Nice Weather

After the hottest summer in 50 years followed by the wettest monsoon (with widespread flooding) in 32 years, the weather is finally getting nice! We can go outside without fighting the heat, humidity or waterlogged roads.

今年の夏は５０年ぶりの猛暑。モンスーンは３２年ぶりの豪雨。最近、ようやく天気がよくなってきて、公園へ遊びに行きました。

Prayer retreat

Every so often Roger and I take turns to go on a prayer retreat at the Catholic nunnery just around the corner from our house. These are Carmelite nuns who have taken a lifetime vow to be "married" to Jesus. Once they have completed their vows, they stay in the same compound for the rest of their lives. Since they can not go out, they have 2 small guest rooms in an outer section of the nunnery for their families to stay overnight if they come visit them. Those rooms are open--and often available--for outsiders to stay in for personal prayer retreats. The cost: $8 a night, including three simple meals and two teatimes!

ロジャーと私は時々、（代わりばんこに）一人で祈りのリトリートへ出かけます。近所にある、カトリックの施設に止まります。そこには、修道女たちが、祈りに人生をささげ、外に出ることもなく生活をしています。修道女たちは外に出ないので、家族たちが時々会いにきます。そのためのゲストルームが開いていると、外の人も泊まれるのです。一晩３食付で、１０００円以下です。

Sister Hilda lives with the nuns, though not under their same vow, so she herself can go outside. She takes care of us, when we stay there.

私たちの面倒を見てくれる、ヒルダさんです。

The rooms are simple, but peaceful and quiet. I always come back refreshed & grounded in Jesus.

部屋や、ベッドは質素ですが、静かで穏やかな場所です。イエス様だけと共に時間をすごし、元気になって帰ってきます。

Hiroko's Acrylic -- A replication of Van Gogh's "Starry Night"

Art!

Among the 8 homeschool children who are all friends, I organized an art class led by an American educational consultant who has an art degree. The first week, we learned about "lines" and studied the art by Piet Mondrian, such as this painting: ホームスクールをしている友人たちの間で、子供のために美術のクラスをはじめました。美術課を卒業したアメリカ人の友人が先生です。今日はラインについて学びました。また、ラインをいっぱい使って絵を描いたピート　モンドリアンについて学びました。






They all created art inspired by the works of Mondrian. Even though we saw the same sample painting and heard the same lesson, everybody made very unique art all using only straight lines. Top left is Satoshi. Top middle is Minna. and bottom left is Sawyer. このピートモンドリアンの真似をして、まっすぐなラインを使って、それぞれが絵を描いてみました。上の左は悟志、真ん中の上は美奈。下の左端は創也の絵です。

Then a few days later, some of us adults who love art (mostly from our local church and our neighborhood) got together and just had an community painting day. We sat in our living room and painted whatever we wanted using the medium of our choice....while enjoying many cups of teas and yummy food. I am so excited that our lives are filled with creativity. 数日後の土曜日、アートが好きな友人が、絵を描く集まりを持ちました。教会の方、近所の方々などです。それぞれが、好きな絵を好きなミディアムで描くのです、、、あまいチャイを飲みながら。

Indian Clothes

This is NOT how much Satoshi lost weight from dengue! (Though he did lose some weight, it wasn't anything near this much.) This is how Indian traditional pants are always made--one size fits all. When I was pregnant, I did not need special pants! --Hiroko


Our children dressed up in Indian clothes to visit our friends to celebrate their special holiday!

Monsoon Lake

The park in front of our house floods every time it rains. The kids cannot play there if it's flooded. But I think it is rather beautiful.
近くの公園は雨が降るたびに、水溜りでいっぱいになります。モンスーンの湖です。

How a would-be hospital stay turned into a happy day

The doctor ordered Satoshi to be admitted to hospital after a blood test in the morning showed that his platelet count had gone down. But in one of the city's biggest, newest hostpitals, there was no empty bed. (Right now Delhi has an outbreak of both dengue fever and swine flue.) We were told to wait nearby until a bed came open. So we went to our pastor's house, only 5 min away from the hospital. They graciously gave us a bed to rest, and a DVD player for Satoshi to use. He watched Mr. Bean, and started laughing. Though he was still sick, his smile and laugh gave me such joy and hope.

A few hours later, we got the report that his blood platelet count had risen back to a safe level, and though a hospital bed had finally come available, we were free to go home. Toshi is recovering well ever since. Thank you to all who are praying. This picture was taken when Satoshi was in the pastor's house, watching the DVD.

昨日、悟志の血小板が減少し、入院です。と言われました。とはいえ、病院へ行ってもベッドは満杯。今はデング熱がはやっているので病院はいっぱいなのです。「少し待てばたぶんあくでしょう」と言われ、近くにある牧師の家で待つことにしました。待っている間に、牧師が入院しなくてよいくらい、すぐよくなるように、祈ってくれました。ベッドが空いたと知らせを受けるとともに、２回目の血液検査の結果が返ってきていて、血小板の数値が元に戻っていました。結局、家に帰ってもよいとの許可が下りたのです。感謝！今は、順調に回復中です。
これは、牧師の家で、よこになって映画を見て笑っている悟志の写真です。しばらく何日かぐったりしていたので、笑顔を見れてうれしかったです。
お祈りしてくださった方々ありがとうございました。