A Cold Trip

A week ago I was in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for our church conference's triennial gathering. It was great fun to see so many people I know from church visits, camp and other triennials, as well as to meet new people. I am thankful for my NAB family and the way God has provided for me through them. I could not be doing what I do without you all!

I rode up to Winnipeg with Bill, Luci, and Becky Lengefeld. We had great driving weather and good conversations-and the SLOWEST service ever in a restaurant at one stop.

Here I am with Becky as we entertain ourselves at the Manitoba welcome center.

Southern Manitoba is flatter than South Dakota! But, they grow canola which was flowering beautifully when we drove through!

Each mission field had a display area. This is the Japan display with those who put it together while the rest of us talked to our neighbors:)

I spent an afternoon at a local park with my friend Rosemarie. We looked at sculptures and ate cherries while she told me about her life in Germany during WWII.

Even though the temps were low and it rained often, we had a good time. I am looking forward to seeing many of you again as I visit your churches. The biggest challenge is that when I visit churches everyone doesn't wear name tags like at Triennial. Be sure to remind me of your name when I visit your church, please!

Friends

This week I am in Winnipeg for the NAB Triennial. (I forgot the cord to download pictures so they will come later.) One of the great things about Triennial is getting to see friends made in years past as well as to make new friends. Today was spent with missionary friends. What a great time we had just chatting and sharing and talking about ministry. Tomorrow the conference starts along with the next round of friendship renewals!

Yesterday I received a blog award from a friend from Texas days. We used to teach Sunday School together and I had Thanksgiving dinner at her house one year-the year of like 3 or 4 invites. Anyway, I enjoy reading her blog, but since she gave me the award I will choose others to pass it on to.

Here is the award:
The Love My Friends Award is given to those bloggers who aspire, inspire and share the most beautiful of human attributes: art, wisdom and friendship. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more.

And the award goes to... (in no particular order!:)
1. Lori
2. Julianne
3. Traci
4. Lara
5. Heidi
6. Melody
7. Stacy
8. Michelle

If you have time, check out my friends' blogs!

Driving and Shopping

For my friends in Japan, here is a picture taken as we were driving through South Dakota on Monday.
日本にいるの友達、車から月曜日でとったSouth Dakotaの写真です。


Here is my new pair of sandals which I am loving!
これは大好きな新しいサンダルです。


And a sudden South Dakota summer thunderstorm!
South Dakotaの突然の夏の大雨です。

Sunday Pictures

I have arrived safely back in South Dakota with only a short delay and diversion to Cheyenne, Wyoming on the way to Denver. I spent Independence Day with friends from church eating, chatting, and watching fireworks.
Then today, Sunday, I got to go to church with my parents, worshipping with long-time friends, studying the Bible together, and hearing about how God is at work here in South Dakota.
Worshipping together in English!
We spent some time this afternoon weeding the Jones' garden. Here is before and after.

Then we went for a picnic at Lake Herman State Park.
The day closed with a lovely moonrise.

Lots of lasts

This past weekend was filled with goodbyes, see you next year type gatherings. It was also filled with packing, packing, and more packing. I was trying to get my suitcases packed at the same time I am packing boxes. It was going well and looked liked I was actually going to get everything into two suitcases. Then Woykes came to get my shoe closet and I realized that I had not packed any shoes to take on home assignment! So, I will have to repack once I get moved so the weight can be distributed evenly in the suitcases. I may still be able to have two suitcases, but that means my carry on will be super heavy-nothing new there, though.

So here are a few highlights of the weekend in pictures..
Pre-choir singing time

Sharing at Kongo Church

One more potluck at Kongo-always really good food!

Paul took a group picture at Komyo so when I get that from him I will post it, too, if I remember!

And, here is a little glimpse into the state of my apartment...


Last night at a very late hour I realized that the guy was coming to take out the air conditioner units and all the boxes were stacked under the units, in both the office and the dining room! So, I had to move them all to the other side of the room giving the worker a whole 3 feet of work space!

Did you know?

Did you know that you can come to Japan?! Yesterday a team of people from Illinois left after a two week trip here to Japan to help us out. In our NAB conference they are known as Gateway Teams, groups who come for a short time to help out the missionaries as well as get to learn about the work here and find out how God can work in and through them.

Although I have been busy packing, I did get to spend a little time with the team. They came to church last Sunday where Megan gave her testimony and Doug preached. The rest of us listened carefully!






On Monday we went to the elementary school to do an English lesson with the 3rd and 4th graders. The week before the team had been to the school to teach the other grades, too. There was a little lesson on Illinois, Chicago, and Abraham Lincoln, followed by an English conversation introduction, a game and finally the Hokey Pokey!
(We were asked not to take close up pictures of the kids.)

Joy and Paul teaching the conversation

Third graders listening carefully

Fourth graders getting ready to move to smaller groups

The Hokey Pokey!


Some of our bilingual volunteers enjoying lunch with us at Ewings.

AGC Summer Concert

Today we had our annual Gospel choir concert. It was early this year so that I could take part in it before I leave for home assignment. It was a fun day! Here is a recap in pictures:

Getting ready for rehearsal.

Rehearsing "Hallelujah, You're Worthy."

Practicing "You are my All in All."

Rehearsing "Call Him"

Gerber daisies from Yuki chan. How did she know I love them?!

Getting ready to go home after dinner.