Well, as most of you know, I'm back on American soil these days.
The journey home was fairly smooth, minus a little ticket mix-up in Tokyo. Once that was solved, I was good to go. Watched some in-flight movies and took a couple of naps...about 20 hrs later I was waiting for my bags in Tulsa with my parents. I did lose a wheel on my suitcase in Tulsa, but that was almost funny considering how it was dragged up train station stairs and made two overseas flights just to get banged up at my last stop. God is good!
My last weekend in Tokyo was really great. As I mentioned in my last post, I spent the weekend at a friend's house near Mt. Fuji. It was a really relaxing time and it was nice to just spend time with everyone before we went our separate ways. Sunday morning, I went to my last service at Tokyo Urban Church. That was hard! I really miss TkUC and my church family there. My cell group bought pizza (pepperoni! yay!) for lunch and they gave me a traditional Japanese style purse which was really nice! I took a ton of pictures and then I headed over to GAP church to see our friends there.
After GAP, we went to Starbucks so I could use the free drink coupon that came with a gift from my friend Kohei. While we were there, there was an earthquake. No one was injured in that earthquake, but it was pretty wild to be there when it happened...
That night, summer team members Liz and Eric joined Robert, Yuri, Kohei and I at the student center to hang out and we did a praise and worship set. Robert, Liz, Eric and I were planning on staying up all night so we would sleep on our flights the next day. They were all leaving pretty early in the day so I was going to help them get their stuff on the train in the morning before going back to Susan's to get my own stuff together. The boys ended up falling asleep, but Liz and I persevered. Around 5:45 a.m., we loaded up and started walking to the station in the pouring rain. I think it had never rained that hard all summer, but it was okay...we got to the station and Kohei was standing there! I was so surprised. He had gotten up early and came to see us off which was really nice. I'm glad he was there, because he ended up going all the way to the airport with the boys and Liz and they needed the help with their luggage.
Pastor Sakai drove me to the airport when it was my time to go, which was really kind of him. It's a two hour drive and my bags were SO heavy! So, Pastor Sakai and Susan were there to see me off at Narita Airport. At first, I felt too tired to really feel sad but when I got through security and got in line for immigration...that's when it really hit me and I started crying. I met so many amazing people this summer and I experienced a lot of really cool things. Bigger and better than that though, God just really opened up my eyes and my heart in new ways. It was hard leaving Tokyo and the summer behind, even though I know God has amazing plans for this year in Chi Alpha and with the international students on my campus.
Tokyo looked bright and beautiful as the plane took off from Narita. It was already dark and the city lights were endless. I'm glad to be home now, getting ready for my senior year at Northeastern State and seeing all my old friends. I'm still praying for Tokyo and the campuses and churches I worked with this summer and I hope you will keep praying for them as well.
I hope to return to Tokyo by next fall. Thank you so much for supporting me on my first trip to Japan and I'll be in touch through this blog if and when I start planning on returning. Again, thank you so much and I pray God blesses you as you have surely been a blessing to me!
-Amanda
8.20.2009
8.07.2009
The Last Weekend!
Well, this week has been really fun. Campus ministry ended last week, most students are back home or already on vacation. We are wrapping up our adventure in Japan with friends and Christian family.
Monday evening we had our Chi Alpha debriefing meeting at Susan's apartment. Susan made a really awesome meal for us and we talked about the summer and prayed together and for each other as we separate for now. April left this Wednesday for America for two months. Robert and I leave on Monday. Yuri is going to Malaysia for a short while at the end of the month and Susan is going on much needed vacation after all her hard work with these teams while her kitchen is renovated. It was really nice just to sit down and enjoy a meal together after all the summer's activities!
On Tuesday, several friends from LOGOS and GAP church met together for lunch near Todai and then I went to Tokyo Dome City with Robert, Kohei, JunYoung and Hikari. That evening, I met Izumi and Yuriko and we spent the evening in Roppongi at the Mori Art building and Tokyo City View! The sushi from my last post came from Xen, a really nice restaurant in that building. I was really glad I was able to spend some more time with Izumi and Yuriko - I'm going to miss them! They gave me a banner towel from The University of Tokyo, so nice!
