Golden Week Indeed!

It's a beautiful day, and I'm sitting in my new tatami-floor apartment with the sun shining in through the windows that are 3/4 the height of my wall. It's so nice!

I still have yet to deal with the kitchen, although my roommate made some progress either last night or this morning. I don't know which, but I know that there are few things in there now.

So, these last few days, like I've said, have been crazy!!! Last Friday, I left my apartment... the other one, mind you, at 8:30 in the morning and got home around 11... at night. During the day, I did a number of things, including making a special power point for the girls who were leaving and practising bass with our bassist who was leaving, aned cooking for approximately 20 people some Mexican dishes. I think it was a success, and it gave me pleasure to be able to cook something that everyone liked.

In the evening, the band had practice, and I went down there to snap some shots of the last practice with the girls. Mark and Yuiko's baby girl was down there too, and we were having a lot of fun playing with her and teaching her to dance (she's 2) while the band practised loudly in the background. Anyway, it was during this time that I was jumping around and I jumped up and came back down on the corner of a metal case that carries pedals for guitars. I was more worried that I broke it (the box), when the initial throb of pain went away. Mark was like, oh, are you okay? I was like oh yeah, and then I looked down at my foot.

I had a pretty deep cut in it and it was starting to bleed. Debbie came down and I asked if she had any Neosporin. So, she took me back up to her place, and cleaned up my foot, since is was on the sole of my foot and near the outer edge. I'll spare you mose of the details, but I did have to clean blood off the stair.

Fun times!

Afterward, we went to Shinyurigaoka and had street performance. We had conversations with a few people and passed out flyers. So great!

Saturday, we went and prayer walked and passed out flyers before Fuse for a few hours and then had the Fuse event. It was pretty packed in our place! We had 35 people there, and a few new people! Saki debuted on piano, which was pretty cool, especially since our pianist was leaving! Afterward, we all went to karaoke and got to see a few personalities come out as we sang together. LOTS of laughs and tons of bonding moments. That was another late night getting to bed.

Sunday! Wow, Sunday was a long day. I left my place at like 8:45am or something like that and we went to a baptism in a place called Aikawa. Fabiana, who comes to the Fuse and who is also a part of the Brazilian church started by PAZ. Through a "team effort", she came to know Jesus as well. Sunday she got baptized, along with another girl, and Debbie, from our team got to be part of baptizing her since she was doing discipleship with her.

It was a great big celebration with lots of food, as it was a big Brazilian barbecue as well... and wow! It was great!!! Delicious. I also caught up with my friends from the Brazilian church that I had met last year. I got my share of talking in Spanish as it's pretty interchangable... not completely but we can certainly understand each other, and a few people who speak Portuguese also speak Spanish itself. I felt very content.

Well, I baked during the day... the sun was out and it was beautiful, and I was out in it to show it! I came home slighly lobster-ish, but very happy. I think I got home around 7:45pm from it, and I was sooo tired. I had a bunch of stuff I wanted to do including packing, since we were moving. But I was so tired that I felt like I couldn't even concentrate or function. So, at 8:11pm, I turned off my lights.

And at 8:41am, I got up. I was SO very tired. But anyway, I spent my morning packing and then went to the Indian restaurant with a group since that's where the girls wanted to go and it was their last day. After packing some more, in the evening, I went to Hannah and Amy's goodbye party and we packed the place and had lots of food and shared memories. We prayed for them, watched the slide show and the girls cried, of course. The party dwindled down, and I ended up staying the night there (though at 1:30, I ran back to my house to get my stuff)...


And after 3 hours of sleep, I got right back up to start the day by getting ready for a breakfast for 20 something people who were coming to see Hannah and Amy off to the train station. We did, and then I rushed back to my house to cram pack all the things that I had yet to pack. In an hour, I was ready and then were like... oh no-- the kitchen!

