Xapa to the World

  • Shimo Update 7/8/08

    Well I am feeling much better this week after the low of last week.  Thank you for your prayers, they were felt and God has answered.  I feel a lot better, although the problems are still here, I’m able to see the hope behind them clearer than before.

      Our brother, Mark, was in an exhibition event with some other students from his university, and he invited Samantha and I to come and observe.  He learned a traditional Japanese dance, and performed it with a friend from CN, who is also an exchange student there.  We will call him To-kun.  He is here with several other ladies from CN, and I’m hoping to continu building a relationship with them.  I’ve asked you to pray for CN in the past and present, and I ask you again, DO NOT FORGET ABOUT CN!  Just because I am in Japan, my heart has not changed and it still cries out for the salvation of CN.  I have pictures from the event in the album I previously linked for you, but it’s at the bottom of this email too.

      While we were there, there were several tables set up with food from different countries, so we made the rounds and got our dinner from the samplings we had.  I rode the bus by myself over to Yamanota, which is where the university is located.  The characters for it are the kanji for “mountain”, the hiragana for “no” (which means possession), and the kanji for “rice fields.”  Literally translated it means, “The rice fields of the mountain.”  Isn’t it beautiful?  But, it is kind of confusing as the character for guchi, which means “mouth”, is very similar to the kanji for “rice fields.”  There is actually an area of Shimnoseki that is called Yamanoguchi, and it is about 4 or 5 bus stops before Yamanota.  I got confused, but Praise God, I have learned enough Japanese to ask a lady sitting next to me if that was really Yamanota or not.  I would have had to walk for a long way in a direction I didn’t know if I had gotten off the bus then. 

      When we sat down at the tables to munch on traditional Thai, Australian, Japanese, and Korean food, we were ambushed by several students wanting to practice English.  It was neat.  We became the life of the party, even though nobody but Mark, and a few of the Chinese students, knew who we were.  People were taking their pictures with us and everything.  It was fun though…a kind of celeb status at times.  🙂

      One of the guys who I started talking with is named Kazuya, and in the phonetic alphabet, he had the word “Perfection” printed on his shirt.  I told him it was funny, and that started a conversation.  He is a very humble guy, saying that he is basically perfection, but he comes from a poor town.  He is studying economics, but loves to speak English, especially since he is very good at it.  I do have to admit that he is very good at it, and we had a really great conversation.  Another guy who we talked with is named Kenjiro – his name means, “Beautiful World.”  He was wearing another interesting t-shirt…it was white with a brown Jesus fish on it, and Jesus’ name emblazoned in the center.  I told him I liked his shirt and asked if he was a Christian.

      His response made me laugh at first.  He said, “Only on some days.”  I gave him a look of confusion and he went on to explain.  “On Christmas Day, I am a Christian.  But any other day, I am not.”  At least he was honest.  But I have thought about it more and more.  At the time I answered him “Oh, I see.  I’m a Christian every day.”  We left it at that.  It made me wonder, though, about those “Christians” back home.  You know the ones.  The ones who say they are Christians, but really only go to church on Easter or Christmas…or Mother’s Day.  Isn’t it interesting that a Japanese atheist is more honest about his lukewarmness than supposed Christians back home in America?  Now you might be thinking, “How can you say I’m not a Christian if I only go to church on those days.  You don’t know my heart, don’t judge me.”  I’m not judging you.  You’re right, I don’t know your heart.  But God does.  And He knows your heart when you do eventually go to church.  He knows that the worship you give Him on those days is just a punctuation mark to your life without Him in between those days.  What I mean is, you acknowledge Him with your mouth, but your actions and heart say otherwise.  This is a tough message, and I might ruffle some feathers, but I believe it has to be done, or I am not being faithful to God.  It’s alright to pray for people in Japan, but if you yourself do not have a right heart with God, how are you knowing what to pray for?

