PASTOR’S

CORNER

BE THE HOPE!

Bishop Grant Hagiya has been using this phrase when he ends

an article or letter. Instead of having a hope, he invites us to BE the hope. Hope here

is not a part of who we are or who we would like to be, but we ourselves are the

hope. It is like saying, “We are life” instead of saying, “We have life.” Advent season

may be calling us to be the Hope in Emmanuel, instead of having the gift of

Emmanuel. As we embrace the season of Hope, Paul in his letter to the Christians in Rome reminds us that

being the Hope is more than visioning for something “better” than who and where we are. Being the Hope in

Christ in Advent also includes ‘overcoming’ what is not hopeful. It is about having courage to endure and

inspiration to face what makes hope hopeless.

So many times we have experienced hopelessness during the season of “Glory to God, Peace on

Earth” (Luke 2:14). Being real with being the Hope in the season of Expectation is to endure what is hopeless.

Being the Hope is to be resiliently hope-filled in the midst of so many denials to hope. The first century

Bethlehem might be so far from Being the Hope. What surrounded the Holy Family must’ve been ambiguous,

fearful, and simply hopeless. Messages we have been hearing about the coming Baby are composed by

extremely fragile stories. Then, Being the Hope might have been a scary confrontation against the Power that

obliterated those who resisted. For us it looks as if we are not too far from this irony. Being the Hope,

therefore, always demands our endurance. Being the Hope is to endure.

Being the Hope, being Cheerful Expectants, has to do with being persistent in prayers. Our resiliency

in Hope has to be connected to the source of the Hope. Welcoming the season of Hope is about being

persistent in building a bridge between Being the Hope and the very source of it. Isaiah reads the persistence

in this way, “Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway

fit for our God (the source of hope).” (Isaiah 40:3) Making the world fit for Emmanuel is to include persistency

in prayers and devotions. Peace and justice may flow like a river with our prayers and praise in a season of a

Tip-Toed Anticipation of the Hope.

In our serving, there may be a sign of the Hope in the midst of hopelessness. In our devotion, there

may be the presence of the source of the Hope. Be the Hope to each other for the Hope is so real and so

human. In our anticipation, endurance, and persistence we may plunge ourselves into the ocean of God’s

grace. May God of Hope fill you with joy, awakening, and NO FEAR. May it be a blessed season where our

Hope in Christ be so real, so human, and so divine. Amen.

Be The Hope, Cheol

NU’U VINEYARD NEWS Harris United Methodist Church

20 South Vineyard Blvd. Hon., HI 96813

WE ARE AN OPEN AND RECONCILING CONGREGATION

www.harrisumc.org Facebook: @HarrisUMC Instagram: aloha2harrisumc December-January 2018/2019

Rev. Dr. Cheol Kwak

Be a cheerful expectant! Don’t quit in hard times;

pray all the harder. Romans 12:12

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DECEMBER WORSHIP SERVICES

THE SEASON of ADVENT ~ “LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT”

9:00 am Nichigo Worship (Japanese Language Ministry)

To Be Announced

5:00 pm Evening Worship (Contemporary Music)

Davy Lee

*************************************

10:45am Worship (English Language Service)

December 2nd: 1st Sunday of Advent: HOPE

Scripture Reading: Luke 21: 25-36

“Stay Alert; You Will See Signs for the Kingdom of God is Near”

Rev. Rona Mangayayam, preaching

COMMUNION

December 9th: 2nd Sunday of Advent: JOY

ALL MUSIC WORSHIP

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 5:13

December 16th: 3rd Sunday of Advent: PEACE

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:7-18

“What, Then, Should We Do?”

Rev. Dr. Cheol Kwak, preaching

December 23rd: 4th Sunday of Advent: LOVE

Scripture Reading: Luke 2: 15-19

“Mary Kept All These Things….”

Rev. Dr. Cheol Kwak, preaching

December 30th: 1st Sunday After Christmas Day

Scripture Reading: Luke 13: 6-9

“Give It One More Year, Lord”

Rev. Dr. Cheol Kwak, preaching

WE ARE AN OPEN AND RECONCILING CONGREGATION ~ ALL ARE WELCOME!

