This is a slideshow we put together for the funeral that took place yesterday.

A new site

Please visit the new blog that has been set up to collect stories and memories of Cal.

It's located at http://workofthekingdom.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Obituary for Cal

Something like this will appear soon in the Seattle Times. Please note the date, time, and location of the memorial service at the bottom of this post.

Calvin Masao Uomoto was born in Seattle to George and Fumiko Uomoto in 1949. He died peacefully at home on Friday, October 26, surrounded by his family.

Cal’s childhood was spent in Japan (where his parents did missionary work), in Philadelphia, and in Seattle. He earned a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Public Administration, both from the University of Washington.

Cal married Ann Shepard in 1980, and they raised four wonderful sons – Titus, Timothy, Jordan, and Brendan - in addition to numerous other sons and daughters, including John (foster son) and Hsuu Vierling. Cal was preceded in death by his father George and sister Ruth. He is survived by his wife and sons, his daughter-in-law Grace and grandson Ezra, his mother Fumiko, sisters Lois (Paul), Estelle (Robert), Faith (Jim), Hope, Grace (Rex), Joyce (Charles), Julie (Jeff), and brothers Murray (Tsuruko) and Earl.

Cal dedicated his life to working with underprivileged youth, the poor, prisoners, and refugees. He served as World Relief’s Area Director for more than 20 years. Cal occasionally taught about non-profit organizations and urban ministry at Seattle Pacific University, and was a mentor with Fuller Theological Seminary.

Cal’s life touched untold numbers of people from all corners of the world. The Indochinese Farm Project, the Mien Christian Church of Seattle, and a vibrant ministry to detainees at the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s Tacoma detention facility are a few focal points of Cal’s tireless work on behalf of those in need of hope, friendship, opportunity, and practical assistance of all kinds.

A memorial service to celebrate Cal’s life and legacy will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 17, at Seattle First Presbyterian Church (1013 8th Avenue). In lieu of flowers, checks may be made payable to World Relief with a note specifying that funds be directed to the Detention Ministry; or donate online at www.worldreliefseattle.org/ and specify “Cal Uomoto” or “Detention Ministry” in the comments field.

Today Cal is in Paradise

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 22:43

Cal died peacefully about noon on Friday, October 26. He was at home with Annie, Titus, Tim, Jordan, and Brendan, as well as his daughter-in-law Grace and grandson Ezra at his bedside. We can imagine Cal's great joy at arriving in his heavenly home and meeting the King he has served so faithfully all his days. We cannot yet imagine our life without him, but we can find comfort in the fact that he is in paradise now.

We will provide information about a celebration of Cal's life as soon as our plans are more developed. In the meantime, we appreciate your prayers and your many expressions of love and support.

-Annie

Hospice Reality

Dear Friends,

I didn't know much about hospice prior to making the transition into it.  My guess is that most of you also see only a closed curtin when you hear the word.  Having experienced it for two months now I can give it a ringing endorsement for hospice. 

The assumption is that this effort is not to cure or heal, or medically improve the patient.  That was the medical team's role.  Basically the hospice team exists to make life as comfortable and pain free for the patient as possible.   Medicines are dispensed, nurses will visit on a regulat basis, social workers and chaplains can assist with many of the complicated end-of-life issues, and ours even provided a masseuse to ease some of my muscular discomfort.  And as problems arise, even after hours, we have been able to make a quick phone call to ask for advice or counsel.

The goal is to allow the patient to have as unfettered a lifestyle as possible.  By freeing up the medical routines, the patient is able to use his time more as s/he chooses.  The last two months have been pain free!  That alone has been a great gift.  That has allowed me to go to work a couple of days a week. 

But the energy level is dropping.  And I do need blood transfusions.  My platelet count is low.  So I am asking friends if you would pray that my bone marrow will increase production.  Apparently, this is not something that happens naturally, especially after years of chemo.   So we come before our Good Father and lay our request before him. 

Thank you for your support and prayers.

-Cal-

Hospice

Dear Friends,  

Annie and I have come to an agreement that hospice would be the best path to take at this point.  On the one hand, the chemo treatment offered the possibility of added weeks/months of life, but with it's attedant daangers and side effects,  On other hand was hospice with the possibility of staying as healthy and cognizant throughout the time allotted to me.  Not easy choices.  But we felt that the Lord gave us confimation in this decision, so are at peace with it.

On the work side, World Relief has been a great support throughout this period.  But we need to look at the reality that I may not be around long term.  We have been assessing my roles and responsibilities at the office.  As we work to transfer my responsibilities to others, we need prayer for wisdom.

On a side note, the Lord blessed our son Jordan, and his wife Grace, with a newborn son.  So I am now a new grandfather.  Already he has been a tremendous blessing to my wife and I.  They are currently living with us, so we have daily contact, and have been happy to do our share of baby duty.  So, in the midst of our pain, God has still showered us with his goodness and joy.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers as we walk this new path.  We will still need them.  And we realize daily how much we are sustained by them.

Gratefully,

-Cal and Annie-

Last week the oncoogist offered us the option of another chemo, one that is more toxic than the one I was on for 18 months.  It could prolong a patient's life by a short time, but the side effects could make life much more miserable.  So it is a choice between, possibly an extra month with degraded lifestyle, and foregoing any treatment and concentrating on as high a quality of life during that time.  The window to begin the treatment would close in two weeks.  After that if would be too late to start.  So, not to decide is a decision to forego treatment.  We also met with a representative of hospice to learn what they have to offer.

We are seeking the Lord to see if He has a word for us, or if there is guidance that we missed somewhere in the past.  Annie and I would truly, truly appreciate your prayers as we make this difficult decision. 

Again, thank your for your ongoing support and prayers.

-Cal-