Shan In Japan

A Needed Time Away

2012-01-26T21:14:00.002+09:00

Yesterday after class and lunch, I got on the train with my bag that was heavier than I thought it would be and headed to Tokyo. I turned on my newly replaced mp3 player, opened up my e-reader, and enjoyed the ride. It was clear so I was hoping to get a glimpse of Mt. Fuji, too. But, apparently I was tired. I fell asleep around Nagoya and expected I'd sleep for 30 minutes or so, but woke up in Yokohama!

I spent a lovely, quiet evening with several missionary friends at a guest house. Then I spent today renewing friendships, building new friendships, and even meeting a reader of my blog! (Thanks, Shannon!:) We had a wonderful day of prayer, praise and fellowship, as well as foot washing.

When I got on the train yesterday I wasn't aware of how tired I was. I wasn't aware of how much I needed a break from the routine. I am thankful for this time of refreshment!

Well, that was too long

2012-01-18T23:06:00.002+09:00

I knew that I would not be posting much in December while my parents were here. I didn't really think it would be this long between posts!

I just read a post from the Going Beyond Ministries blog about music. I got a couple of new CDs for Christmas and am really enjoying them. In fact, today in our Gospel Song and Bible class we listened to and talked about "No Compromise" from the CD "The Story". The song is about Daniel. It was fun to tell the story of Daniel to a couple of ladies who have never heard anything about him. It was interesting to talk about compromise and integrity. I am loving this CD and am so grateful for my kind friend who knew how much it would bless me.

That double CD set and SCC's Re:creation have been rotating through my CD player for the past couple of weeks-now that the Christmas music is put away.

What are you listening to these days? Any recommendations?

A Month of Thanks, Day 30

2011-11-30T22:55:00.006+09:00

Well, here it is, the last day of November. I have enjoyed this adventure in gratitude. I hope that I can keep up the practice of gratitude, even after November is over.

Today I am thankful for airplanes, especially all of the planes that brought my parents to Japan-and there were several over the past 48 hours! After being re-routed through Hawaii, with a 19 hour layover-which I think was shorter because they were late and had to search for one of their bags, Mom and Dad arrived safely, even a little early.

My friend Noriko went to the airport with me to welcome them. A kind lady passing by took this picture for us.

I think Noriko was more excited than I was. Okay, well, maybe not, but she was excited, too!

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of my parents' visit!

A Month of Thanks, Day 29

2011-11-30T00:00:00.004+09:00

I was just about to turn off my computer. But, I couldn't do it until I wrote a blog post. I don't know why I felt compelled to write.

Today I am thankful for another day of life. I want to remember that each day is a gift. It is not guaranteed. Here I am, getting ready for bed after yet another day.

How did I live this day? Was I faithful steward of the gift God gave me of this day? I am not always. Sometimes I am partially. And, on very rare occasions I make it through an entire day.

I look forward to tomorrow. Not only because my parents are coming, but also because His mercies are new each morning. He gives me another chance to serve and worship Him.

Good night!

Update: I found this on my flip calendar today when I turned the page:
"To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us- and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a gift of grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him." Thomas Merton

A Month of Thanks, Day 28

2011-11-28T23:38:00.002+09:00

My parents are coming for a visit! I am so excited!

Tonight I went to the laundromat to dry sheets, towels and a quilt. I do not have a clothes dryer-like the most of the rest of Japan. So, in the winter, I go to the laundromat to dry these things. I forget what it is like to have soft towels!

When I got home I finished gathering up the trash and took it out. Then, I did a couple other little things and decided to check email quickly before getting ready for bed. I have a list of things that need to be done tomorrow.

My plans have changed. My parents got re-routed through Hawaii! So, they will be 24 hours late.

Tonight I am thankful for technology! Without making international phone calls and playing phone tag with my sister, I was able to get all of the information I need. Email, digital photos and skype!

No technology pictures for you tonight. Since you are sitting at your computer reading this, you don't really need picture of another computer!

A Month of Thanks, Day 27

2011-11-27T21:58:00.002+09:00

Advent. I remember the excitement as a child. Taking out the little wreath Mom had made. Taking turns reading the Bible and the devotional. Every Sunday, sharing the experience with our church family. The lovely calendar Mom made out of felt and sequins. Trying to decide who should start-because that determined who would finish!

I also remember the anticipation. Anticipating the celebration of Jesus' birth. Reading the story together on Christmas Eve. Going to church with our friends. Singing Silent Night by candle light (still my favorite carol).

This year I am anticipating my parents' arrival in two days and celebrating with them here in Japan (Thank you, Shonda, for sharing!:) I am on excitement overload right now. Tomorrow night will be like Christmas Eve as a kid, waiting, waiting, waiting!

Enjoy the anticipation of advent this year!

A Month of Thanks, Day 25

2011-11-25T22:10:00.006+09:00

I am thankful for my family. I saved this one for today because it is my mom's birthday. (It is also my cousin's birthday which I had forgotten, but thanks to facebook have been reminded!:)

Although God has given me the gift of being able to live far from family and have very little homesickness, I love my family deeply. My sister and I like to sing the sisters song from White Christmas. We have been through a lot together and have grown closer through it all. I have a deep respect for my parents, all they have taught me, the ways they help me, their continuous prayers for me, the way their love for God and each other grows daily.

I appreciate that my grandparents took the time to teach my parents about God's love and the importance of teaching their children the same thing. Our family isn't perfect and we've had our share of trials, however, having this love for God as the center has kept us strong and together.

I am also blessed with an amazing extended family. I am thankful for aunts, uncles, cousins and now their families. It is a blessing to be part of such a circle!

Thank You, Lord, for the wonderful family in which You placed me!

A Month of Thanks, Day 23-24

2011-11-24T22:03:00.006+09:00

I am thankful for my missionary family.

I grew up in South Dakota in my immediate family of four. No relatives in SD. For a while we had relatives in Minnesota but then they moved to California. So, for most of my growing up years, our nearest (geographically) relatives were in Kansas, about 9 hours away by car.

Therefore, I learned at an early age that family doesn't always have to do with bloodlines and biology. Our family grew when we moved to South Dakota. I now have 'aunts' and 'uncles' and 'cousins' and 'nieces' and 'nephews' and 'grandparents' who, I suspect, are nowhere near biologically related.

When I moved to Japan, I, like my parents, moved far from biological family. But, I walked right into a family. We get together for holidays, for fun days, hang out, get frustrated with each other, and pray for each other. We do have to have business meetings together, too!

I am thankful for the way God provided this family for us. This doesn't mean our biological family is replaced, it means that our family has grown. God has added blessings to my life because of this mission family.

As with my biological family, there is the immediate family and then cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. I have several missionary friends who also feel like family but are not part of the immediate NAB mission family. I am thankful for these family members, too!

A Month of Thanks, Day 22

2011-11-23T00:38:00.002+09:00

Because it is getting late and I have to get up and out the door fairly early in the morning, this post will be short!

I am thankful for God's creation.

I love that I can spend even just 5 minutes in nature and feel refreshed.

I love looking at the variety of life all around, size, color, shape, etc, of everything!

I am amazed at the uniqueness of creation-including human beings! It is wonderful to look around and see how beautifully unique we all are.

I have, probably, hundreds of photos I could post here. I have already done an entire post on sunsets, so I will not post those. I'll just post a couple before I head off to sleep...

A Month of Thanks, Day 21

2011-11-21T23:06:00.004+09:00

I am thankful for food. I am thankful that I have always had enough-usually more than enough. I am thankful for the fun of making food, especially sweets! I am thankful for the enjoyment that sharing a meal together brings.

Some random food pictures:
(As I was looking for pictures I noticed that most of my food pictures are of sweets!)

A Month of Thanks, Day 20

2011-11-20T22:55:00.004+09:00

I am thankful for a warm home. Today it has been ridiculously windy. As I blew in after church, it was nice to open the door, feel the warmth and smell the soup I had made for lunch.

It is such a blessing to have this place to live. I suspect my neighbors wonder what I do with all of this space. I know the apartments above and below me each have 4 people living in them. I look forward to having my parents here and finding out what it is like to live here with a family! (smile)

Although we don't have central air and heat here, my apartment stays nice and warm on sunny, winter days because I have sun shining in my living/dining room all day. This is an added blessing of living here!

Also, since I live on the 9th floor and there are no tall buildings in front of ours, I can see the mountains!

Come visit anytime!

A Month of Thanks, Day 19

2011-11-19T23:52:00.003+09:00

I am thankful that there are people who still write snail mail. I used to write a LOT more snail mail but many of the people I was corresponding with have died or can no longer write. But, I do still have a few faithful writers, and some of them are from my generation!

Today when I got home I checked my mail and found NO junk mail, maybe the rain helped with that (in Japan it is okay to walk around house to house putting fliers into mailboxes). But , there was one lone envelope with familiar handwriting. What a blessing to receive that letter.

I also love that Awana has children write to missionaries. This guarantees at least a letter a year, but usually a lot more. Some children are using email these days, but I do still get real letters, too.

Thank you to all of you who have ever written me a letter. I appreciate it.

I guess I should remember how much I like to get mail and send it to others, too!

(The picture was taken from a free clip art site!)

A Month of Thanks, Day 18

2011-11-19T00:30:00.002+09:00

Tonight was missionary fellowship. Several of us gather about once a month to eat, share, encourage, pray and laugh together. I am incredibly grateful for this space where I can be with people who, like me, have left their country of origin to live in a culture so different from what we grew up in, because we have been called by God to share His love with people here. We don't have to talk about that. We understand each other. Even though we are all in different cities doing different ministries, we are one in heart. What a blessing!

(I haven't a clue where a picture of all of us is right now and it is too late for me to find. Maybe when I am more awake I will post one!)

A Month of Thanks, Day 17

2011-11-17T21:53:00.002+09:00

I am thankful for God's faithfulness. I am so inconsistent you'd think I was a wave in the ocean! I want to be faithful. I want to be consistent. I want to be stable. I desire these things. I try to do these things, sometimes in my own strength which never ever works out.

BUT, God is faithful. Even when I am wavering around. Even when I take a step away. Even when I feel as close as ever. In all of these times God is faithful. He doesn't change. He loves me the same, each and every day, each and every moment.

As I thought about a picture to post with this, the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" came to mind, especially the line 'morning by morning new mercies I see.' So, I decided a picture of the sunrise would be a good picture to post!

A Month of Thanks, Day 16

2011-11-16T21:15:00.022+09:00

I am thankful for friends. I am thankful for the way God unfolds a friendship the way a rose unfolds, one petal at a time until it is in full bloom, beautiful and fragrant. I am thankful that God planned for us to live in community, not only with family but also with friends who laugh when we laugh, who grieve when we grieve, who encourage when we are down, who open their hearts and let us climb inside, loving us and caring for us.

I have been blessed to get to live in two countries, three states, and more cities than I care to count. (When I give you my address, just put it in the 'X' section because you will cross it out several times!:) Along with all of this moving has come the joy of friendships. Even when I knew I was moving away and tried not to make friends so that my heart would not be ripped out again, there was God setting someone in front of me who I could not avoid befriending! And, even with all of that heart ripping, I am always so thankful for the friends God has placed in my path. Some are friends for a season, some are sister-like friends, but all are precious to me.

Thank You, God, for my lovely friends!

I want to post pictures of my friends here. I am afraid I will forget someone! If I do, I am sorry! It is not because I have forgotten you, it is that I couldn't find a good picture to post or didn't go back far enough in the archives!

A Month of Thanks, Day 15

2011-11-15T22:07:00.002+09:00

Water.
I take it for granted every day.
Until I went to Peru.
We had to drink bottled water.
One night our hotel had a water problem and the hot water was off.

These things reminded me how important clean water is.
I am thankful that I can turn on the tap, fill up a glass of water and drink it, safely.
I am thankful that I can turn on the shower, stand under the hot water and know that it will run as long as I want it to.

Thank You, Lord, for water!

A month of Thanks, Day 14

2011-11-14T23:38:00.009+09:00

Today's topic: new friends!

