I was realizing the other day that is has been a month since I have updated this! And I am so sorry, I bet that no one reads it anymore because they think I have fallen off the face of the earth. Don't worry, it's not true!!!
I obviously won't be able to say everything that has happened in the past month because that would be way to long, and I don't remember half of it, but I'll try and give the reader's digest version. During the last couple of weeks, we have continued teaching our classes, which have all been going really well. We are enjoying getting to know our students and building relationships with some of them. About two weeks ago on a Wednesday afternoon we had two women over for dessert and to play some dutch blitz. It was a lot of fun, and now they have invited us over for an Okonomiyaki party. Okonomiyaki is kind of like a Japanese omelette, except with this teriyaki type sauce on the top, as well as fish flakes and mayo. It is sooooo good! We are going tomorrow morning. :)
From the week of April 29th until bascially today, we have been pretty busy doing many different things. One Tuesday the 29th, we had some people over for lunch, that have helped us a lot, to show our appreciation. There were 20 of us altogether! After that we went over to the church where we got dressed up in Kimono's by a bunch of the church ladies and their friends. I cannot believe how many layers, and how difficult it is to put them on. They are so beautiful, and worth thousands of dollars. Some ladies played the Koto for us (Japanese intstrument) and we got to try it as well. Then we went to the garden to take pictures, and then we had a tea ceremony. It was a lot of fun and a great cultural experience, but I would not want to wear one everyday. They are quite heavy. But again, very beautiful.
Then the next day we went sightseeing with Nozomi (she runs an english teaching school) and a couple of her students. It was a lot of fun. On Thursday Simone and Brianna and Joanna went to Nozomi's school to help her out, and Darlene and Amber went to help Wendy teach in Fujigaoka. I stayed at the house by myself and I worked on learning a new drime that we want to perform for the church. It was also nice to have the house to myself for like 8 hours and just relax. I love all the girls here, but we rarely get a chance to have the house to ourselves, so I enjoyed every minute of it!
Last Saturday began our Midterm Retreat, where Andrea Dueck, Wendy Eros (both english teachers here in Japan) and Katie Wiley (an International student from Ontario) came to Toyota for the weekend and we all hung out. During the time they were here (Saturday-Tuesday) we did a lot of sightseeing and souvenier shopping. And each evening we would meet and worship together, have a devotional, and three people would share their testimonies. It was really neat to here where people had come from, where they were going and to realize how, even though just for a short time, our stories were now sort of connected. I really enjoy hearing testimonies so it was really awesome!
This week seemed kind of messed up in my mind because of the retreat ending on Tuesday and so the days were all mixed up! But we got back on Schedule and taught the classes we were supposed to and whatnot.
Today (Sunday) was a busy day because we were singing some songs in Church for Mothers day.
*Oh and I forgot to mention that we had prepared and handed out carnations for Mother's around the city. We bought 500 carnations and along with a card delivered them door to door, hoping to bless them and also invite them to church for today. *
Then after the service we prepared most of the lunch, and we told all the women they had to sit down and eat (they usually run around finding things to do instead, and then eat last) and that they were NOT allowed in the Kitchen to clean up or serve the coffee and desert. They kept trying to sneak in, but we would not let them! We really wanted to show them that they were appreciated, and that they could have a break. I think it was hard for some of them, and I know that Leona said that it was difficult not to help out, because they always do. But we really wanted to do this for the women. Inue-san (one of the older women at church) said that she was really happy and felt very special that we were doing this. That comment made it all worth it! :)
After all the cleanup was done we took the kids to the park to give the moms a break from watching them, and then came back and watched them until they got picked up.
Tonight we are planning on having a girls night with Cambria and Leona. Brownies and a good chick flick. I can't wait!
Thanks for all the prayers and support that I have received from everyone. We know that God is at work here amongst the people of Japan, even if we can't see it. There are always little things that remind us that God is here. It's those little things that keep us going. And now with only a month left (1 Month and 5 days to be exact!) we want to dive in and do all that we can to help the church and the Hieberts and anyone else. Our prayer is that we would be able to bless all the people we have come in contact with, and to remind them of God's great love. Pray for patience with eachother, and lots of strength and engergy to finish strong. Pray also for health because we had a cold floating around, and none of us want to be sick during our time here!