Wednesday, I went back to Roppongi and actually went into the Mori Art Museum because I had a discount ticket and did a little shopping. Around 5 pm, I met Misaki in Shinjuku for dinner and purikura! It was nice to see her while she was visiting Tokyo. She actually lives in Kobe.
Yesterday was a really fun day! We met Eric at Tokyo Station as he came in from Sendai on the shinkasen-bullet train. After lunch together, we headed to Odaiba with another friend Yuya! We went to the beach there and eventually met up with Tsuyoshi and Kohei for dinner as well. Later, we went bowling! It was such a good time.
This morning, we are destroying Susan's kitchen so it can be remodeled by an American team coming at the end of the month. The demolition team consists of Paster Bill of International Church Assembly, Susan, Robert, Eric, Kohei and myself. Debbie and I are on supervision, refreshment and documentation also! After all this is cleaned up and we eat some lunch - we are heading out to Kohei's house near Yamanaka Lake, close to Mt. Fuji, for the rest of today and tomorrow! I can't wait!
Well, it's almost over - I'll write another blog after I return from our weekend trip! Thanks for all who have prayed and supported me this summer! I love you!
-Amanda
Monday evening we had our Chi Alpha debriefing meeting at Susan's apartment. Susan made a really awesome meal for us and we talked about the summer and prayed together and for each other as we separate for now. April left this Wednesday for America for two months. Robert and I leave on Monday. Yuri is going to Malaysia for a short while at the end of the month and Susan is going on much needed vacation after all her hard work with these teams while her kitchen is renovated. It was really nice just to sit down and enjoy a meal together after all the summer's activities!
On Tuesday, several friends from LOGOS and GAP church met together for lunch near Todai and then I went to Tokyo Dome City with Robert, Kohei, JunYoung and Hikari. That evening, I met Izumi and Yuriko and we spent the evening in Roppongi at the Mori Art building and Tokyo City View! The sushi from my last post came from Xen, a really nice restaurant in that building. I was really glad I was able to spend some more time with Izumi and Yuriko - I'm going to miss them! They gave me a banner towel from The University of Tokyo, so nice!
Wednesday, I went back to Roppongi and actually went into the Mori Art Museum because I had a discount ticket and did a little shopping. Around 5 pm, I met Misaki in Shinjuku for dinner and purikura! It was nice to see her while she was visiting Tokyo. She actually lives in Kobe.
Yesterday was a really fun day! We met Eric at Tokyo Station as he came in from Sendai on the shinkasen-bullet train. After lunch together, we headed to Odaiba with another friend Yuya! We went to the beach there and eventually met up with Tsuyoshi and Kohei for dinner as well. Later, we went bowling! It was such a good time.
This morning, we are destroying Susan's kitchen so it can be remodeled by an American team coming at the end of the month. The demolition team consists of Paster Bill of International Church Assembly, Susan, Robert, Eric, Kohei and myself. Debbie and I are on supervision, refreshment and documentation also! After all this is cleaned up and we eat some lunch - we are heading out to Kohei's house near Yamanaka Lake, close to Mt. Fuji, for the rest of today and tomorrow! I can't wait!
Well, it's almost over - I'll write another blog after I return from our weekend trip! Thanks for all who have prayed and supported me this summer! I love you!
-Amanda
8.05.2009
8.03.2009
Blessings.
Here I am, 30 mins into my final week in Japan. It's kind of surreal, just like it was when I first arrived. It was hard to believe I was actually in Tokyo, and now it's hard to believe I won't be in one week's time.
I can't even begin to describe to you how blessed I've been on this adventure God planned for me. I've found myself the last three days sitting back and just thinking that I've never done anything to deserve something so precious and special as my time in Japan this summer, but somewhere in His infinite love, He saw fit to give it to me anyway. There are people I've met that I'm unsure I can live without, so I guess I've been thanking God for modern technology as well!
