A day filled with kids and cows . . . .

This week Mike has been in Tokyo at a training for the Christian School that will open in April.  The kids and I have kept busy this week with school work, learning to cook new foods, and sleep overs.  Thursday morning my friend Becky called and asked if I want to join her and the kids on a trip up into the mountains to Mo Mo Land.  Of course I said YES!!

We had so much fun.  We milked cows, played with goats and sheep, and played at the park. 

Noah, Ethan and Eli feeding grass to a cow 

 Jonah milking a cow

 Becky and Alyssa milking a cow

 Rachal

 Eli and I . . . Eli is very scared

 The kids

 ALL the kids

Jonah, Rachal, Eli, Noah, Ethan, Alyssa, Kayla

 Silly picture

 Sheep . . .

 Billy Goat

 Jonah and Noah with the sheep

 A few of the city of Fukuoka

 Jonah going down the roller slide

 Me and the roller slide

 Eli on the slide

 Rachal on the slide

 Eli

Going home . . . .

An unwelcome guest . . .

Tonight we had an unwelcome guest in our home. 

A little, flying, unwelcome guest. 

I was bringing in the laundry from outside and folding it to put away.  When out of no where {really, my pajama pants that I was folding} flies this moth or maybe a  butterfly but I think it was a moth.  It scared me and I screamed.  This in turn caused the kids to come running into the living room to save mom.  So while the kids were running, jumping and climbing to capture the beast, I did what any good blogging mom would do.  I grabbed my camera!! 

Here are a few pictures from tonight's events!! 

 jumping and swatting at the "Moth-ster" in our home!

 "Lets all get bowls with lids!!  We can catch it then!"

 Moth-ster hiding from the scary, loud children with bowls and lids.

 "Hold on, I will use my hand.  Oh wait, it's still a bug so never mind!"  - Rachal

 Rachal did catch the moth-ster. 

 Here is the beast!

And then we let him go home to his own family for the night!!

Mike is in Tokyo this week so the kids really did feel like they had to rescue me tonight. 

 I love my kids. 

::blessed beyond measure::

Things are in bloom

Japan is known for the Cherry Blossoms.  I am waiting to see them for the first time.  Everyone says that there is no way to describe the beauty and sweet smell of the blooms.  I hear that there is nothing more beautiful that sitting on the grass having a picnic under a canopy of pink cherry blossoms. 

Another thing that is blooming right now it a sweet friendship between me and a Japanese woman.  God was so good to me this past Friday.  I had my meeting with my friend.  She picked me up at my apartment and we went to her house for a time to visit.  We had coffee and talked (thanks so an electric English to Japanese translator)  She asked many questions about church and being a Christian.  I was able to share more about the Bible with her because of my kids names.  She had never heard of Noah, Rachal, Jonah and Eli.  I had the chance to share with her the story from the Bible about each name.  She then asked if all Christian had to name their children from the Bible.  I laughed and said "No"  She is very interested in  church.  She keeps saying, "Christians are so nice.  Are all Christians this nice?"  Please keep praying for her.  She is searching. 

She also gave me a gift for coming to her house. 

It's a toddler toy for learning the Japanese Alphabet.  I laughed at first but let me tell you, I have played on this thing a lot.  So have the kids.  I am sure this will be the best way for me to learn.  I am on the toddler level you know!!  Thanks for all the prayer this last week.  I could tell that God was in the meeting. 

I am humbled and honored that God has chosen me to work through here in Japan.

A prayer request, a praise and a post

This blog post is more of a prayer request than an update on what we have been up to.  I have so many emotions right now.  I hope this does not sound too much like a ramble so I will start at the beginning.  The VERY beginning.

June 2010 - Mike and I were in Japan on our survey trip.  Becky Winters told me to start praying then for God to give me a Japanese friend.  So I began to pray that God would give me a Japanese women to be friends with.  I have to admit I was worried.  I was worried that I would not be able to communicate enough to even find a friend.  I was worried that I would never have the chance to make a friend.  My kids would not be going to Japanese school.  There would not be a chance to meet any new friends while we wait to pick up our children.  I didn't know if I would be able to form a friendship with someone while at the grocery store.  How was I going to find a friend??  I worried and I prayed.  "Dear Lord, please bring me a friend"

January 2012 - We arrived in Japan.  I felt that every time I saw a lady looking at me I would think - "OK Lord, is that my friend??  Is she the one I have been praying for?"  OK that makes it sound like I have been stalking the ladies in my neighborhood.  I have not - I just wanted to be ready when God opened the door for me to have a friend.  I didn't want to be so concerned with me and my new world that I was not able to hear God speak.  So I continued to pray for my friend.

