Oh my gosh. There's been a lot going on this week, and as I lay here on my bed on this Sunday afternoon when I should be doing homework, I'm more prone to sleep for hours and hours and hours.
Let me start off by saying... maybe I have already, but... Japanese summer: HOT. HUMID. Oh. My. For real, two showers a day is becoming the norm, and even then, there are 12 hours between full of sweatiness and overall nastiness. The Japanese do not sweat like Americans or other people in general do. In fact, you can't buy anti-perspirant deodorant here. I don't even think they wear deodorant. But we gringos do! Sorry, the term here is "gaijin" (pronounced: guy-jean) and thank the Lord we do. Trying to stay fresh-feeling over this summer is going to be fun.
And so I hear, the best is yet to come. So I've heard, this ain't nuttin' compared to what's to come-- where I've heard from two people, it feels like you're on fire. Well, I had grace in Altotonga for the cold, which I despise... heat is easier for me to deal with than cold.
On that uplifting note, this week we had a birthday party for Yuiko, who turned 29. I like that she's pretty much my age, and I really appreciate and admire her. She's funny, and sometimes she's sarcastic, and I like that.
So, yeah, we had that-- and last Saturday we celebrated her birthday a little after Fuse and gave her flowers and a power point show, etc., Oh, and a cake-- and Tuesday we had brownies and ice cream after the Fuse planning meeting.
Thursday we had a group come in from Arizona. They are 6 people, and so it's not too incredibly tough. The nice thing is that we are also a group that we can take shifts in getting them here and there and doing stuff. I always enjoy sharing Japan with new people too.
Friday we had street band and were able to give away a lot of flyers... and the evening consisted of changing my email because of a possible virus sent to the other one and I want to protect my finances/identity, you know? So, you'll find my email on most of my newsletters-- it's the one I use. PLEASE, PLEASE do not send me forwards. Repeat offenders I start sending to my spam folder. While I'd be delighted to hear from you, I appreciate your consideration in not forwarding me stuff.
Also for Friday night, my camera broke. I don't know how, I don't know why, but it broke. I think one of the girls' dad is going to try to fix it, but it is a pretty old camera that I've had for a few years... so... stinky! I was pretty upset because I didn't have time to go out and get a new one (that and I didn't know the best place to go, but now someone told me where they can take me) and Saturday was going to be the Fuse One Year Anniversary... something I definitely want pictures of!
But, So-chan, my roommate, let me borrow her camera. Saturday was awesome! I left my house around noon after a lot of communication between team members via text messages for all we needed to do and get down in our various places in the morning to be ready for the afternoon. I went and had lunch/life group with Saki-chan, and that went really well. Afterward, we went to Machida, and everyone met up and we went to have street outreach. Normally we would do street band, but since it was raining, we couldn't.
Sally and I, who were kinda in charge, decided to take the group to one of the train stations and we passed out about... oh, I don't know... maybe about 500 or so flyers in just an hour. It was pretty amazing! We never get that many out!
Afterward, we went to the Livezone Z to set up and get everything ready. Everyone worked really hard and we were a bit concerned because the guest band that we had playing-- the drummer didn't show up until like right when it was starting! Anyway, people started showing up like crazy, and we had a lot of people who hadn't come in a long time-- but also around 10 or more new people! 4 we had met the night before at street band, and Mike said that he saw a guy that he gave a flyer to at the station. It was pretty amazing! We were around 50 people, and while the couches sat outlining the room, most people were sitting together all on the ground, including myself. And some of our very-regulars were not even able to make it! So, they had been able to, we would have been even more!
Our special group ImariTones was GREAT and the leader is quite a little preacher, and I think he was specifically an encouragement to one of our core guys. Mark gave a great message of encouragement and moving forward, and it was just an excellent evening. Some of our regular people invited their friends, and it was just a great, great evening and all went well, from the video we did to announcements and organization, etc.
After it ended (around 8:30pm), we went to the local cafe place and had dinner, and just enjoyed talking together, with the band, and some of our guests, and all that. I helped Sally, Joe and Mike carry stuff back to the Noborito church and we got there around 11pm. Afterward, I left with Kengo and along the way, we met up with some of the guys coming back, and so, in the end, I made it home around 12, took another shower and went to bed!
Today was lifegroup, and the last one for Sally who is leaving on Wednesday. I'm sad, she'll be our last girl... so it's me and Yuiko representin' the females now.
