Kyoto, Purikura, Ikumi, and Saaya

Hello Friends and Family!

I'm soooo sorry that it has been so long since I last updated. We've been sooooo busy and crazy and floopy. Floopy is not really a word, but if it was, it would mean crazily disorganized...or something like that.

First, I would like to thank everyone so much for supporting me through prayer and finance. Our team has needed the prayer so much...we are now at the point of our trip where the rubber really hits the road. Relationships are being established with students, and we need those to be God-centered and purposeful. Also, the rest of our team from California arrived last week, and they are learning to adjust at a much faster pace than we had to. Please pray that they will feel welcome and accustomed to the ministry as soon as possible. May we love God with all our hearts, share in that love with our team, and then spread that love to the Japanese students.

As far as finances, I am still in need of funding. I am at about 70% now (Thank you soooo much! Praise God!). I still need $1,689 to be fully funded. I humbly ask if you would pray about contributing to this ministry.

Also, some of my other teammates are still not fully funded. If you feel led, here are the links to give:

Me

Susan

Liz

Aiko

Kevin



BREAKING NEWS

The BEST club just got back from our trip to Kyoto, and it was pretty great.

Above: This is Yasushi, Mikhun, Daijo, and Ty. They are four great guys in Tokyo Best.

Above: This is Saaya. She's pretty great. I've had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with her, and she is a wonderful friend. She is involved in a Bible Study in BEST with Aiko.

This is Liz, one of the Setters that came late from California. We have had the distinct pleasure of making ridiculous faces and dancing on the streets of Japan together. She's a wonderful co-laborer in Christ! I guess we'll keep her.

This is Kyomisu Temple in Kyoto. It is probably the most beautiful place I've ever been.

AAAAAAND for your viewing pleasure, here are some pictures taken in a Japanese photo booth. Susan and I were able to spend some quality time with Yuri, Kuri, Ikumi, and Naoko.












Please be praying especially for my friendship with Ikumi. I am helping her write a speech for our Intensive English class. The topic she picked is the meaning of life. We have had some great conversations, and she is including a Bible verse in her speech. She is interested in reading the Bible with me, and is very excited to learn that Bibles are printed in Japanese! Please pray that God would lead our time and keep softening her heart to His word. Pray that I would be diligent in pursuing her with the love of Christ.

I will post again soon! There is so much to say!

Thank you!

Meet Nanako!

So there's this really great girl named Nanako in BEST Club. She rides a motorbike. :)

This is a very shiny me and a beautiful Nanako

Susan, Nanako, and I

These were taken after the girls went shopping, and we found out that Nanako lives near us! Susan has enjoyed coffee with her already, and I am looking forward to watching Forrest Gump with her next week! (haha)

She has read the book, but has never seen the movie.

Please be praying for deepening friendship with this friendly young lady. We love her already, and she has taught us so much! Pray that Susan and I could show a picture of Christ to her and love her well.

Greetings from Tokyo!

Hello dear friends and family!

I have been in Japan now for about a week. I'm sorry I haven't updated yet! The first three to four days were spent training, and then we moved into our houses in Tokyo.

So far there are six people here on my team (not including the staff).

They are (with their age and Myers-Briggs personality types):

David (24, ESFP)
Susan (22, INFP)
Aiko (21 INFJ)
Ashley (Me...20, ENFP)
Kevin (20, INTJ)
Ross (20, ISTJ)

We are still missing three of the SIJ short-term staff. I can't wait until they are all here. :)

They are:

Ken Chi (our SIJ US-based team leader...he will be here for 6 weeks)
Liz Rutter (ISTJ)
Walter Chu (ENFP)

I already met them at orientation in March, and I can't wait to see them in Japan!

Our apartment is great and we sleep on futons (they are different from American futons...they are never a couch.). I have tried many new foods and have learned that I like a lot of them...I am ashamed to say this because I have lived so long in the dark...but I like onions and tomatoes. I have not yet tried sushi, but I have eaten squid, various unidentified seafoods, seaweed, mochi (very good rice-based cake covering mildly sweet red bean curd), soba (buckwheat noodles in soy sauce with a variety of toppings), tempura (soooo good), Katsu (fried pork...usually served with rice), and we had spaghetti for breakfast at the Olympic center's cafeteria during orientation.

There is so much to share! I love it here...we went shopping yesterday, too...at the 100 yen store (100 yen = about a dollar). It's been raining a lot, but I love it. Aiko hates it. I loooooove Japan.

We have spent a little time with students already--at the welcome party and English lunch table. English lunch table is when we go to Chuo University here in Tokyo and have lunch with the students in Best club. It is a great time to build friendships and practice Japanese while they practice English. :)

Aaaaaand....Pictures!

Tama Center! Lots of shopping and a Starbucks

Tama Center Station (we come here to go to nearby Chuo University)

Kevin, Ross, and David: The manly men on our team


The girls: Aiko, Susan, and I!

This is a train. :) They are not as crowded as they are in those Youtube videos of the rush hour trains...where people get stuffed in...haha. This picture is what it usually looks like.

Beautiful, wonderful Aiko :)

Flowers and a tall building at Tama Center

We live in Hello Kitty's town! Aren't these Japanese girls so cute??? :)

Aiko likes taking pictures of only half faces :)

Aiko and I! :)

I will post more later! Jaane!