Our mission is relatively rural even though Sendai has 1 million people and the larger cities are several hundred thousands of people. Still, as we travel throughout the mission, we see thousands and thousands of rice fields. Gary has challenged himself to understand all about growing rice in Japan. Our Stake President introduced Gary to this rice farmer, the KUMAGAI family (not a member) and we have become friends. Gary goes to their home every month and is discovering all the steps these farmers take to keep their fields in top condition to grow rice.
The KUMAGAI couple and Gary the first time they met.
This sweet little lady is the mother of Mr. Kumagai who lives with them. She is 93 years old and is mentally sharp, loves to talk and is a story teller.
The second visit their home, Gary took me with him and we sat around this table on the floor (the space under the table where you hang your legs is heated and feels really good in that big drafty farmhouse) and talked to her for hours. I couldn't understand a word she said and Gary could only understand about 1/2 of it, but we fell in love with her just the same.
We took picture next to the rice. We were actually not preparing for a race but rather just trying to get closer to the rice.
We met this lady working in her rice field and stopped and talked to her for a time. She took her hat off to get her picture taken. So cute!!
Gary always endears himself to everyone he meets.
They are writing konji on their palms to explain what her last name means.
This was the third visit to the rice field. This visit they were turning over the ground before winter.
Mrs. KUMAGAI working in the fields that day. They gave us homemade miso and mushrooms from their garden.
This is a HUGE!!! statue of Buddha in Izumi where the rice farmer lives.
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