Katie NOT in Japan

I NEED A JOB...

2007-01-10T21:49:00.000-06:00

I had to post this picture of my cousin's baby. His name is Spencer and he is the cutest kid ever. For Halloween he was Charlie Brown...doesn't he look just like Charlie Brown? It makes me smile. In other news, I am looking fervently for a job. It's a little stressful trying to find a job. Especially when I just purchased my first car all by myself. I'm totally relying on God right now...He is faithful. And I'm missing Japan...sniff, sniff.

Katie NOT in Japan

2007-01-02T01:14:00.000-06:00

Now that the holidays are over, the reality is setting in that I've actually left Japan. I feel like I've gotten so weird the past two years and feel the need to explain to everyone that I've been out of the country for the past two years. I couldn't figure out how to give the cashier at Walgreens $7.58, and I desperately wanted to go into detail about why I was a little slow at US currency. At church Sunday, I bowed at people...totally felt like a dork. I've been flashing the mandatory "peace sign" in every picture taken. And I've been busting out with the most random Japanese words...gaijin, sumimasen, chotto, mecha, etto. But today I discovered that the Kroger down the street sells Koala no machi, a delicious Japanese snack. I was ecstatic. Still haven't found edamame, but I hear I can find it in Franklin.

This picture was taken at the airport the day I left Japan. I'm definitely suffering from Japan Withdrawal.

Good Bye, Japan

2006-12-22T15:57:00.000-06:00

It's 7am, I've slept barely 9 hours the past three days, my bags are all packed, and I'm leaving for the airport in four hours. Katie in Japan is about to become Katie NOT in Japan. Thank you, Lord, for all the great and mighty things You have done and have shown me. Thank you for Japan, for the beautiful Japanese people, and for allowing me to serve You here in this incredible and unique place. I'm not sure what I accomplished while I was here, but I know You are here and that You had me here for Your purpose. "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God." Isaiah 61:10 See ya on the other side of the pond.

Top Ten Favorite Memories of Japan

2006-12-20T19:56:00.000-06:00

10. I never even knew Korea had tv dramas before I came to Japan. I've only seen one complete season of one Korean drama, but I do have a little bit of a fetish with Koreans now. They are sooo romantic and passionate but they keep their tv programs pure and clean. This here is a picture is a Bae Yong Joon who is a famous Korean actor. I totally think he is adorable. My mission is make Korean dramas popular in Tennessee. 9. Japanese girls are the most feminine girls on the planet. From the tops of their heads to their pinky toe, they are dressed to impress. And here, nail polish is not just your standard shades of reds, pinks, and purples. They use multiple colors on one nail, add stickers, add diamonds, even use paint to draw pictures on their nails. I'm addicted. I'm totally loving having blingbling on my fingernails.

8. Ed-a-ma-me! These soybeans are soooo good and soo healthy. I eat them like candy. I only hope I can find these cheap in Tennessee.

7. Favorite food ever in Japan: OKONOMIYAKI! This cabbage pancake filled with beef, pork, or shrimp is so yummy. I'm going to miss it soooo much.

6. I love my keitai, that is, my cell phone. It's pink, it's bilingual, I decorated it with flowers and Hello Kitty cell phone straps, it takes pictures and movies, it has over 100 icons to use when emailing (texting)...despite the fact I only get 25 free minutes a month, I love my keitai more than any cell phone in America.

5. When I visited Chi-chan's family in Niigata in September, we took a two-hour ferry to Sado Island. Sado Island is the creepiest place ever. There are no people anywhere, it's mountainous, for some reason the sun doesn't shine there...it's an eerie place. We went gold digging on the island, and we did find like the smallest pieces of gold possible. I'm not sure what it is, but every time Chi and I get together, if we mention Sado Island, we bust out laughing.

4. Hands down the best thing about Japan is public transportation and the use of bicycles. I rode my bike and the train almost every day. I can do various tricks on my bike now...like email on my cell phone while riding, ride while holding an umbrella, ride in a skirt and heels. And I can run in heels now to catch the train. I will definitely miss the trains and using my bike in America. It's great exercise.

3. Shiona and I became Geisha last year. It was so fun to pick out our kimono and get dressed up and then pose for pictures. We got professional picture taken, and I framed one and gave it to my grandma. When my grandma opened it, she was like "Oh, a Geisha girl". She didn't even recognize it was me. I think I'm turning Japanese. I really think so.

2. Best birthday ever...my 24th birthday on top of Mt. Fuji. How many people get to see the sunrise on their birthday from the top of Mt. Fuji? It was actually a terrible, difficult, frustrating experience, but one of my favorite memories of Japan. We almost killed each other climbing to top, but now we can laugh about it. Shiona even made a movie documenting our trek to the top...Mt. Fuji: Giver of Pain.

1. So actually this isn't Japan, but I went with two Japanese and it was a vacation from Japan...GUAM!! Guam is an American territory in the Pacific Ocean. It's nice, but it's totally ghetto. Our "mountain view" hotel room required you sticking your head out the window and looking right to see the mountain. Our rental car broke down TWICE. And then there is Talafofo Falls. Twenty dollars to see a museum made by second graders in 1950, to see the cave the Japanese WWII soldier lived in for 30 years that is actually a hole in the ground, and to see Guam's famous Talafofo Falls...it should be called Guam's famous Wet Rocks. However, the world's largest K-Mart, a Polynesian dinner show with Shiona and I dancing on stage, a jar of bread and butter pickles, and spending five days with Shiona, Kaori, and Koni on an island totally make up for the lackluster performance of Talafofo Falls.

Surprise!(?)

2006-12-17T11:08:00.000-06:00

The other day I read my entire blog...I was getting sentimental. Blogs are like techno scrapbooks. So, as my Japan scrapbook comes to an end, I must have the mandatory Goodbye Party entry with the mandatory slew of pictures. My party was supposed to be a surprise, but Japanese are too honest to keep things a secret. Nonetheless, I was surprised and touched and sad that my sweet friends here threw me a Bye Bye Party. When I came in , the living was decorated with a banner and balloons and flowers. And the food!!! It was quite the feast. Shiona, my long lost American buddy who fled to Washington and got engaged, had secretly made a DVD of me in Japan and another DVD chronicling our climb to the top of Mt. Fuji...she is going to be a famous producer/editor someday. And then we went to karaoke, my most favorite pastime in Japan and sang songs like "Ain't to Proud to Beg", "You Raise Me Up", and "Good Riddance/Time of Your Life" (the most appropriate song ever for moments like this). I'm really sad as I write this. Only six days left.

I LOVE THE DUCKS!

2006-12-14T23:41:00.000-06:00

And the Goodbyes have started...sniff, sniff. The English Club at Kansai University, aka The Ducks, threw me a little Bye Bye Party last night. I totally thought we were just going to go out to eat, but when I walked into their club room and turned on the lights, they jumped out with confetti and shot off those little popper things. It was totally awesome and sooo sweet. And then they gave me a going away present...a photo album with a picture and note from each club member. I'm soooo sad...

Yes, I'm a Foreigner

2006-12-12T11:43:00.000-06:00

When you live in a place with only dark-eyed, dark haired, petite people, blond hair, blue eyes, and an American build are bound to get stares. I can understand little kids staring...kids in America stare and they see different people all the time. And I can understand the glances when I get on the train. I glance at foreigners when I see them get on the train, too. And I can understand getting stares when I show up in places where foreigners don't usually appear. Like at the hair salon. They don't see blond hair too often, much less cut it, so I can understand the commotion I cause. But every once in a while, I will get gawks. Straight-up, no holding back, mouth-open, "Yes, I'm staring and I don't care" gawks. I get them alot if I do something stupid like trip going up stairs or getting my heel caught in a manhole. But I also get them even if I am doing everything exactly like the Japanese. I can be picking out a tomato at the grocery store and a lady will be gawking. I can be riding the train by myself off in my own little world and then realize that the man across the way is gawking at me. At first, I thought I was doing something wrong when I got gawks, but now I'm not really sure why I make people gawk. One theory Liz and I have is that they are trying to figure out if I'm a foreigner or not. So, Chi-chan made me a t-shirt that says in Japanese "Yes, I'm a foreigner" on the front and back. We're hoping this will eliminate some of the gawks by just getting it out in the open that yes, I am, in fact, a foreigner.

Christmas Lights!!

2006-12-11T01:59:00.000-06:00

Christmas is coming!! Liz, Shihoko, and I went to see the lights in Kobe. It is so strange to be in a country that has no idea what Christmas is, but, nonetheless, decorates for it. The lights (or illuminations, as Japanese say) were beautiful! I kind of felt like I was in Russia...I've never been to Russia, but I feel like Russia would have Christmas lights like these.

Two Random Pictures

2006-12-08T23:04:00.000-06:00

This is the Christmas advertisement for a big shopping center called Hep 5 in Osaka. The sign says you can get the prefect present for anyone at Hep 5. Then it has this vampire receiving garlic as a present. So, this makes me wonder...What does a vampire have to do with Christmas? And I guess Japanese vampire legends are different, because doesn't garlic repel vampires?

And Chi-chan, who is a wonderful artist, made this little picture featuring her dozen different haircuts in the past two years. No one changes their hair as much as Chi. Her hair is her personal canvas.

Things you should know about Japan today...

2006-12-06T19:50:00.000-06:00

The other day I jumped out of bed and ran to take the trash out. When I opened our front door, there were four Japanese standing in front of our house. They were staring at this Nativity Scene that my supervisor, Mr. Ron, put up at like 5 in the morning. We don't have any grass in front of our house, so Mr. Ron drilled the little people into a board. And the Christmas tree twinkles.

This week is the International Mission Board's Week of Prayer for International Missions (Dec. 3-10). This year, the IMB is focusing on West Africa. The gospel has been carried to West Africa for 150 years, but still 22 percent of the people groups there don't have access to the gospel. Disease, such as Malaria and AIDS, and ethnic violence are a way of life there. 9.3% of the population is projected to have AIDS by 2010, and 3.3 million children will be orphaned by AIDS by 2010. There are 1,100 different languages in West Africa, and most are oral learners and cannot read. With a population of 287 million, 72 percent of the people of West Africa are under 30. Pray for missionaries and local believers in West Africa and that they will have unprecedented opportunities to share their faith with friends, family, and neighbors. Pray God will reign down on this part of the world. Go before God and lift up this parched region of the world.

Me and Adele (she's my computer...she's a Dell) have not been getting along again. She is getting a little older, and this week, I decided to get my 1400 pictures off my computer and onto CDs. It is then I realized that Adele does not have a CD burner. I'm not sure which is more sad...that my laptop is not equipped with a basic feature or that it took me 3 and a half years to realize I didn't have a CD burner. If Adele is found with anymore deficiencies, she is going to be replaced by her nemesis, Apple, pretty soon.
I never thought I had a food weakness before I came to Japan, but now I realize that Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are my total weakness. Liz's Mom sent me this package of Reese's...they were gone in 24 hours. I'm hoping I have better self-control when I get back to America.

I officially have one suitcase completely packed. You cannot tell I moved anything in my room.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

2006-12-04T10:13:00.000-06:00

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

Life is soo busy now! With Christmas coming and preparing to go home, time is going by soooo fast. Liz and I hosted a Christmas Movie Nite this weekend. We watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (a great little evangelical movie...Linus lets go of his blanket and basically preaches it at the end), played White Elephant gift exchange, read and discussed the story of Jesus's birth, and, as usual, ate lots of food. We also have our house decorated for the season, complete with our one foot tall Christmas tree (that I paid only $1 for last year) and ornaments that Liz made when she was little that her Mom sent. Whoo-hoo, Christmas!

Gangsta Yo-Yo-ing

2006-12-03T11:33:00.000-06:00

Barb, Liz, and I met these college guys this weekend who are Yo-yo-ers. And they are incredible at it. These four guys are in a "Yo-Yo Crew", and three of the members have been to Florida for international Yo-Yo competitions. Not only can they do amazing tricks with two yo-yo's at once, but then they perform together while yo-yo-ing (think "You Got Served" with yo-yo's). It's so awesome. This weekend they are performing at this big hip-hop event in Osaka, and when we asked them if they had a team uniform, they said they are all going to dress like Tupac. I would never have imagined a 2Pac/yo-yo-ing combo.

