Spring Flowers, Summer Showers

Hello!

Wow, it has been a busy semester, and I’m finally sitting down to write this! Buckle up, we have about 4 months to get through in this one, starting all the way back in March!

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Time Marches On

It has now been 12 years since the 9.1 magnitude earthquake and tsunami reaching 132 feet high devastated this area of Japan on March 11, 2011. I have heard both terrible stories and amazing testimonies from that disaster, and I thank God for bringing attention and His workers to this otherwise forgotten area of the country, despite all the loss and destruction. It was deeply moving and meaningful to observe my first "3.11" not only in-country, but while living one mile away from the shore that the tsunami swept over and beyond. Continue to pray for opportunities for the brokenness, caused by this tragedy, to bring about faith and freedom from the captivity of fear.

Spring Break in Kyoto, Gifu, and Osaka

I was able to spend my Spring Break traveling as a tourist for a day or two, then I visited friends to learn about how they do ministry, and how the Lord is moving through those ministries. I also got to help some with their homeschooling, and to teach one of their kids a few songs on piano! Even on vacation, the teaching never stops! I took the train back to Ishinomaki and got to have lunch with my friend, Jun, again as I went through Tokyo!

"Gospeling" at the station
in Gifu with friends

The fanciest panel of toilet buttons I've 
seen so far, at a rest stop during the
long bus ride

Tasty Thai food with
Jun in Tokyo

I had an interesting travel experience by taking an overnight bus ride from Sendai west to Kyoto. Though the plan said it could take 8-10 hours, it took over 11 hours! All-in-all, it was a good experience and got me to my destination safely, but I think I will only take that again if it’s the only reasonable choice. It was interesting to see (or rather, not see) the rest-stop stations in the quiet, dark hours of the night, in prefectures I’ve never visited. 

Sakura over a river in the old-town area of Kyoto

  

Famous "Glico Man" sign 
in Dotonbori in Osaka

While on these trips, I had the chance to have some great experiences! In Kyoto, I got to experience the famous cherry blossoms in full bloom! In Osaka, I got to see a figure skating performance by some of Japan’s, and the world’s, top figure skaters! When I first started learning more about Japan, the top male skater in the world was Yuzuru Hanyu, who retired from competing last year, but is still performing. Wanting to share the Gospel with him is part of what drove me to start learning Japanese, so getting to see him and other favorites perform in person was quite a dream come true! I was even able to attend a figure skating competition in April and got to see even more extremely talented skaters! I continue to pray for his salvation, and that of the other skaters as well, and hope that I, or one of their influencers, might have the chance to one day share the Good News of the One who gave them their gifts.

World Figure Skating Team Competition
Exhibition Performance

"Stars on Ice" figure skating in Osaka

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April Showers

In April, I got to celebrate Easter several times and in special ways! We talked about Lent and Holy Week in the schoolroom, and I got to share some American Easter traditions with the students (even though they’re American, they might not know about certain traditions). I also got to prepare and hold a Passover Seder with my roommate, following a video made by a Messianic Jewish family to educate both the origins of the Seder and the way the parts point to Christ and how He fulfills it. It added so much more meaning to the events of Holy Week, and I will definitely continue this tradition in the future. If you ever have the chance to attend, or to host a Seder, I highly recommend it!

I also got to help one of our schoolroom families with their team’s family Easter event! We hid eggs for them to hunt, and shared about how, like a seed has to die to give a flower a chance for a beautiful life, Jesus died for us to have a chance to have eternal life with Him. It was all of the families’ first time hunting, or even seeing, Easter eggs! It was a wonderful chance for children and their parents to hear the Good News and the true story of Easter. I was glad to be able to help with their event!

Easter Event at school family's church

   

 Many shoes at the door means many visitors

who attended our Easter Celebration     

On Easter Sunday, our church held their regular service, and many people came, some after a long absence, and others for the first time! One couple even brought their pet rabbit to be an Easter bunny! I was honored to be asked to play my harp for communion, and I chose “I Come to the Garden” and “Nothing but the Blood” as fitting hymns for Easter. After I played, the pastor shared some of the lyrics and translated them into Japanese so the congregation could understand the significance of the hymns I played. I am grateful to have grown up singing many hymns with such rich text, and I pray I never take it for granted.

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May Flowers

With the beginning of May came Golden Week, a series of national holidays back to back. It’s not a full week of holidays, but most people take off the days before or after to make it a full week! Several of us from my team took a hike up high on a nearby mountain. It was so fun to be outside in the beautiful weather and surrounded by things growing in the spring air! The azaleas were in full bloom and it was as if I was surrounded by rivers of corals and pinks! God’s creation continually amazes me and reminds me that He gave us these things to enjoy and point our attention back to His love and grace.