I had other plans for today's post, but my sudden meeting of three teachers from a school for the disabled changed things. Today I went to USJ (Universal Studios Japan) by myself. I really wanted to see the Christmas show and ride the roller coaster. When I got there, I first got ice cream-a girl has to have priorities! Then I was planning to get in line for the roller coaster. However, the wait was 105 minutes, perhaps enough time to ride and get a good spot for the show, but maybe not. So, I went to Space Fantasy first, an indoor roller coaster meets controlled tilt-a-whirl that is also pretty fun. The line for that was only about 45 minutes.

Then I went to stake out my place for the show, which didn't turn out to be as great of a place as I had first thought it would be.

I enjoyed the show but it took forever to get back to the roller coaster line. I finally made it and got in the single riders' line. I got to ride with a girl of about 11 who said it was her third time today, and two people who I thought were a couple at first. We had a great ride-I LOVE roller coasters! (This one is way too short, but it is the best one close to me.)

As we exited the two I thought were a couple started chatting with me and I found out they are teachers at a school for the disabled in Nara and the guy teaches English. They were so excited to talk with me. We found their other friend who doesn't like roller coasters-which is why I got to ride with them-and decided to watch the starlight parade together while eating hamburgers from the diner.

I went to USJ by myself-first time I have ever gone to an amusement park by myself-and left with three new friends and plans to get together for a potluck party in January and maybe some hiking before that! What a fun day!

If it weren't so late, I would go on about other new friends I have made recently...

like Makiko

or these wonderful ladies I met in Peru

A Month of Thanks, Days 12 & 13

2011-11-14T00:04:00.003+09:00

Today, and everyday, I am thankful for God's Word. There are days when I don't realize how thankful I am. There are days when I don't take time to sit down and read and meditate. However, even on those days, I remember God's Word. I am thankful that my parents felt it was necessary for us to go to church together and study God's Word together from the time I was born until the day I left for college. Because of their commitment to God and demonstrating their love for Him by teaching us, I have more of God's Word hidden in my heart than I realize.

God's Word has the power of life. It is living. It guides. It instructs. It admonishes. It encourages. It comforts. It truly is the answer. Sometimes it is tough, tough to understand, tough to accept. Sometimes it seems too good to be real. But, always, it is Truth.

Lord, may I never take for granted the privilege of having Your Word, of being allowed to read it freely. Thank You for providing this way of knowing You, who You are, how You work and think, and about Your love.

A Month of Thanks, Days 9, 10, 11

2011-11-12T23:31:00.008+09:00

This week I got to spend time with some amazing people at the bi-annual Church Planter's Institute (CPI) near Mt. Fuji-which we only saw from the highway on the way there since it was cloudy and rainy the rest of the time. Anyway, about 400 people gathered to praise God, share church planting and ministry ideas, to pray together and for fellowship. Two of the main speakers are Japanese pastors from the tsunami/nuclear disaster areas. Many others who have volunteered in the disaster areas also shared about their experiences. It was a time of hope and excitement for what God is doing and going to do as Japan rebuilds and discovers a new normal. It was a time of refreshment and renewal. It was also a time of reconnecting and meeting new people. I am thankful for the way God is working in Japan, in church leaders' hearts, and in me. Thank you, Lord!

I didn't take any pictures this time, but have some pictures of some of the people I saw there...

I saw Darlene and Iris' husband, Carsten.

I rode with Doris and Yuri and saw Barb there. Unfortunately, Nan couldn't attend since she is packing for retirement (sad face).

I, of course, saw Ron and Joan Stoller!

I saw Becky! :)

I even saw Nishioka sensei!

I saw many other people but don't have pictures-or can't find pictures- of them.

A Month of Thanks, Day 8

2011-11-08T21:35:00.002+09:00

Today I am thankful for the postal services. In Japan, the post office is not only a place to send mail and packages, it is also a bank and a place to pay bills. If I understand the information correctly, I can also get insurance there.

Not far from my apartment is the Izumi City main post office, about a 10 minute walk. But, a five minute walk away is a branch post office. I am really thankful for this branch office. The people there are so nice. They understand my interesting Japanese, help me find the cheapest or fastest or whatever way for me to send packages. They helped me set up direct bill pay from my account when I first moved here. They patiently wait while I write painstakingly slowly.

I don't even know any of their names and if I see them outside of the post office it takes me a few minutes to know why I know that face! I am really thankful for their friendliness and helpfulness!

A Month for Thanks, Day 7

2011-11-07T23:03:00.004+09:00

Sabbath. A word we read in the Bible, a word we hear talked about by pastors, Bible teachers and spiritual directors. We don't really know what it means, how we 'keep' it.

I am still learning what this means, too. I read an excellent book about it: "The Rest of God" by Mark Buchanan. Check it out for yourself :)

I am thankful that God provided Sabbath. I am pretty sure He doesn't really need a day of rest. But, it is wonderful that He set an example for us. As I prepare to sleep at the end of this Sabbath, I feel refreshed and ready to meet the rest of my week. I have discovered this is one of the many benefits of keeping the Sabbath.

A month for Thanks Day 6

2011-11-06T22:23:00.004+09:00

This morning I attended Kongo Bible Church. At our church we have an afternoon worship service. But, once a month, I attend the Kongo church and fellowship with my brothers and sisters there. When I returned from my first home assignment in 2006, I attended, helped and learned there. Then, the following year when Woykes went on home assignment, Paul Ewing and I had the privilege of working there.

At the Kongo church I have learned much about big hearts serving God with all they have. I have learned much about patience, commitment, and faithfulness. Oh, and food! Great potlucks here!:)

When we started Komyo Christian Church, the congregation at Kongo Bible Church committed to pray for us and several members even committed to coming to our worship services as often as they can. Oh, what an encouragement they have been! Their prayers and presence have meant more to me than I can express in words.

Lord, thank you for Kongo Bible Church, for the blessing they have been in my life!

A month for Thanks Day 5

2011-11-05T23:09:00.007+09:00

Today began with me feeling rested. Ten hours of sleep helped the cold I talked about yesterday! It also began with a beautiful sky. I was glad I had taken this picture when I did because 5 minutes later when I returned to my living room, the sky was clouded over.

Today was our annual AGC concert. (AGC=Anointed Gospel Choir) We had some new people join today and saw some former members in the audience. A wonderful group from a local group home came as well as friends and family members. We had a wonderful time singing praises!

Getting ready...

Rehearsal...

Dinner...

Dessert...

A month for Thanks

2011-11-04T20:18:00.002+09:00

As I write this it is 8:18 on Friday night and I am about to go to bed. This rarely happens. I am not a night owl, but I do not usually go to bed before 11PM either. However, I am fighting a cold and we have a gospel choir concert tomorrow. So, these two facts are sending me to bed early tonight.

But, before I go to sleep, I wanted to say that I am thankful for my immune system. Even though I've caught a cold, my body is working hard to get rid of it. This can be proven by the mounds of tissues in my wastebasket. (I decided not to post any pictures tonight, I don't want to gross anyone out!)

I am thankful that when God designed our bodies He thought to make us fighters. He provided us with a way for our bodies to fight off diseases. I am also thankful that He made people smart enough to come up with medicines that help our bodies fight off diseases.

'Night!

A month for Thanks

2011-11-03T22:19:00.002+09:00

We are only three days into November and I am remembering why I love this discipline of gratitude so much. Yesterday I spent much of my run trying to decide which thing I was going to chose for my daily thanks item. Once it was decided, I started thinking about today's item. I am constantly thinking about what I am thankful for!

Today's item: my trip to Peru, meeting Magally, learning more about Compassion International.
As I have posted previously, this trip changed my life, my perspective, and even my desires. I am looking forward to how God is going to continue to work in me on these things that I learned and am still processing.

I am thankful that I was introduced to this amazing culture first hand.

I am thankful that I got to meet Magally and her wonderful mother.

I am thankful that I could share some Japanese culture with Magally!

I am thankful for the amazing people God gifted to be our translators on the trip.

I am thankful for the work Compassion International is doing around the world to release children and their families from poverty.

I am thankful for the fantastic people I met on the trip.

A month for Thanks

2011-11-02T21:41:00.003+09:00

I love summer. Everyone who knows me knows this about me. I enjoy being warm. I don't mind being hot, even. I spend much of the year wishing it was summer. But, the truth is, I like other seasons, too. And, if I am going to live a life of gratitude longer than just this month, I should learn to appreciate, even be grateful for, other seasons, too.

Actually, I am grateful for fall today. As I think about life cycles and the way God made the world to work, it is pretty amazing. Seasons changing is part of life, and I want to live life to the fullest. So, today I am embracing gratefulness and fall!

A month for Thanks

2011-11-01T17:53:00.003+09:00

I love Thanksgiving, that we take time out of our schedules to give thanks for all that God has given us. For the past couple of years I have dedicated my Facebook statuses to thanks during the month of November. This year I am going to try to also have a daily blog of thanks. What better way to prepare my heart for Thanksgiving celebrations and the following Christmas season!?!

Today I am starting with thanking God for my coworker, Yuri. Her name means lily in Japanese, and she is a wonderful resemblance of the beautiful white, fragrant flower for which she is named. She loves Jesus wholeheartedly and strives to be the fragrance of Christ to all she meets.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing Yuri to be part of what You are doing at Komyo Christian Church!

Morning Light

2011-10-31T21:59:00.003+09:00

Last week I was sitting in my chair one morning reading my Bible when I looked up and saw this out my window. I love the light, the way it is streaming through the clouds. (Of course, the real thing always looks better than the picture.)

It felt like a reminder from our Heavenly Father to keep my heart open so that I can be the break in the clouds, letting His light stream through.

Life can be downright mundane sometimes: going grocery shopping, cooking, studying, laundry, cleaning, etc. And then God gets my attention and reminds me that even in the mundane, He is there.

Am I? Am I just going through the motions or am I paying attention and letting His light shine through me like a break in the clouds?

Preaching to the Choir

2011-10-25T19:44:00.006+09:00

On October 1st we hosted another Live Gospel Cafe at Komyo Christian Church. We passed out 5000 fliers and prayed. We set up the tables and chairs and we prayed. We made food and we prayed. We listened to the choir practicing and we prayed. We prayed for the people who would come to the concert, that they would be refreshed by the music and challenged by the words and testimonies.

At our previous Cafes we have had an intermission musical guest, too. However, this time we decided just to take a few extra minutes to chat while enjoying snacks. The choir members also sat and chatted with the guests. This was when I understood why God had brought all Christians to be the guests that night. Not all of the choir members are Christians and they had the opportunity to interact with some people who love Jesus and have living testimonies of the songs they were singing.

The lady I talked with asked why I had come to Japan. I love that question! A couple others listened in as I shared how God started to prepare me to come to Japan when I was in junior high school and how He finally brought me here when I was 25 years old.

It was a night of great music-I am sure even people passing by could hear the joyous sounds. It was a night of sharing God's love. It was a night to see God's plans are not my plans!

*The title is compliments of a suggestion from Jeff Chapman.

Communication-sometimes words are necessary

2011-10-11T12:34:00.008+09:00

I live in Japan, therefore, I have learned Japanese so that I can communicate with people around me. Communication is fairly necessary for life. I enjoy communicating with people just for fun, too, not only the times when it is necessary for life-like when the guy comes to check the smoke detectors every summer.

When I went to Peru I was reminded of what it was like when I first came to Japan! Yes, I studied Spanish in high school, for three years. That was, um, several years ago. I did remember the word for luggage because that was one of my sister's friend's favorite words and we said it all the time, rarely in context. But, I got to use it in context while in Peru!

Anyway, even though I have studied Spanish in the past, not much of what I learned would come out of my mouth. I could understand bits of things here and there, especially since some words in Spanish sound similar to English words-unlike Japanese where NOTHING sounds like English! (Okay, so they have borrowed some words from English, but escalator and ice cream don't come up in every day conversation all that much!) So, I sort of understood things, sometimes, but whenever I tried to say something in Spanish, Japanese came out of my mouth! Not so helpful!

What was helpful was that Compassion provided translators for us to aid in communication while we were in Peru. Our family group had a lovely translator named Patty.

Another translator who traveled with us was Fernando (on the right).

Our tour guide and main translator was Soledad (Here she is helping fry chicken! She did everything!).

And, the person who made it possible for me to communicate with Magally all day was Niko.