Four Insights of Japanese Women

2006-11-30T10:27:00.000-06:00

We call it "cankles"; Japanese call it "daikon legs". Don't take it as a compliment if someone tells you your legs resemble a daikon, a large Japanese radish. Even if they are talking about the long skinny one instead of the big round one. Either way, having "daikon" use to describe you is not good.

The secret to getting a natural look is to blend, blend, blend.

Having dinner out and afraid you have something in your teeth? Casually check your teeth in an utensil.

Japanese women believe they have two stomachs. One for the meal and one for dessert. They also believe "An ice cream a day, keeps the doctor away". Since the majority of Japanese women look totally awesome, I take their word for it.

Second Thanksgiving in Japan

2006-11-26T08:50:00.000-06:00

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song." Pslam 95:1-2

Things I am thankful for this season:

Sweet Jesus and the things He has shown me this past year
Spening another Thanksgiving in Japan
TWO Thanksgiving Dinners...one with the Mission Family and one with Japanese friends
My Dad, who installed fast internet just for me, my Mom, who knows the exact number of days until I come home to Franklin, Kristin, who begins emails with "Gobble, Gobble", Karin, who loves to chat on the telephone with me, and Jamie, who tells me about jobs that she thinks I would be good at.
Green Bean Casserole and Cranberry Sauce
Just the amazing opportunity to serve God in this amazing place
Lizzy
All my wonderful friends in Japan who are the main reason I have fallen in love with this country

I LOVE LAI-CHAN!

2006-11-24T09:04:00.000-06:00

Chi's sister visited Osaka this week and brought her dog, Lai-chan, and I'm totally obessed with him. When we took Lai-chan into the resturaunt to eat with us, the waiter brought out a bowl of food and water for him for free. And then we took Lai-chan with us to karaoke, and he totally closed his eyes the whole time as if he was annoyed by our singing. And he was wearing a little Santa outfit. Sooo cute.

What I want to be when I grow up

2006-11-22T06:49:00.000-06:00

My plane tickets to return home arrived this week...sniff, sniff. When my friend, Wendy, was here visiting, she took a very full suitcase home for me. And last week, when a missionary family went home for stateside assignment, they took a very heavy box back to ship to my parents' house. Even with two loads already gone, you can't tell it by looking at my bedroom. Anyways, I have been casually looking for a job for when I get back to the states. I have sent out my resume to a few places, but I'm in Japan, so it's not like they can call me in for an interview. Plus it's hard looking for a job when you aren't really sure what you want to do. I'm a walking contradiciton...I am completely content to live and work in Franklin, TN the rest of my life, but I also want to live on the West Coast or move to some random city and start a whole new life. I want to work in a Church/ministry and pour into believers and guide them to impact their communities, but I also want a completely secular job where I am around non-believers all the time and am pouring into them so that they may come to know Christ. I'm ready to settle down and I'm also ready to pack up and go wherever God leads next. So, because I'm not sure what is next, or where I will be six weeks from now, I have accumulated a list of possible next steps...

Reality Television Star: I'm thinking "Amazing Race", but perhaps I could make it on "American Idol".
Triathlete: It has been my dream to do a triathlon since college. I decided this year I was going to train for a half-marathon. I started training on Oct.1. I quit on Oct. 7. And I can't really swim. But I still think it would be cool to be called a triathlete.
Kick Boxing Instructor: I have been taking kick boxing classes for several months now. Japanese are like the originators of martial arts, so I should be totally qualified to teach it.
Novelist: I have an idea for a book I am going to write based on my experiences in Japan. John Piper and Jerry Rankin will write the Forwards. It will be a New York Times Best Seller. People Magazine will name me "Most Beautiful Author" in the 2007 Fifty Most Beautiful People issue. That is, if I ever sit down and actually write my novel.
9th Grade Social Studies Teacher: If I was going to teach, I would want to teach geography and culture to high schoolers. But I have to figure out how to get a teacher's license.
Flight Attendant: When I was college, I said that if God's will for my life didn't matter, I would be a flight attendant. In Japan, flight attendants are so glamorized and you have "arrived" if you get hired as a flight attendant. It's kind of rub off on me, and now I really want to be a flight attendant.
Movie Star: I want to be in a M. Night Shyamalan movie and I want to be in the movie adaptions of "The Testament" by John Grisham and play "Rachel" and in "Persuasion" by Jane Austen and play "Anne". That's it...that's all the movies I want to be in.
Federal Agent: I want to work with Jack Bauer.
Social Worker: This is probably the most likely career path for me. I want a job working as a Social Worker either in a nursing home (I love old people!), in an adoption agency (I love families!), or with refugees (I love people from other countries!). That, seriously, is the kind of job I am looking for.

Miyajima Island

2006-11-19T23:24:00.000-06:00

Last week when I went to Hiroshima, I took the ferry out to Miyajima, a beautiful little island with gorgeous views, shrines and temples, and deer walking around everywhere. Sooo beautiful there.

Hiroshima and the Bomb

2006-11-16T10:23:00.000-06:00

August 6, 1945. How many Americans know what happened on that day? With my time in Japan quickly coming to an end and with rumblings happening throughout Asia regarding nuclear weapons, I decided to visit Hiroshima, the city where the first atomic bomb was dropped at the end of World War II. I have to admit I was a little hesitant to visit a city that my country bombed and destroyed and I even had the plan, if anyone should ask, that I was from Calgary, Canada. But instead of finding a city bitter by the war and resentful towards Americans, Hiroshima is a thriving city with beautiful and kind people who genuinely and desperately want world peace. In the middle of the city, there is a Peace Park with the remains of one building, the Atomic Dome, that withstood the blast. There are also various monuments...a Peace Bell that people ring in honor of the victims, a memorial to the Koreans who died (it's said that 10 percent of the victims were Korean labor workers), and a Children's Memorial where school children now fill the large display cases with origami cranes representing peace. While walking through the park with Misty, a missionary who lives in Hiroshima, there were Jr.

High students everywhere on school trips. Apparently the students had been given assignments to talk to foreigners they met in the park and in the Peace Museum. Misty and I had to have at least 60 Jr. High students come up and "interview" us..."Herro, how are you?" "May I ask you a question?" "Where are you from?" "Can you prease point out your country?" "I have a map." "Can you prease sign?" These children, whose grandparents were alive when the atomic bomb was dropped, not only showed no fear in talking with an American, but giggled and laughed and were playful with Misty and me. Later as I saw some of the kids in the park and in the museum they would shout, "Herro, Katie!!" "See you, Katie!" In the beginning of the Peace Museum, the first part is the history of the atomic bomb...its creation, the decision to use it, the aftermath of its use. Then upstairs are images, pictures, and artifacts of what the bomb did. It's horrible. Many things I had to quickly look away from and many things I morbidly kept staring at. There are tattered school uniforms, a twisted bike, glass bottles that had melted together, a stone with the shadow of a person who was sitting on it when they were completely vaporized by the heat. And then there are pictures...pictures of the city completely flattened for miles except for a random school or hospital, pictures of people running through the street with grotesque wounds, pictures of victims with burns and flesh peeling off. And then there is artwork by the survivors...things they drew later about what they saw and experience that day. But the thing that made the biggest impression on me was how the Japanese students going through the museum with me reacted towards me. In the mist of looking at these awful, stomach-turning displays, students would speak to me, wave at me, gather around me, and examine me. They were completely comfortable with an American. It's estimated that 140,000 people died during or within months after the Atomic Bomb dropped. It was a terrible, terrible thing that happened...and I had about 50 thousand emotions when I left Hiroshima, but God reminded me that we are all sinners and that He loves the Japanese then and now. I pray this will never happen again.

Hiking!!

2006-11-08T08:38:00.000-06:00

Barb and I went hiking on the most beautiful day to see a waterfall on Mt. Mino. The trees haven't quite turned yet, but it was still so pretty and peaceful.

I NEVER see wilderness in Japan...always city...or rice fields. Seeing and smelling trees was great.

And the waterfall! It's a little bit wimpy because it hasn't rained much lately, but that's ok.

And this lady below is selling fish on a stick. I passed on that.

"Windows for the Crown Prince Akihito of Japan"

2006-11-05T10:15:00.000-06:00

Reading a really good book right now..."Windows for the Crown Prince Akihito of Japan", a memoir by Elizabeth Vining. I'm almost finished, and I must say that this is the best book I have read on Japan so far. Vining moved to Japan in 1946 right after the end of WWII to become a tutor to the 12 year old Crown Prince, who is now the Emperor of Japan. She came to teach English and to "open windows onto a wider world for the Crown Prince". It kind of has a "Anna and the King" kind of feel, but without the romance. Vining was a widow, a Quaker from Pennsylvania, and in her early 40s. And while she mostly worked with the Crown Prince, she became close to the entire Imperial family. Vining, a devout Christian, lived out her faith in front of the Imperial family, and Vining describes how difficult it was to share about God to the Imperial family and to the Japanese in general. She writes, "I do not know of any more demanding exercise than to have to explain one's basic faith in simple terms, not to children, but to intellectually rather mature young people who are both skeptical and seeking." Vining hits so many things right on the head that I have experienced here, but haven't been able to put into words as beautifully and clearly as she has..."I was struck, as I had been struck before, by the way after one had looked at them for a while they ceased to look like Japanese children. One stopped noticing that they all had black hair and brown eyes, and saw instead an engaging nose or a pair of dimples, a tired child or a thoughtful child, an eager or a dreamy one." This is an incredible book to hear a Christian's story about living among people who do not have a Creator God in their worldview and to better understand how much Japan was effective and changed after WWII and during the American Occupation. If they make it into a movie, I want to play Elizabeth Vining.

A Monkey and a Pig

2006-11-03T10:47:00.000-06:00

Here's Liz and my costumes for Halloween. We heard that people get dressed up and ride the train that loops around the city the Saturday before Halloween, so I bought these cute little costumes for me and Liz. I picked a pig for me since my older sister affectionately called me Pignose when I was child. And I got Liz the monkey because it is so cute...you can tell by her expression that she is thrilled to be a monkey. Anyway, when we showed up to get on the train there was no one else dressed up, so we felt a bit stupid. Apparently we were too late or something. But we were cute!

Randomness...

2006-10-29T09:21:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, I was in my bedroom and I could hear this "boom, boom, boom" in the distance. I realized it was coming closer to the house so I went outside and saw this parade going past the house. When I went inside to get Liz to come outside, she totally thought the "boom" was my radio turned up loud! Anyway, we're not really sure what this parade was all about, but it went right by our front door.

Liz and I volunteered at a dance festival in our town where lots of dance groups and teams performed and competed. In the middle of the festival, the Japan Self-Defense Military came and performed...complete with the song "Hey, Mickey, you're so fine..." and a Rockette High Kick. It was sooo random.

Liz is from Missouri and loves sports...therefore this past week I have been getting a game by game update of the World Series. The Cardinals won, but did you know they have a Japanese player on the team? His name is So Taguchi and he's from Hyogo prefecture, the same prefecture I live in now. I didn't know this until Liz told me, but I'm happy for Taguchi.

When Wendy and Valerie were here visiting, I told them not to worry about locking the bikes because no one would steal me and Liz's cheap bikes. A week after I said that, Liz's bike got stolen yesterday at the train station. She forgot to lock it, and when we went to get our bikes, there was just mine sitting there, looking all lonely without hers. I'm really surprised that it happened, but Liz seems to be ok. She said, "It could be worse. I could have gotten in a bike wreck and broke my legs and my bike." Yes, Liz, that would have been worse.

Quotes and a comic

2006-10-26T02:34:00.000-06:00

"I can marry any nationality, as long as he's not, like, a wimp." -Tamaki on marriage
"I like boys with spikey hair. Ooh, or mohawks." -Tamaki on boys' hair
"My back has been hurting me. So I tried to hang myself." -Ai explaining how she hangs from a bar as a form of treatment for back pain
"My ear's broke." -Tamaki explaining she has ear pain
And this comic explains my feelings on my progress learning Japanese...

Fit and Fab at Fifty!!

2006-10-21T23:47:00.000-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BARBIE! We threw Barb a Surprise Birthday Party last night at Outback Steakhouse for her 50TH BIRTHDAY! Barb looks totally awesome at 50!! I think she should be in a magazine showing women who are fit and fab at fifty because Barb is still a hottie. Here's Barb when she came up the steps and saw all of us. She had no idea about the party.

Classic Barb expression while opening her gifts.

Barb is wearing an adult bib...compliments of Liz and me...and Tamaki is feeding Barb with chopsticks made especially for the elderly...also compliments of Liz and me.

