St. Louis, MO -- So today I didn't feel too well. Just overall. Yesterday either.
But I did go visit a church this morning out in St. Peters. Victory Church. There was a guest speaker and it was just a really good message. I got to know some people and went out to lunch with the congregation to this little restaurant called Saullo's (I think), which had a pretty good salad, in case you're wondering.
I'm going to deviate from course right now: One of the things I love to order since I've been back is a good salad. Being in Mexico, you had to wash your fruits and veggies really well, and use a cap full of bleach to soak your lettuce. Even after washing it off (with purified water), it still had a bleachy taste. It doesn't matter how much make-it-yourself ranch dressing you put on it... it just doesn't taste as good.
Ummm... yes, I'd like a bleachless chef salad.... Ranch, on the side.
Alright, getting back on course.I came home for about two and a half hours, though it didn't feel like it. And then I headed back out to go to a Young Adult Bible Study that I had been invited to. I wasn't feeling good (again/still) but I headed out anyhow.
I went WAY into the boonies (not really... it was about 45 minutes south of here though) and got through the weaving of 1.5 lane roads and got to the house and... there were 3 cars. THAT can't be good.
I knocked on the door and apparently the leaders had just gotten back from a family reunion and it was at someone else's house. And they were going to have a game night.They knew me and so they called the girl's house that it was at and mapquested me there.
BTW. Mapquest was wrong.
But, I finally made it there... Kinda by mistake (but it was totally the other way from where mapquest sent me) and when I called those people, I was practically there.
We did have a good time though. They're pretty hilarious, and we played Catch Phrase and Apples to Apples-- which I had never played before. It was a good evening and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and laughed pretty hard. On the way home (leaving a little early... hey, I stayed almost 3 hours!) some guy was trying to challenge me to a drag race on Hall Street. I obviously didn't accept.
Anyway, one of the things that stuck with me today was something that the guest speaker said while praying-- that it is our faith that pleases God.
Sometimes I think we forget that. Sometimes I think I forget that. As Americans, we're focused a lot on a job well-done and pleasing the boss-man and the tiny little scribblings in our weekly planner... or hourly planner, in some cases.
It's easy to get caught up in this and that and the other. And when things look complicated and aren't going smoothly JUST LIKE I thought they would, well, I forget all about trusting God and simple faith and simple obedience. Ok, how do I fix this? What's my new route?It's easy for me to get caught up in that. What about you? Being a child before God pleases Him. He's not impressed with all my great plans... after all, they were HIS plans in the first place. It's simply trusting God, holding His hand when things appear unsure, and just believing that He's God and in control of it all, that pleases Him. Simple obedience to His commands is what He asks for.
Our faith is what pleases God because our focus is on God. That's what it revolves around. He's the important figure. But when we try to "do" or "be" to please God, our focus is on ourselves and we become the important figure. We're never content or at peace that way. It brings anxiety.
I'm not saying don't do good things or have plans or try to resolve problems. I'm saying, don't let go of God's hand to try to put the puzzle together yourself. 1 Thes. 5:24
Monday, July 20, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Pass to First Grade
St. Louis, MO -- So on Tuesday I had my first Japanese lesson. It was pretty cool to go over there... take my shoes off at the door and sit on the living room floor and study. It was basic at first-- she wanted to see how many of the hiragana letters I knew (The syllable-based alphabet that has some 40 characters, I believe) and I remembered most of them.
Then we went on to do basic sentences-- This is X, That is X, that over there is X... This is not X, it is ....You get the point.
Anyhow. I was pretty excited afterward, because it seemed like we had a good connection and I felt like I learned and got to talk and pronounce... and re-pronounce... and try again. Before, while studying by myself, I wasn't able to do that with anyone. But now I can!
Anyhow, she said I'm able to read better than she thought I was going to be able to read... though I still feel like a kindergartner.
Next week, I'll be going back. I'll still be continuing the Rosetta Stone program... but now I have the advantage of having someone to practice regular conversation skills with.
So, I'm on my way there.I'm still praying for raising the needed support, which is considerably more... and for part time jobs... Anyone know someone who needs a Spanish tutor?
When I'm not working on these things, I'm reading Japanese history, living in Japan, a book on why Japanese and Americans think the other is weird (which I think was written more for Japanese, but it's very entertaining and enlightening at the same time)... but I have so many books that I half-seriously joke that I'm currently not accepting any more books. I've never had so many on my shelf before. And usually, they're not on the shelf-- they're laid on my nightstand or my dresser or wherever else I happened to put them.
Anyhow, I need to get going. Good night!