I again spent time with the team in Gifu with whom I had visited during Spring Break. We attended a training time in Nagoya which was very beneficial. The training was hosted mainly by Brazilians, so everything was in Portuguese, and I listened to the English translation over a transistor radio. I was amazed to see such a large gathering of not only foreigners, but believers! It’s probably the first time I’ve been in a room with that many believers in Japan, an estimated 500 at least! Pray for what God is doing through His Brazilian church in Japan! 
When I got back to Ishinomaki, several team members from the Osaka location of Be One were visiting. I got to know them better, and hear about what God is doing there!

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Fun times in June

Time with other folks on my team, just to relax and build relationships, has been so important and fun. A new team member, Haley, has been joining me in watching (yet again) the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy movies. There is so much imagery and deeper meaning in Tolkien’s writings. And there is lots of trivia to discuss! Haley and I are both Tolkienites, so it’s been great fun! I thank God that He has given me a friend like her and that we got to become so close so quickly!

It's now tsuyu (rainy season), so there is lots of rain almost every day, even causing some flooding, making getting around more difficult, especially without a car! 

One of my roommates was able to go home to California for two months and has returned refreshed. I am thankful for my roommates and the relationships the Lord has built there. 

A very exciting event! One of our team couples delivered their first baby just recently! Sadly, both Mama and Daddy tested positive for Covid, so they were separated from their daughter for the first few days, but they are home and enjoying the time with their new baby girl! My roommate and I took dinner to them and got to hold her! We also just gave her a baby shower, which was so fun and special! I helped with organizing the games and the flow of the party, which was new for me, but a great experience!

The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra is currently touring Japan, and came to perform in Ishinomaki! I got to attend their performance of Tchaikovsky's “Swan Lake” with one of the families from the schoolroom, who appreciate and love music as much as I do! It was my first time in the local performance hall, and I was very impressed! I was so glad to attend that concert with such wonderful friends.

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Looking to the future

This is a time of uncertainty for me as I look to my future in Japan, with the end of my one-year contract drawing to an end. I am certain that God has His plan for me, so, though I don’t know yet what or where it is, I am looking to Him for my next assignment.

So many circumstances have changed the ministry landscape for the entire team here in Ishinomaki. The leadership shared with me that this year has not looked anything like they anticipated. They have loved having me as part of the team, and though they don’t want me to leave, they have opened that door for me because the schoolroom of missionary students is now down to very few. 

I have enjoyed my time with IKG (Gospel Choir) and developing relationships with the members. I had my last rehearsal for the summer (and possibly much longer), and they knew it was my last, so I was able to choose which songs I wanted to sing. I used those to show the message I want them to remember, and asked them to consider the truth of what they sing and to Whom they sing. They all said they would miss my smile, so I said that my smile is only because of God’s joy and true love and I have those because I believe in Him and the words we sing. Besides the director, there is only one member who is a Christian. It is so fascinating that the Japanese are so drawn to Gospel music. Pray that these ladies would think on my words and come to the true understanding of the message in the songs they sing. 

I have also had several opportunities to share about the Lord with my language partner. Just last week, she was able to join some of us from church for dinner, so she now has more connections with believers! I pray that, no matter where the Lord takes me, I can continue to strengthen and pour into the people with whom I have already established relationships, as well as provide opportunities for even more community and new relationships. Pray that the Lord would continue to stir her heart and draw her to Himself, and that the other believers she met would be able to keep connecting with her and her husband. 

I will be flying home, the Lord willing, at the end of June. Our mission conference is July 7–14. This will be a wonderful time of sharing what the Lord is doing in Japan and being refreshed, both by seeing church family, but also by being with other missionaries. I look forward to what the Lord has for me during this time. I will have a table set up Sunday, June 9, so please come say hi! I would love to show and tell in person even more of what God is doing in Japan!

Before I knew I would be able to actually move to Japan for the job for which I had been hired (thank you pandemic), I agreed to go on a choir trip to England! So at the end of the Mission Conference, I will be flying with friends to England to sing about the Lord for 10 days. (I am thinking that my body will have no idea what time it is, having not been in the States very long and flying out again!)

My plan at this time is to be in Denton through the month of August. Please reach out, as I would love to catch up individually with you!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Hello!

I pray you have been well, safe, and warm during this chilly season! (Or is it only cold here?)

First, just a quick update of December's events and travels, then we'll look at how the first two months of 2023 have been!

