my journey home

it has been a while since I updated my blog. Hopefully it will be completely updated by the end of the month.

Anyways my journey home started monday morning at 10:15 Australian time and finished at about 8:30pm tuesday night.
Miss jodi drive us, mr josh, mr john and myelf, to the bus stop in another city. We caught the bus from there to the airport. I said good bye to john and josh on the bus because we were going to different terminals. i had to wait about 4 hours or so before i could check in. I looked around the shops and had lunch. eventually it was time to check in and after i checked in i found Nicole. We went through security, did some shopping and i walked her to her gate. i then did some more shopping as i walked to my gate.

On the flight i had 4 seats to myself that i could spread out on. i tried getting some sleep but just as i did we hit some pretty back turbulance and it woke me up. i may have slept for n hour on the plane.

i get to the gold coast, and wait for my bus to get me to the train station. as i am waiting for the train i find out that my friend that i was hoping to meet up with had an exam and couldn't be there. i stopped at roma st for about an hour before continuing on to the airport in brisbane. i had quiet a far bit of time to kill at the airport. i boarded my flight and about half way through the flight the plane got turned around. we landed back in Brisbane. i had to wait another hour or so before i could get on another flight back to Rockhampton. All up i took a car then bus then plane then bus then train then train then plane then plane to gt back to rocky. Departed Karuizawa 10:15 am monday arrive Rockhampton 8:30pm tuesday night. 34 hrs to get home in total. long trip.

Candle light dinner

In week 8 i believe, Miss June, 3 students and myself went to a 2nd hand store for an outing on saturday. We knew we were going to be late getting back so we called the school to let them know that we would like some dinner saved for us. What we didn't expect was for Mr Tobi and 4 male students to serve us a candle light dinner for us in the dinning room. The guys had either fake paper moes or bow ties on. They were all so cute all dressed up smart. Jim one of the students came out and served me my plate saying it was a special one. My rice was in the shape of a heart. How cute but i still don't know who made that special plate. :S. It was an interesting meal. 

Week 9

So what happened in the 1st week of month 3. We started our new classes this week. I have the same reading class and conversation class and a new bible study class. The bible study class is easy as i did that class in month 1. i still had my notes from that month so i am using them so less prep time. My reading class is easy as well it is all sorted for the month. For conversation class, Mr Josh is taking my class of a thursday so i can have the time after lunch until the end of that class for study. I started uni this week. So far so good. I want to pass this time around

This friday night we had the halloween party at the church. I went gothic like or as close to it as i could with the clothes i have here in Japan. It was a fun night. Today i am paying for it thought. I have sore muscles in my legs and shoulders from the games. The students want to play sardines tonight but i don't think i should. 

i have been thinking about my next step after SYME a lot lately. I only have 3 more weeks before the term finishes here in japan. I do want to finish 2nd language teaching methodologies this term but i don't want to do my final teaching pracs. i want to focus on getting some money together so i can save up enough to move if need be to Toowoomba to do event management before joining Student Life in Operations, but i need to talk to them first which i will do hopefully in Jan next year.  

Week 8 - last week of month 2

Last week of month 2 now. We had a shorter week this week with only 3 days of classes not 4. Monday we went to a street to go to an unique and rare bookstore to find out it was closed. We did go to a few other little store on the street.

Squeezing 4 lessons into 3 was fairly easy. Conversation class we still had about half a lesson to fill in so we ate some food in the lobby. Bible study class was harder but we managed to sqeeze most of it in. 

Friday we had a school trip. we went to Kusatsu about 2 hours from School. We went to a lookout to see a green lake. Sulphur makes it look green. i am over the smell of rotten eggs. We also went to an onsen. It was an outside onsen. It was good and the only way it could have been made better was it if was snowing. 

it was good to get out and hang out with the students. I enjoyed my time there. 

Week 7 - hello 2nd half

We have reached passed the half way mark and going into the home stretch soon. Monday we went to the waterfalls finally. We got lost too but that was just part of the adventure. The falls were so nice that we decided that we would take the students with us. 