Well, that's all I got for now. I think I might try a power nap and then I need to restore some order to my house for the week and STUDY for Japanese class this week... SO much to do!
Catch ya'll later!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Yasumimashou
Beautiful, beautiful! Tonight, I'm chillin, it's 12 and though I'm tired, I'm savoring not setting my alarm for 5:15am.
And while decked out in shorts and a tshirt, I am not currently sweating on every square inch of my body, and I've only take ONE shower today (I really came close to taking the second one, but ran out of time).
So tomorrow I'm going to 休みます... or, take a break from school. The particular teacher that I have on Fridays (well, Thursdays and Fridays), I don't feel like I learn much from and usually feel frustrated in that class. So, I decided to call off school for tomorrow and extend my "days paid". Does that make sense? So, I'll study at home and practice here and have my paid days count toward the ones where I feel like I'm getting somewhere (however, I don't want to miss 2 days of school).
Also, just to let you know, I took the test over the kanji, and passed it. 103 kanji, but many had multiple ways to read them. I made a few minor mistakes, but it was just ones that were dumb mistakes, you know? Anyway, now I'm on to level 3 kanji and this book is a lot thicker. I don't think passing this one was too impressive... in the grand scheme of things, it's like 5% of what I need to accomplish.
Still, that 5% requires about 150 hours of study and getting up to the top level requires about 900 hours of study (I guess, in addition).... I'm not quite sure how that works, but it's a lot, let's just put it that way. Anyway, I want to work hard to get further... the more I talk to my Japanese friends, and the more I can't talk to them inspires me to work harder.
So most mornings on my way to school, I come out of the ticket gates where I swipe my card to get through, and then to get to the doors to leave the station which are about maybe a 100 feet in front of me, I have to cut across people traffic going back and forth. It's a bit of a rush, wondering if I can do it without stopping. Almost always, I can. Mark once told me the key is to watch the gaps and not the people. It works, and as I have people coming at me from both sides at different paces and I need to cross through them, I wonder what it looks like from above and if you could paint everyone's path a different color and somehow animate it all, what it be like. Amazing, I'm sure.
I have this same thought every morning.
The mornings before I make that people-plaid adventure, I try to get some rest on the train and in the station. Yesterday morning, as I was telling some of the guys here, I leaned into the corner of the train, where the seats end (since they were all taken) and the foot or so before the sliding doors of the train begin, and I stuck my shoulder in there, leaned my head against the wall, and yup- I fell asleep with my bag hanging down across my body, umbrella hanging down from that, arms crossed my chest and headphones in my ears.
And I'm pretty sure EVERY Japanese person in that train was impressed.
Ok, maybe not, but I was pretty happy with this new found ability that was birthed out of sleep depravation. Normally I can catch about 15 or 20 minutes of sleep also on the station bench in an out-of-the-way spot with my bags on my lap. Haha, I sound so pathetic. Anyway, when I am awake, usually I'm studying or reading, and I like to watch the various trains that come through-- not the trains, but the sudden rush of people that come through-- some of them at full on sprints, I imagine, to connect with their next train.
Before I forget, I've been meaning to mention that a couple of weeks ago, Sally asked for prayer from Aaron, Mark and I while we praying before going to hand out flyers and do street outreach. She is gluten-intolerant (which means she can't eat anything with wheat), and one of the symptoms that I guess goes with it is that there is numbness in the "extremities"... hands and feet, etc. Her feet had been numb for a few days. So we laid hands on her, and I really believed she was going to be healed. And, you know, her feeling came back and she hasn't had any problems since then.
Praise Jesus! We wanna see more of those stories with Japanese people as well, and with some of our own Japanese core members, who are struggling with some pain and other things happening.
Tonight I had life-group with Saki, and it went really well. I had been praying for it and that God would lead us as I wanted to talk about some specific things, but in a natural way that it could come up. It did, and I was really excited as even I was speaking I knew that God was directing me in what to say and I was happy that I wasn't the person who came to the conclusions, you know. Anyway, I still can't get over watching when that look of sudden understanding comes across in her face that "Oh, I get it!" You know, that moment when it comes alive, and it's so exciting to be a part of that. I'm excited to see what God is doing in her life.
In casual conversation tonight, I was mentioning to her that as I've been studying Japanese and just observing and eavesdropping on people and knowing some of the cultural differences in communication, I was thinking about English. In your native language, there are so many things you take for granted. When you communicate with someone in your language, you know what they really mean by the particular choice of words or tense of the verb, etc. By phrases and slang and everything, you get the feel for the flow of the language and you can read much more into what's going on and what's being said that's not being said. Certain choices of words make something more or less funny. There's just so much you take for granted.