The IKG (gospel choir) Christmas market performance went very well! I got to carpool with some members I haven't spoken with as much yet. This day was a great opportunity to share more about why I am in Japan, that I am so joyful in my singing because I truly believe the songs we sing and the One to Whom we sing, and about the true story of Christmas. 

I was also able to share the story of Christmas with my language exchange partner, and she was very interested in what I shared and asked several questions about the meaning of different parts of the story! She had heard a little of it before but was excited to learn the whole story, including Who the Baby is, why He needed to come because of the Fall, the promise of a Savior and prophecies throughout the Old Testament, and the meaning of the gifts of the wise men that indicated Who He is and foreshadowing His sacrifice on the Cross. I was able to tie the Christmas story into the Gospel story and emphasise our need for a Savior and Redeemer. Pray for her as she continues to contemplate all I shared, that the seed planted would continue to grow, and that she would realize her need for a Savior.

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, I led the schoolroom kids through the Advent wreath (sans candles) and had a short lesson about the word each candle represents. It was so special to hear these students reading scripture and sharing their thoughts and hearts. I hope to continue having weekly devotional times with them in the new year. 
We also had a schoolroom Christmas party! They had lots of fun showing their creativity and teamwork through marshmallow sculptures, acting out the "12 Days of Christmas," and other fun winter- and Christmas-themed games and activities!

I came back to Texas on December 20, just in time for Christmas! I was able to play harp with the orchestra for my church's Christmas Eve and Day services, as well as the other Sundays I was home. It was such a wonderful time, and I was glad to get to spend time with so many friends and see so much family in those few short weeks. Thank you to everyone who took time to meet with me over the holiday season.

Be One's Christmas service

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I returned to Japan on January 14th, and started back in the schoolroom the following Monday. As a Texan, I'm not used to getting much snow, so this winter has been quite a learning curve, with so many days of snow, even though it doesn't accumulate more than an inch or so, if at all. I've learned that, since the snow here doesn't turn into ice, life continues as usual, if only slightly slower. 

At the end of January, I made a brief trip to Nagoya to visit a friend I made when I was in Nagoya last summer, as well as to attend a concert.

Snow Day (one of many)

Nagoya's Central Park the Mirai Tower (not the Eiffel Tower!)

We have a new teammate, Haley, who will be joining Be One for a year to help restart after-school and youth programs that haven't happened since before the pandemic! Pray for her as she continues to settle into a new place, a new language, and a new ministry. Pray for her to be effective in bringing in children from the community for a fun and safe place to play and build relationships.

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It snowed more in February, and IKG (Gospel choir) started rehearsing after the holiday break. We are learning a new song called Revelation 19:1, and the director took his time when introducing it to explain the story behind it, starting in the Garden, through the prophecies, the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the Church Age, and looking forward to His return, as seen in Revelation. For many of the members, it was the first time they had heard the story of the Bible so succinctly, from start to finish, in a way they could understand. Pray for their hearts to be receptive to the message of the One to Whom we sing.

I also got to meet with the a cappella group in Sendai again! This was our first time meeting since November, but we were able to sing together well and enjoy our time together. Pray that I can continue to be a light to these people, as well, even though I see them in-person infrequently.

One of the schoolroom families gave their daughter a new piano for Christmas, and gifted me with their old keyboard! It is such a huge and wonderful blessing! It is able to plug into my computer so I can use it for creating and composing songs or writing sheet music more easily, so I have been flexing my creative muscles a lot more over this past month.

Near the end of February, there was a national holiday, so a group of us from church decided to visit a nearby island and hike up to its mountain's summit. All told, the hike took about three hours, and the views were spectacular, but the best part was going on the adventure together.

                    

Deer

Snowy Trail

Wild Monkeys

 

Post-hike lunch of grilled
Minke-whale meat. Yum!

Praises:

• I was able to perform several times with the local Gospel Choir! I also got to share with more of the choir members why I am in Japan! 
• The schoolroom, while small in number, is going strong, and everyone gets along well.
• Christmas at home was a wonderful time! I got to meet with friends and family, and I got back to Japan smoothly enough.
• I've had a lot of great meetings and time spent together with teammates, language partners, and both singing groups, since coming back after the holidays.
• Thanks to the generosity of one of the schoolroom families, I have my own keyboard, which I can use to create and record music, as well as prepare and practice for worship!

