Tseven Weeks In Tsugaru - 5

In Japan people normally go to the shrine for NYE and New Year's Day, but the church runs Mochitsuki (rice pounding ceremony) as an alternative for people to attend. People from all the different chapels came along. We had a great time pounding the rice and feasting on all things mochi as we welcomed in 2009... and it was also an opportunity to give thanks for God's goodness over the year.

Two of the ladies from the English class came along dressed in their kimonos, but even more exciting was that Martin was able to speak to one of them and ask some challenging questions.

It was so much fun to celebrate the New Year with the church family - very different to how I've celebrated in the past. All in all a great start to the year (except when the mochis expanded in my stomach and I realised I had defintely eaten one too many...)