By Elizabeth

So I got a baptism, confirmation, and my first communion at the Franciscan chapel near my home in Tokyo. Before I could take communion, I had to go to Sunday school for weeks and weeks because they would not let me get confirmed. We talked about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We talked about the first person to live on earth, Adam, it was technically God’s child. (My Dad says he hopes the Priest never asks me what I learned in Sunday School!)

The service was scary at first, but then less so. My best Japan friend Cora’s mom was my godmother, so she was there and made it less scary. Cora cheered me on and I felt like I was getting married or something. It was weird because my clothes were white and it looked like a wedding dress, but with butterflies on it, but it wasn’t.

It was pretty embarrassing. I had to go in front of the whole congregation and it was strange. The Priest said my name a lot of times during the sermon and it was getting embarrassing. I never thought hearing my name would get annoying to hear. I wish I could have done this at St. Ann’s, but my Mom said we had to do it now because when would we live overseas with an English Catholic Church two blocks away?

In the end I was really proud that I followed all the complicated directions and did not complain when they made my whole head wet being baptized. I did not have a baptismal certificate with me, so I had to do that part again, I was baptized as a baby, but don’t remember that. My dad said getting baptized, confirmed and first communion in one ceremony was a “Blue Light Special” but I don’t know what that means.

Elizabeth Graeme is a 4th-grade Forks resident and will be spending her first Christmas in Japan as her Dad is posted overseas.