I am so glad that God gives the gift of languages! These people, and all of the others who traveled with us, have been given a gift from God and are using it for His glory.

I have a renewed desire to study Japanese more, now, so that when you come visit me in Japan I will be able to be an effective conduit for communication! Ask me how I am doing! Keep me accountable! And, most importantly, COME VISIT!

Volunteers and Education

2011-10-10T17:31:00.008+09:00

One of the most amazing parts of the Compassion Child Development Center Program is that it is basically volunteer-run. The volunteers are incredibly well-trained teachers who love God and love children. At the first center we visited I was watching the teacher of the youngest children and wondering how they got such a quality teacher to work there and how they paid her. When I asked and learned she was a volunteer I was floored. I don't know what they do in their training, but it is working! These volunteers are amazing! I am sure you are wishing you had them to work with you in your church/charity!

I suspect that the reason they are so amazing is because of what they are committed to: helping release children and their families from poverty. Many of the volunteer teachers are parents or grandparents of the children attending the centers. They see the difference Compassion has made in their child's/grandchild's life and want to be part of it.

What a lovely reflection of God's love! Thank you, God, for these lovely people who are committed to You and Your work through Compassion, the Child Development Centers, and the local churches.

The BIG Day!

2011-10-05T22:23:00.018+09:00

September 15, 2011 will go down as one of the best days of my life. It was the day I saw Magally emerging from a crowd of children walking straight into my arms. No introductions necessary. No waiting for a translator to translate our greetings. Just pure joy and love.

Magally and I started out on this journey six years ago. My previously sponsored child left the program for some reason and Magally's sponsor left the program for some reason. And, because God is sovereign, Magally and I got matched up. Wow, did God know what He was doing!I am pretty sure Magally writes more letters than anyone else's sponsor child. I cannot keep up with her. She loves to tell me about what she is learning in school or at the child development center or about her family, especially her grandpa. (I found out from her mom that her grandpa favors and spoils her:) I had to start writing notes to myself on the letters she wrote so I could remember what questions I had answered or what questions I had asked. Since many of our letters crossed in the mail, we often got information from each other twice.
When we greeted I gave her a little photo album. She opened it and immediately pointed out not just me, but also my parents, sister and brother-in-law. She remembers my birthday. When our translator asked how she recognized me, she pulled her Bible out of her bag and showed us the back. There was my picture glued to the back cover with hearts and stickers and my name. One of the many times during the day that tears sprang to my eyes!The morning was spent at the Lima Zoo. When I look at my friends' pictures from the day I realize there is a lot of the zoo we did not see. We got a little sidetracked in the jungle section. Magally lives in the jungle. (She and her mother took an 8 hour bus ride to spend the day in Lima with us! Then, they took the night bus home so that she could go to school in the morning!) She had a great time telling us all about the plants and animals in that area of the zoo. She told me about how bananas grow, pointed out a coffee plant, and told us about her favorite foods.
Her goal for the morning, though, was to see the giraffe. Our translator, who was also the photographer and keeper of the map, did an excellent job of moving us through the zoo so as to end at the giraffe/zebra area. There is an animal whose name sounds like Magally, which we all got a kick out of, especially when another group came up to the sign and read it. We thought they were saying Magally! I wish we'd taken a picture there!
After a few hours at the zoo, we all loaded our buses and headed to a restaurant. It was amazingly difficult to part, even for a few minutes to go to the restaurant! We were all laughing and crying and telling stories on the bus. Magally and I spent the morning walking close together, followed by her mother and our translator. It is amazing to feel that much love for someone you've only just met, although you've known them for many years. This is another thing I didn't know before I started out on this journey. I didn't know I loved Magally this much.And, then we got off the bus at the restaurant, and joy again! We sat at the table, the four of us, surrounded by all of the other sponsors, translators and children, yet completely unaware of them. We had a good laugh about me liking my food plain and not touching. On the bus to the restaurant Magally had found the picture of me eating sushi. She was a bit taken aback by what sushi is. She had written me recently about going to a waterfall so I had a picture of me at Sioux Falls in the album. I joked that it is so small that when I stand up I am taller than it. That got a good laugh, too.To give our translator a little break-and the pressure on us of talking all the time- I pulled the origami paper out of my bag. We made the easiest thing, the cup, very quickly. We moved on to the morning glory which we practiced twice, and then made the balloon, very exciting to actually blow it up! While we were doing origami our leader told us that if we had presents to give, now was the time to do it. So, I excused myself and ran to the bus.Magally was so grateful for each thing that was in the bag that I got for her. She was excited to use the bag for school-the next day! I was glad that I'd gotten a few things for her to share with her sister. She told me that her sister's sponsor is old and will probably never get to visit. (I don't know how old 'old' is...!) With each new thing she pulled out of the bag, I got a hug, even the toothbrush. (I picked the right color, purple!)
Then the dreaded time came, time for good byes. I didn't know that my heart would feel like this. I am so proud of the young woman Magally has become. I am so blessed to have been a part of her life for the past 6 years. I am praying hard that she is selected for the LDP program! If so, then I get to continue to sponsor her!Oh, Heavenly Father, thank you for prompting me to take part in this adventure of sponsorship and the sponsor tour. I am so blessed I think my heart is going to burst. What a mighty God we serve!

Gratitude and Joy

2011-09-29T19:40:00.012+09:00

I learned a lot about these two words from the people in Peru. From the Compassion Peru office to the Child Development Center Directors/Pastors to the volunteer teachers to the parents to the children, joy and gratitude were on every face and in every action, probably in every word, too, but I didn't understand them all!

I did not understand the depth of the importance of our visit until our first center visit on Monday afternoon. The forty of us sponsors and our translators arrived on two big buses. We arrived in front of a white stucco church with a beautiful iron gate to all of the children of the center standing outside, lining the path and entrance to the church, many holding balloons, some in native costumes, and ALL were cheering like we were the most famous person you can think of. They were cheering because sponsors, not even their sponsors, had come from America to visit them, to play with them, to learn from them, to love on them. What joy! And, yes, tears were falling as we got off the buses. We wanted to be cheering for them, to tell them that THEY are our heroes. All we could do was let the tears flow as we smiled and greeted the children, staff, and pastor.

As we toured the center and learned about what the children learn and do there, we were greeted with gratitude for our part in ministering to children. It is humbling to be thanked by a volunteer teacher who spends her time teaching children about health, relationships, and God when all you do is send a little money each month and sometimes write a letter.

As we visited homes of families who benefit from Compassion's ministry, more times than I can count, I heard "Thanks be to God for..." Our economic situations are much different, but I was reminded what it means to give thanks in all situations.

This mother touched my heart. She is a single mother and volunteer teacher. She spends three afternoons a week volunteering at the child development center, teaching children, because she is grateful for the way God has worked in her life. She wants a different life for her daughters. She knows that God must be part of that life. She is grateful.

I saw pure joy on this little boy's face as we played with this little yellow car. He loved rolling it back and forth and didn't even mind when the girl next to him snatched it before he could. His laughter was contagious. Like so many of the other children, he taught me about joy, completely enjoying the moment we are experiencing, while we are experiencing it.

I wish the words I am using could truly express what is in my heart. I cannot get on the screen what I am feeling in my heart. I am continuing to learn from these wonderful people and experiences what true gratitude and joy are. Maybe if the words form I will share them.

Children

2011-09-25T12:25:00.003+09:00

Something I learned in Peru, well, was reminded of, children are children. It doesn't matter what the location, economic situation, family life, etc., children want to be loved, to be hugged, to play with people who are safe. The children we met live in conditions I could never have imagined had I not seen with my own eyes. They have family lives that are not ideal. They have parents who work hard to provide all they can. They have dreams. They love to learn. They love to play. They love to laugh. Do you know children like that where you live? I do, too.

I watched these precious children run to any and all of us, looking for hugs and a playmate, holding hands with people who don't speak the same language. They may really have no idea where the US or Japan are. They don't really care. They know that we care about them. That is all that matters.

So, we visited their classrooms, looked adoringly at their artwork, watched their amazing teachers interact with them. We let them guide us away from our groups to show us something special. We gave out stickers and bracelets and origami. We swelled with pride as they showed us what they had made. We were humbled as they gave us the precious items they had made, some specifically for us, some to be sold.

Our hearts were ripped open, wider than we thought possible. And, children crawled inside those rips, taking up space we didn't know we had. Smiles and tears mingled with pride and love as we spent time with these precious children.

God is doing something big. He is using unworthy people to help children rise out of poverty. He is touching hearts of people of 'wealth' to be His hands and feet and heart to children and families in poverty. And, it is working. Children are growing up healthier. They are learning trades and creativity. They are learning about their loving, heavenly Father.

God is at work. I am humbled, grateful, and filled with joy.

I Didn't Know

2011-09-24T06:50:00.004+09:00

December 2010 when I signed up for the Peru Sponsor Tour, September 10-17, 2011, I had no idea what was in store for me.

I didn't know my world was going to be turned upside down.

I didn't know that the smile of a stranger could shine brighter than the sun.

I didn't know the meanings of the words grateful and joy.

I didn't know that one hug from Magally would rip my heart out of its comfort zone, forever.

I didn't know the ministry of Compassion International would touch my soul.

I didn't know that volunteers would sacrifice so much to be part of a child development program.

I didn't know that God wanted me to be part of this particular tour so that I could meet and learn from such an amazing group of people.

I didn't know the depth of God's love for me.

I didn't know.

Maybe I still don't know.

But, I've had a taste.

I've had a taste of sunshine, love, joy, gratitude, and friendship that comes from opening my heart.

I don't want to go back, Lord, to the time of not knowing.

There is still a lot I don't know.

This I do know.

I want to know.

Summer Fun... with friends

2011-09-01T22:35:00.006+09:00

Although it has been a few weeks since I last posted, I am going to keep up with the summer fun with this post, too.

Two times this summer I have had the chance to go to Universal Studios Japan (USJ) with friends. I am so glad I got a season pass! It is about an hour away by train, probably shorter by car since it is between here and Costco and it takes about an hour to get to Costco! But, although I like driving, I am not so fond of sitting around in a car trying to get into and out of crowded parking lots and other such things, so I generally take the train.

The first trip was with the Ewing family and two Japanese families. One of the wives loves to plan everything out so she knew when all the shows were and which ones we should attend. The day we went was the day after a typhoon so it was amazingly uncrowded, providing us with opportunities to ride even the best rides twice in a row in the amount of time it usually takes for one ride. We even had hamburgers at Mel's Diner while we watched the light parade! It was a fun day. (No one said "Kiss my grits" though. Is that the right reference?!)

Noah and Kaho wait for the Jurassic Park riders

Waiting for the kids to return from their 3rd ride on Space Fantasy

Ah, brotherly love!

Waiting for the parade!

The second trip was a girls' day out and Hitomi's birthday! We had a great time! Several of us went on the roller coaster, twice. We got to see the monster rock and roll show which is Hitomi's favorite show. Ate yummy ice cream. And, once again, had hamburgers while watching the evening parade!

The day starts with pictures at the entrance with random people!

(Actually, their friend was taking the picture for us)

Must see Hello Kitty!

Happy birthday, Hitomi!

Waiting for the parade to start!

One of the floats

Both days were great fun with friends-and not nearly as hot as Osaka can be in August!

Summer Fun... with the mission family

2011-08-15T09:23:00.007+09:00

The summer fun continues! The last week of July our NAB mission family was blessed by the ministry of Alan and Judy Steier. They led us in times of learning, prayer and fun-food was involved, too, of course! We had a good time learning about our strengths together and how to work together as a team more effectively. Lots of laughter and aha moments. We closed our time together with an amazing time of sharing and prayer. It is so exciting to see God moving in our midst, teaching us, drawing us closer together, and loving us. Thank you, Lord!

Here are a few snapshots of our time together...

Minute-to-win-it fun

Visiting an old-style house in Tondabayashi's Jinai Machi

Prayer time

The whole gang!

Summer Fun... at church Part 2

2011-08-04T21:45:00.002+09:00

Actually, I guess this should be part one and the post I wrote a couple of days ago should be part two if I were labeling them chronologically. But, I'm labeling them as I write, so this is part 2!

