Blessed with Friends

This week the Lord has impressed on me the tremendous amount of relationships I have – and that the number is always changing.  I guess getting reconnected to an old best friend from high school can make you a bit reflective.

 I signed on to my email the other day and discovered that I had an email from my dad.  I was so surprised when he told me this story:

He got a call to go check on a house that was having ant trouble (my dad is an exterminator).  While there, he got into friendly conversation with the lady of the house and discovered that she went to the same high school I did.  Assuming she looked about my age, he asked if she knew me.  She about fell over!  She told him we were very good friends for about 3 years of high school.  He got her email, sent me the story and told me to contact her.  I did and we caught up, in just a few days, on 19 years of news!

If my memory serves me right, we met in marching band camp, she played flute and I played clarinet.  In marching band formations these instruments are often near each other, therefore, she and I spent weeks standing next to each other on a hot football field in late August, learning the half-time show.  By the start of school in her 9th grade year and my 10th grade year we were best friends.  As time would have it, we lost track but, as providence would have it, we reunited through email last week.  What fun!

 Several times this week I have reflected on the many friends I have, past, present, and future; the ones that have ebbed and flowed; the ones that have stuck through thick, thin, and decades of change; and the ones that are just beginning.  How thankful I am to have so much.  God has been good to me!  Too all my friends who read this blog – thanks for all your love and friendship.

How Does One Describe Home?

Many times, during our trip to America, I heard a question that went something like this, “So, your staying in Japan? You must really like it there, is it home to you now?” Then I would try to explain my feelings and I found myself at a loss. How does one explain home? And not only that, when you have two, so very different, yet equal in value, how do you put that into words?

Every time I was asked the question I felt compelled to defend one or the other depending on the tone of the question. I have said it before in this blog but both America and Japan are home to me now and I don’t think I could ever choose. When I was in America, it was like a breath of fresh air, or a tall glass of Ice Tea. Everything was familiar, the sounds, the tastes, the sights. I could navigate and communicate with no problems whatsoever. When we got on the plane to come back to Japan, I was sad, I didn’t feel ready to leave. I consoled myself with the thought that we would be back in July. But when I sat down, directly in front of a Japanese family, who had spent their Spring break at Disney World, and Jeneva immediately started playing and chatting with their two children (in Japanese) I felt settled, that was familiar too, and a wave of peace about going back to Japan just washed right over me!

Coming back to Japan this time of year was providential. It is the start of the Japanese school year, the Cherry blossoms are in bloom (we were afraid we would miss them entirely, but we did not), and all things are starting fresh. I too started fresh, with a new enthusiasm for the work we have been called to and a new energy for the tasks at hand!

The start of the Japanese school year, the entrance ceremony (Nykakushiki) at CCSI. This is our entire school, students, teachers, and volunteer helpers.

Highlights

Our trip to America, overall, was really great.  We did a lot in the three weeks we were there.  The first week and a half has already been blogged but let me give you a quick pictoral overview of the other 2 weeks.  There were beach days, a day at Universal Studios, a day at the McGill’s lake house, and LOTS of time with friends.

A Lot of Catch-up

Hey everyone! We are home! Yes, I am calling Japan home. It seems we just ran from one place to the next, non-stop, while we were in the USA. We are glad to be back to work so that we can settle down!

This will be quick and, unfortunately, picture-less. I just want to post a very brief update. We are having serious technical difficulties. Last night our hard drive crashed! Those who follow our lives through our blogs, know that we have had a long treacherous journey with our computer and have revived it on a number of occassions, however, this time it is not coming back. How did people ever survive without computers!?! We are praying that God will miraculously provide a new one because we are just not sure how we will manage! Just gonna trust His faithfulness!

Tonight I have the school’s computer and I hope to borrow it often enough to keep you all posted. I hope to to get pictures downloaded off the camera soon so I can share more details of our America trip with you.

Tonight I just want to give you the quick summary: Lots of visits with friends, A day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, Talks to churches, Leading a Bible Study, and time with family. Unfortunately, the time with family was not all good. We had the sad news that James’ neice was in a very bad accident during our final week in the US. I am thankful that we were in the US during that time and were able to be with her mom, brother and other family members. Please continue to pray for Amber as she remains in ICU with many serious internal injuries. Thanks

Like I said, hopefully soon I will have pictures. Please stay connected!