My sweet girl

This week we will celebrate Rachal's birthday. 

 

Rachal's 13th birthday.

 

Where did my baby girl go? 

 

How can she be 13 years old? 

 

When did she grow up? 

 

Birthday cake with with Junko

1st Grade

 

 

Western Day at church

8 years old

 

 

Snow Day

10 years old

 

 

11 years old

 

 

 

Art Show at Beasley Elementary

4th grade

 

 

Rachal and Eli on a fishing dock in Arkansas.

10 years old

 

 

Last year, Missions Conference in Milford, Delaware

12 years old 

11 years old

 

 

 

 

 

Apple Orchard

 

 

10 years old

 

 

Summer of 2012

12 years old

 

 

Milking a cow at Mo Mo Land

12 years old

 

 

Spring of 2012

 

 

My sweet girl

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!!

 

 My prayer for you this year and always is that

 you will keep God first in all you do. 

 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and he shall direct your paths.

You have changed from a little girl into a beautiful young lady. 

I am so proud of you.

 

Love always,

Mom

 

 

Matthew 6:33

 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

 

 

Genesis 29:17

 

 . . . . but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

 

It's all about the details

Language school update -

I am a Kumon Drop-out! 

Kumon is the language school Mike and I have been attending.  It is great for teaching you the details about the language. 

• how you should write the letters properly
• how to speak formally
• how to conjugate verbs
• when to use what particle

They assign 10 pages of homework every day.  They give test often to track your progress. It is a good program but I have been in Kumon for 4 months and I can not introduce myself, have a simple conversation, or even count.  I have been stuck on the alphabet for 4, F-O-U-R months.  Yes, I said four months!!  I am ready to talk, I want to talk, I need to talk.  I am a talker!!!  And they keep holding me back because I am not doing the correct stroke order, or my よ is too big and therefore has changed the word from hospital to hair salon.  At this point, I don't care.  I just want to talk!!

So this being said, I am dropping out of Kumon and starting private lessons.  I will have a 1 hour private lesson each week.  I will learn how to count, how to introduce myself, how to ask for help at the store .....  I will learn how to talk in Japanese!!! 

Last Tuesday was my first lesson.  Mike said if I didn't cry he would buy me ice cream.  ::My first lesson at Kumon was not the best.  You can read about that here.:: 

My teacher is in down town Fukuoka.  So I get to ride the train into downtown each week. 

The lesson was great!!  The teacher and I had a great time talking.  I worked on introducing myself, saying where I am from, and how to say what my job is. 

Now, the title of this post is, "It's all about the details" because it really is all about the details. 

The teacher asked me to say my name in Japanese.

 "My name is Cristy."

She asked me where I am from.

"I came from America."

She asked me what my job is in Japan.

" I am a housewife."

She giggled.  She said "Please say again."

 "I am a housewife."

She said, "Please say in English."

"I am a housewife."

She laughed and said, "You have been saying, "I am a prostitute."

The difference between the two words is one letter.  One little letter. 

Shufu - housewife

Shofu - prostitute

This one little letter makes a huge difference. 

But really in life, it is the small details that make all the difference.  You can go to McDonald's and get a hamburger.  A frozen, processed, ground beef and soy patty on a bun with a little ketchup and mustard.  OR you can go to Chili's and get a Big Mouth Burger.  100% ground chuck, on a fresh roll, with lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese. 

It is the same meal but it's all about the details. 

The details make all the difference. 

The adventures of a Southern Belle

I like to imagine myself as Miss Scarlet in Gone With the Wind.