At the end of June we had our third Live Gospel Cafe. The musical guest was Now and Ever, a Gospel group that had been rehearsing at our church once a month. Sadly, after only a year together, they decided to take a break. But, we got to hear them one last time at our Live Gospel Cafe! Several of the ladies are or were members of AGC, the gospel choir I sing with. Their leaders are Manabu and Kyoko Adachi, gospel enthusiasts here in Kansai and friends of mine.

It was fun to hear them sing, have a chance to chat with them a bit, and be reminded of God's love. We already miss hearing their singing voices at church!

Paul played a few songs during intermission

Summer Fun... at church

2011-08-02T16:37:00.005+09:00

July 5th we hosted our second Ladies' Lunch and Talk at Komyo Christian Church. Our theme was American culture with our special guest, Barb Chapman, sharing about how Christianity affected her family's life when she was growing up in Minnesota. Her daughter, Rachael, played flute for us. Rachael will be attending university in California in the fall and studying music. It was fun to have the opportunity to minister with these fellow missionaries!

Barb and Rachael

Barb sharing

Lunch!

Sunsets

2011-07-16T15:51:00.006+09:00

What is it about a sunset that just makes one sit back and forget about the busyness of life for a few minutes? The past couple of weeks I have been home at sunset a few times and enjoyed getting to stand out on my veranda watching the sky change color. I am drawn to the veranda like an insect to a bare light bulb on a porch. I have stopped taking pictures. I am afraid the people living in buildings behind mine are going to think I am a peeping tom! But here are a few pictures of sunsets in various places taken in the past couple of years-okay, two places, my balcony and at the state park in my home town! (Although, the picture at the top left is from Nagano Ken!)

Lake Herman State Park, July 2009

(There was lots of mosquito slapping here!)

Lake Herman State Park, September 2009

From Izumi City looking toward Kobe, June 2010

From Izumi City looking toward Kobe, July 2011

Isn't God's handiwork amazing? What a creative, artist God! What a color palette He uses!

Updated: I totally forgot to include a Hawaiian sunset!!

Ahhh, summer....vacation Part 2

2011-07-12T15:30:00.006+09:00

After the wedding my family, parents, sister and bro-in-law, spent another day and a half in Rockford having a good time together-even though I was freezing most of the time!

A little mini-golf time...

Some time at a Japanese garden!

Then my parents and I drove up to Grand Rapids, MI, to visit my おさななじみ！
We had a great time playing, talking and spending time at the beach at Lake Michigan.

Aren't my parents cute?!

Ahhh, summer....wedding

2011-07-07T21:42:00.012+09:00

On June 11th my cousin, Julianne married Drew. We had a great weekend celebrating their new life together with family and friends. Although it was cool and rainy most of the weekend, Saturday morning the weather for the wedding was just right.

Here is a timeline of the weekend in pictures...

Thursday night the mothers began preparing the flowers for bouquets and centerpieces (Tim just happened to be in the room when I took the picture, he wasn't helping with flowers, he was helping with something else!)

Friday began with a bridal shower for Julianne-the guys were off having fun somewhere!:)

Julianne got some lovely presents, which Abby wanted to check out...

The guests even got a little something!

THE BIG DAY...

Waiting for Julianne...

The final prayer

Okay, a lot happened in between these two pictures...singing, parents, friends and brothers reading scripture and praying, a message, exchanging rings and vows, and lots of smiles!

Then we got to party!

All the Benton relatives

Ahhh, summer....vacation

2011-07-04T21:46:00.002+09:00

Thanks to my cousin hosting a wedding in June, I got to take a trip to the US. I did not get to SD or TX, however, I did get to see friends and family from those places!

I spent the first few days in central Illinois with friends from Texas days, my Texas sister and her family! We had a great time making sushi with her Korean and other international friends, chatting, eating all of the foods I love, chatting, watching a little TV, chatting, shopping, and chatting.

Here are a few snapshots from the visit...

Come back for the next installment soon!

Ahhh, summer

2011-07-02T21:26:00.004+09:00

Today was much cooler than it has been for the past 10 days or so, but summer has arrived here in Japan. It arrived overnight. I am not complaining. Finally, I can find a place where I am not cold! And, with all of the electricity saving ideas going around this summer, maybe not all buildings will be freezing!

Apparently, I am crazy. All of my friends keep telling me that. I like summer, yes, Japanese, hot, humid summer. I am not saying that I don't get hot and sweat like crazy, I am just saying that I don't mind it. I do agree, that feeling sweaty all the time is not necessarily the best feeling in the world. But, it is not the worst, either. I love that when I go running I come home looking like I just stepped out of the shower and feeling like I can conquer the world-well, okay, like I just conquered 5K!

I love eating watermelon and kakigori, shaved ice that is an experience in itself, salads and fresh tomatoes, although I'm not growing my own this year, white peaches and somen, thin, cold noodles served over ice.

I love carrying a fan and a summer sweater with me all the time, trying to stand in the shade of a light pole, finding out that sun umbrellas really are helpful, and riding in the 'mildly air conditioned' train car.

So, as we head into what looks to be a long hot summer, I am going to enjoy myself.

(Soon I will share about my early summer trip which I blame for my not posting in June:)

Untitled

2011-05-25T21:55:00.008+09:00

In Japanese there is a word, senpai, which is translated as senior, superior, upperclassman, elder. It is hard to define in one English word. Yes, we have people at work who have been on the job longer than us, who are more experienced than us, people at school who are a grade or more ahead of us.

One of the meanings I think should be part of senpai is mentor. Although, in Japan, that is not always part of the definition, it can be. My middle school English student who just started tennis club talks about her senpais who are teaching her about tennis and being part of the group. Those who live in Japan and understand the culture even better than I do know that this word is used often and has a wide range of meanings.

Today, though, I am using it to describe a couple who have been an incredible help to me as a missionary, especially after I moved to Osaka. Doug and Sharon Woyke arrived in Japan the same week I was born. Yep, they have been here that long! They have had a wide variety of ministry experiences which adds to their wisdom.

I had the opportunity to work with them at the Kongo Bible Church for a year. Then they went on home assignment for a year and entrusted the ministry to Paul Ewing and myself. During that year, though, I got to observe their ways of interacting with the church people and the community, their ways of interacting with the mission family, and even got to travel with them.

(Here we are on the Great Wall of China!)

Today they returned to the U.S. The portion of their journey that includes ministering directly in Japan has concluded. They are now moving on to the next step. As I reflected on the past few years we have been working directly together here in southern Osaka, I found they have impacted my life more than I even realized-and I will probably continue to discover more areas of impact as time goes by!

A large group of people took time out of the middle of their day in the middle of the week to go to the airport to see them off. We had a lovely time of chatting, prayer and lots of hugs and tears. God has been glorified through the ministry of this senpai couple. They will be greatly missed! We are so thankful to have had the privilege of serving God together with them. I look forward to how God will use them in the next phase of ministry.

Thank you, Doug and Sharon!

People I Hang Out With

2011-05-16T17:40:00.011+09:00

Each day I get to hang out with a variety of people. I thought I'd introduce you to a few of them. I don't want to leave anyone out but don't have enough space for everyone! So, here are a few who will serve as representatives of my different activities...

Some friends from Gospel choir

My coworkers from church!

And, church attendees

A few missionary friends

English Cafe Friends

I am thankful for each of these people and the others they represent. When I look at these pictures I am reminded of how blessed I am!

Beauty in the Rain

2011-05-08T21:14:00.003+09:00

The other day I got home just before it started raining like crazy. I was sitting at the table working on the computer and noticed the sun starting to shine. But, when I looked outside it was still raining across the street. I found that one of my favorite restaurants is at the end of the rainbow!

Going Home

2011-04-11T22:57:00.008+09:00

Well, it is time for Flat Stanley to return to Colorado. But, before he leaves I felt he needed to have the big city experience. So, today he went with Yuri and me into Osaka where I got a new screw for my clarinet and no longer have to put it together MacGuyver-like, went to Osaka castle and saw the beautiful sakura trees, walked through the museum inside the castle during which time someone changed the seasons on us and had a lovely avocado burger for dinner. Here are pictures from the day followed by pictures from over the weekend that I haven't posted yet...

Downtown Osaka scenes...

Osaka Castle and Park

Our train arrives...

On the train..

And, last weekend's adventures...
Chatting after gospel choir practice

Italian soda at tea time after gospel choir

Sunday lunch: onigiri-rice ball with salmon inside wrapped in seaweed

English cafe

Thanks for visiting, FS! Please come again someday!

The Fun Continues

2011-04-07T22:50:00.004+09:00

Flat Stanley and I have been having more fun together the past two days. He has done a lot of English teaching! But, he also got to be part of baking class and a trip to Starbucks where I met up with two friends and their babies. He even got in on a Bible study today! I wonder if I should take him to the dentist tomorrow?!

Here is FS helping scoop the muffin batter into the pans.

He enjoyed the sandwich but especially liked talking with Soichiro and his mom, Kyoko, and Emma and her mom, Saeko, who are not pictured.

After an afternoon of speaking Japanese, FS was ready for some English again. Fortunately for him, Mizuki speaks almost perfect English since she lived in New Jersey for 5 years of elementary school. Next week she will start junior high.

This morning Show P and I had a good Bible study. Jet lag was catching up with FS so he had a little rest and just listened.

The day ended with another English class. Yuri is studying physical therapy. FS got a little lost in the medical jargon (so does Shan, sometimes!) but really enjoyed playing Taboo!

A Visitor

2011-04-06T21:46:00.004+09:00

This week I have a visitor staying with me. Don't be shocked, but my visitor is male. He is about 5 inches tall and very flat! Yes, Flat Stanley has arrived from Colorado. We have been having all kinds of fun together already! I haven't uploaded today's pictures yet, but here is some entertainment from yesterday. The day was basically spent with missionary friends!

First, Flat Stanley (FS) helped me find my way to the store by pushing buttons on the navi for me. (BTW, FS's face looks quite a bit like my cousin, Gabe!:)

Then FS wanted to join the boys for a game of Donkey Kong on the Wii!

After lunch we went to the park.

As you can see, the sakura are beginning to bloom beautifully!

Then we had to come home and get ready for baking class!

FS thought a game of hide and seek on the fridge would be fun. Do you see him?!

The evening finished with washing dishes. FS was a big help today!

Live Gospel Cafe

2011-04-04T21:20:00.006+09:00

March 26th we had another "Live Gospel Cafe" at church. We had a fun evening filled with music, food and fellowship! This time our musical guests were Kensaku Higashi and his wife, Hiroko, and Kyusai san and Makki.

Kensaku did a wonderful job of sharing the Gospel between songs, most of which he wrote himself.

Then we had a little intermission, Kyusai accompanied by Makki...

We had a lovely crowd and even gathered some supplies to be taken to northern Japan!

Please Love Japan

2011-03-28T23:34:00.004+09:00

Click here to see a video our gospel choir director made as an encouragement for those in the earthquake-tsunami affected areas. Several years ago Yamamoto sensei wrote this song. It is so appropriate for this time! Each time we sing it tears fall from my eyes.

Here are the Japanese words:
日本を愛してください
荒れたこの国を
平和と希望と癒しを今与えてください
心も体も傷ついた
明日への希望
闇に包まれ
そんな時にこそ
イエスさまが
救いの手を差し伸べられる
今日本のために
私を用いてください

And, Shan's loose translation:
Please love Japan, this desolate country
Please give us peace, hope and healing, now
Hearts and bodies are wounded
Tomorrow's hope is wrapped in darkness
Yet, we know Jesus will extend His hand of salvation
Please use me for the sake of Japan

The first minute and half, about, of the video is Yamamoto sensei talking and then he sings this song. Enjoy! And, keep praying!

(Martha, leave me a comment with your email address-I won't publish it!!:)

How you can help

2011-03-20T23:04:00.004+09:00

Now that we are over a week past the earthquake and tsunami disasters, people are starting to ask how to be involved. And, we are starting to have answers.

Here are two ways to get involved:

1. PRAY! I mentioned this in my last post, as well. Prayer continues to be the most important way to be involved in the relief efforts. Here are some specifics to pray about:
-Pray for the people who are living in the evacuation centers. Supplies are slowly, slowly, getting to them. Most of the places still have no running water or electricity, and, although today was warmer, it is supposed to get cold again.
-Pray for relief and rescue workers. Pray for strength, compassion, and rest.
-Pray for those who still have not found loved ones. There are still over 10,000 people unaccounted for.
(This is in no way an inexhaustible list!)

