A week in Japan . . . and a lot has happened.

Warning - this post is very long and has lots of pictures.  Do not read while driving as you might fall asleep!! Thank you!!

Our first full week in Japan has come and gone and we are half way thru our second week.  A lot has happened and we have had a few first. 

• our first trip to a park
•  the first time I let the kids walk to the park alone {I was a little nervous, I have to admit}
•  my first time cooking a full Japaneses meal
•  our first trip to the doctor
•  we had the first church service
•  the buying of refrigerator and washer
•  the adventures of trying to communicate with the sales staff. {All we could say was "wait a minute please" in Japanese.  We were waiting for the Winters to meet us at the store.} 

A lot has happened and God has made himself known to us.  We have been blessed beyond measure. 

 The kids playing Wii

 Fitting all the kids in the car to go to the BIG park

 Another picture - trying to fit everyone face in the picture

 Nerf + Jungle Gym = Happy Boys

 Girls on the See Saw

 Jonah climbing at the park

 Eli in the "Rope Loop"

Jonah on the Zip Line at the park

 Kayla and Rachal folding flyer's about the Christian School.

Our First Sunday should probably be its own post but for the sake of time I will add the pictures and tell you about our day.

 Sunday at church

 The boys are making friends

{just now saw Mike's face - don't know what that is all about}

 Rachal and her friends

The girls table

 We went out to eat after church {as good Baptist do}

 as a time of fellowship and getting to know the Wyatts

 The boys table

 Some of the ladies from church

 Dinner time!!

 Men's table

 Ladies table

 Cooking my first Japanese meal.  It's tamago-yaki.

{which means - egg fried.  This is different than an American fried egg.}

Here it is the finished!!  Becky said I did very good for my first try!!!

I didn't have pictures from our first doctor appointment.  Rachal has the flu and at the time of this post Becky also does and Mike is on his way.  So please pray for us as we try to keep everyone else from getting sick. 



It's throw up day . . .

{a very wise preacher and friend explained this to us, and it is so perfect.  Other missionaries who have been in our shoes will understand what we mean}


The story of Jonah would be the one of the first missionary stories in the Bible.  God told Jonah to go to a land far away and take the gospel to them.  Jonah didn't really want to obey so he ran away, got on a ship and was swallowed by a whale.  While in the belly of the whale Jonah had a change of heart.  Jonah knew he should take the Gospel to these people.  It was hard in the belly of the whale, it was not always fun.  Jonah didn't always know what he was going to eat or how he would be taken care of.  God always provided for him, took care of him and showed him everything would be OK.  And then one day, it was throw up day!!  The day he would no longer be on deputation, I mean in the belly of the whale.  The day he would be ready to RUN to his new land and share the Gospel with these people. 

 Here is our story about Throw Up Day!!

Well we have made it safe and sound in Japan.  I have had several people asking for pictures and wanting to know how the kids did.  So here goes . . . .


We loaded the church van bright and early on Monday morning (5:30 am) to head to the airport.  After a tearful goodbye we checked our bags and headed off to security.  Everyone did great getting through security.  We found our gate and then found McDonald's!!!  Coffee for the grown ups and sausage biscuits for the kids.  Everyone was happy.  Now we load the plain and off we go to LA

 Mike and Rachal

 Eli gives a "thumbs up after take off"

Jonah and Noah happy to be in the air too!!

The flight to LA was only 3 hours.  Once in LA we had to switch from "Domestic Flights" to "International Flights"  So here we go with four kids, 6 carry on bags, 6 back packs and having no clue where to go.  We finally figured out that we had to leave the secure area, walk outside and over the the next building.  Then we had to go thru security again.  Mike was selected for "random screening" with the TSA.  This would be his second time in the last three flights to be pat down and searched.  I guess he just has "that face" that makes them want to search him. 

We finally find our gate and then stop for a snack.  The kids are still doing good and excited to board the "Big Plane".  Here are a few pictures from the plane ride.

 Jonah and Eli  watching movies

 Dinner and a movie with Noah and Rachal

 Dinner was grilled chicken, rice, noddles and rice crackers

(it was really good)

 Desert was Green Tea ice cream - YUM!!

 The boys slept . . . .

 Clouds

Tracking the flight . . . . almost there!!

After our 12 hour flight we finally landed in Tokyo.  The kids were so excited to see Japan.  We had two hours to get through Immigration, get our luggage through Customs, and check back in for our next flight to Fukuoka.  Here are more pictures . . . .

And here is my favorite picture. 

(It had to be retaken because of the tears and hugging.

 Not everyone made it in the retake.) 

When we came through the sliding doors we were welcomed to our new home by our new church family.