December 24

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

7:45pm SPECIAL MUSIC

with Handbell Choir and Brass Ensemble

8:00pm WORSHIP

“Living in God’s Light”

Rev. Rona Mangayayam, preaching

Fellowship to follow in Miyama Hall

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ADVENT

“LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT”

ADVENT

“LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT”

"Living in God's Light" has been chosen as the theme for Advent

that begins December 2. Each week will have a different focus:

December 2: Hope

December 9 : Joy

December 16 : Peace

December 23: Love

Beginning December 2, post cards will be available at the back of

the sanctuary for you to invite friends and family to our Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service: begins at 7:45pm with Special Music and Worship at

8pm.

Also on December 2, orders will be taken for poinsettia plants that

will adorn our sanctuary on Christmas Eve. Twenty 6" plants at $20 each

will be available. Sign up at the table in the courtyard and make your

checks payable to Harris UMC. Plants may be taken home after the

Christmas Eve candlelight service.

All Music Sunday will be celebrated December 9. This is one event

you won't want to miss as we hear selections from our various musical

teams at Harris, celebrating the season of Advent!

Recent events such as natural catastrophic disasters that have

resulted in loss of life and property, endless wars, displaced refugees, and

episodes of discrimination headline the news. Recognizing that some may

have a difficult time celebrating the holiday season, Harris is again

scheduling a Blue Christmas Service on Saturday, December 22 at

10 am. All are welcome for a time of reflection, healing and

solace.

4

Recent events such as natural catastrophic disasters that have resulted in

loss of life and property, endless wars, displaced refugees, and episodes of

discrimination headline the news.

Recognizing that some may have a difficult time

celebrating the holiday season, Harris is again scheduling a

Blue Christmas Service

Saturday, December 22nd

10:00 am in the Sanctuary

All are welcome for a time of reflection, healing and solace.

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LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT

December 24th

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

7:45pm SPECIAL MUSIC

with Handbell Choir

and

Brass Ensemble

8:00pm WORSHIP

Rev. Rona Mangayayam, preaching

Fellowship to follow in Miyama Hall

(please bring your favorite treat to share!)

Join us for this special Candlelight Service!

Hear the beautiful story and sing the glorious

hymns of the Birth of Jesus…

ALL ARE WELCOME!

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POINSETTIA ORDERS!!

Beginning December 2, orders will be taken for

poinsettia plants that will adorn our sanctuary on

Christmas Eve!

Twenty 6" plants at $20 each will be available.

Sign up at the table in the courtyard and make your

checks payable to Harris UMC.

Plants may be taken home after the Christmas Eve

Candlelight service.

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JANUARY 2019 WORSHIP SERVICES

THE SEASON of EPIPHANY

9:00 am Nichigo Worship (Japanese Language Ministry)

To Be Announced

5:00 pm Evening Worship (Contemporary Music)

Davy Lee

*************************************

10:45am Worship (English Language Service)

January 6th: Epiphany of the Lord

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:1-12

“Be Bold and Confident”

Rev. Dr. Cheol Kwak, preaching

COMMUNION

January 13th: 1st Sunday After the Epiphany

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Scripture Reading: Luke 3: 15-17; 21-22

“I Have Called You By Name”

Rev. Rona Mangayayam, preaching

January 20th: 2nd Sunday After the Epiphany

HUMAN RELATIONS SUNDAY

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 62: 1-5

“Because Of My Faith, I Will Not Be Silent”

Rev. Rona Mangayayam, preaching

January 27th: 3rd Sunday After the Epiphany

Scripture Reading: Luke 4: 14-21

“The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon You”

Rev. Dr. Cheol Kwak, preaching

WE ARE AN OPEN

AND

RECONCILING

CONGREGATION ~

ALL ARE WELCOME!

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Ringing our Peace Bell at 11:00 a.m. on

Armistice Day, in honor of our Veterans.

View bell ringing by Navy Chaplain Rev. John Miyahara:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kijr0ITgTnM

Fred Esperanza plays for peace to honor his

fellow Veterans on Armistice Day with a

harmonica solo. View the solo on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=jjjJ8bSya0Y

Mahalo to Darlene Rodrigues for being our Heavenly Handbells during Worship!

Guest preacher with the theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJcyUDW4eWI

LOVE WELL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTJSQgumWh0

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Harris held a prayer

vigil to honor the lives

of those affected by

the recent shootings

and wild fires in

Thousand Oaks, CA

and elsewhere. The

vigil was to gather and

grieve together...to

share our thoughts,

prayers, and hopes.