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for all those with whom I've gotten to share my story of coming to Japan, that they would seek to know more about the One Who called me, especially the ladies in IKG and the members of the a cappella group.
• Pray for the new teammate as she settles in and adjusts to living in Japan and being part of the Be One team. Pray for all her ministry activities to bear fruit, especially with the children in the community.
• Continue to pray for those with whom I come into contact in the community, that they would see Jesus in me and want to know Him because of my presence.
• Continue to pray for church leadership as they seek God's guidance for the future of church and personal ministries. Also pray for me as I continue seeking what my part is in God's plan here.
• Pray for the hearts of the schoolroom kids, as they continue learning about and following God, that they would consider and act on the lessons learned during Advent.
• Pray for each other. Pray for the person who reads this next, only God knows who that is, that they will seek to be the light of Christ to those around them, active as missionaries wherever they live.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  

In Him,

    Amanda

"Fall" Be Home for Christmas

Here is an update from October and November,
and a look ahead toward Christmas!

    The last couple of months have been a bit more quiet, but I got to do some fun things! At the beginning of October, there was a long holiday, so I went down to Tokyo to see a friend who shares my birthday so we could celebrate together! I also got to see a couple of other friends, and to visit the church of another CTEN family while I was down there! 

Tokyo Sky Tree

Downtown Tokyo Skyline at night from Shibuya Sky Walk 

Spent some time prayer-walking around Sensōji temple, the most famous and most visited temple in Japan, and the most frequented spiritual site in the world. Even before Japan reopened to tourism, it was sad to see how many people still came that day to ask for help from the local kami or gods.

Friends from

 DBU days!

pillow fort fun with the Lath 
(another CTEN family) kids after church!

     Since Japan finally opened its borders to tourism, we were able to bring a couple over on a "vision trip," to see if this is where God wants them to serve. They were here for about three weeks, and we all got to know one another quite well in that time! It was fun showing them around, and teaching them about things that I had just discovered or am still learning. It helped me to realize how much I've been able to learn and adjust to so far!

     A couple in our church had a baby, so we hosted a baby shower, and I was in charge of decorations! It was so special getting to bless them, and to celebrate the new life! 

     I have now been a part of IKG, Ishinomaki "Kibou" (Hope) Gospel choir, long enough that I can participate in performances! My IKG debut was singing 5 songs as part of a festival held at The Historical Museum of Jomon Village to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Jomon Village is a prominent historical village, with artifacts and pit houses dating back to the early Jomon period, which ended around 300BC. It was fascinating to explore the area, and an honor to perform there!

  

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     At the beginning of November, we had another holiday in the middle of the week, so I went down into Sendai with my conversation partner for the day. She took me to her favorite cafes and stores, and we had a lovely time exploring and chatting! It was a great chance to talk about how God called me here and to dig deeper into what I believe, all of which she listened to eagerly and openly. Be praying that my time with her shows her the Gospel lived out, and helps her to realize her need for a personal Savior.

     That Saturday saw me back in Sendai with IKG for the Sendai Gospel Festival, where we sang with members from the Sendai, Nagoya, and Osaka locations of the same choir organization. I was able to watch other groups' performances as well, and it was amazing to see so many people singing praises to God, but tragic to think of how probably few of them actually believe what they sang.

   

     There was another weekend of Gospel performances a few weeks later, with only a few select groups performing, one of which was our group! Unlike the previous performances, this one was indoors, held on a stage that is often used for press conferences. We went down that morning to rehearse, then we spent time together eating lunch and getting ready for the performance that afternoon. It was a great chance to really get to know the other members better. They all commented on how joyful and enthusiastic I looked while singing, so I got to share with them that it's because I really believe in what I'm singing and to Whom I'm singing, and that makes all the difference. It was such a special day, and the guest soloist, who is apparently somewhat well known in Japanese Gospel circles, was really amazing to watch. I can't find anything saying whether or not he is a believer, but the way he was singing, it wouldn't surprise me if he is. Pray for those in the audience that heard the truths of the Gospel and God's love and hope sung, and for those with whom I sang and spoke that day, that they would realize the truth of what they sing and come to know the One about Whom they sing.

     In November, we held the first Be One Academy Game Day, where we took the students to a park for a picnic lunch and then spent most of the afternoon there playing games and having fun. 

     I went yet again into Sendai for a dinner meeting of the Sendai location of Full-House A Cappella Circle. Even though we didn't get to sing together, it was nice to spend time with everyone after not meeting for a while. I got to share some of my story about coming as a missionary and what I do, and they seemed very interested in hearing about it. Pray that I can continue to be a light to them, even though we don't get to meet very often, and that they will seek to know more about the One Who called me here.

