Almost Ready to Launch

Our neighbourhood shipyard is still busy making patrol boats for the Japan Coast Guard.  Considering how high the boat in the water is riding above the waterline, the engines have not yet been installed. 

One is in the water being outfitted, but a second one is being prepared for launching.

After these two, there's an order for coast guard boats to be sent to Sri Lanka as foreign aid. All built right in our neighbourhood. And the motto of the Sumidagawa Shipyard doesn't translate into English very well, does it? 

Right Out Our Window

The Shinkansen (bullet train) is a world famous symbol of Japan.

When you ride the bullet train, the lunch boxes sold on the train are made in this building just across the river from our balcony. 

Here are some of the employees receiving training on using fire extinguishers outside. Judging by their clothing, they're very careful about contamination. 

So, if you're visiting Japan and riding the bullet train, please enjoy a box lunch made right in our neighbourhood.  

In Fukuoka

Regional Developer Mark Jones flew in to be with our team, and also wanted to see Fukuoka in western Japan and the Shaos, who are reaching out to Chinese residents of that city. We spent the day with the Shaos and heard of their vision for expanding from one location to two to better reach the 120,000 Chinese living in that city of 1.5 million. How far is Fukuoka from Tokyo? About the same distance as Toronto to Minneapolis, so we don't get to see the Shaos very often.

It was great to hear of their vision and the possibility of another worker joining them, one from their own church who is in seminary now and has a vision for the Chinese of Japan. After flying back from Fukuoka I was surprised to discover that last year the population of the city was surpassed by Chinese visitors arriving direct from Shanghai by cruise ship for shopping excursions. They choose cruise ships because there's no limit on baggage, and they purchase for friends and family.

We're thankful for the impact that's being made on Chinese who are resident in the city. Our colleagues, Henry and Wendy Chuang, will go to Fukuoka in September to spend time with the Shaos, speaking in their native Mandarin. All of our conversations had to be held in Japanese, our common language, and translated to English for Mark.