Time flying by...

This last week has gone by so fast. It started with a surprise day off as all our ministry was cancelled last Monday, so the girls and I went to Oriental Bazaar and I'm glad to say that I was able to buy all my souvenir/Christmas presents in one day, at one shop!

The week continued with usual ministry, at Keio University, then with the Church. Tonight we head back to Cafe Decision. We are hosting another movie-night tomorrow night. We definitely hit the "storming" phase of our relationship as a team last week, but I feel like we quickly dealt with it and moved on, which is so good, because we were seriously starting to drive each other crazy!

Yesterday, the English professor at Keio University took us to a hot springs here in Tokyo, and yes, you have to get naked. So, we girls trepidly stepped out in our towels, and after some discussion, decided to go for it and lose our inhibitions. It was actually a lot of fun and super relaxing. There were multiple bathing areas that had different healing benefits for different parts of the body. Apparently, going to the public baths or hot springs is considered one of those things you just have to do when you come here. So, now we can say we did it!

We're doing great and having fun and here ia a pic to prove it:
Posing in the subway station:

Movie Night

Last night we had a movie night here at the church, inviting all our friends that we'd met over the last week. We had about 9 girls and 1 guy. We watched Shrek 2, which was a huge success! Apparently the conversations that ensued were really good too, and the guy is now really thinking about becoming a Christian! The ministry here is going really well and we are making lots of friends!

I had both my UNISA exams last week and I think they both went well. I am just glad to be done with it all!

Oh, and yesterday, I experienced my first earthquake. Apparently they have about 8-10 a day here in Tokyo but we had not yet been in one. Yesterday morning, I awoke to a strange feeling. I was suddenly shaking back and forth in my bed. I thought that the girl sleeping next to me was shaking me and then I realised that no one was touching me! It lasted for about 30 seconds, and the whole time I was thinking, "Do I need to get under a table? When do you know if you need to get under a table?" It was kinda strange!

Anyway, today is our church day, so lots of church services and what-not. Busy day!

More pix...

So some of these are already old, but I thought I'd put them up anyway. Sadly I don't have my camera connector cable with me (and I was borrowing one from one of the students in the Osaka team) so I can't upload my recent pix - these are from somebody else's. Anyway, all that to say, here are some fun pix!

Crammed together in the Subway train in Tokyo - this is not a joke, this is for real!


Our first Udon experience:


The girl that Sarah and I met and talked to (I really believe she is going to become a Christian):


Waiting for the train in Osaka our first day in Japan:


Anyway, things are going well. The other day, I took a day off to study and sent the students off on their own. Apparently they had really good conversations with the university students and they were really encouraged by how God orchestrated so much of their evening. I love my students!

Please pray for me tomorrow though (Thursday 12th October), I have my Italian exam and I'm kinda nervous. As well as my Theory of Literature on Friday, which I have hardly studied at all, because I have been focusing so much on my Italian! But I am so happy that my exams are tomorrow and Friday because it means that after Friday all I have to think about is our wedding and outreach. I will feel so free! I will have so much more time! I'm so excited! Can't you tell by all the exclamation points!?

the Harvard of Japan, Cafe Decision, & the long day of Church

We started ministry in Tokyo, and so far God has opened up some really cool doors for us. On Friday, we met with one of the English teachers at Keio University, which is the Harvard of Japan. She is a Christian and is passionate to see her students come to know Christ. We will be participating in at least 5 of her classes a week helping talk to the students and teaching them songs in English. We are really excited for this opportunity, as apparently the last Prime Minister went there. Who know what future key people of Japan we are going to meet there?

On Friday night, we were invited to go to Cafe Decision. This a Cafe run by a former Japanese DTS student eager to reach out to his fellow people. Every Friday night is English night, where people come to speak English. We were excited to talk to those who came, braving the typhoon-like weather of the evening, and we are even more excited to go back during the next 3 weeks we're here.

And then finally, today, we had the long day of Church! Two and a half church services, a small group, and an English class later, we are done and ready to hit the hay!

It is good to be in Tokyo and we are excited for the opportunities that God is opening up for us.

On another note: I have my final two exams for my classes this semester this coming Thursday and Friday. My lovely team is letting me take a day off to study!

And on another note: the wedding plans are going well, and it has been cool to see how God is opening up really cool things for us. We are excited to get married!

additions to the family

I forgot to mention (in all the outreach madness, and getting engaged, and trying to finish up my UNISA classes) that my two nieces were born. My niece Adi Ciel was born to Sam and Beth on 21st September, conveniently my dad's birthday. My niece Chloe Emilia was born to Matt and Tracie on 5th October.

Here is Adi:


Here is Chloe:


Aren't they beautiful? I am so excited to meet them and get to know them. Life is just beautiful!

Other news: we just arrived in Tokyo a few days ago. It is good to be here, though Tokyo definitely is crazy. There are people everywhere all the time. We live by this one intersection where at least 300-400 people cross on foot everytime the lights go green. So many people, so little time!

We did have fun talking to Mormons last night who came to our Bible Study. We are learning about how to just love them rather than convince them to agree with our theology. We are hoping to see them more often and develop a good friendship with them.

Also, here is a pic of April, one of our students, and I at a Japanese tea ceremony, and another pic of my birthday dinner!