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     If you thought that Japan doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, think again! They celebrate what they call Labor Thanksgiving on November 23, which happened to fall on the day before American Thanksgiving this year! Like American Labor Day, they are grateful for the job they have and the labor force, but it's also a day to celebrate the work that went into growing, harvesting, and preparing that year's rice. The Be One team took that day to celebrate a traditional American Thanksgiving, complete with turkey (despite the turkey shortage), stuffing, all the sides you'd expect, and even a pumpkin pie! It was so special to get to spend time with the team and some others from our English-speaking community, and I was glad to still have a "normal" Thanksgiving.

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     As the title of this update implies, I get to come home for Christmas! I was overwhelmed by the generosity of a few supporters who specifically wanted to make it possible for me to come home for Christmas, as well as a kind pilot friend letting me fly standby with his "buddy pass" to further lower the cost. I will be home December 20th through January 12! If you have time, I'd love to grab a coffee or meal with you and share more about what God is doing in my area of Japan! 

     Before I come home, I will have one more IKG performance as part of a Christmas concert! Pray that those who listen hear the true message of Christmas in the songs we will sing.

    

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Praises:

• I was able to perform several times with the local Gospel Choir! I also got to share why I am in Japan with more of the choir members! 
• I got to have a traditional Thanksgiving this year with my wonderful team!
• Be One Academy had its first game day, so we're all a little closer after that.
• I get to come home, and my flight was almost completely covered by supporter's generosity!

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for all those with whom I've gotten to share my story of coming to Japan, that they would seek to know more about the One Who called me.
• Pray for Be One's Christmas Eve service. Christmas and Christmas Eve aren't much of a big deal in Japan, especially as it lacks the religious connotations, so there isn't much planned besides a few Christmas parties for the different age groups and a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Pray for all we invite to be free to come and hear about the true meaning of Christmas.
• Pray for those with whom I come into contact in the community, that they would see Jesus in me and want to know Him because of my presence.
• Continue to pray for church leadership as they seek God's guidance for the future of church and personal ministries.
• Pray for a rejuvenating and beneficial visit home over Christmas, that I will get to see and do all I want and need to while I'm there. Pray for the meetings I have to help continue to guide my steps in His plan, not my own.
• Pray for each other. Pray for the person who reads this next, only God knows who that is, that they will share the reason for the hope and joy that is in them, and that the light of Jesus will shine more brightly than all the Christmas lights this holiday season.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  

In Him,

    Amanda

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If you feel led to partner with me financially, just click here, or go to 

https://www.cten.org/asia-and-middle-east-missionaries/amanda-griffin

and click donate, OR mail a check to

"Commission to Every Nation,

P.O. Box 291307,

Kerrville, TX 78029-1307"

and include a separate note stating that you are supporting Amanda Griffin.

Summertime, Part 2!

     

Hello, Everyone!

Here is an update from July, August, and September, 

the conclusion of summer and beginning of the fall semester!

(Warning, lots of photos ahead!)

In July, I started learning Japanese more intensely. Once a week, I met with a teacher online, with a language exchange partner, and a conversation partner. I focused a lot on conversation, grammar, vocabulary, and reading aloud during all of these meetings, so by now I can hold a decent conversation, talk about myself and ask about others when I first meet someone, and understand most common questions used when checking out or ordering. When I wasn't meeting with someone, I was either studying Japanese or exploring more around town and neighboring areas!

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Summertime, Part 1!

Hello Everyone!

Here is an update from May and June, the first part of summer!

A brief compilation of photos and videos from my adventures the last couple months! 

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The Schoolroom

At the end of May, the schoolroom had an end of year/semester party, and celebrated the graduation of our one senior. Even though the school year wasn’t over for some students, it was great to celebrate together with all the Be One Academy families while everyone was still around. For the month of June, there were 5 students in the schoolroom doing summer online classes, but now the schoolroom is closed for the summer holidays! It will reopen at the end of August, so until then I have lots of time to focus on language learning and to visit friends and other missionaries!

Too Darn Hot!

This summer has been the hottest on record for Japan! In Ishinomaki it got up to about 87º, and reached a heat index of 94º. Since air conditioning is so expensive in Japan, they opt for a single wall unit, which only heats or cools the room it's in. Many houses and apartments are also designed to allow for cross ventilation, which is sufficient for keeping slightly cooler when there is a breeze. Because of the lack of A/C, we have to find creative ways to stay comfortable during the day at home or at school, as well as overnight. Thankfully it has rained some the last few days, and has cooled off considerably. The heat has made for perfect days to visit local beaches, which has been immensely enjoyable and refreshing!

A Harp At Last!

As you may know, I was not able to bring my harp with me to Japan, and I have been missing having my own instrument since I got here. Thankfully, a team member knows a lady who happens to have an extra harp, so she is letting me rent it! This is much more affordable than buying even a used harp, and it is definitely an answer to prayer! Even though it is smaller than my harp back home, I have enjoyed playing different hymns and songs on it in the evenings, and look forward to using it for worship soon!