Classes went as planned this week as far as i can remember. We start week 8 conversation class stuff on friday as we were going to only have 3 more lesson but 4 lessons to teach. it worked out ok. 

Saturday we went to 3 different falls with the students. it was fun. We had good weather too. not too cold and a little cloudy. handing out with the students is really fun to do. they can be really crazy at times. 

Sunday i went for a walk to find team centre where i stayed for a few nights 2 years ago. i found the Kaufmans house but didn't see the house i stayed at unless i missed it as i went to see the kaufmans house instead of sticking to the main road. Was a good adventure.

Week 6 - the half way mark

Week 6 was crazy. We had a few big days. Classes were the same as usual. friday morning we teamed up with Gideon's to pass out bibles at 2 different local junior high schools in Saku. We handed out about 700 bibles in the few hours we were there. Praise the Lord. Now the students need to read them. We started that day at 5:30am.

Saturday we had the Fall festival at the church. It rained all day but was successful. many people came inside to each American food and sat and chatted with the catering staff which was mostly students from SYME. We had a really good time and it was enjoyed by many people. 

When sunday came around i was thankful to have the morning off and spent it reading and watching anime. Josh and Nicole have influenced this. I have no idea why this now has an underline so i am not sure how it fix it. 

Other than that the week was normal. Enjoying teaching the bible and English. enjoyed going to gym class and working on bible club. I am thankful that i am here. 

Tokyo here i come

Well Mr josh and I here we come. We headed to the big smoke friday afternoon by bus. that was a long bus ride. The we had to use the train system in Tokyo to get to Yokohama and Fujisawa. That took a lot of thinking on a tired mind. 

We finally reached our destination to meet up with my friend Cuyler. Let the adventure begin!

So Friday night was a some what late night, I believe we saw 3 am. So i guess i should call it an early morning. Well anyways. We stayed up late watching movies after we had spent some time at the pub with Cuyler and his mates and them and Josh as we went to his.

Saturday morning was a late start. Cuyler had to go to school for a sports festival, the kids really wanted him there, but he didn't need to be there for it. I got myself back to the station, Cuyler was quiet impressed with how much of the direction i could actually remember. I met up with Josh and we headed to Kamakura.

We got the train to Kamakura and walked maybe 2 km to a temple, then walked back to the station to see where the temple i actually wanted to go to was and walked another 4km or so to that one including back. We still had some time up our sleeve so we decided to hit another town on the train line. 

We decided to go to Enoshima. Very nice walk. So many stairs but so worth the view and entertainment. We got there to see Taiko drumming and juggling. It was so amazing. After walking back to the station we met up with Cuyler again in Fujisawa.

So Fujisawa what have you got to offer? It is quiet small but it was good. More walking though. I'm really feeling it now. We then all headed back to Cuyler's place. watched 2 movies then the boys started playing video games. Josh was meant to go to Cuyler's friends again but he never got back to Cuyler. The boys were up until about 1am.

So Sunday morning i didn't exactly have the nicest wake up call. I may have been awake already I'm not sure. I heard noises from Cuyler's bed and see him having an Epileptic fit. great... what do i do?...... Is he still breathing?... yeah he seems ok. About 30 min or more later he has another one. This time i know he know i saw him have it. He seemed ok again. This probably happened about 4 times i think. 

8:45 am Cuyler gets a phone call... his friend that was hosting Josh lost his wallet in Tokyo. He was still in Tokyo. All of Josh's stuff was at his. lucky the room mate was there, we were able to get Josh's stuff. 

Oh no we are going to be late now for meeting up with our friends for lunch.. No we made it on time and were waiting for them instead. We all meet, have a fantastic lunch together, followed by Purikura. Was great seeing them again. The uni students had to go home to study more but the American, theAussie and the half Aussie/Kiwi hit the town with our Japanese tour guide and had fun in Akiba.

