Well, I am back at Ozark now. Japan seems like a distant memory already. I want to go back, though. I'll let you know how that works out.
Thanks for your support everybody! It was a phenomenal experience. ^_^
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Last day of classes
Well, English Summer School has been going ridiculously well! The kids are running me ragged, and I'm totally exhausted, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I go home on Monday, and I'm excited for home, but at the same time, I don't want to leave. I love it here.
Tomorrow is our last day of classes. Pray for these kids to learn about who Jesus is.
Tomorrow is our last day of classes. Pray for these kids to learn about who Jesus is.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Summer School
English Summer School started this week! So far, we've had two students a day, but our last week we're going to average 7 to 10, ranging from 2 yrs. all the way to 11. It's going to be tough to figure out lessons for that.
So far, the oldest kid we've had was 6. We've been doing mostly alphabet, colors, and numbers. Yesterday, our kids were very active kids who needed energetic activities to get them engaged. Today, we had two quiet girls. I find the quieter kids more challenging. Active kids will learn if you get them running around, and you can tell they're learning because they'll shout what you're trying to teach them if they get excited enough. Quiet kids are another story. You can't tell if they're learning much because they don't speak. We had to do activities where they showed us things, because we couldn't get a peep out of them.
I'm looking forward to the bigger groups. They're challenging, but more fun.
So far, the oldest kid we've had was 6. We've been doing mostly alphabet, colors, and numbers. Yesterday, our kids were very active kids who needed energetic activities to get them engaged. Today, we had two quiet girls. I find the quieter kids more challenging. Active kids will learn if you get them running around, and you can tell they're learning because they'll shout what you're trying to teach them if they get excited enough. Quiet kids are another story. You can't tell if they're learning much because they don't speak. We had to do activities where they showed us things, because we couldn't get a peep out of them.
I'm looking forward to the bigger groups. They're challenging, but more fun.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Update
Today we went to Utsunomiya, and Yuji-san came with us. I've been praying for opportunities to talk to him about God, and I got to a little bit today. But there are barriers, some questions and struggles that need answers. I don't think I have the time here with Yuji-san to help him through it, but I suppose that's what facebook is going to have to be for. Pray for him, that God would open his heart and mind to the gospel.
Classes are going well. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Nikko, teaching. We did some more group teaching sessions at the kindergarten up there, similar to what we did for the kindergarten in Omochanomachi. It was fun. I've decided that kindergarteners are my very favorite age to teach in large groups. They are so great!
Summer school starts next week. Pray that we can plan a great course that will teach the kids a lot, both about English, and about God.
Slightly amusing story: at dinner tonight, it was my turn to pray. We joked a bit about me praying in Japanese. I said all I knew in Japanese was how to say "Dear God," and "Amen." After I spent about half a minute butchering "Dear God" in Japanese, Ruriko-san said, "Pray in English... please."
Classes are going well. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Nikko, teaching. We did some more group teaching sessions at the kindergarten up there, similar to what we did for the kindergarten in Omochanomachi. It was fun. I've decided that kindergarteners are my very favorite age to teach in large groups. They are so great!
Summer school starts next week. Pray that we can plan a great course that will teach the kids a lot, both about English, and about God.
Slightly amusing story: at dinner tonight, it was my turn to pray. We joked a bit about me praying in Japanese. I said all I knew in Japanese was how to say "Dear God," and "Amen." After I spent about half a minute butchering "Dear God" in Japanese, Ruriko-san said, "Pray in English... please."
A Peek into my Prayers
God, I ache for people to believe in you. I wish it was easier. I wish some Christians wouldn't be jerks. I wish the Church wouldn't get caught up in doctrines and disputes, and would love like you commanded it to.
I wish you would show yourself clearly. I wish it didn't seem so stupid sometimes to believe in You. But you don't make sense. You want the stupid people, the sell-outs, the losers, the failures, the disabled, the handicapped, the ones society has given up on.
You don't make sense. You ask me to die, so that I can live. Your tell me to surrender so that I can be victorious. You tell me to be foolish, so that I can be wise.
I ache for those who don't believe in you. I ache for the church to be one, for us to love one another the way you intended. I ache for our hearts to be broken by your heartache.
I ache for the children who will search for you their whole lives and not even know it.
I ache for your return. But I ache for the time that is running out before that happens. I ache for this nation, Father, and all the people I see walking down the street who do not know you. You know every name, and you ache for your name to be written on their hearts.
I never expected love to be this painful, but you would know about that better than I, wouldn't you?
I wish you would show yourself clearly. I wish it didn't seem so stupid sometimes to believe in You. But you don't make sense. You want the stupid people, the sell-outs, the losers, the failures, the disabled, the handicapped, the ones society has given up on.
You don't make sense. You ask me to die, so that I can live. Your tell me to surrender so that I can be victorious. You tell me to be foolish, so that I can be wise.
I ache for those who don't believe in you. I ache for the church to be one, for us to love one another the way you intended. I ache for our hearts to be broken by your heartache.
