festivities

As in the fall, Tokyo University students presented an amazing school festival today! They're still really smart...they had churros again too. It was also unbelievably fun to watch my friend Kohjiro juggle/dance in a panda bear suit!

My teammates also blessed me more than I could have hoped this week! They were great to be with as usual, AND, Shyla made me this beautiful box to store all of my recipes in and Kermit bought me a Bible in Spanish!!! Both of these gifts were surprises for no particular occassion, I might add!

tokyo tower

While my life has been phenomenally blessed lately, I just want to vent really quickly. I have trash problems. I was really lazy and in denial that the canned tomatoes that I opened a while ago to make enchiladas needed to be thrown away. This would be simple to fix in some regions of the world, but not so easy in Japan. Now that I've cleared out the tomato remnants and mold that were growing in our refrigerator, I have to wait approximately one and a half weeks for the every-other-friday when we can dispose of our cans and glass products. I think my roommate hates me (I'm sorry Shyla!)

I really love living in Tokyo though. We had a great concert a couple weeks ago at a little club in Chofu. I think it was my last one, and I loved it and we ended on "Jesus Paid it All" which is my second favorite. We also sang my favorite, which I fondly call "Blind Man."

Tonight I went to Tokyo Tower with three amazingly cool girls from Sophia University! I love hanging out with them so much and we went to a great Italian restaurant where I got cheese pizza. The view of the city was also beautifully impressive!

Lately, I have also been blessed in many ways such as visiting a monkey park, going on the best rollar coaster in the world, having amazing quality time with all of my co-workers, seeing a friend from high school and her mom in Tokyo, dancing in Shyla's classes, and having the fine privilege of seeing two girls accept Jesus into their hearts!

blessings

Yesterday I went to Odawara, Nao's hometown, and had the best possible day I could imagine.

April showers

I've heard it's raining a lot for April, but for the most part it's getting much warmer in Tokyo!

On Monday, we had our staff meeting at Hinokashira park! So nice, and it didn't rain!

Tuesday we had world-wide day of prayer. It amazes me how the Japanese staff care so sincerely about the whole world too. Even though there are so many people here that need to know Jesus, we prayed for the entire world also! Then, I went to my second badminton practice. My friend Aya is pretty much pro. Her and Nao are good teachers!

The next picture is a bunch of my teammates at about 8:30 a.m. at Toyo university. We were getting ready to invite students to our lunches by going into different classes.

Then there's the American portion of our team on the way home from Todai. Just riding on the train, the Japanese way.

Thank you for your prayers, Bryant got to go home on his birthday!

goodnight!

One beautiful thing about living in Tokyo, while my family lives in California, is that when they are waking up, I am getting ready to go to sleep. My brother gets so jealous (except not today because it's his birthday.) I just got to talk to all four of my siblings, and I am seriously probably the most blessed person alive. Also, Bryant is doing much better and is just waiting to get to go home now!

Also, badminton, apple to apples, my roommate's new dance, the blissfully warm weather today, and my incredibly stunning Shinkan team are real blessings from God!

class

I've been smiling a lot lately. First of all, this song I'm listening to right now brings joy to my life. Most people don't know that rap makes me happy.

"Hey, yo man, let the beat drop on em...Let me tell you where we from...New Jerusalem that's my home, let me put in the song so you never get it wrong. No shame in the message that's the reason I live, Christ up in every song, He's the reason I'm here."

Ok, that's not the reason I decided to write right now, but in case you're interested: "Unashamed" by Lecrae

Actually, my mom wanted to know if I had any new pictures, so here's the latest. It's Anita, Kermit, Jonathan, others (in the back passing out flyers, not shown) and me in a classroom telling them about our lunchtime and other events. We've been on campus a lot lately, so I smile because I have a lot of time with my wonderful Shinkan teammates and cool freshman! Also, yesterday I received a present that made my day!

Some things have been more sad and made me cry lately too. Bryant, practically my cousin, is in the hospital with pneumonia. God is keeping him alive, but his condition is really rough and he needs our prayers! Lord, please protect and heal him! And, Lord, please help people that don't You to find You. Jesus, please help people that know You to rely on Your strength!

tour and home

Tour was indescribable. See the love in the FREE huddle! I've really been enjoying getting to know people and meeting new people! Since being back from the choir tour, I went to a basketball tournament (and felt like I was in America), we had a party for the graduating students (got to see everyone a little dressed up) and I've been enjoying the cherry blossoms.