Stories: Elder Summers/Fox O-FURO Experience
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O-FURO (Bath) Experience
Fox & Summers 1956-59 - Andrus Era
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Elder L. Jimmy Fox & I (Wayne W. Summers) were first assigned to Tokyo Central Branch at Shibuya in October 1956 when we first arrived in Japan. We were awaiting assignments to branches through out Japan, Okinawa & Korea.
It came time for us to take our first bath in this mysterious country.
We were told that we would have to go to a PUBLIC bath!! We had NEVER heard of such a thing! Well, we finally gave in and went down to the local bath with our little pan, and wash cloth, and soap. We were equipped just like natives!
Upon entering we that there was only a 5 ft. wall dividing the men from the women and to make matters worse the cashier was a young lady! So we walked right back out!
We waited 2 more days and went back. This time we found the men's dressing room and were mostly undressed when a young female employee of the O-Furo came in and started picking up clothes and straighting up the room which was her job.
Well, needless to say we were APPALLED!
We hurriedly dressed and went to the counter and DEMANDED our 10 Yen back (3 cents American in those days!)
We went back to the church where we lived in Shibuya and waited 4-5 more days. All this time we refused to bathe. As we sat in church service some of the members got up and MOVED!
We didn't bathe for 2-3 more days until at a mid-week meeting known as MIA the native branch President called Elder Fox & I into his office and told us that the members had been complaining to him.
He told us that we WOULD go to the O-Furo THAT very night!
We were SO embarrashed. But I remember that even though the pool was very hot we would run & jump in just to keep the cashier and others from staring at us.
We might be the ONLY people in the church to get a church calling to TAKE A BATH!!!
Wayne W. Summers,
Northern Far East Mission 1956-59
Fukuoka, Otaru, Okinawa-Naha
Wayne W. Summers
or:
Lowell Jimmy Fox |
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