2. GIVE
There are many organizations helping in the relief efforts. Here are some which can get you started in your search:
CRASH
Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope (CRASH) is a network supporting Christians to do relief work in Japan and around the world. CRASH equips and prepares churches and missions to be there to help their communities when disasters strike and coordinates Christian volunteers to work with local ministries in the event of a disaster.

Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

Thank you for taking time to read this, to pray for Japan and to consider how you can be involved.

Overwhelmed

2011-03-14T21:15:00.002+09:00

I am sure others here in Japan not in the earthquake/tsunami affected areas would say the same thing. I am feeling overwhelmed. Watching the news, hearing the stories, seeing the devastation, etc, brings tears, feelings of guilt, feelings of helplessness.

Tonight we heard about a hospital that is running on a generator that will not last much longer. They have 200 patients on dialysis. They have enough supplies for 2 more days. Phones and cell phones are not working. The only way this info got out is because the TV crew happened to be there. Nurses and doctors have been there since the disasters on Friday.

What do I do with all of this? How do I respond?
Here is a quote from a friend's blog...
"What can I do for suffering people? I know that prayer is the answer and my mind knows that this is so much more powerful than anything else I could ever offer, but why does it feel so futile? Perhaps because it doesn't feel like I am really doing something and I like nothing if not to feel active and to see the results of my activity. With that in mind, I will continue to talk to God, knowing that He is bigger than all of this."

So, this is how I respond, for now.

One more

2011-02-27T22:56:00.008+09:00

I thought that I'd try to get one more post in before the end of February...

Last weekend Amber, our newest missionary, and I went on a little food tour of Osaka. We had a really lovely day for walking around and enjoying the city.
Our first stop was a takoyaki stand. Anyone remember what tako is in Japanese?!

Next, another popular Osaka food, okonomiyaki.

We also took a ride on the ferris wheel on top of the HEP Five building. I have been on this a couple of times before. It is a favorite place for me to take visitors...

Since it was nice weather we could see quite a ways...

And, I'll finish with a self-portrait from the ferris wheel.

Although life has been super busy with visitors, visiting, classes, music, preaching, and Starbucks, I am really enjoying everything. Sometimes I still am pretty amazed that God has placed me here, helped me learn to communicate reasonably well, and allowed me to meet so many cool people.

Speaking of cool people, since I am going to meet a bunch of my missionary friends for breakfast tomorrow morning, I think I should head to bed. Thank you for your prayers and support! I wish I could express in words how much they mean to me.
Soli Deo Gloria!

A Quiet Evening, Finally

2011-02-14T17:57:00.008+09:00

Yes, it has been way too long since I posted and, yes, a lot has happened. I won't try to write it all in one post!

Here is a glimpse of today:

We had a ladies' lunch at church...

Good food and fellowship...

A testimony of love from Mrs. Naka...

And plenty of chocolate!

I had planned to come home and take a nap. However, it was snowing and still light out so I grabbed my camera and waterproof jacket and went for a walk.

Here is a sample of what I saw...

Kindergarten

2011-01-24T20:57:00.004+09:00

Last week when I was walking to church one day I saw a rainbow walking in front of me! It was a kindergarten/preschool class/es walking somewhere. They were super cute! I thought I should protect their privacy and just took a picture from the back when I was quite far away so that I wouldn't scare the teachers. I did catch up with them before I had to turn, of course, since my legs are a bit longer than theirs! The teacher being the caboose told the kids to say good morning to me-which they did in English. They seemed very excited to be going somewhere. The kids were walking in pairs, just like we always did when I was a kid. Each class/section had a different colored hat, the cause of the rainbow effect. When I was teaching elementary school each class tie-dyed t-shirts, my class's color was purple, when we went on field trips. It sure made it easy to find the kids from your own class quickly!

Anyway, as I was watching them walk down the street I was thinking of that poster, everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten. Besides the stringent academics of kindergarten, we did learn some important lessons. Things like: take a nap every day; always hold hands with your buddy; tell the teacher your tummy hurts right away; take time to read every day; etc.
I loved kindergarten and have a few good memories. Those of you who were there with me will have to let me know if I remember correctly! I think probably my most vivid memory, which is not necessarily a good memory, is when Steve Barker threw up in the classroom. The good thing was that we got an extra recess! I remember laying on our little carpets for nap time. I remember that I got to go to school with my friend, Signe, who then had to go to the rest of elementary school at Garfield. Was that the year we went to the zoo? I remember being scared to death of the 'big' kids, anyone over third grade.

Speaking of third grade, I had a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Thayer. She is retiring this year. Thank you for your commitment to educating children. What a blessing you have been to so many!
What do you remember about kindergarten?

It begins

2011-01-19T20:23:00.006+09:00

2011 is off to a great start, finally. Actually, the first week wasn't all that great with a stomach bug keeping me from enjoying the food of the season.

Since then I have been enjoying this new year. All kinds of new ideas floating around in my head. I got to share with the evangelism committee of the JBC about our exciting 2010 and the fun things we hope to do this year at Komyo Christian Church. (Paul was down with the stomach bug that week. We are so grateful to Jonah for passing it around:) Keep watching my blog for new things happening!

Just wanted to give a quick update and share with you how I finished out 2010...

On the 31st I met a friend in Namba for Mexican-yummy!!!!

Then I headed to Ewings for our annual sukiyaki dinner.

This time we were joined by Takahiro and Leilani Endo and Leilani's sister, Marina.
Noah was having a hard time staying still! And, Jonah was... either eating or playing his new DS game!

Lots of Thinking

2011-01-10T12:04:00.004+09:00

I know, you probably smelled something burning. That was me thinking, the cobwebs being burned out of my head as I thought about various things. As another friend said recently, being sick provides thinking time while you lay in bed/on the couch.

I have several friends who work in Africa, helping orphans, training leaders, teaching community development, etc. I love hearing about how God is working in and through them. Today I watched a video one of those friends posted on his blog. It helped me refocus my attention to what is important.

I get so easily distracted by the world immediately around me. There are things that I need to focus on in that world, to be sure. However, if that is all I focus on, I get tunnel vision and forget there is a big world out there that God created. We are to love our neighbor as ourself. We are to go into ALL the world and share God's love.

I have lived an incredibly blessed life. Have I shared those blessings with others or have I hoarded them for myself?

I have more than I need. Do I share with those in my own backyard, across town, and around the world?

I trust the God who created the universe. Do I trust that where He has placed me right now is His best and for His purpose?

Blessings, provisions, trust. These things have been on my mind. But, they can't stay there. If these thoughts don't move from my mind to my heart and from my heart to action, then they are meaningless, like a clanging cymbal.

I Need Africa
Cari Logan

Check them out and see what your heart tells you!

Well...

2011-01-05T20:43:00.009+09:00

Well, I guess I should update my blog! I've been informed that it has been a while since I posted anything new. I guess time got away from me in December. Then I got a lovely stomach thing on New Year's day which put me down for the count. So, now I am back into the routine, as much as my life has routine, and thought I'd drag out my pictures and thoughts from December to get you up to speed. So, here it goes....

I had a little Christmas tea time in my apartment with two ladies from my building. I may have mentioned them before. One lady lived in the US with her family for several years and comes to my English class when she can. The other lady lived in China for several years, lives on my floor and helps me with understanding what I should be doing and when here in the building. Also, her daughter who is a university student comes to my place for English class about once a week. These two ladies understand what it is like to try to live in a foreign country, what it is like to try to communicate in a foreign language, and how to speak so that I can understand them! We had a lovely afternoon chatting and decorating Christmas cookies.

At church we had two movie nights and a Kids' Christmas Party one weekend. We had a lot of fun watching movies, playing games, singing songs, and eating more cookies than we've had all year. One unplanned game at the party was, "How many children can Paul put on his back?"!

The month wasn't all work and no play. I did go to Universal Studios Japan (USJ) for a day with a friend. We recently reconnected when I ran into her mother at a local restaurant. A couple of years ago I went with them and a couple other people from our English class to USJ during the Christmas holiday festivities. That was a pretty entertaining day! Anyway, this time it was just Atsumi and me-we rode the roller coaster 3 times! That is my kind of day at an amusement park. USJ obviously has some sort of arrangement with Sanrio because there is a Hello Kitty store.

On the 23rd the Kongo church held their annual Christmas party. This year they invited Kensaku Higashi and his wife to share the music and message. I got to share the kids' story. Many of their English students attended, which was fun for me since I have also taught them! It was a great day of fellowship and music. After that party, I zipped home and jumped on my bike and pedaled down the road to a friends' church for their Christmas concert where some of my friends from AGC were singing in a group called "Now and Ever." A full day of music and fun!

On Christmas eve we had a lovely candlelight service at church, singing carols and reading the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible. What a joy to celebrate our Savior's birth here in Japan. Every year we are allowed to share the true meaning of Christmas with more people. God gives such grace as He pours out His love. I look forward to the plans He has for 2011! I am so thankful for His faithfulness which gives me such hope for the future.

Evening Music

2010-12-13T22:52:00.013+09:00

The last Saturday of November found us at church where we hosted a "Live Gospel Cafe". We had a good time listening to music, eating and chatting. Here is a little recap in pictures...

The evening started and ended with "Now and Ever" -- the group that meets in our church for rehearsals. Several of the members are also current or former members of AGC. I liked this action shot of them:)

Noriko and I followed the choir. We had a good time practicing and praising God together.

Phil Driscoll, I mean, Paul, followed a little interlude by Leilani on piano, which I forgot to take a picture of because I was talking:) This isn't the best picture, but wanted to show a bit of the audience and set up of the room-notice the food spread in the background on the right...

Now and Ever members enjoying snacks.

Some of the snacks, mostly made by Melissa.

AGC friends enjoying snacks and chatting.

New friends getting to know one another.

No evening is complete with a visit from reindeer!

The evening seems to have been a success! We are looking forward to doing it again someday soon!

Another trip

2010-12-05T22:18:00.012+09:00

A few weeks ago I wrote about a trip to Kyoto with Becky and Amber. Well, the next week I took another trip to Kyoto with two of my friends from choir.
Last summer I was talking with them about some of my favorite places in Kyoto and they said it had been a long time since they had been to Nijo Castle, one of my favorite places in Kyoto. So, we made plans to go in the fall. In October we set the date and were all excited about our little excursion. Unfortunately, one of our other friends who had planned to go with us wasn't able to go. We missed her!
As the time grew closer we decided we may want to visit more than just one place in Kyoto so started looking around for another place nearby. We discovered that the week we were planning to go was one of only two weeks during the year that the Kyoto Imperial Palace is open to the public! That settled it, we'd found our other destination! Two palaces in one day.
It was so interesting to visit the two palaces, to see the contrasts and to learn a little more about the history. I love learning about the history of places, I just wish the information would stick in my head so I could share it with others!
Here is a little recap of the day, in pictures...
The day started with a beautiful sunrise!

The gate of Nijo Castle. No picture taking is allowed inside the castle. There are many beautiful painted paper doors, wood-carved walls and a lovely nightingale floor. You'll just have to come see them for yourself!

There was a full array of fall colors in the garden!

Then we got to the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Looking into the courtyard in front of the hall used for coronations.

I got into a frenzy of taking pictures of bridges in the garden there. Something about that curved bridge just attracts me.

After standing in line for some yummy mochi, we made it to lunch, which was also delicious!

Out the window of the restaurant we could see a lovely river-actually the joining of two rivers. As we ate I watched many people cross the river on these huge boulders that had obviously been set in place for such a reason-some of them were even in the shape of turtles! The train station where we needed to catch our train home was on the other side of said river. So, what do you think is the most logical way to get to the station?! Yes, there was a bridge where cars were driving that had a sidewalk. However, if you have ever spent any time with me in nature you will know that I am part billy goat. If there are stones to be climbed, that is the route I will take. So... here are my friends carefully following me as I jumped across the river:)

Evening Relaxation

2010-12-02T22:47:00.003+09:00

I love the Christmas season, like most people I know. This year has been so busy coming up to December that I almost didn't feel like decorating or anything. Then I pulled out my advent calendars, a couple I have saved from years past and a new chocolate calendar plus a new tea calendar.

