April in Review...

I can hardly believe that April is over with and today is the first day of May. So many things have happened it is hard to know where to begin. What I do know is that God has blessed me greatly. I am thankful for the good and the bad I have experienced here in Japan.

When I was in college, Jonathan and I talked of visiting Washington D.C. one spring to see the cherry blossoms. The only problem with that was that every year the blossoms came at different times. You can't exactly predict when they are going begin blooming. So, we never went. Then my friend Eric moved to D.C. and I thought, "wow, now I have someone else to go visit and see the cherry blossoms!". But that never happened either. All of this story to say, the whole of Japan blooms for an entire month! The Lord brought me to a whole COUNTRY planted with cherry blossoms! They are truly a beautiful sight to see. In early April, my friends and I took the bullet train and went to Tokyo. That was the beggining of the season. Here in Japan, it is a big deal. Families sit on blue tarps and get drunk under a cherry blossom tree. It lasts for all day or as long as they desire to stay drunk. Interestingly it is not as messy as one would imagine. There are recycle stations at various locations that they can put their glass, burnables, and plastics appropriately trashed. I need to tell my brother to come visit me next April, that is if I am still here.

I started teaching full time this April. That was a different kind of experience. It took me some time to adjust to what was asked of me and to get into a rythm with the kids. The Japanese don't typically enjoy change and, me, I am all about change. These two ideas don't mesh too well. So I am trying to give the kids mostly what they are used to but, also, change it up a little bit, too. Communicating with staff and co-workers is different, too. What is said is not always what is said. Understand? Me neither. That is my problem. But, ultimately, when words don't make sense, I just have to look at their hearts and realize that malicious intent is not in them. I need to learn to take what is given to me and filter it with love, and pray that the Holy Spirit fills in the gaps.

That brings me to the next thought, I miss my church! I miss everything about it. Funny, how that is one of the greatest holes in my heart that cannot be filled. Everything else can be filled with a skype call, phone call, or package. But being apart of my home church cannot be filled. I realize that this is the path for me but it doesn't mean I don't long for home on Sundays.

I have made some good friendships. I have learned the bus system, mostly, except for the exact bus that will drop me off in front of my house. I am still working on that one. It is hard when there are three options, varied only by a little unknown symbol. However, I can walk because I know where I am going, that is good. Things feel less strange and more comfortable. For this, I am grateful. The weather is warming up, so, I am not freezing anymore. I am grateful for this. Being cold is not my forte.

I miss my peeps! I love you all! Write or call when you can. I will purpose to be better with updates and such on my blog. I know ya'll like seeing and reading about what is going on over here.