We ended up getting most of it packed, and the guys, who had only slept 1 hour, stayed to help. What a group! We were sooo tired, but they made heroic efforts and didn't complain once, even though I was moving to a 2nd floor apartment, where you have to squeeze past a washing machine to get to it. And I do mean there's about 18 inches of space to get past-- so they had to lift things.

But I really felt blessed by them.

Anyhow, we ate back at the church and So-chan (my roommate) and I saw them off at 4ish in the afternoon and we went back to our place to unpack most of what we'd just packed in the morning (ok, not all of it).

We had the Fuse planning meeting on Skype at 7, which was nice since it was such a long day. And afterward, all I wanted was a shower and sleep.

Now, the girls who had lived here before showed me how to use this shower, but for some reason, it wasn't working the way it was supposed to... and it does involved gas and lighting something.

I'm pretty sure everyone knows my aversion to anything gas related, and so I called Debbie and... off I raced on my bike at 9pm to go shower at the church.

It felt so wonderful to be clean and I came back to the house to finish up some things and to sleep. It felt incredible to lay down and to close my eyes and relax and know that I didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn today.

Anyway, that's a catch up of the last few days, and today I'll go clean the other apartment and we'll celebrate Debbie's 22nd birthday this evening with sushi and games, etc. Today, I believe, is also the end of the holiday week and so, we'll also return to our normal schedule tomorrow.

Even though it was a holiday, it felt so crazy and not at all a vacation! Although, I have no reason to complain, I felt it was an excellent last few days and I've gotten to know more of our group and hang out with them. One of the new guys coming to the Fuse has been there at all the events of the last few days and he's just so excited to be part of the group. I really can't wait to see what God's going to do with him when he gets to know Jesus more.

Wonderful people! I love the Japanese and I can't wait until I'm able to talk to them more in their own language instead of depending on English. :)

And, as promised, here's another upward umbrella... notice that both are turned inside out! Dedicated to Vonda.

Posting this is my way of avoiding unpacking our kitchen...

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay-- the last few days have been a marathon of being gone from the house for more than 12 hours at a time... and then packing when I got home in order to move today, which we did! On 3 hours of sleep!

Anyhow, more to come. Included will be Fuse last Saturday and Karaoke afterward, Fabiana's baptism on Sunday, goodbye party for Hannah and Amy on Monday... which inevitably lasted til 3am and today's moving adventures!

SO very tired, but glad that it's over and I get to get some sleep soon.

Love and Cheese...

I got an ad today for a great deal! $27 Large Delivery Pizza from Dominos... and the banner across the ad said exactly that: Love and Cheese. That better be an amazing, true-love producing King-Kong size pizza for $27.

As is typical in my lifestyle lately, I've had a marathon last 48 hours. Since last writing, on Wednesday morning, it took a lot of persuasion to convince me that getting up that morning was God's will for my life. The fact that I only had an hour to get ready for the day and be somewhere was the final deciding factor.

Against the idea of getting up was the fact that I felt like I hadn't slept at all and that it was pouring rain outside... not just the constant, soaking drizzle that had been there the whole day before, but all out rain storm. I managed to drag myself out of bed though.

I know, I should receive immediate sainthood.

Anyway. We had self-study Japanese class for two hours, where I seriously studied some kanji. It might be easier if there was only one reading for each kanji... but the thing is, when you learn it, you need to learn the stroke order of it, what it means in English (a variety of meaning sometimes), and also, the different ways it can be pronounced depending on how it's used.

I'm actually not complaining, but I do apologize if you're unhappy about reading this... because in a few weeks, you're going to start hearing a lot of this kind of stuff about the language.

But you'll also get to read a lot of my mess ups in Japanese... saying one thing instead of another.

So, anyway, then we had prayer and went to Senshu Univ. to do outreach... we didn't get a whole lot done... so no exciting stories... but some days are like that. You just keep pressing on and praying and trusting that God will do something.

