With today’s technology, from anywhere in the world, we can stay in touch with our relatives with a steady flow of text messages and Facetime calls. It is hard to fathom the length of time it took to communicate in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the timeframe for the letters between the Whan brothers … More Letters to Canadian Andrew
Taking a short detour from June and Milton’s missionary journey on this post – this is a continuation of the theme of grandmothers. A few months ago, I posted about June’s mother (my grandmother) and before that in the “Convict story” post, I traced back to her paternal great grandmother. So, this post is a … More Irish/Scottish Grandmother
The last blog post following June and Milton’s missionary story had them arriving back in Sydney by ship that had sailed down through the Philippines and Indonesia, after a bumpy island-hopping flight to Hong Kong. This was their first furlough – a year back in Australia, after five years in Japan. Milton The ‘farewell’ … More First Furlough
Since I did a little post last month specifically about June on her birthday, it is only right to do the same thing for Milton Wayne. His birthday happens to fall exactly a month later on July 5th. Milton (Dad, Uncle Mit, Poppa) was a joy. I am a little daunted at the idea of … More A photo essay of sorts
This is a short little post to honor June Wayne’s birthday which is on June 5th. Ever since Mom stepped into Heaven in 2017, I have mostly tried to ignore her birthday. I think the psychological term might be called avoidance. But putting this blog together has let me revel in June and Milton’s memories … More Yoga, sprouted seeds and more
Mary: In this post Milton relates some stories that are so specifically unique to that time and place that it gives an interesting perspective of their life in Beppu. (around 1953) Unfortunately I don’t have specific images that reflect the stories but I am including pictures from a photo album that is from that that … More Life in Beppu
This post continues the Beppu years – 1952 and 1953 Milton: Post-war Japan was crushing the life out of June in those days. The lack of suitable food for her gallbladder condition and the pouring rain and cold robbed her of the vitality she had in Australia. She knew that before she wasted away too … More When there is nowhere to look but up
This short post is a little break from the Japan story – will come back to that soon. Lately I have been curiously looking through a very old scrapbook/photo album that I believe belonged to June’s mother. I came to that conclusion because many of the pictures seem to go back even further than Mom’s … More History and Mysteries
Mary: Continuing the story from the last post, the following occurs between late 1950 and late 1952. Milton: Soon after June’s arrival back from Sydney, the U.S. Army informed me that a regular chaplain was on the way. A few ladies from the chapel called on us. “Normally the chaplain on base is an officer … More Beppu Years (Part 1)
In a previous post, June & Milton decided that they wanted to move to an area on Kyushu Island that was in greater need of missionaries than the city of Kokura. For some historical context, this post transpires from late in 1949 through 1950. Japan was still very much in recovery mode from World War … More Beppu and our first home
(First of some posts on grandmothers) In prior ancestry themed posts, both Milton & June talked about their parents. Their accounts were full of details about each of their father’s side of the family but much less information for their mothers. My goal is to fill in some of that missing information and to start … More Grandmothers
Milton: We were so poor in Kokura city that once when my mother sent a book to me, she rushed it over, using Air Freight which turned out to be more expensive than regular Air Mail. I could not pay the delivery fee. June talked to the man at the front door while I slipped … More The short time in Kokura
The last blog post chronicled how June & Milton felt led to move south/west to Kyushu and miraculously received money to pay for the trip just at the right time. This next story takes place starting on April 5th 1949 when they start the long train journey. This was long before the comfortable and speedy … More The train ride to Kyushu
June & Milton’s arrival in Japan in two previous posts (Hello Adventure & The Big Box Adventure Continues) highlighted how their ship came to Tokyo and they got the contents of their big box into a small house. Many prayers were answered and that theme continues. They were living day to day completely turning over … More Tickets to Kyushu
Depending on where you live, you may have noticed a wine label named 19 Crimes. (Pictured above). It features a convict sent to Australia on the label. If you download an app and face your phone in front of the label, it will start talking and telling you about the crime that sent them on … More Our Convict Story
From the Land Down Under to the Rising Sun 