A Needle in a Haystack

Have you ever been in a situation where only by an act of God could everything turn out okay? Well, Lew and I rang in the New Year with a new understanding of trusting Him in any and every situation. It all started when we stepped off the bus in Tokyo from visiting Sarah in Suwa. We said our good-byes as Sarah got on one subway line, and we got on another. our destination...a movie theatre. We had done research and figured the location and show times of a theatre in central Tokyo. The plan was to see a movie, eat some dinner, and drink some coffee before catching the 12:04 train and also last train to Haneda Airport where we planned to spend the last 4 hours before our plane departed for Okinawa. The evening started out just as planned including finding a locker at the train station that fit all of our bags so that we wouldn't have to carry them around with us for the evening. Who could have guessed that it would lead to one series of unfortunate events after another?

Robin Hood was not a great movie, but it was in English and, despite some violence, was entertaining enough. Afterwards we walked around the large "mall on steroids" as we so lovingly nicknamed the Rippongi Hills shopping area to find somewhere to eat. After wondering for a while, we chose a nice restaurant and ate some appetizer soup. By now it was about 10:45 pm. We got our Starbucks Coffee and were just about to sit down to enjoy it and continue our count of foreigners when Lew calmly asked if Ark remembered where she put the ticket needed to retrieve our bags from the locker at the station. After doing a pretty thorough analysis of our pockets and purses, we both realized with, with a slight feeling of dread, that we had lost the ticket. We fought the crowds of about 1 million back to the train station where we attempted to call the number indicated on the 'if lost or stolen" sign. After much trying, the language barrier was insurmountable. A nice man at the information desk helped us convey the message needed, and we were told it would be a few hours before someone could come and open the locker. Both of us needed to start praying...and praying we did.

Ark remembered seeing something fall out of Lew's jean's pocket while on an elevator, so we decided to retrace our steps to where perhaps the receipt had been lost. Inside the elevator, we found a movie ticket stub...but no locker receipt. We continued retracing our steps knowing full well that the possibility of finding a small slip of paper on the ground on New Year's Eve with millions of people swarming around was slim to none. It was like finding a needle in a haystack...literally. Still we kept praying as we resigned ourselves to sleeping in the train terminal while waiting for the people to come and open the locker door for us. Lew felt compelled to go one direction. We obeyed and began randomly kicking over small papers on the ground in hopes of a miracle. Well, Lew picked up a paper and examined it closely to realize that it was indeed our receipt. Both of us felt like rejoicing loudly and crying hysterically at the same time. Why do we doubt the Father? He is so good to get us out of binds. We went to the station, retrieved our baggage and made it on the very last train of the evening taking us to the airport. Both of us were relieved and blown away that we had indeed found a "needle in a haystack."

Well, if the story had ended there, we would have understood that God wanted to show us His hand faithfully and would have continued to rejoice throughout the evening. But, it turns out that the monorail to the airport shuts down earlier than expected and though we made our train from the theatre, we would have to wait until 3:50 am for the next one. A McDonalds close by advertised that it was open 24 hours, so we ventured off. Hey...4 hours in McDonalds couldn't be that bad. Unfortunately the rest of the million people in Tokyo had the grand idea of sitting in McDonalds while they waited off their hangovers. That wasn't the place for us. We gave in and opted to pay the money and take a cab to the airport. By now, we were seriously asking God what He wanted to teach us through this evening. We had been blessed to see Him miraculously provide what we needed to get on the last train, so what was it He wanted to teach us as we sat in a cab going to the airport? Ark wondered if she was to miraculously begin speaking to the cab driver in Japanese...but nothing like that happened. We thought we would finally be safe and comfortable in the airport and have 4 hours to think about God's lesson for the evening in a warm place.

Ok, once again...it didn't happen that way. The cabby dropped us off at our terminal and sped away. Pretty quickly, we realized that something was wrong when the automatic doors didn't open. Turns out the terminal closes at 9:45 pm and doesn't open again until 5 am. It was currently 1:30. I didn't know terminals closed. What we were to do now? Each carrying about 40 pounds, we decided we would try to find the International terminal...surely that one had to be open! We ended up at another terminal...on the other side of the airport as the International one. We saw a sign for a hotel at this terminal and went inside to find out how much it would cost to stay there for 3 hours. Turns out that you need reservations. So here I sit, yes, quite warm and safe, at 2:20 am in a little nook of a very closed terminal awaiting the 5 o'clock hour so we can check in, check our bags, and THEN get on an airplane to Okinawa. I must admit I'm still wondering what God wants to teach us through this. Why would He get us out of bind and show His miraculous power at the beginning of the evening, only to have us sleep in a deserted nook of an airline terminal? Don't really get it. But, I'm still rejoicing in the fact that God is so much bigger than anything I can think of! He knows the end of this story and will somehow use it for His glory. We hope that the first five hours of 2011 are not an indication of what the year will be like, and we apologize to our moms and are so grateful you didn't know we were wondering around Tokyo at 2 in the morning with nowhere to go.