Me with the Birthday Girl and Tomoko...and Barb's new purple walking cane...also compliments of Liz and me.

Wow, that was so quick!

2006-10-20T00:20:00.000-06:00

Well, Wendy and Valerie are gone...sniff, sniff. I hope they had a great time because I had an awesome time with them visiting. We packed alot of stuff in the few days they were here, and then I sent them home with a packed suitcase of some of my junk to take home for me. Here's some fun pics of their time here. Me and Wendy eating some sushi. Fun fact about my head and Wendy's head...my head is square shaped and Wendy's head is a long oval. Therefore, I hate any pictures of us where our faces are pressed together because her normal shaped head emphasizes the block-ness of my head. I refused to press my head next to hers even on her wedding day.

That's Kyoto behind us. We climbed all that way up...me with my flipflops and Chi-chan in her heels. We're troopers.

We went to Fushimi Inari, which is famous for its thousands of tori (the red-orange gate) going up the mountain. And it is also a shrine representing foxes (is that the plural for fox?). Wendy's son's name is Fox. I had no idea that I was taking Wendy and Valerie to the fox shrine.

Wendy, me, and Chi inside all the tori lined up.

Fushimi Inari is also where "Memoirs of a Geisha" filmed the scene when the little girl runs through all the tori to go pray at the shrine. I'm re-enacting the scene.

Wendy and Valerie at a house church in Itami. I forgot to warn them that Japanese house churches like to put you on the spot and ask you about your relationship with Christ. Their first time to meet these people and Wendy is sharing about her experiences sharing Christ with others and Valerie is giving advice on how to raise children who love the Lord.

Wendy and Valerie on their wheels. Riding my bike is a major mode of transportation for me. Wendy and Valerie borrowed my neighbors' bikes and rode all over town with me.

I heard that going to Osaka Castle at night is beautiful. Here's the thing...it's closed at night. So, we didn't get to go inside, but we sat outside and stared at it.

Example of Japanese English...It's not sample. I realized with Wendy and Valerie that my English skills have greatly decreased since I've been in Japan. It took me a second to figure out why "It's not sample" was not good English. Which is disheartening since my Japanese skills still stink too.

THEY'RE HERE!

2006-10-14T08:23:00.001-06:00

Wendy and Valerie have arrived safely in Japan and the adventures have begun! Here's a peek...

Valerie, me, and Wendy at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. Yep, this is Valerie and Wendy as Geisha. They looked awesome all dressed up and with their faces done up. When they walked outside, a Japanese lady wanted to take a picture with them like they were celebrities. It was hilarious! And their full kimono outfits...the kimono are beautiful. Take a look at their ginormous shoes. I am pretty excited about whether adventures we will have!!

Wendy and Valerie are coming!!!

2006-10-11T11:03:00.000-06:00

Almost every high school group of friends has them...the friend who is the Drama Queen, the friend who is a little bit goody-goody, the friend who is the mother, the friend who is the over-achiever, the friend who is hot but doesn't know it, the friend who is the nut, and the friend who is the instigator. I was the instigator in high school...not the ring leader or trouble maker, just merely the one who thought "Wouldn't it be funny..." and then got someone else to do it. Growing up with three sisters, I honed in on my manipulation skills at an early age, and growing up with my three sisters, I might have occasionally been the friend who is the Drama Queen. In high school, God gave me wonderful friends who loved the Lord and who all decided during their teenage years that they were going to really live for Christ. One friend in particular is Wendy. Wendy was there beside me when I prayed for Christ to come into my life. Wendy was always an encourager and giving her friends verses she had read and writing notes. Our Senior year of high school, Wendy and I along with her now-husband planned and led a True Love Waits-type of weekend for the middle schoolers at church. In short, Wendy and I were really good friends in high school. The way Wendy and I live our lives now is a reflection of what we were like in high school. I was more care-free, spontaneous, and always changing my mind about colleges, boys, etc. Wendy was more mature than the rest of us, a planner, and knew what she wanted. I went off to college, graduated...still changing my mind about careers, law school, boys, etc., and moved to Japan for two years to do missions. Wendy went off to another college, married her high school sweet heart, gave birth to a beautiful son, and is now a full-time mommy and wife. Our lives are totally different now. Tomorrow Wendy and her mom, Valerie, are coming to Osaka to visit, and I can't tell you how excited I am about spending time with Wendy again! We haven't spent this many days together since high school. To show her my life here, for her to see the Japanese people and to get to know them, for her to experience Japan...it's going to be so great! THEY'LL BE HERE TOMORROW!!

Happy Boss's Day!

2006-10-09T07:13:00.000-06:00

Boss's Day is actually October 16th, but I got my days confused and we celebrated Boss's Day today. Liz and I wanted to do something special for our supervisors, Mr. Ron and Mrs. Cindy, and we wanted to show off our ever-improving domestic diva skills. So we invited our supervisors over for dinner tonight. I also busted out my cake decorating abilities and made a cake that says "We 'heart' Ron and Cindy". And Liz topped it off by buying flowers for Mrs. Cindy. I think they were touched and they also agreed that Liz and I are becoming quite the domestic divas. Liz and I love the Reynolds so much and are so thankful for them! "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." Philippians 1:3-5

Things you should know about Japan today...

2006-10-06T02:37:00.000-06:00

Meet Aya and Yu, two 17 year old girls who became believers last week! Pray for these sweet girls as they grow in Christ and live their lives serving Christ in a very dark place. They are the first Christians in their families. Ask God to protect them, to reveal Himself to them in a mighty way, and that discipleship will be effective, consistent, and reproducible.

My new hobby...watching Korean television dramas. I have recently just finished the first season of "My Lovely Sam-Soon" on DVD (in Korean with English subtitles). Korean dramas are so popular in Japan...the main reason being the dramas are so pure and romantic. And I totally became addicted to "My Lovely Sam-Soon" because it is so pure and romantic...and because there is tons of drama. Everyone is either in a car wreck, dying of some sickness, adopted, in love with their ex-girlfriend/boyfriend, or in danger of loosing their house. I learned some interesting things about Korean culture too. For instance, in Korean culture (and Japanese) it is very romantic to clean out your boyfriend's ears for him.

Yesterday, Liz and I grabbed some lunch with our crazy friend, Tsubasa. I had some rice with some black stuff in it. When I asked Tsubasa what it was, she looked up the English name in her electronic dictionary. It's called "Judas's Ear" in English. Hmmm.

And this morning I realized that each one of my sisters and I are living in a different time zone from each other for the first time. My oldest sister, Kristin, is in Las Vegas and is 2 hours behind central time. My third sister, Karin, is at UT Martin and is in good 'ole central time. The baby, Jamie, is in East Tennessee, one hour ahead of Karin. And me...I'm the first one to see each new day.

I love mail!

2006-10-02T07:43:00.000-06:00

What is it about real letters that makes us so happy? Today when I saw a letter addressed to me, I literally began singing, "Mail, Mail, I love mail!". The sweet Acteens at FBC Martin sent me fun letters that were encouraging and entertaining. Most of the girls told me about their lives and that they were praying for me. One girl told me she understood what it was like having friends move away (referring to my dramatic loss of Shiona) because she had to move once. Another girl told me Martin was the exact same as when I left. Another girl told me she remembered me helping with her 2nd grade GA class while I was in college...she's in 8th grade now. That makes me feel a bit old. Thank you, girls, for the sweet and colorful letters!!

X-Men and spreading the Gospel

2006-09-28T21:38:00.000-06:00

X-Men 3 just got here to Japan and I saw it last week. I really like the X-Men movies...out of all the comic book/superhero movies, X-Men is my most favorite. I want to be a X-Men, a mutant. And I don't want to be the X-Men that merely does good, but that also uses their mutation to honor God and to make His Name known. So, after much thought, I decided that if I was to be a mutant, I would be "Plethora". I would be able to remember and apply everything I read, see, and hear. For instance, I would have started talking the day I was born because I would hear people talking and I would immediately know how to talk. I could read a book on car mechanics, and forever, I would know how to fix cars. Apply this to the mission/ministry world, I could read a book on the Japanese language, and I could speak it. Or I could merely immerse myself in the language and I could speak Japanese in a matter of hours. There are hundreds of languages/tribal languages/dialects the Bible has not been translated into...I could live with those people who speak that language, learn their language, and then sit down and translate the Bible for them. And if I ever get cured of my mutation, like in X-Men 3, I still have all the knowledge I had accumulated, I just lot my ability to remember and apply everything I read, see and hear. Thus, I would be "Plethora".

Liz says she would like to be in more than one place at once, so she could get more done (she would be "Busy Body" or "Busy Betty"). Chi said she would like to just think about a place and she would be there.

So, what mutant would you be?

Introducing New Prime Minister Abe

2006-09-26T07:50:00.000-06:00

Today Prime Minister Koizumi (perhaps you remember him dancing to "Elvis" with Bush in Memphis a few months ago) stepped down from his position of 5 years, and Shinzo Abe (I think it's pronounced like "ah-bay", not like "Abe Lincoln") was elected the new PM of Japan. According to the papers, his challenges as the new leader will be improving Japan's bad and shaky relationship with China and South Korea, dealing with the problems that have arisen from a rapidly aging population, and, as with every country, something about economy. He's 52 and the youngest PM ever in Japan. He has a wife, but I haven't found anything about kids or not. Let's pray for Prime Minister Abe. Filling Koizumi's shoes is a feat in itself, but being the leader of a Japan, a big boy, is a huge task. "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4

A lesson on American girls vs. Japanese girls

2006-09-25T08:09:00.000-06:00

A lesson on American girls vs. Japanese girls. Please notice my purse compared to Yumi's purse. Mine is about ten times larger than hers, but we're carrying about the same amount of stuff. Japanese girls are notorious for being "Mary Poppins"...carrying the smallest bags but unpacking a truckload of stuff. In Yumi's purse, I know she has a wallet, a camera, a cell phone, and various make-up supplies. Me, too...but I need the big purse to carry all of it. Also, Yumi's purse is subtle, an accessory, and from a name-brand designer. My purse, on the other hand, is pink, large, weighs about 1/5 of me, and was bought for $10 at a second hand store. Our purses match our upbringings.

What kind of American English do you speak?

2006-09-21T05:12:00.000-06:00

I feel like I have standard American English. My dermatologist here in Japan told me he couldn't understand me sometimes because I spoke English with an accent. Liz, from Missouri, and I, from Tennessee, have different vocabulary and phrasing every once in a while. I say "mess-pot" and she says "mess-cat" (as in, "My roommate is such a mess-pot"). I call every dark carbonated drink "coke" and Liz calls it "pop". I say "y'all" and have taught Japanese to say "y'all". According to this quiz, I do mostly have standard American English with a dose of twang and a random touch of Upper Midwestern. Not really sure where the Upper Midwestern comes from. Is it bad if I say I'm relieved there's no Yankee in my accent? :)

Your Linguistic Profile:

60% General American English

25% Dixie

10% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

0% Yankee

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

The Happy Little Imperial Family

2006-09-20T00:48:00.000-06:00

Here's little Hisahito, future emperor of Japan, leaving the hospital with his dad, Prince Akishino, and mom, Princess Kiko. She looks great after having given birth a week earlier. Prince Akishino will never be emperor because he is the second son, but because his older brother did not produce a male heir, little Hisahito will become emperor after his grandpa and uncle.

Meet the Machiya's!

2006-09-18T07:29:00.000-06:00

This weekend, Chi invited her roommate, Takako, and me to come to her house in Niigata, a town about 9 hours north of Osaka. We took an overnight bus to her hometown and stayed at family's house for three days. Here are the Machiyas...Mom, Azumi, Rai the Dog, Lin, Chi, and Yuki. Mom is a major Olivia Newton John fan, loves to cook, and takes as many pictures as the paparazzi. Azumi is the second oldest, lives near Tokyo, and loves to dance. Rai the Dog lives with Azumi, has a wardrobe of clothes, is bilingual, and loves edamae. Lin is the youngest of the four, the only son, lives away at school about an hour away from Niigata, and has no underarm hair. Chi is the third child, has the same face as Lin, lives in Osaka, and often invades my house. Yuki is the oldest, lives with Mom, has a handsome boyfriend, and is a musician.