I would love to tell you that dozens of Japanese people have come to know Christ while I've been here, but I can't. The layers of tradition, oppression and, most recently, apathy are hard to break through. In Japan, contemporary ideas are laced with old-fashioned values. The two sometimes do not mix well, but there is also a lot of opportunity here. We have been able to share our testimonies, our faith, our love for Japan and its people and our common views of everything from world religion to addiction and back again. We have planted seeds that I have to believe God will continue to nurture. Just this week, I saw the word of God reach deep inside the hearts of two students. They haven't changed their minds, they may not even recognize the stirring they felt but I know, without doubt, it was there and I will continue to pray for them and keep contact with them - as well as so many other students that we met.
I'm always encouraged when I read Isaiah 55 - which I've gone back to over and over again this summer. The whole chapter is amazing, but the promise in verses 10-11 has been something I've held onto throughout this whole journey:
I can't even begin to describe to you how blessed I've been on this adventure God planned for me. I've found myself the last three days sitting back and just thinking that I've never done anything to deserve something so precious and special as my time in Japan this summer, but somewhere in His infinite love, He saw fit to give it to me anyway. There are people I've met that I'm unsure I can live without, so I guess I've been thanking God for modern technology as well!
I would love to tell you that dozens of Japanese people have come to know Christ while I've been here, but I can't. The layers of tradition, oppression and, most recently, apathy are hard to break through. In Japan, contemporary ideas are laced with old-fashioned values. The two sometimes do not mix well, but there is also a lot of opportunity here. We have been able to share our testimonies, our faith, our love for Japan and its people and our common views of everything from world religion to addiction and back again. We have planted seeds that I have to believe God will continue to nurture. Just this week, I saw the word of God reach deep inside the hearts of two students. They haven't changed their minds, they may not even recognize the stirring they felt but I know, without doubt, it was there and I will continue to pray for them and keep contact with them - as well as so many other students that we met.
I'm always encouraged when I read Isaiah 55 - which I've gone back to over and over again this summer. The whole chapter is amazing, but the promise in verses 10-11 has been something I've held onto throughout this whole journey:
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it."
God's word will always produce fruit, and it will always accomplish what He wants it to. How awesome is that? It will prosper everywhere He sends it! Anyways, I guess I could tell you what I've been up to in addition to being floored by God's amazingness...
Wednesday, I spent the day with Chisa. I'm going to miss that girl! I wish I had met her earlier in the summer, but I will keep in touch with her. I've enjoyed the time we have been able to spend together. That night, I met Yuri, Susan and Geoff to go to Tokyo Tower! I cannot believe how impressive the night sky over Tokyo was. For example - the new header picture of my blog? I took that in from Tokyo Tower! Sugoi!
Thursday, I had a really great even though it was the hottest day I've experience in Japan thus far. The humidity was off the charts, I couldn't believe it. Anyways, I met LOGOS friends at Todai for lunch and then I went on to Yotsuya to meet with a Waseda student I met last week. Yurika took me to her favorite bakery and we were able to have a really great talk about why I was in Japan and why I did Bible studies and things like that. It was so good! After we ate the best pie I've ever had in my life, we visited a Catholic university near the station that is famous for its English and Spanish programs. She almost went to school there, so we went and took pictures and just walked around and discussed her upcoming trip to Italy. After all of that, went to XHOP at the student center. Such a great day!
Friday I was able to really relax for the first time in awhile. Even my days off have felt a little hectic sometimes but this one was truly a day off. I got some laundry done but mostly just took in the day and got some rest, which was good because Saturday was really busy! I met my friends Izumi and Mitsuru on Saturday for lunch in Shinjuku. I was expecting to have a lot of fun hanging out with them, but I wasn't fully prepared for the blessing I received from them. First, we went to eat at a great udon place and then we had some ice cream in the park. They inisted on paying for it all, despite my constant objection, but they kept saying, "No, no...this is our gift!" So, we were finishing up our ice cream and I was asking Mitsuru if had a lesson later because he'd been carrying his guitar around Shinjuku all day and then Izumi said she's prepared a worship song. Right there, in the middle of this park, they got out the guitar and started singing this worship song - their favorite - and then they gave me a card with our picture in it. I was so shocked I almost started crying! I'd only been around these two students a few times at the student center. They are both really strong Christians and it was so amazing to see how unashamed of their faith they were. It is definitely uncommon to be singing praises to Jesus in a public place. The rest of the day was just as awesome. Before I left, they prayed for me in the middle of a busy exit at Shinjuku station. Again, I'm so amazed at how unashamed they are. It was a beautiful thing to see and to experience and I was definitely crying when I left them at the ticket gate. They were such a blessing to me, and they are such a blessing to Japan!