      After this discussion, Kazuya began to ask me more probing questions.  I don’t know what his motives were for them…it might just be that I am a blonde female gaijin (foreignor) and he doesn’t usually have a chance to talk with such a person.  Or he might have genuinely been interested.  But he began to ask me if I really truly believe in religion.  I told him NO.  I do not believe in religion.  I believe in Jesus.  I was able to use this misguided question to share the whole of the Gospel with him in a few sentences:  Jesus is the Son of God.  He came to earth as a baby and grew into a man.  He lived the perfect life (like Kazuya’s shirt) and then died on a cross to save mankind from their sins.  Now, if believe in this and choose the ask Jesus for forgiveness, then He will cleanse us and when we die, we will go to heaven and be with God forever.  Just a short window, but that’s what God gives sometimes.  As I shared, it was like everyone else in the room disappeared…I don’t remember hearing anything else going on in the room.  After that, he asked about my church and what section of Christianity it was.  I told him, but I told him it shouldn’t matter…just so long as you believe in Jesus. He is really interested in International Cafe, and he said he might want to come to church sometime.  Again, I don’t know his motives, but it is encouraging.  Even if he comes to church for the wrong reasons, at least he is coming to church and will hear the Gospel.

    Thanks for your prayers again and keep praying for the church here as we are stil working through many things.  A lot of people are hurting emotionally and need healing.  Pray for the leadership as they seek God’s will in leading the people out of this valley.  Praise God that it is in the valley that the most growth can/will happen.  God is good!

    In Him,

    Sarah ><>

    Nana Gatsu
    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=126209&l=1ff33&id=500635206

  • Update 7/4/08

      As you think about today being Independence Day in America, please remember that there is something greater that the people of Japan need their Independence from…sin. 

     One of the families on our team are leaving tomorrow.  They are going to stop in Nagoya, where they are going to work from now on, and then go home to the States.  Marcy will be having their 4th child (possibly a girl…they don’t want to find out until the baby’s born) and they will be working to develop a strategic relationship between their church and the church in Nagoya.  We are all really excited about their new opportunity and location, but are sad that they will be leaving us.  I have really enjoyed conversations that I have had with the Cranes.  They have lived in the Cincy area for several years, working with the Cincy Symphony Orchestra, so we have had tons to talk about.  And they are solid Christians, the encouragement of which I have greatly needed. 

      I found out that the youth group here at SCBC will be going on a camping trip up north the first week of August.  If you remember, I told you about the crazy experience I had before coming where I was put in touch with a guy living here in Japan, by a Sister I have never met in person.  The guy, Bobby, ended up being best friends with Taka, and so it was another confirmation that this was what God wanted for me for this year.  Well, Taka has been asked to come speak at Bobby’s church’s youth camp, and not only this, but the youth kids are able to go to the camp as well.  Taka’s in the process of finding out if I can go as well, and it will give me a great opportunity to minister to Japanese youth and also meet other miss’naries and Japanese pastors.  Please pray that everything will be sorted and that it will work out.  I’m really excited to go.

      We are working on getting a young adults English Bible Study going too.  Mark, a college student from Australia, is studying Japanese and medicine at Shimonoseki University.  He became a Christian a year and a half ago and is really spear-heading getting this started.  I need it as well.  We’ve invited Kazoo, one of the students at Shimotan, the community college Samantha and I are teaching at through next week.  Kazoo (his nickname…emphasis on the first syllable, not the second) is from Hagi, about two hours away taking both train and car, but he studied economics in York, UK.  His English is really good, as such, and he quit school at York and came to Shimonoseki to study nutrition/health.  He’s pretty new to the area, about the same time as me, so he doesn’t have many friends here.  We are trying to get him plugged in, but there is the prospect of Brian and Yoko leaving, so we’re hoping this Bible Study might provide a great reason for him to stick around (as well as a group of the guys from church who play basketball on Friday nights).  Pray for an openness to come to this.  We’re also praying about inviting Mika to join us.

      One last and final thing and then I will close with some links to pictures and such.  Today, I went to have lunch at Quixote restaurant.  I went in with purpose today, praying before going in, and took my New Testament.  I have a goal to memorize favorite Scripture in different languages, as a way to help them stick in my mind more.  So far, I have John 3:16 (Spanish), John 14:6 (Greek), and Philippians 4:4 (Mandarin/Chinese).  For Japanese, I’m working on Philippians 4:19…a great favorite…”And my God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches which are in Christ Jesus.”  I love this verse because it says that God will provide for my needs, not based on my needs, but based on His riches…which are sooooo much greater than any of my needs could demand.  But I went in to ask them to help me memorize the verse.  It’s in hiragana, katakana, and kanji…but I can’t read the kanji, so I asked them to help me put all the words into hiragana for easier reading.  After that, I decided to go further and shared the rest of the verses I have memorized…under the guise of showing off my amazing language skills…Satsuki-san read each and every verse out loud (so Mitsui-san heard every word).  Then I would say it in whatever language I had it memorized…they were really excited.