::Which by the way my daughter does not like that movie.  I purchased it, here in Japan, all excited to have a girls movie day.  Eating popcorn, dressed in our PJ's, feet propped up and watching Gone With the Wind.  Oh, the drama, the cotton plantations, the war, the romance between Miss Scarlet and Rhett Butler.  We watched the first hour of the movie and Rachal was bored.  Said the words were too big and she didn't understand it anyway.  My heart was sad.  But I digress and back to the point of this post.::

I like to think that I am a true Southern Belle.  A true lady from the South.  So, like all good women from the South, I own a Moo-Moo.  At first I was hesitant.  I knew that ladies older than me wore Moo-Moo's.  I had debated with myself for months about purchasing one but after that  first moment I put one on I was sold.  I remember the day well, I was in Mobil, Alabama (see, I am a Southern Belle).  I was hot and put on this Moo-Moo and let me tell you, the sun did shine upon my face, the angels did sing and a breeze did blow.  There was so much room.  So much movement.  I felt alive and cool all at the same time.  OK, so maybe it was not that glorious of a moment but I was sold on the comfort and freedom.  You must know that I own a Moo-Moo and what one looks like to understand the rest of my story. 

 

You see they are big, roomy, comfortable house dress.

 

So this morning, I was trying to get my laundry washed and hanging outside before church.  I was also trying to get four children up, dressed, fed and out the door for church.  So I was busy, running around doing ten things at once.  Anyway, I was walking, rather quickly, through the living room and into my bedroom.  I walked passed one of our floor fans.  As I did my Moo-Moo whipped around the base of the fan and somehow I became caught on the fan.  {I told you I was moving quickly}  The fan began to tip over and make a funny nose.  I was also trying to keep my balance.  I was walking forward and the fan was pulling me back.  As the fan was tipping over I reached back to stop the fan from falling.  My thumb went through the safety guard around the blades.  The blades were still spinning. I could not get my thumb out of the fan (still behind my back, mind you) and I could not move as my legs are tied up because my Moo-Moo is still wrapped around the base of the fan.  My thumb was stuck now in the fan and the blades are hitting it each time they spin.  Then all of the sudden the blades stop moving and the fan makes a horrible screeching sound.  At this point, I remember the buttons to the fan are on the base.  I use my big toe and hit stop.  It takes me a few seconds to free my legs.  I finally pull my thumb out of the fan and then the pain sets in.  I look around to see the stunned faces of my loving family.  Mind you this all took about 30 seconds to happen but it sure seemed like a lot longer.  In the picture you can see where the fan blade came to a stop in my thumb.  I now know why my mom always told me not to play with the fan. 

I hope you can all get a good laugh at my

adventure of being a true Southern Belle. 

Proverbs 17:22

 

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...

 

 

 

A vacuum

Another update on my Bible study with Junko.

Today we worked through lesson 7
Have You Discovered the Secret to Happiness?

We talked about what makes us happy.  {appear happy anyways}

• at age 3 ice cream and candy make you happy.
• at age 8 a new puppy will make you happy.
• at age 20 a cool car will make you happy.
• at age 35 a successful career will make you happy.
• at age 65 good health and a nice pension will make you happy.

You see how it is always changing?  So what in life can make us happy?  Truly happy?

The answer is Jesus.

At the end of the lesson we read that Pascal, the great French physicist and philosopher said,

"There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator Himself, made known through Jesus Christ."

Junko said, "I have been searching for a god to make me happy since I was a little girl.  My mother said god is in everything.  Sometimes I am happy on my face but I am not satisfied yet." 

Isaiah 58:11

"And the LORD shall guide thee continually,

and satisfy thy soul in drought..."

 

Please keep praying for Junko.

My heart is troubled

Those are heavy words.

But today, my heart is troubled.

This morning at 9:45, I got on my bike and rode to Mr. Doughnut.  Just like I have for five weeks before.  I arrived at Mr. Doughnut, and was greeted at the door by Junko.  We had not seen each other in over a week.  We said hello and then we went for the good stuff, Coffee and Doughnuts!!!  As we made our way to the back table {our table} she said, "I am so excited for today."  I was too.  Today was the lesson I had been waiting for.  The ONE.  The lesson that asks the big question in life. 

Do you want to begin your new life with Jesus today?