That night, Robert and I met our friend Yuta from Todai in Ichikawa for our first fireworks show! No lie, Japanese fireworks are about ten times better than American fireworks. Or more. It was huge and it lasted for over an hour and a half! Amazing!
Yesterday, I went to church both at Tokyo Urban Church and the GAP Sunday night service at Robert's church. It was really nice to be able to fellowship with some friends that I didn't think I was going to get to see again!
I'll upload pictures for this blog in the morning, it's getting quite late and I'm getting pretty tired! =] I have more to write about, but I'll finish in the morning. Until then, thank you and I'll be seeing you soon!
God's word will always produce fruit, and it will always accomplish what He wants it to. How awesome is that? It will prosper everywhere He sends it! Anyways, I guess I could tell you what I've been up to in addition to being floored by God's amazingness...
Wednesday, I spent the day with Chisa. I'm going to miss that girl! I wish I had met her earlier in the summer, but I will keep in touch with her. I've enjoyed the time we have been able to spend together. That night, I met Yuri, Susan and Geoff to go to Tokyo Tower! I cannot believe how impressive the night sky over Tokyo was. For example - the new header picture of my blog? I took that in from Tokyo Tower! Sugoi!
Thursday, I had a really great even though it was the hottest day I've experience in Japan thus far. The humidity was off the charts, I couldn't believe it. Anyways, I met LOGOS friends at Todai for lunch and then I went on to Yotsuya to meet with a Waseda student I met last week. Yurika took me to her favorite bakery and we were able to have a really great talk about why I was in Japan and why I did Bible studies and things like that. It was so good! After we ate the best pie I've ever had in my life, we visited a Catholic university near the station that is famous for its English and Spanish programs. She almost went to school there, so we went and took pictures and just walked around and discussed her upcoming trip to Italy. After all of that, went to XHOP at the student center. Such a great day!
Friday I was able to really relax for the first time in awhile. Even my days off have felt a little hectic sometimes but this one was truly a day off. I got some laundry done but mostly just took in the day and got some rest, which was good because Saturday was really busy! I met my friends Izumi and Mitsuru on Saturday for lunch in Shinjuku. I was expecting to have a lot of fun hanging out with them, but I wasn't fully prepared for the blessing I received from them. First, we went to eat at a great udon place and then we had some ice cream in the park. They inisted on paying for it all, despite my constant objection, but they kept saying, "No, no...this is our gift!" So, we were finishing up our ice cream and I was asking Mitsuru if had a lesson later because he'd been carrying his guitar around Shinjuku all day and then Izumi said she's prepared a worship song. Right there, in the middle of this park, they got out the guitar and started singing this worship song - their favorite - and then they gave me a card with our picture in it. I was so shocked I almost started crying! I'd only been around these two students a few times at the student center. They are both really strong Christians and it was so amazing to see how unashamed of their faith they were. It is definitely uncommon to be singing praises to Jesus in a public place. The rest of the day was just as awesome. Before I left, they prayed for me in the middle of a busy exit at Shinjuku station. Again, I'm so amazed at how unashamed they are. It was a beautiful thing to see and to experience and I was definitely crying when I left them at the ticket gate. They were such a blessing to me, and they are such a blessing to Japan!
That night, Robert and I met our friend Yuta from Todai in Ichikawa for our first fireworks show! No lie, Japanese fireworks are about ten times better than American fireworks. Or more. It was huge and it lasted for over an hour and a half! Amazing!
Yesterday, I went to church both at Tokyo Urban Church and the GAP Sunday night service at Robert's church. It was really nice to be able to fellowship with some friends that I didn't think I was going to get to see again!
I'll upload pictures for this blog in the morning, it's getting quite late and I'm getting pretty tired! =] I have more to write about, but I'll finish in the morning. Until then, thank you and I'll be seeing you soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)