      I went in thinking that if it had an impact on them, that Satan would try to retaliate.  I didn’t know when or how, but I was on the lookout, and I was ready.  Almost immediately after finishing the verses, and my coffee, the too-tired(retired)-teacher-who-used-to-be-in-the-yakuza (mafia) came in and sat down at my table.  We’ve spoken before, and I think he has been waiting for me to do something bold, like bring out my Bible and talk about it.  He looked over my hiragana of Phil. 4:19 and said, “You wrote it well.  I’m an atheist.  I don’t believe in God.  You don’t understand it.”  I told him that I did understand it, and he asked if I wanted to know why.  I said, “sure.”  So he explained how God didn’t make the universe, and isn’t concerned with what goes on down here.  He gives thanks, but he gives thanks to the universe, to everything, because that is what gave birth to him.  Again, he said, “You don’t understand me.”  I assured him I did, but didn’t feel led to give a defense.  The timing wasn’t right, and I could feel him just baiting me.  I was not going to bite.  He saw that it wasn’t going anywhere, and I glanced at Mitsui-san and Satsuki-san, who were wearing uncomfortable smiles, almost waiting for him to finish and just start eating his lunch. 

      He sat down to his tray of assorted Japanese yummies, and folded his hands, saying the standard “itadakimasu” which means basically, “Ok, I’m going to start eating now the food that you have given me.”  I say it too, out of politeness to whoever cooked, but I pray before that and make sure they see it is a separate act.  He was deliberate, and after he said it, he turned to me and said, “I thank for the food.  I don’t thank God.”  He went on to complain about a headache, and a felt the atmosphere changing to where I should leave.  So I told him that I would pray for him, that God would heal his headache, and left them smiling. 

      It might seem frightening, or discouraging, to some of you.  This was the first time I was blatantly confronted about my faith.  Most Japanese tip-toe around the issue and won’t get into details of their beliefs.  But this man came straight out at me, and it’s no coincidence that it happened right after I shared the verses with Satsuki and Mitsui…John 14:6 states: “Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father except by me.”  I am very encouraged by it because it means that Satan feels threatened.  And that is a wonderful thing.  Continue to pray for these people!!!  God is working on their hearts and Satan is trembling at the thought of two people coming to know and worship God.  The battle is on, the line is drawn, and I’m not backing down.  Neither is God.  He doesn’t back down for you, He won’t back down for these people either.

    Thanks for your perseverance in getting to the end of this.  I hope it was worth it to you.  I’m thinking about you all and pray for you!

    In Him,

    Sarah ><>

    Ayaragi Beach
    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=124052&l=b7a90&id=500635206

    Barbeque
    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=124545&l=0d10b&id=500635206

    Nana Gatsu (July)
    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=126209&l=1ff33&id=500635206

  • How’s YOUR Acidity Level?

    Right now, I’m sitting at my laptop eating Ritz crackers (courtesy of Daiei grocery store) and Jif peanut butter (courtesy of my mom’s first care package) and enjoying every minute of it.  Today has been a day of stress and contemplation.  I have recently realized that my body’s acidity level is out of whack…partly because of some headaches, trouble sleeping, but mostly because of these two little friends in my mouth…canker sores.  They hurt, really hurt.  They are contributing to my headaches…so whenever I get a canker sore, I like to analyze why I have one.  Sometimes it’s just from biting my cheek…but the worst one is way down between my cheek and my gum…not a fun location…you can’t even look at it from there.  So, this could be the result of two things, probably both being connected:  my diet has become too acidic and I’m stressed out. 

    So the remedy, for the first, is to eat more “basic” foods and drink.  My last beverage adventure was an orange fruit/vegetable drink which, much to my chagrin, included bell pepper…BINGO – acid.  hah, yeah…that was no fun.  So today, I drank some Coke, hoping the carbonation will help out.  I will research some more basic foods…I think broccoli might be among that, but I’m not certain.

    The remedy for the first is…well…more difficult.  There are things in my life that I cannot control right now, so I will have to do my best.  But, it got me to thinking about some “grander schemes”.  In my Wednesday night class, only one of my students showed up…one out of four…Maki, who is 19 years old.  She’s pretty fun.  She has her own band, and she plays the drums.  She was teaching me some good Japanese slang…and then the Japanese English teacher I work with afterwards quickly told me not to use any of them.  Heh…the joy of slang.  🙂

      I decided to be bold and ask a daring question…daring both in content, but also daring because it might force a Japanese person to say something bad about me.  I asked Maki if there was still any anger in Japan over what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki about 60 years ago.   Maki, in true overly-polite Japanese form, said that the young people don’t really think about it and so are not angry, and older people might have been angry still several years ago, but they are not angry with America anymore.

