Christmas with the Blairs

I am a former member of Tenth Church, and one of my warmest memories of Christmas past was with Tenth missionaries Howard and Phebe Blair in their wonderful home in Higashi-Kurume, just a short train ride on the Seibu-Ikebukero Line from Tokyo. I had spent a couple of months there as a Tenth summer missionary and then returned to spend Christmas with them for several years thereafter. Early on Christmas morning, Phebe arose to make sure that the kerosene heaters downstairs were functioning because there was no central heating to scare away the night time chill. We came downstairs for Christmas breakfast, sang a few carols accompanied by Howard on the piano, and exchanged a few gifts around the glittering Christmas tree. All during the day, friends from Kurume Christ Church dropped by for an open house even though Christmas Day is not a holiday from work for Japanese Christians. Phebe is especially gifted at welcoming guests and making everyone feel at home. We shared testimonies about what made Christmas special for us. One of the young Japanese men said that even though he had been a Christian for several years, he was still amazed that Christ had come to earth just for him. We sang carols—I still know all the words to “Silent Night” in Japanese--shared stories, and enjoyed warm fellowship. In the evening, Phebe produced a giant roast turkey which she had purchased at an American air force base. Since Japanese turkeys are raised on fish and taste a bit like fish, this turkey was a splendid delicacy for those of us with Western tastes. The grand Christmas feast was a fitting end to a day filled with festivity and shared joy at the Savior’s birth.

Scott R. Kelly