The "Shink"

Dear Family,

Last week we took the bullet train (Shinkansen) from Fukuoka to Hiroshima to assist another
senior couple, the Schroeders, in some preliminary work for the establishment of an Institute Outreach Center in Saijo near the University of Hiroshima. We looked at potential rental property and walked the campus evaluated the prospects for success.  It was an exciting throwback to our assignment in Germany several years ago, and we are thrilled with the prospect of helping to introduce this focus on missionary work among young single adults that has been so successful in Europe.

The "Shink"

Now, about the Shinkansen  -  Japan is the perfect country for high speed trains – long and skinny geography, dense population, congested traffic.  The “Shink” was introduced in 1964 in time for the Tokyo Olympics and has been a huge success ever since.  The speed of these trains is currently limited at 200 mph because of tunnel boom, the shock wave emanating when a high-speed train exits a tunnel. Typical Japanese discipline has been applied to this system, and you can set your watch by the Sinkansen. Last year the average time delay in departure for the whole system was 36 seconds.      



Tennis with Rikki

This morning at 6:00 was I joined by our New Zealander friend, Rikki for a game of tennis in the shadow of the ruins of the ancient Fukuoka Castle.  It was an historic moment -  such inept tennis (at least on my part) the walls of this castle had never before witnessed - but it was good exercise.

 Japan has a national medical insurance system which is mandatory and universal for citizens and aliens alike.  The Japanese system helps to keep the Japanese alive longer than any other people on earth and somehow fosters one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.  The church recently decided to obtain this insurance coverage for all missionaries serving here, both youthful and otherwise. These last several weeks have consumed much of the office staff with the conversion to this system.  Getting everyone signed up and arranging the means of paying the premiums is proving to be a bureaucratic nightmare.

Not wanting to end this missive on that administrative note, we throw in two additional pictures – Pat with some of her dearest friends (Sis. Shiraishi, Sis. Gustafson, Kyoko), and with three of our favorite sister-leader missionaries (Takabori, Shigihara, Black). 

We remain your faithful far-eastern correspondents, 

Mom and Dad