UPDATE: It is now 2:00 pm and we are safely home! A night in a closed airport terminal, eating chocolate, and reading books takes a toll on a gal! I am ready to take a nap...or perhaps I'll just call it a night in a few hours. We are so blessed and thankful to be home in Okinawa where believe it or not...it's COLD here too. Oh well. Perhaps we will have to find a heated rug....

"Put the Duna on the Barbie"

Note: This entire post should be read with an Australian accent

After a lazy morning watching the snow fall, we decided to get rugged up* and brave the snow and cold. We took the bus and then the train to Matsumoto, where we walked around a castle and through the streets. We did not see any spooks** on our walkabout***. We ate a lot of food today at Starbucks and Mister Donut and a strange restaurant. Lew ate the strangest pizza she has ever eaten with scrambled eggs, ketchup, and ham. Ark ate the strangest pizza she's ever eaten with tuna, corn, mayo, and asparagus. After a train and taxi ride home, we were excited to get back to the heated rug and our dunas****.

Rather than practicing our Japanese today, we worked on our Australian accents as we hung out with Sarah's Australian friend Jordan.

*bundled up

**spies

***journey

****blanket

Tomorrow, we shall head to Tokyo and find some adventures to bring in the new year. We have to be at the airport bright and early for a 6:30 flight, and then, our vacation will have ended. But we're trying not to think about that. Good night, Mates.

Some things that I could get used to...

Here's a list of things that I could get used to in Suwa, Japan:

1. Heated rugs
2. Heated toilet seats
3. A gorgeous 360 degree view of snow-covered mountains
4. Good conversations in restaurants overlooking the lake
5. A great running path around the lake
6. Cheap transportation around the city
7. Large secondhand stores (even though none of the clothes fit)

We had a great day wandering around Suwa with Sarah. We saw a small local castle and the lake and went window shopping. The day was very relaxing, starting out bright and sunny and ending with smatterings of snow.

Up, Down, Around, Back, Walk, Switch, Eat...Then Repeat!

Seriously...that's exactly what we did all day! Traveling through Japan on a budget is easy. Usually it includes a walk or two, 4-5 trains, and at least a bus ride. It took us the same amount of time to go 150 kilometers in Japan as it would take to go from Flagstaff to LA in the states. So funny! We were troopers as we hoisted our packs on the luggage racks, took them off again, walked up the stairs, then back down the stairs, got on another train and hoisted our pack up on the luggage racks again. Yeah, we did it 4 times today before getting on the final bus. We are now sitting snuggly in our friend, Sarah's apartment enjoying her heated rug and rice crackers. Once again, not a whole lot to share today, but I hope you are continuing to enjoy the mainland saga. We will spend the rest of the week exploring this little town and surrounding areas before heading back to Tokyo and Okinawa on Friday!

Sushi, Red beans, Fish, and Mochi = Good Christmas dinner ingredients

Merry Christmas everyone!!! I hope that your day is very special with family and friends! My Christmas began slightly...earlier than anticipated. Since we were in charge of Christmas dinner I thought I would get up around 7, begin making food, take a shower, etc. etc. etc...well, I woke up on time and began my day. A while later I began to wonder why the sun wasn't coming up and why the clock on my computer just wasn't what it was supposed to be. I looked at the clock on the wall again and realized that it read 5, not 7am. It was an honest mistake...both numbers are on the sides of the 6, right? So needless to say I worked a bit and then took a nap. As it turned out, we had more time than expected as our friends from Tokyo didn't arrive here until close to noon.

Opening stockings, sitting and chatting, and sharing memories was a highlight! Lew created a lovely little children's book about an experience in cleaning our house for my Christmas present. I had a hard time reading it to our guests due to my laughter. I will treasure it always. Eating fish, sushi, red bean soup, and mochi were among the delicacies we ate for lunch. Cheesecake at Megumi Chalet was dessert. Mmmm! The day was topped off with singing on the giant Christmas tree one last time at Megumi Chalet. The walk back was so bitter cold. Have I mentioned that it is cold here? Like 17 degrees? Just in case I haven't...it's cold :)

As I've thought about the Christmas season and what God has been showing me, I find my thoughts slightly jumbled and my heart slightly distracted. I know that I am just where He wants me doing the things He's called me to do...but what exactly does He want me to know? This is something I will continue to ponder the next week of Christmas vacation!

Merry Christmas again!!!

Tokyo and Beyond

The stockings are hung by the fire with care...as well as everything we brought to wear!

So I would love to write and tell you about the exciting things I did today and how I love the cold and got to play in the fresh snow this afternoon...but I'm afraid I can say nothing of the sort. In fact, I can't say I did much of anything. Sitting by the heater catching up with friends and family while reading a book, eating snacks, and listening to Handel's Messiah was about all I did. At about 4:00 I realized I needed to get dressed if I was going to get to Megumi Chalet on time. I got home a bit ago and guess what? Sat right back in my chair by the heater! Sure is an amazing way to spend Christmas Eve if you ask me :) If our Internet holds up, you may actually get pictures of our adventures tonight!

