From Haiti to Japan

 This post is going to cover a lot of info! So hang on for the ride!!

After getting a much-needed haircut by a Haitian barber, Will went by ambulance on Sunday, May 14, to Port-au-Prince airport from his place on the hospital compound.  Doesn't that sound dramatic?! But this was the mode of transportation available and it enabled him to pass through sketchy areas and arrive safely at his destination. 

In need of a good buzz...

His view from the ambulance.

After safe arrival in Port-au-Prince, Will flew to Miami (BACK IN THE USA!!) then Atlanta, and finally arrived in Sacramento in the early morning hours of Monday, May 15. It was over 12 hours of travel! He had a brief respite in Weimar, CA, before their departure at 4am to San Jose, CA, where the orchestra group met and flew out to Tokyo. Upon arriving in Tokyo they caught one last flight to South Korea where they would spend the next week meeting church members, giving concerts and touring the area.

He says  a very nice bus picked them up at the airport and transported them to Sahmyook University in Seoul.  He says it is a very nice campus and that it was FABULOUS to finally have a bed to sleep in and try to recover from his crazy travel!

Coming out of the Seoul Airport

The clean, luxurious bus transporter

FINALLY  a bed to catch some much needed sleep!

On Friday, May 19, the University gave a vespers concert in which Will was simply there to help and assist in any way necessary. He says the orchestra is very good and that he opted NOT to play with them. He says that overall he is having a good time and that it is just surreal that he had just been in Haiti a week prior and 6 months ago was working and entrenched in his life in Albuquerque.  He also says that he's just having a hard time fully comprehending life right now.  So many changes! So much going on!

Visiting the palace in Seoul

Looking out to Seoul from a surrounding mountain

A group photo

THIS is Korean Carrot Cake. He says it wasn't bad but that he likes his own better... lol

Will says he was blindsided by an Adventist pastor he met in Korea. The pastor told him that a non-Adventist went to Japan from Korea in the late 1800's. This non-Adventist met a pastor who introduced him to Jesus and the Adventist message. This now new Adventist returned to Korea and is credited with starting the church in Korea. The pastor relating this story to Will knew about Will's Great-great-great grandfather, William Grainger, and credited him with bringing Adventism to Korea. Will says the pastor was very excited to talk with him and to take Will's picture. He says, "I was not expecting that and it felt weird!"

The pastor of the International Church owns a lot of bikes and shared them with the group one evening. He led them to a rose garden and festival that was very pretty and a great way to see everything.

The group ended their stay in Seoul and arrived in Tokyo on Saturday night, May 20.  They settled into a bed & breakfast:

This B&B is over 200 years old!

Very neat and tidy

They enjoyed a traditional seated Japanese luncheon.

On Wednesday, the 24th, they visited a local elementary school and gave a concert. The kids were so enthusiastic and gave them a warm send-off :

After leaving the elementary school they visited the cemetery where William Grainger is buried. He died while serving in Japan within 3 years of his arrival there. There are multiple plaques and stones engraved in his honor. 

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord
for they rest from their labours
and their works do follow them"
The inscription engraved at the bottom of one of the grave stones. 

Their host pastor from the Japan Adventist Academy had scouted out the
grave site and knew exactly where to take them.

Visiting the cemetery and seeing the grave had an impact on Will. He says, "It makes the history more 'real' seeing the name of Grainger on these tombstones and buildings. I can tell the Japanese people are moved by it. It was just interesting..."

They also visited the chapel at the school that was dedicated to and named after William Grainger:

Great smile, Will !

And apparently this says, "William Grainger"

Following this epic Grainger visit the group headed for some sightseeing. They visited the famous Meiji Shrine in Shibuya, Tokyo. It is a Shinto shrine that is dedicated to Emporer Meiji and his wife, the Empress Shoken.  It's an impressive structure!

They also saw Mt. Fuji, had dinner and enjoyed an impressive sunset across Tokyo Bay.

Later in the week the group visited the Japan Adventist Academy where their host pastor is from.

Will was given flowers by the Great-great Granddaughter
of, Teruhiko Okohira, the man who invited William Grainger to come to Japan.

Here is Will with the woman who gave him the flowers and
Will was very impressed with her.  He says,  "She is an awesome person! With an impressive family!
It was great talking to her."  They are standing in front of a painting of William Grainger.

There is a fantastic write-up on Teruhiko Okohira if you're interested in reading more about his life and how he was instrumental in bringing both Christianity and Adventism to Japan as well as how he met and was able to invite William Grainger to Japan.  It's a quick and easy read that is very informative.
Story of Teruhiko Okohira

The group was able to take a beautiful hike and enjoy the lush surroundings.  Everything was green and the waterfalls were full and gorgeous.

Last Sabbath, they enjoyed riding a small country train and ended up at the beach to enjoy a beautiful sunset.

This week they went to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima.  It was all about the atomic bomb that was dropped to end World War II. Will says it was very interesting.  He felt it was well done and he recommends a visit if you're ever in the area.

He says this is a dome and building that is situated almost perfectly beneath where
the bomb was dropped.  It's still standing and is part of the Memorial Park.

He was able to meet the Great-great Grandson of Teruhiko Okohira this week.
It's amazing that God has brought these families back together after all these years.
He's a God of making personal connections, for sure! 

It's been a fun trip for Will and a beautiful way to experience Japan.
It's been a nice break for him and a good change of pace.
He says, I'm loving the trip!"

Will is returning to California next Thursday the 8th. 
He is planning a long weekend here with plenty of rest and jetlag recovery and will travel to
South Dakota on Monday the 12th,  to see his mom and plan his next steps in this year of adventure. 

Continue to pray for him! He wants to serve wherever God leads him.