I have friends, Ana and John, a Christian couple, who are old friends. They live in San Francisco. About a decade ago, I guess Ana saw our newspaper ad and called me saying "Please visit my parents in San Jose. They are Japanese. They don't know Jesus". So I visited Ana's parents, Rick and Nancy. Actually they are Nisei (second generation Japanese-Americans), but Nancy especially spoke Japanese with no accent. Nancy soon accepted Jesus and went home to be with the Lord about 8 years ago.

Then Rick sold his house and moved into his daughter's house in San Francisco. Ana sometimes would call me and ask for prayer for Rick's salvation. Rick had never confessed his faith in Jesus. A while after Rick moved to San Francisco, he entered a skilled nursing facility in San Francisco's Japantown.

Recently, I received a phone call from Ana, so Cynthia and I visited Rick. This time we were accompanied by T-san, the 103 year old lady.

We found out that Rick is now a Christian. Ana and John were there too. I introduced T-san to them. They were so surprised upon learning T-san's age, even though Rick was 97.

Actually Rick was under hospice care. I think he will pass soon. However, I asked him, "Rick, do you remember me? I am the Japanese pastor, Abe Ishihara. I used to visit your home in San Jose. Your wife was still alive in those days." Then it seemed he remembered me.

T-san was great. She spoke to Rick, "You are only 97 years old. You are younger than I. Gambare, gambare! (Have confidence to live!)"

I mentioned T-san's salvation to Ana and John. They were quite amazed.

We were at peace knowing these seniors are under the care of our Lord Jesus.

On our return, we went to San Francisco Japantown and had fellowship with some coffee and cake. It was another wonderful day.

(Photo: at San Francisico J-town with Ana, John and T-san)

Tsan Baptized

Our 103 year old T-san was baptized last Sunday. Our home is Christian-oriented as we have stated. However, participating in all religious activities are on a voluntary basis. As a pastor, I think that residents' spiritual care is also very important. Recently around us a couple of people have passed away, so even a 103 year old lady might feel something heavenly drawing her in.

She accepted Jesus as her Savior, so I baptized her.

Yuai-Kai

In San Jose, we have a Japanese American Community Senior Service called Yuai-Kai.

http://www.yuaikai.org/

Our seniors usually go to Yuai-Kai twice a week. However, our 103 year old lady T-san recently does not want to go anymore because most of her friends have already passed.

Last week our church hosted Japanese musicians, Miho Yoshimura, a renowned soprano singer and Kazuko Chen, a talented pianist. We asked them to perform at Yuai-Kai so they did. In front of about 30 seniors, Miho sang and Kazuko played the piano. The seniors enjoyed the performance very much.

I asked T-san, "Why don't you go as well?" so she also went to the Yuai-Kai concert. Others were also glad to see T-san.

Cynthia's mom is now with the Lord

( Abe and Cynnthia singing hymns for most of the attendees who are not Christians, Tama & Isao's wedding, 1939, Tama & Isao's 70th anniversary 2009)

At the end of January, Tama, Cynthia's mom, had a stroke and had been in the hospital all of February. However, she went home to be with the Lord on March 1, 2010. We immediately left for Japan so I could officiate her funeral. Tama and Isao, Cynthia's father had their 70th wonderful wedding anniversary last year. For us they are a model couple. Isao, after losing his lovely wife, needs lots of comfort though, although his greatest need is His salvation. Her funeral was conducted at Shinohara Assembly of God. Over 150 people gathered together but most were non-Christians. My mother-in-law gave me the best opportunity to preach through her death. I simply preached an evangelical sermon. In Japan, usually there are two times to preach because they not only have a funeral service but also an 'eve of funeral' service. I spoke about resurrection and the cross. I knew some of the attendees wouldn't like these messages, but I still gave them. I think that for many, it was the first time to hear the Gospel directly. I think even in Tama's passing God was able to be glorified.

103 year old woman Kakizome (Japanese calligraphy)

Look at this! A 103 year old woman did Japanese calligraphy on this New Year's Day. I have a license to teach calligraphy.

Mexican Church needs a new (used) keyboard.

Food program & Mexican Church
We've been helping a tiny Mexican church since 1993. This week we went there and helped their feeding program. Then we found out they need a new (used is ok) piano keyboard. They like to sing and dance during their services, but their very old keyboard has been broken for a month. Please help them have a new keyboard. Maybe we can buy a used one and give it to them if we have several hundred dollars. If you can give, please send us checks, we will do it immediately.

