Friday, August 28, 2009

Life moving forward (sequel to previous post)

As I have already mentioned, my life is getting closer and closer to becoming "real". College will be done in May, and then I am just totally unsure of what it is that I will do next. With so many different opportunities, I have to sit and wonder what God has called me to and how I can accomplish it. Japanese ministry is truly what I feel God is calling me to, and I have really discovered that it doesn't necessarily have to be in Japan for it to be done. So with this possibility of a career among a prominent Japanese community, I see God opening up so many doors.

I am enjoying my American life again. I still miss all the aspects of the Japanese life I had for almost 3 months, but when I think about it, God didn't intend for that experience to be permanent. It was an important part of my life, because I really did need to find out that I was meant to do full-time ministry among the Japanese people, and I really believe that's what I'm called to do.

So as you read my future blogs, know that I will be talking about my experiences with The LifeSong Church, as well as my final 2 semesters at Boyce. That's a scary thought, I have been attending this Christian school for 3 full years, and am now starting a 4th one.

I have a lot to get done today, so I will write again on Sunday, after I get back from the LifeSong, that way you can hear how things went with that first experience, and what will pontentially happen once I get the Church Planting Internship started.

PEACE!

3 Weeks in...

Yesterday was more of the official date, but I didn't take the time to sit down at the computer to type yesterday. I am just plugging away as the days move forward. I am anxious to see what the next month ro so ha in store. This Sunday, I will be checking out this church plant, LIFESONG, down in the Valley Station area. I am hoping that my internship with the church plant will be an effective situation for me, as I no longer have the job with Cold Stone Creamery, which was by far the stupidest thing that ever happened to me. I tell ya, this has to be some kind of world record. The longest time I have ever spent at a job was Chick-Fil-A for 2 and 1/2 years, and it was reduced to a mere three days. Seriously! I don't know how that one was possible. Luckily, I was paid for what I did, and was actually able to go out and get some things that I wanted for myself.

I am possibly going to spend some time with friends tonight, but first I have to work on some Schoolwork. I said that I would make this a very long entry in my schedule, so I will actually wait until later to write the long version of this post, so I can discuss some things further. So until later on,

PEACE!

Monday, August 24, 2009

The Future Possibilities

Today starts my 3rd week of being back in the United States, and I am still longing to be back in Japan; rather than here in Kentucky...

I did however realize that the potential for future events got better and better, and I am soon going to be seizing big opportunities as they come to me. My boss at Cold Stone told me that I could start having Sunday nights off in a few weeks, and if that happens, I can start working with the LifeSong (Valley View's church plant). I have to see what will be available as far as Bible study work, but I am really looking forward to getting everything started with this new chapter of my life, and hopefully in a way that will lead me to a job in Seattle...

Will write again soon.

PEACE!

Friday, August 21, 2009

First day of work...

A couple of days ago, I was at church, and I realized that my life is normal now. I have some things put into place in my life that are bringing back all sorts of memories. I am working again, I am in school, and I am going to church, so things have been really good to me.

Today is my first day of work at Cold Stone Creamery, and I start at 4pm, so I still have to finish getting ready. I still will have plenty of things to do when I get back since I have reading to get done for school as well as plan out a course of action with my eating and exercise habits, now that I am back from Japan, things are going to be really crazy....

Write again soon.
PEACE!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Stateside, for now....

Okay, so I guess I never had the chance to update on the experiences in Japan. It has been almost 2 weeks since I have been back in the US, and I am finding my adjustment to be well. Since the last time I blogged, I was able to climb Mt. Fuji, and I finally had a second Volunteer team that came into Japan.

Here's how my re-entry experience looked:

August 6th

I was up at 9:30am. I made some last minute SKYPE calls on my Mac, and then left the Shibuya apartment for the train station, carrying 2 suitcases, a duffel bag, and a backpack. It took me a good half hour to get the the station, but I was able to get onboard the Yamanote line to Nippori, and waited there for my airport train. Thank God nothing went wrong with my flights back to Louisville. So I left Japan at 5:45pm on Thursday, and landed 7:05pm on Thursday in Louisville. TOO CRAZY!!!!!

I got to see my parents again, and spent the weekend with them before school started on Monday August 10th. I had a lot of culture shock when I had a look at some American money, as well as going to the movies for less than 1500 yen on Friday night to see GI JOE (which was great by the way). Now I am in my 4th year at Boyce, with a decision to make, as the class load gets less, and the ideas for the future are laid out in front of me. I have 3 ideas of what I want to do.

1) Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas

2) The Nehemiah Project (NAMB) possibly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

3) The Journeyman (IMB), to return to Tokyo

It is all up to the Lord now, so I will just have to see how this year plays out. I am so happy to finally say that I have a job, and will begin work there this Friday afternoon. Cold Stone Creamery, the ice cream company. I am so happy that the manager there hired me. It is a great challenge for me to manage my time as a college student as well as working at a job. I still have a lot of reading to get caught up on, but I will keep you updated as the time goes on, since I am back and have a lot more time to keep up with blogs and stuff.

PEACE!