I ache for the children who will search for you their whole lives and not even know it.
I ache for your return. But I ache for the time that is running out before that happens. I ache for this nation, Father, and all the people I see walking down the street who do not know you. You know every name, and you ache for your name to be written on their hearts.
I never expected love to be this painful, but you would know about that better than I, wouldn't you?
Saturday, July 11, 2009
More Classes
Classes have been going well! Yesterday we had the opportunity to go to a private kindergarten here in Omocha, and taught English to at least sixty kindergarteners and preschoolers (though not all at once). It was very fun, but we weren't allowed to share the gospel there.
Yesterday evening we tutored two Junior High girls in Nikko.
Today we rode the train to Tochigi and walked around that city for a while. I also figured out how to rent cds, though that was incredibly difficult, since the cashier didn't know any English, and used Japanese words I'd not heard before. It was a challenge, but good practice and experience.
Pray that God will open doors for us to share. Also, if you could pray that I would learn the language quickly, that'd be a blessing, too. I wish I were fluent enough to strike up conversations with people I meet, but all I can really do is understand a little of what they say, and hope what I'm saying is the correct response.
Yesterday evening we tutored two Junior High girls in Nikko.
Today we rode the train to Tochigi and walked around that city for a while. I also figured out how to rent cds, though that was incredibly difficult, since the cashier didn't know any English, and used Japanese words I'd not heard before. It was a challenge, but good practice and experience.
Pray that God will open doors for us to share. Also, if you could pray that I would learn the language quickly, that'd be a blessing, too. I wish I were fluent enough to strike up conversations with people I meet, but all I can really do is understand a little of what they say, and hope what I'm saying is the correct response.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Classes and Sightseeing
We had our first two days of classes on Monday and Tuesday, and they went well. Janice and I are still trying to get the hang of things, but overall I think we did a decent job. Janice has all these creative ideas for our Kindergarten class. It'll be great!
Our Tuesday classes are in Nikko, which is a world-famous tourist spot. I saw other white people! lol. It's a beautiful town up in the mountains of Japan, with a lot of historic buildings and gorgeous scenery. If you've seen The Last Samurai, it kind of looks like that.
Today, Janice and I figured out the densha (train) to Utsunomiya, the city near Omochanomachi. We did some shopping and walked around, taking some pictures. It was nice. Mostly I just liked that we were able to do it on our own. That was fun.
Keep praying for our students, that God will work through our teaching and our presence to bring them to him.
Our Tuesday classes are in Nikko, which is a world-famous tourist spot. I saw other white people! lol. It's a beautiful town up in the mountains of Japan, with a lot of historic buildings and gorgeous scenery. If you've seen The Last Samurai, it kind of looks like that.
Today, Janice and I figured out the densha (train) to Utsunomiya, the city near Omochanomachi. We did some shopping and walked around, taking some pictures. It was nice. Mostly I just liked that we were able to do it on our own. That was fun.
Keep praying for our students, that God will work through our teaching and our presence to bring them to him.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Pray for Yuji-san
Yesterday I met Yuji-san. He is a 23-year-old Japanese man with almost perfect English. He came to the church to practice English conversation with me.
We talked for a long time, and during the course of the conversation, I discovered that while we have a lot in common, he is not a Christian. It's clear that God has opened a door for me to water seeds that Joyce, a missionary who went before me, has planted. Pray that Janice and I will be able to have fruitful conversations with Yuji, and that God will open his eyes to the eternal.
Last night Janice arrived in Japan, and today I showed her around Omochanomachi. It's good to have someone to talk to!
Anyway, keep Yuji in your prayers. Thank you for reading, and for praying.
We talked for a long time, and during the course of the conversation, I discovered that while we have a lot in common, he is not a Christian. It's clear that God has opened a door for me to water seeds that Joyce, a missionary who went before me, has planted. Pray that Janice and I will be able to have fruitful conversations with Yuji, and that God will open his eyes to the eternal.
Last night Janice arrived in Japan, and today I showed her around Omochanomachi. It's good to have someone to talk to!
Anyway, keep Yuji in your prayers. Thank you for reading, and for praying.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Problems and Solutions
The other day I went to the post office to get some yen, and discovered that my PIN number is too long for Japanese ATMs. It's kind of funny in a disastrous way.
My partner, Janice, will arrive in Japan today, and next week we kick into high gear with the teaching. I'm glad; so far it's been a little boring. I'm almost out of reading material.
My partner, Janice, will arrive in Japan today, and next week we kick into high gear with the teaching. I'm glad; so far it's been a little boring. I'm almost out of reading material.
Monday, June 29, 2009
I'm here!
It's taken me a while to update because I can't access the internet here with my own laptop. So I write from the church's laptop.
Anyhow, I arrived in Japan at about 3 PM on Thursday, which was 11 PM Wednesday by California time. I took a bus to Tochigi, and Yoko-san and Ruriko-san picked me up. I collapsed into bed at 9 PM, having spent 23 hours straight awake, since I wasn't able to sleep on the plane.
