Reflections of Refinement: Anniversary!

Friday, October 03, 2008

Anniversary!

Today is my 4th Anniversary in Japan! Wow time flies. It's been long enough that I've started having difficulty remembering how many years it's been. (yeah, I'm just bad with concepts like time to begin with.)

It's really amazing to think that I've lived here for so long. This is long enough to get a college degree. (in all honestly, it felt like I've been in a kinda "hand-on" grad school.) This was long enough that my nephew (who was an infant when I left) will be starting Kindergarten soon. Long enough for a niece to be born. (she's about to turn two I believe, and I've only seen her twice!) Long enough to miss the death of two dogs.

Long enough to fall in love with an entire country. Long enough to have my heart broken by the deep pain and suffering I see here, but is so often covered up and ignored. Long enough for my heart to heal and be desensitized to things like that.

Long enough to loose over 60 pounds. Long enough to be able to speak conversational Japanese and read just enough to get by. (being illiterate isn't as hard as you would think...)

Long enough to see co-workers come and go. Long enough to see students come and go. Long enough to watch kids grow up...

But not nearly long enough...

I'm still in love with Japan. I love Japanese food. I love the fashions. I love the history and the romance. I love the style. I love the traditional arts. I love the people.

I don't really miss America. I don't miss my car. I don't miss the noisiness. I don't miss the politics. I don't miss understanding what everyone is talking about around me. I don't miss the unhealthiness.

I do miss my friends and family. I miss watching my niece and nephew grow up. I miss the future that will never happen. I miss shopping for clothes. ;-)

But I don't regret any of it.

Here are some pictures. The pictures of me were taken by my student Masahiko. He was very excited to see me in Yukatta. Please pray for Masahiko. He studies the Bible very diligently and he is a good student. But I would love to see him believe what he reads and become a Christian and my brother.

The other pictures are of my cute returnee class. They have all lived in other countries (three in America, one in Malaysia) and are great with English. We wrote a fun story in class the other day about a Skiing Egg. They are so cute!

1 comment:

E. Chikeles said...: I hope someday if you do get back to the states-or if I ever get to Japan- we could get a chance to meet. I love Japan and everything I learn about it but your blog is one of only two believing perspectives I've gotten to study the country through... I'm praying for you and your work with the kids and people you meet! Thanks for posting your stories.

誕生日おめでとう!
(sorry its informal, I am not very good a japanese yet); 4:36 AM

Post a Comment

Welcome!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! I am excited to know you have been here. Just for the record, I wanted to give a few explanations and disclaimers.

First, all photos are taken by me unless otherwise stated. I try to attach photos that someway correlate to my posts. Sometimes you might have to stretch your imagination a bit, but at least in my mind they all make sense. If you would like to use any of my photos, please ask for permission.

Second, I very much appreciate and am encouraged by your comments. I am very fortunate to have many encouraging comments on my blog. However, please be advised that I do not tolerate spam or rude comments. They will be deleted. Also, I do not link to or promote other blogs. Comments that are obviously only for the promotion of their own blog will also be deleted. I do not make money from this site, and do not intend to use adsense or any other form of revenue. I do not promote my own blog on other's blogs, and I would like the same respect and consideration.

Also concerning comments: I'm very grateful for all that I receive. It is encouraging to know that people are reading and thinking about the things I write about. I read every comment. Unfortunately, I don't often reply to comments. Contrary to my writing style, I am actually a bit shy and socially awkward. I'm more of a "lurker" type than a replier. I just wanted you to know that lack of response does not equal lack of appreciation.

I hope that you enjoy reading my blog. I understand that not everyone will empathize with or agree with what I say and how I say it. I do my best to be honest but respectful, and I appreciate the same respect and honesty.

Thank you for your time and thought.

I ask you to PRAY

Finally brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Prayers for us and the Japanese people:

That we may

*be given the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Christ
*have our eyes be enlightened with His presence
*know the Hope of His calling
*understand the greatness of His power toward us
*have our hearts strengthened
*have Christ dwelling in our hearts
*be rooted and grounded in love
*able to comprehend the width and length depth and height of the love of Christ
*be filled with the fullness of Christ
*have love that abounds more and more in knowledge and discernment
*be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ
*be filled with the fruits of righteousness
*be filled with the knowledge of His Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
*have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God
*be strengthened with all Might, according to His power
*have patience and longsuffering with joy and thanksgiving
*be like-minded toward one another so that we may Glorify Christ with one mind and one mouth
*be filled with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
*be enriched in everything so that we come short in no spiritual gift and that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ
*have what is lacking in our faith perfected
*be made to increase and abound in love to one another and overflow to all
*have our hearts established as blameless before God at the coming of Christ
*be counted worthy of His calling and fulfill all good works He has planned for us
*be glorified in the name of Jesus, and He in us, according to Grace
*be living fully in the love of God and the patience of Christ

(prayer requests taken from the various Apostolic prayers)