Iwakuni Minami Yochien Kindergarten, Game with Iwakuni Angels, July 17

     This morning we were picked up by the buses from the kindergarten.  They are called fun buses, and you will see why from the pictures and videos.  It was a lot of fun, but squeezing into those seats were quite a challenge.  What else do you do on a kindergarten bus, but sing songs, which is what the ladies did on the way.  When we arrived, we were ushered into the auditorium to participate in their birthday ceremony.  The whole program started off with a Buddhist priest leading the ceremony, and altar and the kids repeating something.  It looked a lot like a worshipping of a god. Lots of other songs and numbers, special recognition of the birthday people and their mothers.  The Seahorses were introduced and sang their Japanese song, presented a gift to the principal, but we didn't do anything else.  Since this is our first visit their, they want to be careful about coming on too strong and not getting invited back.  It is all about relationship building here, and slowly at that.  After the program, we did a Seahorse tunnel to have the kids go through as we passed out gifts.  We took the buses to a sushi bar, and you should have seen the eyes of some of the girls who had never seen one before.  It was an enjoyable experience for all.  We walked from there back to the church and had a very low-key afternoon.  We were supposed to be picked up at 5 to go to the field for a 7pm game.  It is very hot/humid again today, so it is a good thing we are not playing until 7.  However, the bus was not available, so we had to arrange cars.  It "just so happened" that months ago, Paul could not escape the nagging feeling that he should get his international drivers license as he was planning to take a trip next year with Ken-Chan's father--but, he felt he should get his license this year anyway--which he did.  Well, the pastor at the church we are staying at loaned us his car for the time we are here, so Paul was able to drive it, which meant we had two cars to ferry people.  It still meant a couple of trips, but doable.  Just another way God started planning months ago for what he knew we would face.  

Pictures--7/17
Pictures--Franci's
Pictures--All
Video Montage--7/17
Kimi-Wa-Kindergarten version--7/17
Testimony--Natalie