Sorry if you are bored out of your mind after reading this post. Hey sometimes there is just nothing to report :)

A little resort town

I'm sitting here under our stockings hanging by the window, ready to be filled with Christmas goodies. In my Under Armour Cold Gear by the cozy heater than brings such warmth after standing in the bitter cold for a few hours. And enjoying popcorn, chocolate-covered raisins, and gingerbread cookies. It almost feels like Christmas with our fresh greens collected from the forest this afternoon and the Christmas lights hanging in the window. This little cabin in the forest is so quaint. It's small and cozy and perfect for a Christmas holiday.

Today was slightly more laid back in some ways, but my body is crying out for a day of being an introvert. Since it is Christmas break and one of the goals of any break is rest and rejuvenation, I'm actually going to listen to that plea and stay home most of tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed exploring Karuizawa today searching to waterfall and mountain lookouts- we did not find either, but had a pleasant winter walk anyway. It even snowed about 10 flakes :) It was a great day for sharing together and breaking bread together. It ended with singing Christmas carols on the Singing Christmas Tree at Megumi Chalet and passing out tracts to arriving visitors. Tonight I'm grateful for warmth and rest!

Thanks for reading! I'm really trying to give everyone something to read about. Until next time....

Ok, it's cold for reals!

Today was a bit more relaxed than the last few days. We leisurely got out of bed and mosied around getting ready to leave. We were blessed to be able to assist our friend, Ginna, in a few household tasks that needed to be completed before we could trek up the mountains to Kariuzawa! One highlight was getting to ride bikes to the grocery store. That was one of my dreams of living in another country. Perhaps it's just the romantic side of world travel...exploring busy streets by bike. Well, that dream was fulfilled. It was fun to buy groceries and carry them home in the little bike basket. My bike even had a little bell I got to ring. It's the little things in life!

I'm grateful for a short nap on the drive north. We were given a short tour both by car and by foot of the little mountain resort town of 40,000 people in the winter and 4 million in the summer. The little cabin in the forest where we are calling home is quite quaint and cozy. I'm pretty sure I could get used to living in a cabin in the woods. However, I'm a full-fledged island gal and that became quite clear when we stepped out of the car into the crisp coolness of the mountains. I'm sorry, that wasn't quite the right phraseology...the crisp freezingness would have been a better description, but I don't think that's a word. Let's just say it is quite cold here! We enjoyed a nice dinner with friends, including 3 new friends who accompanied us to Kariuzawa. We were blessed by one of the ladies who decided we needed to practice our Japanese and stopped talking to us in English. She was cute and offered to teach us Japanese if we would move to Tokyo.

The Christmas Illumination at Megumi Chalet Kariuzawa (MCK) is quite impressive. Tom worked very hard at programming Christmas lights to dance to music and designing the decorations. It really looks amazing. We had fun taking pictures, drinking hot chocolate and eating cake in the coffee shop and listening to a famous musical group. We came home slightly earlier tonight than we will the rest of the week. Tomorrow through Sunday night, Lew and I will be at MCK from 4:30-10:00 pm to hand out tracts, take pictures for people, sing on the human Christmas Tree, and just be the hands and feet of Christ. Please pray for many non-believers to come and leave knowing the true meaning of Christmas. Pray that we don't freeze in the process. I think I will need to put on a few more layers in order to not have the cold nip at my knees!

I'm blessed to be here at Kariuzawa for a few reasons, but one major one is how much this little town reminds me of Flagstaff. The landscape and intense cold are just a few aspects that remind me of home. How great a Creator who knew how much I would need to be reminded of home this Christmas.

Darkness....

My heart is so heavy today! It is a heaviness I can't quite explain. One that I haven't felt in a long while. Today Lew and I embarked on a Tokyo adventure. Using expert direction we ventured off to see the major sites by ourselves. We didn't get lost once and the only mishap we had was buying a ticket for the wrong subway line. Hey, it happens! Anyway, the reason for my heaviness is the millions and millions of people we saw on a pathway to eternal destruction! I don't remember it affecting me quite as much the last time around. Obviously it must have since I'm here again, but I suppose I have a fresh vision...a new urgency...or just a renewed burden for the Japanese people today.

Our self-guided tour took us to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office where from the 45th floor we could see much of Tokyo. As far as the eye could see the buildings had no end in sight. It was crazy! Next was a train ride to Meiji Shrine...a Shinto shrine where we witnessed the end of a wedding and myriads of people throwing their money into the shrine and praying to gods made by human hands. The question crossed my mind as I watched...what would it be like to pray to a god I didn't know? One who doesn't know me intimately because it didn't create me? One that does not share intimately in my life? It all seemed so...empty.

People watching is one of our joys and people watch we did...I think if I were counting I would have lost count around 1.5 million. Ok, an exaggeration, but not much of one. It was cold so we were enjoying a nice cup of Starbucks from a 2nd story building. At least 200 people would cross the street every 2 minutes. We were there for about 60 minutes so what is that...6,000 people total? Incredible! This was definitely the 'people-watcher's' dream location!

