Language

I've joined an online community for women who serve overseas.  Mostly I read the blog posts everyone else writes.  It has been good to read thoughts from other women serving overseas.  I have been challenged to think more about my life, ministry, and God.  Each week they choose a theme and people blog about it or contribute art or whatever.  I keep thinking that I will write something sometime.  So, this week I am going to write.  The theme is language.

Karuizawa Japanese Language School

Of course, when I first started to think about language, I thought about learning Japanese.  Learning this language has been one of the hardest, most challenging, most fun, most frustrating things I have done in my life.  And, I am NOT done yet!  I am pretty sure I will never be done learning this language.

Graduation celebration with some of my language teachers

I don't remember when it happened exactly, but I remember sitting in church one Sunday thinking, "Hey, I am understanding some of this sermon!  I am not just listening to pick out the words, but am actually getting the main ideas here!"  SCORE!  I was floored!

I know there are tons more languages than English and Japanese, but it is pretty cool that Jesus understands both of the languages I speak.  He hears me when I call out to Him in either language.

My first Sunday in Japan I remember sitting in church thinking that I had no clue what was going on, but Jesus did.  Now I not only sit in church understanding most of what is going on, but I also preach in this language!

Listening in church still takes much concentration

After I thought about these things for a while, the theme of language started to take me on a different path.  Language is absolutely necessary.  We need to communicate somehow, and language is the vehicle for communication to take place.  When I sit in my apartment by myself, I use language.  I think about what I need to prepare for tomorrow, I listen to music, I watch TV, I read a book.  All of these need language.

When I go to the ocean and sit on the beach, I use language.  I listen to the ocean, the birds, the wind, other people, God.  Different languages, but all needed for communication.

Maui

When I meet my friends or go to work or go to a meeting, more communication happens.  Some communication is non-verbal, which sometimes speaks louder than verbal communication, however, if we want to have conversations, make decisions, make plans, we really need to use verbal communication.  And, there is language again.

Languages are fascinating and amazing.  I am hoping we will keep our languages in heaven and yet be able to understand all the other languages and be able to learn them.  That would be so cool!

I know that learning Japanese has helped deepen my understanding of God as I learn Japanese words and phrases and study the Japanese Bible.  I can't imagine how my understanding would improve if I learned more languages!  Especially Greek and Hebrew!

Anything that deepens my understanding of God is worth the effort and hard work.
(I say this again to myself today to remind me of its truth and importance!)

Talking about things I love in one of my sermons

Haven't Forgotten

I haven't forgotten about my blog, I just haven't written.

It's not that I don't have anything to write about, it's just that I haven't taken time to write.

I am preparing for another transition.  They are never-ending in life, aren't they?

Sometimes I like them and look forward to them.  Sometimes I have no desire to go through them.

Some transitions take more preparation than others.  Some transitions are painful.  Some are joyful.  Some are both.

I have been memorizing Scripture this year.  Last month I memorized Psalm 23 in Japanese.  It has helped me remain calm during this transition.  When I feel the panic coming, the worry, the wonder, the sadness, I recite Psalm 23 again.  Sometimes I don't even have to think about it, it just naturally comes to mind.

Transitions are inevitable.  God is never-changing.  God is always with me.  I am thankful for this peace.

主は私の羊飼い。
私は乏しいことがありません。
主は私を緑の牧場に伏させ、
憩の水のほとりで伴われます。
主は私のたましいを生き返らせ、
御名のために、義の道に導かれます。
たとい、死の陰の谷を歩くことがあっても、
私はわざわいを恐れません。あなたが私とともにおられますから。
私の敵の前で、あなたが私のために食事をととのえ、
私の頭に油を注いでくださいます。
私の杯はあふれています。
まことに、私の日のかぎり、いつくしみと恵みとが、
私を追って来るでしょう。
私は、いつまでも、主の家に住まいましょう。

A Month of Thanks, Days 9, 10, 11

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.

Friends and their Pets

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

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

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!