Photos from the Chino 13 mission

Here are some pictures from the mission.  Sorry you weren't able to get them along with the posts during the mission.  I'm not a photographer - but I hope you get the spirit of what was happening.

Friends and family members see team off from LAX.

Arrival at Narita/Tokyo airport.

A friendly face at the Narita airport.  A welcome sight after the 10 hour flight.  Louis,  you cannot get out of the picture.

Chino church members greeting us at the Chino train station.

This was either a publicity poster for our activities at Chino Christ Church, or a wanted poster.  It was on the bulletin board at the Chino train station.

Our greeting at Chino Christ Church.  Sanae-san, Chi-chan, and Chihoyo-sensei share with Monica, Shizuka & Diane.

The front of Chino Christ Church.  Our home for ten days.

Kawano-sensei with other members of the Taishokoto group giving us a concert.  He is the only male member, as well as its youngest member.

Fumi receiving instruction on the taishokoto.  

Daniel and Timothy (Louis Yang's son) trying to make music.

Tsuguru and Shizuka playing a duet.

Shizuka giving a heartfelt testimony to our taishokoto guests.

Some of the volunteers from Chino who helped out at EEC.

Tsuguru and Erica introducing Joseph, Mary & baby Jesus to the campers at EEC.

Crafts in the upstairs room.  Volunteers from the Chino church helping with the Pre-K group.

A happy camper.

Feeding lunch to 70 campers and many adult helpers.

Yes, it was as crowded as it appears in the photo.  Yet, there were very few accidents and everything went smoothly.  I doubt that many of us could feed two children as efficiently as they fed 70.

The adults taking a quick break to have lunch.  Yes, those are hot dogs in their hands and mouths.

Those "reserved" Japanese people joining in with the singing and dancing.

Don't you wonder what in the world they are doing.

A beautification program gone wrong.  I believe it is Shizuka, Chihoyo-sensei, Chi-chan, Daniel and Fumi behind those moisturizing masks.

Lunch on the second day - curry.  Everyone is wearing their camp t-shirt.

The line for "seconds."  The kids love curry.

Crazy Hair Day - Louis and Daniel

Watermelon at lunch on the last day of EEC.

Each of the four groups presented a song for the campers and their parents at the closing of the last day.

The helper standing at the left is a former camper at EEC.  She asked if she could come back this year to help out. 

The "babies" are so cute.  They could just stand there and count to 10 and everyone would applaud.

How many things in life bring you that kind of joy?

...five, six, seven, eight, nine.....

There was a barbecue after the last day of EEC.  Church members and families from EEC were invited.  Cooking in the carport.

Sightseeing in Matsumoto.  A forty-five minute train ride from Chino.

The Matsumoto Castle.  One of four castles in Japan considered national treasures.  It is as beautiful and magnificent as this photograph.

Preparing to leave Chino.  Chino church members come to say sayonara.

Aina-san, Egawa-san, Tsuguru & Monica posing for one last photo.

I hope these photos give you a small sense of what the team experienced in Japan.  Thank you, once again, for your prayers and financial support.  Please give serious thought to joining the team in 2014.  God bless you all.