Make Friends and Influence People (for Christ)

One thing that is important for new missionaries is building community and relationships outside the church and outside the expat circles. Being a language learner has been a great foot-in-the-door for making friends. While I have a Japanese teacher I meet with via Zoom, I additionally meet with a local language exchange partner for coffee or lunch once a week. I have also joined a Gospel choir Surprisingly, Gospel music is a popular style in Japan, I have joined a Gospel choir (which includes only one other believer), and I am part of an a cappella ensemble, which meets in Sendai monthly. 

Have you ever had corn sushi or okra sushi?

I have taken several Sunday afternoon train trips to neighboring towns, and shop owners have been so kind and willing to briefly chat with me in my broken Japanese. This is improving my conversational skills, as well as my confidence in speaking with strangers. Pray for opportunities and the vocabulary to plant seeds in those with whom I speak.

Church, Ministry, and Looking to the Future

As I get more settled into life here, I’ve begun to seriously think and pray about how God wants to use me specifically in this community. Since Be One currently has Life Groups throughout the week and only meets all together for Sunday Celebration Service once a month, I have been visiting a church that meets in the neighboring town on the other Sundays. This has provided the chance to make a few more friends and join in their outreach events in addition to Be One’s events. Since Japan has lifted the restrictions on the size of gatherings allowed, pray as the other church and Be One consider the best way to do outreach or have events going forward. Pray for guidance for me as I continue settling in and finding my place and purpose here.

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With Heavy Hearts

Shinzo Abe

Even though this is an update from May and June, I must include what happened on July 7. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated by a man with a homemade gun, while campaigning for a member of his national party. Gun violence is extremely rare here, and Abe was a beloved leader, as well as the longest-serving prime minister. This has shaken the Japanese people, and could cause a great deal of fear for the future. Pray for Abe's wife, who has visited Ishinomaki in the past and wears Nozomi jewelry often, and his family and friends. Pray for the Japanese people to not give into fear, but that they would seek the One True God, Who casts out fear and is near to the brokenhearted. Pray that we can use this as a way to share God's love and hope with the community.

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Praises:

• The school year finished well, and those who have traveled got everywhere safely!
• I have a harp to use while I'm here! What a special extra gift from God, and a great chance to bless the missionary from whom I'm renting it, as well as those for whom I will get to play!
• Language learning is going well! I'm making friends and connecting with the community in special ways. 
• I am comfortable traveling solo by train or by car, so I get to explore the beauty around me every week.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for the summer break to be a productive time of both Bible study and Japanese study. Pray that I can learn a lot of Japanese over this break time, and that I can focus well to the end. Pray that my travel is smooth and refreshing.
• Pray for people to stay safe in the heat, especially young children, expectant mothers, and the elderly. Pray that the power grid in densely populated areas can stand up to so much power use for A/Cs.
• Pray for those with whom I come into contact in the community and in my adventures. Pray that I can learn and use vocabulary for witnessing that they can understand.
• Pray for church leadership as they seek God's guidance for the future of church and personal ministries.
• Pray for Shinzo Abe's family and the country of Japan as they mourn his sudden and tragic death. Pray that many come to Christ because of this, and that the people do not become fearful and make sudden and detrimental decisions and laws because of it. Pray for justice regarding the shooter, but also that he may come to know Christ and repent.
• Pray for each other. Pray for the person who reads this next, only God knows who that is, that they will feel God's love and know He is in control and is not surprised by anything.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Him,
Amanda

Japan, At Last!

Hello Everyone! 

Well, I finally made it to Japan! The following post will be both a journal of what has happened so far and a list of what God has done for me in this time of transitions. Fasten your seatbelts, we're about to take off!

April 18, 1 day before the flight:
Japan requires all travelers to get tested for COVID within 72 hours of their flight departure. There is a specific form which the one administering the COVID test must fill out. After much searching and several calls, I was able to find a testing site that could give me the correct type in a short enough time and said they would be able to fill out this form! I drove up that morning, the pharmacist explained how to use the test, and I'm ready for it. However, when I mentioned the forms, they said it was impossible for them to do. How frustrating! So I left without taking the test and went to a local, Christian-owned pharmacy, and not only could they give me the right test and fill out the form, they had an intern that had recently gone on a mission trip to Japan! I was able to get the test, which was negative, the form, and their prayers!