We had so much fun that we nearly missed our bus home to Karuizawa. I am glad that Madoka is a fast runner, even in heals. Very impressed. 

And that is where this novel sized entry ends.

Week 5 happenings

Ok week 5 as been and gone. We started our next classes today. Not much has changed. I have a whole new reading class. Basic reading class, but apart from that change, all is the same. 

On our teacher's day off, I went to the gym with the students. I need to go to that every week cause it is so much fun. Now sure about week 6 (which starts tomorrow) if i will go. I had a big weekend, but that will be my next blog.

Monday us teacher's went out for lunch to ramen. It was so good. i enjoyed that feed. Miss June also took me to Lawsons to get my bus tickets to Tokyo for a weekend (see next blog) then gym class. Ultimate Frisbee is so much fun. We played with a foam Frisbee this week so people dropped it less. It was an awesome game. 

Tuesday to Friday were classes as usual. Nothing exciting happened that i can remember. I must remember to write back in the journals that i get from 2 students. I really love your letters to me. You really get to see how you have made an impact on someone's life. Bible club this week was good too. I look forward to that every week but week 6 we will have prep for a festival instead. 

Well i believe that is all the school related stuff that happened in week 5. I cannot believe that week 6 is tomorrow, the end will see our half way mark to the trip here in Karuizawa. My how time flies. 

Where did week four go?

Week 4. Been and gone. Mid-week we had bible club. i think it went really well. People seemed to enjoy it. Miss Jodi and Miss Kari really liked my sharing part. Christian worldview was such a hard topic. In three weeks time we will have bible club again and our theme is forgiveness so it is easy. I'm looking forward to it. 

Thursday i work up thinking why hasn't my phone alarm gone off. I found my phone dead :( I pulled it apart and put it back together and tried turning it on but nothing. I was so annoyed that morning. At night before i went to bed i put it on the charger overnight and now it is all good and working. Then Friday morning putting on my watch i broke my strap. what will i break tomorrow morning? 

We have a lazy weekend in front of us. So i am planning on writing letters. Looking forward to a sleep in and all. Not sure what i will do this weekend yet. I don't feel like going shopping but getting away from the school would be good. 

It is getting colder now. i am happy but my hands and feet are starting to feel it. i am excited that i can start rugging up and getting cozy but it is making me miss people too.

Week 3 been and gone

Well week three has come and gone. I am really itchy from my sunburn from last week now. This week flew by. We had the promo in the middle week and this weekend we started planning bible club. We have our poster up and now to just finish off the teaching, sharing, skit, and everything else. 

This weekend I didn't do anything exciting. I did start and finish a whole book though. i went to the supermarket twice. i was going to go to the onsen on friday night but they left without me. :( i told them that i want to go this coming week so they better not forget me this time. 

Sunday we had curry rice for lunch. it was sooo goood. i went to the Ginza early and i bought a pair of sunglasses. i like them. they have butterflies on them. the church service was really good. Mr John did it this week. It really got me thinking about life and how we forget stuff. It was really interesting. 

Tonght's dinner was Gyoza. Yum. it was soo good. we have some fantastic cooks here at the school. I'm going to get fat :(. 

Bible club promo fail

Wednesday night we were to show the promo video we had. As we plugged the computer into the projector the programme we made the video in had a hissy fit and stopped working. Well then. We tried to get it to work but instead we had an impromptu music spot by Mr Tobi and Miss June. We got the video working about 1 hr or so later but while they were trying to fix it i started making a new one on a different computer. Just as i finished it they got the other computer working. Fixed what was wrong and we were able to show it.

We showed the video on thursday at lunch time instead. It was well received. We are now planning for the big Event this wednesday when we explain more about Christian World-view and what it actually is. 

Happenings over the last few days

it is week three now at school. last week flew by so quickly and this week is going just as fast. My classes have been going well. I have been getting tired. 

On Saturday we started our promo video for bible club and earlier today we finished it. The promo video will get shown tomorrow night at bible club and next week my team will be sharing about 'Christian Worldview'.

