Flat Coco Meets...

Flat Coco has been getting to meet a lot of people since arriving in South Dakota!

This is Hannah.  She is my sister's niece.  We had Mexican food together.
Hannah really wanted to hide behind Coco!

These are the ladies in my parents Bible study.  (The men were in the kitchen!)
Sandy even knew to flash the peace sign!

This is Mrs. Thayer.  She was my third grade teacher!
I still remember her flying around the room during timed multiplication tests!

Signe has been one of my best buds since before I can remember.
Her sister is the same age as my sister.
We spent hours and hours playing Barbies and covered wagon!

Ladies of the noon Bible study.

Mom's Sunday School class on Easter Sunday.
(I don't think the boys usually wear ties!)

Della, my beautician since my first professional haircut in kindergarten!

I am blessed with so many wonderful friends here in South Dakota.  I am thankful for all of the people who have known me all of these years and still want to be my friend!  When I am in Japan or traveling around the US, I know that all of these people are praying for me.  When I come back to Madison, all of these people take time to talk with me and encourage me.  Yes, I am truly blessed!

The Continuing Adventures of Flat Coco

Flat Coco enjoyed celebrating the resurrection in South Dakota!
Flat Cocoとサウスダコタで復活祭をお祝いしたことは楽しかった。

ココちゃんがイースターのカードを楽しんだ
Coco-chan enjoyed reading Easter cards

ハーム、ポテト、フルーツは美味しかった
The ham, potatoes and fruit were delicious!

We needed a group shot before heading out to hunt eggs.
エッグハントをする前に写真をとりたかった。

寒かったので、大人も手伝った
It was cold so the adults got involved in the hunt, too.

Because it was cold, we hid some of the eggs in the basement.
地下室にもたまごを隠れた。

家族と一緒にイエス様の復活を祝いしたことは楽しかったです。
It was really special to celebrate Jesus' resurrection with my family this year.

The Adventures Continue

Flat Coco and I have been having more adventures here in South Dakota.  We are enjoying food and family.
サウスダコタでFlat Cocoと一緒にアドベンチャーをしています。家族と一緒に美味しい食べ物を楽しんでいる。

Mexican food!!!! メキシコ料理!!!!

Worship time at church  教会の賛美の時間

Pizza buffet-yes, I did eat it all!
ピザ　バイキング　美味しかった！

Hanging out with my third grade teacher
小３年の先生！

Big salad and warm soup on a cold day
寒い日に大きいサラダとあったかいスープ

A new blue Honda
新しい青いホンダ

The Adventures of Flat Coco

Just had to share this beautiful and
delicious pie made by my friend!

I have had many adventures with Flat Stanley in Japan over the years.  This winter when he visited, my friend Coco loved the idea.  So, when I got ready to come back to the US for home assignment, she made me Flat Coco to bring along!
何回もフラットスタンリーが日本に来ました。今年の冬にも来た。その時、ココちゃんが初めて会いました。素晴らしいことと思ったので、アメリカに行く時、フラットココを作って、もらいました。

Throughout my home assignment, I will share the adventures of Flat Coco as she travels with me around the US.  I am excited to see what adventures we will get to experience together!
アメリカにいる間、フラットココとのアドベンチャーをこのブログで分かち合いたい。どんなアドベンチャーが起こるでしょう！

Here are our first adventures, traveling to the US and playing with my parents' grandkids...
最初のアドベンチャーはアメリカへの旅と子どもとの遊びです。

The adventure begins.  Waiting to board at Kansai Airport.

My seat mate from Seattle to Minneapolis.  She was a missionary in Cameroon!
シアトルからミニアポルスの便にとなりに座ってた方。
何年間まえにはカメローンでの宣教師！

Playing with Snoopy at MSP.
スヌーピーとの遊び。ミニアポリス空港。

ココちゃんの大好きなTea's Teaを見つけました！
I found Coco's favorite, Tea's Tea!

Helping Andrew with the cheese at lunch.
昼ご飯でアンドルーとチーズを食べた。

Fruit salad with Roger and Abi.
ロジャーとアビーでのフルーツサラダ

Amazing Friends

I cannot begin to express how grateful I am for all of my friends.  I have had such a great time over the past few weeks getting together for dinners, tea times, singing, just one more time before go on Home Assignment.
私の友達は素晴らしいです。説明できないほどに神様に感謝しています。最近、アメリカに行く前に、たくさんの友達と食事やお茶の時間や歌うために集まってくれました。
皆さん、ありがとう！これは足りない言葉ですが、心から感謝しています。

Learning about Sakai City with former students

Bagel Breakfast Bunch

Potluck Party!

Kyoto Friends

Missionary Fellowship Prayer Warriors

Sakamoto Family and Yuri

Coco Doco Cocoro

Coco Doco Cocoro

USJ with USJ friends

Missionary Family

Takoyaki Party-my neighbors are professionals!

Thursdays at Seattle's Best

AGC Sisters and Brother

AGC

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。

Back in November...

Well, I thought I had already posted about this, but it appears that I have not!  The last week of November I went to Sendai in northeastern Japan as a volunteer.  I went with a group of 7 others from around the JBC to help in any way we could.

Northeastern Japan (Tohoku) is where the earthquake and tsunami hit in March of 2011.  That evening when I got home, I sat transfixed in front of the TV with my computer facing it so that my parents could also see what was happening through skype.  We watched as waves pushed and pulled cars, houses, buildings and people.  I listened to, and translated, stories of people who escaped or who were looking for their families.  (Click here to read some thoughts I wrote a few days after the disasters.  And click here to read about a song our gospel choir director wrote before 3.11 but which took on much more meaning after the disasters.)

Over 18 months later, I finally had the opportunity to go and help.  The physical labor of clean up is basically finished in the area where we volunteered.  However, the emotional labor of clean up continues.  That was our basic goal in going.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I am going to tell my volunteer story in pictures and just captions when words are needed.  Please continue to pray for Japan!

The first day we helped a farmer, stacking pallets.

We also planted seeds, by hand, one at a time.

The water line on the outside of his house

Inside the house-it was going to be torn down and rebuilt.
Notice the calendar... March 11, 2011

It wasn't as cold as we make it look by our clothing!

The first floor of all the buildings and houses in the area
near the farmer's house were destroyed.

Where the tsunami came from

The cross from Seaside Chapel
Literally the only thing left standing

Practicing hand massages for cafe time the next day

An elementary school that can no longer be used

Items collected in the area, cleaned, and categorized
This area is a collection of children's school bags

One of the temporary housing units

Our group after cafe time and hand massages

A cement building police station that was pushed over in the tsunami

A small temporary housing unit up in the mountains

This church was badly damaged in the tsunami.
Now, several churches are working together to minister
in the area, using this church as their base.

The CRASH Japan van with Coco, Mitsuha, and Becky

Making Okinawa soba

Rolling out the dough

Hearing the story of God's love in the midst of pain

Eating at a restaurant which serves vegetables grown by the farmer we helped.