Speaking of prayer, Debbie mentioned on Tuesday that she noted that ever since we started prayer walking Machida each week, that that Saturday we've had someone come off the streets to Fuse, that we had met that very day. Last Friday, you know, we had the 12 hour prayer thing, and on Saturday we had 2 people come off the streets.

So, prayer is powerful!

After Senshu, I took Sally back to my house to grab some stuff and we set off to do some quick errands and then go to the church... I made it back 15 minutes before Japanese class started, where one of the guys taught us the difference between particles in Japanese.

An hour+ later, we got out, and left to go to a Bible study. It was the last evening in the session, and we actually finished in good time... by 9pm. When we got back, I helped Christine with some stuff to be mentioned later and then made some truffles-- for 2 reasons.

First, today (now Thursday... ok, Friday, by the time I'm writing this actually) was Mark and Yuiko's 5th anniversary, and she really likes mint. Second, I'm making dinner for our team meal on Friday, and so this would serve as a dessert too.

Okay, so we had originally planned on going to the famous fish market called Tsukiji, and made all kinds of plans of spending the night, but the fish market took a break for some odd reason, and there was no auction. So, we didn't have to get up at 5am as planned, but that's good, considering we didn't go to bed until 2am.

However, the alarm did go off at 6:45. We had breakfast together, which was really nice, and then went to Sagamiono to drop off Mark and Yuiko's "love basket"... that had popcorn, a picture, chocolates and a card in it.

It dawned a GORGEOUS day. Ridiculously beautiful. BUT... out of nowhere, we got to Sagamiono and it started to rain. Hannah had had a dream the night before that we were on the way and we met Mark and Yuiko in the street. So, I just said a one liner, Lord, please do not let Mark and Yuiko leave yet.

We finally made it to Mark and Yuiko's apt., and I do mean finally because we tried a number of side streets until we found THE ONE that leads to their street... all along the way laughing and having fun. We met Kengo at Sagamiono, who was celebrating his one year of being a Christian today too! We were really excited about that, and I had a great time getting to know him today, since a lot of the others know him.

Anyway, we stopped to get some umbrellas again (at the dollar store, and we shared them), but... the wind was too strong and blew them inside out again. Actually, to two of us, it did it at the same moment! We got some good laughs.

So, we get to Mark and Yuiko's house and drop the basket and ring the doorbell, and wait for them. Yuiko was thinking about not opening the door because salesmen had been coming by, but Hannah nudged Kengo, who said something-- who knows what, in Japanese, and she answered the door (we were hiding now)... and they were really surprised and blessed.

As it turns out, we found out that they were ready to leave when all of a sudden it started raining and they were only waiting for it to stop and get a few things together before they left. Hmm... now isn't that amazing? By the way, it had been clear for only a few minutes when we dropped the basket off and it didn't rain anymore.

Stupid umbrellas. :)

I'll skip a lot of the details of the rest of the day and just let you know that I took a quick nap when I finally got home mid-afternoon and then ran to do more stuff this evening. Now, it's Friday morning, and I'm hoping to get to bed soon after I finish one more thing.

I knew though, that I wouldn't have time to post tomorrow, and so, I wanted to let you know about our fantastic activities today.

Oh, and the reason why we didn't do a whole lot of activities today is that it's a holiday here in Japan. It's Shoowa day, a day to reflect on the events of the Shoowa period. It also marks the start of Golden week, which is next week... which of course, falls perfectly to meet our needs/activities... to be discussed lately. Anyway, if you want, google Golden week/holidays in Japan and you'll find out what this is all about.

That's what I did anyway. :)

So, I'll post pictures soon that you'll enjoy, especially per wishes of Vonda... I think God may have heard you? :).... but yes, pics will be posted. We'll all be happy, but... I need to get to bed. Catch ya'll later!!

Nin-chan, warrior sensei...

I am happy to say that I am nearly done with my cold. YES.

So, I haven't been too incredibly busy in the last few days, though this week should change that. That being said, I made sure I took yesterday off, until 6ish anyhow, when I left to go to Machida to meet two girls who are contacts/friends of the girls (short-termers) here. We met up at Starbucks, so I could meet them and we could hang out and I could become friends with them so we wouldn't lose the contact.

