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