Earlier this week Miss Nicole and I were asked to help out at a grand opening of an English school in Ueda. We thought we would be inside sitting in on classes but when we got there we found out that we would be outside all day waving banners and waving at cars driving past, I am so sun burnt from this. Miss Jodi got me some aloe Vera cream and that has helped heaps. i am still sore and red but not as red as my hair :P. 

Something that has been on my mind lately is what will i do after SYME? I do not feel as though teaching is my passion. It is great here teaching the students English and about the bible but I can't see myself doing this when i get home and finish uni (teaching at a school). I have been thinking about what i have done this year and have enjoyed and what i would like to be involved with for next year. Helping the Student Life moment in Rocky has been awesome. i have seen great growth in people there and thoroughly enjoyed helping to make CQ Connexions happen. Once i finish uni though, i won't be a uni student and shouldn't really be involved in the ministry unless i become a missionary. I know the Student Lifers that this goes to will have something to say that will make me think hard. Also i would like to get youth group or maybe something similar to bible club here going at my church. 

Not knowing the next step is a little concerning but I know God has a plan for me and that i need to put my trust in Him 100% and He will guide me every step of the way. I know my future i need to praying about heaps. I'm not sure of my direction. Maybe God is waiting for me to choose and once i decide I will know it is where i am meant to be. Right now i should focus on being at this school and doing my best here.

Week 2 is nearly over

Mt Asama
I cannot believe that week 2 is nearly over. This week has just flown. Miss Nicole was sick today so i combined our bible study classes and had a closer to normal size class. The topic was resurrection. My name means resurrection. Interesting class. We had a tv that worked today. The tv blew up on us yesterday. That was exciting for us to witness. 

We were meant to get a typhoon yesterday. It rained heaps and was cloudy but no typhoon like weather. That was a downer. I was looking forward to it. Also yesterday was bible club. team one did an awesome job. I'm looking forward to getting started on the promo dvd for group three tonight. GO TEAM THREE!!! Not much else to share. 

Let week 2 begin

So week two. We have Mondays off. Another Aussie comes in to teach the students English. It was so good to hear another Aussie accent. All I hear every day is American English and Japanese English; Monday I did my prep for the whole week. Basic but it will get me by. In a way it seems weird to have a day off because in Oz, between work, Student Life, University, church related activities, I have my days filled. I was all done by early afternoon and had no idea what to do with myself. We did have gym class later in the afternoon. It was so fun. We played ultimate Frisbee and volleyball. I tripped over one of my students in Frisbee and landed on my knees then in volleyball I went for the ball and landed on my knees again. I have bruises now but it was worth the current discomfort.

Monday night was interesting. My roommate decided to change the sheets on her bed and had a great time getting them back on. Check www.nicolesjourneytojapan.blogspot.com for more detail on that experience and other mischief we got up to after that event. Fun time that was. All I got to say it I’m sure a male invented the sheets here in Japan because they are so difficult.

Tuesday’s classes went well. For bible study the TV made a funny noise so I unplugged it, Nicole went to see if there was another TV we cold use but got told that it sometimes happens and to try the TV again. I went to plug the TV back in to find a dead bug on the power socket. Seems as though the bug got too close and went to heaven.

The students as of this week have to write a journal to their family time teacher. I have received one so far and need to write back. The girl drew a big heart than wrote inside of it for me. Nearly was a tear jerking moment. While I am awake and thinking about the journal I will write back to my student. Ciao for now. 

 

Weekend Adventure

So, a weekend off. What is that? I have gotten use to having to work all day Saturday and in the time between churches on Sundays. What is a free weekend cause I haven’t seen one for a while until this weekend just gone. I had a whole Saturday morning of nothing. I was so bored. In the afternoon we, Mr Josh, Andrew and myself (party) went to the outlets. We had about 4 hours to spend there but could have done it in about 2 hours. So much expensive stuff and stuff I can get back home. I did find some rad writing paper though and wrote 6 letters home, which I haven’t sent yet because I need stamps and I can’t exactly walk to the closest post office.

