Author: edebock

Growing and changing

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One of the first things we wanted to do when we got back from our recent trip to Japan was to make another trip; this time to Calgary to see the grandchildren that we hadn’t seen since Christmas! After just 8 nights in our own bed, off we went and what fun we had.

It’s amazing how much young children change in such a short time. At just 10 1/2 months old, Jami-Lee is standing on her own and taking those first tentative steps!

Even more exciting is the change in Drew’s speech, however. Diagnosed with a severe phonological disorder in early January, he hasn’t started formal speech therapy yet but Melaina has been working with him every day and he’s making wonderful progress! He still has a long way to go but not only is he saying lots of words more clearly than before, he’s also started putting them together into 2 and 3 word phrases. It was such a delight to hear him shout out “Grandpa’s turn”, “Gram’s turn” and “Drew’s turn” as we slid down the slide at the playground. He still has trouble with the G sound at the beginning of our names, but it was quite clear what he was saying.

Now we’re back home again. We’ll be sleeping in our own bed tonight but only for three nights this time! We’re off to a church board retreat on Friday. As someone at my Sunday School board meeting said tonight, those DeBocks just never stay home!

Praying for Japan

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Japan is heavy on our hearts these days. The immediate need, of course, is for a safe resolution to the alarming situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The news media has a tendency to sensationalize this kind of thing so it’s very difficult to know exactly how serious the situation is and what it might mean to those living in close proximity but we have no doubt that there is potential for a complete meltdown and the release of extremely dangerous levels of radiation. According to John Beddington, chief spokesman for the British Embassy in Tokyo, experts have said that radiation levels would need to be hundreds of times higher than they are at present before the health of anyone outside a very small area would be endangered. In their opinion, that isn’t going to happen. Some found this reassuring while others are less confident. Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd has told his countrymen in Tokyo that they should leave and French expats have received similar advice. Apparently, an Indian company chartered a plane to evacuate its 185 employees and their families. Several of our friends have taken or sent their children to stay with relatives in Osaka and Kyoto, much further away from the Fukushima nuclear facility.

In addition to the crisis at the power plant, there are many other reasons to pray. The window of time for finding anyone still alive in the rubble of last Friday’s earthquake is rapidly closing. Thousands of people are still unaccounted for. Some of our friends have not yet been able to make contact with relatives living in the area and do not know if they are alive or dead.

People in Tokyo and the surrounding areas including Funabashi, where we lived, are experiencing rotating power blackouts, lack of food and gasoline shortages.

People across the country are living in fear. One expert explained that three of the tectonic plates that make up the earth’s surface meet under Japan. Two of them shifted causing last week’s massive earthquake and there is reason to believe that the third one could move causing further devastation. There have already been hundreds of aftershocks since Friday.

Clearly there are urgent needs that require immediate attention but I believe that Japan has a much greater need that long predates the recent earthquake. In Christian circles, Japan is known as one of the world’s largest unreached people groups. Less than 2% of the population place their hope in Jesus Christ. On our recent visit, God gave me a vision for Japan. Imagine the country covered by a thick black blanket; a blanket of spiritual darkness. There are tiny holes in places where the light of Christ shines through but under that blanket live over 130 million people who put their hope in cleaning their ancestors graves on the appropriate days of the year and leaving offerings there, on visiting temples on other designated days; bowing, clapping and dropping coins in the offering boxes. What is there in those rituals that will help them in a time like this? Is it any wonder that they are traumatized? In the Sendai area those temples and graves are washed away; gone forever! Could it be that God might use this triple tragedy (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis) to turn the hearts of the Japanese people to himself? We need to pray that this will be the moment in time when the spiritual blanket is torn apart and people find hope in a living God who loves each one of them and “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

Kabocha in my carry on

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On our recent visit to Japan, we enjoyed many fabulous foods but one of them kept showing up over and over again. The Japanese call it pumpkin but kabocha is actually a winter squash that is also known as the buttercup squash here in North America. Similar in both texture and flavour to pumpkin or sweet potato, it can be prepared in a wide variety of ways. It’s a common ingredient in tempura and we were also served it in soup, nabe (a one pot meal that’s something like stew) and even ground up in pancakes.

When we were in Vancouver, I mentioned kabocha to my daughter-in-law, Robin, and told her that I hoped I could find it in Alberta, perhaps in the Asian grocery store in Edmonton that I occasionally visit. Later, when she went grocery shopping, she brought one home for me! Apparently, it has become commonplace in Vancouver grocery stores.

The kabocha flew home in my carry on and we enjoyed part of it with dinner tonight.

It’s skin, a dull, dark green with whitish stripes, is extremely tough and very difficult to cut. Softening it slightly in the microwave helps a lot.

Simmered, mashed with it’s skin on and mixed with a little mayo, it makes a super simple and delicious side dish somewhat reminiscent of a flavourful potato salad.

Now, how should I prepare the rest of it?