After my lunch of shrimp, clam, squid, and pork casserole (you think I'm joking don't you?), we headed to Asakusa Temple. The temple was much bigger than the Shinto shrine and is a Buddhist Temple where elaborate decorations, incense, and holy water are all part of the temple experience. Once again I watched people, under bondage worshipping Satan...I mean, who else would it be? There was one particular man who was well advanced in years and who obviously struggled walking slowly up the stairs to 'pay his dues' at the temple. My heart broke for him as the reality of eternity and his eternal destiny washed over me. I have thought and prayed for this particular man many times since then! There is still hope for him...as long as he has breath.

Our day ended at a brand new church that just started earlier this month. About 12 of us sang and worshipped together. Though a lot of our interaction was in pantomime and with the help of an interpreter, I enjoyed meeting with my brothers and sisters here in Tokyo. I had the honor of playing Christmas carols on the piano for their worship time (yes, I'm quite rusty after not playing for 7 months). God gave me a passage for this nation of Japan as I sat and tried to glean as much from a sermon in Japanese as I could: Isaiah 43:8 "Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, that are deaf, yet have ears." I suppose all of Isaiah 43 could apply, but this verse stuck out to me...the people of Japan have ears and they have eyes, yet they fail to hear and see the truth of Christ. My prayer is that God would redeem for Himself millions of Japanese people by opening their ears and eyes of understanding! I was slightly encouraged after church...yet still feel this heaviness. I would appreciate your prayers as He is in control of the salvation of all people. Would you continue to pray for an outpouring of His Spirit on this country?

Tomorrow...off to an even COLDER Kariuzawa! I've suffered without my coat the last few days because I wanted to use it to trick my mind into thinking I could stay 'warm' there. Not sure it will work...but I'm praying. And I'm also praying that the weatherman is wrong about no snow on Christmas. There is a 30% chance...but I'm praying for mucho snow to make Christmas white!

Around the World in a Day!

I'm sure you've done it! Probably more than once. Stuffed items into a box and pressed them down to make more room for something else? Well, I was 'in the box' today! Not literally of course, but I sure understand how those items on the bottom of the box feel as the other items press against them. My experience was called the "Tokyo Train System". I have never seen people enter an already overcrowded train and literally push the mobs of people already standing to make a millimeter more space to fit their feet in. Wow...it got better as I was on the 'bottom' of the box, or the other end of the train as people were pushing. I had a metal bar in my hip and a Japanese lady's hair in my face. If that wasn't bad enough, everytime the train stopped and people wanted to get off, there was a very intense shoving of people out of the way. Let's just say, I think my hip is permanently bruised from the beating it received. I had to ask myself how people do it everyday????

Tokyo DisneySea was a very interesting place. It was much different than the typical Disneyland. No princes or princesses walking around in big dresses with true love following them wherever they went. There was no "TomorrowLand" or "FantasyLand". Instead, we explored different countries of the world beginning in the center of the earth (ok, not a literal country, but definitely a futuristic one) and ending in South America. Italy, Egypt, and the underwater world were in between. I heard many languages, with Japanese accents of course, but languages just the same. To be honest, I would have to say that DisneySea lacks the magicalness of DisneyLand...but then perhaps that's just because I'm older and don't get the 'warm' feeling all over when I visit DisneyLand anymore. I am so glad that we were able to have the "Tokyo Disney Adventure" and doubly-blessed to get to go for free and have a young lady, Mana, accompany us! Thank you for your prayers. We had a great day!

Tomorrow...a shorter tour of famous sites in Tokyo!

"Baby It's Cold Outside"

Wow, it's cold! Actually, it's not that cold. We just felt like saying that because it feels more like Christmas when it's cold. So....we are now officially in Japan instead of in "Hawaii". Everywhere you go here in Tokyo you see people people people! And buildings buildings buildings! And trains trains trains! Instead of the normal tropical foliage surrounding us, there remains only a remnant of fall leaves on the trees while the rest lie comfortably on the ground. The chill in the air reminds us of Prescott in the winter. How blessed we are to be experiencing home-cooked meals and the warmth of a home with our missionary friends, Tom and Ginna. The guesthouse we have the privilege of occupying reminds Lew of days growing up in Ecquador. Overall, life is good!

To make life even better...we were given tickets to Tokyo DisneySea. Tomorrow we will embark on discovering the Disney of Tokyo. We have never heard of DisneySea before so it will be quite the adventure. Our cup runneth over!!

Oh, btw...did you know that traveling within Japan is extremely easy? We showed up at the airport, gave the ticket lady our receipt, and got on the plane. No ID was needed and no money paid to check bags. The security line...well, there was no line, we just walked through! We didn't even need to take our shoes off!!! Next time we will be smuggling contraband onto the plane :)...Just kidding! It made traveling the 1000 miles to Tokyo quite relaxing. So relaxing in fact, that Lew doesn't remember it. It's like she went to the airport and suddenly was in Tokyo! It does feel surreal to be off the island and somewhere else. What can we say? We've become full-fledged island gals!