We saw so much of Niigata while we there...we ate yummy Niigata food, walked around the town, went to a park, went to the Sea of Japan, went to a second hand store, rode a two hour ferry out to Sado Island, dug for gold, stayed up late having a pajama party, went to an art museum, and ate lots of edamae. I took so many pictures, so here's a slide show of my trip to Niigata. Thank you, Chi-chan, for inviting me to see your family and hometown!!!

Introducing Prince Hisahito!

2006-09-13T00:03:00.000-06:00

No pictures yet of the little bundle of joy, but in an official naming ceremony yesterday, the newest prince of Japan was named Hisahito. He is third in line to become emperor of Japan after his grandfather and his uncle. I've been keeping up with the news surrounding the birth of this baby, and it's funny because my friends here seem disinterested in little Hisahito's birth. I, on the other hand, have become somewhat obsessed with him. I am praying for this little baby so hard...praying that someday God will place someone in his life who will share the truth with him, praying that someday he will come to understand what Christ did for him on the cross, praying that God will use him to bring other Japanese to faith in Him. Little Hisahito is a precious gift from God...and I believe God placed him in the family he is in for a reason. So, I pray for little Hisahito.

Sometime during my youth group days in church, someone said it was important to pray for people in positions of influence. Since then, I have had numerous "obsessions" with praying for people in government and in entertainment. I have regularly prayed for Bill Clinton and then for George W. and Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. I still regularly pray for Prince William. I've went through spurts of praying for Jessica Simpson, Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks, Nicolas Sparks, Clay Aiken, and Beyonce. Currently, besides little Hisahito, I have an urge to pray for Dan Brown and Anna Nicole Smith. Mostly I pray that God will reveal Himself to them in a mighty way and that they will ache to know the Truth. I kind of have a tendency to get obsessed with people, too :).

Frisbee Fun!

2006-09-12T08:45:00.000-06:00

Finally the weather has cooled down and beautiful autumn is on the way! We took advantage of the sweat-free afternoon and played a little Frisbee by Biwa Lake (fyi, the largest lake in Japan). We only had a small patch of grass to play in and there were trees in the way, but super fun anyway. Hajime using her go-go Gadget arm.

Here's Liz, of course, catching the Frisbee. Liz is Miss Fitness America and rocks at every sport and totally throw the Frisbee to the exact person she is aiming at.

And Okie...he was so patient with Hajime and my fumbling.

Here's me...I look like a real athlete, don't I?

Hajime has skills...Frisbee skills.

An unfortunate aim with the frisbee and the fountain.

Liz, Hajime, Okie, and me on a beautiful September day!!

Parked Cars and Old Prom Dresses

2006-09-08T01:00:00.000-06:00

I know I have grumped about parked cars before, but recently I have just been more aware how tight and crowded it is. I've caught myself humming the Dixie Chicks song "Wide Open Spaces" several times. Last night, this car was parked in front of Liz and my house. The car is seriously ten inches away from our living room window and it's totally up in our bushes. We knew the person who owned the car so it's totally fine they parked there...only in Japan. Msn.com has an article about how to look ten years younger. Guess what their #1 tip is? Not drinking water, not exercising, not seeing your doctor regularly. Their #1 way to look ten years younger is to always maintain the weight you had when you were 18. And a good measurement is to always be able to fit into your old prom dress. Riiiight.

We have a male heir!!

2006-09-05T19:29:00.000-06:00

Princess Kiko of Japan, who's married to the emperor's second son, gave birth today to the first male heir in Japan's Royal Family in 40 years. It's huge relief for the Royal Family, because the emperor has two sons and those two sons have only produced granddaughters thus far. And since women aren't allowed to take the throne, the birth of this little boy is exciting news in Japan. No name yet, but he's third in line to become emperor. Pray for this little boy today. Even though the Royal Family in Japan is more like the Royal Family in Britain, this little boy will someday have influence over the country. "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." Hebrews 2:1-4

A Rundown of Randomness

2006-09-03T09:10:00.000-06:00

Blogger has recently become Beta Blogger...not really sure what that implies, but I do know that now Blogger has lots of fun new options to make your blog a little more personalized. I changed a few colors and other little details, but mostly I stayed with the same 'ole format...I like blue.
Me and Adele have been having problems lately (Adele is my laptop...she's a Dell...get it, a Dell, Adele...hehe, I crack myself up). So for the first time since January 2005, I defragmented her and did a disk clean-up. She defragmented all night long and the next night she cleaned-up for a few hours. Let's just say that Adele and I are again friends.
So, Mr. Bradley Mayse made me some pictures and made my dream come true to be Deb. Here's me and Napoleon at school while he waits for his uncle to pick him up.

And Bradley made this picture of Napoleon and me. I've told Napoly over and over that I am in Japan doing missions, not modeling.

And Saturday I went to Colin's, the missionary kid next door, basketball game. His team won and it was so much fun. We had to take off our shoes before going into the gym, both teams bowed to each other before the game started, and then the teams bowed to the coaches, the refs, and to the audience when the game was over. And Colin did so good! Here he is in his uniform...Inano is the name of our train station. And in the other pic, he just scored for his team!

2006-09-01T10:15:00.000-06:00

Undignified
Totally crushing on Napoleon Dynamite...makes me wish I was Deb. Here's a little Napoleon and David Crowder combo.

Random things about Japan today...

2006-08-29T10:09:00.000-06:00

It's hot...I say this sentence at least 8 times a day. Never has weather dictated my mood as much as it does here. I think not having central air has a little bit to do with this.
It's humid...I say this sentence at least 16 times a day. I grew up in Tennessee so I know humidity, but Osaka has humidity on steroids. Not even my miracle straight perm can withstand this humidity.
Below is me with Taisei, my old language teacher's, Yoshi, son. He's five months old and has soooo much hair! Have you ever seen a 5 month old with so much hair?! Please notice Taisei is modeling a pocket pouch bib in plaid made especially for him by my dear friend, Laura, through Lindy Hop Design. Doesn't Taisei look handsome in such a frock?

Today Liz got this package in the mail. Her friend sent her homemade cookies...and she used popcorn in place of those white curly Styrofoam things. It was a lot of popcorn. We'd like to eat it, but it's a little stale.

So it's official...my friend, Wendy, and her mom, Mrs. Valerie, are coming to visit me in October!! I'm pretty pumped! Wendy and I went to the same high school and church, and our mamas are friends. Wendy is now married and has a little boy, Fox (or Foxy!). Here's pic from Wendy's wedding shower at my house in 2004 (this was pre-handy dandy digital camera so it's poor quality...sorry!). It was Hawaii-themed in case you are wondering about the get-up...me, my mom, Wendy, Mrs. Valerie, Amber (her and her hubby just announced they are having a baby!), Megan, Kellie, and Ashley (who just returned from Guatemala after a year of missions!). More to come about Wendy later!!

Currently suffering from Post-Shiona Syndrome. Shiona made it safely back to Washington safely...but she is already stinkin' missed so much here! Our last photograph at the airport...sniff, sniff.

One of my goals right now is intense scripture memory. I want the Word to flow out of me and to constantly be on the tip of my tongue. Memorizing Galatians 1 right now. Some super good stuff and bold proclamations. "I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:11-12

A glimpse of my adventures with Shiona!!

2006-08-25T06:12:00.000-06:00

Motivators

2006-08-24T10:39:00.000-06:00

SHI's SHI's GOODBYE PARTY

2006-08-23T20:04:00.000-06:00

Shiona is going back to America on Friday, so yesterday we had a goodbye party for her. It was like her tenth goodbye party but this was the best one. Shiona has been in Japan exactly two years teaching at a middle/high school, and she will be going back to Washington state where her sugar boogar and family are. I have to say I am so sad Shiona is leaving. This is one of the hardest goodbyes because even though I will be going back to America in the next few months, we might as well as be in different countries as far away Washington is from Tennessee. Shiona and I have done many things together, have gone on so many adventures together, share all the same values and beliefs, have spent numerous nights giggling and talking, have gone through "I LOVE JAPAN" days together, have gone through "I HATE JAPAN" days together, and we have the same idiotic and stupid sense of humor. I have affectionately renamed her Shi Shi, and now it's stuck. But I think the two things that have most made Shiona and I's friendship deep and strong is that we have seen Japanese come Christ together and we have been to the Japanese public bath together. Yep, that's the recipe for a strong and wonderful friendship...leading people to Christ together and bathing together.

Front Row from the left...Megumi, Takako, Shiona, Liz, and Chi. Back Row from the left...me, Maya, Koni, Kaori. I made Shiona a scrapbook with all the adventures we have had the best year and half. I liked it so much, I almost didn't give it to her. Shi with her gift from the Seelens...a calligraphy Bible Verse.

At the party, we ate and ate, played games, and watched home videos Shiona has recorded in Japan. Shiona is quite the movie director and producer. She has taken all these videos and has edited them with music, subtitles, credits, and other things, and she has created movies. She has made "Guam: The Movie" starring Kaori, Koni, me, and Shiona. I have it on DVD and am currently making copies to send to my parents and sisters. Shiona also made a "Happy Birthday, Katie" DVD. And a "Mt. Fuji: The Giver of Pain" movie is in the works, and as well as a prayer DVD about Shinsaibashi. It's like a Shiona Production Company.

And only in Japan does a goodbye party consist of a trip to Karaoke. This particular trip included "Country Roads" by John Denver, "Survivor" by Destiny Child, "Jolene" by Dolly Parton (I changed the title to Shiona..."Shiona, Shiona, Shiona, Shiona, please don't take my man just because you can"), and "Part of Your World" from Little Mermaid...Karaoke is always the most random songs ever.

And the finale of the evening...me dying Shiona's hair 22N (or dark ash blonde). She wants to look good for her trip home.

Parked Cars

2006-08-20T07:04:00.000-06:00

Space is an issue in Japan, but this is a little much. Two parked cars in my neighborhood.

A little adventure...

2006-08-18T09:28:00.000-06:00

It's Obon here in Japan...what does that mean? Everyone's out of work and school, and it's ADVENTURE TIME! So, Kaori invited Liz, Shiona, Maya, Koni, and I to spend the night at her father's hotel in Kyoto. It was totally awesome and by the far the best trip in Japan so far. The whole trip was an adventure and I didn't know what was going on most of the time, but it was so great! This is us on the beach of the Sea of Japan...that would be the west coast of Japan. I have never been to the west coast before and had never seen the Sea of Japan. While we were swimming, I said something about swimming in the Pacific Ocean, and Kaori informed me we were in the Sea of Japan not the Pacific. I was shocked because I had no idea where I was in Japan. I had traveled all the way to the other side of the country and didn't even know it. Here's our dinner at the hotel. For three of us, those two platters have every meat and seafood imaginable, and we grill it ourselves. It was quite the spread. I had snail for the first time, but I ate the wrong part first and am now forever scarred to eat snail again. Typical Japanese hotel with the tatami floors and futons. Here's our big mess of futons. We went to this restaurant where all they serve is soba, a noodle. I ate three plates of soba...that's a lot of noodles. This is called Amanohashidate. I'm told it's the #3 most beautiful view in Japan (I don't know who decides that). Liz, Kaori, me (note to self, never stand on the highest part of a rock when with short people, you look gigantic), Koni, Maya, and Shiona at Amanohashidate. Ok, so here's the thing with Amanohashidate...if you look at it upside down, the sea turns into the sky and the sky turns in the ocean and that strip of land looks like a bridge in heaven. I couldn't really tell anything, though. And a coffee break (and me with my tea because I'm a coffee-hater). What a great two days with ghetto trains, Kaori's Dad driving crazy mountain roads, dirty Sea of Japan, a competitive game of Hip-Writing, late night giggles and video recording, all six of us sleeping in the same room, crabs in the bath, bees in the car, and a very interesting view from our hotel balcony. Thank you, Kaori!!

It feels like 110...literally!!

2006-08-14T22:35:00.000-06:00

Weather.com is reporting that the temperature in Osaka is 99 degrees today. And it's reporting that the "Feels Like" temperature is 110 degrees. 110 degrees!! How can a country that was sooo cold in February be this hot?!?

All I did today was eat...

