Midterms: Over! Typhoon: colder weather!

Hello again, it's now almost the end of October (seems to be that i post at the end of the month a lot). It has begun to become more cool (not too cold yet though), and the weather has been a bit crazy recently. Okinawa has pretty crazy weather sometimes, Michigan was the same.

(this was a couple weeks ago, the sky is just grey right now)

We are having a typhoon at the moment, the wind is strong (dangerous coming down the stairs!) and cold, and the rain changes its direction frequently. I am currently wearing two jackets, pants, a scarf, and shoes. Goodbye sandals for a while.

Midterm week is over! All of the students worked extra hard, we even took off Adventure Mondays to allow for studying. Everyone did extremely well in both my classes, and used the beautiful creative minds God has given them. I had the students in my Missions class make Newsletters (pretending as if they were sending them from the Mission field), and many of the students got very creative.

For my ESL 1 class (English as a Second Language level 1) they had to memorize a Psalm, the first half of the Old Testament books (written), and turn in a project: their family tree. I told them to be creative and make it however they wanted. They were the funnest thing to read and grade. Here is a picture of them:

This one is Chala's.


and this one is Aya's.

Here are some other photos of "happenings" during this semester so far.

We took our semesterly trip to Yomitan to see the lighthouse at Cape Zampa and the cliffs.

a special monument to a man in the war (got to learn that Kanji!)

The wind was strong, Brevick almost blew away.

We stopped at the local university Ryukyu まつり(festival) and saw some break dancers perform. We also ate a lot of food (didn't get a shot of that), and visited the different things set up by the students (themed cafes, game rooms, animal exhibits, etc).

We got to have a tour of the airbase to see some of the gear and airplanes used for rescue missions. It was a survival tour! (Chala got to try on one of the parachutes, she was so small in it!)

Trying out one of the ground vehicles.

The Green foot and green mascot figure on their uniforms is an old theme. They told us that the huge helicopters used were called "green giants" because of their color, and from the imprint they left when they landed on the ground: it looked like the footprint of a giant.

Futenma had a Fear Factor Challenge night! I went to help out with some worship, and photograph the games. It was intense, they withstood bombardments of pillows, ice cold water, and octopus filled Jello. Props to all who participated.

Logan and Cole came along to help cook that hamburgers and hot dogs. It was a blessing to be able to have american food.

I had a super awesome class last week for ESL.

I taught the students what the idiom "you've got guts!" means.

my first rainbow in Okinawa.

One of the great wonders of God's creative hand.

This semester has been pretty busy, with lots of studying, lots of ministry, and lots of growing. Having so many people in our house it sometimes feels overwhelming to try and build relationships with them all. But God keeps on showing me how precious and valuable each one of them is, and how its worth the effort it takes.

It really stops becoming a burden when you stop trying to do it all with your own power.

Isaiah 40:31,
"But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

I feel a lot that i don't have enough to do it. I get weary, i want a long vacation sometimes to just rest and sleep, and not have to think. But i need to keep going, there is a work that has to be done, i can't faint yet.

But what do i do when i am going to faint? what do we do when we are not enough, and are going to fail soon?

Look up.

Psalm 121:1-8

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.

The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth,

and even forevermore."

God is always right there to help us. we just have to look.

God bless you, thanks for keeping up with the work God is using my life for.

-'manda

three weeks in!

This is now the third week of the semester, and everyone is on a pretty good schedule.

We've gone around the island a little bit, swam here and there, tasted some delicious food, and played games together. Its' been a good couple of weeks.

Here are a few pictures.

Cute ラムネ candy.

I made a snow man おにぎり。

I tied my first おび on my dear friend なつきちゃん。

A beautiful island we visited.

This is Sakura and Ayana.

Ayana is ちょ adorable. She was dressed up for our "Matsuri Prayer Night".


They are really good at posing for being so young.

Well, everything is going pretty normal here. Classes are going every week, youth groups, prayer meetings, church, chapels. In October we start up MELT at Ryudai university again, I'm pretty excited for that.

God's been putting more serious things on my heart recently. Things about growing up more, being more and more diligent, changing how i speak and live. It's not really fun, but at the same time i don't hate it.

I love it when God works in my heart, i love it when He wants to move me and change me. I know i can't just stay the way i am, because i get stale and stagnant, and that's not beautiful.

I was really ashamed to share my testimony with the students this past wednesday morning. I am ashamed and embarrassed at how i used to be, deppressed by the things i used to do. But as i was reminded by a faithful friend, that looking at it gives God glory. Seeing the difference now shows the real change God made.

Psalm 149:4 "For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation."

There are so many encouraging verses in the Bible.

I've been reading "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" for the Missions class i'm teaching, and it's really good. It's a biography on his life and the work he did in China. It's super encouraging, and moves me to walk deeper with Jesus. He was always trusting the promises of God, he didn't just read them but he tested them, he believed them to be true. He knew his God would provide everything He says He will. If you haven't read it, i really encourage you too, it's super good.

