Greetings from Princeton, New Jersey!

Our first academic year at Princeton Theological Seminary has come to a close. It has been an exciting, exhilarating, exhaustive and exhausting year of study! We realize it is such a privilege for us to be able to spend this kind of concentrated time in study and are so thankful for the opportunity. Tom will have one more doctoral course to take in the fall and then will take the comprehensive exams in January and begin writing his dissertation for his Ph.D. in practical theology/Christian education. Carol has thoroughly enjoyed the introductory courses for the M.A. program—Old and New Testament surveys, systematic theology, and three Christian education courses, including two focusing on adolescents. It has been a stimulating challenge after so many years away from academia. She is particularly looking forward to applying what she’s been learning in next year’s field education as a student chaplain in a nearby nursing home.

This has been an important time for us to be near our families. After several years of health struggles, Tom’s mother died on May 9. She was 81 years old and had lived a long and vibrant life that with its Irish zest and sparkle touched many people. We are so grateful to have been close by her this past year. The great gathering of family and friends at her wake and funeral was sad, and yet it was a joyous celebration of her life and legacy. Her final words are a testimony to her deep faith, "I love you all. Let’s go!"

We have also spent many precious weekend hours with Carol’s parents (retired PC(USA) pastors) who live in Cape May, NJ. Carol’s dad, with the indefatigable support of her mom, has been working hard to recuperate from a major stroke he suffered more than a year ago. Their loving commitment to each other is a confirmation of their marriage vows made over 50 years ago. Although his language has been severely limited by the stroke, Bill is still amazingly able to communicate his love and enthusiasm with his resounding, "Wonderfuls!" and "Wows!"

Our children are doing well, although our 16-year-old Sarah really misses Japan. Katie, our kindergartner, loves school and especially loves living here on campus where she has so much room to run and play outside. Paul (19) has had a great first year at Bowdoin College. Rose has had a fun year working in Austin, Texas. She’ll return to Boston College this fall for her junior year.

In addition to the studying, Tom and I have enjoyed visiting our supporting churches in the area. I’d like to share a story about the impact one church can have. We visited Moorestown Presbyterian Church soon after the tragic submarine collision with the Japanese fishing ship off the coast of Hawaii last February. After the service, an elderly couple in the church approached us with a proposal. They had a friend in Japan and thought that perhaps they could send via this friend a letter of condolence on behalf of their church to the families who had lost loved ones in the accident. We wholeheartedly encouraged them! They gathered over 300 signatures of members of Moorestown and sent the note to Japan. Their friend translated their message, sent copies to the principal of the fisheries high school, and asked him to send the copies to each bereaved family. Then she visited the school herself, spoke to twelve classes, showing slides of her visit in Moorestown and the Christmas worship service there, and told them of Moorestown’s prayers for all of them. A small gesture of one church’s love surely has ministered greatly to grieving families on the other side of the world.

We are pleased to report that a former student of Tom’s from Tokyo Union Theological Seminary (TUTS), Yuki Shimada, has been accepted at Princeton’s PhD program for study in the field of theology and ethics. We look forward to her joining us here on campus in the fall. Historically, PTS has had many close ties with Japan, and we are encouraged to see this tradition of exchange continued. Please pray for the former president of TUTS, Dr. Kikuo Matsunaga. This very hardworking and faithful leader recently had to step down because of serious health problems. The new president is Dr. Makoto Yamauchi.

The catechisms that Kaoru Tanaka, a graduate of TUTS, and Tom have translated, Belonging to God: A First Catechism and The Study Catechism, are now in the final stages of publication in Japan! There has been much enthusiasm for these catechisms and we are so glad that they are almost ready for wide distribution to the churches in Japan.

This summer we are planning a three-week road trip to Iowa to visit Carol’s 99-year-old grandfather and to Texas to visit our daughter and help her move back north. We are hoping to visit a few of our supporting churches on the way—especially those distant ones that we’ve been unable to visit in the past. We’ll be leaving June 18 and returning July 8 (in time for Tom to begin his six-week intensive German course!). Please let us know if you would like us to visit and we’ll see if it can be worked out. Our e-mail is and phone is (609) 497-1786.

Blessings,

Tom, Carol, Rose, Paul, Sarah and Katie Hastings