Wow - I just taught my first week of school! It was a very busy week, but as I look back I am so happy with how it went. I am very thankful for the class that God has given me. They are (so far) very quick to listen and easy to work with, so it's been fun to spend so much time with them. My favourite memories are laughing together as a class, seeing faces light up when I talk to them about the possibilities for their writing assignments, or watching the team-building games on the first day of school. For the games, we had students stand on chairs and try to organize themselves by birthdate without talking or touching the ground. There were some pretty interesting faces! Then, they headed outside and they had to carry water from a bucket to a pop bottle on the other side of the parking lot using a strainer. Haha! They came up with some pretty creative ways to do it -- sometimes without using the strainer at all. One girl soaked her hair at one end and then wrang it out at the other end - not very effective, but amusing.
Of course, we learned stuff and did "real school", too. All in all, I just feel very contented to be teaching, to be living in Japan, and to be working with my fellow staff here. Thank you to EVERYONE who was praying for me throughout this week. I know that God was giving me wisdom and inspiration about what to do and how to do it. Please continue to pray, especially that my class becomes united as "one body with different gifts," and that they all grow in (or begin) their individual walks with Christ. One student balked at writing a letter to God in Bible class because "Jesus has been dead for a long time," but I know that God is able to work in his heart and open his eyes to the resurrected, living Jesus!
A verse that God has shown me for this week and year is Psalm 119:32 "I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart." I was kind of wondering what the "enlarging" was about, and when I looked it up it was referring to "making room for, opening wide." My prayer is that God will "enlarge" student's hearts, making room for Himself. I want to see them running with Jesus!
Another special verse this week is Psalm 119:130, "The entrance of My Word gives light." I have lots of opportunity to speak, teach, and live God's Word with my students. I believe God is saying that as I commit myself to sharing the truth of His Word, as they allow God's Word to enter their hearts, the Light will come to their lives.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
School, Sushi, and Slight Adjustments
I've now had a week to settle in, and I am still having a very good time in Japan. In some ways, it seems like I have been here much longer than a week just because so much has happened. There are lots of adjustments to make - learning to bow instead of wave, say "arigato gozeimas" instead of "thank you" or "merci," and depending on pictures for everything from choosing the yogurt I want to deciphering the microwave. I know they speak Japanese here, but it didn't really occur to me that EVERYTHING would be in Japanese, with no translation. Not even on the microwave. :) I'm hoping to learn some of the basic alphabet so that I can decipher some things, but it will be a long process since there are three alphabets to learn! Apparently there are Japanese classes offered at a community centre nearby each Saturday morning, so I want to sign up for those in a couple of weeks.
The last week has been very focused on preparations for school. I still have a little bit left to do, but I am feeling excited and fairly prepared for the coming year. It's amazing to think that the lesson plans I'm working on today are not just "for practice" - they're really going to be taught, to real students, VERY soon. Please pray for me, as school starts on Monday and I want to start strong. Although I've sometimes been near panicking about everything that needs to be done, in answer to prayer, God has given me the peace of mind to focus on each thing one at a time. It's a matter of trust - and I'm practicing.
I've had some pretty interesting cultural experiences this week, too! Our staff went out for lunch at a sushi bar, which was pretty cool. The different kinds of food goes around on a conveyor-belt type thing around a section of the restaurant, and drops off when it's gone around too many times. If you see something you like, you take it! You can also order stuff on a special computer - but that's way easier if you can speak/read Japanese, too. Otherwise, it's just a lot of guessing! Haha! I tried the squid, but I didn't really like it - OK, the texture made me want to gag. But I swallowed it. I just didn't take a second bite. The tuna sushi was much better - probably just way more familiar - but I think I'll have to work my way up to squid before I leave! I tried it cooked the other day and it was much better. Trying new foods is all part of the adventure!
The last week has been very focused on preparations for school. I still have a little bit left to do, but I am feeling excited and fairly prepared for the coming year. It's amazing to think that the lesson plans I'm working on today are not just "for practice" - they're really going to be taught, to real students, VERY soon. Please pray for me, as school starts on Monday and I want to start strong. Although I've sometimes been near panicking about everything that needs to be done, in answer to prayer, God has given me the peace of mind to focus on each thing one at a time. It's a matter of trust - and I'm practicing.