Anyway, now I'm talking with my mom, so I'll finish this sometime else... but I'll catch ya'll later!
And while decked out in shorts and a tshirt, I am not currently sweating on every square inch of my body, and I've only take ONE shower today (I really came close to taking the second one, but ran out of time).
So tomorrow I'm going to 休みます... or, take a break from school. The particular teacher that I have on Fridays (well, Thursdays and Fridays), I don't feel like I learn much from and usually feel frustrated in that class. So, I decided to call off school for tomorrow and extend my "days paid". Does that make sense? So, I'll study at home and practice here and have my paid days count toward the ones where I feel like I'm getting somewhere (however, I don't want to miss 2 days of school).
Also, just to let you know, I took the test over the kanji, and passed it. 103 kanji, but many had multiple ways to read them. I made a few minor mistakes, but it was just ones that were dumb mistakes, you know? Anyway, now I'm on to level 3 kanji and this book is a lot thicker. I don't think passing this one was too impressive... in the grand scheme of things, it's like 5% of what I need to accomplish.
Still, that 5% requires about 150 hours of study and getting up to the top level requires about 900 hours of study (I guess, in addition).... I'm not quite sure how that works, but it's a lot, let's just put it that way. Anyway, I want to work hard to get further... the more I talk to my Japanese friends, and the more I can't talk to them inspires me to work harder.
So most mornings on my way to school, I come out of the ticket gates where I swipe my card to get through, and then to get to the doors to leave the station which are about maybe a 100 feet in front of me, I have to cut across people traffic going back and forth. It's a bit of a rush, wondering if I can do it without stopping. Almost always, I can. Mark once told me the key is to watch the gaps and not the people. It works, and as I have people coming at me from both sides at different paces and I need to cross through them, I wonder what it looks like from above and if you could paint everyone's path a different color and somehow animate it all, what it be like. Amazing, I'm sure.
I have this same thought every morning.
The mornings before I make that people-plaid adventure, I try to get some rest on the train and in the station. Yesterday morning, as I was telling some of the guys here, I leaned into the corner of the train, where the seats end (since they were all taken) and the foot or so before the sliding doors of the train begin, and I stuck my shoulder in there, leaned my head against the wall, and yup- I fell asleep with my bag hanging down across my body, umbrella hanging down from that, arms crossed my chest and headphones in my ears.
And I'm pretty sure EVERY Japanese person in that train was impressed.
Ok, maybe not, but I was pretty happy with this new found ability that was birthed out of sleep depravation. Normally I can catch about 15 or 20 minutes of sleep also on the station bench in an out-of-the-way spot with my bags on my lap. Haha, I sound so pathetic. Anyway, when I am awake, usually I'm studying or reading, and I like to watch the various trains that come through-- not the trains, but the sudden rush of people that come through-- some of them at full on sprints, I imagine, to connect with their next train.
Before I forget, I've been meaning to mention that a couple of weeks ago, Sally asked for prayer from Aaron, Mark and I while we praying before going to hand out flyers and do street outreach. She is gluten-intolerant (which means she can't eat anything with wheat), and one of the symptoms that I guess goes with it is that there is numbness in the "extremities"... hands and feet, etc. Her feet had been numb for a few days. So we laid hands on her, and I really believed she was going to be healed. And, you know, her feeling came back and she hasn't had any problems since then.
Praise Jesus! We wanna see more of those stories with Japanese people as well, and with some of our own Japanese core members, who are struggling with some pain and other things happening.
Tonight I had life-group with Saki, and it went really well. I had been praying for it and that God would lead us as I wanted to talk about some specific things, but in a natural way that it could come up. It did, and I was really excited as even I was speaking I knew that God was directing me in what to say and I was happy that I wasn't the person who came to the conclusions, you know. Anyway, I still can't get over watching when that look of sudden understanding comes across in her face that "Oh, I get it!" You know, that moment when it comes alive, and it's so exciting to be a part of that. I'm excited to see what God is doing in her life.
In casual conversation tonight, I was mentioning to her that as I've been studying Japanese and just observing and eavesdropping on people and knowing some of the cultural differences in communication, I was thinking about English. In your native language, there are so many things you take for granted. When you communicate with someone in your language, you know what they really mean by the particular choice of words or tense of the verb, etc. By phrases and slang and everything, you get the feel for the flow of the language and you can read much more into what's going on and what's being said that's not being said. Certain choices of words make something more or less funny. There's just so much you take for granted.
