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)

Summer Ministry

Summer has kicked off here in Okinawa: the beaches are open!!!

The Ruiz family is back, and the day after Tommy took us all out to Tropical beach to swim. It was nice, the water was a lot warmer than i expected it to be.

Then, we went up to Nago on Monday (it was Ayu's birthday!) and swam. the water is so beautiful out there...

S.O.S. (summer of service) starts soon, next month in the teens somewhere. We already have a couple applications from people, but usually we won't know until they show up here.

Already, we are preparing and starting some of our summer outreaches and ministries this week. This past Tuesday, i started teaching childrens ministry for a women's Bible study on the Kadena base. There were a lot of kids (35 in the older kids, and 18 babys and toddlers!). I am getting really excited for it, looking over the things i want to be able to do and teach them. The first time was winged (someone with the information had to leave the island suddenly), but it was good. The kids are really cool, i already like them.

We have 2 Kid VBS outreaches planned for this summer, which we are helping out at. The first one starts this Friday, with the New Life school. A group of us are heading over there are friday for the whole summer to help with the games and the skits. Then we have one with CC Okinawa. There might be one more, but i'm not sure.

Other ministries involve just helping at the church, and some extra childcare things, and anything else that comes up during the summer.

It is hot...i am sweating as i'm writing this. But it's really blessed, the sky is so beautiful (Okinawa clouds are my favorite), and the beaches are so beautiful. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that i live on this island.

God's really been teaching me how to (slowly) be busy in ministry, be busy about His business, but at the same time, take those moments, set them aside and cherish them; to spend time with Him, meditating and thinking upon His love and grace, His awesomeness and just to look at this beautiful creation all around me. It's really so peaceful, if the Lord wills, you really should visit this beautifl island, it's very wonderful. The sights, and the people too.

It's a good time, it's a blessing to live here.

My sister is getting to do a lot of fun things, and i get to see her grow in the Lord everyday.

Maybe, if your not already, take the time this day, to look around you and thank the Lord for the good things you can see. Sometimes, because the world we live in is so dark, we can't see good but only the bad in our lives. But, if you look, there is always good. There is always something God is doing. Thank Him for that, no matter how small it is. ^_^

God bless you,

-'manda

Arrival!

So, this past Wednesday night, my sister flew into Okinawa!!!! She made it!

we all knew she could make it if I could make it alone (i tend not to have the best sense of direction...).

So she is here and settling in, today it has been a week she has been here! She has gotten to help with children's ministry, cooking (lots of cooking, and she loves it!), and starting to practice some music for worship.

I don't have a lot of pics yet, but tonight we go to Nago to spend the night and then have a day of sightseeing, so i am sure some photos will come out of that :)

Here is what i have at the moment though:

I tried taking a picture of us all in the van...


I tried again...failed.


And the third time! dark, but everyone is in!


we headed down to the Peace Memorial Park (also Hime Yuri museum)

The Suicide Cliffs, where the generals, doctors, and others took their lives during the war.


It rained a lot that day.


me and allie


This is what the museum looks like from the outside. it's a pretty cool looking building.

It is pretty new, at first it was really just a monument for peace, with different things built around the area dedicated for peace and such. It's a very beautiful area, hopefully the next trip will be sunny and we can take a stroll around outside.

Well, we have church tonight, then Nago sightseeing tomorrow. The rest of the week is pretty normal. Thursday Tokito comes back from California! We are happy and excited to have him back with us here :)

On the 16th Eder comes back from the states, and the Neely's leave for the states. And the 18th the Ruiz family returns. Yay! we miss them all! It will be good to have a full house again (that is a good show too).

God bless you all, read your Word.

-'manda

SUMMER TIME~!!!!

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lack of updating, I've really just been lazy, and also a bit busy adjusting to a new schedual.

So semester ended, the students headed home, and the Ruiz family (head pastor here) headed off to california for a little over a month. So the few interns that are left here are adjusting to taking over duties and making sure things run well while they are gone.

It's been a lot more "Chill", but also some more responsabilities. I've gotten to take over some english classes, and also taken up more times to lead in worship here at the church. It was a bit nerve wracking at first, and a little overwhelming (i want to be diligent!), but God settled my heart and show me once again just how completely faithful He is and i really just have to keep on following His Spirit and i'm good.

He leads me every day, and guides me in things i don't even think to ask for it in. God is truely amazing.

My sister is coming out here this Wednesday, やった～！！！Please pray for her to have a safe flight, and to not be nervouse - God is leading her the whole time, and is right there with her :]

After that, there isn't too much out of the norm until SOS starts!!!! (Summer of Service)

We will be having some guys from Korea heading over, and maybe a couple other people (not sure yet who all is coming), so it will be exciting once they all start arriving. This summer is going to be great. It might not be easy, and there will always be challenges, but with God it is blessed, and we will grow. Please, if it comes into your heart and mind, pray for us all here and for those coming. We really want God to just move in us, and let Him change us.

Here are some pictures from the past couple weeks. Enjoy ^_^

Going to Kinser for youth group



cute cafe behind the Union store



The Ruiz family leaving for california

Buying a mouse-trap for our "friend"

Mihama, on top of Justco parking lot



Michal and Tokito, relaxing on their "Cruise" (we had a photo scavenger hunt for Michal's birthday)



Graduation night

M.E.L.T class, the outside addition



M.E.L.T again.

God bless you all.

-'manda

Okinawa~semester closing

Here in Okinawa, the weather has started to warm up, and the skies have cleared into beautiful paintings of the good o'l Okinawan clouds.




(Gecko building)


The semester only has one more week, we have finals, the banquet this monday, and graduation on wednesday. Things fly by so fast here...

These are some great sisters i am really going to miss (i feel cheesy saying Christian lingo like "sisters in Christ", but that's what they really are.)











(Fat family rejoicing with their fat dog) - this was on the envelope i got in the mail.


I got my first piece of mail in Japan! (that wasn't from the states)



Summer has started - because we've been to the beach now. :]


The sunsets are the best things to watch here from the roof and the balcony on our three story building. God blessed us a ton here.

We have MELT again today, and english classes, upcoming events, last classes, different ministries. please keep us all in your prayers, we really appreciate and need them. Thank you.

-'manda (God bless you)