Sunday morning was nothing again. Sim sim he (Korean). It means I’m bored. I am use to being at church from 7:30~8am until about 11am. Church here is at 3pm. I did try sleeping in but that didn’t really happen. At least next Saturday we are going to Saku, a bigger town and my group will be working on your bible club video. Really looking forward to bible club. I don’t have anything like this at my church so it might be something I will take home with me.  

What's it like

So what is it like being the actual teacher at SYME now? Some classes are hard, some are easy. It is hard because the lesson plans are originally made for classes double or triple the size of what they actually are. One of my lessons said divide classes into groups of three. My class is a group of three. Hummm. So when we finish everything early I have to think of an activity to do to fill in the time. I was playing hangman in the bible study class, after class I was talking to Miss Jodi and she suggested not playing that game with them. Supposedly somewhere in Japan someone got the idea to hang themselves because of the game hangman. I am not using that game ever again in class. 

My reading class seems to either run on-time or we run out of time. It is difficult. For conversation, I try and ask more questions so the lesson fills in the time. So far all in all the lessons seem to be going well, the students seem to be understand the topics. Each day brings challenges, and each day some new to learn.

 

ｃｌａｓｓｅｓ ｈａｖｅ ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ

Ｔｏｄａｙｓ　ｂｌｏｇ　ｍａｙ　ｌｏｏｋ　ｆｕｎｎｎｙ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｉ　ａｍ　ｕｓｉｎｇ　ａ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｃｏｍｐｕｔｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｕｔｔｏｎｓ　ａｒｅ　ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｔ．ｃｒａｚｙ　ｓｔｕｆｆ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｉ　ｈｉｔ　ｃａｐｓ　ｌｏｃｋ　ｉｔ　ｄｏｅｓｎ‘ｔ　ｃｈａｎｇｅ　ｔｏ　ｃａｐｓ　ｌｏｃｋ．　ｗｅｌｌ　ｄａｙ　ｏｎｅ　ｏｆ　ｃｌａｓｓｅｓ．　ｉ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｏｂｓｅｒｖｅｄ　ｔｏｄａｙ．　ｉ　ｓａｗ　ｗｈａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｌａｓｓ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｌｏｏｋ　ｌｉｋｅ，　ｗｅｌｌ　ｍａｙｂｅ．　ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｎｖｅｒｓａｔｉｏｎ　ｃｌａｓｓ　ｄｉｄｎｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔ　ｃｏｎｖｅｒｓａｔｉｏｎ　ｉｎ　ｉｔ．　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒ　ｔａｌｋｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔｓ　ｔａｌｋｉｎｇ．　

ｓｏ　ｎｏｗ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｗｈａｔ　ｍｙ　ｃｌａｓｓｅｓ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｌｏｏｋ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｉ　ｃａｎ　ｔｒｙ　ｔｏ　ｔｅａｃｈ　ｔｈｅｓｅ　ｃｌａｓｓｅｓ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｅｓｔ　ｏｆ　ｍｙ　ａｂｉｌｉｔｙ．　ｏｎ　ｔｈｕｒｓｄａｙ　ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｈｅｌｐｉｎｇ　ｏｕｔ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｃｈａｐｅｌ　ｔｉｍｅ．　ｎｏｔ　ｓｕｒｅ　ｗｈａｔ　ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｄｏ　ｆｏｒ　ｐｒａｙｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｍｕｓｉｃ　ｙｅｔ．ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｅｎｊｏｙｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔｓ．　ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｇｏｔｔｅｎ　ｔｏ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｓｏｍｅ　ａｌｒｅａｄｙ　ａｔ　Ｅｍｍａｎｕａｌ　ｗａｓ　ｓａｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ　ｗａｓｎｔ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ｈｉｓ　ｃｏｎｖｅｒｓａｔｉｏｎ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｍｏｎｔｈ．　ｍａｙｂｅ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｍｏｎｔｈ．　ｉ　ａｌｒｅａｄｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ａ　ｆｅｗ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔｓ　ｉ　ｗａｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｗｒｉｔｅ　ｎｏｔｅｓ　ｔｏ．　ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｓｍａｌｌ　ｋｏａｌａｓ　ａｎｄ　ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｅｎｏｕｇｈ　ｆｏｒ　１　ｆｏｒ　ｅａｃｈ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｏｎｅ　ｌｅｆｔ　ｏｖｅｒ．　ｈｏｗ　ａｗｅｓｏｍｅ　ｉｓ　ｔｈａｔ．　