Reading that first little square, "And the angel said to Mary..." helped me get excited and start thinking about advent, waiting expectantly for our Savior.

It is only December 2nd but I am already enjoying this new idea of taking 5 minutes at night with a cup of tea, a piece of chocolate and my kindle with an advent devotional downloaded to refocus and relax before bed. (I should not have sat down before taking out the garbage tonight!)

I am looking forward to getting the decorations up sometime soon! And, wonder what tomorrow's tea will be...

Autumn Afternoon Amble

2010-11-16T21:15:00.003+09:00

This afternoon I took a few minutes out of my busy schedule to enjoy the lovely weather and colors. Here are a few pictures I snapped along the way...

(I admit, I used my thesaurus to get the alliteration in the title:)

A Field Trip

2010-11-12T21:09:00.008+09:00

On Monday I went on a field trip of sorts with Becky, Amber, and Pastor Yuzawa in Kyoto. Carol and Mrs. Yuzawa were planning to join us, but, unfortunately, there was a sudden illness preventing them from joining us.

Since moving to Kyoto Pastor and Mrs. Yuzawa have taken the opportunity to study the history of Christianity in Japan, especially in Kyoto. Monday was our chance to learn more about this topic from them. In the morning we heard a lecture from Pastor Y about Christianity coming to Japan. He started with the silk road and ended with us!

From 1630 until 1853 Japan was closed to the world and Christianity was outlawed. Many people were martyred when they refused to renounce their faith in God. Twenty-six people in Kyoto were arrested, had part of their ear cut off and then were paraded on an 800 km walk from Kyoto to Nagasaki as a warning to others that this is what would happen if people chose Christianity. Then these 26 were crucified.
(A map showing the route the 26 took from Kyoto to Nagasaki, 800 km in one month)

(The ceiling at the restaurant. I like how it looks like there is a heart in the middle as the colors are changing!)

(My delicious tapas lunch!)

After a lovely lunch we went to the Franciscan House where we learned more about the walk from Kyoto to Nagasaki and saw artifacts the 'hidden Christians' used during the 200 year ban on Christianity.
(This is a reflection off of a mirror. In the reflection you can see a crucifix, two kneeling people and the Spirit in the form of a dove.)

(This lantern has a Christian symbol carved in the base which was buried. Christians would gather to worship, pulling back the dirt to reveal the carving. The shape is also unusual, symbolizing a cross.)

We also visited a shrine. Most shrines have a torii, gate, at the entrance. This shrine, which is for silkworms, has a three-legged torii in a small pond (which is drained right now) whose waters are thought to have healing powers. The three-legged torii is thought to be a symbol of the triune God (god?)

There is so much more to learn and understand. Maybe I will be able to explain it more clearly in the future, after a few more lectures and field trips!

God's Beauty

2010-11-11T16:33:00.002+09:00

This is what I saw on my walk to work this morning...
How many colors do you see just in the trees?!

(I took this picture with my phone's camera. I have the cheapest phone available...)

Thanksgiving

2010-11-06T16:23:00.006+09:00

November is here, the month where we stop to pause and think of all the things we have to be thankful for. I have several friends who are making great lists on their blogs. It seems once we start, the ideas just come tumbling out like a waterfall. The important thing about thinking of all these things to be thankful for is remembering who we are thanking! (Can I get an amen?!)

My friend and her children were having an impromptu discussion about what God has made. One of the children said, "What about cars? If God made everything, did He make cars?" (Does anyone else recognize this question?!) I don't know about you, but I am certainly thankful that God gave people the brains to come up with the idea of an engine and then the idea to put wheels on it and call it a car! We sure would spend a lot more time getting from one place to another, wouldn't we?

Today when I was putting a load of laundry into my washing machine I thanked God for that machine. I am so thankful that He helped someone come up with the idea and others perfect it so that now I can have clean clothes in less than an hour without leaving my home!

As I spent time with friends this week, I was reminded the numerous friends God has provided for me over the years. How grateful I am for each and everyone of you. Each has played an important role in my life, many a deeper role than they may ever realize. What a blessing that God thought up the idea to provide us with friends for this journey called life.

If you visit my apartment and look around you will see pictures everywhere, of friends and family. God placed me in an incredible family. I have parents who loved me so much that they made sure I knew who God was, that I spent as much time as possible learning about Him. Parents who helped me grow and mature, who encouraged and challenged and disciplined me. Parents who provided a safe and loving home, a refuge from the crazy world around us.

However, the most important thing I am thankful for is my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am sure this sounds cliche to some, but it is the absolute truth. I am who I am, do what I do, think what I think, care how I care, love how I love because of Him. I am a sinner in need of a Savior. So, before I even knew I needed that, Jesus came to this earth and allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross. Because of that, I can now be considered part of God's family. But, He didn't stop there! He, then, three days later, rose from the dead, conquering death. Now, not only are my sins forgiven, but I also get to live forever with my Savior. Hallelujah!

Chocolate

2010-10-18T22:00:00.003+09:00

Sunday, October 17th was the first annual Bentabulous Day.

My mom's side of the family is addicted to chocolate, pretty much every one of us. Last week my cousin was saying how much she wanted to make a chocolate cake. For some reason, she felt she needed a reason to make a cake. So, we came up with a reason, Bentabulous Day!

I made a cake called the 15-minute Chocolate Cake. The recipe has been requested, so here it is! It was delicious. I will definitely be making it again, soon.

1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup canola or light olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup boiling water
powdered sugar for dusting

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a 10 inch round cake pan. (I used cupcake tins)

2. In a large bowl, stir the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined. Add the egg, milk, oil, and vanilla to the flour mixture and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. With the mixer on low, beat in the water; the batter will be thin.

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Unmold onto a wire rack and let cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into edges to serve.

(Apparently, unmold is not a word, it keeps getting underlined by spell check!:)

Enjoy! Next time I will take pictures to post!

Recently

2010-10-13T21:15:00.011+09:00

Monday was a national holiday here in Japan. Our mission family gathered at "Red Eye 48 Falls" for a time of hiking and enjoying God's creation and each others' company. It was a beautiful day!

Jonah found a crab!

Hiking and lunch were followed by a rehearsal for the Franklin Graham Festival next weekend. Then, after seeing Yuri off at Umeda station, I decided to grab a little supper before heading home. As I left the restaurant, I heard someone singing in English-wait, singing Gospel! So, I followed the music and found a group doing a street concert. Since it was night the pictures are dark. I also took a little video with my camera. I thought of it half way through "Oh Happy Day"! (It looks like the video may not work. Sorry if it doesn't. You can still get an idea from the picture, I think:)

As I was leaving the gal who had been standing next to me started talking to me. She is a recent university graduate who does concert promotions. I told her about the Franklin Graham Festival and she asked for a flyer.

Great day!

BTW, I am listening to Christmas music right now!

Flip Calendar

2010-09-25T22:53:00.002+09:00

The quote on my flip calendar today-which may stay up for a few days...

"Oh, God, give me grace for this day.
Not for a lifetime, not for next week,
not for tomorrow, just for this day.
Direct my thoughts and bless them,
direct my work and bless it...
So that for this one day, just this one day,
I have the gift of grace
that comes from Your presence."
Marjorie Holmes

Grace for this day. That is my prayer today, for myself and for you.

Hmmm....

2010-09-23T21:56:00.002+09:00

I was just spending a few minutes catching up on reading blogs. I have several friends whose blogs I follow and enjoy reading about their lives and how God is working around the world and in their lives. As I was reading I realized that it has been a while since I wrote anything. Not because nothing has been happening, not because I have been too busy, but just because. So, here is a little update on life...

Church planting
Sometimes when I say I am helping to plant a new church it sounds pretty unreal-me, a church planter. I suspect there are a few of you who have known me since I was little and wonder what in the world God had in mind when He sent me here. I tell you what, I have no idea what I am doing most of the time! I spend a lot of time doing things I never in a million years would have thought I'd be doing. I speak Japanese, I lead Bible studies-sometimes in Japanese! - I lead music-that one pretty much takes the cake- I preach- in Japanese! etc, etc. I went to college and studied elementary education. I taught elementary school. Little kids don't scare me. I love hanging out with them. I had fun being a teacher-although that first year about killed me, thank goodness my mom and principal made me stick it out! I lived in Texas. These are all things that were comfortable. Then, God uproots me, reminds me of a call He placed on me as a child and sent me here. I guess He thought I needed to be uncomfortable. I guess He wanted me to rely on Him a bit more. Well... !

Music
I have been taking a piano class from our choir director (I do not know where that man gets all of his energy!) I like music, but I am not a natural musician. So, I am plugging away, trying to remember what Kris and Verda and James and Ted and others taught me about music. It is lots of fun and lots of work. Recently Paul has had to help out at another church or be at some other event so I have been left in charge at church. This means not only preparing a message. It also means I have to lead the music! I am thankful for a gracious group who sings their hearts out and pretends like they don't notice that I have no idea what is going on! I am also thankful that Noriko has been able to help out sometimes with the piano!!! Total dependence.

Relationships
There are so many wonderful friends with whom I get to interact on a regular basis. We go to lunch, coffee, music practices, hang out at each other's houses, or whatever. Some want to learn more about Jesus. Many only speak Japanese. I am still learning how to communicate in this language. Total dependence.

So, here I sit, perched on the edge of my seat wondering what God has planned next, how He is going to bring this all together. I just keep trusting knowing He has a plan. Each day I am learning a little more about this dependence to which He calls me.

Friends and their Pets

2010-09-06T13:11:00.007+09:00

Yuko, my friend who allows me to stay at her house, has 7 cats. Well, she doesn't, but between her, her brother and her mom, there are 7 cats living in their house. I keep my door closed all the time:) They are pretty nice cats, as far as cats go, and generally ignore me.
Here is Frosty just before he jumped out of the car-he doesn't like cameras!

Yoshimi, who lives down the street from Yuko, has two little dogs, Cherry and Shion. Cherry took a liking to me and was glad to have me join them for a walk one day. When I left them she was a little upset and Yoshimi had to carry her!

Friends and their Babies

2010-09-06T13:03:00.008+09:00

When I lived in Karuizawa I played basketball with a co-ed city group. We had lots of fun. I was miles taller than the other gals, but we became friends and had lots of fun going out to eat or to the onsen after basketball.
Now three of them are married and have children. I love going back and seeing how their families have changed. Here is a little glimpse of our time together last week...

Tea time with Madoka and her second daughter

Dinner with Yoko and her one year old

Tea time at the jam shop with Fumiko and her two year old who is going to be a big sister next spring

A First

2010-09-06T12:42:00.010+09:00

While I was in Karuizawa I went to my friends' for a BBQ. Some of you may remember me talking about the candle shop couple a few years ago when I lived there. They are still in Karuizawa and were having a BBQ with their 2 employees while I was there so invited me, too. When I asked if there was something I could bring, Etsuko started talking about the s'mores we had one time when I lived there, so I took s'mores fixin's.
The two gals who work for them had never had s'mores before. I think they enjoyed them!
Here are a couple of pictures of making s'mores. It was dark so I couldn't really see what I was taking pictures of until the flash went off!

roasting the marshmallows

enjoying!

Oh, I also got to have Mexican food in Karuizawa! The chef is even from Mexico and makes the tortillas every morning! Mmmm!

Singing

2010-09-06T12:31:00.004+09:00

Saturday I spent most of the afternoon into the late evening with friends from choir. We went to a choir practice for the Franklin Graham Festival that is going to be held in Osaka next month. Alfie Silas, who sings with the festival band, came to practice with us. She sang a few songs for us before the rehearsal started.

About 600 people gathered to practice and sing praises. It was a great day! Can't wait until I have all of the songs memorized so I can really sing from my heart-all but "Oh Happy Day" are in Japanese, so this time it is taking me a bit longer to learn all the words!

Here is a glimpse of the practice...