That evening, my family and I had a time of fellowship and prayer as they would be sending me off the next day. It was such a special time. Over the last few weeks before moving, I felt such an outpouring of love and support from everyone around me. Without a doubt, I would not be able to believe the lie that no one loves or cares about me. What a great reminder from God to cling to as I go join a new family of believers!

April 19, flying to Japan:
Waving to my parents from the other side of security and making my way through the airport by myself was so surreal. I thank God for my parents being there and encouraging me every step of the way. Thankfully I had plenty of time to walk around and get some food and coffee before the flight, so being alone was not lonely. The day before the flight, the mask mandate on flights was lifted, and I had three seats to myself on the flight, so I had a pretty comfortable and uneventful flight. They fed us well and I was able to sleep a couple of hours.

April 20, landing in Japan:
We landed about 20 minutes ahead of schedule! This is great because apparently how fast you can get through the entry process partially depends on how busy they are based on how many flights land at the same time. I had read that transiting passengers (not staying in Japan) were let off first and those staying had to wait until last, but thankfully they let us off first! From the moment I deplaned, it was almost non-stop walking. There were several stations where they give you a paper, check the paper, mark things on the paper, ask to see that my phone had a green screen (if you filled out the paperwork electronically ahead of time and had been approved), etc. Somewhere in there, I did the saliva COVID test, and they started processing that while I went to more stations. By the time I reached the "wait for test results" area, I had walked 1550 steps in about an hour and a half. That's a lot, especially after sitting on a plane for 13 hours, and including many stairs as well. I waited for about half an hour before my number was called to get my result, which was negative. During that time, I chatted with the lady in the seat next to me, who was coming as a student to learn Japanese, and I was able to share that I was coming as a missionary! God gave me several opportunities along this journey until then to share why I was going (and in some cases I explained what a missionary was), which is a great way to plant some seeds wherever I am.

After receiving my negative test paper and quarantine instructions, I went through immigration, where I got my foreign residency card, and customs, and was finally out and able to meet my teammates to drive me up to Ishinomaki for my quarantine! Wonder of wonders, I made it through all the entry process in only 2 hours! I had still been reading of people waiting 5-9 hours to get through everything, even having done paperwork ahead of time, so it was a great work that God did allowing me to get through so smoothly and quickly! It is also wonderful that my teammates' schedule changed and they needed to come to Tokyo anyway, so they were able to pick me up and drive me, instead of me having to spend the night in a nearby hotel and navigate the trains alone the next morning. We got to my quarantine apartment around 11pm, which worked out perfectly to avoid jet lag!

April 21-27, quarantine:
For unvaccinated travelers from low-risk countries like America, quarantine is 7 days, which can be reduced if you submit a negative test taken on or after day 3. Unfortunately, my third day fell on a Saturday, and Ishinomaki is small enough that the only government-approved testing facility was closed on weekends, so I had to wait until Monday. I got tested on Monday about noon, and results are supposed come within 24 hours. I didn't get mine until after 7pm on Tuesday! Once you get the results, you have to submit them to the app that monitors location and health condition during quarantine. Since I got the results so late, they didn't respond and clear me from quarantine until 9:30 Wednesday morning, the day I would have finished quarantine anyway! Oh well, God's timing is perfect, and if nothing else, it meant not having to move to my long-term apartment in the rain.

The people of the Be One team and parents of the students I will be teaching brought me a meal each day, which was so kind and generous! I appreciated it not only because I wouldn't have to figure out getting enough food for a week, but I also got to meet each family, or couple, individually and make each connection special. This kindness makes me think of the church in Acts, just one big family, doing for and giving to other believers; a strong community built on the foundation of Christ. Though I had video-chatted with some of them, when I first met them, I could instantly feel that we were brothers and sisters in Christ, all parts of the same Body, worshiping and sharing the love of the same God. I will never get tired of this amazing representation of Heaven, of people from everywhere being connected and in one place because of the love of God and the gift of His Son.

April 27-28, moving in, getting acquainted:

Since I got the all clear notice Wednesday morning, I was able to move into my apartment that afternoon, and the pastor took me to get registered at city hall to make me an official resident of Ishinomaki, Japan! I was able to get mostly unpacked before going to my first LifeGroup that evening. Recently, the church has been trying the model of several locations of LifeGroup (small group Bible study) meetings throughout the week and having a Sunday Celebration (more traditional "church service") once a month, trying to meet the needs of the congregation and encourage local believers to be more personally involved and connected to the scriptures. Thursday I finished moving in, visited the store, and spent time with a couple who have been here about a year and a half, to discuss language learning strategies and options, and create a plan for my continued and increasingly-intense Japanese language learning. I connected with this couple very well and we talked for quite a while about music things! It's a blessing to have friends and teammates with whom I can nerd out over music!

