  We need the constant support of family, friends, and a church family.  We need to have people in our lives who we can confide in when we’re really struggling or who we can turn to at a moment’s notice and ask for prayer.  We need to rely on God for our strength and hope, when we feel weak and vulnerable.   All our problems won’t magically disappear, and we can’t go back to the carefree days of our childhood, but God wants to help us through whatever struggles we face.

Fun at Kyushu Gakuin

My junior high students read a story in their grammar textbook about the moais from Easter Island.  Sakaguchi Sensei and I created a contest where the students wrote about what the moais were thinking.  This was the hands-down winner.  I can't take all the credit though because the student who made this one lived in America for a couple years.  Still, I couldn't resist sharing (with her permission of course) because it's so impressive.

Recently someone, from the church I attend in Kumamoto, asked me to write a self-introduction for the church newsletter.  After I got over the shock of needing to write such a long paper in Japanese, I got to work.  A special thanks goes out to Fukuoka Sensei for helping me do all of the editing.  I am still learning Japanese, so forgive the very simplified vocabulary and sentence structures.  Now, after much effort and editing, I am proud to present you with a bilingual experience.  Enjoy!

神水教会　Ｎｅｗｓｌｅｔｔｅｒ

みなさん、こんにちは。　クリスティ―ン・アイグ　と　申します(もう)。　私(わたし)は　Ｊ３　

として　アメリカ　の　アイオワ　州(しゅう)　から　来ました(　き)。　私(わたし)の　家族(かぞく)は　五人(ごにん)　です。　私(わたし)の　両親(りょうしん)は　小学校(しょうがっこう)　の　教師(きょうし)　です。　　私(わたし)の　父(ちち)は　2007年(ねん)に　小学校(しょうがっこう)　を　退職(たいしょく)しました。現在(げんざい)、学校(がっこう)関係(かんけい)の仕事(しごと)をしています。　また、　父(ちち)は　教会(きょうかい)の　会長(かいちょう)も　しています。　私(わたし)の　母(はは)も　毎週(まいしゅう)　教会(きょうかい)で　オルガン　を　ひいています。　そして、兄(あに)　が　二人(ふたり)　います。　二人(ふたり)とも　結婚(けっこん)しています。　一番上(いちばんうえ)　の　兄(あに)には　娘(むすめ)　と　息子(むすこ)　が　一人(ひとり)　ずついます。　ニ番目(にばんめ)の兄(あに)には　息子(むすこ)　が　二人(ふたり)います。　私(わたし)は　家族(かぞく)　と

ともに　すごす　時間(じかん)　が　なに　よりも　大好き(だいす)です。

Hello, I’m Christine Eige.  I work as a J3.  I’m from the state of Iowa in America.  There are five people in my family.  My parents are elementary teachers.  My father retired, but he still works part time for the school district.  My father is also the church president.  My mom plays the organ at church each week.  I have two older brothers.  They are both married.  My oldest brother has a daughter and a son.  My other brother has two sons.  I love spending time with my family.

休み(やす)　の　日(ひ)には、旅行(りょこう)　や、読書(どくしょ)　や　映画(えいが)鑑賞(かんしょう)　を　しています。　ハリー　ポッター　が　好き(す)です。　熊本(くまもと)で　私(わたし)の　一番(いちばん)　お気に入り(きい)の　場所(ばしょ)は　水前寺(すいぜんじ)公園(こうえん)　と　江津(えづ)湖(こ)　です。　自然(しぜん)　が　たくさんあり、大好き(だいす)です。　日本(にほん)料理(りょうり)の　中(なか)で、私(わたし)の　一番(いちばん)　好き(す)な　食べ物(た　もの)は　お好み(　この)焼き(や)、　焼きそば(や)、　そして、　カレー　ライス　です。　本当(ほんとう)に　おいしいですね。　でも、　なっとうは　なかなか　好きに　なれません。

In my free time I like to travel, read books, and watch movies.  I like Harry Potter.  In Kumamoto, my favorite places are Suizenji Park and Lake Ezu.  I love nature.  My favorite Japanese foods are okonomiyaki, yaki soba, and curry rice.  They’re delicious, aren’t they?  However, I do not like natto (fermented soy beans).

