Two weeks ago, the mom of a church member, she was 92, died and Henry was asked to do the funeral the next day. We don't really know if the mom was a Christian, though her daughter asked prayer for her every week and kept us informed of her condition. She had been in a home for 3-4 years. Her family did not object to a Christian funeral.
It was the first time for me to go to the crematorium, but Henry's been there several times. The drive into the place was beautifully landscaped, almost like a park. Then you come upon the round building with smoke pouring out the roof. It was overcast and drizzling. There were several funerals going on at the same time and more to come in the afternoon. We saw several hearses drive in and out.
There were two Buddhist funerals going on at the same time on either side of us. The circular hall was divided into three sections, possibly four, as I could not see directly opposite. Each part had 5 small doors that the coffins were put in, and ours was the fourth coffin that day to be inserted. This was about noon.
After Henry prayed for the family, we all left and went to an adjacent building for lunch and wait three hours until the family could then go and pick out some bones to keep and put in an urn. We did not stay for that part of it.
Funerals are very sad indeed. Christian funerals have the hope of seeing the loved one in heaven if that person had accepted Christ as their Savior. We are praying more Japanese will have the hope of eternal life.
