So much has happened in the past year, it literally flew by!
I will recap on some of the things i got to do since my last post, and highlight a bit of my year.
Well, the semester ended, and i got engaged, and then i left for mainland Japan, Tokyo - to the city of Tokorozawa to spend my Christmas and New Years with the Spearmans.
While i was there, i had the opportunity to lead worship for the Calvary Chapel there, make sweet decorations for the kids Christmas game party, cook, fellowship, and see my best friend's first child be born.
'
Staying with Amber and Rusty was amazing, i was so blessed to see them both again. It had been far too long.
We didn't do a whole lot, not a normal site-seeing trip, but that's okay; i wanted hang out time more.
Cute "Maid Cafe" or cake shop (i forget the name).
This is what i got: caramel Mousse, with apple inside.
even cute with a bite out of it~
Sunshine City. (underground mall)
Namja Town!
Icecream City! they have a TON of different ice cream shops (all different brands)
cream cheese ice cream.
Akihabara, the electronic city.
I don't know what this place was, but i liked the sign for it.
One of the stations we got off at.
Edo Period Museum.
only in Japan will there be a parking lot for your bicycle.
Super space tube to enter the museum.
Rusty riding the person carrying thing.
Waving to my adoring fans~
Some of the miniatures.
Kabuki play display. (Check out her heels!)
House layout for the house style at the end/after Edo period.
sweet house i wished i owned..(wasn't real though)
Poster for one of the first trains in Mainland.
A display underfoot.
Waiting for the train home.
The day after Christmas, (really the night of Christmas day), Adelle Kaede Spearman was born, 5 am. She is the most beautiful child i've ever seen. I know i'm slightly biased, but she really is beautiful. Each day she looked more and more like a cute little girl (looked like a tiny old man at first ha!).
We got to celibrate our own Christmas before the baby came, and our mom's even sent out packages from the states for us. Thank you Mom and Fay, we really enjoyed opening so many gifts! The tree looked like it had a fort wall built around it.
After Amber got back from the midwife's house (such a nice place! i wish i had more pictures of it, it was so nice), i had about a week left to spend with them.
We didn't know how it would work out with me staying in their house, and having a new born baby at home. It worked out just fine though~
It was a really amazing experience to see this child come to be and then start to grow. She totally enjoyed her first bath at home (was practically swimming around in the mini blow up bath tub).
I can't really put my time there into words, but it was: blessed, refreshing, precious, eye-opening, joyful, and something else that i am failing to find the English word for (maybe that means my Japanese is growing!).
Well, after i left (on the 6th), I flew back in to Okinawa, and Eder picked me up and we got dinner at the shopping center in Naha city. We exchanged our Christmas gifts to each other in the car, which had flowers, Tanuki slippers (Japanese raccoon), and a wrapped gift with a beautiful scarf and sweet bag!
Eder LOVED the gift i brought him: starbucks coffee thermas/cup, with inter-changable inside. I decorated it with purikura pictures and drawings, and some old notes we wrote eachother. It was a winner~
So, now i'm back, and preparing for the Ruiz family to return to island, new students to come, and preparing for classes. It looks like this semester will be a small one for the girl's D-house, only 4 students (compared to the 8 last semester). Our house will only have 6 girls in it, instead of 10. But the guys have a LOT coming, we have to shuffle around where some of the interns are living. We are excited for who will be here this semester, getting to know new faces and characters.
Here's some pictures from being back:
Me and Eder, reunited.
The flowers he brought me at the airport~
sunflowers are my favorite...
We got invited to Sachiko-san's cottage/cabin to eat Japanese style bbq!
the view.
being cool~
And some of my favorite Okinawan clouds~
Teaching the kids on Tuesdays on Kadena started again, it will continue through the year. It was fun to see all the kids again, they were suprised that i was back! (one kid thought i was staying forever in Tokyo or something haha).
It's interesting, God's been speaking a lot of different things to me in these past two months. I learned a lot being in Tokyo over the holidays, God just spoke a lot of different things to me in my personal time with Him.
Being back here, things have been moving fast, and a lot of things are changing.
Me and Eder have been praying about our wedding dates and plans, and they have shifted. I won't post anything yet, until things are finalized. But God is really speaking clearly on things, and we are learning to take steps of faith and obey immedietly, instead of waiting and being unsure of our trust in God.
It's kind of scary, but really cool at the same time. I have moments when i want to float away in the fast, gushing torrents of all the things that need to be done, but i always get a strong grip in my hand, pulling me back to reality: Jesus won't leave me. ever. I can do this in Him with His help.
This morning i read in Jeremiah, (i just finished Isaiah), and God told him two times, reminding him 3 times total i believe, that He would be WITH him, to deliver him. He told him "don't be afraid." God wants us to know He is right there, don't fear, He isn't jut going to watch us drown right in front of Him, He is with us to deliver us, to help us.
So that was encouraging~ thank You Jesus.
God bless you all, i have to finish studying for kid lessons. I will post again when my sister arrives, and then more when semester starts.
-'manda
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