Anyway, now I'm talking with my mom, so I'll finish this sometime else... but I'll catch ya'll later!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Retro Fuse, Rain and Quotes
It's the first day of the rainy season here in Japan! My teacher this morning informed me that from today on, there will be 40 days of rainy season and then the hot summer will come. I was under the impression that the hot humid summer was already here. (left: Tom, Kaori and Yuki)Oh no, my friends.
So for the next month and some, I will be wearing my crocs and carrying an umbrella with me as if it were my best friend. And it will be.
This weekend was Retro FUSE. We had outreach on Friday night and then I stayed the night with Sally at the church so that we could 'fro my hair and then laugh at me in the morning. It happened as such, though I didn't get too much of a 'fro so much as a big ball of curls, that, had I had a big polka-dotted '50s style dress, I could have pulled off Lucille Ball. (right: Yoshi, Saki, me and Kengo hanging out before start)
As I took the tiny curlers out of my hair in the morning and had them bounce right back to my head, I kept saying... I don't know about this... Ok, all for Jesus.
Kengo, later in the morning, walked in the room and gave a SERIOUS start back. It was pretty funny. Anyway, we went to Machida a little later than usual since the start was later and then did Street Band in what is known as the smoker's plaza. Even though we didn't have too many great conversations, we were able to hand out some flyers, while some people did not want them. It got easier as more of our people showed up to hand out flyers. (left: Yuiko, Kaori and Saki hanging out afterward. Yuiko and Kaori were nominated for best-dressed Retro fashion)
Afterward, we had FUSE. It was good, though not as many people as we expected turned up. So, pray for us as we keep working and meeting new people that God will clear schedules and give boldness to go! Anyway, it was a good time. It was more relaxed and cafe-style... and we gave a "Kampai" (cheers!) to Jesus to celebrate Him at the end. (right: Mark giving a short message and Yuiko, his wife, doing the Japanese)
I got home around 10pm that night with lots of stuff being carried with me. After sweating so much during the day with all the humidity and stuffiness even inside houses, all I wanted to do it get myself clean! There have been a few times where I have felt dirtier than I did that night, but all I could want that evening was a good shower.
Sunday, I slept in... till 8:30. I could really sleep any longer, though I laid there for an hour, trying. I don't remember what all I got done Sunday morning, but it was enough. Laundry, for one (since I knew the rain was coming). In the afternoon, I had leader's lifegroup with Yuiko, but Sally couldn't make it. So, Yuiko and I caught up at a cafe in Shinyurigaoka that overlooked the station and served GIANT mugs of coffee and ice creams. We shared one, and just spent about an hour or so talking about everything from the FUSE and different situations going on to how my first few months have been and if my schedule is ok or too intense. Afterward, we walked around the shopping mall and just kinda looked around, and I found a few things that I needed for work, etc. (left: Yuiko and I with our matching Vision rings)
As a joke, Yuiko said that Debbie used to say that Fashion was part of the ministry. And being that here in Japan, the outside package is SOOO important (you'll see it in every facet), it definitely applies to fashion and it's true-- if you look like you're in fashion, Japanese young people will especially want to be your friend. It's not an excuse to follow die-hard after fashion, (I certainly don't!) but it's always very important to look your best here. (right: I told you they were big! I certainly couldn't finish mine, and we didn't finish that ice cream together!)
Perhaps it seems superficial, but what the Japanese think is this: if the outside looks good, what it has to offer is good too.
Anyway, like I said, I had a great time with her and felt refreshed on my fairly relaxed Sunday. I came home and got some stuff done and then studied Japanese and went to bed early as a way to start off my week with a full night of sleep. (left: Harajuku, on a crazy Sunday afternoon)Unfortunately, I was still wide awake three hours later. Eventually, I fell asleep, and when I got up today, I was like, Lord, I'd like a seat on the train on the way to school. And, what do you know-- when I got on my train, I stood there for like 10 seconds, and then a guy got up and I got his seat!! A stop later, the guy next to me who was on the end got off, so I switched and got an end seat (the best seat, really).
At the station, I hung out and studied some more and then went on to school to do even more learning! I found out I had to buy a couple of more books (shoganai-- remember that? whatcha gonna do?)...