Things are going well. The English summer school has yet to kick in. We had our first lesson today for toddlers, or rather, I sat in on the lesson that was already going on. I finished all but one of the books I brought with me. I'm actually kind of bored. Soon enough I'll be busier than I can deal with, but I have almost nothing to do and only a couple of people who know English enough to hold a conversation. So I'm trying my hardest to learn Japanese. I've already made significant progress, but I still understand only about one of every seventy-five words that are spoken.
Yesterday was church. I delivered my testimony, and I'm glad that's over with. Everyone was very kind to me, but again, the language barrier makes things really hard. I like it here, but I'm a bit lonely.
My partner, Janice, arrives on Thursday, and I have to say, I can hardly wait.
Anyhow, I arrived in Japan at about 3 PM on Thursday, which was 11 PM Wednesday by California time. I took a bus to Tochigi, and Yoko-san and Ruriko-san picked me up. I collapsed into bed at 9 PM, having spent 23 hours straight awake, since I wasn't able to sleep on the plane.
Things are going well. The English summer school has yet to kick in. We had our first lesson today for toddlers, or rather, I sat in on the lesson that was already going on. I finished all but one of the books I brought with me. I'm actually kind of bored. Soon enough I'll be busier than I can deal with, but I have almost nothing to do and only a couple of people who know English enough to hold a conversation. So I'm trying my hardest to learn Japanese. I've already made significant progress, but I still understand only about one of every seventy-five words that are spoken.
Yesterday was church. I delivered my testimony, and I'm glad that's over with. Everyone was very kind to me, but again, the language barrier makes things really hard. I like it here, but I'm a bit lonely.
My partner, Janice, arrives on Thursday, and I have to say, I can hardly wait.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Tickets
Well, I have my tickets to Japan, now. I depart from San Francisco on June 24th and arrive in Japan on June 25th. I'll be returning to the US on August 10th.
I'll have two partners (though I don't think I'll be with them both at the same time), Janice and Melissa.
So far, everything is working out great! I'm at home right now resting and enjoying everything I missed about Albuquerque: family, friends, hiking, rock climbing, Wii, and so on. Also, apparently I might be helping my parents move; my dad, who had been without a job since January, finally got one in Las Cruces, NM. Praise God for answered prayers! My brother Daniel is staying here, so I guess I'll have a place to stay when I get back. :)
Thanks for your support! I couldn't have gotten this far without all of you. Japan is going to be awesome and challenging, and I'm so blessed to have this opportunity.
I hope your summers are going well. God bless!
I'll have two partners (though I don't think I'll be with them both at the same time), Janice and Melissa.
So far, everything is working out great! I'm at home right now resting and enjoying everything I missed about Albuquerque: family, friends, hiking, rock climbing, Wii, and so on. Also, apparently I might be helping my parents move; my dad, who had been without a job since January, finally got one in Las Cruces, NM. Praise God for answered prayers! My brother Daniel is staying here, so I guess I'll have a place to stay when I get back. :)
Thanks for your support! I couldn't have gotten this far without all of you. Japan is going to be awesome and challenging, and I'm so blessed to have this opportunity.
I hope your summers are going well. God bless!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Well, today is my birthday, and I just want to say thank you to everyone who has contributed so far! Just today, I've received $1,121 in contributions! God is so good to have provided me with such amazing friends and family! This should put me at or around $3,000 in contributions, so I might be over halfway there!
I may have a partner to go with me. As far as I know, she is still waiting for approval from JEMS's sending committee.
Again, a huge thank you to everyone who is helping out! Keep praying, please.
I may have a partner to go with me. As far as I know, she is still waiting for approval from JEMS's sending committee.
Again, a huge thank you to everyone who is helping out! Keep praying, please.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog about my summer missions trip to Japan! I'll be going to teach English to kids as part of a ministry outreach of a local Japanese church.
You've caught me. I'm starting this blog several months in advance. Right now I'm in the fundraising stage of this trip. I don't have an exact number yet on how much I'll need to raise, but I do know it'll be around $5,000-$6,000. As of today, I have approximately $1,000. I could use some help there!
More than that, I could use prayer. At this point, pray that I can raise the funds, and pray that I am prepared for this spiritually.
This blog is going to be updated regularly during my time in Japan, so that my friends and supporters can see what I'm up to. Thanks for visiting!
You've caught me. I'm starting this blog several months in advance. Right now I'm in the fundraising stage of this trip. I don't have an exact number yet on how much I'll need to raise, but I do know it'll be around $5,000-$6,000. As of today, I have approximately $1,000. I could use some help there!
More than that, I could use prayer. At this point, pray that I can raise the funds, and pray that I am prepared for this spiritually.
This blog is going to be updated regularly during my time in Japan, so that my friends and supporters can see what I'm up to. Thanks for visiting!
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