One of our Sunday morning song leaders! Sky & Marienne sing together. View on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OfPmUlNZtw

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IN MINISTRY TOGETHER

Whew! Harris Ohana, you are being faithful to follow through on our “dreams” by moving towards

the real hard work of “doing”! In 2018 we made the “Triple T Pledge” of time, talent and treasure to pledge

concrete action towards our collective dreams with the hope of making God’s dreams for peace and justice

become reality. By Connecting, Collaborating, Communicating and Celebrating we are building the Body of

Christ to serve needs both within our congregation and out into our community and world. We are

continuing to focus on the areas identified during the “dreaming” process: affordable housing/homelessness,

immigration/ sanctuary, partnerships with the Nu’uanu YMCA, and reinvigorating Harris youth programs.

As we anticipate Advent and the coming of Light into our dark world, we encourage you to brighten

your life and the lives of others by going deeper with God, trusting the call of the Spirit to serve in new ways

and encourage others to join you. We are inspired by kupuna who attend worship despite physical

limitations! We are inspired by youth who overcome their fears to serve in various ways in worship and

beyond! We are inspired by faithful witnesses who bring new opportunities to challenge our old ways of

thinking! We are inspired by people who say, “Yes!” to new leadership roles! We are inspired by those who

make monetary contributions to enable special projects to grow! We are inspired by all who faithfully serve

in areas that keep our church running! We are inspired by those who reach out into our community! We are

inspired by the smiles and spontaneity of our children! God has blessed us to be a blessing to others! May

we continue to love God and our neighbors in 2019!

Natalie Nimmer and Diane Matsuura, Co-lay leaders

FROM DREAMING

TO DOING

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IN MINISTRY TOGETHER

LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT

CHRISTMAS PARTY!

Friday, Dec. 21, 2018

5:00pm-8:00pm

We will host our annual Christmas Party for our CMS students and families on Friday, Dec. 21,

5:00 – 8:00 p.m. This year we will also include students and families in our Hip Hop dance class from

Kauluwela Elementary School. We’ll have crafts, performances by the CMS and Kauluwela Hip Hop

classes, “ono” dinner, and short program.

Please help...SIGN UP IN THE COURTYARD Dec. 2, 9 & 16

*Donations of gift cards from Safeway, Longs, McDonalds, Zippys, are welcome to raffle off during

dinner to students and families...they get so excited to receive them!

Bring on Sundays or any day to the church office

*Volunteers to do Christmas Crafts

*Volunteers to help set up and serve dinner

Invite family and friends to receive this gift of love at Christmas….ALL ARE WELCOME!!

MEN MAKING BREAKFAST GATHERING!

Sunday, December 23rd, 2018

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in Miyama Hall

Our MMB will be making breakfast for all who come!!

Join us and eat, talk story over an “ono” breakfast!

Mahalo to our MEN for this opportunity...free and open to all!

MEN...Contact John Miyahara, et.al. for details to let him know of your

contributions.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

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57th ANNUAL NU’UANU VALLEY

INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING

CELEBRATION

“Giving Thanks in Community”

The 57th Nu'uanu Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Faith participants:

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Baha'i Community of Hawai'i, First Unitarian Church

of Honolulu, Harris United Methodist Church, Hawaiian Church of Hawai'i Nei, Honpa

Hongwanji Hawai'i Betsuin, Iskcon Hawai'i, International Society of Krishna

Consciousness, Nu'uanu Congregational Church, Soka Gakkai International, Temple

Emanu-el, United Church of Christ Judd Street. (see all photos on Facebook @HarrisUMC)

Symbols from each of the religious

communities.

Mahalo to

Honpa Hongwanji Hawai'i

Betsuin for hosting the Interfaith

Thanksgiving service this year.

14

57th ANNUAL NU’UANU VALLEY

INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING

CELEBRATION

“Giving Thanks in Community”

Harris participants in the

INTERFAITH CHOIR

Processing with bread and cup~

our symbols of God's radical

hospitality, reminding us that all

are welcome at the table.

15

57th ANNUAL NU’UANU VALLEY

INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING

CELEBRATION

“Giving Thanks in Community”

Guest speaker, Veronica Lamb, from

The Justice Ministry,

Bluewater Mission.

Leadership and organizers of this year’s

celebration!

16

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all who participated in the Trustees’ Fall

Cleaning on Saturday, November 17. The entire church campus received much-needed

TLC from over 50 volunteers, including 30 church members, 15 AARP volunteers, and 5

U.S. Navy volunteers.