We sat down and began the general chit chat.  How was your vacation?  Nice weather today, don't you think?  Are you excited about school starting back? 

As we started the Bible study we read . . .

"If you learned that the richest man in your city like you, and wanted to adopts and make you his heir, how would you feel?"

We read John 3:16 and Romans 5:8.  She jotted down notes in both Japanese and English.  She circled words and highlighted in the workbook.  We read that

 

 "But as many as received him,

to them gave he power to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:"

John 1:12 

 

 We learned about the fruit of the spirit and how God has plans for each of us, even before we were born. 

 

 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,"

Galations 1:15 

It was verse 14 that caught her attention.

"And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous

of the traditions of my fathers." 

 Galations 1:14 

". . . . the traditions of my fathers." 

At the end of the lesson a question is asked. 

"There is abundant, eternal life waiting for you.  Further, God has designed a perfect plan for your life.  Would you like to begin this new life today?"

Her reply to this question was, "My heart is troubled."  She then told me she is happy when she comes to church, she is happy when she studies the Bible with me, she is happy when she reads the Bible, but her heart is troubled.  She pointed back to Galations 1:14.  She said, "My heart is troubled." 

You see, she is a Buddhist. Her family is Buddhist. For hundreds of years, her family has been Buddhist.   For many generations they have passed down the family alter. They have celebrated many religious holidays and festivals together. They have prayed to their ancestors together. It is the traditions of her fathers. It is all she has ever known.

But my heart too is troubled.  Not because I don't want to offend my family.  Not because I am afraid of what my friends will think.  Not because of the traditions of my fathers.

My heart is troubled because there are many people all around the world just like her.  Searching for the truth.  Searching for Jesus. 

Lord, keep my heart troubled. 

Keep me upset that people don't know you. 

Keep me searching for ways to shine my light,

to tell others about You. 

Keep my heart troubled. 

And Lord, please open Junko's eyes

to see Your truth soon.

 Amen.

Back to school

It's that time of year again.  Everyone is talking about Back to School.  Facebook has been covered with post about heading back to the classroom.  Some are happy,

"The kids are going back to school and we will finally have a routine again!!  6 more days :) " 

posted one friend. Most of my teacher post are like this,

"Ready for a new school year and ready to meet my students."  

 Some post are filled with sadness as we see our babies are growing up. 

"I can't believe it's Sally's first day of kindergarten.  Where has all the time gone?  How can she be old enough."  Or "I can't believe it's Tommy's LAST first day of school.  How can he be old enough to be a senior in high school?" 

Or maybe it's the child that is sad,

"Summer vacation is over and I am heading back to school.  No more sleeping in, no more swimming all day!!  School work here I come. :( " 

First Day of School 2008

No matter how you feel about school, I have learned that we are always in school.  Always learning something, always being taught, always being tested, always sitting in the classroom of life. 

I find that I am much like the Israelite children.  I sometimes complain about where I am. "Why are my kids always arguing with each other?"  Complain about the water being too bitter. "Oh, I can't believe that this happened." Complain about the manna I have been given. "I wish I had a car, a better bike, a bigger kitchen . . . "  Sometimes I think back to "Egypt" and wish I could just go back, even though I was not happy in "Egypt". 

 I don't always pass my test that God gives me.  I don't always listen to the lessons.  Sometimes my heart and eyes wonder off.  I take my attention off the Instructor and focus on something else.  Then, uh oh, it's a pop quiz.  Something comes up in life, kids get sick, I have a bad day, husband has a bad day, dinner gets burned, laundry does not get dry and now smells sour.  How do I handle this?  Do I take it to God?  Do I tell my Jesus about it and let him fix it?  Most of the time, NO!  Most of the time I take my mess and I work on it.  I try to fix it.  I yell at the kids for arguing over Lego's, I blame others for my mistakes. 