2006-08-13T10:01:00.000-06:00

Two more reasons I love Japan...one, your birthday is a season, not just merely a day. And, two, when you eat at a Japanese home, you EAT. Eight days after my birthday, I am still getting cards, presents, and cakes. I have to say that it's fun celebrating my birthday days later. Barb cooked some yummy Mexican food and a birthday cake for me. With Mexican food difficult and expensive to come by, it was a most wonderful gift. Thank you, Barbie!! This is actually the only birthday cake I had. Because I was on top of a stupid volcano and using artificial oxygen to prevent altitude sickness, a cake on my actual birthday was not possible. Then for supper, Liz and I were invited over to Emi's house for sukiyaki. Here's Yumi cutting up meat. Here's Emi and her sugar booger, Nobu, in the kitchen preparing the meal together. They're pretty adorable. Liz with some of the ingredients for sukiyaki...tofu and some sort of noodle resembling earthworms. And here's the big pot of sukiyaki...it's a big mess of beef, mushrooms, tofu, cabbage, and onions with soy sauce. It is quite good and very foreigner friendly. The time it took for us to eat this meal was around 2 hours. Eating is an event here. Yumi, Liz, and Emi with bowls of raw egg in front of them. The correct way to eat sukiyaki is to dip everything in the raw egg and then eat it. I did it one time to accommodate my hosts and survived, but I passed this time on the raw egg. Yumi and Emi! What meal in August is not complete with a run to the grocery store to get ice cream?!

Psychiatric Help

2006-08-12T19:33:00.000-06:00

I finally got some good counseling in Japan.

Shamelessly Stolen From Another Blog

2006-08-10T21:32:00.000-06:00

Go to your page and list the last fifteen people who have left comments. If someone has commented more than once, skip to the next commenter.

Amy B.
Michael B.
Chi
Lizzy
Amanda S.
Jason C.
Jennifer H.
Madoka
Shiona
Ai
Charlie S.
Leann G. (but she got married and I don't know her new last name)
Stephen C.
TK
Grayden

And here's some fun questions...

What is the best memory you have of #10? My best memory of Ai-chan is when we went to Mitsuo's house last fall and you shared your testimony with Shihoko and she said she wanted to know the same Jesus you knew. Good stuff.
Why are you friends with #9? Because I think Shiona is funny and she thinks I am funny! Plus for a long time she was the only other American my age that I knew in Japan, so we were friends by default :). Seriously, because she is an amazing person who is so stinkin' in love with God and it just spills out of her life!
When's the next time you will see #6? Hmm, I have no idea when I will see Jason again...maybe debriefing?!?! Maybe you should come film in Osaka!
What does #12 love most in the world? I know Leann loves God and puts Him first! And I am going to assume loving her husband comes after her Savior.
Tell something juicy about #15: I only know Grayden by proxy. He's Shiona's sugar booger...anything I share about him is breaking my confidentiality agreement with Shi.
What impresses you about #1? Amy is a Journeyman in Tokyo! I am so impressed she is obeying God and serving Him in a difficult city like Tokyo. And she climbed Mt. Fuji with us! Anyone who climbs Mt. Fuji to the top deserves some respect!
What do you like about #8? Madoka is my accountability partner and what I like best about her is that the Bible is her final authority. She takes everything and holds it up to the Bible...she is totally awesome.
What's your favorite memory of #2? Michael is an old BCM buddy, and my favorite memories of him involve the BCM co-ed Flag Football Team my senior year of college. We totally rocked that year...even though I never did squat for the team except show up.
What was your first impression of #7? I met Jennifer last year when she was a missionary in Japan. I thought she was super-southern and super-cute. I still think that, but she is also an amazing woman of the Word and is going to be a fantastic mama!!
How did you meet #3? Believe it or not, Chi and I met in a convenient store last May. We've been friends ever since! Our friendship even survived climbing stupid Mt. Fuji!
Do you think #13 could kill someone? Stephen Cavness is in seminary and loves worshipping the Lord...I surely hope not :).
Who does #14 spend the most time with? I only know TK through Shiona and through the internet world, so I am not sure, but I know God is up there with the top peeps she spends time with.
What is the last thing you did with #11? I went out to eat with Charlie and his family on Wednesday and ate some yummy yakitori!! And then went to Baskin Robbins!!
Have you ever been to #3's house? Yep, I just invite myself over.
How do you know #4? Lizzy lives with me and is my partner-in-crime. I only know her because the IMB forced us to live together :).
Do you think #5 is sexy? Haha, yeah, Amanda is a hottie!! She is also awesome at speaking Japanese and loving the Japanese!
Have you ever liked #7? I like Jennifer, but I don't LIKE Jennifer :)!!
Where was the last place you went with #8? Madoka and I ate at a German bratwurst restaurant. Random, I know.
Are you real close to #9? Yep, Shi and I are almost attached at the hip. We are applying for "Amazing Race" together.
What kind of relationship to you have with #10? Ai and I are wonderful friends, sisters-in-Christ, and both are residents of the famous suburb, Itami!
Have you ever been to the movies with #12? Yep...Leann and I saw Terminator 3 together at the Martin theater! Do you remember that?!
Have you ever gotten in trouble with #6? Hmm, I don't think I've gotten in trouble with Jason...YET.
Would you ever make the move on #14? Ha! Well, considering she's a girl and I like me some southern boys, I don't think so :)!!
What do you and #11 talk most about? Hehe, Charlie and his family are my neighbors...we talk about ministry, lots of different topics on Japan, his family, my family. I think our favorite topic is Amazing Race, though :). God and Amazing Race...that about sums up our conversations.

A TYPHOON IS COMING!!

2006-08-07T19:45:00.000-06:00

We were suppose to go to this huge firework show tonight, but it's been canceled because a typhoon is coming!! Look at this map...that typhoon is heading straight for Osaka!! It is suppose to get here at 4pm today. It's my first typhoon! And the Tennessean is totally coming out in me...what does every Tennessean do when there is even a remote threat of snow or other bad weather? Runs to Kroger!! I will be running to my Kansai Super Market this afternoon!!

Reasons my 24th birthday was totally awesome!!

2006-08-06T07:55:00.000-06:00

There is a Japanese proverb that says, "You're a fool if you never climb Mt. Fuji, and you're a fool if you climb it again." I'm a fool. Four years ago when I was a summer missionary in Tokyo I climbed Mt. Fuji. It was awful and painful, but I got to the top. I did it again because I am forgetful and forgot how hard it is to climb Mt. Fuji. However, it made for the best birthday yet!! I am writing this with sore legs, bruised toes, a sunburned face, and an utter distaste for Mt. Fuji, but despite all these physical pains, my 24th birthday was by far my most memorable and fun birthday ever!! Here's a rundown of my day...

I am one year closer to spending all eternity with my precious Lord and Savior...hmmm, makes me so joyous and full of hope thinking about it.
My sweet parents sent me a package full of all kinds of birthday goodies...makeup, "The Princess Bride" DVD (Inigo: "I don't mean to pry, but you don't happen by any chance have six fingers on your right hand?" Westley: "Do you always begin conversations this way?"), the best of Queen CD ("Somebody to Love" is my new favorite song), the Carrie Underwood CD, and a Las Vegas T-Shirt they got while visiting my sister and my brother-in-law.
On Thursday night, Shiona, Liz, Kaori, Chi, Shoko, Kaylie, and I got on an overnight bus to Tokyo. We arrived in Tokyo 6am Friday morning and crashed at Amy's (another Journeyman in Tokyo) apartment in downtown Tokyo. This is us with Hachiko, a famous dog statue outside the Shibuya Train Station in Tokyo. If you watched the latest season of Amazing Race, you will remember that they went to Japan and had to find Hachiko to get their next clue.
From Tokyo, we took a train and a bus to Mt. Fuji. We began climbing at 8:10pm on Friday night and started at Station 5 which is about half way up. Look how happy and clean and pain-free we all look.

At midnight we stopped and rested at one of the rest stations. Shiona stood up and shouted to everyone at the station that it was birthday and lead them in singing "Happy Birthday". Very embarrassing.
Saw a shooting star...not kidding, I saw a real live shooting star while climbing.
I used an oxygen tank for the first time. The altitude got to me a little bit, but thankfully Chi packed oxygen.

With a nice August birthday, I have never been cold on my birthday. Climbing Mt. Fuji, I almost froze to death.
We climbed for 9 hours...9 HOURS!! The hardest part of it is that it is not some nice paved or dirt trail, but you're hiking through volcanic rock and ash. There are times while climbing you have to use all four limbs. It is hard. And it was so was crowded!! I think one third of Japan was climbing the volcano with us.

The sun starting rising before we actually made it to the very top so we stopped along the way and watched the sunrise. "...He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it..." Isaiah 42:5. It was so beautiful and peaceful...and cold.
The crater of the volcano doesn't look like what I imagined. It's capped off with ice and rock so it just looks like a big rock valley. Mt. Fuji is classified as an active volcano. Here's me with the crater behind me.
We all climbed to the top of Mt. Fuji!! After 9 hours, five rest stations, numerous rests, a few tears, several pumps from the oxygen tank, crowds of people climbing along with us, and several threats to quit, we reached the top without us nor Mt. Fuji erupting. In the front: Liz and Chi. In the back: Shiona, me, Kaori, Shoko,Kaylie, and Amy.

On top of Mt. Fuji a bottle of Coke cost me $5 and I used a co-ed bathroom for $2.
Took 4 hours to climb down. I think going down was the worst part.
Got a nice sunburn.
After Mt. Fuji, we went back to Amy's apartment and had my birthday dinner...Pizza Hut Pizza. It was great!! A medium and a large pizza cost about $55 American dollars, so it was a real treat to have some pizza.
Chi made me picture magnets for my birthday. She took pictures from our various adventures together and glued magnets on the back of them. They were so cute and creative!! We're laughing because she made one big one with just Liz's face. It's what I've always wanted...a big Liz magnet :)
After climbing up and down Mt. Fuji, taking two buses back to Tokyo, celebrating my birthday with pizza, taking a Japanese bath, it was time for us to take an overnight bus back to Osaka. Unfortunately we couldn't find it, so we ended up running all over downtown Tokyo trying to find the bus. Imagining running with a suitcase in flipflops after climbing Mt. Fuji and just eating pizza...not too fun. But we found the bus, and my birthday ended with me fast asleep on a bus home to Osaka.
And I made a promise to never climb Mt. Fuji again.

Mt. Fuji, Here I Come!!

2006-08-03T00:16:00.000-06:00

Leaving tonight to go climb Mt. Fuji! We're riding up to Tokyo on an overnight bus, and then Friday evening we will begin our ascent to the top of the most famous volcano ever. We'll climb throughout the night and then watch the sunrise from the top on Saturday morning, which just happens to my birthday. It will shall be a great birthday indeed!

Tastes like horse

2006-08-02T07:22:00.000-06:00

"Oh, really, you've eaten whale? What does it taste like?" -Liz
"Horse." -Nobu

Not exactly the answer we were looking for but we learned some people in Japan eat horse.

WAKAYAMA!

2006-07-31T23:27:00.000-06:00

Went to Wakayama this weekend, a nice little ocean town not too far from Osaka. Ahh, the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The rock behind me is a famous rock in Wakayama. It's cool how there is that hole right in the middle. Ok, so Wakayama is famous for the fresh fish. Actually, all Japan is famous for its fresh fish, but Wakayama is especially famous. You can't go to Wakayama without eating some Sashimi and Sushi (that would be raw fish). After eating raw fish for lunch and dinner on Saturday, having some kind of fish something for breakfast on Sunday, AND having raw fish again for lunch on Sunday...this little inland, beef-loving, Grill-it-Bake-it-Fry-it girl is a bit fished out. Hajime said, "When I saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and saw the big octopus attacking the ships, I wondered if the octopus would be tasty." Only would a Japanese ever have that thought. Here's Hajime with a gigantic octopus arm. Whale Bacon was for sale. I think Japan is the only country to sale whale. They also had whale meat for sale. This bacon here costs around 28 American dollars. Aika...stinkin' cutest little girl ever. She came with us this weekend. She humbled me this weekend by telling me, while I was trying to desperately to carry on a conversation with her in Japanese, that I couldn't speak Japanese. Shot down by a five year old. Beautiful Wakayama. Beautiful Japan. This is the beach at Wakayama, called Shirahama. Doesn't it look like Brazil or Hawaii or something? I did not feel like I was in Japan. Miki, Satomi, me, Hajime, and Kei...beach bunnies! Here's Aika and her brother, Taru, doing stretches before they went swimming in the ocean. Stinkin' cutest kids ever. Miki and Upi...they just got married in February and are the most precious Christian couple ever. When I saw them holding hands walking down the beach, I had to take a picture. And the sunset in my beautiful Japan!

Random things about Japan today...