This afternoon, I came home and slept for a while and then went back to studying for my kanji test that I have the day after tomorrow. I think I will do pretty well, but I continue studying, because there are a few words that I mess up on sometimes. (right: I pass this road everyday on the way to school)
Speaking of which, I learned a phrase but then somewhere over the course of time, it got messed up, and so for the last week or so, I've been saying it wrong. I always feel dumb, and sometimes they don't correct you, s
o you go on saying it wrong. Anyway, I'll learn someday. Hopefully soon.Well, this week is obviously more studying and then meeting and then an English class, and an outreach Wednesday night in Machida, and lifegroup with Saki-chan... With the rainy season, I don't know how much street band we'll get to do. Next week, we have a group coming for about 10 days too... So, never a dull moment! (right: I took Aaron to this busy but quiet temple in Harajuku, a five minute walk from the photo 2 ones above... Japan is a land of contrasts!)
Ending this, I'd like to quote a few observations that our newbie Mike (he's here for 6 months) made in his blog, which made me chuckle.
And I quote:
"...Since my last writing I have made a few observations:
...2) It is also acceptable for a man to carry a purse
I am a man. I carry a very very black leather manly man wallet. The unfortunate part is that the Japanese do not have bill until up around $10. This requires the carrying of coins...which has never been something that I've enjoyed doing. I'm still working on a practical solution to this problem, none of which contains carrying a purse.
3) You must look your best always
Again, something that is hard for me. Perhaps going to ICC with bedhead everyday for two years was not the best practice for living in Japan. Also, in my walkings and travelings I've maybe seen three
overweight people...and I'm in a city of millions. This custom, as opposed to the first two, I will conform to. It does not nullify my ingrained statutes for manhood and is probably good practice for when I am employed at some point in the future.
4) The toilets here are wonderful
Two words. Heated seat. Never again will I be able to do the cold-porcelain cringe without
thinking... "Oh Japan..how I miss your toilets." Whoever decided to make that feature standard to the toilets here should win an award. I can't even express to you how wonderful it is to be woken up so gently in the morning.
Those are the main ones, but there are other minor discoveries that have been made as well. Such as: don't leave your bread out on the table Sunday morning or it will be chopped up and used for communion. Or just because something looks like a snickerdoodle doesn't mean that it is, and that it is instead a salty snack. My tastebuds were a little surprised on that one."
Welcome to Japan, Mike.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Uppa-datin you
OHHHHH so busy. I know, story of my life, right?
So, this evening I'm at the church, which I will explain in a bit, but I'm sitting on a chair, at a desk... and I said to Sally, but more just thinking out loud-- I really like having a chair. :) You see, normally I sit on the floor, at a table that is about a foot or so high.
So, school. You know that I've been doing that. Actually, next week I'm going to take a test to pass level four kanji (4 levels, with four being the lowest)-- which is only reading and writing 103 kanji. I think I should be able to do it. And I think at the end of this month, I finish beginner's Japanese class and get to move up... but I'm excited to have the opportunity to practice with my friends here and they're always so excited and smile big whenever I try out things with them.
Of course, what I'm learning in school is polite Japanese and not casual, so I have the basis for talking to them, I just have to drop words or change the verbs a little when talking to friends.
Hmm... what else... also, Aaron left this week. I was sad to see him go, but he had a good time here and we really enjoyed having him! He really clicked in quickly... and we hope he'll be back soon. And a couple of hours later, we got Mike, who's 20 and from Illinois (I think) who will be here til the end of December. I'm excited about that! Someone I don't have to say goodbye to for a while... and after Sally leaves in about 3 weeks, it'll be him and I, beside Mark and Yuiko.
We've been doing our street performances and I continue doing lifegroup with Saki-chan... English classes, a couple of meetings and all that make up my basic schedule for the week.
This weekend we are having Retro Fuse. We weren't able to book the place that we rent for the regular time, so we scheduled it later and decided to do a special event... so it's going to be pretty awesome, and we've done an extra flyer for this event and the First Anniversary of FUSE... so we've been handing them out lately. But anyhow, I've been working on things to do with that... and trying to figure out how to make my wardrobe retro for tomorrow.
Tonight, Sally is putting curlers in my hair tonight and I'm doing a 'fro. We'll see how it turns out, but I know I'll attract a lot of attention at street outreach before FUSE tomorrow.