Thank you for your continued prayers. We are excited to have some R&R in Tokyo, but are still actively looking for ways to minister while here. We will be spending tomorrow at DisneySea with a gal who has not yet received Christ, but is close. Pray for our conversations...and that she would see the righteousness of Christ shining through us!

Until next time....

Merry Christmas!

I'm not sure if anyone is actually reading this blog, but if you who are, "Merry Christmas"!

I've graded finals, papers, and projects; wrapped up quarter 2 and semester 1 of the school year; taken the kids on an ice skating outing; and cleaned my classroom, among many other activities. And all that says that Christmas break is finally (or is it already?) here, and I can forget about school for a while.

So what does the Nomadic Duo have planned for this break? Well, since we are "nomadic," we have decided that getting off the island for a while is a good idea. We are heading to Tokyo and the surrounding areas for the two weeks of break that we have. We will be helping with some Christmas outreaches and visiting friends, as well as doing some sight seeing.

I am looking forward to a time of refreshment as well as hoping to be an encouragement to those that we meet.

The verse that has been going through my mind lately is Psalm 37: 4, which says, "Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart." As I was thinking about what the desires of my heart are, I also was thinking about the Christmas carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," which refers to Jesus as the "Desire of nations" (see also Haggai 2:7). This Christmas, I'm delighting myself in the LORD daily because He HAS given me the Desire of my heart.

Thanksgiving Psalm by Ark, Sir Mackenzie, Sacagawea, and Lew

Give thanks to the LORD for He is good
His faithful love endures forever
He gave us the gift of laughter
His faithful love endures forever
He freed me from bondage
His faithful love endures forever
He led me into a beautiful paradise
His faithful love endures forever
He put a new song in my mouth
His faithful love endures forever
He gives me challenges to help me grow
His faithful love endures forever
He is my patience and joy
His faithful love endures forever
He made us
His faithful love endures forever
When we go through times that we don’t understand
His faithful love endures forever
When I feel unprepared for school
His faithful love endures forever
He’s got my back
His faithful love endures forever
He provides for us beyond what we can ask or imagine
His faithful love endures forever
He meets my every need and then some
His faithful love endures forever
He is my life
His faithful love endures forever
He is completely in control
His faithful love endures forever
He is all that I need
His faithful love endures forever
He gives hope for the future
His faithful love endures forever
And a permanent home to wait for
His faithful love endures forever
He has removed my transgressions from me
His faithful love endures forever
As far as the East is from the West
His faithful love endures forever
He amazes me with little blessings
His faithful love endures forever
That we don’t deserve at all
His faithful love endures forever
He loves me despite my doubt
His faithful love endures forever
He made every sunset different
His faithful love endures forever
He provides us with the best friends and family we could imagine
His faithful love endures forever
He has perfect timing for everyone
His faithful love endures forever
For contentedness where God has placed us
His faithful love endures forever
It is all about Him
His faithful love endures forever
Our eyes are on Him
His faithful love endures forever
He rescued us and redeemed us
His faithful love endures forever
He remembered us in our lowest state
His faithful love endures forever
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
His faithful love endures forever
The Holy Spirit surrounds us and indwells us
His faithful love endures forever
He is the shelter in the middle of the storm
His faithful love endures forever
When I am overwhelmed
His faithful love endures forever
When I lie in green pastures and beside still waters
His faithful love endures forever
When I am on His shoulders
His faithful love endures forever
He makes known to me the path of life
His faithful love endures forever
At His right hand there is pleasure forevermore
His faithful love endures forever
In His presence there is fullness of joy
His faithful love endures forever.

It's the middle of October, and it sure doesn't feel like fall.

As a middle school teacher, I hear excuses all day long. Some of them make sense, and some of them are just ludicrous. "I didn't do my homework because my computer wasn't working." "I'm jumping over the desk because he touched me." "I'm spraying water at her because she laughed." "I'm late to class because I haven't been able to get my locker open for three months."
I could give many excuses for why the Nomadic Duos has not been updating their blog in the past month, but I'll spare you and just leave it at: "It's been awhile."

The past month has brought many changes to our lives.

First of all, Lew is extremely thankful to God and to a very generous parent that she now has air conditioning in her classroom. This change has made the school day so much more bearable. And you may ask how much she's needed it since it's now October and almost winter, right? It's October, yes, but it sure doesn't feel like winter to us. The students have started to complain about the cold weather and are wearing winter coats to school. I wonder how they will ever survive once it gets below 80 degrees.

Second, we are now the proud owner of a Suzuki Swift, which we have christened with the name Kenjo. The independence and mobility that this new vehicle offers is awesome. Island exploration, here we come!

Next, we got in the Guinness Book of World Records...well, kind of. We participated in the world's largest tug-of-war contest in downtown Naha (the capital of Okinawa). The event was very interesting and showed us a good glimpse of Okinawan culture. However, although we had fun, we decided that we didn't feel the need to do it again next year since getting trampled by 300,000 sweaty people just to move a giant rope a couple of meters was not really worth it.

One Sunday after church, we went to the northern part of the island to explore a castle ruin from the 1400s and to visit Ocean Expo park. Words cannot describe the incredible tropical fish, sharks, mantarays, and other exotic creatures that we got to see at this aquarium. We will definitely be going back there when guests come to visit us.