      It got me thinking though…thinking about America and the country holding grudges.  I can understand some things and I probably embrace some prejudices against certain nations…but America tends to harbor hatred for other countries who have, in the past, wronged us.  Take France for instance…I’m not altogether sure what France did in the first place, but Americans have not always liked France.  When 9/11 happened and we wanted to go into Iraq, France would not back us up.  Thus the birth of “Freedom Fries.”  C’mon…seriously?  Freedom fries?  What comes next?  Freedom braid, and Freedom kissing?  geez.  But despite that…how many of you still harbor ill-will to the country of love and honey dijon?

      Prior to deciding to come to Japan, whenever I heard about Japan, it was always with reference to four things: cars, nintendo, Karate Kid, and Pearl Harbor.  What a legacy to give our children in America…all you need to know about Japan is that they make great cars, Mario, wax-on wax-off, and suicide bombers.  What about Germany?  They have such a vibrant and beautiful culture as well!  We have a ton of amazing classical composers that have come out of Germany.  Yes, we have a tumultuous past, but get over yourselves…how many terrible things have we done in the past?  I think the only country we’ve ever remotely resolved issues with is England…and even then, when they do something that gets our tails tied in a knot, we call them redcoats.

      Now I will close and prepare myself to be branded a hippy, calling for “free love”.  or better yet, “freedom love.”  That has a great ring to it.

  • I can see so many people soooooo close to the Gospel.  I know that if they just reached their hands out, they would know what we are talking about and know the joy of Jesus in their lives.  I really want to ask for specific prayer from you for a couple of people.  Of course, pray for all my students, but these in particular right now:

    Tuesday 4:30pm – Super Kids 1

       Brian just gave the Gospel presentation, and asked the children to pray the salvation prayer with him.  He has been going over the Gospel for the past several weeks and we’ve felt many of the hearts become soft for the Gospel.  I have four children in class: Rinka, Mizaho, Ayumi, and Masaru.  Masaru is the only boy, and he’s the newest to the class, also the quietest kid, but one of the sweetest.  This is probably my best class for the children, they are just amazing.  As they began praying, Rinka was the loudest of them all, repeating right along with Brian.  I could hear Ayumi mumbling along, and Mizaho moved her mouth the whole time (what can I say, I’m nosey), but didn’t really speak the words.  Masaru wasn’t really paying attention, so pray for him that God would build an awareness of spiritual things in his life. 

       The one I really want to ask for prayer for is Rinka.  She has a minor case of Down Syndrome.  Her grandmother attends class with her to help keep her in line.  Rinka has always been the most vocal and enthusiastic about the Gospel.  Brian has done some back work, talking with her grandmother, and recently with her mother too.  He showed her the book they have been going through and asked her to read and consider encouraging Rinka in wanting to believe, because Rinka is already there.  She already believes, no question…but she does not have any encouragement at home.  Her mother said she’d read through, but that Rinka probably didn’t understand anything (she’s 6, or 7).  After this week’s prayer, Brian spoke with her mother again and she said that she didn’t want to encourage Rinka in Christianity.  She said that with her sickness, it would be “too heavy” for her to deal with.  In Japan, they have a mentality that if there is something mentally wrong with a person, you should take away any other requirement from them other than just living…and religion would be putting a requirement on them, a strain.  It’s a hard wall to break through. 

      Mom had sent a bunch of children’s toys from Berean Christian Bookstore, so I’ve been letting the kids pick out one toy.  Rinka chose a bracelet (I think it’s glow-in-the-dark) that has a cross hanging off of it.  After Brian was shot down by Rinka’s mother, Rinka ran out of the Center holding her arm high shouting in Japanese, “Look!  I have the cross that takes away my sins!”  I have a feeling that not even her mother will be able to stop this.  Please pray that her family would soften to the Gospel and come to accept it themselves.  If they can see the goodness that Christ will do in Rinka’s life, they will have to know that it is not a burden, but a freedom.  Pray for that family. 

  • Update 06/16/08

      On Saturday, it was my birthday, and I turned 24.  I am so excited that God gave me the opportunity to have my birthday outside of the States!  It has provided a really neat way to learn more about the culture.  Also, I’ve been able to find out who has become the most sensitive to the Gospel because of their response to my birthday.  I would never have thought of my birthday as being a tool, but it’s surprising what God can use.  Now, I feel like I can focus more energy on a few people rather than spreading myself out so thin. 

