From the Heart of Tokyo 東京の中心から

Holy Week

聖週間

 

We've been spending a lot of time at church lately, him with the altar server program, me with the parish council, but this week, Holy Week, it's even more so.  We really wish we didn't have to miss the special Easter Vigil, but we're going to Viet Nam and Cambodia tomorrow.  It's a week-long trip, packed in one duffle bag and one carry-on  per person.  Tomorrow is a full day's worth of travel, Tokyo to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) in Cambodia, via Hochiminh City (used to be Saigon) in Vietnam.  We'll come back to Hochiminh later after Angkor Wat and a couple days in Phnom Phen.

It's the kids' Spring Break, so we've been planning this for awhile.  Martin wanted to go to Vietnam, he's very interested in geo-politics and he makes it seem very interesting.  When I was a child, the War in Vietnam and the domestic scene, with anti-war protests was on the news every night.  So there's that, but I'm also looking forward to seeing the ancient temples in Ankor Wat, whereas Martin is excited about the history museums in Pnom Pen.  Monica and Jonah are both looking around for the beach, alas...not in our plans.  But they are both experienced and congenial travel companions, and I'm sure they'll make the most of this opportunity to see another place in the world.

What does all this have to do with St. Patrick's day?  Good question.  Timing.  Martin took a few pictures at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Omotesandou last weekend.  I really like some of these pictures, please take a look. 

I have many good resolutions for when I get back from this trip.  Here is one:

I will start an English Conversation class for my beginner English speaker skater friends and their families.  We will have this class about twice a month on Sunday afternoon after City Run at my apartment.  In a group setting, for an hour and a half, we will talk, play games and enjoy speaking English.  There will be homework, but you don't have to attend every class.  The first class will be on April 6.  I will write more on Mixi after I return from Indochina

旅行後に、私は英語の会話のクラスを始まります。このクラスは初学者のためのスケータと家族のためです。　クラスは日曜日のごご、シーティーランの後で、毎月二回ぐらい催します。グルプは一時間半で、遊技して、お喋って、笑って一緒に。宿題ですが、やさしいです。初めのクラスは４月６日です。インド中国から帰る後でミクシでもっとを書きます。

Here is another.  I've learned a lot in Dreamweaver in my class at Temple.  I've reworked half the index page of my homesite.  When I come back, I'll move forward on that, and upload the page renewed as Dreamweaver.  That's a landmark start, and I can go on from there. 

That's just two.

   

Church Guys

この写真は殆ど５年間前から。その時モニカは７歳だ。神人は父リノです。               This picture was taken almost five years ago when Monica was only 8 years old.  The priest is Father Lino.

Ｆａｔｈｅｒ　Ｌｉｎｏ　という神の人は死にました。  彼は病気で　年上が特別な友達。　 死ぬはびっくりじゃない。いつも笑っています。優しくて頭がいい人です。　少しなくとも５語を話すことができます。　50+年間日本に住んでいました。前にベトナム。前々に中国。　イタリアで生まれた。

5年間モニカとジョナは教会で手伝っています。そしてファタリノによくしていました。葬式に行きました。凄く美しい礼拝だ。たくさん神の日本人来ました。日本語歌うを歌いました。　父リノをさびしいする。  Here's a previous POST about Father Lino.

So, Father Lino died.  Recently he's been sick and he was old, so his death did not come as a surprise.  He was always smiling.  He was very kind, but also very smart.  He spoke at least five languages.  For the last 50 plus years he's lived in Japan, but before that China and Viet Nam.  He was born in Italia. 

Monica and Jonah have been his altar servers for the last five years so they knew him well.  We all went to his wake.  It was a beautiful service with many Japanese religious people singing Japanese songs.　We will miss Father Lino.

Speaking of Church Guys,  at our church, Martin is in charge of  the Altar Service Ministry.  So, he recruits, organizes, trains and motivates the children who help on the altar every weekend.  I help him by making the monthly altar server schedule and helping with the training parties.  Every few weeks, he does a combination  training session/party with the kids.  Sometimes they do bowling.  This time they played ping-pong, made paper airplanes and ate pizza.  It's a good thing.

（要約）　マティんは教会の子供の手伝い人の先導です。時々彼は子供に招待をします。訓練と交際する。その時に教会の訓練後で彼達はピングポングを遊んだり、ペーパ飛行機を作ったり、ピーザを食べました。よかったです。