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.