Ward Wanderings

June, 2, 2016 - return to Japan

This is a green airplane at Dulles, the first stop of my return flight. The ANA flight left at 12:20; my seat was 41A and had an empty seat next to me.

Clouds covered most of the trip. We flew over Canada, then followed Alaska, and arched over toward Russia and down to Japan in about 13 hours. It was one of the smoothest flights I have ever been on.

This might be crossing Lake Erie, but not positive.

A small island somewhere--looks like a video game piece.

Approaching Narita Airport where I had a three hour layover for a flight to Kobe.
-arrived about 7:00 pm at Itami Airport in Osaka. Door-to-door travel time was 24 hours.

Sunset in Japan- Tadaima!

May 29 - 31, 2016

Sunday morning we went to IBC for services. It was the monthly Missions Sunday.

Mr. Anderson is starting a church on June 5, in Towson, MD. He and his family were there. Bob Larson, BIMI USA Director was also there. Dr. Creed, pictured, led the service.

We had lunch at Ruby Tuesday's in Clinton with Beth and fiance, Matthew, Teresa, Christin and Joe. Then Teresa and I went with Joe and Christin to WVA to stay overnight at their new home. Along the way we saw this horse tied up at a hitching post, something you see in Amish country.

Somewhere in Virginia or West Virginia

Joe and Christin have a resident groundhog who enters the yard through holes in the fence. They have named it George. Fat thing, must be well fed. We also saw many birds including a cardinal and blue jay. They bought a bird feeder and filled it, but no little birds stopped by while we were there.

These are Christin's and Joe's cars in front of their duplex on the left (it was recently painted). They also bought an American flag and displayed it for Memorial Day.

A drive through small-town America in West Virginia on Monday afternoon.

On Tuesday, back in Maryland, Matthew, Teresa and I went over to see Sue Phagan, standing, and Mrs. Sara Greathouse, Pastor's former secretary, now retired. At 86 her health is not good, but she has not changed much at all. We chatted for a good while and then departed while she waved to us at the door.

Sight and Sound Production of Samson

Five of us Wards went to Pennsylvania to see the new production of Samson. The photos here are pre-production so they are not copyrighted. It gives you an idea of the sets and costumes.

The play gave a different perspective on the Samson story, one that showed God's grace in Samson's life though he made many bad choices, even though his parents tried to bring him up the way God wanted them to. Samson was responsible for the choices he made, especially about the women he loved. In the end he was allowed to give God glory by dying with the Philistines and killing more then than he had in his life. An example of God's abundant grace to us sinners.

In the lobby

Much of the scenery was of a rocky wilderness. Amazing how these huge pieces were moved about.

This guy was a magician

A video effect on the background sky showed "birds" flying that formed the word Samson

Here the magician rides a live camel

These three guys were the grunting comic relief

May 27, 2016

Christin came and took me to Purceville, VA, where Web Fabrics is located. Marvelous shop with oodles of fabrics and ideas for quilts of all kinds. Along the way I took photos of American flags that were everywhere for Memorial Day. I love the flag.. and our military :-)

These flags were placed at an intersection.

The Web Fabrics shop

There's a flag hanging from that crane

Christin's Graduation

There were about 700 graduates from Prince George's Community College at the 6:30 evening ceremony held at the Equestrian Center. We found seats on the front row, but behind where Christin sat. Christin will now have to take a test to get her license to practice nursing before she can be employed. This will happen in June.

Steve insisted on wearing sunglasses, Matthew, Jewel, Peter and Joe.

Christin in auburn hair marching in

The Graduate --Congratulations!

The two new Mrs. Ward's

My four sons, Peter, Steve, Matt and Joe -- so proud of all of you!

May 26, 2016

Today, Peter, Jewel, Matthew and I went downtown to see the Air and Space Museum. On the way we stopped at a new memorial I had not seen before for Disabled Veterans. There were a couple of walls with inscriptions and a big star with each of the 5 points marked with a service branch emblem.

Many colorful ice cream trucks were around

One of the many hanging exhibits at Air and Space

WWII and Korean Memorials

Two wars that are not taught in public school American history classes these days. It is sad to see all the kids on school trips, dressed in matching T-shirts, that do not really appreciate all that their grandfathers did to give them the freedom they take for granite. My Dad fought in the Philippines and served in Japan after the end of the Great War. I won't ever forget the sacrifices made so that I can enjoy what freedoms we have left in the USA today. Thanks, Dad.