I want Spring Already!

Lately, it seems like I have a hard time remembering what I did the day before-- much more before that. There is SO much that goes on... you really should see my planner. In fact, I bought a bigger one at the dollar store here because my other one was just too small.

Anyway. Yesterday we prayer walked through Machida at 9am. One of the huge values we have here is prayer... We are always praying and seeking God, before events, on behalf of friends and family, for everything that goes on and the people that we meet in all places... Always praying. And that's good-- after all, how can we expect to be working for God or even having a relationship with Him if we don't take the time to communicate with Him?

But yeah- in the year that the Fuse has been meeting in Machida, the city has be changed so much. There used to be drug lords on the corners, men hiring women-- even some of the girls on the team here were propositioned. But- now those people are gone. The city has changed, and that has been an answer to prayer.

So, then we had a two hour self-study of Japanese at a cafe in Machida. Let me tell you-- those can be brutal. I like a little interaction and not just sitting in front of a book with a notebook and pen. But, that's what it will require.

In the afternoon, we had another Japanese class taught by a guy here who speaks Japanese. He helped us with particles. Particles are little words that mark the position of a word in a sentence. For instance, take this sentence:

Watashi wa Machida ni ikiimasu.
I (part.) Machida (part.) Verb- go
Wa marks Watashi (I) as the subject. Ni marks Machida as a directional... thing. I don't know. Anyway, what you get is I am going to Machida... or I go to Machida.

So yeah-- he helped us with "ga" and "wo" particles. Wo marks a direct object. Ga, I'm still working on that one... but apparently this guy's friend had an inch-and-a-half book on the difference between "wa" and "ga".

I hope to be starting language school soon. In fact, I was talking to Tim last night about it, and he was asking about my finances- if I was going to be able to afford it. I said I would go month-by-month, seeing if it was affordable for the next month. Really, it's best to focus for 2 years on the language, 1 year for most countries is require by missions agencies, but Japanese is kinda complex in the writing, particularly, so- 2 is suggested. But, again, at the same time, I'll be balancing that with Fuse responsibilities... so- we'll see how that all goes... but it's best to start on it right when you get there.

Along those lines of finances, he recommended that a single missionary really should have $2000 monthly support. Let's just say that I'm not there. I need about $800 more monthly support to make it there... so, be praying about that! God has been good to provide so far-- but please do pray!!

Last night, after getting everything finally taken care of, was a free night for me! Granted, I had plenty to do here, but it was nice to sit on my heated carpet, and do things here at the house... because BOY- is it COLD. It's supposed to get down to winter temperatures in the next few days... But then get to the 60s later next week... It's been like 70 for a day and then low 50s and rainy for a few days. So, I think I'm trying to catch a cold.

Today, I mostly did a few errands, and had my private English lesson. In the evening, we had prayer and then a meal together. I did some homework with a girl from Bible study and then just had good conversations with the missionary girls and my roommate.

Speaking of that-- I've been having good conversations with her lately. She was telling me how her life really had changed and the things God has been doing since she moved to Japan. She's from Korea, and she said that when she came over her, she wasn't a sincere Christian. But now, she's really growing, and I've had the privilege of being able to share with her some things about walking with Christ and just in the practical everyday kinda stuff... It's been quality. Even tonight walking home, we had a really good conversation.

Today I took my first wrong train. I got on a "rapid express" from Sagamiono, thinking that it would stop at my stop. We stopped at one station, and I was expecting mine to be the next, and I got distracted watching a group of boys trying to get the attention of this really pretty girl. I was smiling to myself at them, and admiring their hair (because Japanese guys have really cool hair). All of a sudden, I got to thinking that I had been on their a while, and as we passed a couple of the stations, I knew that I didn't recognize their names. When it finally stopped, I was way beyond my station, and had to figure out how to get to the right platform going the opposite direction to my station.

I asked one lady how to get to the platform, and she most kindly directed me. When I got there, I asked a student if the particular express train that was coming next stopped at my stop. She informed me it did, and she was on the same train. She got off two stops later, and as she got off, she looked at me and kinda asked-- are you okay? I answered yes, and said thank you (a million times). It always makes me smile when the Japanese help me.

Up til now, I've always gotten on the right train. But I knew it was bound to happen eventually. I wasn't too worried, but looking at the map-- wow! I went a LONG way past my stop... where they didn't stop.

Alright, I'm going to bed now! Tomorrow will be a pretty long day and I want to be prepared for it. :D Catch ya'll later!