Mother's Day 2009 in Tualatin

Seattle trip photos

Visiting Beth (Barnet) Fuhriman in Edmonds, WA--Beth was valedictorian of my Fullerton Union High School class of 1959 and this was our first time together since graduation!

Beth and her husband Bob were missionaries in Japan for over 30 years

New friend Alene Wright and very good friend (we won't say how long) Kathy Tanner

Down to Tualatin, Oregon for Mother's Day with Marcy, Dave, Riley, Trevor, Kendall and Delaney

Then about an hour east of Portland and time with Berni and Dave Gorgas--I've known Berni since the 1950s in Fullerton (added Jan 2010: this was the last time I saw Berni alive)

Then on to Walla Walla and time with my niece Donna and her husband John...

...and their daughter Tina and her family

Then to Moses Lake and lunch with Mary and Ruthie (Emmans) and their husbands,
Mary and Gordon Froese
(Gordon was a boy in Walla Walla when I went to Whitman)

and Ruthie and Rick Ames

Finally back to Seattle and more wonderful opportunities to connect...

Nelson and Helen Wright
(Nelson from the 1950s in Fullerton, Helen from 1960s in Seattle)


Al and Nancy Erisman


Al calculates we have known each other for 60 years!

But the friend who goes back longer than anyone is Alan Sclater (here with his wife Nancy)...Alan and I remember playing together in the 1940s in Huntington Park, CA!

Friends and family--these are rich treasures--from those I've known for over 60 years to those in these photos I just met for the first time on this memorable trip to the Northwest

Lunch with Masao

Friends and fellow Ohio State faculty came to be with economics professor Masao Ogaki, who will soon be returning to Japan after 25 years of living in the USA.

Masao's economics colleague Pok-sang and his wife Yen-wen brought their daughter Esther...

In this video clip Masao talks about his research interest: how does one's worldview affect economic choices...does being a professing Christian make a practical difference...



We all are thankful for the six years God gave us to walk alongside Masao and share in his desire to grow in his faith...now we pray that God will grant his heart's desire to be used as a witness for Christ in Japan.