Finally, cool ministry opportunities have presented themselves in class and also at Middle School Camp which took place at the beginning of October. Relationships with the students have been deepened, and the gospel has been shared in many different ways. Let me share an example from my Bible class yesterday. Our memory verse this week was John 14:6. After explaining to the students what the verse means when it says that Jesus is the only way to the Father, I asked them to tell me what they would tell someone who considers himself a good person and thinks that he can get to heaven based on his works. One student was almost falling out of his chair in anticipation of answering this question. He very clearly reiterated the gospel to the rest of the students and showed that he understood that Jesus is the way! Continue to pray with us for the students who have heard the gospel but who have not accepted God's grace.

And that's all for now folks.

A-snorkelin' we went

Little Victories

As this week began, I didn't think anything good could come of it. I was weary from Monday on and honestly, it was the hardest week in Okinawa so far. I threw tantrums before the Lord, prayed hard, gave myself pep-talks, and dragged myself to work every morning. Throughout the days I would dream about my next career, and then get defeated when the phrase "two-year contract" popped into my mind. It definitely didn't seem like any victory could come from the week.

Well, it's finally Friday. I made it through week 5 despite it's hardships. Here I sit with an empty classroom, windows open allowing me to feel the welcomed breeze outside, and a lot of thoughts going through my head. I realize there have been many little victories through this rough week. To name a few:

* My kids received their Bibles and have eagerly poured over them. When they are finished with classwork I hear, "Can I read my Bible?" When they leave the classroom for the day, "Can I take my Bible home to read it?" When it's time for "sword drill" games, "YES! We get to read our Bibles." This in itself is a victory! So many people don't have a copy of the Bible, yet my little 2nd graders do and they sure love to read it.

* When I asked my kids if anyone read their Bible's the night before, many hands shot up. I then asked if anyone wanted to share what they learned. One little hand went up and he directed the class to John 8:12 where Jesus talks about Himself as the light of the world and imparting the light of life. I just sat there listening to what God had taught him, slightly stunned that anything good could come out of my classroom.

* Though the last few days have been the hottest and most humid days I have EVER experienced, today there is relief in the air. A cool breeze and much lower temperatures.

* My kids working diligently on their writing and giving each other helpful suggestions to improve in it. I didn't think we would ever get to that point.

* Words written thousands of years ago that are still alive piercing my heart today! The Lord's voice has been so clear, reminding me of His love, encouraging me to keep walking, and assuring me that He has sent me to proclaim His word.

* Longing for community and then having my neighbors invite me for dinner!

* Realizing that the hardships have actually been God answering my prayers for refinement and reliance on Him! How can I learn to rely on Him if I'm not trained to do so?

I'm sure I could go on, but I will end. What a mighty God we serve. Thank you, Lord, for the perspective change!

Time Flies By

What do the titles "The Fast and the Furious", "Speed", "A Walk to Remember", and "Live Free or Die Hard" have in common? They all describe the last few weeks here in Okinawa. There have been moments of great memory-making! Moments where it seemed as though I would either make it through the day, or die trying. And all of the above have whirled by quickly and furiously! So many lesson learned, adventures had, and struggles surrendered the last few weeks! God is answering my prayer for refinement, just in different ways than expected.

I shared with my administrator last week that I'm not sure if what I'm teaching is for the purpose of teaching me, or teaching my kids. For example, we were reading passages about Moses and how he showed courage to go to Pharaoh and plead on behalf of the Israelites. As I was telling them how God wants to give us courage and all courage comes from Him, I couldn't ignore the quiet voice speaking to my own heart. I was able to share that I too have a lot of fears and being their teacher is at the top of the list! They were amazed that their teacher was scared sometimes too!!!! It was a very good discussion in class.

Living by the ocean continues to amaze me every day. It's been 2 months in Okinawa now and I still look out the window and think, "wow...God painted a completely different picture than yesterday". It was also a useful teaching tool this week as we used it as a word choice object to describe. The kids came up with some pretty good words that describe the ocean.

God continues to show me Himself through His words and through the tough times at school. I can say that lesson planning is getting easier and I'm finding myself getting more into a routine, but it still feels quite rocky...like at any minute it could all come tumbling down. I suppose it is like the saints before. They could be doing what God called them to do and see great miracles one day and then everything dissipates in a moment of faithlessness and fear the next. I look at them and get excited...they made it so there is hope for me!

Once again, thank you for your prayers! I continue to be blessed and encouraged by them!

Pictures for Your Viewing Pleasure

First Days

Whew...after a mad dash, a pile of preparation, and a ton of meetings, we figured it was time to actually begin the teaching part of our adventure. I think I can speak for most when I say by the time Saturday came along, no one was quite as prepared as they had hoped to be. I looked around my classroom on Saturday evening and thought, "Well, it's as good as it's going to get." And it truly did look good. A huge banner across the top of my room, fun bulletin boards that I did myself (all by myself...haven't done that before), and plenty of room for improvement for the next few months.

