WE HAVE THE INTERNET!!

Now that we have only about a week left, WE HAVE THE INTERNET!! :o)

We all just got back from FriendsCamp this weekend. Taga church is very blessed to have so many members and friends who help support this camp. For camp, we invite all of our readers to come join us at a retreat type facility out of the city. We sleep in cabins and enjoy our meals in the great outdoors (with the wonderful mushi...bugs... and all!). We have four reading/class session spread out over 3 days, where we read more about Jesus and share our lives.


This past weekend we had about 30-40 people, although only some were part time, participating in reading sessions, activities, and fun. Scott and Luanne Snow led camp this year and it was a blast! Here are just a couple of pictures of what we did:

Devo held on the stairs overlooking the beautiful forest covered mountains.

We had some team/group building time. Everyone had to put their the puzzle piece that matched theirs and put together their group puzzle!

We had a great talent show this year. Here our famous church member, Mr. Siato did a little dance for us. Everyone sang the song "As the Deer" while Mr. Siato pranced around in his reindeer antler on his head. It was hilarious. Mr. Siato is about 85 years old and has the heart of a 20 year old!! He loves to laugh and has so much joy in his heart about God. Him and his wife are wonderful examples to us.

Another highlight was Sammy`s reader, Masa. He is has a black belt in Karate. He showed us how to punch and kick. Then he did a couple of really awesome karate routines.

We all got together Saturday afternoon for a game of kick ball out in the field. And luckily the weather was perfect that day! It rained all day Sunday!

Saturday night we had Japanese BBQ! Oh it was soo good! First you marinate the strips of meat in a sauce and then you fry them on this griddle that sit in the middle of your table! You then fry up all the vegetables (cabbage, mushrooms, bell peppers, and egg plant). Once you are full on that and think it was the best meal you`ve had in forever, they bring out the yakisoba! You add more veggies and soba noodles to the mix. Oh, it is so good! I`m thinking that it just might be better than an old fashion American BBQ!

To end our camp pictures, here is Jake being really silly for the camera. Unfortunately, I didn`t get as many pictures of camp as I wanted to because my batteries died on Saturday night... right in the middle of the talent show! I was a little unprepared for that. I would have loved to show you a picture of our worship service this morning.

Since it was pouring rain, we ALL crowded into ONE cabin this morning (we had 4 cabins just to fit all of us Saturday night). Although these cabins were a fairly good size... there was a nice downstairs part with a small kitchen table, sink, and two gas burners. A little "living" area, the bathroom and shower room. Then there was small upstairs room that is more like a balcony. It is about half the size of the downstairs part with railing that overlooks the living area. Anywho, we all packed into this one cabin... people sitting downstairs on the chairs and window sills, and then upstairs looking down through the railing! We had a great time! It was nice to be able to all be in the same place together and I think it was a fun experience for our readers too!

Time goes by too quickly! Now there is only a week left, and only 3 more days to meet with our readers! I had an amazing week last week with my readers. I grew really close with two of my favorite readers. Kiyomi, the woman I had met in Takahagi in 2004, has been very stressed with work and the things she is involved with. She came in the other day crying. We talked about her things, I share some of my stress back at home and we found so many things in common. At that point we both knew that it wasn`t chance we met again this year. I had asked her when was the last time she did LST (many of our readers do LST for 3+ years, every year). She told me that not since 2004 in Takahagi. That is when I started crying. God works in some amazing ways. Kiyomi and I have two more classes together... I am looking forward to them but also dreading them because I know that after Thursday it will be all over. This woman is searching for God in her life and she feels Him working in her heart. I just pray that she finds Him. Please be praying for her also.

My other favorite is Yuko, I`ve posted several pictures. She is so sweet! We have been sharing so many things. She talks a lot about her beautiful daughter Sakura and how much joy that she has brought to her life. I was talking to Judith (one of the women who has been working in Japan for 5 years. She helps prepare for LST and does a lot of adversiting before we arrive on site. Check out her blog!) about Yuko on Friday and she told me about an email Yuko had sent her:

“I really enjoyed my English conversation lesson so much today. Tanya is teaching me so many things…. the words in the Bible are so great! I am learning so much from it. I am not a Christian but the things we talked about today are still deeply impressed on my heart. After each class I share these stories with my husband. I appreciate you so much for telling me about LST. Thank you so much!”