Unbelievable

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I’m not sure I’m ever going to eat store bought bread again.

Until just over a year ago when my aunt gave me her bread machine, I’d never baked bread. I raised my family on store bought. Over the past year, however, I’ve enjoyed experimenting with all sorts of breads; raisin bread, cheese bread, whole wheat, cracked wheat, multigrain, and cornmeal bread and even honey wheat bran bread. Delicious! We seldom use store bought bread anymore but once in a while when life gets hectic, a loaf comes in handy.

The days just before we left for Japan were just such a time. I fully intended to put the half loaf of unused McGavin’s 100% whole wheat bread into the freezer before we left but I forgot to. Imagine that bread sitting in the cupboard for 44 days. Eww!

Not so! Believe it or not, when I opened the bag there was not one spot of mould nor does the bread even smell bad! Granted, we turned the heat in the house down while we were away so the cupboard was cooler than usual but still, what must they put in bread to preserve it for that long? Whatever it is, I doubt it’s good for us!

Obviously, in spite of the fact that the bread still looks and smells fine, we won’t be eating it. In fact, I’m not sure I ever want to eat store bought again! There’s a loaf of Country Harvest bread in the breadmaker right now and soon the aroma of freshly baked bread (without any preservatives) will fill the house.

8.9

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We were in the Vancouver Airport this morning about to embark on the final leg of our trip home when I overheard someone mention a devastating earthquake in Japan. I immediately went in search of a newspaper and the headline hit me like a ton of bricks!

MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE HITS JAPAN

B.C. on watch after magnitude 8.9 quake shakes Tokyo and launches a 10-metre tsunami

Within minutes images began to come up on TV screens around the airport. We could hardly take it in. We were there just 10 days ago!

Were we glad we left just in time? Yes and no. Obviously, we’re happy to be safe but our thoughts went immediately to those we’ve grown to love. Were they okay? If we were still there with them, we’d know. Instead, we had a plane to board and several hours to wait before we could get information about any of them. What a helpless feeling! Also, we knew that if we were still in Japan, there would likely be ways that we could volunteer to help in the aftermath of the disaster. Instead, we sit in the comfort of our livingroom watching the same horrifying footage over and over again and waiting for news of friends.

I’ve managed to chat with several on Facebook already and others have posted reassuring messages. Though the worst damage occurred at Sendai, about 300 km northeast of Tokyo, our area just east of the city shook violently and has been subject to numerous aftershocks. In one of the homes that we stayed in, the computer fell to the floor and was damaged. Another friend mentioned her TV and many other items falling. Thousands of commuters were stranded in downtown Tokyo because the transit system shut down. Apparently they’re on their way home now. Some people have mentioned being short of food. Many others are without power and  the possible leakage of radioactive material from a damaged nuclear power plant at Fukushima is, of course, of huge concern to everyone. Thus far, however, it seems that all our loved ones are probably safe and for that we are extremely grateful!

The earthquake didn’t come as a complete shock to us. When we lived in Japan, we were told that historically the Tokyo area is hit by a major quake about once every 100 years. The last one was the Great Kanto Earthquake of September, 1923 so people have been predicting that there would be another within the next decade or so. I don’t think anyone anticipated one of such magnitude, however, or the horrendous damage caused by the tsunami that it triggered. It will be some time until the extent of that damage and loss of life is fully known.

International Women’s Day

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I didn’t expect to be able to update the blog this week. We’re in Vancouver visiting my parents and I probably shouldn’t admit that I’m ‘borrowing’ internet from a neighbour! It’s a very weak connection so I don’t know if I’ll be able to finish and post this or not but I really do want to comment on the fact that today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.

What does that mean to those of us who had the good fortune to be born in a time and place where women’s lives are relatively easy? Hopefully, it’s a time to reflect on the progress that has been made over the past century that brought us to this point as well as a time to consider the plight of sisters worldwide whose lives are not as easy; women like those in Afghanistan. Though there have been many important improvements in that country in the last decade, Afghan girls and women continue to have vastly disproportionate access to education, justice and health services. They also have the worst maternal and newborn health outcomes in the world.

What can we do to help women in Afghanistan and other developing countries achieve a better life? According to CARE Canada, “women are the poorest and most vulnerable, yet greatest agents of change.” When women are empowered, conditions improve for their families and their communities. When mothers are given the resources to provide for their families, children go to school and when children go to school, great things happen.

This is why I’m a Kiva lender. I choose to contribute to loans that give women hope and enable them to climb out of abject poverty. For more information about how you can do the same, visit the Kiva website or click on the banner in the margin to the right. For other ideas, visit the Care Canada website. That’s what I’m going to do as soon as I have a better internet connection!

