'Manda's Adventure in Japan!: Semester Start!

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So the semester started this week! The classes have started and the students are already plowing through their "Chuck Tracks" and the new addition of "J-Tracks"!!! We have added, because this is our first semester of full time Japanese students (almost every class is translated in either Japanese or English, or is in only Japanese or only English), we have added Japanese teachings for them to listen too instead of the english chuck tracks. Praise the Lord huh!

The weather hasn't been to bright, but the students are all in the best of moods and excited (even though unsure) for what comes this semester. It's neat to see, the students are all bonding and becoming friends so early on in the semester. Some of us interns were commenting on it and were amazed! usualy it is very quiet for the first few weeks until everyone warms up and gets comfortable with eachother. God is doing something, i can feel it.

So far we have not done too much, we had one Adventure Day Monday, and two of the interns took the students up to Nago to see the Sakura (cherry blossom) festival. They climbed "700 steps of doom" to the top and saw all the beautiful blossoms.

I didn't go, but i did see the beautiful blossoms that are in our backyard!

I've actually been pretty sick this past couple days (i know, i get sick right off the bat when i get here!). But praise God, i am getting better now!

Last week, we had our last day at melt until the next semester starts. I got to see three of the girls i met from last semester at thanksgiving time. It was really good to see them, and they were happy to see me! ほんとに～！

Two saterdays ago, we went to Mihama with the new students. We hit the arcade there, it was fun to see all the strange and colorful games full of candy, ipods, stuffed animal butt-cushions, and many other assorted things. Here are some pictures:

(Taiko drums! i didn't play though...)

(These cats were pretty sweet, but they wern't attainable, just decoration)

(Yes, you can win an ipod)

(Tamiko (left) and Teria (right) wandered around with me)

(always have to hit up the purikura machine)

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Week AFTER: week two of semester - START!

(good to be back on an island! its so pretty, its sunny this week!)

So, this past weekend, we had our normal church ministrys, which include the two bases we minister on (futenma and kinser), and cc okinawa, and cc Nago and cc Naha, AND cc Ginowan!

So all the students and interns headed off to serve the Lord all over the island. I got the opportunity to fill in/help teach the older kids in chidlren's ministry up stairs! It was super fun, it's really cool to teach the Japanese kids because they bring a whole new feel to teaching. I had Takako san and Teria help me teach and translate.

Then on monday, the guys headed to the base early to watch the superbowl, and the girls headed to the Ruiz' house and had HOME MADE WAFFLES!!!!! yeaaaaahhhh

Hannah found a pink waffle maker at one of the recycle shops here, and bargained it down to only 5oo yen (about five follars)!! It made really great waffles, we were stuffed!

After that, we walked to the movie store and rented Bridal Wars (i believe that is what it was called) and sat down for a chic flick.

(All the girls! minus Tamiko who wasn't there yet, she was hanging her laundry)

(After we scarfed it down...)

(Anna sitting under the warm Kotatsu)

(my dream come true)

This is a Kotatsu: a heated table. It had a sweat comforter attatched, and under the bottom side of the table is a heater with a little cord you plug into the way with a switch. click it, and TADA! you get an amazing heat! Japanese invented this amazing table to keep warm (i think it's better than a fire place...).

(The few who ventured out from the Kotatsu great warmth to rent a DVD)

(Those who stayed behind to be sheltered by the Kotatsu)

Then, later that night, we had parties for Andrew and Kayo for their wedding that is coming up soon (like, wedding shower and all that sweet jazz!). They were both lots of fun (we heard some of the stuff they had Andrew do, it was funny!). It was a really blessed night, at the end of it, we got to pray for Kayo and give her encouraging notes and Scripture verses. Pray a prayer for them, they get married on the 20th!