It was a great meeting, and I ended up with an invitation to go out to Kamakura, where the girls are from. So, I think we got along really well and I look forward to pursuing this friendship with them so they can establish a much more important one!

Anyway... I don't even know what time I got home last night. I wanna say between 10:30 and 11. Not that it matters, but it made for a tired Janine today... not to mention that I dragged a bass on my back and a backpack with my Bible and laptop and purse stuffed on it on my front side. I'm sure it made for an interesting picture.

Well, let's see. At the prayer breakfast this morning, we all shared out of quiet times and then split up into groups for prayer. My roommate was in the group too, but she had to leave quickly afterward to head to her college. Her bike was already at the church, so she was like, why don't you take my bike home, since your's is at home?

Then, as she was getting her key for it, she said with her Korean accent, I just realized that I'm so smart.

We died laughing. No, it wasn't that she got into the top university in Japan. It was that she thought ahead of the double benefit of me taking her bike home.

Now, let me mention that I got only a little bit down the road on the bike before it started raining. So, I walked the bike the rest of the way home. Joy!

Anyhow. I rushed to my English class... which... wow, do you know how many activities you have to plan for 2 6 year olds in a 35 minute period? Let's just say this class could get interesting, but they are super cute. They may already know this.

So, the kids call me Janine-sensei. Is that not really cool? For real. I feel like I've been imparted with some special ability and the accompanying aura when that happens... and then class starts.

To accompany this greatness: My nickname here, among the group and at the Fuse is: Nin-chan. (Neen-chan)... which sounds like Ninja when you say it.... Janine-sensei... Nin-chan...

Yes, I am destined for black masks and karate moves.

So, this morning, in the line of less superficial (though amusing) things... we talked about some of the things going on here... and what God is doing in the lives of some of the kids... and how some of them are at a decision point and different family influences going on. Family is super important here... Like in a co-dependent sort of way. There's lots of books about it.

But some of the group had a good conversation with a young man here, who spent lots of time at the Fuse and is really a part of the community and thought he was a Christian, but he hadn't quite understood it all yet (not that you have to understand everything)-- but the whole message of the cross when he talked, you knew he didn't understand. One person in particular had a long talk about it with him and challenged him on it... and he walked away a little hurt by it... but a couple of nights later (not sure on the time frame when that first conversation had), when on the subject with someone else who didn't know about this previous conversation, he said, I believe that Jesus came to die on the cross and save me... I believe it though he has some issues with proclaiming it because of his father. So, we were really happy to see that God has been working on his heart and that he really thought about where he stood with Christ. God definitely has a call on his life, and so we are waiting to see what God is going to do. Even now, he was talking about how his mom says that he's changing, being nicer... and he was complaining the other day-- I can't even litter anymore!

There's another girl who seemed to be in the same boat last December, but then she had a definite, deep experience with God, and she drastically changed. God has a real call on her life too! She still has a fear of rejection from her family, but we're trusting and waiting on God to work with her on that.

One of the other guys, who I think I wrote about, Ma-kun, he's become a Christian... and boy, can you see he's a changed man! We're believing for many stories like this!!

Anyway... I need to get to a few other things and then I'd like to make up tonight for the sleep that I missed last night.

Catch ya'll later!

Dead Pan!

So, it's 8pm here and I am yawning so much and am soooo tired. What a long day it's been-- and it's been a shorter than usual day (ok, by an hour)...

Although, some of us have been known to get home from Saturdays and be in bed at 8.

Anyway, Thursday, I went back to my regular schedule... We prayer walked through Machida and then went to our Japanese classes. It was raining though and a bit chilly... Rain here is like constant drizzle... but more than drizzle... And it doesn't stop.

However, today and tomorrow it will be nice... I'm still hoping to make it to like 70. Because lately it's been like 55-60.