April 29-May 1, team retreat:
I had only spent two days getting settled in my new apartment when it was time to throw things in a bag for a three day-two night retreat with the Be One team! This was a very special time with not only team leaders, but also with their families, having fellowship, discussing how ministry has been, and thanking God for any progress. We also looked toward the future and prayed for God to guide us going forward, and listened to a couple teaching about different church and growth models they've seen bear fruit in the Tokyo area. We started by having a scavenger hunt in the mall, and that was a great way to experience a mall in Japan without the pressure of spending a lot of time looking. We then had lunch in the food court, and went on to the facility where we would be staying. It was a place usually used for sports camps or tournaments, but it was open for us to use! They served us dinner, we played some games, and spent some time sharing stories of how we came to Japan or a time in our lives we felt God moving in us. I enjoyed the chance to hear my teammates' stories and share my own.

Saturday, we had some worship time (I'm working on learning the Japanese worship songs and vocabulary used, not just singing phonetically) and had a training time lead by a couple who work with an organization based in the Tokyo area called No Place Left, which works toward training Japanese believers to share and spread the Gospel until there is no place left in Japan that has not heard. We were able to listen and discuss and study scriptural evidence of how we should approach growing the Body in our local community. We then spent some time in the nearby park, which has a large "roller slide" (look it up, they're super fun) to get down to the open area, which most of us rode, and we had some lovely time playing and enjoying the beauty of God's creation in the nature around us. We even got a Salsa dancing lesson from the couple who had been training us that morning! In the evening, we 

had worship and discussion time, to process what we had learned, and to brainstorm ways we might implement the training going forward. Sunday, we had a time of worship and the pastor gave a sermon about Ezekiel and the dry bones, and asked God to daily give us hearts of flesh instead of stone. Then we went back home!

May 2-9, settling in, visiting Tokyo:

Tokyo Tower        

More orientation and settling in, driving practice (they drive on the opposite side, which can make things a little confusing), having dinner with different families from either the church or the school room, enjoying the few days of holiday and beautiful weather God gave for lots of fun local exploring! It turns out I'll be in Tokyo area for the weekend to help with children's ministry at a retreat one of the Be One families is attending, as well as the chance to see a friend from college and visit a family I knew from Texas! I survived and even enjoyed riding the trains of Tokyo by myself, and only took the wrong train once, which was easy to correct. I am glad God gave me this time to settle in, see friends, and travel a little before the regular schedule of teaching and ministry sets in on May 10.

    Outside Shinjuku station while transferring

PRAISES:

• I was able to get the right COVID test and was negative both there and upon entry to Japan!
• I made it to Japan! I got my visa, they let me in, I am now a resident of Japan!
• I didn't have to wear a mask on the plane and the seats to either side of me were empty!
• The entry process went quickly and smoothly, and my teammates were able to drive me to my quarantine apartment right away!
• All of my team is so welcoming and lovely and generous! I feel so at home with them already!
• Kind of an unusual one, but sometimes it's the little things: there are only three ways one has to sort basic trash! I was concerned about having to divide between 6-7 different categories, but thankfully Ishinomaki only has 3, and they're really easy to understand and follow!
• I had time to see my friends and get settled before starting my job!
• The view out of my apartment is beautiful! I can see mountains from my bedroom and the ocean from the living room! The weather is so beautiful, even with some rain, and even snow on one night!
• So far I have been able to navigate well enough with my limited Japanese. A teammate and I came up with a plan for language learning, which will become more intense during the summer break!
• There have been so many daily blessings and mercies God has given, which to me just confirms that I am where I should be!

Prayer Requests:

• Pray as I begin teaching in the classroom and start adjusting to my new schedule, that it will go smoothly and I will be useful to both parents and students.
• Pray as I discern which Life Group (weekly Bible study) to join out of the 4 options. Pray as Be One continues to discern the best "church" model and opportunities to fit the needs of local believers.
• Pray that the ministries here will see growth, both in number of seekers and faith of believers, that they would feel the burden to share their faith with their family and community.
• Pray that those around me would see only Jesus and the hope that His love can bring, and that I would find ways to start conversations with neighbors and find English-speakers until I can become more fluent.
• Pray as I start soon with a Japanese teacher and continue looking for a language helper, that I would find just the right people to help me learn quickly and easily, and that I would boldly use what I know instead of reverting to gesturing or translating. Pray that my brain would absorb new information well and bring what I've learned to mind easily.
• Pray for each other. Pray for the person who reads this next, only God knows who that is, that they will feel God's presence in their day today and know He is their only hope.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Him,
Amanda