I've had some pretty interesting cultural experiences this week, too! Our staff went out for lunch at a sushi bar, which was pretty cool. The different kinds of food goes around on a conveyor-belt type thing around a section of the restaurant, and drops off when it's gone around too many times. If you see something you like, you take it! You can also order stuff on a special computer - but that's way easier if you can speak/read Japanese, too. Otherwise, it's just a lot of guessing! Haha! I tried the squid, but I didn't really like it - OK, the texture made me want to gag. But I swallowed it. I just didn't take a second bite. The tuna sushi was much better - probably just way more familiar - but I think I'll have to work my way up to squid before I leave! I tried it cooked the other day and it was much better. Trying new foods is all part of the adventure!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Pictures of Japan
Here I am!
Friday Aug 17
Ahh – here at last! The bed is made, the air conditioner is working, and life is good. I had an overwhelmingly wonderful last night at the airport, being greeted by five members of the ICAN staff family. After a 70 minute, air-conditioned coach bus ride, we went to the grocery store and then hopped on the Limino, the magnetic train, for two stops before walking 10 minutes to our apartment. Two strong men hefted my 70 pound suitcases up 4 flights of stairs, and then I phoned home, drank lots of water, and lay down in my sweltering room, thankful for the fan but wishing the air conditioner would stop blowing hot air. Still, I slept soundly in 3 hour intervals, waking up for a refreshingly cool shower (why heat water with gas when it's so hot anyway?), a few moments to unpack, and then my roommate took us (me and Becky, the 4th grade who also arrived yesterday) out for brunch at a local restaurant. Cathy, the first grade teacher, joined us and helped us know what we were ordering. The food was VERY good – not traditionally Japanese but apparently a very popular restaurant here. The waiters kept coming by to offer us new flavours of buns – basil, chocolate, croissants, green tea, and more – freshly heated (possibly freshly baked) and delicious! I also had some really good pumpkin soup, a salad with lots of mushrooms, and a scrumptious macaroni, cheese, and ham concoction. Welcome to Japan—I'm lovin' it!
I feel so much at peace here—I know that many people are praying for me and I'm sure that is helping. It's also a huge sense of reassurance just knowing that I am covered by the blood of Christ, shed on Calvary, and He is protecting me, guiding me, and providing for me wherever I go.
Sun. Aug 19
Konnichi-wa! (Hello) It's 2 days later and I now have internet in my apartment, so I can post what I wrote on Friday night. The last few days have been great, too. I went to see my classroom at the school, bought a brand new bike so I can get to school, went to a Japanese church, visited a temple, and have gotten together with other staff members for food, movies, and fun times. I am really thankful for the people that God has placed here. They've been so amazing at helping me to adjust, showing me around the city, answering my questions and telling me important things even before I think to ask! I'm learning so much about Japanese customs, the language, the food, what's polite and what's impolite - it's a lot of information but it's WONDERFUL all at the same time. Pictures will be coming soon!
Ahh – here at last! The bed is made, the air conditioner is working, and life is good. I had an overwhelmingly wonderful last night at the airport, being greeted by five members of the ICAN staff family. After a 70 minute, air-conditioned coach bus ride, we went to the grocery store and then hopped on the Limino, the magnetic train, for two stops before walking 10 minutes to our apartment. Two strong men hefted my 70 pound suitcases up 4 flights of stairs, and then I phoned home, drank lots of water, and lay down in my sweltering room, thankful for the fan but wishing the air conditioner would stop blowing hot air. Still, I slept soundly in 3 hour intervals, waking up for a refreshingly cool shower (why heat water with gas when it's so hot anyway?), a few moments to unpack, and then my roommate took us (me and Becky, the 4th grade who also arrived yesterday) out for brunch at a local restaurant. Cathy, the first grade teacher, joined us and helped us know what we were ordering. The food was VERY good – not traditionally Japanese but apparently a very popular restaurant here. The waiters kept coming by to offer us new flavours of buns – basil, chocolate, croissants, green tea, and more – freshly heated (possibly freshly baked) and delicious! I also had some really good pumpkin soup, a salad with lots of mushrooms, and a scrumptious macaroni, cheese, and ham concoction. Welcome to Japan—I'm lovin' it!