Miss you all!
I obviously won't be able to say everything that has happened in the past month because that would be way to long, and I don't remember half of it, but I'll try and give the reader's digest version. During the last couple of weeks, we have continued teaching our classes, which have all been going really well. We are enjoying getting to know our students and building relationships with some of them. About two weeks ago on a Wednesday afternoon we had two women over for dessert and to play some dutch blitz. It was a lot of fun, and now they have invited us over for an Okonomiyaki party. Okonomiyaki is kind of like a Japanese omelette, except with this teriyaki type sauce on the top, as well as fish flakes and mayo. It is sooooo good! We are going tomorrow morning. :)
From the week of April 29th until bascially today, we have been pretty busy doing many different things. One Tuesday the 29th, we had some people over for lunch, that have helped us a lot, to show our appreciation. There were 20 of us altogether! After that we went over to the church where we got dressed up in Kimono's by a bunch of the church ladies and their friends. I cannot believe how many layers, and how difficult it is to put them on. They are so beautiful, and worth thousands of dollars. Some ladies played the Koto for us (Japanese intstrument) and we got to try it as well. Then we went to the garden to take pictures, and then we had a tea ceremony. It was a lot of fun and a great cultural experience, but I would not want to wear one everyday. They are quite heavy. But again, very beautiful.
Then the next day we went sightseeing with Nozomi (she runs an english teaching school) and a couple of her students. It was a lot of fun. On Thursday Simone and Brianna and Joanna went to Nozomi's school to help her out, and Darlene and Amber went to help Wendy teach in Fujigaoka. I stayed at the house by myself and I worked on learning a new drime that we want to perform for the church. It was also nice to have the house to myself for like 8 hours and just relax. I love all the girls here, but we rarely get a chance to have the house to ourselves, so I enjoyed every minute of it!
Last Saturday began our Midterm Retreat, where Andrea Dueck, Wendy Eros (both english teachers here in Japan) and Katie Wiley (an International student from Ontario) came to Toyota for the weekend and we all hung out. During the time they were here (Saturday-Tuesday) we did a lot of sightseeing and souvenier shopping. And each evening we would meet and worship together, have a devotional, and three people would share their testimonies. It was really neat to here where people had come from, where they were going and to realize how, even though just for a short time, our stories were now sort of connected. I really enjoy hearing testimonies so it was really awesome!
This week seemed kind of messed up in my mind because of the retreat ending on Tuesday and so the days were all mixed up! But we got back on Schedule and taught the classes we were supposed to and whatnot.
Today (Sunday) was a busy day because we were singing some songs in Church for Mothers day.
*Oh and I forgot to mention that we had prepared and handed out carnations for Mother's around the city. We bought 500 carnations and along with a card delivered them door to door, hoping to bless them and also invite them to church for today. *
Then after the service we prepared most of the lunch, and we told all the women they had to sit down and eat (they usually run around finding things to do instead, and then eat last) and that they were NOT allowed in the Kitchen to clean up or serve the coffee and desert. They kept trying to sneak in, but we would not let them! We really wanted to show them that they were appreciated, and that they could have a break. I think it was hard for some of them, and I know that Leona said that it was difficult not to help out, because they always do. But we really wanted to do this for the women. Inue-san (one of the older women at church) said that she was really happy and felt very special that we were doing this. That comment made it all worth it! :)
After all the cleanup was done we took the kids to the park to give the moms a break from watching them, and then came back and watched them until they got picked up.
Tonight we are planning on having a girls night with Cambria and Leona. Brownies and a good chick flick. I can't wait!
Thanks for all the prayers and support that I have received from everyone. We know that God is at work here amongst the people of Japan, even if we can't see it. There are always little things that remind us that God is here. It's those little things that keep us going. And now with only a month left (1 Month and 5 days to be exact!) we want to dive in and do all that we can to help the church and the Hieberts and anyone else. Our prayer is that we would be able to bless all the people we have come in contact with, and to remind them of God's great love. Pray for patience with eachother, and lots of strength and engergy to finish strong. Pray also for health because we had a cold floating around, and none of us want to be sick during our time here!
Miss you all!
1 comments:
I still read this! Though I was starting to wonder if YOU still knew about it:P
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