Then we went on to do basic sentences-- This is X, That is X, that over there is X... This is not X, it is ....You get the point.
Anyhow. I was pretty excited afterward, because it seemed like we had a good connection and I felt like I learned and got to talk and pronounce... and re-pronounce... and try again. Before, while studying by myself, I wasn't able to do that with anyone. But now I can!
Anyhow, she said I'm able to read better than she thought I was going to be able to read... though I still feel like a kindergartner.
Next week, I'll be going back. I'll still be continuing the Rosetta Stone program... but now I have the advantage of having someone to practice regular conversation skills with.
So, I'm on my way there.I'm still praying for raising the needed support, which is considerably more... and for part time jobs... Anyone know someone who needs a Spanish tutor?
When I'm not working on these things, I'm reading Japanese history, living in Japan, a book on why Japanese and Americans think the other is weird (which I think was written more for Japanese, but it's very entertaining and enlightening at the same time)... but I have so many books that I half-seriously joke that I'm currently not accepting any more books. I've never had so many on my shelf before. And usually, they're not on the shelf-- they're laid on my nightstand or my dresser or wherever else I happened to put them.
Anyhow, I need to get going. Good night!
Friday, July 10, 2009
It's a Small World After All
July 10, 2009St. Louis, MO -- So, this has been a slight whirlwind of a week... I've seen a lot of people... done a lot of things.
Yesterday I met with a girl that Alicia L. hooked me up with... who subbed at the same school Alicia was working at and they met and Alicia hooked us up. She was pretty cool and gave me a few tips and even a book called Living and Working in Japan. It's a pretty thick book, but I'll be digging through it in the next couple of weeks/months. Pretty cool!
And then last night, I spoke at a youth group at the Vineyard Church in SoCo. They had been talking about evangelism and missions and this Wednesday night was particularly dedicated to cross cultural missions. So, I talked about how to minister cross culturally-- because in truth, we have so many different cultures and races in St. Louis alone.
Did you know that in 2007, we had refugees come from Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Burma, Burundi, the Congo and other countries? We have so many Latin Americans, Bosnians and Asians and even Pacific Islanders right here in St. Louis. There is an opportunity for ALL of us to minister cross culturally... So, I talked about some of the basics... I mean, I only had a half hour. ;)
But basically, if you'll take the time to learn from them, to ask them questions and just try to see the world how they do, it's amazing the relationship you'll be able to develop with them.. likely their family and possibly the community as well. And if you keep humility and love in the equation, you'll be on a good path to being able to share the Gospel in a relevant, life changing way and be a cross cultural minister here in St. Louis.
It is after all, all about love. Letting God's love come through us, change us, compel us and overflow into the lives of those around us and in our influence sphere. I read an interesting blog today from a friend I made from a group who went down to Mexico while I was there. He was talking about how common "love" is and how we say it so much to everyone... so much that it becomes like the "hey, how are you? I'm fine, thank you..." It almost becomes trite (my comments)... and he talked a little about being cut off in traffic-- anyway, it's a quote that has made me ponder. Here's what the last sentence of that paragraph said-- "We say we love others a lot, but at the end of the day we love ourselves a lot, and tolerate others."And I thought... Ooohh. Ouch.
Today I also met to work on a video for making contacts.... what a lot of work it takes! (Thank you SO much!)And in the afternoon, I met with a contact that Kathy J. set me up with who lived in Japan for a year and who speaks Japanese... SO, I'll be learning Japanese with her, as a head start for moving to Japan and for starting language school.
In an odd turn of events-- she worked with the people I'll be working with and lived in the apartment that's right under where I'll be living! So, beside talking about Japanese (and I got another book to read called Polite Fictions... which kinda explains why the Japanese think Americans are rude and annoying and vice versa :) Anyway, just social differences.) we also talked about all the great people we know (good things!) and plans for the future and her coming visit to Japan in a few weeks.
What a small world it is after all!
Yesterday I met with a girl that Alicia L. hooked me up with... who subbed at the same school Alicia was working at and they met and Alicia hooked us up. She was pretty cool and gave me a few tips and even a book called Living and Working in Japan. It's a pretty thick book, but I'll be digging through it in the next couple of weeks/months. Pretty cool!
And then last night, I spoke at a youth group at the Vineyard Church in SoCo. They had been talking about evangelism and missions and this Wednesday night was particularly dedicated to cross cultural missions. So, I talked about how to minister cross culturally-- because in truth, we have so many different cultures and races in St. Louis alone.