I feel so much at peace here—I know that many people are praying for me and I'm sure that is helping. It's also a huge sense of reassurance just knowing that I am covered by the blood of Christ, shed on Calvary, and He is protecting me, guiding me, and providing for me wherever I go.
Sun. Aug 19
Konnichi-wa! (Hello) It's 2 days later and I now have internet in my apartment, so I can post what I wrote on Friday night. The last few days have been great, too. I went to see my classroom at the school, bought a brand new bike so I can get to school, went to a Japanese church, visited a temple, and have gotten together with other staff members for food, movies, and fun times. I am really thankful for the people that God has placed here. They've been so amazing at helping me to adjust, showing me around the city, answering my questions and telling me important things even before I think to ask! I'm learning so much about Japanese customs, the language, the food, what's polite and what's impolite - it's a lot of information but it's WONDERFUL all at the same time. Pictures will be coming soon!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
All my bags are packed
It's true - all my bags are packed, but I'm not quite ready to go. I still have to UNPACK - take out all the things I've thrown in that I don't really need. (Sigh) Yes, I know all of you are surprised that I have packed things that I don't really need, but it's true. The difference is that this time, I'm going to take some of those things out BEFORE I get to my destination and wonder why in the world I decided to bring 11 T-shirts and 8 pairs of pants, plus skirts, dresses, sweaters, and everything else! Yesterday was my designated "packing day," and I'm very thankful for Lisa, who came over to help and started asking a very important question: "Do you really need that?" If it had been my mom asking, I definitely would have become annoyed and asked her to leave me alone, but I had to be more polite to Lisa! She kept me laughing about it, searched for hidden places to stuff everything in (victoriously!!!), and helped me make the first decisions about what would come out. Friends are great!
Going through the "leaving" process has made me very thankful for all of my friends and family -- everyone who has come to say goodbye, offer encouragement, promise to pray, or help to pack! I realize how blessed I am to have such a great support network standing behind me. I thank God for all of you!
I have another thing to thank God for, too: a pair of black shoes. It might sound silly, but it's really shown me how God is able to provide EVERYTHING I need. The story goes like this:
In June, I had to throw away my favourite pair of black dress shoes. I've held onto them since high school or first year of college, and I loved them!!! Alas, the day came when the insides starting falling out and I knew these shoes were seeing their last days. I tossed them when moving home from Quebec - you can always find another pair of black dress shoes! Or so I thought......I've been looking for another pair all summer, and I went shopping again on Wednesday in a final attempt to find the perfect shoes. There was only one pair that I could find that fit me, and I almost bought them. Unfortunately, when I went to pay for them the salesclerk told me they weren't actually half-price as he had orignally thought - they were still full price. Disappointed, I decided just to wait and see if I could find something better at another store. The shopping trip ended with no shoes, and I headed off to prayer meeting that night. As they prayed for me, one of the things they asked for was that God would provide me with everything I needed before I left. I thought about the shoes, but decided that there would be lots in Japan and I could find some there if not here. There was no time for another shopping trip. But God had a better idea - and He'd already been working on it.
A friend, who was also at prayer meeting that night, came to me afterwards and asked me about my day. I told her about my unsuccessful quest for shoes and she started smiling - "Really? That's so cool because this morning I woke up and I felt like God was telling you to give you my shoes. You know the black ones that you tried on and said you really liked? I've never given shoes that I really like away before, but I think I'm supposed to give these to you. Do you want them?"
"WANT them? I'd LOVE them!" I thought. These shoes were just what I'd wanted: beautiful, comfortable, black, small & light enough to pack. Now, FREE!
"If you really want to give them away, I would love them!" I said. And so I went home that night, knowing God had provided me with everything I needed - even a black pair of shoes.
Going through the "leaving" process has made me very thankful for all of my friends and family -- everyone who has come to say goodbye, offer encouragement, promise to pray, or help to pack! I realize how blessed I am to have such a great support network standing behind me. I thank God for all of you!