A favourite place

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moon jellyfish

We paid a visit to one of Sam’s favourite places this afternoon; the Vancouver Aquarium. Of course, at 17 months old he doesn’t have a very long attention span so Matt & Robin have a membership which allows them to make frequent short visits. It was fun watching Sam’s delight as he ran from one display to the next and we all enjoyed watching the sea otters frolic. It was the jellyfish that mesmerized me though. They looked like delicate moving flowers!

sea nettle jellyfish

Jet lag

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Yesterday was 33 1/2 hours long! We woke up in Japan at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Our plane left the runway exactly 12 hours later and 9 1/2 hours after that, we landed in Vancouver. It was a somewhat turbulent flight and although we tried to nap on the plane, we weren’t very successful.

When we landed in Vancouver, it was Tuesday morning again! I find it hard to get my head around but having crossed the International Date Line, we had gone back in time! Funny, we didn’t feel any younger!

My theory is that the best way to combat jet lag and get back into a normal routine is to stay up until a normal bedtime regardless of when you arrive somewhere. That meant staying awake for another 12 hours! We finally fell into bed last night and didn’t wake up until after 9:30 this morning! I’m sure it’ll be a few days before the effects of our super long day wear off completely but with the help of a bit of coffee, I’m managing.

Saying good-bye was hard to do especially since we don’t know when we’ll be back in Japan again. The most difficult part was leaving the four little children that we’ve become so close to. All under the age of 3, they will have changed so much by the time we see them again.

We had quite a send-off at the airport. We originally thought that we’d be making our way out to Narita by train which would be doable but not easy with all our baggage. Our friends wouldn’t hear of such a thing, however. Instead, we piled into Smoky and Ikuko’s little car with their entire family and all our luggage. On the way, we stopped at a highway rest stop where were met by Seiko and her two children!

Now we’re back in Canada enjoying our Vancouver grandchildren including Nathan Michael (Nate) born to Matt and Robin on February 15 while we were in Japan! He’s adorable, of course, and he and his big brother, Sam, don’t seem bothered by the fact that Gram and Grandpa are a wee bit tired.

Repacking

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We’ve been living out of suitcases for the past month. It hasn’t been as difficult as it might have been because we’ve been blessed to be able to use Pastor Steve and Shelley’s beautiful house as a home base and have only taken our smaller suitcases when we’ve left here to go to Osaka and to other homes in this area.  Our time here is running out, however, and the time has come for a complete repacking job.

We have four nights left in Japan. We’ll spend the first two with Seiko, Atsuo and their two boys (our Japanese grandsons) then move back to Smoky and Ikuko’s for the last two. Again, we’ll take only our smaller suitcases to Seiko and Atsuo’s but I want to have everything ready for our flight back to Canada today as we’ll only stop here for a few minutes to pick up the rest of our baggage on our way to Smoky and Ikuko’s after church on Sunday. We’ll go to the airport from their place on Tuesday.

So, everything is folded and sitting in piles on the bed and now it’s a matter of figuring out what goes in which bag. Instead, I’m procrastinating and sitting on the computer! It really isn’t that big of a job. We travel light and I know there’s enough room for everything. We’ve picked up a few mementos and gifts to take home with us but we’ve also unloaded the gifts that we brought for people here so it should even out.

We’ll be carrying an extra box back but that’s because we did some shopping for Matt and Robin while we’ve been here. Having lived in Japan for two years, there are things they can’t get at home that they wanted us to pick up. Their box is already packed though. Now it’s just a matter of getting our own stuff organized. So why am I still sitting here? Why am I procrastinating?

I’m looking forward to going home and especially to our ten day stopover in Vancouver where we’ll meet our new grandson who was born while we’ve been here but perhaps I’m also a little bit sad to see our time here coming to an end. I do love Japan and it’s going to be hard to say good bye again. We have to leave so many special people behind!

Crowds and quiet

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Over the past couple of weeks as we’ve revisited many of the places that we enjoyed during our year in Japan and explored a few new ones, I’ve been reminded how fortunate we were to live where we did. Funabashi is part of the greater Tokyo area but our students often referred to it as the countryside. To those of us who are used to the wide open spaces of the Canadian prairie, it is extremely urban but compared to the crowds and bustle of Tokyo proper, it’s definitely more peaceful. I loved being close enough to enjoy time in Tokyo but was always glad to return to the relative calm of our quieter neighbourhood.

Last night we had supper in downtown Tokyo with a friend from church who chooses to commute two hours to and from work each day in order to enjoy living in Chiba which is even further out than Funabashi. In addition to the more peaceful lifestyle, lower housing costs also draw people away from the city centre. We’ve been told that it costs less to rent an apartment in Funabashi than a parking stall in downtown Tokyo!

This week we’ve both immersed ourselves in the heart of the city and sought out quieter spots. It’s actually quite easy to do both. The day before yesterday, we walked through the bustling shopping districts of Harajuku and Shibuya and crossed the world’s busiest pedestrian intersection but we also strolled the wooded grounds of Yoyogi Koen. Today we revisited a smaller park in the area where we lived. I love the vibrancy of the world’s largest city but I’m glad I didn’t live in the middle of it. I also need time in more tranquil places.