2006-07-26T09:00:00.000-06:00

Today is my older sister Kristin's 28th Birthday!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM JAPAN, KRISTIN!!! (She got married a few months ago...this pic is from the wedding)

Today we learned that comb-overs in Japan are called "Barcodes"! Because the way the hair falls and has all the spaces it looks like a barcode!! I almost pulled something laughing so hard when I heard that!!!

We went to a HUGE fireworks festival this week. It was incredibly crowded and trees were blocking the fireworks where we were sitting, but Yuka and Kaori looked totally adorable in their yukatas!! Shiona and I...we felt a little left out that we weren't wearing our yukatas but we still look cute, too :).

Lost in Translation

2006-07-24T23:40:00.000-06:00

"Katie, you are naturally stupid." -Ai
"What?! Do you know what you just said to me?!" -Katie
"Yes. You're a forehead." -Ai
"What?! A forehead? What are you trying to say?!" -Katie
"Oh, not a forehead. An airhead. You are an airhead." -Ai
"What?! That's a mean thing to call someone, Ai!" -Katie
"Oh, no, that's a compliment. People in Japan love airheads, so it's good you are an airhead." -Ai

Yep, this actually happened. Ai is super cute and now I know it's a compliment to be an airhead in Japan.

Miss Japan 2006

2006-07-24T17:56:00.000-06:00

I've always loved beauty pageants, especially the Universe and World pageants. These girls are bright that compete in the Miss Universe Pageant, and it is so interesting to see all the nations and their sample of beauty. Last night, Miss Japan, Kurara Chibana, was first-runner up for Miss Universe 2006. She is from Okinawa, the southern little island of Japan, can speak four languages, and is a journalist. She looks like the classic Japanese girl to me. Miss Puerto Rico was crowned Miss Universe 2006.

First Festival of the Summer

2006-07-22T09:48:00.000-06:00

I love Japan because seriously they have the best parties and festivals ever. Summertime is filled with all kinds of festivals, and this evening there was a little festival at the elementary school down the street. This festival was a dancing festival, and this thing is in the middle with the guy playing the drum and everyone dances around it. People dancing around the tall thing...I have no idea what it is, but it's like circular Square Dancing. Cute middle school girls wearing their yukatas. Cute little old ladies watching the dancing. The concession stand. Cute little girls working the concession stand with their yukatas on. And the cutest little girl wearing her little bitty yukata.

Quote of the Day

2006-07-22T09:32:00.000-06:00

"When guys play team sports, their age goes down by ten years." -Liz, while watching "Remember the Titans"

To Hajime's House We Go

2006-07-19T20:23:00.000-06:00

We went to our dear friend's, Hajime, house this weekend, and had a great time with LOTS of food, koto playing, and green tea! Hajime is a tremendous Christian with a wonderful family who was so kind to let all us foreigners invade their home. This was like my 7th time to invade their home. Tempura...that is, fried shrimp, fried potatoes, fried eggplants, fried peppers, and fried onions that you dip into some kind of sauce. It's nothing but southern food with a Japanese name. Hajime with her mama! Lizzy learning how to prepare green tea. Japanese view it as an art. Hajime serving me green tea. She placed the tea in front of me and then we bow to each other, and then I take it. Drinking the green tea. These are your missionaries in Japan...Lizzy, Hannah (my MK neighbor), and Kaylie (the summer missionary). The group with Hajime's mama. That's a koto in front of us.

Thanks, Bradley!

2006-07-17T23:38:00.000-06:00

For my Martin peeps, Bradley Mayse made this for me. Oh, Bradley.

He looks like a big monkey

2006-07-14T17:55:00.000-06:00

This is Tsubasa. She told us she had a boyfriend, and then pulled out this little toy monkey, and said, "This is what my boyfriend looks like. He looks like a big monkey." Such affection.

Shinsaibashi!

2006-07-12T19:10:00.000-06:00

It all started with Japanese Christians who had a burden for a specific area of Osaka called Shinsaibashi. This area was known for being rougher and being a magnet for young people. More specifically, the Japanese Christians felt the need to go the American Village (Amera-Mura), a section of Shinsaibashi. Meant to be a replica of America, one walk through Amera-Mura and you can physically sense the darkness. Japanese would warn me not to go to Amera-Mura at night by myself. Japanese Christians began to meet once a week and prayerwalk the area, asking God to open doors to get the gospel in. Completely unaware this was happening, other missionaries and I felt a need for a volunteer team in May to prayerwalk this area. We didn't have any kind of ministry in this area of Osaka, but wanted to see something start there. We broke the team into four groups and sent them out to prayer walk Amera-Mura. After they had finished praying, they gathered back in the courtyard of the area, and as they were standing there, people began coming up to the team and asked them what they were doing. By just merely standing in the courtyard, the team talked and shared with 13 people that night. Later we learned that the area was consistently and fervently being prayed for by Japanese Christians. A Japanese Christian guy moved to an apartment in Shinsaibashi to live among the people there. His apartment has become a headquarters of sort...each weekend Christians, both Japanese and foreigners, gather there for prayer and worship, debrief and bounce ideas and strategies off each other, and then head out to Amera-Mura to be among the people and to purposely go out with the intention of evangelism. Doors are being opened and the gospel is entering an area that is without doubt under the enemy's dominion. It's very exciting to be part of this...an effort where Christians from established churches and house churches coming together to reach an area that is difficult but in desperate need of Christ. Pray for Shinsaibashi and Amera-Mura! The mini-Statue of Liberty in Amera-Mura. Street in Amera-Mura. A sign in Amera-Mura...it's a clothing store. The courtyard in Amera-Mura...a major gathering point in the area. On the weekends, it can get really crowded here. Street in Amera-Mura. Stores in Amera-Mura. Graffiti. I try to stay clear of any tattoo/piercing salons that say "No Pain, No Gain". Some fashion in Amera-Mura...it's kind of a new twist on the kimono.

Dewey Donation System

2006-07-11T08:38:00.000-06:00

Like to read? Here's a fun thing to donate to...the Dewey Donation System (www.deweydonationsystem.com) has helped libraries rebuild their book collections after wildfires and the tsunami in 2004. Now they are helping libraries in Mississippi hit by Katrina. You can donate some cash or check out the libraries' wish lists at Amazon. I ordered the children's book "Hamsters to the Rescue" by Ellen Stoll (makes me think about my old guinea pig, Eeyore) and "Traditional Taekwondo: Core techniques, history and philosophy" by Doug Cook (the website said it's a growing sport in that area). Yay, public libraries!!

HANSHIN TIIIIIGERS!!!!

2006-07-07T19:06:00.000-06:00

Shiona was given two free tickets to a Hanshin Tigers baseball game. The Tigers are the baseball team for Osaka, and Osaka is very faithful to the Tigers. Tiger fans are notorious for being loud, loyal, and always decked out in Tiger colors. So, Shiona and I dressed in Tigers attire, complete with hats, shirts, bags, noisemakers, and posters, and made our way to our third baseline seats where the Tigers took on Yokohama Bay. Me and Shiona in front of the Koshien Stadium where the Tigers play. This stadium is famous for the ivy growing up all around it and it still has a 1930s feel to it. The field!! Me and Shiona in our Tiger gear...we are wearing the same shirt (we each bought the same shirt separately) that says "Whether win or loose, I'm always a Tigers fan". I also have a matching pink Tigers hat and pink Tigers purse. At the end of the 7th inning and again at the end of the game, everyone blows up these balloons and lets them go at the same time. Here's the balloons at the end of the game with the scoreboard in the background. Tigers won 2-1!!!!!! Me and Shi with one of our posters, "These Americans love the Tigers!!" We were kinda hoping to get on tv :). And here's an actual conversation Shiona and I during the game demonstrating our knowledge of baseball...

"We can take pictures of ourselves during the halftime." -Shiona
"There isn't a halftime, Shiona." -Katie
"Are you serious? There isn't a show in the middle of the game?" -Shiona
"No. There's like 7 or 9 innings and there's no breaks." -Katie
"I could have swore there was a halftime show at the Mariners game I went to." -Shiona

Celebrating America's Birthday in Japan!

2006-07-05T00:59:00.000-06:00

Time for a mandatory 4th of July entry! I had a wonderful 4th of July celebrating with fellow Americans and a few Japanese friends...complete with a BBQ and fireworks! Whoo-hoo! Barb, me, and Liz (Please notice we are dressed in red, white, and blue...totally by accident). Not to toot my own horn, but I made that cake. I'm pretty proud of my improving domestic skills. Can't have a 4th of July BBQ without Kraft Mac and Cheese (thanks to for a volunteer team!) and BBQ sauce (thanks to K-Mart in Guam). Furthermore, can't have a BBQ without oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (thanks to Lizzy's mama), Pork and Beans (thanks to Mark and Jennifer), and overpriced watermelon (thanks to a local grocery store). Lizzy the Chef! Sitting outside for hours eating and eating and eating. And fireworks!! Well, technically, not fireworks, merely sparklers, but you have to think positive! Here's Ai waving her fireworks. Lizzy and Iko, who looks a little dangerous with a sparkler in his hand.

Got your tickets?

2006-07-03T18:24:00.000-06:00

Got your tickets? TO THE GUN SHOW!!!! Yep, this shirt was for sale in Japan. It cost about sixty American dollars, but here's a free show of my guns.

A moving livingroom, building the greatest toilet, Chopstick shortage, Mickey hatred, and other tidbits

2006-06-29T08:04:00.000-06:00

The online newspaper, japantoday.com, has a "Quote of the Day" section. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the past few weeks that really give insight to this society (and some that are just funny).

"My car is like a moving livingroom. It doesn't make sense not to have a TV in it." A 32-year-old company worker who admits he likes to watch TV while he is driving. Police say the number of accidents that occur while drivers are watching TVs is increasing. (Asahi Shimbun)
"Japan is a country in which you are forgiven (in many cases) if you apologize soon." Corporate crisis management consultant Tatsumi Tanaka, who says Swiss elevator manufacturer Schindler took too long (9 days) before issuing the first clear apology for a fatal elevator accident in Tokyo.
"In my day, men thought the kitchen was a lady's castle, but now young men are learning to cook and helping in the kitchen, while girls are not interested." Kyoko Hattori, who has been teaching Japanese-style home cooking for 31 years.
"We can build the toilet that no one has imagined. That is our mission." Kyoji Asada, top designer for bathroom appliance maker Toto Ltd, who is considered Japan's top toilet designer. He believes Japan has the cleanest and most comfortable toilets in the world.
"It is as easy to get sushi in Lexington as it is to get a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken at Mount Fuji." Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Ryozo Kato, speaking of the intertwining of the two cultures during a speech to 170 members of the Japan America Society of Kentucky and the Kentucky World Trade Center at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Earlier, Kentucky Gov Ernie Fletcher appointed him a Kentucky Colonel.
"I saw that half of the people left when the credits began to roll at the end. Some people even stood up and left the theater in the middle of the show." Hiroshi Kawanabe, 58, who said he studies Christianity and culture, after attending a screening of "The Da Vinci Code" on Saturday.
"We're not in an emergency situation yet (over chopsticks), but there has been some impact." Ichiro Fukuoka, director of the Japan Chopsticks Import Association, after China slapped a 5% tax on sales of chopsticks over concerns of deforestation. The move is hitting hard at the Japanese, who consume 25 billion sets of wooden chopsticks a year — about 200 pairs per person. Some 97% of them come from China.
"Always be able to kill your students." One of the teachings of Grand Master Masaaki Hatsumi, 76, the only living student of the last "fighting ninja," Toshitsugu Takamatsu, the so-called 33rd Grand Master who was a bodyguard to officials in Japanese-occupied Manchuria before World War II. He fought - and won - 12 fights to the death.
"Pop culture has the power to influence the public, so we want to and need to have it on our side. Popeye, for example, planted in the Japanese an image that Americans are nice and strong. Until then, the Japanese despised them." Foreign Minister Taro Aso, proposing a "Nobel Prize" for foreign "manga" cartoon artists. He said the United States — once Japan's enemy — won over Japanese hearts with its pop culture and cartoons.
"People seem to think sumo is a simple sport. If they put on a 'mawashi' (loin cloth) and tried it for themselves, they would soon realize how hard it is." Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kotooshu, speaking at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.
"I hate Mickey Mouse. He has nothing like the unique sensibility that Japan has." Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara, during a speech at the Tokyo International Anime Fair. The governor urged anime creators to tackle more important themes and practice some concision to raise the level of the art form.

