Satoshi

Every year in October we have had a japanese student come and live with us for a week. It is one of the highlights of our year. The kids really look forward to it every year. Satoshi was so nice and respectful and gracious. He actually could speak better English than our previous Japanese student which was so wonderful to be able to somewhat communicate rather than playing charades. I am always amazed at their proper manners, something my family needs a lot of work on, and trust. I am sure it is scary to come to a strange country and live with a strange family and be at their mercy, eating their food, having to speak a different language, doing their activities. He was so willing to do anything with us and trusting us completely. Usually it is a week of non-stop going but this year we didn't do as much and it seemed more enjoyable and less exhausting.

What we did (this is more for me to remember than for all you readers):

Halloween party

Kids learned how to make origami

Bowling

Horseback riding with scouts

BYU game

Sunday dinner with sisters and their Japanese student

Eating at JCW (note the picture above, he couldn't believe the size of the hamburgers in America)

Walmart (we spend hours and hours there...they loved it!)

Closing ceremony

Japanese sushi (we didn't want to take him to someplace he can experience in Japan but he wanted to go so Paul took him at 9pm the last night. He said is was "very delicious")

As I reflected about this experience something that made an impression on me is that even though we didn't speak the same language we did communicate. We communicated with our actions. What did he think of our family? Our rituals? Saying prayers before meals? Going to church? Reading our scriptures as a family? I wondered if he felt peace and calm in our home amid the chaos of children. Did he feel the Holy Ghost? Did we plant a seed for him? (it is illegal to preach to him because he is underage but we could do our normal routine) Brad mentioned that it would be cool for him to go on a mission to Japan and preach the gospel to our students. Actions do speak louder than words. We may say we believe but do our actions show that we believe. Is there any doubt in other's minds that I am not ashamed to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ? That I take it seriously and take the opportunity to bear my testimony and live the gospel fully. One of my most favorite quotes is from David O Mckay: "What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ, will determine what you are and will largely determine what your acts will be."

On the way to the closing ceremony, Satoshi said he is sad and we asked Why? Because he will miss our family and loves us. We love you too Satoshi and miss you. The morning he left (very early, mind you) he went into each of the kids bedroom and told them Goodbye. It was a very sweet moment.