Sharing the joy of Christmas

We were blessed to have joined a group of Japanese who belong to the Yokohama Presbyterian Church last Wednesday afternoon. They went to visit their previous members who are now staying, with other residents, at a rojin home, or a home for the aged. We joined them to personally thank 94-year-old Mrs. Fujihara, who kindly allowed us to stay in her home in Yokohama for the duration of our research here on Filipino nurses and caregivers to Japan.

God truly has a way of allowing people to meet by intertwining roads. Meeting Mrs. Fujihara at her new residence, a rojin home, provided us the opportunity not only to thank her but to meet the wonderful church members as well. The visit also provided us a glimpse of one of the future work areas of our Filipino caregivers as well should this government plan push through. The visit with the Presbyterian group led by Pastor Katsuya Toka, introduced to us by our kind friend, Mr. Atsuo Kurosawa of the same church and former director of the Administration Office of Ferris Women's University, was a very touching sight to witness as well. It reminded us how one small act of remembering can help spread and share the joy of Christmas to others.

Visiting their rojin members is a regular activity of this church. This last visit, however, was special as it was a visit reminding all in that home about Christmas, and most especially of God's love for all.

Pastor Toka led the special prayers for Mrs. Fujihara and her fellow residents. He reminded them that " to live is to die, and to die is to live" and they need not fear because they are never alone as the Lord is always with them. Then, the church members, led by him, sang Church hymns, including Silent Night and Joy to the World. Husband Orly and I also sang with them. We also prepared a short medley of Filipino Christmas songs especially for them.

There were about 20 old people in wheelchairs who joined this activity, mostly female. It was touching to see the joy in the eyes of those who sang the songs with the church group as well as of those who tried to clap their hands gaily as we sang Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit for them.

The church group was allowed about an hour of visitation only but it must have been one unforgettable visit for those in this special home. There were a number of Japanese caregivers in that place, mostly female. Visitors have to ask prior permission to see anyone in the home. Upon arrival, the visitors are kindly informed about the need to protect the health of the old residents and in very polite language and manner, the visitors are asked to wash their hands, to gurgle with iodine, then to spray their hands again with alcohol before finally being allowed to meet with the residents.

Before the old residents were gathered to meet the church group, they seemed to have been preoccupied with some personal artistic activity supervised by some caregivers. I overheard one caregiver praising one resident for the beautiful work that she completed. I also saw some of the past creative light craft work that some residents did posted on one wall of the meeting room.

We were told that such a home for the aged was rather special, with so many caregivers and comfortable facilities for the residents who seemed to be allowed to do as they pleased, like some old male residents whom we noticed were happily playing mahjong at one side of the large room.

Like the lovely old people, we felt sad when the time to bid good-bye came. We were allowed to have some extra time to talk with Mrs. Fujihara and at 94, we marveled at her ability to still clearly communicate with her church friends. She asked about friends who could not come as well as about her neighbors. She thoughtfully told us she would have been happy to have personally introduced us to her good neighbors in the 2nd and 3rd floor had she not been confined to her wheelchair and her new home.

We came to thank her for her kindness in letting us stay in her beautiful home. We left thanking her even more for the courage and kindness that she continued to demonstrate to us all in her new home. We also left thanking the church group for the simple, thoughtful gesture of remembering their elderly members as well as for preparing beautiful music and offering prayers during their visit to this special place for the elderly. Most especially, we left thanking the Lord for reminding us to share time and attention especially to those who may be alone and needy during this special Christmas.

Let us all remember to share the joy of Christmas not only with our loved ones but with as many others as we possibly can. Our gifts need not be grand - these can take the simple form of presence, prayers, songs, visits, attention, greetings, even just a simple touch or better still, a warm tight hug - for those who do not expect gifts but are truly awaiting to be remembered, to be told that they are not, they are never alone, this Christmas season, that they are always truly special before the Lord who loves them most.

A joyful, God-blessed Christmas to you all!

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