Day: July 23, 2012

We have visited several places already, and are due to visit many others. We have seen smaller churches and larger ones. Some of the churches have traditional services, and others are more modern. We also visited a train station built around a tree. They have turned it into a shrine. People donate toward the upkeep of the shrine, and leave written prayers there in hopes of coercing the gods to be kind to them. Churches should not be like that, but many seem to be. They should be monuments to the greatness and grace of God, not to human greed.

Our first meal in Japan was quite a treat. We went to a steakhouse called Gusto. I was glad that I could recognize some of the items on the menu, even though it was not really necessary to read Japanese because all the items had pictures. I also enjoyed the drink bar, which had all the orange juice I could drink. I ate my rice with chopsticks but used a knife and fork for the burger and chicken.