Now, the windows throughout the church campus are sparkling clean; Miyama

Hall received TLC from top to bottom; the kitchen is spiffed up; the Sanctuary is ready for

our Christmas services; the church grounds are weeded and trimmed; and classrooms,

offices, and Komuro Lounge cleaned. All that scrubbing worked up everyone’s appetite,

so we ended the morning with a delicious lunch sponsored by the Trustees and Claude

and Maisie Nagaishi.

17

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To celebrate National Bible Week at Harris, we had an essay contest on “What

the Bible Means to Me”. Our winner is 9 year old ISABEL OHTA!!! Isabel submitted

a well written and thoughtful essay which she generously allowed us to share with

you. We are very proud of you….Congratulations, Isabel!

Isabel receives her gift and

congratulations from Patrick

Zukemura, Certified Lay Minister.

What the Bible Means to Me

Isabel Ohta

What the Bible Means to me is it teaches you about God

and Jesus. It teaches about good habits like sharing, how to

love, and about the good things God has done. For example,

Ruth and Naomi stayed together because they are family and

they care about each other. I also love the story of Moses and

how the princess was so kind to take care of him and how

thoughtful Moses’s sister was to get him back to his family. That

is how God wants us to look after each other.

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Advent Study “NAMES FOR THE MESSIAH”

by Walter Brueggemann

When: Wednesdays, November 28, December 5, 12, 19

Where: 11:30am in Room 4 To reserve book: call church office 536-9602 or

email rona@harrisumc.org by Nov. 15 Cost of book: $9.50

Led by: Pastor Rona

In Isaiah 9:6, a divine utterance is given to us using four royal titles--Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Names for the Messiah ponders each title and how the people understood it then, how Jesus did or did not fulfill the title, and how Christians interpret Jesus as representative of that title.

Christians have claimed from the beginning that Jesus was the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. In this study, best-selling author Walter Brueggemann tackles the questions: "What were these expectations?" and "Did Jesus fulfill them?

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT

HARRIS

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRIES

20

LOOKING AHEAD…

SMALL GROUP STUDY FOR 2019

“We Make the Road By Walking” by Brian D. McLaren

All Are Welcome to a "quest for spiritual formation,

reorientation and activation" using the book

"We Make the Road by Walking"

by Brian D. McLaren.

Dates are: Thursdays at 10:30 -12 noon in Komuro

Lounge

February 7, 14, and 28

March 7, 14 and 28

April 4, 11 and 25

May 2, 9, 23 and 30

Cost of the book is $13.50. Reserve through the church office (536-9602) or

email rona@harrisumc.org by January 20 , 2019

LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT

HARRIS

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRIES

21

LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT

How we can help with recovery efforts for Immanuel UMC in

Saipan

HARRIS

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRIES

REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR

“LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT”

The Harris Sunday School children will be participating in a Reverse Advent collection of

PENNIES AND NICKELS! Begin your daily collection on December 1 ...bring your collections to

church on the morning of Dec. 23rd!

ABSOLUTELY ANYONE CAN START A COLLECTION..."young" and “younger"!!!

EMBRACE HOPE and give HOPE ….your daily donations will help. All donations will be

given to Immanuel United Methodist Church in Saipan to help with rebuilding and restoration of

the church. As you can see from the photos sent by Rev. Debbie Wise, Super Typhoon Yutu

devastated many homes, buildings, schools, and lives in Saipan. Rev. Debbie’s home was also

affected. Recovery efforts are continuous, and every little bit will help Immanuel UMC.

Please see Cheryl Yamamoto for your own personal Reverse Advent CALENDAR!!!!

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REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR

LIVING IN GOD’S LIGHT

give a gift of a PeNNY oN the “odd” Number daY,

aNd a NiCKeL oN the “eveN” Number daY. PLaCe a stiCKer wheN You

give !!!!! Bring to church on DEC. 23...

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HARRIS

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRIES

HAVE A SLIM CHRISTMAS

The Youth are again coordinating our SLIM CHRISTMAS project this year.

Beginning on December 9, the youth will have a table at the courtyard after

worship to receive your gifts in honor of someone you love. Recipients for this

year are the IHS Soup Ministry, Central Middle School Outreach Ministry, and

Immanuel United Methodist Church in Saipan to help in rebuilding their church

after the devastating typhoon.

Please consider this alternative gift giving this Christmas! Mahalo!!