I will post some pictures of our readers here in the next couple of days. Tomorrow we have a day off, since this past weekend we worked at camp. We will be helping to prepare for VBS this Saturday. Our theme this year is Serving... our families, friends, and community. Hopefully we will have a good turn out. Please be praying for that also!

GOOD NIGHT! (or good morning for people in the US! ha ha)

At the WEC!

Today, my pictures are at the beginning because that is where Blogger puts them, and I am too lazy/busy to go through and arrange them! Sorry! Please check out the pictures and read what they are all about. Some pictures will not have a description due to lack of time on the internet. But please enjoy them anyway!! :o)

I am at the World English Center, where Bryan Snow works, so I can use the internet!! It is getting a little frustrating not having the internet. I feel so out of touch with everyone and there are so many things I want to share!!

We have been having a great time with our readers. There are several that I have gotten so close to. And thinking about the future, with only 2 more weeks.... actually only 5 more days of reading session, makes me really sad. I have a couple of readers who are just really wanting to know more about Jesus. We have been sharing a lot of our experiences and things we have struggled with. I just hate to leave at a time where they want more. But I guess I just need to have more faith that God with help the seeds in their hearts grow after we leave.

I just love this woman, Yuko, and her daughter Sakura. I am sure I have already posted a picture of her, but here is one from today!

We also had a Ladies Tea party that some of our readers came to. We did a fun ice breakers and then I have a little lesson/testimony. We had a great time!

Last weekend we went Tokyo!! We had a great time! We did some normal sight seeing things, Asaktsua (a temple and huge market place), Edo-Tokyo Musuem, and Tokyo Tower. Jake and I went to a couple of art museums and went to the Tokyo Dome (Baseball Stadium) and rode a couple roller coasters. The team went to Disney Sea... Japans own version of Disneyland. They had a great time! It was nice to get away for a little while from everything, but we were exhausted after two days! We walked everywhere!! Jake was our amazing tour guide... Tokyo's subway and train system is super confusing. But Jake did a great job and we only took the wrong train once! :o)

Tommie and Phyllis also went to Tokyo with us. It was great to be with them again, after all the training we've done to come here. I am so happy they are here in Japan, and I know they are having an amazing time.

TWO MORE WEEKS!! AHHH! Not enough time!

This weekend we have Friends Camp. Scott and Luanne Snow have arrive and they are diligently planning for camp. The week after camp is VBS. So we have a busy couple of weeks ahead of us... not only that but we have to prepare to leave! It will be very sad!

Sunday we had our Kareoke party!! It was a blast. And of course, for the Takahagi 2004 girls... I dedicaded the song to you! :o)

Internet down... STILL!

So yes, we are still down on the internet at church.
It has been an interesting experience.... no cell phone and no internet! What is an American college student supposed to do?!? Actually, it has been a great experience for us all. We are more dedicated to our reading sessions, preparing for our lessons, and catching up on chores.

We have had a busy week! I am sorry, I don't have any pictures today. I left my camera back at the church building and we are now at Bryan Snow's house.

Friday we spent the morning with Sammy's reader (and a previous reader of Jake's), Kiyomi. He is the chief at the fire station in Taga. We got to watch the firemen and EMTs do their training and we also got the chance to go up in the firetruck lift. We went 25 meters (about 70 ft?) in the air! It was a beautiful view of Taga, the ocean, and the mountains.

Saturday, Tanis and I visited her reader's art studio. She has been a painter for the past 35 years, so it was amazing to see her place. She also took us around to several places around the Hitachi area. Several of the places I had gone to while I was on my LST trip in 2004 to Takahagi. It was a great experience to see the same places. It brought back many happy memories of my first trip to Japan.

Sunday we had our beach party. The weather was beautiful! We had a great time playing on the beach with our students. We played volleyball, frisbee, and did smores! After the party was the real exciting part (or at least for me!)......

JAKE CAME!!!
I am sooo happy that Jake is in Japan now! I feel a great sense of relief I can relinquish some of my duties as "trainer" and leader to him. I am not very good at some of that sort of stuff. I am definitely a worker.
And of course that is not the only reason why I am glad he is here! :o) It is so great to be able to share the experience of a foriegn country with your best friend. Plus the fact that Japan is so special to us. It is great to be here together.