Speaking of which, since we're starting late (wow, I get to sleep in!!... on a side note, the other night, I was setting my alarm, and it was definitely past 11 when I was getting to bed, and I sighed out loud when I clicked the button on my alarm... Sigh. 5am), we're doing things all differently tomorrow, but because of that, people from different lifegroups that are going on will be particpating in the outreach...
That's pretty exciting, I think. Having more people is helpful to attract more attention and also, it's good for them to be involved too in outreach and to take ownership and grow a passion for reaching out too.
So, I'm super glad that we have more Japanese people stepping up in not just this, but in other areas. That makes me so happy.
Well, I kinda feel like I'm blabbing, but I did want to let you know what's going on and what's new... And hopefully Sunday I can let you know what went down with Fuse and all the great things that happened!
Catch ya'll later!!
So, this evening I'm at the church, which I will explain in a bit, but I'm sitting on a chair, at a desk... and I said to Sally, but more just thinking out loud-- I really like having a chair. :) You see, normally I sit on the floor, at a table that is about a foot or so high.
So, school. You know that I've been doing that. Actually, next week I'm going to take a test to pass level four kanji (4 levels, with four being the lowest)-- which is only reading and writing 103 kanji. I think I should be able to do it. And I think at the end of this month, I finish beginner's Japanese class and get to move up... but I'm excited to have the opportunity to practice with my friends here and they're always so excited and smile big whenever I try out things with them.
Of course, what I'm learning in school is polite Japanese and not casual, so I have the basis for talking to them, I just have to drop words or change the verbs a little when talking to friends.
Hmm... what else... also, Aaron left this week. I was sad to see him go, but he had a good time here and we really enjoyed having him! He really clicked in quickly... and we hope he'll be back soon. And a couple of hours later, we got Mike, who's 20 and from Illinois (I think) who will be here til the end of December. I'm excited about that! Someone I don't have to say goodbye to for a while... and after Sally leaves in about 3 weeks, it'll be him and I, beside Mark and Yuiko.
We've been doing our street performances and I continue doing lifegroup with Saki-chan... English classes, a couple of meetings and all that make up my basic schedule for the week.
This weekend we are having Retro Fuse. We weren't able to book the place that we rent for the regular time, so we scheduled it later and decided to do a special event... so it's going to be pretty awesome, and we've done an extra flyer for this event and the First Anniversary of FUSE... so we've been handing them out lately. But anyhow, I've been working on things to do with that... and trying to figure out how to make my wardrobe retro for tomorrow.
Tonight, Sally is putting curlers in my hair tonight and I'm doing a 'fro. We'll see how it turns out, but I know I'll attract a lot of attention at street outreach before FUSE tomorrow.
Speaking of which, since we're starting late (wow, I get to sleep in!!... on a side note, the other night, I was setting my alarm, and it was definitely past 11 when I was getting to bed, and I sighed out loud when I clicked the button on my alarm... Sigh. 5am), we're doing things all differently tomorrow, but because of that, people from different lifegroups that are going on will be particpating in the outreach...
That's pretty exciting, I think. Having more people is helpful to attract more attention and also, it's good for them to be involved too in outreach and to take ownership and grow a passion for reaching out too.
So, I'm super glad that we have more Japanese people stepping up in not just this, but in other areas. That makes me so happy.
Well, I kinda feel like I'm blabbing, but I did want to let you know what's going on and what's new... And hopefully Sunday I can let you know what went down with Fuse and all the great things that happened!
Catch ya'll later!!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Answers!
Alrighty, so first I want to apologize to all those who have emailed me recently... most of you, I haven't been able to reply to. I'm really sorry!! I've been thankful for your emails, but I've been barely able to keep up with myself lately. I'm working on that, and I hope to have a full day on Sunday.. maybe.. to do that and things like study and write thank ya cards.
Speaking of that, I sat down the other day to start on them and as I was making the list of people to send cards to, I was overwhelmed at the list of names! Wow, thank you so much to all of you who have contributed financially and who have made it possible for me to come here and share the Gospel with people who have never heard it before, and for those who have recently become children of God, to be able to build them up and point them to Jesus as they walk out their faith. Thank you-- it's because of you that I have this opportunity to fulfill the calling of God on my life, and I am so, so grateful.
You are a part of taking the Gospel to Japan.
So, let me just give you a few clips of some things that have been going on this week and lately in general. I don't have time to talk about everything, because there's so much and I could spend paragraphs just talking about various conversations with people and new people I meet and street performances, outreaches, etc. You get the picture.