To be blonde or not to be blonde

2006-06-27T07:46:00.000-06:00

Look closely at these pictures....Here's Liz (she's on the left)... And here's Liz with me and Shiona...look closely... What color is Liz's hair? She insists that she is a brunette. The rest of Japan and I think she is a blonde. Liz says there is no way that her and I could be considered in the same hair color category. I feel I am an authority on hair colors since my hair has been multiple shades of blonde, light browns, and I have dabbled in reddish tones. Her hair is dark blonde, dishwater blonde, dirty blonde if you will (when I said this earlier, a Japanese girl replied, "But Liz's hair is clean"). What do you think? Is Lizzy a brunette or a blonde?

Improving my domestic goddess skills

2006-06-26T08:03:00.000-06:00

Been going to a Japanese cooking class recently. The past time was my last time to go until September because of summer break, which is kind of disappointing, because the class is really fun. And I have learned so much from the three Japanese ladies teaching. Here's some pics from the last class. Lizzy stuffing eggplants slices with some kind of chicken. Not really sure why she was making that face at the camera. So, they told us to poke holes in the hot peppers so they wouldn't explode when they were being cooked. Liz and I went to town poking a billion holes in the peppers because we sure didn't want any exploding peppers. The teacher told us to be more gentle with the peppers. And here's the meal we cooked AND got to eat! Some kind of fried eggplant sandwich with rice, pickles, some other dish with seaweed in it, and miso soup, and green tea. It was sooo yummy. And the wonderful cooking teachers...Sakane-san, Maede-san, and Hanzaki-san!!

Chi's Art

2006-06-24T07:37:00.000-06:00

My friend, Chi, is an artist. She is really talented and draws all kinds of cute characters. Some of her artwork is being exhibited at this empty building with other artists. The building is going to be torn down in a few weeks, so the artists can draw on the walls, floors, ceilings, anything. The building itself has become one big masterpiece. The pink thing is a big knitted blanket that has to be at least 50 yards long and at least five feet wide. It looks like pepto-bismal. This is one of the artists drawing on the wall. I was even allowed to draw on the wall. And this is what I created...a defective cross. Paintings in the stairwell. This is Chi's children book. She wrote and illustrated it herself. Chi doing art on an old metal shelf. Me, Chi, and Chi's sister, Azumi, standing in her section of artwork.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

2006-06-20T08:13:00.000-06:00

My mama turns 50 years old today!! And what a great mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend she is!!

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY, MOM!!! Thinking about you and missing you!!!

(And another Happy Father's Day to my dad!)

My legs :(

2006-06-19T10:41:00.000-06:00

Learned today that the Japanese say those who smell the worst get bitten the most. Guess I'm pretty smelly, because I got bit quite a bit. Crazy Indonesian mosquitoes.

Wanna loose a quick 5 pounds?...Go to Indonesia for a week

2006-06-18T04:29:00.000-06:00

I have tons to say about Indonesia, my meeting there, and the experiences I had. Let's just do it list style...

I went to Indonesia for a meeting for people who have served one year on the field in my region (that would be the Pacific Rim region). It is a retreat, debriefing, refocusing, half-time type meeting. Totally awesome.
We stayed at a Hilton Hotel and we weren't able to leave the hotel most days because of security and because the hotel is not conveniently located to anything. However, the Hilton in Indonesia is a little different from America. While it was absolutely beautiful and clean and very tropical, we couldn't drink from the tap, there were ants that permanently lived on the bathroom sink, the shower water temperature was never consistent, and in the lobby bathrooms, there were hoses next to the toilets that you had to spray into the toilet to flush everything down.
Indonesia is a Muslim country, so we heard the call to prayer often. The first time I heard it, I was sitting by the pool and I thought at first it was Indonesian music playing. Then it got louder and louder, and then you could hear the PA systems turn on with men leading in prayer. My first time in a Muslim country, my first time to ever hear Muslims praying...it was haunting and heart-wrenching to hear hundreds of voices in unison crying out to untruth.
Totally got some kind of something-something with my stomach while there. The kind of little something-something that forced me and the toilet be good friends.
I counted...I have over 40 mosquito bites on my legs alone. Today I went to the pharmacy here in Japan and just lifted up pants leg to the cashier and they immediately directed me to the anti-itch cream.
I saw a woman going to the bathroom in the river.
Security guards checked my purse before going into the shopping mall, and when I entered the grocery store, I had to put my purse in a cubby.
I ate at a restaurant and the toilet didn't flush...you dumped a bucket a water into the toilet yourself to flush it.
When I was checking my bags to leave Indonesia, instead of having a computerized label on my suitcase, the lady hand wrote the destination on the label. Thankfully, my luggage arrived safely.
Here's some pictures.... I had to fly through Taiwan on the way to Indonesia. Here's a view from the plane. This is Indonesia. My first time to see someone side-saddle a motorbike. This sticker is in our hotel room. It tells Muslims which way to face when they pray. That's right, folks...INDONESIAN IDOL!! I caught an episode one night on tv. It is just like American Idol, complete with the judges, posters from fans, numbers to call and text, and even some English songs. First time to see four people on a motorbike. Street corner. Me and my buddy, D, eating some Indonesian food (I know my food looks very western but it was Indonesian).

Things you should know about Japan today...

2006-06-09T09:08:00.000-06:00

The rice fields around my house have been flooded, and the frogs have arrived, and they are insanely loud. I can't even imagine what it must have been like during the plague of frogs in Exodus. Also, frogs don't say "ribbit" in Japan, they say "ghetto".
Liz and I were walking down the street, and a mom comes by on her bike with her little boy in the child's seat on the back. As the bike passes us, the little boy turns around to stare at us, and then all the sudden blows us a kiss. It was sweet.
Liz and I had the luxury of watching the season finale of "American Idol" last night. While I love Chris and Mandisa, and Taylor is growing on me, I was so excited to see Clay Aiken and his new 'do...He is still my favorite American Idol.
Our bathroom is a mold magnet. Today as I sprayed bleach where the mold likes to live and watched it disappear, I found myself singing Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone"...Since you been gone, I can breathe for the very first time.
And today I ate this.... I know it doesn't look very appetizing but it is my favorite Japanese food. It's okonomiyaki, and it's a cabbage pizza/pancake thing. This one is especially cute because the lady made it heart-shaped. Ai and me cutting our cute heart-shaped meal.

They came like a Tennessee Tornado

2006-06-07T01:32:00.000-06:00

Well, now that I have had some time to rest, I can put up some pics of the last few days with the TSC Team. Man, it was a crazy, busy ten days, but it was so good. My heart was encouraged and warmed by the ladies and girls, and I know they ministered to some many others as well. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO JAPAN, TSC TEAM!!!! Kaleigh, Hannah, and me!! The girls with Chi!! Janee talking with students at Mukogawa. Morgan and Molly talking with students at Mukogawa. A student demonstrated a "Strange Face" for us. The girls with an English class at Mukogawa. Janee, Molly, Kaleigh, Morgan, Emily, and Hannah on the train. The girls with Hannah and Collin, two MKs here and my neighbor kids. Check out Collin's big grin with all those girls surrounding him. And the MAMAs! Kim, Victoria, Teresa (my missionary neighbor), Lisa, Becky, and Ms. Leighann. And missionaries in Japan!...Barb, Teresa, Liz (demonstrating her own "Strange Face"), and me!

Happy 24th Birthday, Shi Shi!!

2006-06-04T09:41:00.000-06:00

My Saturday...met the TSC daughters in the morning and took them on a little adventure around Osaka. A round of Karaoke, Print Club pictures, lunch at Outback Steakhouse, and a few stops at my favorite stores...the girls experience a bit of what Osakans are known for...FUN!! Then that evening...Shiona's Birthday Party!! How do you celebrate birthdays in Japan? With spicy Thai food, more Print Club pictures, a trip to the arcade, and a slumber party!! Emily pretending to be on "American Idol" during Karaoke...can't tell whether Molly is overcome with joy or horrified. Lizzy, Janee, and Chi shopping for some cheap accessories. The girls let loose in Osaka. Me and Shi Shi...dressed the same for her birthday party. Yuka, Liz, Erika, and Shiona!! My most favorite game in the whole world, except that I can't ever remember the name of it...but it's a drum game and you follow the music that runs across the screen. Shiona always beats me, but it's ok cause I rock at "Cranium".

Update on the TSC Team

2006-06-02T08:01:00.000-06:00

It's been a great five days with the Thompson Station Church mission team so far!! The first day started with a bang by meeting them at 6:45 am (by far, my earliest morning in Japan yet), and speaking to four university English classes at Kansai University. Since then the team has hosted a luncheon for the lady missionaries in the area, spent a day in Kyoto, prayer "rode" Osaka on the train loop line that goes around the city, prayerwalked Shinsaibashi, spent the day in the country at a Japanese home, eaten various Japanese foods including tonkatsu, okonomiyaki, and tempura, as well as eaten Korean food, Egyptian food, and McDonalds, learned to play the koto, participated in a tea ceremony, and on and on. And God has been answering prayers by providing so many divine opportunities to meet Japanese. Here's a quick look at our first five days... Here's Morgan and Lisa with some English university students. The English professor who invited us to come speak to the classes is a Christian. It was a great day to meet so many students, especially for Liz and me. Hannah with some university girls. Hannah has impressed all of us with how comfortable she is with Japanese. She is only ten years old, but look how tall she looks in this picture. Ahh, tiny Japanese girls. When we went to Kyoto, there were lots of schools on field trips also visiting. While in Kyoto, some students were required to interview any foreigners they met for their English class. Here's Kaleigh answering questions for some high schoolers. Emily, Morgan, me, Hannah, Kaleigh, and Molly in front of the Golden Temple. At the temple, the girls saw people buying prayers, burning incense, ringing bells to wake gods, throwing money at statues, lighting candles...doing anything so the gods would hear their prayers. The girls' brokenness, sadness, and frustration as they saw these things taken place is a reminder to me of the urgency to share that Christ is all we need, no bought prayers or loud bells. Hannah, Molly, and Kaleigh on top of Umeda Sky Building in Osaka. Behind them, the city of Osaka. The team spent the day at the Harada Family's home out in the country. Mrs. Harada prepared a Japanese tea ceremony for the team. Love this picture...Ms. Leighann, after she took a sip of the green tea. It's a little bitter. Janee preparing green tea the traditional way. Mrs. Harada also did a little Koto concert for us, and then let each of us play the koto. And check out all the food Mrs. Harada made for the team! It was a feast! That's Mr. and Mrs. Harada is the back.

Peeps from TSC!

2006-05-28T09:20:00.000-06:00

The team from my church arrived today!!! Man, having people from Tennessee here feels so great! It's like home came to me! I think you can tell from the pics that I am pretty excited that they are here! Looking forward to the next 10 days!! Whoo-hooo!!

Things you should know about Japan today...

2006-05-27T06:08:00.000-06:00

Eleven peeps from Thompson Station Church (my home church!) are leaving for Japan today to do a 10 day mission trip here in Osaka!! Totally pumped!!
Tonight I ate at a Sushi restaurant where the sushi comes around on a conveyer belt and only costs 100 yen (a buck). They were serving crab brains sushi. I could only think about Sebastian from "The Little Mermaid".
I'm still wearing a sweater when I go outside...Japan has not picked up on that it is MAY!!!
My parents sent me a package containing pens with "Katie" written on them, an "American Idol" video, a Bible storing cloth that they got from a parents of missionaries meeting, and...hand sanitizer. Most random package ever.

Me!

2006-05-24T09:00:00.000-06:00

Whenever I have alot to do, I do the most unimportant things first. Thus, the randomness that follows...