      I also share my birthday with the pastor’s son, Titus, who turned 16 this year.  So, the whole family invited me and Samantha out to celebrate in Fukuoka.  We got to the Haug’s house at 8am to start it off, and then we all drove down to Fukuoka (it’s on the other island, Kyushu, and is the city I flew in to when I arrived).  The first event was to go see Indiana Jones: Crystal Skull.  After that, we took off for a reservation at Hard Rock Cafe!  Yes, I bought a t-shirt with the logo and Fukuoka underneath! 🙂  They really made a big deal out of Titus and my birthday, even took our pictures and put them on keychains for us.  Oh, and when you go through my pictures, you will see a picture of me and a really, really tall guy (well, of course he’s tall, b/c I’m so short), but I’m pretty jazzed about the picture, so check it out! 🙂  After lunch, we went to the all-exciting COSTCO!  Yes, we have a Costco within an hour and a half of where I live.  We stocked up on some things until someone has a chance to go back.  I guess, too, that you can order off a website and have things delivered to your house, so that’s nice to know.  I just browsed around until I saw it: a whole 24 pack of Dr. Pepper.  Naturally, I bought it…my birthday present to myself…the gift that keeps on giving.  🙂  I’ve only had one so far…I’m savoring them.  After that we checked out a couple music stores…both Titus and I are music geeks (he plays guitar and me, well, y’all know what I do, so I won’t mention it). 

      Yesterday (Sunday), was the Shimonoseki Wind Ensemble Pick-Up concert!  Nakayama-san and Samantha went with me, and I’m so glad that we went.  Not only was it great music, but Mitsui-san, Satsuki-san, and Shirayama-san were so happy that we went.  There were two flute soloists and two clarinet soloists (one being Shirayama-san).  Then, the last bit was a quartet of saxophones: tenor, baritone, alto, and Shirayama-san’s sister switched between the alto and soprano saxophone.  It was really great.  I can’t wait for the next concert, which will have all instruments present, in August! 

      These are great people and I’m so excited to get to know them.  Frequently, our conversations turn to God and such related things.  I had told them previously that my uncle was suffering with cancer, and when he passed away on Monday, I told them about it.  I was able to share the joy and hope I have at being able to see him again soon someday in heaven.  Mitsui-san was particularly vocal on his hope that I would see Uncle Tom again.  He said to me, “Ganbate!  Ganbate!”, which I didn’t know the meaning until I got back to the Center.  Taka says that it means, “Keep going”  or “keep trying” or “work hard for it”.  I wish I had a better understanding of Japanese that I could have used that opportunity to tell them the Truth, that heaven is not something we earn as humans because of our actions, but that it is only the work of Jesus, who lived the perfect life and died in our place.  I want them so much to know Jesus as their Lord, keep them in your prayers.  They are open and so enthusiastic about meeting with me and the others from the Center.  Satsuki-san said repeatedly to me, “Anatao dai suki” which means, “I really, really like you.”  And Mitsui-san said something to me about Taka, and when he put it into broken English for me, he said, “I want to eat Asada-san.”  Prepositions are not very easy to translate from Japanese-English.  Hehe.  I told Taka and he was a little wary, but I think he will still go visit the restaurant.  🙂

      Thank you for all the birthday wishes!  I had kind of a rough week last week, with Uncle Tom going to be with Jesus, and then also celebrating my birthday so far from all the people I love so much.  But God is good, and He gives grace where and when it is needed, and your messages were just that.  Keep me posted on happenings back home.  I want to pray for you as much as you are praying for me.

  • Woohoo!

    Big plans today!  You see, today’s my birthday and I get to celebrate it in Japan!  🙂  Since the pastor’s son, Titus, has his birthday today as well, we (Samantha and I) were invited to join the family in an excursion to Fukuoka.  I’m pretty jazzed.  So, we have an early start, seeing as we need to be at the Haug’s house by 8am, we are taking the 7:29a train, which means I had to get up at 5:45a!  Ah…on my birthday too…oh well. 

      The schedule for today, which I will share in detail later, is to go see a movie (Indiana Jones), eat lunch at Hard Rock Café (oh yeah), go shop at Costco (oh the day when Costco is a birthda treat…I’m in the twilight zone), and then go shop and peruse around RiverWalk in Kokura (shopping mall). 