ｎｏｔ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｅｌｓｅ　ｉ　ｃａｎ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｓａｙ．　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ａ　ｔａｂｌｅ　ｔｅｎｎｉｓ　ｔｏｕｒｎａｍｅｎｔ　ｔｏｄａｙ．　ａ　ｆｅｌｌｏｗ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒ　ｒｏｌｌｅｄ　ｈｉｓ　ａｎｋｌｅ．　ｗｅｌｌ　ｄｏｎｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｈｉｍ．　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｇｏｏｄ　ａｎｄ　ｉ　ａｍ　ｕｐｌａｏｄｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｉｄｅｏｓ　ｔｏ　ｆａｃｅｂｏｏｋ　ｎｏｗ．　ｔｈａｔ　ｉｓ　ｗｈｙ　ｉ　ａｍ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｃｏｍｐｕｔｅｒ．　ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｗｏｎｔ　ｔａｋｅ　ｔｏｏ　ｌｏｎｇ．

Last day of prep

Today was the last day of prep before class starts. I did all my prep for my conversation class for the week, to have the class change and to get a whole new curriculum. So tonight i will be looking into the new programme to see what i will be teaching. I still want to look into my reading class more and my bible study class seems straight forward. 

I went to the supermarket today. It was good to get into town and pick up some goodies. I have cream pan Obaachan!!. I have had some already and it was sooo goood!. I also have some random Japanese candy for me. 

Well while the internet is working for me I will post this now.

Weekend 1

On Saturday we had a little more orientation. We heard from each other what lead us to come to SYME. We have so many different stories. Our class schedules were also sorted out. We have 3 lessons a day, 4 days a week. I will be teaching 1 bible study class, one reading class and one conversation class. I think I am also teaching returning students too.

Sunday morning we listened to a sermon online. We then got ready to go to town. We ate lunch at this Iranian kebab place. It was so delicious. We then went to Karuizawa Union Church. It is the same church i went to almost two years ago. It is good to see some familiar things. I really felt at home. But it also made me miss the people from the OM trip so much. I walked past the park where we stood in santa and elf costumes and i was sad and happy. I enjoyed that time so much but I know that it won't happen again with the same group of amazing people. 

I really enjoyed the church service. For the next couple of weeks we will be looking into what a missionary is. It has really helped me because I do not know what i want to do. I am here at SYME trying to figure out if teaching is where i am meant to be, a full time teacher that is, or if I will be better off using my skills that i have learnt at uni for teaching in a missionary setting. I really don't know what this 3 months has for me or what i ma meant to be learning while I am here. I know my Biblical knowledge will grow, i know i will get teaching experience but what else will happen in the time I am in Karuizawa? Time. Wait. All will be revealed. 

Orientation day 1

So i got up naturally at the right time for me to get ready and have breakfast. We had some very yummy food. We started orientation today. We were told a few things about the school and what our roles would be. We will teach English a few times a week, do discipleship and accountability with our family group and really get to know our students on a personal level. 

Lunch was a yummy yaki soba followed by more orientation about the school's history and desired future. The we went shopping :). 100 yen for the win!! Dinner that night was at a sushi restaurant.  105 a plate which is super cheap compared to other places. it was soo good. I don't usually like sushi restaurants as there is only raw fish but this one had heaps of other stuff too. 

