Friday Letter

Yoshiko Kasuga

In March 1963, I married my husband, a Nisei, in Tokyo and moved to New York in May.

The previous year, my husband lost his wife, and he was left alone with two girls, one 2-year of age and one newborn. Though his friends kindly helped him, he was dismayed by this loss. At that time, I was working in a kindergarten, and I had a long-time wish to raise my own children in the future. My friends, who knew my wish, strongly recommended me to marry him, go to New York, and to help his children. The relatives of my husband also asked me to do so. Finally I made the decision. In New York, two of my husband’s brothers were living on the same street and kindly gave me support. In my neighborhood, the number of Japanese businessmen and their families gradually increased and they also offered help. However, my everyday life was a battle. The reality of raising children was completely different from the practicum which I took in Japan. I was deeply frustrated trying to figure out how to teach Japanese to the children while outside home everyone spoke English.

However, the most frustrating thing was the difference in values between my husband and I. I suffered terribly because I could not
understand his sense of value. Everyday, I cried to God “Lord, why? It can’t be! Help me!” If this took place in Japan, I think I would have fled from such a life. But God sent me to a foreign land far, far from my home. Now, I can understand that God gave me time to consider His love through such experiences, but at that time, I was just repeating “God, why?” everyday. Every Sunday, I sent my children to Sunday School at the Methodist Church in my neighborhood, while I attended the services. However, the messages were delivered in English, and I could not understand them. It was so stressful! There were many, many things.

Ater twenty years, God suddenly whispered to me. I thought that I could not understand my husband at all, but God spoke to me about him. He told me: “He (my husband) is the same as you. As you could not understand him, he suffered too because he could not understand you. He was patient with you as much as you were with him.” At that moment, my heart became much lighter. “Oh, it was the same situation with him.” Until that day, I had thought that I alone was a victim, and I did not have compassion. For what purpose had I gone to the church to learn the Words of God? I was so ashamed. Now I understand that, considering his background, it is understandable why my husband has such a sense of value.

As I review the paths of my life, I strongly felt the significance of patience. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (I Corinthian 10:13) When I was in trouble, I relied on these Words. “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:11) “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18) “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him. For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:5- 6)

There are many other Words which supported me. Now I know that God has always been with me. Now I know why God paved my way to a foreign land on the opposite side of the earth from my home country.

June 2007

Sayoko Yoshida

On the left-side wall in the sanctuary, there is a painting of Christ praying in the garden of Gethsemane. The title of this painting is “Christ – Still Praying for Mankind.” It was painted by Henry Yuzuru Sugimoto in 1978, when he was over 70. He painted and dedicated it to the JAUC sanctuary. Since being baptized in 1920, Henry and his wife, Susie Mae, had been very pious Christians. He left many paintings, but all the paintings reflect the spirit of Christianity even if they do not depict the direct image of Christ.

In this painting, Henry depicts his prayer for peace. In the left back, there is a cathedral and peaceful town. Beautiful flowers, small birds, a rabbit, and a squirrel are surrounding Christ, and they are the symbols of peace. In the right back, a mushroom cloud symbolizing the atomic bomb and people’s suffering in fire are vividly depicted. The message is clear: Christ is still praying for peace and welfare of human beings. Henry once said: “I hope that my art works contribute to the art society in the world and that they will be for the glory of God.”

Kumiko Bauman

When I was 32, God helped me to survive a very difficult ordeal. At that time, I thought that the only way left to me was to die with my children. One night, I tried to strangle Keita, the eldest child. However, though he was just 6, he kicked off my hands with an unbelievable strength.

Next morning, I went to Aomori alone with plans to kill myself by jumping into the sea from a ferryboat, but my plan failed because all the doors to the deck were locked and watched by crews of the ship. When I was sitting totally powerless, I heard someone whispering to me: "I am with you. I am with you." Then I noticed why all of my attempts to die failed: "Lord, is it you? So you protected me! I am sorry for my attempts. Thank you Lord, thank you." Weeping, I returned to Tokyo.

Throughout the several years after this incident, I lived in poverty. My children suffered too. Because they could not study well and they were not living with their father, they were ridiculed by their classmates and even by their teachers.

When I was 40, I passed the admission exam of Aoyama Gakuin University. When I found my number in the bulletin board, I was so happy that I hugged and kissed the gate of the school. My acceptance encouraged my children very much. They thought: "If Mom could do this, we can make it too!" They helped with the daily chores so that I could go to the school after work. We three studied together for the final examinations. Finally, both of my children could enter universities. God transformed my children to diamonds, and even after that He added more blessings to my life.

I always pray "Lord, what can I do for You to express my gratitude?" I am currently dedicating 80% of my time and energy for work and 20% for God. Money-wise, my goal is to offer 50% of my income to God, but I have not achieved that yet. Sometimes, after offering, I feel "Maybe half of the amount would have been enough." So far I am offering 40% of them. From this year, I am serving as a member of the Board of Directors. I promise God to serve faithfully, always keeping this Bible verse in my heart: "Not my will but Your Will be done."