Enough about the weather... I had a good time in a planning meeting for May with Debbie. We planned out the basic weekly schedule for the team and what outreaches we'll do when and if and what we'll do for special events for the Fuse. So, May should be busy, but one thing especially is that I'm going to try to take care of how much I do... because I don't want to over run myself since I'll be starting school in a few weeks.

Friday we had a special event of 12 hours of prayer and worship. Some of the girls really had it on their heart to do that, and so we all put it together and some of us took hour-long slots to choose a topic of prayer and lead the prayer time in that. Not all of us were there for all of it, but it was a powerful time!

Today was obviously the Fuse meeting and I had the opportunity to speak. I was asked to share my testimony and make it into a message also, and let it be appropriate for people who've never ever heard the Gospel (or about Jesus), appropriate for new believers and challenging for those who have been believers for a while. And we try to take 20-30 minutes sharing, but not more, and keep in mind, you have a translator... :D

But I think it met all those requirements and I worked really hard at re-phrasing what I was saying a million times in preparation to get it just right. We also had a lot of new people, so I was glad to have the opportunity to share the Gospel with them for the first time. In Japan, I don't think that altar calls are really done... and I think that's because it would just be weird in Japan. But through conversations that we have afterward, we can tell where someone is heading and help them along if they're really interesting in being a friend of Jesus.

A couple of weeks ago, Ma-kun, who is a friend of a guy who goes to the "sister-church" of the Fuse, Noborito Ekklesia, here in our neck of the woods... and Ma-kun has been going to both the church and the Fuse, but he wasn't ready to receive it yet though he was very open. He recently decided to follow Jesus, and boy can you really see the difference. He's definitely a changed man. Mark was saying that Ma-kun went to his life group (discipleship group), and when reading some of the verses from the Bible, he was just about ready to cry from them. You can really see a new life in him and joy, love and hope that he didn't have before.

That's very exciting-- and we're expecting more of those stories!!

Last week, after we went bowling, we wanted to take a group picture and so we stopped three guys and asked them to take a pic. They were really cool about it, and funny too, and so we invited them to the Fuse (not because they were funny :). Anyway, this week they came!! And one of the guys, actually- the one who took the picture, seemed like he was really touched by today and felt really good... So, those kinds of expressions you want to hear, and I think he was really sincere in it. We're excited to have them all be a new part of the community!!

Also, today, we were headed back from lunch and Hannah and I stopped to talk to a few girls that we saw standing and give them flyers and invite them to the Fuse. Later, there were two girls walking behind us and so we stopped and turned around and gave them invitations... and they came! I know I shouldn't be surprised, because that's what it's about... but we do give out a lot of flyers and many other ones also don't bother to take them... so to see some people that we gave them out to show up that same afternoon was really cool! May they come back!!

Well, I don't have any funny stories lately... though I am putting together an album of "bad translations" and just other funny things you see in Japan. Here you see SO many weird things and people dressed weird, and it's just so amusing and endearing to me... For instance, I was thinking about that this evening when I went to the convenience store (there's one located just about every other block)... a guy came in with it looked like a scuba-driving suit from the top half of his body (including the "hoodie" of it) and basketball shorts on bottom and like super-spandex and lined pants underneath... I couldn't focus too much on it, because it would have been rude to stare... but I was like, OH Japan.

I really need to figure out how the Japanese are soooo good at "dead pan" face. They're super good at controlling their own features so that you don't know what they think or feel about something when you say it, but they can also read other people's faces really well...

That's a huge difference from Mexico where everyone is so expressive.

Anyway... I'm going to bed now... or at least to chill out and read and fall asleep. The thought of a good night's sleep makes me happy right now. :)

G'night ya'll.

It's all a bit fuzzy...

Sorry about the delay people. I've spent most of today sleeping with a box of kleenex by my bed... Obviously, this was not written in my calendar.

