My Neighbourhood

I traipsed around my neighbourhood last Saturday, enjoying a peaceful morning walk.

The Japanese kids are all at school for extra-curricular activities, but I'm FREE! :)

I always smile ruefully at these signs with the green men on them, telling us where to run to if we need to be evacuated from the area! They're all around open spaces, so in my imagination we'd be airlifted by helicopter to safety, escaping the trauma of a horrible earthquake or natural disaster. But I don't really know if the helicopters come...it could just be wishful thinking! Better to pray for no natural disasters, I guess.

I thought this whole garden looked amazing. I don't know whether the trees grow like that naturally or they have to do something to them. I'm curious, with all of my teaching about phototropism and plants in Life Science!

Not that I drink coffee, but it's a cute shop, and it just seemed so typical of the neighbourhood.

Big Wave in Japan

Well, I didn't spend my first long weekend in Japan creating final exams, as I expected. I got some work done, but God had much different plans. I soaked in encouraging words at a New Year's Conference my church was involved in. The guest speaker, an Australian church planter working in Tokyo, shared how God is moving in Japan! I realized how I can be negative, and believe negative things about a country, like, "People here are just resistant to the gospel." That's no excuse for not seeing people's lives changed! Our God is SO MUCH MORE able to work here than we imagine. The Israelites were so stubborn, but He continually reached out to them, calling them to Himself. Besides, in every nation people are resistant to the gospel! That's our sinful nature striving for independence. God's grace is reaching for them, and I'm excited to be "His hands and feet." It's a cool reminder at the beginning of a New Year!

God Bless You and Send You a Happy New Year

I've been surprised at how well this past week has gone. I was concerned about returning to school and the stress of teaching, but my first week back after Christmas vacation, while full, has been comfortable. I'm thankful for a little more time to rest in the evenings. After realizing that I should probably be going to bed at 9 pm in order to get "enough" sleep every night, I made that my New Year's resolution and prayed for God's help to actually DO it. So far, it has been great! The mornings are much happier and the whole day goes better. If anyone wonders if sleep really makes a difference, IT DOES! So I feel like a kid going to bed at 9 pm, but it's worth it! hehe

In spite of the ease of day-to-day things, there has been sadness because of the loss of a friend from church. Her funeral is on Sunday and, even though I have not been personally close to her since being her youth sponsor a few years ago, I know that her family (close friends of mine) and my church family are going through a difficult time and I would like to be there to walk through this with them. I am praying often, and God has encouraged me with Isaiah 40:1, "Comfort, comfort my people.." God offers Himself as our greatest Comfort. In spite of it all, I see how God was preparing my heart to turn to Him in times of trouble. My mom gave me a book called, "Living Confidently in God's Love" for Christmas, and the last chapter I read was all about how God promises to be our comfort and we so seldom really take Him at His Word for that. After meditating on that for a week, it seemed so natural to turn to Him for comfort when I received the sad news. I'm not saying that any of it was God's will, because I know death is a result of sin in the world and even Jesus got really angry when confronted with the death of a dear friend, Lazarus, but I see God's gentleness and love in how He worked in my heart beforehand. I think when we have ears to hear, God "cushions" us from the blows Satan throws at us through circumstances. Not that we are lifted up from the troubles in life, but we are given the strength and peace to walk through them without becoming overwhelmed by them. His grace is sufficient.

I know God has so much in store for each one of us this year. We will all face trials and difficult situations, but He will see us through. I wish you a Happy New Year because Jesus is our joy and strength in all things. Be blessed!

Narita, Japan

Before I left Japan, I stopped for some touristy site-seeing in Narita City. It was a fun way to fill an 8-hour layover at the airport. It was a very cultural experience to see the temple, where many Japanese come at the beginning of the year to offer prayers to Buddha. They believe that if they pray here on a specific day, it counts for 1,000 prayers. I didn't pray (to Buddha, at least), but I did enjoy the peacefulness of the gardens around the temple. There were also some tourist shops to buy samurai swords and other souvenirs (but they wouldn't fit in my luggage...sorry, Chris and Greg).

Beautiful White Stuff

For all of my friends in warmer climates...here's the beauty of snow! Of course, it also means you have to clean it off your car, but every rose has its thorns! ;)

Christmas Parties Galore

I had a great time visiting friends and family over the holidays. I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I thought I did, but here's a few to chronicle the fun I had with so many of you! Sorry there's not more...I usually forget to take pictures.

The crazy ones

CSE girls...I've never had so much fun playing Nintendo games! Thanks for coming to rescue me during our "race," Kristin! Hooray for co-operation! :)

A New Year's Eve sleepover...what a great tradition! If only the mattress was a little longer...or not sideways! Haha