Brainerd Lakes Real Estate News

Y-Von-E Root did a lovely blog called A Rose By Any Other Name.

This  BLOG is more about the thorns on the rose stem. In trying to come up with a company name and tagline we came up with these. If you find one you like - help yourself because we sure aren't going to use them!

Hold Yer Horses Staging Company

From Trash to Treasure - we trash your treasures

Desperado Staging Company - we'll pay you to let us stage

 El Cheapo Stagers - you won't even know we've been there

 Fixing To Sell - you wrecked it , now we'll fix it

Good Luck Staging  - for those who want to do it themselves

 We Have Seen It All Home Staging - show us yours

Well Plated Property Presentations

Rawhide Staging Company -  move it on, move it out

International Stagers- staging in any language is still the  same, but we only speak English

 We Help Your House - you will be glad we did

It Will Cost You  - staging is cheaper

 Feel free to add your rejects

 Sorry if I inadvertently posted your company name

Recalling-The-Rescue-of A Japanese Fisherman

In the above blog I told you the story of Ray Midlo and his war time experience of demonstrating compassion in the face of the inhumanity of war in an article by Jodie Tweed , staff writer for the Brainerd Dispatch. Below is the translated from Japanese to English letter that the rescued Japanese fisherman wrote to Ray.

"Dear Mr. Midlo, 

I am Torakuma Yamamoto who was rescued at dawn of September 18th, 1945, while drifting after my boat was wrecked at night on 16th of the month. 

I was shocked to read the paper dated February 22, 1957, which reports your letter inquiring after me was forwarded to Kanoya City Office from the Imperial Household Agency through the Prefectural Office. 

At that time I had tried every means of sending you a letter of thanks, but to my great regret, various circumstances then prevailing prevented me from doing so.  Needless to say, I had been profoundly grateful to you who saved my life. However, I have been unable to find your name and even the name of the ship that you belonged to.  All I knew was that the ship was American one.

Now I will tell you about that event. At night on September 16, 1945, I rowed my boat for fishing all by myself.  At dead of night my boat was engulfed by the typhoon Makurazaki that struck Kagoshima Bay and had been drifted far off the shore.  My boat had been tossed about and I had been more dead that alive until I was rescued by your ship next day.

I had never known you are the very man who saved my life.   Please forgive me.  I do not know how to express my deepest thanks for your kindness in inquiring about me after such a long time.

 I remember clearly the sailor who lifted me in his arms.  On board the ship I was taken care of fine and when I left, they gave me some money and clothes, for which I have been deeply grateful.  Without any knowledge of English, I could hardy express myself in the ship, but now am very glad to be able to write you.  Please convey my best regards to the crew who were on board the ship

I have been overwhelmed with gratitude to find you are still worried about my boat.  It is my pleasure to inform you that my boat was safely returned.

As to my family of whom you are kind enough to inquire, I have four children and all my family ask me to send their good wishes to you.

 Very truly yours,

Torakuma Yamamoto"

 Torakuma included with the letter a photo of himself and his family.

About a month before this story took place, atomic bombs had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing about 210,00 Japanese citizens.  WW2 was officially over but Navy ships remained stationed off the coast of Japan, there were lingering hostilities and perhaps some that remain today.  A Crosslake, MN. man was serving as a Navy seaman aboard the USS Clifton, a fleet tanker. His crew felt the impact as the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and they went on shore to visit the decimated city some time later.

Around September 16, 1945 the typhoon Makurazaki struck Kagoshima Bay, Japan, and nearly destroyed the Clifton.The crew worked to keep the pumps going and stay afloat. A sailor spied a small fishing boat in the waves and every now and then a head popping up from inside.  Some wanted to "get rid of him" and others thought he should be left to die out there. A Lt. O'Hara volunteered to go out into the strong waves to save the fisherman and Midlo said he would go with. The frightened man was rescued and eventually sent ashore.  The rescue didn't sit well with Midlo's shipmates and both he and O'Hara asked for and received transfers to other ships.

"It changed. It wasn't the same," Midlo said of the atmosphere on the ship.  "All those guys were trying to stay alive and we were out there trying to save a Japanese guy,"

Midlo was discharged in 1946 and in 1957 wrote a Japanese newspaper to see if he could find out what had happened to this man that he helped pull out of the raging sea. Midlo received a letter in Japanese from the fisherman and a photo of his family.

This rescue and other war experiences changed Midlo's life forever.  "I think it was the best thing I ever did in my life, other than marry my wife,"  Midlo said quietly as tears welled up in his eyes.