24

YOUTH 2019 – MAHALO FROM OUR YOUTH!

A BIG MAHALO TO ALL HARRIS MEMBERS AND GUESTS! Due to the generosity of our Harris UMC

Ohana, the youth group was able to raise $1,893.00 during our recent fundraiser! We thank you from

the bottom of our hearts as our dreams of attending Youth 2019 in Kansas City next July are becoming

more realistic! Many of you requested that our youth group do a car wash for our next fundraiser so we

will plan for that to happen in January, 2019. Again, we thank you all for your love and support.

Kansas City, here we come!

View their performance on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKDLHKop5K4

25

...From Dreaming to Doing Start of the day ON THE THIRD THURSDAY OF NOVEMBER included over 50 GUESTS! 22

who came to shower, and many others who got a sack lunch and clean clothes.

The word is getting around; attendance is increasing as demonstrated by the number of

guests who come to shower, who take sack lunches (and more quickly made to

accommodate everyone), who utilize services provided by our Community agencies, and

clothing that are given to those in need.

26

...From Dreaming to Doing

Our Community Service Providers included:

Project HieHie, Employment Assistance Services, HI Health &

Harm Reduction, Veteran’s Affairs Services, Legal Aid Hawaii, St.

Peter’s Episcopal Church, and the Institute for Human Services.

Mahalo for your partnerships!

27

...From Dreaming to Doing

Our next opportunity to serve our guests will be on December 20th.

Can YOU be there to serve?

Contact Co-Chairs Darlene Rodrigues or Saymydarline Ata

to volunteer your time!

darlene.rodrigues@gmail.com

ataamelias@gmail.com

The need is there...let’s continue to serve...

28

Anticipation builds on bazaar day until the call is made to “Open the Gates”.

From that moment, crowds surge to their favorite spot of the bazaar. This year it

appeared the lines were heading straight to the pie section. And within 30 minutes

the pies were sold out. No problem though, as there were plenty of other sections at

which to shop.

Anticipation also builds from 2:00-2:30 pm when most of the crowd and

workers are gone. People in the book section are still frantically taping boxes of

books for storage or for “more recycling” as they are loaded on the Cerebral Palsy

truck and we wait for Carole Suzui, Chair of the Finance Section.

Carole comes out of the office with the spreadsheet in hand and we get the

results. On bazaar day, 2018 the net proceeds were $19,427. After the last expenses

were taken off, the final total for the 2018 Bazaar was $18,550, the highest in the last

20 years.

Several community groups assisted in the bazaar: Central Middle School

students, YWCA Fernhurst Women, First LAP, KVIBE, Harris Preschool and Waldorf

School. Everyone was needed, but in the end, the remarkable result was only

possible through the hard work, support, donations and prayers from members of

Harris and friends far and near.

Thank you for a very successful Harris Bazaar. Greg Yamamoto captured myriad

images of the bazaar were shared on Facebook. It was like being there. And, as

before, all the proceeds will be used for mission for community groups in Hawaii and

selected countries of the world.

Mark the date, the Harris Bazaar for 2019 will be held on November 2. See you

there.

Norma Kehrberg

Dennis Pacht, Co-Chairs of the Bazaar

HARRIS UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH

BAZAAR!!

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Dear Rev. Dr. Kwak and members of Harris UMC,

Over four months after the torrential rainstorm in Hiroshima, some people still have to live in

temporary evacuation shelters. Among them are the Watanabe family and the Suehiro family. Their

children attend Kaita Kindergarten, which my family operates.

Thank you very much for your generous relief funds. I had the privilege of delivering them in

person to these two families who lost their houses by tremendous mudslides and falling rocks from

nearby mountains. They were so deeply touched by your loving concerns that they became

speechless and even tearful when I presented your monetary gift. Below are their letters of

appreciation for you.

Their worries and anxieties about their future are still evident, but your love inspired them to

find hope! Because of the deaths of their close friends and neighbors, their survivors’ guilt is very

deep. But your kindness gave them strength to start forgiving themselves. They can now begin to see

light in the midst of their darkness. Smiles are returning to their children’s faces. Thank you for

making God’s healing grace known to them.

The final thank-you letter is from Kazue Miyake, my sister-in-law, on behalf of the

Kindergarten.

I appreciate your continued prayerful support.