We are excited for tomorrow because Jake, Bryan, and I will be making a trip out to Tomobe. We will be visiting Tommie and Phyllis! Visit their website, it sounds like they are having a great time! I am also excited to be visiting Marc and Elissa, the host missionaries in Tomobe. I actually went to school with them my first two years in Oregon. Plus, Elissa is 7 months pregnant!

Well, I will update y'all with more info and pictures when we get the internet back! Thanks again for your patience!!

Love,
JAKE and Tanya

Internet is down!

I apologize for the long delay in posting a blog. Our internet went down a the church building a couple days ago. Right now, we are at Bryan Snow's house using his internet. Hopefully Sugao, the preacher, can call someone to come and fix the modem.

So to catch everyone up on basically the past week, I will post some pictures and a brief description.
We have been having an amazing time getting to know our readers! It seems like each time we get done with a lesson with someone, we've determined that person to be our favorite. But by the time we are finished with the next lesson, that person is our favorite. It never seems to end. We love all our readers and have a special bond with each one.

There have been several days we've had sunshine! It is a nice break from all the rain. Here are a couple of kids from the kindergarten playing outside.

On our way to cell group (like Growth Groups, but it is a class just for college aged people) last Wednesday we stopped at an Obento restaurant. This is a place where you can get individual items like chicken, rice, or noodles instead of going to a restaurant and ordering the whole meal. It was yummy! The guy next to Tyler is Dan. He has lived here in Hitachi for the past 2 years. He is originally from Minnesota.

On Friday we went to Mito, the capital of Ibaraki prefecture (a prefecture is like a state). We did some shopping while in Mito and ate at the McDonalds!

Just in case you forget how to wash your hands, here are some directions.

Here is the big city of Mito.

Mmmm, Mister Donut!! When we walked by the shop, they were playing Lion King's "Can you feel the love tonight?" There are many little shops that will play random American music.

This is a little alley-way we passed by while walking down Main Street. I just thought it looked cool.

Mmmm, STARBUCKS!
On Saturday we went to Mike and Tomoko McClain's house. They are long time church members at Taga CofC. They met while they were both going to Oklahoma Christian University, got married and moved to Japan. They have 3 beautiful daughters, Anna, Erica, and Keira. The McClains invited us over to their "American style" house they build a couple years back. In fact, Jake was in Taga the year they were building their house and helped plaster the kitchen ceiling.

Here is what a more traditional Japanese style looks like. This house is actually where Jake and I will be staying once he arrives. Only 5 more days!!!

This is the view from the McClain's house, it is amazing!

At the McClain's house we played a little basketball and then cooked up an amazing BBQ. After we were stuffed full of good food we sat down to what the first game of the NBA championship. Mike, Tyler, and Sammy are all big Celtics fans, so we all had a good time!

Sunday morning we had church service. The girls don't have far to go. We are actually staying at the building, in one of the rooms upstairs. This picture was taking after service, during announcement time. Several of the church women had left the auditorium to prepare for our potluck!

And what an amazing potluck it was! Food seems to be the theme of this blog but I just can't help talking about how much I love Japanese food.

Several of the kids at church made a basket full of origami flowers. We were told that it was the day to celebrate the beautiful flowers that God has made. What a wonderful idea!

Sunday we also had our Fiesta party!! It was a blast! Let me take you on a tour of how the party went. Please come inside!

At the table with the two beautiful senoritas, you will find a place to write yourself a name tag.

Now guess the number of candies there are in the bowl, check out the pinata, and pick up a maraca as your party favor!

Find a seat in one of the chairs...

And don't forget to get some chips, salsa, queso, and gauc! There is also plenty to drink!


Our first activity is an ice breaker. We walk around in two big circles to the Mexican music. When the music stops, you stop. Now introduce yourself to the person you are in front of. Tell them your name, hobby, and favorite color!


Next activity is called "Adios!" We sit in a big circle, the person in the middle calls out something like, "Everyone wearing black, Adios!" So if you are wearing black, you have to get out of your seat and run to another chair! Last person standing is the next one to call out "Adios!"

And now, time for the best part! The pinata! Lets see who can break the candy out!

What a great time! Some people went home with a second party favor, the pinata!

Now, time for a group picture!

Oh, can't forget the team picture! I think Sammy thinks Tanis is the pinata!

Hope y'all enjoyed the pictures! Thanks for being patient with me and my lack of updates!