Three Months Later...

  Time is going so fast specially this last month. Christmas and New Year have already passed.
   School resumed on January sixth and seems like it was just yesterday. We only have six more weeks of school before the school year is over. Yes they start their academic year in the beginning of April, summer vacations from the middle of July and start back in the beginning of September. Only six weeks more with so many activities. The students are excited about spring break and to be honest so are the teachers. These past weeks, we have seen an amazing change in some students. We have been praying and working along with some of the parents to have a more productive time at school. It's such a great satisfaction to see their faces when they have accomplished so much and tried their best. We have also had some very stressful moments with some other students, but God has been helping and given us wisdom to work things out.  
   I also started with my private ESL lessons on Saturdays. I have five teenage students. It's been fun! I really enjoy private lessons. Last Saturday was our third Saturday and I have finally learned their names. We play games and sometimes I think I have as much fun as they do.
New friends you may ask...Yes actually I have a very interesting-funny story to tell...
   I met this old lady at the sports club last week. Since I'm the foreigner, everybody stares at me every time they see me. She didn't know a lot of English and my Japanese is still very poor. Somehow we had a short conversation where she asked me my name, age, occupation, nationality, etc. Little did I know, the following day she was going to tell her friends about me. So there I was the next day, being asked lot more questions. That day I met a seventy eight year old lady. She spoke more English and we could talk more. At the end of that evening, she had told me she was a widow, had had no children, and had travel all around the world. On our way home, she invited me to stop by her house and showed me many souvenirs she had bought during her trips. After that she walked me over to my house. I was surprised of how things worked out. She is my friend now, every time she sees me she comes over and we talked. She wants me to come over and visit her. When she walked me home, she saw that I lived in the church building and asked if I was a Christian. I am planning on inviting her to join us sometime, but I'm waiting for the right moment. I didn't know Japanese non-christian people could be so friendly and quick to make friends. Its not the first time a complete stranger approaches me and stars talking and asking question. I don' t know if its the fact that I smile a lot (for Japanese it's not common) or just that I'm not Japanese, but seems like I have a sing written on my face saying, "I want to be your friend!". I think its a nice spin to the daily routine.  
   
    "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly..." Prov. 18:24

One of those days...

    How many things can one hide behind a smile? How long can you hide it? Is it bring a hypocrite if you do? Is pretending and being with the right attitude and  the right expressions better then showing how you're really feeling?


    Today was one of those days when you pretend everything is fine,but  inside you just want to scream and cry! One of those days when you only need a friend to talk, but not only any friend. A true best friend who knows, understands and loves you just as you are. I just needed a big hug from a special loved one.  I'm sure that if I had gotten one, I wouldn't had let go. It was not because of something specific that happen here, but I'm still not completely done adjusting. Sometimes it's frustrating and who better then God to pour out my frustrations and ask Him to help me? He is always there and I'm so thankful He's ready to make me feel better even before I ask him. Then I read this:
   

 "Not so in haste , my heart! 

Have faith in God, and wait; 

Although He seems to linger long 

He never comes too late." Torrei

    Thank you Father for being so close and always there! 

    

Remembering 2010...Jan-July

Year 2010!!! Wow so may things happened this past year, it will take more then a blog to write them all. What a year it was! It was not only a year of many first-time experiences, old friendships put to test, but also made some new special friendships, and made life-changing decisions. It was a year of great love and a year to saygood-bye. A year to move on and adapt to another culture. God has been with me through it all, and He's the only reason why I can say 2010 was a blessed year after all. 2010 will not be just be another year that ended, but a memorable one.  

Now  2011 is here. I'm excited to see what it'll bring with it. 

New year, new life, new opportunities, second chances...New adventures, challenged, dreams, ideas, plans, places to see, loves...new friends... 

A year of new risks, problems to solve, and promises...

 Here are some memories of this great year!

January

  

TESOL Oxford Certificate

 with one of my Best Friends!

First Snow-day...Sledding

Snow days going out to eat with some old and new friends!

February

Cheesecake Factory!!!  

Awesome 25th birthday!

For several reasons, it will be a memorable one....;)

First time Skiing!!!! So fun and scary lol

March

  

Spent a weekend at the Muir's house...amazing food, great time, awesome family! 

Food,Parties, Friends...Great times!!

Steak at the Makcen's...:D

So many meals, movies, laughter, games....Love you guys...Thanks for letting your home be also mine sometimes...:)

Tradition: Mom's Visit = Quesadilla Party!

Always hanging out with the best sister and coolest friends!

April

GBS Lock-in

ISWM Retreat to Tennessee

Great times of spiritual refreshment, good food, and fun time with friends

  

More fun times!

May

Graduation!!!

June

Red's Games

Karlita's Surprise Dinner

The Good-bye Pictures

2 Months!!

   Well I can hardly believe it's been 2 months now. So many activities, places, and things have happen that it feels like I've been here for longer.  I thought Christmas was not celebrated with such a big enthusiasm here, since Japan has less then 1% Christianity. Guess what??...I was proved wrong.  Japanese people love decorations and lights etc.  Even if the are not a Christian culture, they had Christmas decorations all over the city and Christmas music playing at the stores. I think that listening to songs like Joy to the World, Oh Holy Night and more its a good beginning. During these holidays, the Church plans activities to reach out to the community.  Since the last weekend of November we had kids' special activities.  The first Saturday we had over 50 kids! It was a great time where they heard the story of real Christmas and played games. The fact that their parents allowed them at church was a big step.  We also had a dinner- concert for the church's youth group and visitors. We had a good time and ate international food :D (I made quesadillas)


   Raymon Academy (the school where I work), started their break Dec 15, but things were so busy until the end, since it was also going to be the end of the quarter. Us teachers got a relaxing day at the Yunessun (Hot Spring Pools & Relaxing Spa) as Christmas present from school. It was a real blessing!