      Having your birthday in another country really exposes you to the different cultures.  Like yesterday, my kids drew me birthday cakes on the board and told me congratulations.  I am now subject to the “you must return giving a gift of 60%(or some such percentage) the value of the gift you received” maxim, so I’ll have my work cut out for me.  Tonight, when I get home I will elaborate on the various gifts I’ve received. 

      Yesterday, I went to Quixote and ate the lunch special.  No, ika (squid), but I did have “konnyaku”…not to be confused with “konyaku”.  The first is a jelly-type food that I think is made from beans and has no calorie…very healthy.  The second is engagment.  The difference is just one extra character of “ni” before the “ya” to signify that it’s the food.  I came in to Taka’s office to ask him about it and he about fell off his chair when he thought I said “engagement.”  No worries though, the cheesecake here isn’t nearly as good as the cheesecake back home, so you all are safe from having to worry that I’d get engaged over here.  🙂  Later!! 🙂

  • Tsu Yu

    Aaaaaaaaaaaand, the rainy season (tsu yu) started today!  Yippee!  🙂  Aren’t you excited?  I’m sooooooo not excited!  I had to travel to Kawanaka for my classes today, and so being in the train was alright, but walking to and from the train stations were no fun.  The rainy season will continue from now until the end of July, so this will be wonderful.  There are a lot of great books here and I have things to paint (legitimate things to paint) and a craft store somewhat close-by, so I can get some more cross-stitching.

      Other than that, this week has been pretty eventful.  My uncle Tom finally went home to be with Jesus on Monday (4:30a EST).  I don’t know all the circumstances, but I am much relieved that he is no longer suffering.  I hurt for his absence from our family, but he’s in a much better place.  It was nice the way someone put it on the blogsite they had set up for him, “In 56 short years, Tom finished everything that God had set before him.”  He really ran his race, and he ran it well.  I can only hope that just a portion of that could be said of me too when my time comes.  Every now and then I get an image in my mind of uncle Tom sitting at Jesus’ feet with his big smile on his face, just listening to Him.  It’s comforting.  Pray for the family as the arrangements are made, and through the ceremony, and then the weeks/months to come without him there.  It’s almost surreal, considering I’m so far away, but I also think I’ve been going through my grief for him throughout the last two months, and so I’m at a different stage at this moment. 

      Besides this, the week has and will be, pretty much, all in preparation for my birthday on Saturday.  Last night, Tues, Mika gave me a yellow rose (sooooo wonderful.  I don’t care for roses a ton, but yellow ones make up for it!), a fan, and a cheesecake! 🙂  Also, her mom sent some photo albums, they are step-by-step photos of how to put on a yukata, just in case I forget…now I have a flip-book, almost.  🙂  It is sweet.  I can’t wait to finish this cross-stitch for her.  I want her to know how much I appreciate everything that she has done for me.  Tonight, my students brought a ton of treats…too many, I had to leave some in the church frig because we couldn’t eat them all…and Miwa (the woman I painted the shelf for) gave me a Japanese handbag.  Ok, it’s actually a piece of finished fabric that you fold certain ways and then tie the corners together to make a carrier for whatever kind of item you want.  You can tie books, small boxes, a watermelon, and even two wine bottles inside of it.  She was so excited about it, and wanted me to know that she can’t make anything with her hands, but this was almost as good.  Hah.  There’s something about receiving gifts and then being obligated to give back something about 60% the value of the first gift.  I’m not completely sure on the percentage, but that obligation is real, and I’ll have to keep that in mind with the birthday gifts I give.  Misa, my 8pm student, gave me a small pot with three different kinds of cacti…I’m going to call them Larry, Bob, and Alfred…because they look a lot like the Veggietales characters. 🙂 

    I think that’s about it.  On another note (literally), I found this CD that is probably the epitome of amazing.  One, it is the Cincy Symphony.  Two, it is conducted by Paavo Jarvi.  And three, it is all PROKOFIEV!  My fave composer.  And not JUST Prokofiev, but Symphony No.5 AND the Lieutenant Kije Suite, with the wonderful “Romance” and “Troika”.  I want it, I want it badly.  I’m waiting to decide if I reeeeeally need it.  It is great.  Here’s a link to it.  Enjoy. 🙂  Goodnight.