Anyway, last Sunday, I went to the church because I was going to pick Aaron up and take him to Shibuya and Harajuku to explore and see Japan... well, Tokyo... because probably when you think of Tokyo, you think of super urban jungle with lots of kanji and vertical signs all over the place. That's definitely Shibuya. But Japan has many facets, including the vary traditional and beautiful culture that can be seen in many places, particularly in Kyoto, which is lovely. But when I took him to see Tokyo, I mean the urban crowds and famous spots and things of Japan. This Sunday, I hope to take him or have someone take him to a more traditional spot on Sunday. While I really, really want to be the one who takes him and spends time with him, I have sooo much stuff to get done that I just don't have the energy to accomplish during the week.
Back to the story. So I stopped in at the church and went to Sally's room and found Aaron, Kengo and Saki-chan. Kengo was talking on the phone, Aaron on Sally's computer and we were just hanging out. Afterward, Kengo told me that he was sad because his ipod that he just got had broken. I was sad for him and when he showed it to me, I just laid hands on it, and said, God, we know that You can do all things and so please fix Kengo's ipod. And I kid you not, I just pressed a button with faith, and it worked.
Oh, to have SEEN the look on his face. He was laughing and like, WOW! I was like, Kengo, Jesus loves you a lot. He called Yuiko and was like, my ipod is healed!! It was so cute and just like, wow!! Saki was really impressed that God done it too, and still today (Friday), they were talking about it. Later on in the day, it wanted not to work again, and Kengo was a little like, what? though he didn't say anything. I just prayed again, Lord, please fix it all the way.
And he hasn't had a problem since.
It might seem like a little thing, but God also can take care of the little things. In fact, last week, I believe... or maybe two weeks ago, I was soooo tired, and I prayed in the morning or the night before, Lord, it would be really nice to get a seat on the train. Then I was like, what? Why am I praying this for? And anyway, the next morning, I got on the train and stood by the door on the other side and at the next stop, the guy sitting on the end seat (the best seat to have, by the way), got up and got off the stop. My jaw DROPPED. But at that very moment, I was reminded that I prayed that prayer and though I threw it off to the side, because it was more a comment to God, God reminded me that He can take care of the little things too.
Even tonight, we wanted to do street performance, and it was sprinkling outside (which means we can't do street performance because it will destroy our equipment), and also a "squall"? was possible in the forecast. Like a sudden, strong and fast storm that just drops over. So we prayed and... no rain during street performance, though right now it is raining. Praise God.
Little things, but we are also seeing how God is answering our prayers in the lives of the young people that are attending Fuse. So many in this last month have come a step up (gone to the next level) in their faith and God is doing things in the life.
We are praying for more passion and vision in their lives and also to see many more lives changed by His love and the knowledge of His saving grace.
School is going well-- I feel like I can understand a lot of conversations that I hear going on around me. My friends are so happy that I'm learning Japanese and a few of them are really, really good about practicing it with me. The thing is that I learn polite Japanese in school, and then they teach me everyday Japanese that is not so formal. So, they tell me, yes, what you say is right, but that's what you say at school or at church. With us, say this. Saki-chan is particularly good and patient with me. Tonight we were talking... and I was trying to get something out about asking her a question about tomorrow night and what eventually came out after repeating myself a few times was...
Ashita (tomorrow) in the noche (Spanish- night)!
Everyone got a kick out of that. :)
So, anyway, yeah this week I've done much else- English class, meetings, outreach, street performances, beside school, and all those things have gone well and continue to go well. Hopefully maybe this weekend I can post again about some of those things, and I have pictures too, but we'll see how it goes.
Thank you for your continued prayer support!! We need it and we're excited to see what God is going to do with the FUSE and how He is going to change Machida, Tokyo and the lives of many, many Japanese people! We need your prayers, so please continue lifting up Japan and our team and the different activities and things going on, and that we can be a bright light that shares the love of Jesus to those who have never heard!
Can't wait to see what God is going to do at FUSE tomorrow!!
With much love to you- and thank you for your patience with me! It's so busy, but I do not forget about you and I do not forget to thank God for you and pray for Him to bless you!
Speaking of that, I sat down the other day to start on them and as I was making the list of people to send cards to, I was overwhelmed at the list of names! Wow, thank you so much to all of you who have contributed financially and who have made it possible for me to come here and share the Gospel with people who have never heard it before, and for those who have recently become children of God, to be able to build them up and point them to Jesus as they walk out their faith. Thank you-- it's because of you that I have this opportunity to fulfill the calling of God on my life, and I am so, so grateful.
