Thursday, August 19, 2010
The time end of ACTION has come. It was an amazing experience, one that every member on the team will be stuck with for a very long time. We thank you for all the prayers you sent up for us, and all the support you gave each and everyone on the Osaka ACTION team. Our sincerest thanks. God blessed our time in Japan!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Wow...it's so hard to believe this month is almost over. It's flown by so quickly. For the past few days, we have been doing ministry at Izumi Hope Chapel. Honestly, we were all a little relieved to be out of EBS. I think I speak for us all when I say that we were EXTREMELY happy that Izumi has air conditioning!!! It was nice to not wake up sweating..haha Pastor Tabata and his family are amazing people with a heart for the Lord and for reaching the people of Japan. It's been great being here.
Our first day of ministry was thursday and our only class of the day was a kid's day program. We only had 5 kids (he originally had told us to expect around 40, so we were relieved when a lot less showed up!). They were all so sweet and well-behaved. They listened to directions really well, and sang along with the songs we taught them which was a first. Usually they just sit there and stare at us. Ha. We played some great games- the Handkerchief game (similar to our Duck, Duck, Goose) and musical chairs! Then we made God's Eyes and Paper Bag puppets for our craft. Eating sno cones for our snack was a great way to end the class :) Those kids were so awesome. I wanted to take one home..too bad I can't fit anything else in my suitcase...hahaha
Friday we had two classes- one adult and one youth. The first class didn't start until 3, so we had plenty of free time before hand to go shopping :) The adult class only had 4 students, and they were all fairly easy to communicate with. I think we all had really great conversations with them. We performed our "Everything" drime for them, and I know some of them were really moved by it. Heather gave her testimony, and one woman specifically said that she could identify with it. I hope she comes back to the service on Sunday! Our next class started at 7, and we only had 2 youth. Both were very shy and didn't know much English, so this class was a bit more difficult for us. Luckily, the pastor's wife was there to help translate. We played some awesome English games, and by the end of the class, they were talking more. Success.
Today (Saturday) we again only had one class. It was a youth day program. We made crepes for lunch, and then played some awesome games of Dutch Blitz!!!! We performed our "In the Light" drime, and then we ate more sno cones! Then Heather taught them how to make balloon animals. They loved that :)
Only 2 more days in Japan. Craziness. Being here has been such an amazing experience. God has taught us all so much, and I can't wait to share all of our experiences and memories with everybody back in North America!
Our first day of ministry was thursday and our only class of the day was a kid's day program. We only had 5 kids (he originally had told us to expect around 40, so we were relieved when a lot less showed up!). They were all so sweet and well-behaved. They listened to directions really well, and sang along with the songs we taught them which was a first. Usually they just sit there and stare at us. Ha. We played some great games- the Handkerchief game (similar to our Duck, Duck, Goose) and musical chairs! Then we made God's Eyes and Paper Bag puppets for our craft. Eating sno cones for our snack was a great way to end the class :) Those kids were so awesome. I wanted to take one home..too bad I can't fit anything else in my suitcase...hahaha
Friday we had two classes- one adult and one youth. The first class didn't start until 3, so we had plenty of free time before hand to go shopping :) The adult class only had 4 students, and they were all fairly easy to communicate with. I think we all had really great conversations with them. We performed our "Everything" drime for them, and I know some of them were really moved by it. Heather gave her testimony, and one woman specifically said that she could identify with it. I hope she comes back to the service on Sunday! Our next class started at 7, and we only had 2 youth. Both were very shy and didn't know much English, so this class was a bit more difficult for us. Luckily, the pastor's wife was there to help translate. We played some awesome English games, and by the end of the class, they were talking more. Success.
Today (Saturday) we again only had one class. It was a youth day program. We made crepes for lunch, and then played some awesome games of Dutch Blitz!!!! We performed our "In the Light" drime, and then we ate more sno cones! Then Heather taught them how to make balloon animals. They loved that :)
Only 2 more days in Japan. Craziness. Being here has been such an amazing experience. God has taught us all so much, and I can't wait to share all of our experiences and memories with everybody back in North America!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The past few days have been so amazing. We've done so many awesome things!
On Monday, Pastor Tanaka and his family took us to a day spring/spa/public bath. First we went to the spa portion of the hot springs. It was basically a room full of jacuzzis and saunas. It was so relaxing. They even had outdoor jacuzzis, and it was great because you got a beautiful view of the mountains while you relaxed in a hot tub. It was great to let our bodies relax! After the spa we went to the pool portion. Personally, I had been looking forward to swimming all month, so this was perfect for me :) Then we went for lunch at the spa restaurant. I'm sure we all looked like zombies as we trudged to the restaurant- our bodies were so relaxed!! After lunch we all got a really nice nap in an area of the spa specially designated for naps!
After lunch came the awkward part- the public bath. We were separated by gender, took off all of our clothes and went into a big room with lots of showers. To be honest, it was a little relaxing, but we got stared at by everyone because we were white! However, it was great bonding time! hahaha... That was simply a great day.
Then on Tuesday we went to Hiroshima. That was a roller coaster of emotions. We got the opportunity to go through the museum there and that was incredible. It had two huge dioramas that compared Hiroshima before and after the attack. They also had lots of artifacts that had belonged to people that were killed in the explosion. That really struck and emotional chord within me, especially the sandal where you could still see a girl's footprint.
We also went to a nearby island by a ferry boat! We got the opportunity to do a bit of shopping while being attacked by deer. Good times :) The only bad thing about the day was that it was ridiculously hot- around 37!! We were HOT. But it was still a great day.
Now we're on our last assignment in Izumi church. We're looking forward to a great week :)
On Monday, Pastor Tanaka and his family took us to a day spring/spa/public bath. First we went to the spa portion of the hot springs. It was basically a room full of jacuzzis and saunas. It was so relaxing. They even had outdoor jacuzzis, and it was great because you got a beautiful view of the mountains while you relaxed in a hot tub. It was great to let our bodies relax! After the spa we went to the pool portion. Personally, I had been looking forward to swimming all month, so this was perfect for me :) Then we went for lunch at the spa restaurant. I'm sure we all looked like zombies as we trudged to the restaurant- our bodies were so relaxed!! After lunch we all got a really nice nap in an area of the spa specially designated for naps!
After lunch came the awkward part- the public bath. We were separated by gender, took off all of our clothes and went into a big room with lots of showers. To be honest, it was a little relaxing, but we got stared at by everyone because we were white! However, it was great bonding time! hahaha... That was simply a great day.
Then on Tuesday we went to Hiroshima. That was a roller coaster of emotions. We got the opportunity to go through the museum there and that was incredible. It had two huge dioramas that compared Hiroshima before and after the attack. They also had lots of artifacts that had belonged to people that were killed in the explosion. That really struck and emotional chord within me, especially the sandal where you could still see a girl's footprint.
We also went to a nearby island by a ferry boat! We got the opportunity to do a bit of shopping while being attacked by deer. Good times :) The only bad thing about the day was that it was ridiculously hot- around 37!! We were HOT. But it was still a great day.
Now we're on our last assignment in Izumi church. We're looking forward to a great week :)
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