Did you know that in 2007, we had refugees come from Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Burma, Burundi, the Congo and other countries? We have so many Latin Americans, Bosnians and Asians and even Pacific Islanders right here in St. Louis. There is an opportunity for ALL of us to minister cross culturally... So, I talked about some of the basics... I mean, I only had a half hour. ;)
But basically, if you'll take the time to learn from them, to ask them questions and just try to see the world how they do, it's amazing the relationship you'll be able to develop with them.. likely their family and possibly the community as well. And if you keep humility and love in the equation, you'll be on a good path to being able to share the Gospel in a relevant, life changing way and be a cross cultural minister here in St. Louis.
It is after all, all about love. Letting God's love come through us, change us, compel us and overflow into the lives of those around us and in our influence sphere. I read an interesting blog today from a friend I made from a group who went down to Mexico while I was there. He was talking about how common "love" is and how we say it so much to everyone... so much that it becomes like the "hey, how are you? I'm fine, thank you..." It almost becomes trite (my comments)... and he talked a little about being cut off in traffic-- anyway, it's a quote that has made me ponder. Here's what the last sentence of that paragraph said-- "We say we love others a lot, but at the end of the day we love ourselves a lot, and tolerate others."And I thought... Ooohh. Ouch.
Today I also met to work on a video for making contacts.... what a lot of work it takes! (Thank you SO much!)And in the afternoon, I met with a contact that Kathy J. set me up with who lived in Japan for a year and who speaks Japanese... SO, I'll be learning Japanese with her, as a head start for moving to Japan and for starting language school.
In an odd turn of events-- she worked with the people I'll be working with and lived in the apartment that's right under where I'll be living! So, beside talking about Japanese (and I got another book to read called Polite Fictions... which kinda explains why the Japanese think Americans are rude and annoying and vice versa :) Anyway, just social differences.) we also talked about all the great people we know (good things!) and plans for the future and her coming visit to Japan in a few weeks.
What a small world it is after all!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Eventfulness
St. Louis -- Hey there! Well, this has been an eventful week. At this point, I have trouble remembering everything that's gone on.
I do remember that my brother had his 16th birthday last week... that we celebrated with Chinese food.
I met with some people and got more details taken care of for the video that we're doing.We also went to Kentucky for a family reunion for my dad's mom's side of the family. Most of the people I've met only like once before... so it was interesting.
I also discovered this weekend that I am a fierce family feud player. Don't mess with me! :)
Our car broke down while there and I was amazed at southern hospitality. For family members we haven't been around much, they were very helpful, in particular Aunt Georgia, who was so helpful and just a huge blessing. The mechanic who came to fix our car too was great and though he took a while, he didn't hardly charge us much.
Of course, we could only get the car home... after you turn the car off, then it's broke again. So, it's getting re-fixed, but we were all able to get home to get back to our schedules and what we needed to get done this week.
Also, I've been in contact with some people who have been to Japan and who speak Japanese, so this week I'm meeting with them to discuss Japan and their experience there and with one, to see about getting tutoring in Japanese.
Well, it's really late and I need to get going... but, hey-- if you need anyone to do odd jobs around the house or babysitting, let me know! I'm looking for those kinds of jobs!Have a good one!
I do remember that my brother had his 16th birthday last week... that we celebrated with Chinese food.
I met with some people and got more details taken care of for the video that we're doing.We also went to Kentucky for a family reunion for my dad's mom's side of the family. Most of the people I've met only like once before... so it was interesting.
I also discovered this weekend that I am a fierce family feud player. Don't mess with me! :)
Our car broke down while there and I was amazed at southern hospitality. For family members we haven't been around much, they were very helpful, in particular Aunt Georgia, who was so helpful and just a huge blessing. The mechanic who came to fix our car too was great and though he took a while, he didn't hardly charge us much.
Of course, we could only get the car home... after you turn the car off, then it's broke again. So, it's getting re-fixed, but we were all able to get home to get back to our schedules and what we needed to get done this week.
Also, I've been in contact with some people who have been to Japan and who speak Japanese, so this week I'm meeting with them to discuss Japan and their experience there and with one, to see about getting tutoring in Japanese.
Well, it's really late and I need to get going... but, hey-- if you need anyone to do odd jobs around the house or babysitting, let me know! I'm looking for those kinds of jobs!Have a good one!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Again Thankful
St. Louis, MO -- What an eventful week it was. Aside from working for my grandma last week, I also kept pretty busy with various other things.
There were two other things that were "big events" last week too... including, first of all, that my dad got a job! Congratulations pops! After a pretty long time... some 5 months, I believe... of being laid off, we all are very thankful that he got a job! During the whole time, God was very faithful to provide for the needs of the family, so that there was never lack. And, at the right time, He also provided a job! So, thank You Jesus!
