A tiny Stalker

Yesterday, as I was shopping with one of my friends, we passed a little Japanese girl who was probably about 1 year old maybe and came up to my knees. She was wearing a warm winter hat with the doggy flaps and she could only see you by tilting her head way up. She was adorable. Well, as we walked passed her she decided that she saw something interesting. She started following us. As we started to walk faster, she began to run towards us. She was determined to catch us. Finally we stopped so she wouldn't get too far away from her parents. Then she came running up to me (usually kids run the other way when they see me) and she pointed to my bag and started speaking Japanese baby language, which I am not yet fluent in. Her father finally came over and apologized and had to hold on to her after she again tried to follow us. It was a fun and cute moment :)

Waka Poem Contest

Today at school my 7th graders (all 400 and something of them) had sort of a competition. They were divided into groups and in the middle of each group there were some cards with traditional Japnese poems on them. One of the teachers would read (or in some cases sing) a poem and the students would try to find it in their cards in front of them. The student who finds the card first, grabs it and gets to keep it. This was a great way for me to see Japanese traditional culture. And the students seemed to enjoy it as well.

The mAnY faces of mE (in my new haircut)

this is my sad face...after people kept telling me I needed to get a haircut

??? Shiona confused

bicrista! a look of surprise

....my thinking face (a rare one)

is this thing working?

me getting caught..."who me?...."

my angry teacher face..."hey, you in the back!"

and it's happy Shiona...the usual ;)


Okay, so I got a little bored. A friend of mine says that I like to take pictures of myself and I highly disagree...except for occasions like this one :) What can I say....it's fun!

なつかし

A little taste of home. My sister sent me some pictures of my hometown in America, good old Spokane, Washington.

Here is my adorable sister, Chelsea :) It looks a little windy.

...and her sexy (her words, not mine) husband Fernando.

And I'm back at school...

Well, I am back at school which means that I am not free to post every day like before. Nevertheless I will try to keep my blog updated (>.<) Winter break is finished and I am onto my 3rd and last term for this school year anyways. It all goes by so fast. Oh, and I've become addicted to manga....crazy I know. But it is interesting. I have decided to start reading more...one because there is a better selection of books than there are movies and two, because I think it will help my English vocabulary to increase. Yabai, I know! I just finished the book Bruchko, which I recommend, as it is the book that made me consider going into missions. That's about all for now. Hopefully this next week will prove to be chocked full of interesting stories to write on here. Matane

Cookie Day

Mako and Yuko (2 University students) and I made cookies at my house. They wanted to learn how to make "soft and chewy" cookies like in America, because the ones on Japan are all mostly hard. So, we did! We made Soft Chocolate Chip cookies and Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies. Needless to say we had TONS of cookies! But it was good times and they turned out delicious.

DisneySea

After a 7 hour bus ride (to Tokyo), one break down, the bus, not me (2 hours out of Tokyo), and free coffee because the bus broke down...we arrived at Disney Sea! It was fun and as you can see by my picture I met many famous people!

me, Maya and Chip (I think), maybe Dale...I dunno

Me and Jiminy (we're tight)

The beach-found it!

Well, after being in Japan almost a year and a half, I found the beach. It is about 10 minutes from my house by bike and I think will be a nice place for some times with Jesus :)

Our Mediator

"If only there were a mediator who could bring us (God and Job) together, but there is none...Then I could speak to Him (God) without fear, but I cannot do that on my own strength." Job 9:33&35

I read this passage this morning in Job and it struck me that Job was crying out in his distress for a mediator. Someone who would plead his case. But at that time, there was none. It just struck me, that we have a mediator; Jesus Christ. He is the one who bridges the gap and allows us to come before the throne of grace. And I am thankful for that.