The "Japanese Connection" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Scanning a photo of my oldest son, Derek, and his church youth group which was taken in Japan.  The year was 1986 and he was in 9th grade and a member of the St. James Episcopal Church youth group.  The youth group took semi-annual mission tours which were financed  through performances by the youth given at the church before they toured.  All three of our children were fortunate enough to travel through their high school years, but Derek managed to travel the longest distance when in March of that year they traveled to Japan.  Not sure anymore what city they traveled to, but they were housed by Japanese families from a sister church in Japan.  

Derek is pictured in the left rear.  The yellow arrow points to his photo.

For months the youth group of about 30 members prepared a musical and then presented it to the congregation of St. James.  Money raised during the performance was used to help with the costs of the trip.  Upon arrival in Japan each student was assigned to a home of one of the members of the Japanese church.  That home family was to supply the student with a place to sleep and with meals.  Derek came home after about two weeks quite a bit slimmer than when he had left.  His host families menu of fish and rice just about every meal wasn't the same as his mom's cooking.  While in Japan they gave several performances as well as had a chance to tour and shop for souvenirs.  Before Derek left we talked about purchasing a Japanese 35mm SLR camera which he could use while touring Japan and for taking the photography course that I taught at the high school where he was also a student.  Found out they cost more in Japan than they did in the United States, so he didn't come home with many photos.  He did enjoy his journey, but not the food.  The assistant minister at our church, The Rev. Mary Lou Broucht, was the leader of the group and she traveled with other chaperones from the church as well as Diane Imboden, the wife of the rector of our church.  Derek, as well as our other two children, managed to travel twice during their high school careers to places such as England and Italy, as well as Japan.  The souvenir that my son brought back with him from Japan for me .... a Japanese Playboy Magazine!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.