Beauty

2010-09-06T12:13:00.003+09:00

I just spent a week in Karuizawa enjoying nature, friends, food, and rest. Although the friend I stayed with was not feeling well, we had a good time. Last Monday while she was helping a friend with her baby at the hospital, I spent the day walking around Karuizawa. I wanted to spend the day walking with God and reading, just enjoying God's presence. As with most people, it is hard to slow down. So, I decided to keep my camera in hand as I walked and take pictures of all of the different flowers I saw. It really helped. In fact, at one point I spent about 20 minutes on a 20 meter stretch of road. (There was one point I flew by a bunch of flowers because all of the tea I had had was ready to leave my body!:)

I have no idea what any of these flowers are, except the thistle. They were all growing along the side of the road-I tried not to wander into people's yards! Here in Izumi where I live I can see the mountains, I have a couple plants sitting by my front door, and there are trees around. However, when I got to Karuizawa and spent a week surrounded by trees I was reminded how important nature is! And, on just that one day walk I was reminded of God's creativity!

Still Here

2010-08-25T14:38:00.004+09:00

As I looked at some of the blogs I have listed over on the side bar I don't feel as bad as I did when I signed on to blogger today. Some of my friends have not posted in an even longer time than I have. I'd love to make up some excuses but since I just preached about not making excuses last Sunday, I'll just move on!

On Monday some friends and I went to see Sabrina, in musical form and in Japanese, put on by an all-women theater troupe. They did an excellent job. It was almost exactly the same as the Audrey/Humphrey version. I took a couple of pictures but haven't downloaded them yet.

The night before the event, Carol stayed with me and we watched the Audrey version while eating popcorn and watermelon and chatting.

Then, the following night Darlene stayed with me. There was more chatting and snacking and general merry-making.

I love getting to hang out with friends who are so encouraging, good listeners, and who love food as much as I do! :) What a blessing to have friends to share life with!

(The picture is from a visit to Darlene's back in May.)

A Respite

2010-08-01T13:47:00.009+09:00

Last week was our annual missionary retreat. It is a time to do business, study God's word together, and play a little, too. This year we went to Tottori on the Sea of Japan. We had an amazing time studying with Ray VanderLaan-via DVD (I think that is how you spell his name!). I appreciate how he makes Bible times come alive.

We stayed at a lovely hotel with a wonderful, helpful staff.

Our time at the beach was filled with swimming and sand castles...

We also set aside time to honor Bill and Luci Lengefeld since they will be retiring this year. (Here is half of the group!:)

Now we are back to daily life as usual, grateful for the break and moving forward!
God is at work all around us and we don't want to miss a beat!

Weekend of Gospel

2010-07-19T20:37:00.009+09:00

Saturday was our annual AGC (Anointed Gospel Choir) concert. My friend Mariko and I volunteered to go early to help with set up so I left my place at 8:15AM (and arrived back home about 9:00PM!). We helped Yamamoto Sensei and his two helpers unload the sound equipment from the van, take it up in the elevator which he could have driven his van into, and carried it on stage. We did what we could to help unpack things then left them to connect all of the cables, microphones, and speakers while we went downstairs to buy their lunches. Yes, the concert hall is on the third floor of a shopping center, with a grocery store on the first floor!

Just as we were getting ready to leave the dressing room to go on stage for rehearsal we were told that something had happened to the sound system and they were having to reset some things. So, we had a very short rehearsal!

(Hanging out in the dressing room before the concert. This year our attire was all black with blue accents. Very sparkly!:)

What fun we had singing! Everyone did well with solos and piano accompaniments. One lady had some front row fans who were perfectly willing to wave at her and cheer when she played piano. There were also some people from other choirs who came and did a great job of getting the audience to participate with clapping and singing.

A gal who is taking a break from choir came with her 2 1/2 month old baby, the reason for her break:) She came on stage when we sang "God's Treasure" which is a song our director wrote about God's gift of new life. We were all crying and smiling as we sang!

Our concert was followed by dinner at the same restaurant where we ate last year. This year I ended up at the end of the table farthest from the rowdy crowd. This provided for conversations that were easier to hear and participate in.
(Part of the rowdy crowd!)
(Our quiet little corner:)

Today I spent the day with two friends from choir going to a concert by another choir our director leads. They sang most of the same songs we did so we had a good time being audience members and enjoying singing along with them. The audience participation song was in English, the same one we had done, so Yamamoto sensei called me up to do a little English practice:)
(This choir is a little bigger than ours! The church at which the concert was held is celebrating their 50th anniversary this weekend!)

Yesterday several ladies from choir came to church, too. It was fun to sing together with them there, too!

What a blessing AGC is in my life. I appreciate getting to sing praises with these ladies and all of the friendships being built. God is good!

Singing

2010-07-07T21:08:00.003+09:00

Last Saturday night I attended a gospel choir workshop-which is a fancy name for a rehearsal. In October Franklin Graham is coming to Osaka. Our choir director has been asked to lead a choir for the Saturday night event. He is aiming to have a 1000 member choir. I have to admit, my faith is pretty small sometimes. I thought that there would be no way we'd have that many people. As of last Saturday night, 550 people are signed up! They are from many places around the area and we won't all practice together until the weekend of the event.

But, last Saturday night over 200 of us gathered in Osaka for a rehearsal. The room was completely packed, I am sure waaaay over the fire code number! It was amazing to sing praises together with over 200 people. We sang three songs that we had learned at the first rehearsal and then learned two new songs.

Here is a glimpse of the room...

Wow!

2010-06-24T19:55:00.009+09:00

I usually don't post back to back like this, as you may know. But, I just interrupted writing the last post to spend about a half an hour on my veranda watching the sunset. Wow! I couldn't actually see the sun because a building is right in the way. But, I could see the effects of the sunset on the rest of the sky! I haven't seen such a beautiful sunset since last summer at Lake Herman State Park. After watching for about 10 minutes I decided I needed my camera. I am no expert photographer and just have a regular little digital camera so the pictures aren't spectacular, but here is my attempt at capturing the Osaka sunset...

It was fun to be standing outside and to hear people's reactions as they came out of their doors or off the elevator and saw the sky. At least one other person was taking pictures and talking with his little girls about the colors they saw.

As I watched the sky become more and more beautiful I thought about life and the Son. While we are on this earth we cannot see the Son. But, we can see the effects of Him. Oh, how I want to live a life that reflects the beauty of my Savior! I want the effect of having Him in my life to be such that people say "Wow!" when they interact with me, that people see His beauty in me when they see me. Oh Lord, let it be so in my life!

Back to School

2010-06-24T19:09:00.008+09:00

This week I went back to school. Paul and Melissa were invited to teach the 5th graders at Noah's and Jonah's school about America and they invited me to join them. We had a fun time presenting a power point about America with lots of pictures, teaching an easy conversation and singing a song. There was, of course, also, a time for questions. My favorite question: "Do you eat turtle soup?"

The next day I went to my local elementary school to talk with the foreign language club. I met the teacher of the club at Starbucks a month or so ago. I seem to be meeting lots of interesting people there these days! At the club meeting I showed a few pictures of South Dakota and talked about life in the country. Then the children taught me about Japanese culture. I learned about sushi, origami, how to use the abacus, and how to play Junken (Rock, scissors, paper).

It was great fun to get to share with the children and to hear their questions and chat with them a little. Of course, all of this was in Japanese! Well, at Noah's school, Melissa and I spoke in English and Paul translated, just so they could hear some English!

A few pictures from the two days...
(Sorry they are small, but I don't want to post large pictures of children's faces)

Paul and Melissa answering questions

Shelves at the back of the room for water bottles and backpacks

Lunch! It was really good.

Learning how to use the abacus

Wearing our origami hats

Coming along

2010-06-20T13:31:00.007+09:00

A few weeks ago I planted some tomato plants in a box on my veranda. I am not much of a gardener. I usually choose plants that will survive if forgotten for long periods of time. But, I love tomatoes and decided to try growing some myself. My sister and brother-in-law are incredible gardeners. They plant a vegetable garden that is bigger than my apartment! And, the stuff grows! (See above picture for proof!:)

Yesterday I got home from 2 1/2 days working in another city. I had five minutes to bring my suitcase up from the car, refill my water bottle and head out for choir practice. But, when I walked in and saw how much my plants had grown in those two days, I had to go check them out! Not only had the plants gotten bigger, but there were a bunch of flowers and four little green tomatoes! I was so excited! Then I noticed one of the branches had sort of fallen over, so I took the time right then to fix it, tying it onto the stake.

Hmm, maybe I am becoming a gardener. Although, the proof is in the product, right? Hopefully, I will have more than 4 tomatoes to show for my work:) I am still no where near desiring to plant a garden the size of my sister's, nor do I have the space for it, but I am enjoying watching the plants grow and taking care of them.

I have also enjoyed having fresh basil in my spaghetti sauce! That seems to be one of those plants that doesn't need much care. Or, maybe it would be growing bigger if I actually knew what I was doing!

Here are some pics of my tomato plants...

In the beginning...

A week passes...

A tomato appears...

Last week...

Today... (It is very windy today so it was hard to get them to hold still:)

Housewarming Party

2010-06-10T22:07:00.004+09:00

Last Friday my Jasmine Tea Party friends came over for a housewarming party. They were my first lunch guests in my new condo. Everyone brought something to eat which turned out to be more food than we needed for two days! But, it was all delicious so we just kept eating. (I think the little bit of potato salad I still have left in the fridge will need to be thrown out. I am not sure I want to make myself sick!)

Here are a few pictures from the afternoon...

The table filled with food.

Kan-chan and Miki-chan

with Anne

There is that word again

2010-06-05T17:35:00.004+09:00

In 2001 I was preparing to come to Japan as a continued term missionary after graduating from seminary. While all of that was going on, my dad was fighting a battle for his life. On my parents' wedding anniversary, my dad's doctor made an appointment for him to see a specialist who diagnosed my dad with cancer. He had surgery and we learned all kinds of new vocabulary. Then we spent six weeks going to the radiation center every day for a 5 minute radiation treatment. I am glad that I was there and able to be part of the helping staff at home. (He kept teaching university students through all of that!)
Now I am so grateful for every minute we get to spend together, knowing what a gift from God they are. He has a different perspective on life now. He also has new way of relating to people going through similar situations. God has blessed my family.

Last week my friends' five year old daughter had a tumor removed. They finally received the pathology results. It sounded so familiar. They removed the entire tumor, which was cancerous, but it had spread to the margins and so radiation will be necessary. How do you explain to a five year old little girl that her fight has just begun? What do you say to the little brother and sister? How do Mom and Dad keep their faith and marriage strong?

God is a God who heals. He has plans. He is in control. We know all of these things. But when it is you, your family, in the midst of such struggles... praise God for friends and family world-wide who hold you up to Jesus. Sometimes your own prayers are stuck in your heart. So, you cling to the prayers others are praying on your behalf. Resting in the love and care of our God who sees and knows all, our God who loves and cares more than we can or even can imagine. He is there, in the midst of it all.

Welcome

2010-05-28T11:10:00.006+09:00

Before you come into my place to join me for tea and cookies at my new table, you will go through my little gate, past my new name plate. As one of my Japanese missionary blogging friends said recently, in the previous places I have lived I have just written my name on a piece of paper and stuck it up on the door. In my last place, the post man actually told me to post my name. (I didn't think it was super necessary since the post office seems to know where all the foreigners live, anyway!) But, I feel more official, now, with my nice name plate in both Roman and Japanese lettering!

I have some nice veranda space to have plants growing. I have been to my local home center several times looking at the plants. I keep asking questions like, "how long does this plant bloom?" or "will it bloom again next year?" because I was looking for an easy way to have beautiful plants. I wanted to just buy the plants, set them out on the veranda and, wala (I have no idea how to spell that, but that is the way it would be spelled in Japanese:), have lovely flowers blooming all the time.

I am learning that gardening doesn't work that way. If I want to have flowers and tomatoes, I have to take time to take care of them. I have to monitor their progress, I have to make sure they are watered, getting enough sunlight, etc. There is no magic wand to wave and everything is just done.

This is a bit like my relationship with God. I want to just show up to church and everything is going to be just fine. I go, I listen, or even lead, then I go home. And, everything is great. But, relationships, like growing plants, take work. To get to know God, I need to spend time with Him, to talk to Him, to listen to Him.