Full Name: Katie Jean Swarthout
Where you named after anyone: My mom got Katie off a McDonalds commercial and Jean is my Grandma's name
What do you like most about yourself: I think I'm funny and make people comfortable...I think
When was the last time you cried: Yesterday...but it's a weekly event for me
Have you ever sung into a hairbrush: Regularly, and I pretend I'm on "American Idol"
What's your favorite lunch meat: Ham from the Kroger deli
Any bad habits: I keep food too long in the fridge...I learned this from my roommate
What's your most embarrassing CD: I have the soundtrack to the Broadway Play "1776" which is about the signing of the Declaration of Independence
If you were another person, would you be friends with yourself: I hope so
What word do you consistently misspell: restaurant
What is the last book you read: "The Last Battle" by C.S. Lewis, the final book in the Narnia series
What is your favorite piece of clothing: I loved my black turtleneck from Old Navy like crazy, but I wore it out and threw it away about a month ago...sniff, sniff
Where is your second home: Franklin is my first, Martin is my second, Osaka is my third
What is your current ringtone: "Stuck" by Stacie Orico
Do you have a journal: yep, and I write in it often, and I can't use any other journal until that journal is completely full or a new year has began
First thing you notice about opposite sex: hair...I'm not concern so much with appearance, but I don't like my boys to have more product in their hair than me
Do you get along better with girls or boys: In America, both. In Japan, girls
Would you ever bungee jump: Yep
Do you untie your shoes when you take them off: Nope
Do you think you're strong: Physically, a little bit...emotionally, a little bit
What's your favorite color: blue, pink, and yellow
How many wisdom teeth to you have: None
Who do you miss the most right now: My Mom and Dad, my sisters, Grandma...I'm a big baby when it comes to my family
What are you listening to right now: Barlow Girl (are they out of style?)
Who was the last person you talked to on the phone: Shiona
Who would play you in a movie: Cameron Diaz
What place have you visited is your favorite: Disney World
What's your eye color: Blue-grayish
What is the last movie you watched: "In Good Company"...zzzzz
What is your favorite day of the year: Any days in the middle of October...the weather is always perfect around that time
How often do you check your email: Religiously...now how often do I reply to email is another story
Do you floss your teeth: I do...just not daily

Shopping with Liz and Katie at the 100 Yen Store

2006-05-23T01:43:00.000-06:00

Ah, the infamous 100 Yen Store in Japan...where everything costs 100 yen (or an American dollor, give or take a little). They have anything you could desire...fish-flavored crackers, origami paper, toilet slippers. It is my most favorite place in Japan. Would anybody like some Corn Frake? Liz's hair actually looks like that when she wakes up in the morning. I am imitating Chris Daughtry from "American Idol" with my bald look. This is a Mo Smoking area! Mo Smoking!

Zephaniah 3:17

2006-05-21T05:36:00.000-06:00

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Introducing Michael and Kristin Braden!

2006-05-16T10:27:00.000-06:00

My beautiful older sister, Kristin, got married a few weeks to her long time boyfriend, Michael, somewhere in the Caribbean on a cruise. Now they are off living in Las Vegas, NV. It's sad I missed the wedding, but now when I go back home, I have a new brother...welcome to the family, Michael!

Glimpse at Guam

2006-05-15T20:35:00.000-06:00

Got back from Guam yesterday...it was amazing and sooo much fun! Here's a few quick pics from our trip. But there was a lot of drama while we there....this is just a glimpse! More pics coming later! This is the beach right outside our hotel! Amazing! Koni and Shiona with an amazing view of southern Guam. This beach is where a Japanese warship sank during WWII. A view of Two Lovers Peak. The story goes that two young lovers jumped from the top because their parents wouldn't allow them to marry. Shiona got a perm while in Guam...what a hottie! Cutie-patootie Kaori at Burger King...what a blessing to eat at Burger King! Someone please talk to Koni! The website for our hotel said we would have a "mountain view"...it was more like a parking lot and a construction zone. But if you look out the window to the far right, you could see one mountain. And this is our "Guam Bomb" that we rented from Ghetto Fabulous Car Rental. It broke down twice...once while we were still at the car rental place parking lot. What can you expect for $20 a day to rent a car?

"I'm gonna soak up the sun..."

2006-05-10T17:56:00.000-06:00

I AM LEAVING FOR GUAM TODAY!! Me, Shiona, Kaori, and Koni soaking up the sun, enjoying the world's largest K-mart (not kidding, it resides in Guam), eating some Taco Bell, and shopping at Payless Shoe Store and the Dress Barn (cheap thrills, I know)!!!! And here's a map of Guam, especially for my family who is a bit concerned about where I am headed. Guam is an American territory, so it provides all the goodness of my homeland but is only a three hour flight from Osaka. GUAM!!

"Elizabethtown"

2006-05-08T02:03:00.000-06:00

Saw "Elizabethtown" this weekend and it made me what to do three things...1.) Talk on the phone to someone for hours on end. 2.) Take a roadtrip across the US. 3.) And get in a car, turn up the music really loud, and sing at the top of my lungs in any key I wanted. I totally had a "I miss America" moment while watching the movie which lead to me creating these maps. You can create your own map too at www.world66.com. The states in red are the states I have been to in America. I been to 21 states (that 41%). Now that I am looking at the map, I guess I have been to Pennsylvania or New Jersey also because I drove to New York and had to get there somehow. Ok, the dark red countries are where I have lived (that be the US and Japan). The regular red is where I have been (that be Canada, Thailand, and I included Guam, because I am going there this THURSDAY!!). The gray is where I want to visit. I have been to only 2% of the world's countries (5 countries)...hopefully it will be more someday!

Three Reasons to Celebrate!

2006-05-06T09:06:00.000-06:00

May 5th is a very busy day...it's Children's Day in a Japan that provides a day off from work and school, it's Cinco de Mayo in Mexico but for some reason some Japanese think they should celebrate it as well, and it's Mika and Yuka's birthday (they're cute twins!). For their 22nd birthday, we celebrated all three events with Mexican food, print club pictures, and ice cream! Me with the birthday girls, Yuka and Mika!! Our cups are suppose to be the colors of the Mexican flag but I think the middle color of the flag is white, right? MEXICAN FOOD!! It was pricey, but it was soooo yummy!! Yuka, Shiona (with another classic Shi face), Koni, and Maya! Then we did Print Club, where you get in a photo machine, take pictures, and then can decorate the pictures yourself with writing, hearts, stars, just about anything. Then the pictures get printed really small and they're stickers. It's really popular to do here. Here's Kaori holding up a few of the Print Club pictures. Me and Shi trying to look like the girls on the Print Club machine. The girls looking at our Print Club pictures, and Yuka jumping in front of the camera. Yuka and Mika with their birthday presents...earrings with their initials. And to top off the night...ICE CREAM!!! The saying is that every Japanese woman has two stomachs...one for dinner and one for dessert. I do believe that is true for me, too.

Wisdom From a Kid

2006-05-04T07:37:00.000-06:00

"Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than men!' " Acts 5:29 Every Wednesday morning, the missionaries in my area get together for worship and prayer. This week we read Acts 5 and were sharing what God had shown us through that passage. Collin, a 11-year-old missionary kid who has lived his whole life in Japan, told us that he liked verse 29 because Peter and the apostles must obey God no matter what may happen if they disobeyed man's rules. Then Collin went on to tell us that there were people who didn't read their Bible before they went to church on Sunday, so they don't really know what the Bible says, they just listen to whatever the preacher says, and therefore they are really obeying man and not God. Pretty deep insight from a 11-year-old, huh?

Adventure in Japan #212

2006-05-01T08:43:00.000-06:00

Sometimes when you leave the house in Japan, you end up in places you hadn't planned on. Take, for instance, a few mornings ago when Liz, Barb, and I decided to go to a Japanese cooking class we saw advertised in a magazine for foreigners. When we arrived the train station, we were suppose to take a bus to a community center. Because there was too much confusion on which bus to take, we decided to take a taxi straight to the community center. The first taxi man told us he didn't know where it was. The second taxi man told us he didn't know where it was, but he would drop us off where the bus would have dropped us off. We take the second taxi and get dropped off in some random neighborhood. We roam around a bit to see if we can find the community center, and we decide to ask the police station for directions. The police man didn't know either, but he was a kind man and spent some substantial time making calls to find out where the community center was. He found it and called the community center to tell them there were foreigners who wanted to go to the cooking class. By this time, we are already 30 minutes late, but the community center said they would come get us at the police station. A few minutes, a Japanese lady in a dress comes running towards the police station. She's from the community center, and she informs us there is no cooking class that day! But there's an origami class. So, it was another random adventure in Japan. Koban means the neighborhood police station. The kanji on the police car means Osaka. The nice police man who found the community center. Making origami! And our random origami class. We made origami for Children's Day. There is a boy fish and a girl fish and the fish are hanging off a sunflower stem and at the bottom are little lilies. My fish were a little frumpy and looked more like whales. Yay, origami!

Mannequins Around the World

2006-04-25T04:14:00.000-06:00

Yesterday Liz and I saw these hilarious mannequins in a kimono shop. I guess they're suppose to look like Westerners, but their expressions are so funny. You can see the price tag on the first kimono...280,000 yen...that's like $2800. And seeing the mannequins in the Japanese store reminded Liz of the picture she has of her with a mannequin in Thailand. It's interesting how the mannequin-makers interpret what a Westerner looks like.

Second Easter in Japan!

2006-04-20T07:34:00.000-06:00

Whew, I had a busy and crazy Easter weekend, but it was totally great! Saturday and Sunday, I went with some fellow missionaries to the island of Shikoku and we worshipped together Easter morning on top of a mountain. And then Sunday night, Liz, Shi, and I got together with some university girls Easter night and watched "Passion of the Christ" and got to go deep with those girls about Christ and what exactly His death on the cross means for us. Here's some pics of the weekend! So, Japan has four major islands. I live on the biggest. But we went to the next big one south of us, but to get to it, you have to go through a little one. In between the little island and the island I visited, there are these whirlpools that are caused by the water passing in between the two islands. These pictures don't at all do justice showing whirlpools. Notice the boat of tourists going through the whirlpools. Sorry for the bar in the way of the whirlpools, but it was the best picture I had of the whirlpools. Me and Liz on a beach in Tokushima on Shikoku island. It's Easter weekend, middle of April, and I'm still wearing my winter coat...crazy Japanese weather. This is a Japanese cemetery. And inside this building is where many Japanese Christians are buried. The city of Tokushima! Liz, me, and Barb on top of the mountain overlooking Tokushima! This is the world's largest suspension bridge and the most expensive bridge ever built. It connects my big island to a little island. My supervisors, Mr. Ron and Mrs. Cindy!! They look really cool with their sunglasses, don't they?!

HANAMI PARTY!

2006-04-14T09:39:00.000-06:00

The Cherry Blossom trees are blooming and it's time for Hanami! That is, Cherry Blossom Viewing Parties. And what to Japanese do at Hanami? Sit under the trees with friends, eat, relax, eat, play games, and eat! Here's some pics of my Hanami! This is Shukagawa River. But really it's a creek. However, the Cherry Blossoms are so beautiful in this area. Here we are sitting on our tarp underneath the Cherry Blossom trees enjoying lots of food and fellowship! And here's our massive supply of food. I made the brownies in the black container...thanks to a care package containing brownie mix from Mrs. Hulgan!!! Cherry Blossoms!! Takako and Azu sharing a laugh! Maya and Mika! Around where people are watching Cherry Blossoms, some vendors are set up selling various things. One guy had this game where you try to catch little gold fish. I won two fish (except one isn't a gold fish, he's something else with big protruding eyes). So I named the gold one Sakura (which means cherry blossom) and the black one Lin (which was my friend's, Chihiro, brother's name). It's the only pet my supervisors will let me have.

2 Chronicles 33:10-13

2006-04-11T20:24:00.000-06:00

"The LORD spoke to Manasseh (King of Judah) and his people, but they paid no attention. So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God." 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 A lot of good stuff in these verses about God, His mercy, His forgiveness, and how He is putting things is our path so that we might know like Manasseh that the LORD is God.

hmmm....

2006-04-08T09:18:00.000-06:00

Can someone please tell me how this game works? I'm stumped! http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/esp.html

The Return of Barb!

2006-04-04T07:32:00.000-06:00

BARB IS BACK!! After 9 months on Stateside Assignment, Barb is back in Japan! I'm so excited she's back and I'm so pumped to do ministry with her again! Yippee! Behold the charter members of the Hot Mamas for Christ Club in Japan...Shiona, Barb, Liz, and me. We all went to a regular Japanese restaurant to celebrate Barb's return, and apparently we foreigners looked like we couldn't eat Japanese food without making a mess because the waiter bought us BIBS! No one else, just the weird foreign girls needed a bib!

Things I saw today...

2006-03-30T08:15:00.000-06:00

View of Osaka! Another view of Osaka! Another view of Osaka! Monkeys playing in the street! A monkey hanging on a fence! Cuddling monkeys! Monkeys picking each other's fleas and eating it! A monkey jumping up on the hood of our car!! A waterfall!