Last week before it starts~

So this is our last week before S.O.S. (summer of service) starts! This Saturday we have our first attendee flying in from mainland Japan (of course, besides my sister who is already here).

Tommy and the crew that went to Israel will be heading back soon (check out e3missions blog to see what they have been up to), and that will fill our little cafe once again.

It has been getting even more hot, with some strange weather. Today, while it was shining brightly, it started to down pour at a harsh angle! It's always freaky when it rains in broad daylight.

But, there are no typhoons noted to be out there.

We've recently just been getting things done around the cafe: cleaning, learning to keep eachother responsible, preparing for VBS's and child care teachings we do throughout the week.

The past week, I've been back and forth on the verge of being sick, and two days ago my body finaly decided it wanted to be sick for real. So i've been sort of out with a small fever, aches, swollen throat, and other things. Today the new thing is coughing a lot; so i bought a handy dandy sick mask, which all Japanese natives sport when the germs are flying.

Other then that, not too much else has been happening around here. This month is the start of the Matsuri's (summer festivals), and everyone is getting excited. We all dress up in the summer traditional garb (Yukatas for the girls, Jimbeis for the boys), eat food, play games at the booths, watch traditional Eisa dancing, and fireworks at the end.

This will be my first time attending (A long awaited dream actually...), cause last summer i was in Korea serving at the church in Daejeon. So now for a new summer experience!

We went on base to celebrate the 4th of July with our friends for a BBQ (american style).

there were fireworks after!



We went to Mihama to hang out on our free night, and we saw THIS! Gamera!!! (This is for you Dad, we posed by every child's favorite flying turtle from space ^_^



The beautiful sky behind the Mihama ferris wheel.



One of our friends from MELT is leaving (this past Monday actually) for Canada, to study english. Were going to miss her a lot...she is super cool :]

Yuka, Jun, and me (we got to hang out and practice english on her last class!)

Nimonyendoh (or however it should be spelled...it's in kanji on the sign) with the beautiful Okinawa clouds over it.



Lifeguard chair at Kira kira beach (he protects the life at the sea very well)

I practiced drawing Kanji (With no clue of the stroke order, bad habit i know) to share a Bible verse with one of my Japanese friends and english student. She said it was really good and easy to read, "neatly written" she said. kanji is sort of getting easier ahaha

I love this. i live here.

It's pretty crazy thinking back on the past year (it seems like a lot longer though), all the places i have been, and the things i did in those places. I was talking with another missionary/previous student who was in Korea with me last summer, about some of the ministries we did out there. I have really fond memories of Korea, i'd really love to make it back out there soon to see the church people again, and just to be in Korea again (it's a fun place to be in).

A lot of the things i am learning here right now in Okinawa are hard; it looks so fun from my pictures (because it is), but it is also a lot of hard times of growing, and learning.

Growing up is a lot different than i thought; it takes a lot more of different things than i thought it took; it's also easier in some ways than i braced myself for.

Sometimes i find myself in the rut of making ministry a job, and other moments i remember what a privilege i have in my hands and i try not to waste it.

The way I am being allowed to live my life out here is completely amazing; i have to apologize to God most of the time for forgetting that. Serving the Lord is NEVER boring, it is NEVER a waste of time and life, and it is certainly not something that is lame in the least bit.

I don't really know all the things God is preparing me for in the future, but some of the things i can see are amazing, and the rest makes me excited to see what they are. I'm not always excited, most of the time i'm scared. But that never stays long, God never lets me doubt and flop about in my puddle of fears and insecurities. He is a good God ^_^ He's my Father and He knows what's best, i LOVE that He doesn't let me be a sour puss and make my life lame by wallowing in self pity. Sometimes i really want that, but God knows i don't need that (it benefits no one and nothing).

God is so tender, and so patient, He is love, He is strong; He is merciful and just.

let this God breath in you and light you up for His glory; serve Him with your life.

-'manda (thoughts for now, more pictures later)