Well, we'll see the awesome thing God is doing in my life and heart. i don't know what it is exactly yet, but i know i will soon. It's amazing that He loves us so much, take the time to just sit in His presence and let Him talk with you (He really loves doing that, He doesn't hate us).

God bless you all, thank you for reading this blog. Soon we will have pictures from the Korea missions trip, our many thanksgiving dinners we eat, and much more.

-'manda

Summer in Okinawa

Hello everyone! Once again, i must apologize for the absence of posts.

This summer was a lot more busy than i thought it would be.

But, i am making my goal to be one to two posts a month, instead of trying to get one done every week (that's really what i want, but i keep failing to do so).

So here is an update for you all what has happened since S.O.S. started:

We had two VBS's we helped out with, both (ironic) in the same building! The first was New Life Academy's Sea adventure VBS that we helped with. it was every friday for atleast 4 weeks i believe.

Then the next was the 5 day VBS that CCO (calvary chapel okinawa city) had (they share the building with new life academy for church and school). It was the theme of Joseph in Egypt!! that was a BLAST! we decorated the WHOLE inside of the building to look like Egypt, the palace, and everyone wore outfits! i had never been to a VBS as a kid really, and never helped with one like this before. i feel like i had just as much fun as the kids did. We had a good mix of american kids and Japanese kids. it was so blessed, with translations for the songs and group time too!

One song i get stuck in my head from it is this "for I know the plans i have for you, says the Lord whoa-oh-ohuoh-oh oh-oh-oh, they are plans for good and not disaster, plans to give you hope and a future! they are plans for good and not disaster, why? because He told us so! ooh whoa ooh!" it's so fun, i wish i could show you the hand motions that go with it.

Then, we have had child care and teaching on Kadena base on Tuesdays, and for another study on Wednesdays on Foster. both are for american military kids, and have been a blessing. we are on a two week break right now for Kadena, and the Foster one just ended this past Wednesday.

Both are such a blessing and have taught me a lot about teaching and taking care of these kids.

We did a lot of sight seeing this summer (mainly in Nago), and made it atleast 3 times to Pineapple park (its so tasty~).

One of the last cool things we got to do before the students left, was go to a Matsuri. A matsuri (for those who do not know), it's a festival that's held every year in the summer (some into the fall i believe). But, as with most everything else in Japan, the culture makes it ten times more fun and cool and cute.

everyone wears Yukatas and jinbei (girl and guy outfits), the summer version of kimono and stuff, and heads to the fair to eat food from booths, play games (i played the fish game! you try to catch a gold fish with a rice paper paddle), hang out, and watch fireworks at the end.

The whole thing has been a dream of mine to see and go to for YEARS. i really enjoyed it, it was my first one.

My little sister was really excited to go too, she bought a yukata just for the event. Everyone really enjoyed their time, and especially the fireworks at the end.

We also finally got to go to the SECRET WATERFALL!!!!! ( missed it last summer when i went to Korea) Yes! it was so much fun! it was so beautiful too!!! man, there are so many things i have seen here that i NEVER thought i'd be seeing in my life. this island is beautiful.

Well, after that, this past Tuesday all the S.O.S. students took off for home.

it was funny, because they all left the same time around the same time! they all flew to Tokyo, and Allie was the only one who went further (she had to fly 28 hours back to Michigan....loonggg).

It was really sad to see everyone go, and to see them so sad to leave too (They all cried). but it was really comforting in my heart to know that they weren't crying for a bad reason, but a good one. they all made REALLY good friends out here, life friendships, and were changed and used by God, and blessed and were a blessing. They had a GOOD summer.

Well, now i have a bit of a break until the students get here. I've just been relaxing and getting my classes prepped.

I am teaching ESL1 (the level one English class for the Japanese students attending this semester), and Missions class. Neither of my classes are translated, so i have a bit less to work on than other interns. I am really happy to be teaching these classes, i am getting blessed by what i am studying for it, and missions has been on my mind and heart lately.

I want to have so much more of a greater heart for the lost, and i know i do care (i wouldn't be in Japan if i didn't), but i want to care more. I want a heart like Jesus'.

So that's what i'm praying for, that's what i want to let God do in my heart. i'm excited to see what He does in me, He is always faithful to move and change me.

Sachiko san came and made us another delicious meal (cold noodles and tempura!)

I took Allie out to my favorite bakery (Castle Bakery), and got her cake for an early birthday celebration.

Eder took us to Marco Polo: an Italian pasta restaurant/Japanese bakery.

Araha beach's shipwreck playground.

a free night we all spent together.

Beautiful Okinawa island sunset.

God bless you the rest of this month and into the rest of the year.

-'manda

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)