Also, this weekend we happened to be out with my neice at the pool. She climbed up a slide to go down into the pool and somehow slipped and fell down some 5 or 6 feet onto concrete. It was insane in that it seemed as if she was falling in slow motion, and it was a very scary sight to see such a small body fall like that.
I was very thankful that God in His foresight, provided something for us in such situations called adrenaline, because I've never gotten out of a pool that fast in my life and then got to her. Anyhow, it was one of those situations that put a hundred people at the pool to silence and many people rushed around her... and she was doing a silent scream that we weren't quite sure what all was wrong.
There happened to be a paramedic at the pool who checked her out, and for such a fall, she only bruised and scraped up her elbow. No concussions, no blood, no broken bones, all of which I was dreading seeing as I got to her.
Can you believe that?Anyhow, like we all said, it seemed as if a hand held her as she was falling down, because it was really in slow motion... and to land on concrete like that and not have anything seriously wrong is a miracle.I, and all of us, am very, very thankful that God protected my little 3- almost 4 year old neice and kept her safe for us! Thank You so much Jesus! That made for us a particularly long weekend.
We also had the opportunity to see my aunt yesterday, who I haven't seen in a few years... and we found out that she was here in town on Saturday night. I had planned to visit a young adults group on Sunday evening, but since I found out at the last minute that she was here and planning on visiting and spending an evening with the family, I decided to see her. I'll head there another Sunday evening.Well, this week there is a whole variety of things to be done, particularly with job looking and with fundraising and projects involved in that but I'll be letting you know what I'm up to!
There were two other things that were "big events" last week too... including, first of all, that my dad got a job! Congratulations pops! After a pretty long time... some 5 months, I believe... of being laid off, we all are very thankful that he got a job! During the whole time, God was very faithful to provide for the needs of the family, so that there was never lack. And, at the right time, He also provided a job! So, thank You Jesus!
Also, this weekend we happened to be out with my neice at the pool. She climbed up a slide to go down into the pool and somehow slipped and fell down some 5 or 6 feet onto concrete. It was insane in that it seemed as if she was falling in slow motion, and it was a very scary sight to see such a small body fall like that.
I was very thankful that God in His foresight, provided something for us in such situations called adrenaline, because I've never gotten out of a pool that fast in my life and then got to her. Anyhow, it was one of those situations that put a hundred people at the pool to silence and many people rushed around her... and she was doing a silent scream that we weren't quite sure what all was wrong.
There happened to be a paramedic at the pool who checked her out, and for such a fall, she only bruised and scraped up her elbow. No concussions, no blood, no broken bones, all of which I was dreading seeing as I got to her.
Can you believe that?Anyhow, like we all said, it seemed as if a hand held her as she was falling down, because it was really in slow motion... and to land on concrete like that and not have anything seriously wrong is a miracle.I, and all of us, am very, very thankful that God protected my little 3- almost 4 year old neice and kept her safe for us! Thank You so much Jesus! That made for us a particularly long weekend.
We also had the opportunity to see my aunt yesterday, who I haven't seen in a few years... and we found out that she was here in town on Saturday night. I had planned to visit a young adults group on Sunday evening, but since I found out at the last minute that she was here and planning on visiting and spending an evening with the family, I decided to see her. I'll head there another Sunday evening.Well, this week there is a whole variety of things to be done, particularly with job looking and with fundraising and projects involved in that but I'll be letting you know what I'm up to!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Ehhh
St. Louis, MO -- So, every time I say that I'm going to be able to write more, things come up and I'm not able. So, I'm not saying that anymore.This week I've been helping out my grandma, who had eye surgery last week. She drives and delivers stuff, all the way to Hannibal and Springfield, IL, and places all around that circle. Her schedule is at night-- from 5pm and we've been getting home around 4am. So, by the time I get to bed and then get back up the next day, I kinda don't get much done.
Anywho, that's this week. I recently got an email with some of the things they'd be discussing at the team meeting in Japan. Some of the topics of discussion were emailed to me, which was pretty exciting, because it was like even though I'm a whole continent outside the loop, I was still kinda in.Next week, I have a variety of things to get done... which I'll update you on.
PS: I'm reading a book on Japanese history which is keeping me captivated. I'll be throwing little facts in here and there. :D Stay tuned
Anywho, that's this week. I recently got an email with some of the things they'd be discussing at the team meeting in Japan. Some of the topics of discussion were emailed to me, which was pretty exciting, because it was like even though I'm a whole continent outside the loop, I was still kinda in.Next week, I have a variety of things to get done... which I'll update you on.