Monday, we got home from a long day... actually, I arrived home around 11:30, and as soon as I laid down, it was like I got sick. Now- today- Wednesday, I slept from midnight last night till 1pm today, with a brief, slightly awake period of a half-hour at maybe 10am. My roommate came into my room, wondering what was going on with me, and she was really kind, and gave me some meds. I think I was running a pretty decent fever... anyway, after being really sweet and getting me water, she left and I fell asleep for who knows how much longer and woke up sweating pretty nastily. I'm still congested, and overall pretty groggy and tired. But, I shall survive.

Anyway, let's recap the last few days. The last time I posted, I was whining about the moodiness of the weather... and I'm not kidding, there were like 15-20 degree differences between days. In fact, overnight into Saturday, it snowed in Tokyo, and by Sunday morning, I could wear a light jacket. The Fuse was really good on Saturday though, and Mark spoke on "The Real Thing" and used David as an example, about being the real deal instead of just looking or pretending the part.

We went bowling afterward, and everyone really enjoyed themselves. It was cool to see some of the Japanese Christians really following up with the new people there!

Sunday morning, we had a Bible study, and I got to talk to my mom for about a half hour before leaving for that. Afterward, I worked on my message for this weekend, and then went to Amy's house, where she helped me with some of the songs on bass. I'm going to play on two weekends at the Fuse, since there's need. And she's been kind enough to help me out.

Let's skip to Monday... we left AT 10:30 on a "family vacation", with Tim and Christine, and all us young people. Nicely compacted in the car, we headed south for two hours to a city called Atami. There, we sat on the beach and had a picnic lunch and then just went to explore and sightsee. It was beautiful!! I said at one time-- WAY on the other side of this ocean is the US.

Anyway, like I said, it was beautiful. We sat on the beach... and drove past other beaches with surfers. At one point, on some kind of dock thing, there was an eel laying on the ground. It was dieing and I felt really bad for it. I was like, throw it back in the water!! Tim did, and I'm glad... I wonder how it got there! It didn't look like a fishing spot.

Afterward, we visited some cliff types of areas that were particularly beautiful... and we drove to many other places, getting in and out of the car. In the evening, we went to an onsen, Japanese hot springs and bathing facilities, and we girls did some real bonding. The water was ridiculously hot, and your skin just kinda tingles. I joked that the bubbles in the middle were not from water being pumped up, but because it was boiling.

That could be another reason why I got sick. After being in basically a sauna and super hot water for about a half hour, we left and, obviously, it was chillier outside. We had dinner at a restaurant, laughed really really hard, and got home at 11, from where I biked home.

Tuesday morning, I wasn't feeling so hot for the breakfast meeting/planning meeting from 8-12... But, I didn't have much of a choice but to keep going. I stopped by and picked up a card to put more money on my phone and then went to the government building to pick up my....

Alien Registration Card! That's right! I am now a registered alien, and I have an ID to prove it. I don't know, I feel more official now.

About an hour later, I left to go teach my English class. The students actually showed up this time, and they are really cute, though a bit quiet. The little girl made me an origami bracelet type thing while I was getting ready to leave and before her mom arrived. Very cute.

Getting home-- oh my gosh. Not only was it rush hour anyway on the trains, but there was an "accident"... which means that someone committed suicide by jumping in front of the train. This is very common in Japan. Anyway, in a very, very hot crowded train, I stood, feeling pretty nasty, and sorry for whatever happened, but really wishing for the train to leave again. It took me close to an hour and a half to get home, when it normally takes 20 minutes on an express.

We had game night, and I went for about an hour and a half, and used... the mask. Those white face masks that you see the Japanese wearing... it's kind to wear them to not spread your germs to everyone. Within not long, I was told to go home, because I looked like death warmed over.

And that successfully brings us to today, and now, while I'm sitting here typing this with a kleenex sticking out of my nose. Beautiful, I know. But you gotta do whatcha gotta do.

I should blog again before this weekend, but if you think of it-- Saturday, I'm speaking at the Fuse, doing a testimony/message... Pray for me!

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!