The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-11

more adequate building and equip ment to meet the needs and oppor- tunities of the community. For not only is our kindergarten growing but the Sunday School is limited only by the size of our present building. As you know, we are try ing to carry on all our work in a small Japanese house using a total fioor-space l2x21. And the rooms are dark, damp, with very little equipment. Drjrkiny water must be carried from across the street. In fact, I'm ashamed to be trying to work in such way; but the people of the community are so cordial, so eager to help and so willing to sacri- flee in order to make the enterprise financially self-supporting that we have continued against our best judgment. With a new adequate building we can accommodate 6O children in the Kindergarten, loo in Sunday School, we can conduct worship services, cooking and sew ing classes, a clinic for conSulta- ton, and various other needy com munity enterprises. This new resi- dence district of lower class office and shop people (not slums by any meansD with population of lO,O0O, is cordially toward anything we pro- pose; we are limited only by our own ability and resources.
 Land Costs 5000.
 We have organized a committee to draw up plans and supervise the building and program for Biwajima. Thanks to favorable exchange we aer able to buy land and build what we need for only $3000. Some of this am earning by my teaching, some will be contributed locally, but most of 1t must come from Amer ican friends. I admit this forward step has required more faith than I have; 50 may your prayers be that I may have faith. But faith with out works is dead; so if any of you were contemplating a Christmas gift for the Roberts, you know what will be most appreciated at this end. Your gift would do much to strengthen our faith! But nothing must be sent that would otherwise go into your regular church beneV- olence; for we realize fully that the whole work Is more important than any one part, even our small part! We hope to start building at the end of January and thus be able to have our commencement exercises lend of March in Japan) in the new building. Needless to say, all these new plans have taken much time and energy, but we dare not turn back. The field is white.
 Another item that has taken time has been our new home. We finally succeeded, thanks to many Japanese friends, in finding a new Japanese house which could be adapted to our needs. For our ideas of comfort, health and manner of furnishings, many alterations have had to be made. At times we have had difficulty in convincing the landlord and carpenter that we know what we were talking about, for our ideas have often been en- tirely new. We have tried to re- tain as much of the Japanese fea- lures and atmosphere as possible and have succeeded to the extent of making our Japanese friends think we live in a foreign house, and foreign friends feel that we are living in Japanese style. We nave had wooden floors put in, in place of straw mats; running water up- stairs and down with flush toilet, gas and electricity throughout, shelves in the closets and kitchen. We have rented the vacant lot next door, fenced 1t in and converted It into a playground. drying yard and garden. Japanese gardens are pretty, but very tiny, for beauty only. Except for the name on the gate, no one would suspect from the street that foreigner lived here, But it's fun to make these adapta- tions, and the Chs and Ans Of friends are ample compensation Come ana see us SOIIlcLllllc! WI can assure you of good food, a good bed and enjoyment.
 Feel Less Secluded
 Without planning it, we find our selves nearer foreigners than for merly. Seven foreign households are within five minutes of us, but only five children under eight be- sides our two. However, there is a lot of visiting back and forth and we feel less secluded than before. There IS bus stop three minutes away and a tram four minutes, so we are conveniently located.
 Of course we have continued our former relation with the two Con- churches of the city. ] teach Bible class every Sunday evening in one of them. l am to preach my first Japanese sermon Of this term Sunday morning. May and I have spoken to several groups of our American experience and last Sunday night spoke by radio on national hookup from our local sta tion. was one of eight from as many European countries who were asked to speak on their own coun- l @m ~ AR 2E \