Tachikawa, Japan

Last night many of us got to experience a bit of Japanese culture. Today is the beginning of a short summer festival, Tanabata. This celebrates the meeting of two constellations, because a meteorite shower brings them together. It is somewhat like a tragic Shakespeare play. To celebrate, the Japanese write wishes on brightly colored paper and hang them on bamboo plants. Here are the wishes at the Hosokawa's. Saturday is also the cleaning day in Japan. In homes, businesses, and even out on the street, people are cleaning. So, a few of us went to Josui Church, and the rest stayed at Tachikawa. There we cleaned and helped to prepare for Sunday services. Missy and Amanda cleaned all of the slippers. Andrew helped Seiji and Yoshio learn a song for Gospel Night. Tim just hung out with some of the other helpers. Sensei, Yo, and Uki also practiced their song for Gospel Night. When the cleaning was done, those of us who were left at the church were blessed with a dinner cooked by Yo. After some fellowship, we played a couple lively games of "Spoons". It was a great time.

Tachikawa, Japan

Today was our big day for English lessons. We had the beginning of the day to ourselves, but tonight we had five or six students on our schedule. After lunch we went to pass out flyers for an ice cream party. Though Tim and Andrew didn't see many kids, Missy and Amanda were kept busy. The kids had fun seeing Americans. Later that evening we had all of our lessons. Unfortunately, Andrew's student was unable to come. Instead he went around taking pictures of everyone as they taught. Missy had her first lesson with Mrs. Hosokawa, while Christi taught Kikuko, who is Mrs. Hosokawa's mother-in-law. Again, Brandon taught Chie. Amanda had the most difficult lesson with Mr. Tanokura, because he knows very little English at all. She says that she does well even with the difficulties, because she is able to use hand motions to describe what she is talking about.

Tachikawa, Japan

Today started with a late team meeting. Then we grabbed a quick lunch before our meeting with Yoshie. Once again we had some schedule changes. Our homestays were shuffled around yet again, and we had to add some additional English lessons. Speaking of lessons, Mike taught Mrs. Tanokura. The rest of us went to pass out flyers for our English lessons. We did this a two local schools for younger children. Some of the boys there would yell "NO!" and run by us, or the girls would just be shy and walk off in another direction. But we were blessed when one of the boys misunderstood Andrew's Japanese and instead of rejecting the flyer, he accepted it and smiled. Many times they would walk off and look at us from a distance saying "Amerika-jin desu", meaning, "They are Americans". One of the girls was bold and talked to Andrew with a little Japanese before she ran off. Christi got the chance to talk with the Yoshizawa's in Cantonese, as they were passing out flyers together. At the other school, Joshua, a seminary student, Missy, and Amanda passed out flyers. Later this week we will all go back to the schools to pass out flyers for an Ice Cream Party that Tachikawa church is putting on for the kids. Later today Sensei Takahashi met with us and we talked about our expectations on the trip and had some prayer time. Tonight some of the students are going to the prayer meeting. The Tachikawa and Josei churches do this every Wednesday. There were alot of people.

Tachikawa, Japan

Yesterday was a good transition. We went to the Tachikawa Church of Christ and met as a team. We then went with the Takahashi's to Coffee & Curry for a lunch meeting. After we discussed the plans for the week, the team had a chance to get familiar with the local bus station and malls. Today started off with all of us meeting at the church at 9 to meet and have some quiet time. Then there was a large English lesson with mothers and their young children. It was a fun time! Three of us helped the Mortimers with that. Later, Tim, Brandon, and Amanda had individual English lessons. They all were a little nervous about it at first, but really enjoyed it after they got their first session under their belt. Mike and Missy went to Josui Church to help with English lessons there. Josui is the sister church of Tachikawa Church of Christ. Many of the seminary students go there. One of Amanda's students was Joshua who is a student at the seminary. For the rest of the afternoon, we just relaxed a bit before Tim and Andrew helped with a group English lesson, led by Hiromi. The three ladies had a fun time, and we had the chance to encourage them to come to the Gospel Concert later this month.

Tachikawa, Japan

Finally we have all gotten settled with our homestay families and got some sleep. Today we will be meeting at the Tachikawa Church with the Takahashi's and the Mortimers to discuss the trip itinerary and scheduling. To get there, each of us will be riding the train or bus from our homestay to the Tachikwa South Station. It is a short walk to the church from there. Most of us are grateful that we do not have to walk because it has been overcast and drizzling the whole time we have been here. On our bus ride from the airport in Narita to Tachikawa was a beautiful ride. The city looks spectacular at night. One of the things that stood out as different was the color of lights that were on the skyscrapers. Instead of just white lights, there were yellow, white, and red ones, making the skyline look completely different than what we are used to. Also the road we were on went over and under a river with just a few feet too the nearest building on either side. What a beautiful city!

Somewhere Over The Pacific

As this is written, the team is flying over the Pacific ocean on a full Boeing 747-400 bound for Narita International in Japan. The flight will take an estimated 10 hours and 40 minutes, which is ahead of schedule. We have been treated to two above-average meals and will be watching a total of two movies plus documentaries and a few film shorts. Dr. Halstead and our friend, Chi, helped us to the airport earlier this morning, and Dr. Halstead met one of his friends there. That man has been working with Grace Community to teach ESL to Thai students. Now he is taking upwards of 130 students with him to Thailand to learn there. Oddly enough, we all are sharing the same flight, but they will continue to Bangkok after a short stop in Japan, where we will depart.