You are a part of taking the Gospel to Japan.
So, let me just give you a few clips of some things that have been going on this week and lately in general. I don't have time to talk about everything, because there's so much and I could spend paragraphs just talking about various conversations with people and new people I meet and street performances, outreaches, etc. You get the picture.
Anyway, last Sunday, I went to the church because I was going to pick Aaron up and take him to Shibuya and Harajuku to explore and see Japan... well, Tokyo... because probably when you think of Tokyo, you think of super urban jungle with lots of kanji and vertical signs all over the place. That's definitely Shibuya. But Japan has many facets, including the vary traditional and beautiful culture that can be seen in many places, particularly in Kyoto, which is lovely. But when I took him to see Tokyo, I mean the urban crowds and famous spots and things of Japan. This Sunday, I hope to take him or have someone take him to a more traditional spot on Sunday. While I really, really want to be the one who takes him and spends time with him, I have sooo much stuff to get done that I just don't have the energy to accomplish during the week.
Back to the story. So I stopped in at the church and went to Sally's room and found Aaron, Kengo and Saki-chan. Kengo was talking on the phone, Aaron on Sally's computer and we were just hanging out. Afterward, Kengo told me that he was sad because his ipod that he just got had broken. I was sad for him and when he showed it to me, I just laid hands on it, and said, God, we know that You can do all things and so please fix Kengo's ipod. And I kid you not, I just pressed a button with faith, and it worked.
Oh, to have SEEN the look on his face. He was laughing and like, WOW! I was like, Kengo, Jesus loves you a lot. He called Yuiko and was like, my ipod is healed!! It was so cute and just like, wow!! Saki was really impressed that God done it too, and still today (Friday), they were talking about it. Later on in the day, it wanted not to work again, and Kengo was a little like, what? though he didn't say anything. I just prayed again, Lord, please fix it all the way.
And he hasn't had a problem since.
It might seem like a little thing, but God also can take care of the little things. In fact, last week, I believe... or maybe two weeks ago, I was soooo tired, and I prayed in the morning or the night before, Lord, it would be really nice to get a seat on the train. Then I was like, what? Why am I praying this for? And anyway, the next morning, I got on the train and stood by the door on the other side and at the next stop, the guy sitting on the end seat (the best seat to have, by the way), got up and got off the stop. My jaw DROPPED. But at that very moment, I was reminded that I prayed that prayer and though I threw it off to the side, because it was more a comment to God, God reminded me that He can take care of the little things too.
Even tonight, we wanted to do street performance, and it was sprinkling outside (which means we can't do street performance because it will destroy our equipment), and also a "squall"? was possible in the forecast. Like a sudden, strong and fast storm that just drops over. So we prayed and... no rain during street performance, though right now it is raining. Praise God.
Little things, but we are also seeing how God is answering our prayers in the lives of the young people that are attending Fuse. So many in this last month have come a step up (gone to the next level) in their faith and God is doing things in the life.
We are praying for more passion and vision in their lives and also to see many more lives changed by His love and the knowledge of His saving grace.
School is going well-- I feel like I can understand a lot of conversations that I hear going on around me. My friends are so happy that I'm learning Japanese and a few of them are really, really good about practicing it with me. The thing is that I learn polite Japanese in school, and then they teach me everyday Japanese that is not so formal. So, they tell me, yes, what you say is right, but that's what you say at school or at church. With us, say this. Saki-chan is particularly good and patient with me. Tonight we were talking... and I was trying to get something out about asking her a question about tomorrow night and what eventually came out after repeating myself a few times was...
Ashita (tomorrow) in the noche (Spanish- night)!
Everyone got a kick out of that. :)
So, anyway, yeah this week I've done much else- English class, meetings, outreach, street performances, beside school, and all those things have gone well and continue to go well. Hopefully maybe this weekend I can post again about some of those things, and I have pictures too, but we'll see how it goes.
Thank you for your continued prayer support!! We need it and we're excited to see what God is going to do with the FUSE and how He is going to change Machida, Tokyo and the lives of many, many Japanese people! We need your prayers, so please continue lifting up Japan and our team and the different activities and things going on, and that we can be a bright light that shares the love of Jesus to those who have never heard!
Can't wait to see what God is going to do at FUSE tomorrow!!
With much love to you- and thank you for your patience with me! It's so busy, but I do not forget about you and I do not forget to thank God for you and pray for Him to bless you!
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