   I learn new things about Japan everyday and makes me pray for them even more. Japanese are such hard- working people, but because of it, depression and stress is very common among them.  Specially in teenagers and males of about 40-60 years old. Suicide rates are so high about 15,000 every year.  It's so sad and really burdens my heart. People's hearts are hard and close to the Gospel. They have everything they might need so God is not important or so necessary for the.


   During this time here, God had been so great to me. He had taken care of my spiritual, physical, financial, and emotional needs.  I'm learning to be closer to Him since He's the only one who is with me no matter where I am, what I'm doing or what time it is. He's really my best friend and unconditional loving Savior.  He's been faithful in taking care of me like I asked Him to. I prayed that if He was sending me here to such a far away place from everybody and everything I knew, He had to watch over me closely.  I'm so amazed of His care.  How whenever I have a little cultural difference or struggle, I pour it all to Him and He answers so quick and in such an amazing way.
He's blessed me and even pamper (consentido) me so much.

  Christmas time was very nice.  I did miss all the old family traditions and food, but really enjoyed it here. I'm doing much better then I ever thought I would be.  I'm doing what He sent me here to do and enjoying of the new culture experience, beautiful places, and delicious food.
I'm so blesses and happy to be here. I know that all along He was preparing me to come here for a while.
So please pray for Japan and Japanese hearts to be more sensible to God.



Praying for my people and remembering you all with love!

Yokohama Bay

Thanksgiving!

God is so faithful to me! I'm so thankful with Him for meeting with me in a very special way today...It's been so busy, but when I take time to meet with Him, He's always there to meet me!

Thank You for who You are...

Thank You for teaching me patience...

Thank You for teaching me over and over to trust

 in You with everything...

Thank You for being my Best Friend...

Thank You for Your unconditional Love....

Thank you for taking care of my 

Spiritual, Emotional, and Financial Needs...

Thank You for being My Savior and Lord...

Little Over a Week has Passed...

So a week and five days in Japan now, I can't hardly believe it! Things have been going great! This first week has been full of activities at the school and at church. Still a lot to get use to, but God is really helping and taking care of me. Let me tell you more about the school and church. 


   A school day starts at 8 am - 3:30pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and from 8am - 4:15 Tuesdays and Thursdays. Since its an ACE school, I have to run around all day. We do have small breaks, but mostly it gets really busy. There are 27 students in my classroom from 2nd grade to high school. I know teachers shouldn't have favorite students, but there are two 4th graders who just are so cute! A very smart, short girl her name is Nana; also a very smart and funny boy named Tayro.  So many different subjects that make me be happy to have graduated hehe:) From Physical Science, Geometry, and Economics to English grammar, Polygons, Africa's biggest river, and even how to explain Fractions. I've enjoyed a lot though! I have English class with kindergartens everyday. They are so cute and funny too. I admire these kids, they have all the regular subjects we take in "America" as they call it, and besides that they take Japanese Class, Japanese math and counting system, Japanese Music, and Calligraphy.  Their English is pretty good for the most part,  and somehow we do communicate. There is a high-school girl who is very very smart! She only gets A's and is well behaved. She is half American and half Japanese.  She always looks smiling, but when she gets home she gets depressed and sad. She has talked about committing suicide so we are really trying to encourage her. She is translating for me in Chapel this week, since I'm going to share with the kids this week. 

  The church is not very big, but then again Christianity is less then 1% of the population here. They have all been so nice to me! There is a lady who every time she sees me she gives me a hug, which is great since I love hugs and really need one once in a while! There are about 50 members and many kids! 
These past Tuesday and Wednesday we had a Teachers' Seminar and had teachers from others Christian School from different parts of Japan. Even when that made this week full of activities all day long, I really enjoyed. 


  As I said before, I live in the same building where the church and school are. Church 3rd floor and school 2nd and 1st. Things are going good with my roommate and the other Japanese girl , Namiky, (she's 29 getting married in April) who also live here in the house. Dim (Indian roommate who looks Philippine, she's 24) has helped me a lot with all the culture things I need to know and do or not do. I'm very thankful that she is here too. 


  Food food..how is the food?? good so far so good! Nothing weird or strange. Actually I have liked everything I have had. I need to start eating less or I''ll be in trouble. :P This weekend I even had pizza twice. Yes they do have Pizza Hot, Domino's, and MC Donal's. Lol...but the best of all they have Starbucks! :D:D:D:D I did bring my own too, but its good to know they have coffee here too and not only tea (which I also like)
Oh and guess what??I started to learn Japanese, well one of their 4 alphabets! The cool thing is that one of them is what Chinese use, so at the end I will know some Chinese too :D:D I'm starting to understand some basic expressions too, but i need to be patient and not get discouraged 'cuz i only have a week here and many to go.


  I'm having a very good time and learning a lot! I know that God has a plan for me and I only ask Him to take care of my needs specially my heart. Even when I have been so busy and had anytime to get so homesick, I do miss my family and friends a lot! I know that life goes on and that my time in Cincinnati was done (for now, tell you more about it later ) I do pray for you all and hope you remember me in prayers and heart too. I have some many pictures here that makes me feel closer too.  Please write me back when you can I really enjoy reading about your life and things that go on there. 
Well, I have to go now , I'll try to write as soon as possible...