    https://www.costore.com/csostore/productenlarged.asp?ProductId=1017293

  • Put It On My Tab

    Well, it’s been a couple days since I posted on here.  I’ve had a pretty good week, but busy…pretty busy.  After the wonderful Monday evening birthday party, and then the realization that we are under surveillance by the other people on this street, Thursday was my typical day to go have lunch at Quixote.  It was nice, I had a lunch special, and they included squid (ika)…and it was as disgusting as you’d think it would be.  I tried to get them not to tell me what it was until after I took one bite, but they were so excited about trying to find the English word, I couldn’t stop them.  So I took a bite and couldn’t swallow it.  So I took a drink of some of the soup broth…but still couldn’t swallow it. Finally I was able to chew it and swallow, but oh, it was awful.  I’m just so glad that it was with the Quixote people…they were completely understanding about my not even wanting to try it.  As soon as I finished my bite, they grabbed the bowl with the rest of the ika and took it behind the counter, leaving me with the rest of my food to enjoy.  They are so sweet.  Here is a link to some pictures of my friends from there, and some others from Kokura too:

    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=117020&l=d26dd&id=500635206

    After my lunch, we gabbed for a little bit, discussing the Japanese word for nervous, and how, in the Kanji, the character for “God” is included…I still have to find out what that’s all about.  It’s actually one of two Kanji that make up the word for “nerve”…so I’m going to investigate that and try to find out the connection.  I had to go grocery shopping, so I took off for the store.  The crosswalk right next to Quixote takes forever to turn sometimes, and so I was standing there for a good 5 minutes before it changed over and I was able to cross and head over.  By the time I made it to the store, I realized that I walked out on my bill!  I could not believe! what I did!  I had to go get groceries though because I didn’t have the change to run back and pay my bill.  So, I went to to the store, bought my items, and hurried back, hoping to catch them before they closed for the afternoon….but I was too late.  There was nothing for me to do…I didn’t have any way to get in touch with them.  So, I went to Kawanaka to teach.  I would be able to catch the train back in time to run over to the restaurant before they closed for the night after dinner.  I booked it to the restaurant from the train station and Mitsui-san was just hanging out in the restaurant, watching a ball game on tv.  I gave him my money and apologized profusely.  He looked at me in disbelief, as if it didn’t even dawn on him that I didn’t pay for my food!  I was so embarrassed, but so grateful that it happened to someone who I have a good friendship with. 

      Oh, and just in case you have forgotten…this Saturday is my birthday.  Yeah…it’s going to be a great day!  More news soon!  🙂  Hasta!

  • It’s a Small World in Yamato-Machi

      As you know, I have been working to develop a relationship with the restaurant, Quixote, just down the street from the Center.  Also, Taka has been working to keep a relationship going with the smaller post office one block beyond the restaurant.  So, when I send out letters or postcards or whatever, I go to the small post office,just to keep things going.  It’s so neat because there are about 5 of us who frequent Quixote now, whether for dinner or lunch or whatever.  Just last week, Samantha had dinner there on Wednesday.  On Thursday, I left to have my lunch, my regular day for going to Quixote, and just as I left the Center Nakayama-san was coming back from having lunch there.  And Taka will go every once in a while too.  They have good coffee.  🙂 

      Well, on Tuesday, I went to the little post office to send off a card and postcard, and I didn’t get any conversation in while there, but the girl who usually waits on me had a customer, so this man had to wait on me.  I was in and out and nothing big, headed back to the Center.  Just a little later, Taka had to go to pay a bill, and the girl waited on him.  As they were going through the paperwork, she said, “So how was the party last night?”  Taka was thrown off…he was like, “Me?”  oh, yeah, it’s only him because he’s the only one in the office.  She said, “You had a birthday party last night at Quixote.”  Taka was surprised…he asked her how she knew about it…and said that it was mine and another teacher’s birthday.  She said, “Well, you know, Yamato-Machi (the area of Shimo that this street is in) is a small place.  It’s a small world.”  Taka just laughed nervously, and asked her to tell him how she knew…but she just kept saying that it is a small world.  Hah.  Finally, he was able to get it out of her that she had lunch there on Monday herself, and Satsuki-san and Mitsui-san were talking about the party. 

      So, there are two things to point out by this happening.  One, we are being seen and kept track of by the locals.  This street used to be beautiful, with lots of little restaurants and shops and movie theaters.  Now, there’s nothing really here, just remnants of great places.  Taka said that he is excited to think that, if just one of the people we have contact with here became a believer, it could be a domino effect along the whole street!  Two, we are being seen and kept track of by the locals.  What a responsibility!  It’s kind of scary to think that our actions and everything are being scrutinized.  I pray that God will help us keep our reputation secure and that our lives would be salt, making the people around us thirsty for God. 

