June Sycamore Tree

Dear Sycamore Family,

May has been a very busy month for the Emmaus Center, where I spend most of my time here in Sendai. The Emmaus Center was completed in 2001 but it had been a concept for many years before that. The idea was that there would be a central meeting place for the churches of the Tohoku Conference of the United Church of Christ-Japan (UCC-J/Nihon Kirisuto Kyodan). When the building was completed the Sendai Student Center moved into the ground floor of the new Emmaus Center from their old location. I think it’s their presence that creates such a welcoming environment for the center’s activities.

This month the Sendai Student/Youth Center Student Council (TEAM-ACT) has begun to meet regularly and plan events for the year like the Welcome Day Hike & Barbeque on Showa Day (a school holiday). I’m happy to report that we had about 20 new faces join the barbeque, even helping to make the yakisoba over our small teppan. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves very much.

Also, the Emmaus Center will also be hosting their annual bazaar and festival (matsuri) on May 31st. Alumni of the student center, members of neighboring churches, and other supporters stop by daily to contribute items to the bazaar sale. Every year, some of the college students cook yakisoba on the bazaar day to sell for lunch so now they are eagerly perfecting their seasoning sauce and cooking skills. It’s heart-warming to see that people have been a part of this tradition for so long and it reminds me of how Sycamore members come from wherever they are in September to be a part of our bazaar.

I’m sure there will be much more to share as the month winds down…and September is only another 4 months away. More soon!

SKLT
Global Missions Intern (GMI) and
Assistant to the Director of the Sendei Student/Youth Center in Sendai, Japan