Peace Park

Today was the team's last full day on Okinawa and we had a lot planned for them. We left OCSI at around 8:45 after speaking with the Crossroad's Bible Study via Skype and arrived at Goya church to pick up the last crew when we were asked by Pastor Tomari if we would be OK with taking the wife of a visitor from Niigata Prefecture with us for the day. We readily agreed and enjoyed spending the day with Mrs. Nakamura.

Our first stop was at the Memorial Peace Park at the most southern end of Okinawa. This Park was built in 2000 to remember the over 250,000 troops who died in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. We first went to the area where the names of all those who died are memorialized on black marble slabs. Most of the names there are those from Okinawa and Japan but there are also names of Americans, Koreans, Europeans and those from Taiwan. The photo was taken at the memorial flame near the cliffs where many lost their lives.

After looking at many of the names, we then went to the museum where the complete history of the war and in particular the Battle of Okinawa is presented in order to get a more global view of what happened in Okinawa. This was a very sobering presentation and with artifacts, photos, video and actual testimonies of those who experienced the war, we all had a better idea of what life would have been like on Okinawa at that time.

We boarded the bus again and headed to lunch and after eating a choice of curry, beef bowl or McDonald's, we went to International Street in Naha. There the whole crew took advantage of the many stalls and vendors of all kinds of Okinawan goods. We met after shopping at a local Starbucks and there we saw the fun purchases. There were t-shirts, dresses, bags, sandals, robes, scarves and many other things that will be making their way to West Virginia tomorrow.

Dinner was at a local department store where everyone could split up and try their own restaurant. We chose our favorite called "Wafu Tei" where we can get good Japanese food. Hilda and Grace ate sushi and really seemed to enjoy it. Some used the time as a last minute chance to do a bit more shopping.

We then headed back to the apartments for some packing and much needed sleep to prepare for the trip home.