Now i am all tuckered out from a long day and will be heading to bed shortly. 

The BIG day

It was a very big long day. The day i travelled from Brisbane to Karuizawa. It all started when i had to get up at 4 am Sydney time, 3 am Tokyo time, so i could eat and get ready for the taxi to pick me up. The taxi then drove me to the Roma Street train station. From there i got the train to Robina Station. From the station i took a bus to get me to the airport. I got to the airport at 7:55 am. My flight from the Gold Coast left at 10:55 Brisbane time and i arrived in Tokyo at 7 pm Tokyo time. I then had to get a taxi from the airport to Karuizawa, i left the airport at about 8:30. That was a long taxi ride from the airport to Karuizawa and I didn't sleep at all on the trip. I was so tired when i finally got to SYME. Basically had a shower and went to bed. 

Free day in Brisbane

Well Wednesday my free day In Brisbane to relax and sort out a few final things. I found the bus stop I needed to get me into the city. I got to the city the found a telstra shop. I sorted out stuff for my phone and the lady there was really nice. My telstra phone is now pre-paid. I will sort out the optus one at the airport tomorrow morning that was I know I can use it until then. I have a number to call and sort that out and thinking of numbers I must put a number I will need for tomorrow in my address book in case I can’t find the guy that is taking me to SYME.

I managed to be able to do pretty much everything I needed to do in town today at Roma St station. There was food, chemist, newsagency and an Internet café. I got motion sickness tablets people. The wristbands didn’t really help me on the plane down.  I have a huge day in front of me tomorrow. I need the 5:20am train from Toowong to get me to the Gold coast airport on time. I’ll take two different trains and a bus to get me to the airport and probably a taxi from Pauline’s to the train station. 4am start for me. Wahoo. One thing that I forgot to do while I was at the internet café was to pay some bills. I shall try to remember to do that tomorrow.

I believe that is all for today. I leave tomorrow how crazy is that! 

Let the Journey begin

Written Tuesday 24th Aug

Well I got to Brisbane safe. The flight was a little rough, but I was ok. I then had to get a train so I could get picked up to go to Fusion at Griffith Nathan campus. Emily picked me up and we had dinner before going on campus. Easy way. I really like easy way and wish there was one in Rocky. It was strange being on campus with the Griffith people and not seeing Michael. It was good to see the Griffith people too. Always asking questions and wanting to be kept up to date with the trip. 

I then got a lift after fusion to another train station and had to wait about 15 to 20 min for the train. I got to Roma St station and found out that I would need to wait another 30 min for the train there but Pauline came and got me from there. I am not sure what I will be doing for my day in Brisbane. I want to relax because I will need to be up really early to get to the station on Thursday morning so I can get to my plane on time.

I think I have waited for public transport today more than what I have been on. I am so use to having my car and getting myself around from A to B and coming and going as I please. I think that it has also made me more tired because of the waiting around for transport. Still not sure what I am going to do tomorrow or how I am going to get to anything.

 

What you can do to change the world

Mark 16:15-20 read 'He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

"Go into all the world" we have be told to Go. The disciples did. This message wasn't just for them but Every Christian. Go and tell all creation.

Acts 1:8 says "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This shows that the message isn't just for Jews but Gentiles as well. We are not to keep it to ourselves.

Matthew 5:15-16 says "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." As a Christian we should shine bright and be noticeable before man. Are what you are reflect this? Is there a difference about you? A light that shines that can only come from God. One of my favorite verses is Acts 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' God made us a light to shine. To change the world. To bring salvation to all people. That is what i am doing. Whether it is at university, at work or this time I am in Japan, my impact on people can leave a lasting impression. I might not see these but I know that it is a ripple effect. It will grow, expand. For God's glory always.