February 26, 2012 - It's a Sunday and we are headed to church.  Right as church is starting, in walks a young mother of three.  She sits in the back.  I noticed her because of the cute, chubby little baby strapped to the front of her.  We smile at each other.  After the service I made my way over to her.  I wanted to see (and hold) this cute little bundle of smiles.  She spoke broken English as she said, "Hold please" and handed the baby to me.  So I held the baby while she stepped away.  I smiled and cooed at this beautiful baby.  (By the way, silly baby talk has no language barrier)  When she came back we talked and made small talk the best we could.  She said she would try to come back to church.  The next week she came back and this time she brought her husband too.  After church I went over to speak to her again.  She introduced me to her husband and we tried to talk more.  She was very excited to see all my kids.  She asked me if I had done anything for Girls Day in Japan.  (which is March 3.  A day to honor your daughters.  You set up a display or shrine for them in hopes that they will marry a good, rich man.)  I told her we do not set anything up for Girls Day.  She then invited me to come to her house to see her shrine.  I was so shocked and honored that she would invite me to her home.  (Japanese people are very private people.  Most do not entertain or have parties in there home.  Your home is your refuge from the world, your work, your place to relax.)  She wanted me to bring Rachal along too.  We also took Becky's daughter with us, just in case we could not communicate.  When we arrived at her home I was overwhelmed by the size of the display and the beauty of it.  The dolls are beautiful.  On the way home while making small talk, she asked, "Do you like America?"  I said "Yes, America is great.  Lots of space and fun things to do."  Then she asked, "Do you like your family?"  I said, "Yes!  I love my family.  We talk on the phone and I miss them so much."  Then she looked at me and said, "Then why did you leave your America and your family to come to Japan?"  And this was an open door to share the Gospel with her.  With broken Japanese and broken English I told her that my family and I were here to tell the people of Japan about Jesus.  I don't know that understood everything I said.  She smiled and nodded.  So I have begun to pray for her by name.  That God would give me another opportunity to talk with her.  This past Sunday, she was back with the kids.  Her husband could not make it this week.  We talked again.  She invited me to her house for tea and coffee.  She wants to get to know me better.  I want to be able to share with her more about Jesus.  I want to get to know her better too.  I want to be a light in this dark country.

Now I don't know if this is the friend I have been praying for.  But I will be the best friend to her I can.  I will learn more about the language so I can talk more to her.  I will pray for her and her sweet little family.   I am asking for you, my friends, my prayer partners to join with me in prayer this week.  I am going to her house on Friday, March 16 at 3:00 pm.  (That would be Friday at 1:00 am Central Time)  Please pray that God makes a way for me to communicate easily so that she can understand.  Please pray that God will give me a chance to share the Gospel with her. 

 A card she gave me this week

A picture she took while we were at her house.

 That is her display behind us. 

(me, Rachal, and Kayla)

Baseball in Japan

I said a while back that I was looking forward to all the "first" we would have in Japan.  I am pleased to say I have enjoyed most of them.  Some have been a learning experience, some have just been a new part of life and some have been just plain fun!!

Mike and the boys had a chance to go see the Fukuoka Hawks play a pre-season game.  By the way, the Hawks are the Japan Series Champions for 2011!!  (like the World Series but only in Japan!! )  A baseball game in Japan is nothing like a baseball game in America.  First of all they did not drive to the stadium.  They rode a bullet train and then a very crowded bus .  Another thing they found to be different was the 7th inning.  No 7th inning stretch for these fans.  No they sing the Team Song, the team band plays for the fans.  At the end of the song they release yellow balloons, screeching into the air. 

Noah took his video camera with him to record his adventure.  With a little editing we have a video to share of the First Japaneses Baseball game!! (first train ride, first bus ride, first walk through the city at night . . . . . . )