A lot has happened since our last blog. To quote a very funny pastor here, we are "So sorry. Wow. Yes, that's right". After our time in Toyota we headed over to Fujigaoka to work with Wendy and the church, putting on a children's program for 3 days. About 30 kids were crammed into the church, and we had a great time teaching some English, singing, playing games and the usual. It was a pretty intense schedule having the kids for 5 hours everyday, and spending our evenings with people from the church, but it was a great time. We were so blessed by Hattori-sensei's son Mark lending us his apartment for our stay, and so we treated ourselves to some more cultural training....of China....by watching the Karate Kid.Andrea: "We had a lot of volunteers helping us that weren't Christian, and it's amazing how they're so helpful and willing still. They sing the songs and encourage the kids right along with us. It seems like they're almost there, but not quite."
We also got to play a softball game with the church and attend a Bon Festival (where they welcome ancestors home). We enjoyed dancing right along with them, even though we probably looked like fools, and had no idea what we were doing. But when in Japan....be Japanese.
Our time back in Osaka, now at Izumi, has also been great. We ran a one-day kids club yesterday and met with some English students, and tonight we had a college and high school age evening. It's been a nice way to ease ourselves out of Japan as these groups have been much smaller.
Yesterday, 2 of our friends from the last time we were in Osaka (Yuri and Hikaru) drove down for supper and an evening at the onsen. It was such a huge blessing to be able to spend more time with them, as we were sure last time we had already said our final goodbyes.
Tomorrow we will be helping out in the church service and having a hotdog lunch before heading back to Fujigaoka for our last night!
And now I'm off to bed!
Oyasumi-nasai!
Rice Count: Unknown. Lost track after 30. Onsen Count: 4
Kids Club in Fujigaoka
Our visit from Yuri and Hikaru
Jamming with Tabata-sensei's sons tonight! Playing worship songs....and Justin Bieber. And me being excited to find a left-handed guitar :)
Wow, lots of kids at the kids club! Looks like a party. Just a little tidbit here umm... Justin Bieber and worship songs should never be used in the same sentence! Anyway have a great last few days in Japan!! Looking forward to seeing you when you get back! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the black outfit Zach! Really looking forward to seeing you all.
ReplyDeleteYou are all so feminine and pretty in your kimonos with your flowers in your hair (and Zach looks so stern and fierce, I thought he might not like the pretty comment). Megan, I need photos for portrait please!!!! Looking forward to having you home!! So that was a left-handed guitar, I thought you might just have flipped it. See you soon!
ReplyDeleteLove the opening picture. Very striking. So glad to read another post. I have enjoyed reading all your post, and find myself getting excited to read the new ones. Stories from Japan. Love it. Thanks for keeping us informed of what is going on with you four and how God is working through you in the lives of the Japanese.
ReplyDeleteIt's when we are blessed with communication such as this that I think of Paul's letters, and what he must think about the way we share communications today.
Praying for you and the people of Japan.
Because of Him