Midlo, now 86. would like to meet the fisherman or his family. A more practical wish is that he could one day walk on the deck of the USS  Ronald Reagan. 

                                                     "Once a sailor, always a sailor" 

Watch my blogs for a reprint of the actual translated letter from the rescued fisherman.

Open Forum Letter  in the Brainerd Dispatch by my friend

Warrant Officer-Timothy Taggart

Deerwood, MN

     As we look ahead to Memorial Day and all the activities that will be happening around the local area I strongly encourage everyone to consider "Freedom Celebration" a musical cantata/family outing put on by the Heritage Assembly of God.

      I know everyone is busy but I can not get out of my mind an anonymous letter I once read.  It went something like this,"Remember when we went to prom and I spilled pop all over your tux, I thought you would get mad but you didn't and remember when you let me drive your brand new car and I wrecked it, I thought you would get mad but you didn't...we had so many good times I wanted to tell you how much I really cared for you and appreciated you,when you returned from Vietnam but you didn't."

     Heritage Assembly of God has truly gone out of its way and seized the opportunity to show their support and appreciation.  I have been a military member for 22 years and every time I have the opportunity to see "Freedom Celebration" I am deeply moved. They do a phenomenal job at recognizing and supporting our service men and women.  I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and that I appreciate all the hard work and effort everyone puts in behind the scenes.

All staging done by Ashley Bast, Kathleen Lordbock and Allison Lordbock of Re$ale Design and Home Staging

" The Chad" will bring you bagels and cream cheese if you will bring him a sale.

 Proverbs 21:20  A foolish man devours all he has.

 Proverbs 21:17  He who loves pleasure will become poor.

 Proverbs 19:20  Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will  be wise.

 Proverbs 19:3  A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.

We live in a money driven society where many are constantly searching for bigger, better, or faster. God is pleased when we are able to wisely accept a lower standard of living rather that to go into debt and live beyond our means . Often the credit is to obtain nonessential things that we believe will give us pleasure. 

My blog on reading the book of Proverbs through in the month of May is :

  I Dare You

     A rural Brainerd man, Harvey Starks- 40, was severely burned as a gas cooking stove he was trying to light exploded.  Subsequently 3 mobile homes and a pickup were destroyed in the blaze that followed.

     Starks was airlifted by North Air Care to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis where he is listed in critical condition.

     Upon arrival, firefighters found only the charred remains of the wooden frame in the front of Stark's mobile home.

      Despite the damage, Stark was the only person injured in the blast according to Sheriff Dahl.

Sunday, May 27th, is the Global Day of Prayer. Brainerd Lakes area churches will be participating in a community

prayer service at the Lakewood Evangelical Free Church at 6 PM.  Come and support this incredible time as Christians

from around the world dedicate themselves to a day of prayer.  

This day will be honored around the world in communities, cities, and villages.  Check your local paper for where your 

town is meeting. 

Set Designer-

Ashley Bast

The Heritage Assembly of God choir is continuing its immensely popular Memorial Day Musical program honoring veterans of all times and those presently serving in our armed forces.  Each year is different and one wonders - can they top last year's presentation?  You will have to judge for yourself!  The program is free to all and for all ages.  There will be a special section for all who have served or are presently  in the service  to come forward and line up behind the flags of their division  of service as the choir sings the  theme songs for each division.  Every year merchants donate gift cards and other items to show these men and women how much they are appreciated for their sacrifice. 

Even if you have never been in the service come and help us honor others. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors.

Performances are:

Saturday , May 26 - 7 PM

Sunday May 27 - 3 PM

Visit the interactive "Armed Forces Camp" one hour prior to performances.

Heritage Assembly of God

13242 Berrywood Drive (near industrial park)

Baxter, MN 56425

218-829-3209 

The original New Testament Greek word parakletos (pronounced in Greek as par-ak-lay-tos), which literally means called to one's side, was used to describe someone who pleaded another's cause, or who helped others by defending or comforting them. In English-language versions of The Bible, parakletos is usually translated as Advocate when referring to Jesus Christ, or either Counselor, Comforter or Helper when referring to the Holy Spirit. by Wayne Blank

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Reading out loud insert your name instead of the words LOVE and IT.  In my case that would be - Kathleen is patient, Kathleen is kind, Kathleen does not envy....

Ouch, ouch! 

In what ways do you line up and where do you cringe?  Take time to pray that God will reveal anything and everything in your heart, character, and actions that is less than God's love.  Pray that He would convict you strongly when you fall short and grant you grace to change. 

Kathleen Lordbock

Re$ale Design & Home Staging 

Brainerd, MN