The Last Month....in review....

I feel really bad that I haven't kept up to speed on this blog. I wanted to keep it as my "online journal". Evidently, that isn't working so well, unless, you measure a successful journal as being one that has been written in regardless of how many days pass between entries. In that case, I have great success!

May was a difficult month for me. I struggled a lot with missing my family, my church, and my friends. I was going through some big time culture adjustments. I was having communication issues with coworkers, and feeling like I couldn't do the job. I know, with no doubt, that God brought me here, so, there is no such option as quitting. You don't quit what God has brought you to do. However, you definitely have to learn to adjust to it - and - that is not easy, at times.

May was Friends' Day at Meysen. It was a time with carts pulled by horses, hotdogs from Costco, American food (popcorn, cheesecake, blueberry muffins, etc.), pony rides, put-put golf, and variety of articles sold and just an overall time to invite friends and family to see what Meysen is all about. There were Open Houses for each class. Mine was just 1 hour but all the parents were comfortably seated in the room while I taught. I didn't mind this time. I somewhat knew what to expect, and was better prepared. The greatest challenge was working 14 days straight. Sunday, May 31, was Marayama's (sister campus) Friends Day. I worked from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It was a very long day. I had a good time but it was long, non-stop work. Then on June 7th was Takamori Friends' Day. That, too, was a long day but different. I was teaching so didn't have as much to do in the morning. Though clean up was still ahead of me, it made the day a bit easier to handle. After the day was over, my friends Paula and Sara and I went to a place called Tirols. It was delicious! It is Japanese Italian food. The portions were greater than I thought they would be. It was nice to be able to end the day with friends and a relaxing dinner.

The month of June has been passing pretty swiftly. I have come to realize that God is Sovereign - that means that every detail has been worked out by Him, I don't have to worry. Do I worry? Of course, that would be lying to say I didn't. However, He constantly reminds me that there is no point in worrying about it, He's got it. Living here without a phone is an adjustment. I don't wish to have a phone. It just means that you have to learn to plan. So, my story... I got on a bus, 3 minutes to spare, heading for the train station. I was to meet my friends at the second stop, Yaotome, and then go downtown together. However, we never talked about what time to meet, only that we needed to be at our destination by 4:00p.m. We never said I will see you "here" by such and such a time. I got on the bus and prayed the whole time that they would be there and if they weren't there, then, I would sit and wait and study my Japanese book. (That was funny, too, because there was this older gentleman on the bus who was helping me with my sounds....I think he got a kick out of it! There are so many sounds in Japanese to learn!) When I got to the Yaotome station, lo and behold, my friends had just walked up the steps! They were so happy to see me and I them. We hugged and laughed - you would have thought we hadn't seen each other in a year! But, it reminded me that the God I serve is in contact with all of His children - He can relay the message, no problem!

Then, in addition to that, God has reminded me that He is Hope! There is always Hope when you put your trust in God. This statement is made because of so many experiences....it is hard to know where to begin. First, I have been struggling to communicate with my coworkers. It is a very complex scenario to overcome because, though, the words we are saying are the same language, the interpretation and understanding of them are completely different. Through prayer alone and the hope that God would enable communication, we are now understanding each other. Secondly, this is kind of silly, but I met this guy. I am not saying anything than simply this; there are more options in Japan then what I had originally thought. In fact, very handsome and nice options. That is all I will say to that! Increased options are really nice, though, especially, when you think that the options have all been relegated to only a handful and you are prooved wrong! In this case, I am happy to be wrong. But, again, it is to God that all glory is given because with Him ALL Things Are Possible - even nice, single, handsome men in Japan. Can I get an "AMEN"?! Gig, I think of you at this moment. : )

This is a basic summary. There are many more stories that I could share but time does not allow me or, rather, I do not allow the time. Whichever way you look at it - we're done here.
Love Always! cj