PS: I'm reading a book on Japanese history which is keeping me captivated. I'll be throwing little facts in here and there. :D Stay tuned
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thankful
St. Louis, MO -- I read a verse today that had to do with gratitude. Colossians 3:16
Last Monday I had a doctor's appt. When I had called to schedule the appointment, they told me that because it had been so long since I'd visited her, they'd have to schedule me as a "new patient"... which inevitably would cost more. They asked for my insurance. None (as of yet).
"Well, you do realize that appointments start at $100 and go up from there."
Lovely thought.
But not much of an option. So, I headed in, praying that it would be as low as possible.
I got all those blood tests done in Mexico to take in to my doctor so as not to have to do them here in the States. I was praying that she would accept those tests and results. She did. What's more, when I walked out of the doctor's office, prepared to write a check of at least one hundred dollars, I was shocked when she said... "Hmm... ok, let's see. That'll be $35."I was like, "that's all??" Wow. And I was very thankful.
While driving around last week, I swerved large flying objects out of the back of trucks and slammed on my brakes in traffic while blaring my horn at someone who wasn't listening, wasn't looking and who didn't think I was in the lane. Going probably 50 miles an hour, surrounded by a "million" other cars, he probably missed me by an inch, if that.
And again, I was very thankful for protection from God.I was also very thankful as I finished a video I had been working on... using a million programs against one another, I was able to accomplish most of what I wanted with that video. It took several hours on several nights, but it worked out and I was happy with it.
I'm still working on some of these projects and taking constructive criticism to make it better. So, they're not finished projects yet, but I'm looking forward to more improved projects to better serve and explain the vision for Japan. I find the attitude of thankfulness or gratefulness is really useful in combatting many things. I really believe in it, and it was a theme I took up for the longest time with the youth in Mexico.
I've also had an amazing responsive of interest toward Japan. Of course, I think Japan is awesome and I feel the burden for Japan... but I suppose it's just really cool for me to see how so many people's faces light up when I mention Japan. I even met this Japanese lady that goes to my grandma's church, and boy was she excited about Japan. She was such a sweet thing and she just had so much to say. And among them was how much she was thankful that someone was going to Japan.
But it's not just the "big" things that we should be thankful for (like protection for a truck getting ready to smash your car), but for all those blessings from God that go maybe "unnoticed". For the things we take for granted, but that is very much like ungratefulness.
Last Monday I had a doctor's appt. When I had called to schedule the appointment, they told me that because it had been so long since I'd visited her, they'd have to schedule me as a "new patient"... which inevitably would cost more. They asked for my insurance. None (as of yet).
"Well, you do realize that appointments start at $100 and go up from there."
Lovely thought.
But not much of an option. So, I headed in, praying that it would be as low as possible.
I got all those blood tests done in Mexico to take in to my doctor so as not to have to do them here in the States. I was praying that she would accept those tests and results. She did. What's more, when I walked out of the doctor's office, prepared to write a check of at least one hundred dollars, I was shocked when she said... "Hmm... ok, let's see. That'll be $35."I was like, "that's all??" Wow. And I was very thankful.
While driving around last week, I swerved large flying objects out of the back of trucks and slammed on my brakes in traffic while blaring my horn at someone who wasn't listening, wasn't looking and who didn't think I was in the lane. Going probably 50 miles an hour, surrounded by a "million" other cars, he probably missed me by an inch, if that.
And again, I was very thankful for protection from God.I was also very thankful as I finished a video I had been working on... using a million programs against one another, I was able to accomplish most of what I wanted with that video. It took several hours on several nights, but it worked out and I was happy with it.
I'm still working on some of these projects and taking constructive criticism to make it better. So, they're not finished projects yet, but I'm looking forward to more improved projects to better serve and explain the vision for Japan. I find the attitude of thankfulness or gratefulness is really useful in combatting many things. I really believe in it, and it was a theme I took up for the longest time with the youth in Mexico.
I've also had an amazing responsive of interest toward Japan. Of course, I think Japan is awesome and I feel the burden for Japan... but I suppose it's just really cool for me to see how so many people's faces light up when I mention Japan. I even met this Japanese lady that goes to my grandma's church, and boy was she excited about Japan. She was such a sweet thing and she just had so much to say. And among them was how much she was thankful that someone was going to Japan.
But it's not just the "big" things that we should be thankful for (like protection for a truck getting ready to smash your car), but for all those blessings from God that go maybe "unnoticed". For the things we take for granted, but that is very much like ungratefulness.
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