But, I don't want to. I have other things to do. People to see, places to go. So, I run on my merry way, thinking all is okay. Somewhere along that path, though, I begin to feel the emptiness. Something is missing. My relationship is a mile long, but only a centimeter deep.

I desire to be the garden at the end of Isaiah, "a well-watered garden" (58:11) and not the one from the beginning, "a garden without water." (1:30) In order to do this, though, I need to drink the Living Water, spend time with my Saviour, build a relationship that goes deep.

Backward in time

2010-05-21T11:20:00.006+09:00

I'm going backward in time a little here, but wanted to share about my meeting with my friend's parents.

Noriko came to visit me in the US last year and got to learn all about nothing!

A couple of weeks ago Noriko invited me to lunch at her parents' house. We were both excited to meet each other and they wanted to say thank you for the opportunity she had to visit me.

We had a great afternoon eating and chatting, sharing stories and looking at pictures. Their family lived in Thailand when Noriko was a little girl so I got to hear about some of their experiences there. Noriko's mom also showed me some pictures from some of her travels, the Grand Canyon, London, Peru. I appreciated their hospitality and kindness.

Thank you for a wonderful afternoon! I look forward to many more.

Parking Fun

2010-05-12T10:27:00.004+09:00

I live in a crowded country. It is not like South Dakota where everyone has plenty of space to park their several cars. Amazingly, at my condo each unit is allowed a parking spot. My spot is underground and has a height limit of 150cm, 25 cm shorter than I am.

And, how does this underground parking work? Remember those square plastic puzzles we used to do? They had a picture or lines that you had to put together by sliding tiles around until everything was in the right order. That is kind of the way my parking garage works.

In a space where we would park five cars in SD, or maybe less because we would have more space between the cars, in my parking garage, 14 cars are able to park!

I have to back onto my rack, like I am going to get my oil changed, except there is a floor between the tire tracks. But, in order to get my rack, #69, I have to open the control box, put in my key and press #69. Then the fun begins! It depends on who left last as to what happens next, but usually one of the upper racks goes up. Then racks slide to one side or the other and my space is exposed. Finally, my rack climbs up from below the surface and the gate opens. I can now back in or drive out.

I don't have a video of this yet, but here are a couple of pictures of my car emerging from the depths of the garage...

Unfortunately, there the two racks on the right side are empty so you can't see how close together we park, but here is my car emerging.

Here the car has reached the ground level and the gate is going up. In this picture you can see one of the cars which has an upper rack sitting, waiting to be let down.

This year, too

2010-05-10T17:13:00.006+09:00

Last year three of my friends from choir and I got together for a jasmine tea party. This year I made it back in time to attend again. Last Friday the jasmine was in full bloom as we gathered. Unfortunately, it was raining so we sat inside instead of outside under the jasmine (maybe that was good, I didn't get a headache from the strong fragrance!).

We had delicious food and lots of good conversation. Miki san made us spaghetti and naan pizza. Kan-chan and Anne brought different kinds of sushi. And, I brought cookies, surprise, surprise! It was a new recipe for me and turned out quite nicely. (Thanks, Aunt Karen for the new cookie book!:)

Here are our lovely desserts and tea. After this we added jasmine blossoms to our teacups but I didn't get a good picture of it.

You can sort of see the jasmine blooming out back. Wouldn't it be great to have this garden as your neighbor's, natural aroma therapy!?! (The flash spot is also full of jasmine blooms!)

Welcome

2010-04-28T15:07:00.004+09:00

Welcome to my new place! This is the entrance, just waiting for your arrival.

I have already been blessed by my new place. Every morning I sit and look out the windows at the mountains as I talk to God and have breakfast. Being on the 9th floor has its advantages!

A couple of days ago I met a lady who lives in my building. She and her family lived in NJ for five years and just returned last summer. Her daughter is in 6th grade. Mrs. Sasaki is excited to introduce me to her daughter. She is also looking forward to having lunch together. She said that when she saw my name on my post box she was wondering how she could meet me!

On my floor in my section of the building there are three units. The family in 901 seems very nice. Every time I see Mrs. Tanaka she tells me to ring the bell and come in for tea any time. I am looking forward to doing that soon!

This week Melissa and I took a road trip to Ikea. We had a good time looking at dining room tables and trying out the chairs. I found a table and chairs I liked. I went with the mix and match set:)

So, now that all the boxes are put away and I have a table, when do you want to come visit?

Missing Time

2010-04-20T16:54:00.008+09:00

Between packing to move back over the ocean, moving back over the ocean, and unpacking a new apartment on this side of the ocean, I have missed posting about a few events that have taken place over the past month. Since I have a few minutes and am at church using the internet, I thought I'd do a quick update...

A visit to Madison, WI to visit aunt, uncle, cousins and the cousins' children...

A going away party with friends from church-a great evening of fun and entertainment!

Palm Sunday

Final evening with the Bible study group...

Climbing Grandma and Grandpa's tree with the Jones children

Home for Easter

Life

2010-04-13T14:42:00.003+09:00

Life keeps moving on, doesn't it?! I have spent most of the time I have been back unpacking boxes and trying to find a place to put everything in my new place. It has been a lot of fun. I am just about finished. Tomorrow Paul is going to come see if he can figure out why the faucet to my washing machine is spraying water everywhere. I guess it is about time to get a cell phone and get the internet connected at my place.

And, while all of this is going on, I have had chances to reconnect with friends, go to church and attend Gospel choir. We are having a concert in July so have started practicing for that. We also have some new members who I am excited to get to know.

As I spend time trying to get everything unpacked I sort of wonder how long it will be until I am packing again. Then I am reminded...
"This world is not my home, I just passing through..."
Do you think I will get to live in the same mansion for all of eternity?!

(I know this is not some of my most stimulating writing, just wanted to give you a quick update before I am away from the internet for another day or so again!)

Home Safely

2010-04-07T18:12:00.004+09:00

I arrived safely back in Japan on April 2nd. My flights and transfers all went smoothly. I got to sit on the aisle in every plane and stretch my legs out into everyone's path. The only problem was listening to my movie and my neighbor's movie at the same time. Four of my friends from choir came to pick me up and one even made curry rice for me-which lasted until today!

We had a great day celebrating the resurrection on Sunday. In the morning I got to celebrate with the Kongo Bible Church where everyone warmly welcomed me with hugs and handshakes and lots of smiles. In the afternoon we celebrated at Komyo Christian Church where a new couple came because of a flier they had received!

I had a pleasant surprise on my first morning when I went for a run. The running path by the river has been much improved and they are building a new bridge-can't wait to find out where it leads to! Of course, with the cherry blossoms in full bloom, it was a beautiful run.

The number of unpacked boxes in my condo is slowly decreasing, well, the full ones. Now I just have a a pile of empty, broken down boxes. It has been fun to open up boxes and remember my things and the people who gave them to me and then decide where to put them.

Friday will be the first gospel choir rehearsal of the new year. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Giving a helping hand

2010-03-05T13:18:00.009+09:00

Last Sunday after a church visit in Sioux Falls, I got to join up with over 30 people from my home church to give a helping hand to children around the world. (This was after a great pork feed and pie auction to help the youth of the church I visited raise money for their missions trip this summer.)

We gathered in the former grocery store where my sister and I shopped during seminary to pack food. A man from Maple Grove, MN started an organization called Kids Against Hunger. He had several companies help him come up with a meal that can be served anywhere in the world with as much nutrition as possible in one package. It took several years to perfect the meal. Now there are packing stations all across the United States where people can go and pack healthy meals which will then be sent around the world. We were told that the 7,344 meals we packaged will be sent to Haiti.

This capped off a challenge from the missions committee at church to eat just rice and beans for one week in February and then use the money saved on food to donate to the organization. What a challenge!

In 2 hours around 30 people were able to package 7,344 meals! Amazing!

Here are a few pics from the afternoon...

We all got to wear the very fashionable hairnets and aprons! We had three assembly lines which included filling a bag with the four main ingredients, weighing the bags, sealing the bags, putting the bags into boxes, and decorating the boxes-done by the kids.

Filling the bags...

Weighing the bags...

Sealing the bags...

And, decorating boxes...

The whole group

Inside the Japan Room

2010-02-26T12:46:00.008+09:00

So, in the last post I talked about the World Tour held in Michigan. I thought I'd take you inside the Japan room. The amazing thing is, the church in charge of the Japan room (as well as the ones in charge of the other countries) did all of the decorating. We just showed up and talked! Well, we did give some advice.

Upon entering Japan, the guests entered a Japanese living room. (We had planned to have them put on hospital booties over their shoes to simulate taking off shoes and putting on slippers like we do in Japan. However, after the first group, the groups were so big we didn't want to take time to do that.)
This is one of the little girls who passed out snacks to our guests.

From the living room we headed into the garden...

After listening to Carol and me our guests headed to the calligraphy/anime area. Two gals from the church dressed in beautiful kimonos had made up some anime coloring pages and had been practicing katakana so that they could write the kids' names in Japanese.

Then the guests were then treated to a martial arts demonstration...

And, finally, the guests sampled some delicious sushi!
(FYI: sushi does not equal raw fish!)

Very fun day!

Missions Fun

2010-02-20T08:38:00.009+09:00

The weekend of the big football game I was in the Detroit, Michigan area. The NAB churches in the area work together to host a weekend of missions activities each year. This year was my 3rd time to attend (not 4th as I mistakenly said at the closing service) and each time has been a unique and great event. I am going to post pictures of activities because a picture is worth a thousand words!

I got to attend a school field trip to a saw mill and learn all about the life of lumberjacks.

The missionary guests posing for a picture after the Friday evening opening service which was preceded by an amazing meal.

Saturday's big event, the NAB world tour, Japan stop.

The "in-country" tour guides, Shan and Carol.
Each group that arrived had a tour guide traveling with them from Cameroon to Japan and finally to Nigeria. Then the missionaries were the in-country tour guides.

The Nigerian tour guides, Dave and Mary June Burgess.

The Cameroonian guides, Lori Hiller and Debi and Lance Rundus.

Saturday afternoon/evening was spent with the youth, bowling, eating pizza and sharing testimonies.
Sunday morning we each got to share at a different church in various capacities. Then Sunday late afternoon we had a closing service sharing prayer requests and teaching the children about our countries.
The weekend ended watching the big game:)

Love these churches' heart for missions! Thanks, y'all!

Winter Happenings

2010-02-16T06:07:00.008+09:00

I have been doing a lot of traveling the past month. During that time my parents have also been remodeling the kitchen. Last week one section got done! Here is a picture of what it looks like...

They took off all of the cupboard doors, painted them, put on new knobs, took off countertops, ordered new ones as well as new appliances and painted the walls. Thankfully, the new microwave is here since we have been without since before Christmas. Today Mom is painting the closet door. They are waiting for a friend to help with the texturing of one wall and to help put in the long counter. Then the new stove and fridge will be installed. It is looking nice!

Saturday I was sitting in the computer room (my old bedroom) and noticed a hungry critter eating the red berries off the bush outside the window. Isn't it cool how God planned nature to take care of the animals even during the winter?!

Saturday night I was privileged to have dinner with 3 wonderful couples. The men in my dad's Wednesday noon Bible study decided to take their wives out for dinner, and included me, too. We were planning to go to Sioux Falls for dinner, however, the weather was terrible. Therefore, the couple who live in Sioux Falls did not get to join us. We had a great time, good food and conversation. The evening finished with us watching the SDSU/NDSU basketball game which went into double overtime.

Dad also surprised Mom and me with lovely flowers!

Just checking in

2010-01-30T04:08:00.005+09:00

I don't have a lot to say right now-or maybe too much to say! So, I am just going to do my picture posting and move on. I have been traveling a lot this month. Church visits every Sunday and visits with many friends and family in between. It has been a good month, but a little exhausting, too.
Here are a few highlights...

Cousins in Kansas

More relatives in Oklahoma-it was a lot colder than usual OK weather!

BBQ with Becky in TX-I can't believe I used to babysit for her!

Catching up in Georgetown (TX)- one evening was not long enough!

What have you been up to?! Meeting up in Dallas with a childhood friend

Minnesota mini-reunion

I have seen LOTS of this-roads, snow, fog, even some rain-this month