So, feeling like a kid on the night before the first day of school, I chose my best first-day-of-teaching outfit, complete with my favorite underwear, and went to sleep. Since I've never worked more in my entire life, I slept quite well! Monday finally arrived and as I was walking to my classroom I started seeing a bunch of little people running around, some excited to be in school, and others dragging just a bit. The only thing that went through my mind was, "Uh, I don't actually know what to do with them. The room looks great, but...uh...a little help here?????" Needless to say, the first day wasn't quite as smooth as I expected.

Let's first say that God is great at destroying preconceived ideas. I always thought Asian kids loved school, worked hard, and hardly ever misbehaved in class. This was the first preconceived idea to be shot down as the noise level in my classroom was slowly rising to uncontrollable. Then I thought that lesson planning and preparation would be easy because I was so efficient at Franklin. This was the second to be utterly mutilated as I found myself lesson planning at 7:00 pm on more than one evening. Then I thought how much they would love me as their teacher and do everything I told me quickly and quietly. Wow, this one only took about 5 minutes to be destroyed...on day one! It was exhausting to hold onto my ideas of what 'should' be while trying to reconcile it with reality.

Tuesday and Wednesday didn't go much better. As the days went on, I found myself getting more and more beat down, even to the point of thinking, "Two years? I can't retired and do something else for two years?" I even began to plan my retirement party and think about the next great adventure of life I could begin. God finally got a hold of me on Thursday morning when I was throwing a tantrum about going to school. He gently reminded me of why I am here and what my purpose was and how that can only be accomplished if I get out of the way. "Oh sweet Jesus inside me, HELP!" was all I could say to that. And He actually did help (surprise I know). I found myself teaching in HIS power, not mine. He is the only one that can accomplish anything in me for these kids. Why do I work so hard to understand and live out what is already true of me? I know I will learn this lesson every week for the next two years...and then the next two years after that. I know this was not the first week of throwing tantrums in the morning. But I also know that He wants to give me new grace for each day. Please continue to pray that I would die to myself daily so I can watch God work mightily through me. This is the only way that I can accomplish anything He has called me to do here in Okinawa!

On tap for this weekend? SLEEP! Open house is over and I worked hard to have my work finished this weekend. I have a few good books and look forward to staying in my pj's! Thank you again for your faithful prayers. I could do NOTHING without them!

And we're off...

After three weeks of orientation and meetings, we are finally starting school tomorrow. Our classrooms are decorated, and our lesson plans for the first week are written. Being in a new school, with new routines and different procedures to learn, has been a little overwhelming during this past week of preparation, but we are very thankful for a supportive administration staff and fellow teachers who have answered so many questions for us.

We have heard so many stories and statistics about our students that we cannot wait to actually meet them for ourselves. Please pray for us and our students that we can start the year off well and that we will share the truth about the Kingdom of God with our students even from day one.

I'm sure that we will soon have stories to share, so stay tuned. We will hopefully be getting some pictures of this gorgeous island up here soon, too.

Thank you all for your support and prayers.

Devotional Thoughts...

Isaiah 49:6 says, "...I will make you as a light for the nations; that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." In my reading this week, I came across this verse and knew that it was to be my purpose verse for the next 2 years. As I received my class list yesterday there were names on it I could hardly pronounce, as well as names that were quite familiar. As expected, my classroom will be extremely diverse. Students from India, Japan, the states, and other countries will come into my classroom with their ideas and beliefs daily; and I have the responsibility and opportunity to share the love of Christ with each one daily! It can be a very overwhelming thought! However, God has enabled me, called me, and prepared me to be a light for the nations, to share His salvation with the ends of the earth. I am encouraged as I read in Revelation 7:9 "...a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and people and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb..." That means that some of the 126 million people in Japan who are currently perishing in their sins, will be part of that huge worship service in heaven one day. I have a part to play in this ministry and it begins in my classroom, with my students and their families. Thank you for your prayers...as I really let that reality sink in I find myself so unworthy! Yet HE is worthy and by HIS power this weak vessel can shine for Him.

Goodness is...

We have now been in Japan for one week, and throughout this week, I have been constantly reminded of the verse that says that "everything that God created is good" (I Tim. 4:4). So, for your reading enjoyment and for the glory of our good God, here is a list of some of God's goodness that we have seen:

Goodness is having everything from suitcases not getting lost to meeting up with each other in L.A. to safety each step of the journey to having someone to pick us up from the airport, all making for an extremely smooth (though long) trip.

Goodness is immediately being surrounded by a new family and friends even though we just arrived.

Goodness is extremely blue ocean water everywhere we look, a beautiful view from our living room window, opportunities to swim at different beaches and see some absurd sea creatures.

Goodness is beginning to learn a new language, where we realize that we can't do it on our own but remember that the author of languages gives wisdom and patience.

Goodness is air conditioning in our apartment and Ark's classroom.

Goodness is many patient teachers who show us how to use the bank and where to find doctors and how to ride the bus and answer all our questions.

Goodness is learning to cook with ingredients of which we can't read the label and sometimes have no idea what we're eating.