Oldest Giants fan

This resident is 103 years old. She is very active and loves watching baseball games. Soon the 2010 baseball season will start and she is so excited. Two years ago, I took her to a San Francisco Giants game. For her that was the first time seeing an actual game, even though she has been in the US for 85 years. I bought a Giants cap and T-shirt for her. I made a big poster. Our resident enjoyed that game and the people around us also enjoyed seeing both the game and a 103 year old Giants fan. I also took her to AT&T park last year. I made another poster. This time the TV camera zoomed in on her. She was on the giant screen in the middle of an inning for the entire park to see. On seeing that, over 40,000 fans cheered with joy! We are planning to go to AT&T Park this year too. I guess she will hold the record as the oldest Giants fan in attendance in the history of the stadium!

Singing songs

This lady liked Japanese pop songs very much so I sang many for her with my guitar. She enjoyed hearing them very much.

Now we have only one resident.

We had two residents last year. We had a wonderful time with them. However, one passed away last May so we now have only one resident. This photo was taken in April 2009 in our back yard.

Lompoc visit

By T.H.


In the morning of February 3rd, 2010 I had my usual breakfast: a slice of toast, one egg, salad and coffee. Then suddenly Sensei asked me, “T-San, let’s go to Lompoc.” I had only recently heard about Lompoc. While K(my son) and I were in Japan after World War II, my husband sent us a lot of packages quite often. In those days in Japan, everything in virtually every category was scarce. Therefore any “goods” he sent to us were very precious to us. When I recall those days, I always appreciate his generosity--tears come to my eyes.
I know Lompoc is located far from San Jose, so I said to Sensei at first, “Thank you, but no, it is too far.” I felt that it would greatly inconvenience him if he were to take me there. However, Sensei repeatedly insisted that I go. So finally I accepted his generous offer. Actually, I did not know about the city of Lompoc for many years. After I came to this senior home I finally heard the name of Lompoc. I came back to the U.S. in 1954, at which time my husband and I talked about our lives during the post war period. He mentioned that he was working at a seed company, but he did not mention where it was located and I did not ask what city it was in. I did not care about it in those days; it seemed a trivial detail.
Now Sensei and I are writing my autobiography. We needed some information of the post war period. So he asked my son, James where my husband, Enji was working right after we were separated. James said that Enji was working at a seed company in Lompoc. Thus I learned where my husband was in those days. Although we never lived together in that city, that city has significance to me. We drove on US101 southwards. I felt we had driven so many miles, I finally asked Sensei, “Are we driving in Mexico?" He laughed and laughed. I was sitting in the front seat, so I could enjoy seeing the rural scenery all the time. I thought again that America was really grand. After a little more than a 4 hour drive, we arrived at Lompoc. Sensei questioned the employees of one seed company. I believe Sensei was relaying my history to them. They were quite serious while he talked. Finally a man by the name of Sal said, “I believe this is not the company which you are looking for, because this company was founded in the 1960s. I think you might want the Ball Seed Company, because that company was founded before the war.” According to Sal, the Pan-American seed company which was a part of the Ball Seed Company, bought the former Burpee Seed Company some time ago. So now it is known as the Ball Seed Company.
It is located not far from Sal’s company and is a ranch. Of course, during the winter when we visited there was nothing blooming. A man told us, if we were to visit here in summer, we would see very many kinds of flowers blooming. He remarked, “It’s a pretty and beautiful sight.” James told Sensei that the Burpee Seed Company was the one which Enji was working at in those days. Therefore we had found it! We just drove around the greenhouses and I imagined what it was like when Enji was working there in those days.
Then we went to one of the nearby post offices. I did not know if in fact it was the same
Lompoc post office that Enji used to send me many packages from, but it could have been.
Then Sensei took me to the seashore. Nearby was the Lompoc Amtrak rail station. Sensei said, “Maybe your husband came here and was thinking of Kenji and you who were living beyond the sunset.” Then again, I recalled my husband of those days with tears. I think I may never visit that city anymore. We stayed in Lompoc for only 2 hours. For other people, it might not be a fun trip, though, for me it was a very significant trip.
Sensei, arigato.

English Blog started

We are sorry to all the English speakers that it has taken us such a long time to start an English blog.

We have started this blog so English speakers/readers can get to know us better. Some of these earlier entries may not be in chronological order. We hope you will get to know Calstar Home and us more through these pages, and consider Calstar Home for yourself or your parents.