Path

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get side-tracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:25~27

I have been struggling to keep focused on my path, I keep getting side tracked with other things. Right now i should be focusing on getting my final support in, but instead i am more focused on other things like relationships, Student Life, work etc. As i was having quiet time with God last night, in different areas of my life where i wanted guidance this following verse came up. Not only for one aspect of my life but several.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. Proverbs 3:5~6

As long as I trust in the Lord, my path will be straight. I need to acknowledge His will for my life. Right now is the time for me to be going to SYME and the timing of acceptance is God's chosen time. I need to fix my eyes on this path right now. Everything else needs to take a back seat, at least until I get back to Australia. For now i know that i am meant to be going to Japan. What happens after that I do not know yet. I know my path up until the end of SYME. I don't know where it will lead me to after that.

All in God's time

God's timing is always perfect. What ever it is, it will happen when God chooses it to happen. We can try to get things done in our time, but I know from experience that if God doesn't want it to happen... It wont!

I have reached about 70% of my financial support. It came in on God's chosen time. I know the remaining will come on His timing as well.

"Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD" Psalm 27:14

His timing for my life's journey is perfect. I need to let Him be in control and try not to take the steering wheel from Him.

Balance

This is something I know I will struggle with over the next few months. To find that perfect balance between work, Student Life commitments, support raising for the trip and relationships. All of those require time but how much time? For me to continue with everything, what will get left out first. I don't want it to be any of the above mentioned things or time that I get to spend with God. How can I find the perfect balance and not get run down? I have a cold and have had it for over 2 weeks and with me not stopping and resting I know it is prolonging the time that i am sick.

I sent out the majority of my support letters via e-mail this week. I got more i need to hand out at church and to the family. Just trying to organise a trivia night is time consuming. I still need to find a location and it is less than a week away. Also writing a Student Life newsletter is time consuming with people not getting back to me and trying to find a time i can sit down with Grace and go through it. Busy.

Busy, busy, busy. I have heard people say that the devil uses busyness to prevent the Kingdom of God from expanding. I can see how this is true. We get so caught up in the busyness of life that we forget about the people around us and focus on ourselves.

So how do i find that balance i need and what will give? Only time will tell.

Phone Interview

I had my phone interview on Friday night after the KV (Key Volunteer - student leaders of student life). I know i had a heap of people praying for me during this time. Thanks to all those that were praying for me. I wasn't nervous and I found my words. It was a blessing to have Wesley there listening to the conversation. Usually i don't like eavesdropping but it was Wes. He is really my unofficial discipler in a way i guess, he did accountability with me while i was organising a camp for student life and made frequent calls to me asking about what was happening in Rocky. Thanks Wes for being there and praying and stuff.

So a phone interview with an American, I'm Australian. The call was from Japan, to add in more nations to the mix. it went really well. You don't realise how different American English is to Australian English at times. An example and a new word I learnt. Nursery. For me Nursery is the room in which a baby sleeps in the house, nursery is the same as Creche, a child care thing for kids too young for sunday school, so usually for those that are not in school yet.

The phone interview really showed me that, even though i will be teaching English to Asian students at this school, I will be continually learning new words. I have been accepted to go to the school and I will be the only Australian there. Bye Bye Aussie Accent. I also learnt more about the school and what I will be doing there. That will come when i start at the school. I also feel that while i am in Japan, the things that i learn at SYME will really help student life back in Rocky. I know i will be doing discipleship while in Japan. We do this on campus, so i am hoping that my time in japan i will find out ways of improving what we do and topics for it as well. 

How I found out about SYME

Back in 2008 when i went to Karuizawa, Japan on a trip with OM i heard about this school. A few of us visited the school and all seemed keen in attending or one day teaching. When i returned to Australia i had lost the details about the school, but one of the others that went there took photos and put them on facebook. i saw them on facebook and saw the name.

After finding the name i looked it up on the web, and applied. They usually only take people from North America but they have accepted me to teach at the school. Now i have to learn American English so i will be able to understand the other teachers.