      Also, I had a really nice conversation with Nakayama-san after our class on Tuesday.  I was asking her what she thinks about the women in the class and where they are spiritually.  She said that Mika is searching and very curious.  Tomoko is hard to figure, but she’s a very sweet woman.  Reiko-san is pretty much how Nakayama-san was before she got saved.  Nakayama-san was a teacher for tea ceremony.  But she really liked American and British stories and movies.  Often, she would find the Bible or Christian events quoted in the stories, and she wanted to know what the stories were, since they were so popular in western culture.  So, she began going to a Bible study, by Pastor Tony.  After a while, she began to think that this was real, that God was real.  But she couldn’t get past Genesis 1&2, where it says that God made the whole world in only 6 days.  It was beyond her understanding, she had always believed in evolution.  So she prayed to God that if He was real, He would show her that it was true.  After a few weeks, she realized that it was true, He was Almighty God after all.  But then she was afraid because her husband and mother-in-law hated Christians.  She struggled with what her life would be like afterwards.  But one day in Bible Study, she felt Jesus behind her and put his hand on her back, nudging her to go talk to Tony about becoming a Christian.  So she did, and she believed.  Shortly after, her husband got cancer and was in the hospital for a long time.  I asked if her husband ever became a believer, and she said she doesn’t know.  But in the hospital, she would pray and read the Bible to him.  She didn’t know what she should say, except to read the Bible.  After several months, her husband died, and things changed for her.  She has a daughter who lives close to the church in Kawanaka and a son who lives in Tokyo.  Both of them have basically told her that it’s ok for her to be a Christian, but they don’t want her to talk to them about it.  Please keep her children in your prayers.  I have been so blessed to be in a family where most of the members are Christian.  I can’t imagine how hard it would be to be the only Christian in a family where most are agnostic, apathetic, or Buddhist.  Thanks!

  • It’s a Birthday Party :)

    Today was a pretty good day.  I am, by nature, an introvert…so when Monday rolls around, I use the day to recharge my personal batteries from the eventful weekends, and prepare myself for the next week.  I know, I know…you’re thinking…um, Sarah, you go to strange restaurants and just start talking to people on the street and stuff…you’re living in another country half-way around the world…how can you call yourself an introvert??  I know, I know…but I can only do that after diligent training, and proper R&R.  But anyways, I had a great day inside today (especially since it was raining all day today), and I did some lesson planning, some email replying, and some sewing.  I’m doing a cross-stitching pattern right now…but I also have “homework” that my yukata teacher gave me…I need to have it finished by Saturday.

      Besides all of that mundane stuff, the real action happened this evening.  Samantha (my coworker living here at the Center with me) has her birthday tomorrow (6/3), and my birthday is the 14th!!  So, Nakayama-san, the older Japanese woman who lives here at the Center with us too, decided to buy us dinner to celebrate.  Not just us, but she also invited our boss and brother, Taka, and his wife Aki.  The restaurant of choice was, of course, the beloved Brasserie Quixote!  It was a course dinner, I believe probably 4 courses and then dessert.  I was so suprised by what I was able to eat…some shrimp, and one whole course was soaked in vinegar wine…I managed through it!  Also, the main course was steak…and I did just fine…my teeth did feel funny afterwards, but I made it through…I think I needed the whole day of rest to prep myself for the dinner.  But it was all very delicious.  It’s not that I don’t like the taste of the food…it’s mostly texture that bothers me.

      Mitsui-san and Satsuki-san bought Samantha and I two clay cups made in Hagi, which is famous for its pottery.  It’s treasured by the Japanese, so it’s really wonderful that they bought the cups for us!  They also bought a really cute cake with strawberries on it.  So yummy.  It didn’t come with the course dinner, but it was special just for us.  Oh, and I forgot, when we walked to the door, there was a sign saying that the restaurant was reserved for a special party…ours!  🙂  Some people even called to see if they could come eat, and Mitsui said no because of a special reservation.  hehe.  So, for my birthday this year, a whole restaurant was reserved!  🙂  I’m attaching a link to a picture of Samantha and I with Mitsui-san.  The other Japanese regulars have begun to jokingly say that he is watashi-no nihhon chi chi, which means, my Japanese dad.  🙂  I’ll get a pic up of Satsuki-san soon!

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2993640&l=8db95&id=500635206