After a while, once I have made a bigger mess, I take it to God.  I hand over all the broken pieces of the day and say, "Jesus, can you help me please?"  And each and every time He does.  He take the pieces and begins to work on them.  Sometimes this means I have to go tell my kids, "I'm sorry, I didn't handle today very well."  Sometimes it may take a while for God to fix the damage that has been done. 

But again, I pull myself back up to the desk.  Grab a pen, a notebook and my Bible.  I turn my eyes back toward the Instructor and listen to what He has to say.  I try very hard to pay attention and be ready for the pop quizzes of life.  I try to be ready for the big test too.  I know that God has a plan and a purpose for me.  I am trying to be less of me and more of Him.  This is what Jesus meant when he said,

And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

 let him deny himself, and

 take up his cross daily,

and follow me.Luke 9:23

Are you currently in the middle of a pop quiz?  A big test?  Are you giving it over to God to handle or are you taking care of things yourself?  Today my goal is to give it all over to God.  Every thing that comes up, big or small. 

God guild me in your ways. 

Week 6 - And that's all I know about that

Welcome to our 6th and final week of  . . . . And that's all I know about that.

I sure hope you have enjoyed hearing from these ladies.  I know I have enjoyed and been blessed by what they all have to share.  I love how God can use each of us, from different backgrounds, with different talents and different visions to reach so many people.  It just reminds me of the disciples {a doctor, a tax collector, fishermen, . . . . } all different, all able to reach someone with the gospel that others could not.  God is good all the time!!

Well, this week I would like for you to meet

Becky Winters

Becky and I met at Baptist Bible College.  She was on my floor freshman year, Donaldson 1st.  She was from Boston.  I was from Texas.  I was in love with her accent.  After our freshman year, we lost touch, we both got married (almost a month apart) and started our families.  It was not until June 2010 that we saw each other again.  Mike and I came to Japan on our survey trip and the Winters opened their home to us for two weeks.  We were able to start our friendship again.  Now two years later, we are living in the same city, working along side each other, ministering in Japan.  God is good all the time!!

Mike, Becky, Ethan, Kayla, Alyssa

I have been told I am now considered a veteran missionary.  I’m not sure what that means, but I guess I am now one.  I still feel like I have so much to learn, but really I suppose we all do!  Our family has been missionaries here on the southern island of Kyushu, Japan for nine years now.  I love it and it has become my home. If you had asked me if I would ever consider Japan our home while we were on deputation I would have said no, but I suppose that when packing up to go on furlough and feeling emotional about leaving the country God has called you to….. it has become your home. 

Our two older kids were four and three when we arrived in Japan and our youngest was born here in Japan.  Ethan will be fourteen in less than a month, Kayla is twelve and Alyssa is five.  Without really realizing it or aiming to do so they have been raised bi-culturally.  They all Speak English and Japanese, know some words in ONLY English or Japanese, can all eat with chop sticks or a fork, and when we go back on furlough, take their shoes off at the entry way of Grampy and Lala’s house before going in to give them a hug.  It wasn’t until recently that I realized especially in our two oldest that they are truly bi-cultural kids.  They don’t really realize it because to them it is what “normal” is. 

Living in a foreign country requires learning a different way of life.  We can keep our home American as much as possible, but there are just some things we have to learn to do differently.  For instance, no dryer….everything gets hung outside to dry.  Living in a country that has a rainy season, this is a learning process.  I have discovered that by doing laundry at night and hanging it inside the house overnight, it will be just about dry by morning; but do it in the morning and hang it inside the house all day long and it will still be damp and smelly by supper time.  I cannot explain this….just take my word for it! 

One of the biggest lessons I have learned over the years is to be flexible.  Things change, circumstances change, people change and we have to sometimes make adjustments accordingly.  Two of my favorite verses is  Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.”  I haven’t always liked the changes that needed to be made, but God has always enabled me to accept them and to be content. 

My last bit of knowledge as a veteran missionary is this: empty ketchup bottles and dish soap bottles make very good bath or pool toys!

…..and that’s all I know about that!