| Although the subject of peace on
earth is always a theme in the Christmas celebrations because of
the angels' song in Luke 2, at Nakatsu Church it is pretty much
a year-round topic. For example, in August as we remember the end
of World War II, we have a peace concert in which many groups participate.
Today's sermon was "Blessed are the Peacemakers," and
much of the talk was about Anne Frank and about the Holocaust Museum
on Honshu Island that some of the church members visited in September.
Several pictures from that museum were displayed on the walls, and
I looked at them after morning worship as I ate my sweet potato
dumpling. Mrs. Reiko Tada, the head of the Grace Nursery School
which grew out of Nakatsu Church, told us that she had been to Israel,
to Auschwitz, and also three times to the Holocaust Museum.
Grace Nursery School is now in the middle of relocating and rebuilding,
and Mrs. Tada is planning to have a "Peace Corner" in
the new facility. Learning to be peacemakers is a good thing to
begin at a young age.
Today, besides being the first Sunday of Advent, marks three
and a half years since the day I began working at Izumi No Sono
(Garden of the Spring), a retirement center that also grew out
of Nakatsu Church. Since beginning with 50 beds, Izumi No Sono
has added 24-hour visiting nurse services and 24-hour visiting
helper services. The nursing home (care center) section now has
100 beds plus 10 beds for people who come for a short stay. Seiai
Home, the assisted living facility, began seven years ago and
has 50 residents. Each day around 25 to 30 people come to the
Izumi No Sono day service section. Last year we purchased the
adjacent property, and two buildings have been added: a group
home for nine mentally challenged seniors and another building
which has three purposes¾clinic, restaurant, and rehabilitation
center. Another service at Izumi No Sono is education for persons
in the community who want to learn how to be visiting helpers.
Over 100 meals on wheels are delivered every day also.
My work at Izumi No Sono continues to be leading three chapel
services a week and sharing in the lives of the residents and
staff. During December the number of services will increase, as
there will be some special services for Christmas in addition
to the ones we already have. For example, the week of December
15 to 21 I expect to be preaching eleven times. That is because
day service will have services every day, since there is a different
group each day.
I apologize for being so long between letters to you. I hope
you are well and looking forward to another year of service wherever
you are. I will try to keep you better informed in the future.
If you would like to receive my more frequent e-mail reports,
please let me know.
As many of you know, the financial situation in in the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) is such that staff in the Louisville offices has
once again been decreased, and missionaries leaving their overseas
fields were not replaced for a period, though not they are being
replaced. I would like to tell you of a way to help to keep the
number of mission personnel on the field up to its present level
and hopefully to increase the number. The Worldwide Ministries
Division has opportunities for helping various causes overseas,
and one of these accounts is for International Mission Personnel.
If you would like to contribute to this account, send a check
to Central Receiving Service, Section 300, Louisville, KY 40289.
Write the title (International Mission Personnel) and the ECO
number (ECO #048024) on the subject line of the check and put
it on your cover letter, too. Send a copy of the cover letter
to Bill Simmons, Worldwide Ministries Division, Office of the
Director, 100 Witherspoon St. Louisville, KY 40202-1396. Also,
some of you at some time in the future may experience a call to
serve overseas yourselves.
As the year 2003 dawns, let us join in prayer for those who work
for peace in the world and for changes in the hearts of those
who would add hostility to hostility.
In Christ's love,
Priscilla Abbott
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