Vacation Resolution

The summer English Camp was good! (One of the High School girls sent this photo.)

Camp ended just over a week ago and now we are on vacation.

This year we decided to cut the internet - I'm writing this from my phone -and I find it keeps me from drifting back to work mode. It also makes it easier to read and reflect - activities which require more energy but pay bigger dividends!

In search of the iris...

The day before camp is NOT the time to make this entry - 2 months ago would have been more like it! - but... I want to clean my desktop, so, here it is: "In search of the Iris at Fujita Park."

Last year we went in search of the blue hydrangeas. This year I thought perhaps we should view something a little closer to home and I thought this time I'd be sure it was in bloom first. So we planned an iris viewing picnic in Fujita Park (Hirosaki) - famous for their iris. Simple. Just wait for the iris to bloom and go on a picnic.

When the iris were in full bloom everywhere else we got together a very small excursion. The weather was dull and maybe there were exams or something... in the end just four of us (as photographed and, of course, the photographer!) headed for Fujita Park.

But we found no iris!

There was a lot of lovely water!

And we had a nice picnic

under the gazebo while it sprinkled rain...

And enjoyed a brief moment of notoriety!

I had fun talking to schoolchildren from Hakodate while wandered around the buildings after our picnic. And it was, on the whole, a pleasant outing but I had wanted to see the iris!

Our photographer went back a few weeks later and saw the iris in full bloom. But I guess I'll have to wait until next year.

Summer English Camp - who will be there

Luke and Yuko won't be at Camp. Neither will Luke's sister Anna Watanabe - instead she's bringing her family down to Kazamaura see her new niece.

Who will be there?

I'll be there. My husband will be there. And old timer, Judy Spear will be there. And then there'll be some new staff: Natch & Anna Ayling, Kris Sevillena and Nick Boyes.

Anna & Natch

I remember when Natch was born! It was my first summer in Language School and his parents were our "senpai" - they were a year ahead of us. Natch is a lot like his Dad, I think. Its the first time we've ever met Anna, but she's great! (And a good cook!)

Kris

We've known Kris for nearly 5 years. He was a teacher at Geos in Hirosaki. He decided to spend a few months with us before returning to the USA when he ended his contract last spring. So he's painting the church, chopping wood, digging potatoes, teaching English and making himself generally very useful until mid-October.

Nick

Nick is a short term missionary and English teacher at Seiai High School in Hirosaki. Its been a real pleasure to watch him grow and develop in that role. He and Kris are founding members of the English Fellowship at Hirosaki Church. (The Fellowship meets every Sunday night for a worship service at 5:30 pm followed by a supper meal together.)

Summer English Camp - who won't be there...

I have spent most of today getting ready for the Summer English Camp at the Aomori Christian Center, August 3 - 6.

Why are we starting on Sunday? I've asked myself this a dozen times or more in the last few weeks. I THINK it was to accommodate Luke... I think that a long time ago Luke thought his family might come to camp.

Afterall, they came to Camp just after Grace was born...

Aomori Living English Camp - August 2006

Now they know better!

Luke & Yuko Elliot with Emma Grace and Mia Faith