I have another thing to thank God for, too: a pair of black shoes. It might sound silly, but it's really shown me how God is able to provide EVERYTHING I need. The story goes like this:
In June, I had to throw away my favourite pair of black dress shoes. I've held onto them since high school or first year of college, and I loved them!!! Alas, the day came when the insides starting falling out and I knew these shoes were seeing their last days. I tossed them when moving home from Quebec - you can always find another pair of black dress shoes! Or so I thought......I've been looking for another pair all summer, and I went shopping again on Wednesday in a final attempt to find the perfect shoes. There was only one pair that I could find that fit me, and I almost bought them. Unfortunately, when I went to pay for them the salesclerk told me they weren't actually half-price as he had orignally thought - they were still full price. Disappointed, I decided just to wait and see if I could find something better at another store. The shopping trip ended with no shoes, and I headed off to prayer meeting that night. As they prayed for me, one of the things they asked for was that God would provide me with everything I needed before I left. I thought about the shoes, but decided that there would be lots in Japan and I could find some there if not here. There was no time for another shopping trip. But God had a better idea - and He'd already been working on it.
A friend, who was also at prayer meeting that night, came to me afterwards and asked me about my day. I told her about my unsuccessful quest for shoes and she started smiling - "Really? That's so cool because this morning I woke up and I felt like God was telling you to give you my shoes. You know the black ones that you tried on and said you really liked? I've never given shoes that I really like away before, but I think I'm supposed to give these to you. Do you want them?"
"WANT them? I'd LOVE them!" I thought. These shoes were just what I'd wanted: beautiful, comfortable, black, small & light enough to pack. Now, FREE!
"If you really want to give them away, I would love them!" I said. And so I went home that night, knowing God had provided me with everything I needed - even a black pair of shoes.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Yippee!
I am blessed. In case anyone was wondering, I just thought I'd share that. :) The good news is, you can be, too.
Today I was blessed by two great ladies from my church, Jen and Jess, whom I don't/didn't even know that well. We met and chatted during a young adults BBQ event, and when they heard that I was moving to Japan but had never eaten Japanese food, they decided to do something about it! Jess' favourite restaurant is a place that actually serves authentic Japanese food, so off we went to sample Japanese cuisine. I was a little nervous, because I realized that if I hated it I would still have to eat it for most of the coming year, but thankfully, I liked it (well, most of it. Apparently tempura is an acquired taste). It was a blessing to be treated to an authentically Japanese dinner, but there's more.
Jess also gave me a going-away present: a beautiful, pink, small Bible for travelling. I've really wanted one (and had mentioned that during the BBQ on Sunday), but was NOT expecting to get it, especially not from someone that I've only really talked to twice. But, God is GOOD and I know that "every good and perfect gift comes from God." He motivated Jess to bless me with this gift, and I am SO thankful.
And along with these two blessings comes a third - our conversation. Jen & Jess shared things that I needed to hear. I (apparently) shared things that they needed to hear. Things that we have thought about or prayed about were confirmed and understood by one another. This is what I call a "divine appointment," or when my "string" (the red one ...haha... see "My Life as a Red String" if you're confused) crosses some other "strings" in God's tapestry. He puts us all together to make something beautiful - in His time.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecc. 3:11
Today I was blessed by two great ladies from my church, Jen and Jess, whom I don't/didn't even know that well. We met and chatted during a young adults BBQ event, and when they heard that I was moving to Japan but had never eaten Japanese food, they decided to do something about it! Jess' favourite restaurant is a place that actually serves authentic Japanese food, so off we went to sample Japanese cuisine. I was a little nervous, because I realized that if I hated it I would still have to eat it for most of the coming year, but thankfully, I liked it (well, most of it. Apparently tempura is an acquired taste). It was a blessing to be treated to an authentically Japanese dinner, but there's more.
Jess also gave me a going-away present: a beautiful, pink, small Bible for travelling. I've really wanted one (and had mentioned that during the BBQ on Sunday), but was NOT expecting to get it, especially not from someone that I've only really talked to twice. But, God is GOOD and I know that "every good and perfect gift comes from God." He motivated Jess to bless me with this gift, and I am SO thankful.
And along with these two blessings comes a third - our conversation. Jen & Jess shared things that I needed to hear. I (apparently) shared things that they needed to hear. Things that we have thought about or prayed about were confirmed and understood by one another. This is what I call a "divine appointment," or when my "string" (the red one ...haha... see "My Life as a Red String" if you're confused) crosses some other "strings" in God's tapestry. He puts us all together to make something beautiful - in His time.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecc. 3:11
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