2004年、　私(わたし)は　ワートバーグ大学(だいがく)　を　卒業(そつぎょう)しました。　大学(だいがく)の専攻(せんこう)は　英語(えいご)　と　高校(こうこう)教育(きょういく)　でした。　2004年(ねん)に　初めて(はじ)、J3になり日本(にほん)にやって来ました(き)。　6ヶ月間(かげつかん)、　東京(とうきょう)で　日本語(にほんご)　を　勉強(べんきょう)しました。　初めて(はじ)日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)したので、とても難しく(むずか)、まったくわかりませんでした。　それから、　2005年(ねん)　から　２００７年　まで　ルーテル学院(がくいん)で　英語(えいご)　を　教えました(おし)。　当時(とうじ), 室(むろ)園(ぞの)教会(きょうかい)に　行って(い)いました。　とてもおもしろい2年間半(ねんかんはん)でした。　やりがいがあり、また、それを楽しむ(たの)ことができました。

I graduated from Wartburg College.  My majors were English and high school education.  In 2004, I became a J3.  I studied Japanese for the first time for 6 months in Tokyo, so it was very difficult for me.  Then, from 2005 to 2007 I taught English at Luther Junior High and High School.  At that time, I went to Murazono Church.  My 2 and a half years in Japan were very interesting.  Sometimes it was challenging, but it was enjoyable.

アメリカに　かえって、アイオワ州(　　　　　　　　しゅう)　と　イリノイ州(　　　　　　　　しゅう)　の　高校(こうこう)で3年間(ねんかん)　教えました。　学生(がくせい)も同僚(どうりょう)も好き(す)で毎日充実(じゅうじつ)していましたが、一方(いっぽう)で日本(にほん)を恋しく(こい)も思って(おも)いました。2010年(ねん)、もう一度(　　　　　いちど)J3として　日本に　かえる　チャンスを頂き(いただ)ました。そして、3年ぶり(ねん)に熊本(くまもと)に　かえってきました。今(いま)、九州(きゅうしゅう)学院(がくいん)の　幼稚園(ようちえん)、中学校(ちゅうがっこう)、高校(こうこう)で英語(えいご)を　教えて(おし)います。　　英語　を　教える　ことは楽しいです。そして、　1ヶ月間に　１、２回　チャぺル　スピーチ　を　しています。聖書(せいしょ)を通して(とお)学生(がくせい)と　かかわる事(こと)も　大切にしていきたいと思います(おも)。

I returned to America.  For three years I worked at high school in Iowa and Illinois. I liked my students and coworkers, and the work was fulfilling.  But, I missed Japan.  Then, in 2010, one more time I became a J3 when I received a chance to return to Japan.

私(わたし)は、神(くわ)水(みず)教会(きょうかい)で　色々(いろいろ)と　お手伝い(　　　てつだ)できればと思って(おも)います。そして、たくさん友人(ゆうじん)を作りたい(つく)です。　神(くわ)水(みず)教会(きょうかい)の　コーヒ　ショプ　と　昼(ひる)ごはんは　いつも楽しみ(たの)です。 私(わたし)は　日曜日(にちようび)　の　夜(よる)、　熊本(くまもと)ルーテル教会(きょうかい)に　行きます(い)。　　５時　から　６時　まで　英語(えいご)の　聖書(せいしょ)　を　教えて(おし)います。それから、　６時　から　7時(じ)　まで　英語(えいご)　の　礼拝(れいはい)　が　あります。　ぜひ一度(いちど)、　来てみてください。　

In 3 year I returned to Kumamoto.  Yay!  Now, I teach kindergarten, junior high, and high school students at Kyushu Gakuin.  I enjoy teaching English and want to relate to students through the Bible, which is also important. Once or twice a month I give a chapel speech. 

私(わたし)は、神(くわ)水(みず)教会(きょうかい)で　色々(いろいろ)と　お手伝い(　　　てつだ)できればと思って(おも)います。そして、たくさん友人(ゆうじん)を作りたい(つく)です。　神(くわ)水(みず)教会(きょうかい)の　コーヒ　ショプ　と　昼(ひる)ごはんは　いつも楽しみ(たの)です。 私(わたし)は　日曜日(にちようび)　の　夜(よる)、　熊本(くまもと)ルーテル教会(きょうかい)に　行きます(い)。　　５時　から　６時　まで　英語(えいご)の　聖書(せいしょ)　を　教えて(おし)います。それから、　６時　から　7時(じ)　まで　英語(えいご)　の　礼拝(れいはい)　が　あります。　ぜひ一度(いちど)、　来てみてください。　

そして、神(くわ)水(みず)教会(きょうかい)で私(わたし)を見かけたら(　み)、声(こえ)をかけてください。これからもよろしくお願い(　　ねが)します。

I’d like to help and make friends at church.  I also enjoy Kuwamizu Church’s coffee shop and lunches.  On Sunday nights, I go to Kumamoto Lutheran Church.  From 5 to 6 I teach an English Bible study.  Then there is an English worship service from 6 to 7.  Anyone, please feel free to come.  When you see me at Kuwamizu Church, please say, “Hello.”