Mary Yamada

One of our most beloved church members, Mary Yamada, had her 94th birthday on Jan. 25th. Born in 1913, she grew up in L.A. until the age of 19. She went to University of Southern California for two and a half years to study premed and attended Bellevue School of Nursing in New York to receive RN. She continued her education at Teacher’s College of Columbia University and received BS in Nursing and MA in Guidance to be a School Counselor. During WWII, she volunteered for the army nurse corps for 27monthes. After the war, passing the exam, she became one of the first licensed high school counselors and worked for high schools until she retired at the age of 63 due to her mother’s health. Since then she has been enjoying her free life. She was baptized when she was 15 in L.A. According to her Sunday school teacher, she was the first Japanese Christian at the church. Her favorite Bible verses are; “I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121),” “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing (Psalm 100),” and “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful (Colossians 3:15).” Her life itself is a great testimony to us. “I don’t remember many things in my life, but I would say my life was not always easy. However God was always with me and I made it through those hard times,” she said with a smile.

Yoshinori Shiraishi

My name is Yoshinori Shiraishi, but I am called Yoshi Shiraishi professionally.

I came to New York 20 years ago on March 30, 1987. I graduated from Mushashino Fine Arts University with a major in architecture. Subsequently I worked for Nomura Kogeisha, one of the largest designing companies in Japan. I was responsible for the interior design of Seibu Department Store and Parco. 20 years ago, I won the grand prize at an international design contest and soon after that joined an American design company owned by the head of the selection committee.

Ten years ago, I became independent and established Yoshi Design, NY, Inc. In Japan I have been involved with redesigning the interior of Ginza Mitsukoshi and am participating in the development of Tokyo Midtown Project which is located at the former site of the Self-Defense Force in Roppongi, as well as in the commercial redevelopment of Marunouchi. In New York, I have worked on Itoen-Kai Restaurant on Madison Avenue, and Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel.

In the past 20 years, I have traveled altogether 200 times between New York and Tokyo. I am now the Japanese designer in the States who is responsible for the greatest total designed space.

As I was preparing for my wedding, I realized I wanted to become a baptized Christian. On November 22 last year, we were happily married as Christians at a church in Guam. My wife, Mariko, has been a Christian since her college days. But I grew up in a typical Japanese family that had a Shinto altar and held a funeral in Buddhist style.

When I was 20 years old, I traveled through Europe by myself for two months. I was overwhelmed with the sacred atmosphere of Westminster Cathedral in England and the Vatican. (I traveled to 46 countries and am aiming at 100.)

I attended the baptism classes conducted by Rev. Suzuki for five weeks and was able to learn the essentials of Christian faith and was baptized at JAUC on November 12, 2006, surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ. It was truly a moving experience.

I will be a father in February. With the help of Christ, I pray that our home will be filled with happiness and love.

Larry Kern

I miss a feeling that I had at JAUC. It's been two years since my lung transplant and I have not attended church services on a regular basis because my immune system is suppressed. At JAUC, simply by participating I was often left with a sweet feeling inside. Because of that feeling I found that it was easier for me to look inward in devotion, but without an active church life I've encountered dry spell.

There is a novel called "Robinson Crusoe" about a man who was marooned on an island. In the book he says he was busy with common sense activities all day and did not spend time looking upwards or inwards. As a result he was left with a certain stupidity of soul without desire of good or conscience of evil. I've noticed the same stupidity of soul increasing in myself.

A man at rehab told me that he counts his blessings until 3 am, so I attempted to copy him with limited success because it felt like a dry exercise. Then I reread the passage in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus says "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God". I began to be more sensitive about the impurities in my heart and to pray for help in dealing with them. I have found that if you have a purer heart, you will see God more when you think about your blessings. As a result I am starting to get some of that sweet spiritual feeling back that I used to have at JAUC.

Gerri Yoshida

It’s hard to have an attitude of thanksgiving in the midst of a family crisis. It is much easier to feel sorry for yourself; bitter, angry, hopeless, helpless. I grimly faced the Family Budget Worksheet to request additional financial aid for their exorbitant tuition for my son’s last semester. Tax forms, pay stubs, receipts for every expense lay strewn around in untidy piles. Due to illness, surgery and home recuperation, Peter, my husband, has worked 14 days this year. How many jobs and auditions have I turned down to go to the hospital, clinic appointments, pharmacy for and with him? Yet God’s light shines in our darkness. As I added up the pay stubs I was surprised to learn that instead of earning less this year, the total Yoshida family income is greater this year than last year. The Lord in His mercy has provided all that we needed when we needed it. Like manna it arrives neither early nor late; it is never too little nor too much. God’s grace has not been dependent on my actions or attitudes but is due to his abundant goodness and love for each one of us. He will never leave you nor forsake you. There is nothing that I can do to earn his providence. All He asks is a humble and grateful heart, a willingness to repent of our sins of doubt, ingratitude; and our desire to share this good news with others that they may see the same hope of salvation for all people. To God be the glory!

December 2006