Goodness is looking forward to a new school, a new school year, new students, and new co-workers.

Goodness is being blessed to work at a school that has such a vision for sharing the gospel with the nations.

Goodness is a boss who tells us that we are fired because he doesn't want us working for him; he wants us working for God.

Goodness is mercies that are new every morning.

Goodness is a faithful God who loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us while we were yet sinners.

T Minus 1

So today is our last day in the states. Tomorrow we will get on an airplane, say hello in LA, and then fly across the ocean to our new home in Okinawa! The summer has gone by soooo quickly; it does not seem possible that it is already July 27th. Through the summer I've been able to spend quality time with friends and family, learn a lot about packing and fitting stuff into small places, and about God's faithfulness to provide and teach me through His Word. All I can say is: bring it on!

The next time you hear from me I will be sitting in a place that until then has only been in my imagination! I can't wait! Until then...blessings to you all!

Ponderings!

So I'm the more sentimental of the two of us! I know that...and so does Lew. It's my nature to hold tightly to things and to despise change. And here I go running across the world, which will be the greatest change yet. Some days I ask myself, "what are you thinking?" My heart is in such an awkward place right now. I feel as though I live in two worlds and I am not sure how to exist in either one right now. But, I can say for certain that God's hands is faithfully behind this move to Japan and I can rest assured He is going to be my guide and my strength. The prayer of my heart this year has been that He would show me how to trust Him wholeheartedly! Well, moving to another country, taking a big pay cut, and stepping outside of my comfort zone is definitely a way of learning trust. So far, the Lord has answered EVERY prayer and given me so much more confirmation that I am walking in obedience than I deserve.

Just to name a few:
- Found a home for my bed...and I get it back in 2 years :)
- Found a home for my oak table...and I get it back in 2 years :)
- Found a home for my piano and my friend moved it free of cost...oh what a blessing. It was like the Lord reminding me that HE will meet every need, even before I know about it.
- Provided resources I hadn't imagined I needed
- Provided an amazing church who is supporting me in prayer!
- Provided amazing parents who are storing what I don't sell and have supported me in my wild adventures the last few years. I love you guys!

All of these may seem small, but they are have strengthened my faith in so many ways. When the day is done, I feel overwhelmed at His faithfulness and guidance. I am so undeserving, but so excited to see how He wants to use me for His glory and His purposes in the next two years and beyond.

Once again, thanks to all my friends who read these updates...and more than that, who pray for me on a daily basis! I can already feel your prayers and am so blessed!

Ok...done being sentimental :) Thanks for hanging with me!

It's Official: We're Moving to Japan

Once upon a time, two explorers went on a long road trip...but you already knew that. Ok, so the one thing that we didn't share in our past posts was the conversations we had about the future. On a long stretch of highway over popsicles, we asked each other a question. "What is one thing you would regret not doing before you die?" As you can imagine, this lead to quite a deep conversation and we realized that our answers matched. Lew said,"I want to teach overseas before I die." To which, Ark responded with, "Me too, but I don't want to go by myself." So, we hypothetically began talking about where we would teach overseas given the opportunity. Our four options were Greece, Italy, Taiwan, and Japan all of which avoid the terror of eating spiders and monkey brain like in some other countries. Through many nights at Wildflower Bread Co. exploring school options and applications, we narrowed our search down to Taiwan and Japan. We applied to every Christian International School in Japan and Morrison Academy in Taiwan, and slowly God revealed His amazing plan for us in going to Okinawa Christian School International. God opened up the doors for us at OCSI by having a second grade position open for Ark and a junior high English literature position for Lew. So after applications, phone interviews, and prayer, we accepted the positions offered to us and signed a two-year contract. We began to prepare our hearts and minds for this HUGE step.

So here are some details:

Departure date: unknown...but sometime near the end of July
Housing: We will be living on campus with the other staff members of the school
Island: Yes, we're moving to a tropical island...It's where God called us!!!!
School: OCSI has about 20% of its student population that is Christian upon enrollment, but 80% or so of their graduates are Christians...which means we have a great ministry opportunity with our students, sharing Christ with them and discipling them
Hurdles: Visas (we're a little behind schedule for this...prayer is needed that we get them on time); language learning (Japanese has been called the Devil's Language); adjustment to a new school, culture, climate, way of life, etc; leaving family and friends in Arizona and Minnesota for what feels like a long time
Side note: We'll be learning how to surf and scuba dive and make (and eat and like) sushi
Invitation: Come visit us! We'll feed you the sushi that we have learned how to cook

It has been an amazing journey to watch how God has swung some doors wide open and slammed others tightly shut! We feel immeasurably blessed and grateful for the plans He has for us, which are so much more than we could have thought or imagined! We would love to stay in touch with all of you if you would like to join us vicariously through this adventure. We'll be updating our blog periodically, and if you want to receive a montly e-mail update, send us your e-mail address, and we'll add you to that list.

Lew-shrimpsterq@gmail.com
Ark-aknowinghim38@gmail.com

We also know that we are going to need to be showered with prayer in this dark country, so we would love if you would pray for us.