With profound gratitude,

Nobuko Miyake-Stoner

Hiroshima July 2018

flood damage to

interior of a home

with floor in ruins

36

Dear Rev. Dr. Kwak and members of Harris UMC,

I am Kazue Miyake of Kaita Kindergarten in Hiroshima. Nobuko Miyake-Stoner is my sister-

in-law.

All of us here want to thank you very much for your most kind donation for the severely

affected families of our kindergarten. We feel so encouraged and happy to know that even people

like you, so far away, care about us. I am sure the Watanabe family and the Suehiro family feel the

same way. Thanks to your loving kindness, they are able to find hope and courage to go on. We,

the Kindergarten, will continue to support them as well.

All of us will never forget your thoughtfulness. We hope to meet you someday and thank

you in person.

With deep gratitude,

Kazue Miyake

Kaita Kindergarten

Hiroshima, Japan

37

HIROSHIMA FLOOD DAMAGE

Flooding did damage to

homes, businesses,

schools, churches and

community lives.

Rebuilding will take

time...

38

HIROSHIMA FLOOD DAMAGE

Flooding did extensive damage to roadways and

transportation, as well as to the infrastructure

of many areas.

39

Dear Rev. Dr. Kwak and members of Harris UMC,

I am the mother of Isshin Watanabe who goes to Kaita Kindergarten in Hiroshima. To our great

surprise, we received from you 234,369 yen ($2,081.43). You don’t even know us, but you care about

us so much that you sent us your loving kindness in this helpful way. How can we possibly appreciate

you enough?!

All of a sudden, everything has changed after that horrific flood and mudslides. Our house was

washed away and everything in it was lost forever. Even worse is that our dear 15-year-old friend in

our neighborhood was buried alive under the mud. There is so much grief everywhere in our

community. Many of us are still suffering from PTSD.

But our children are resilient, amazingly resilient! Little by little, they are regaining a sense of

normalcy as they are trying to go back to their routine life. Perhaps we will never be able to go back to

the same life we used to enjoy, but we have to move forward for the sake of our children.

The outpouring of your kindness gives us strength to go beyond our grief and despair. Thank

you so very much for your love and support!

Most sincerely,

Mrs. Watanabe

Dear Rev. Dr. Kwak and the congregation of Harris UMC,

My name is Nami Suehiro, the mother of Kengo who goes to Kaita Kindergarten.

My family and I are deeply touched by your thoughtfulness which came to us with your

generous monetary gift of 117,533 yen ($1043.81). Pastor Nobuko Miyake-Stoner conveyed to us your

most loving thoughts and caring concerns.

The recent terrible floods and mudslides suddenly took everything away from us. We lost our

house and all our belongings. But we have to say how blessed we are, because all our family members

were able to survive the storm. And also we are grateful for people like you who are so kind and

thoughtful!

Through this tragic experience, we are now learning little by little what really matters in life

and how precious human relationships are!

We are still living in a temporary shelter and there are days when we feel overwhelmed with

anxiety about our future, but caring people like you give us a reason not to give up and to keep

moving forward!

We thank you so very much for your love and prayers.

Sincerely,

Nami Suehiro and Family

40

A picture of the Watanabe and Suehiro families

41

NEWSLETTER deadline is 15th of each month

Submit to Cheryl Yamamoto: news4harris@gmail.com

If you are receiving a hard copy version in the mail, please reconsider the sustainable alternative by reading it

online from the church website. This will save our blessed & fragile environment and decrease postage &

paper costs in the long term. Online versions are in color and will include all submitted photos/graphics;

email and hard copy versions will be in black & white and text only.

To receive your newsletter via email rather than by postage mail, CONTACT:

news4harris@gmail.com

We thank you for practicing good stewardship!!

Facebook: @HarrisUMC Website: www.harrisumc.org Instagram: aloha2harrisumc

Sustainability Covenant

"God calls us to be careful, humble stewards of this earth, and to protect and

restore for its own sake and for the future use and enjoyment of the human

family"

Electronic Giving: If you are not yet signed up for e-giving and are interested, please contact Sachi Taketa

for more information at 808.536.9602. You will no longer need to worry about carrying a check or cash to

put in the offering plate or send through the mail.

YOU are invited to become a member of Harris United Methodist Church! Please contact Pastor Cheol

Kwak (808.536.9602) or Pastor Rona (rona@harrisumc.org or 808.738.7727) if you are interested in joining

our Harris Ohana!

Just

Wanna

Share... Next newsletter will be in February!

Happy Holidays to all…

Mele Kalikimaka me ka

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!