In Flower

.

Spring has sprung!

Japan's famous cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom in Himeji!

Everyone is beginning to come outdoors to enjoy them (among other things).

Mishap

I got hit by a scooter today.
I was riding my bicycle to work and stopped to cross one of the busy intersections on the way. The traffic going one way was completely clear, the traffic going the other was backed up and at a standstill. So, after looking both ways, I decided to cross, but a scooter, who had decided to bypass all the other traffic by driving on the shoulder of the road crashed into me. It wasn’t enough force to do any serious damage (I hope), but enough to elicit a yelp from me, knock me to the ground, cause my shoes to fall off, and knock my old lady purse out of my old lady basket. The driver was friendly enough it seemed, he picked up my purse and made sure I was okay. On my part, feeling very flustered, I did the same and said I was very sorry. (I later found out that because he is the larger vehicle, he was fully responsible and would have had to pay for any damage or any hospital care. Lucky for him he hit a foreigner who didn’t know any better, and didn’t even know how to ask for any personal information!!)
I’m okay…a little bit sore and bruised and shaken up, but nothing worse than that. I was told by several of my students and the Japanese staff not to take a hot bath, (the exact thing I was looking forward to), but to put cold compresses where it hurts. One of the students went as far as to go to the drugstore herself and buy me the compresses. I guess when Mom isn’t around students are the next best thing! 
Bec

Potpourri

I was lying on the bed reading my Bible the other day, and I slowly started to notice that something smelled really good. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was noticeable. I ignored it for awhile, and then I got a bit curious as to what it was. It didn’t take me long to figure out that it was a little wall-hanging that my parents had sent us for Christmas, filled with potpourri.
A verse came to mind: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ…” It was a subtle and powerful reminder of what our task is. This has been something that we have both really struggled with and questioned during our time here. In a job where discussing religion is considered one of the taboo subjects, and in a country where our communication ability is anything but passable in even the most everyday of conversations, how can we share the News that we have? I’m sure this is a question that many Christians struggle with; we are not unique. And yet, when words are not available, this task seems, if not greater and more challenging, at least more puzzling. How can the forty minutes we have in lessons reveal to our students that we have the Good News? How can the ten minutes between lessons show our coworkers that we are different? How can our time in Japan be not only a time to teach, but also to minister…without words? How can we be the sweet-smelling perfume that we are called to be?

Himeji Castle

Like a large white bird standing above a dark moonlit pond, Himeji Castle draws international attention as one of the best preserved examples of the historic Japanese castle. Of course we have blogged some photos of it before, but I just wanted to show how much higher it stands than most of the city. Be sure to click on the photo for a better view :)

As Per Request:

.

A.w.o.l.

“Oh Mother dear
I greatly fear,
My mittens I have lost!”
“You lost your mittens?
You naughty kitten!
Then you shall have no pie!”

It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I have lost my third mitten in as many months. First, my hand-knit Oma mitten went astray (quite a tragedy, really), then an emergency substitute (that I had grown attached to rather quickly), and on Wednesday, another. Apparently they just don’t like staying in my pockets. Yesterday, I went to buy another pair, but, since spring has almost sprung (although there is still a nip in the air), there weren’t many to be found. I have started wearing one mitten from my second pair, and one from my third. I don’t think anybody has noticed….
I accept mitten donations. Either that or Rod has threatened to tie them together- and to me- with string.

Signs of Spring

Signs of Spring
It’s mid-way through March, and I am daring to become hopeful that spring is just around the corner. Maybe I’m being naïve, but I’d rather say optimistic. Either way, here are a few of today’s traces…
-I didn’t wear a coat (a sweater and a vest, yes, but not a coat)!
-The laundry dried in less than a day (usually it takes up to 3 days)!
-I smelled asphalt…they are repairing the roads!
-I left the window open all day!
-The cherry blossom forecast was on the news!

Who Knew?

The other day I was shopping and had everything on my list…except for taco seasoning. It’s not something we usually buy, since it can’t be found in most stores, but the store I was in at the time often carries a few foreign food selections. So, after going up and down each aisle twice, I decided I would put my much-practiced, but rarely-used, Japanese to use. I didn’t know (quite obviously) the word for “taco seasoning,” so I thought I would just ask for the “taco” section. I didn’t know “taco” either, but, since it is a foreign word, and most foreign words are basically the same as in their native country with just a slight Japanese accent, I thought I would be okay. So, mustering up my courage, I called out to the nearest grocery worker “sumimasen!” (excuse me). He turned around, looked at me, turned back, turned around again, and then decided he would be equally courageous and help the poor helpless foreigner. In (what I thought was) perfect Japanese, I asked, “Taco-wa doko desu ka?" (where are the tacos?) He nodded in understanding; I felt all warm and fuzzy and proud inside, and then he motioned for me to follow him. We walked past the snack section, past the dog-food section, into the vegetable and fish section and by this time I was getting a little confused. But, then he proudly displayed it…Tako…octopus.
Not quite what I had in mind for supper.

One of Bec's favourites

Since it is "White Day" today (a kind of second Valentines' day, cleverly instituted by the marketing geniuses at some of Japan's fine retail outlets, no doubt) I have decided to post one of Bec's favourite pics:

A monumental effort was made to blend the steps of this walkway into the treed landscape of the hill so that they both compliment eachother. During the warm summer months water flows down the lowered centre of these steps, over a man-made waterfall and into some shapely basins at the bottom... which I imagine is quite a sight. I'll try to snap some more shots when that happens. :) -Rod

The Japanese Company

I am still getting used to working for a Japanese company. Twice in the last month I have had to go in for training on my day off and instead of paying overtime for such days, they promise that you can get the time off "in lieu", which basically means you can get another day off for what you worked. Last week I put in a form to get my day off in lieu, and finally this week I got the form back saying that the 19th was not possible, could I please take the 5th instead. I guess I am just not used to having my holidays dictated to me. I have learned that the average Japanese businessman works 50 hours overtime a week (that is PLUS the 40 regular!), which might make sense to me if you really needed the money, but in fact they are paid a salary and don't make more for overtime hours worked. It is all done to look good, and for the opportunity of moving up in the company. Now that is dedication! I guess if I look at my situation in the greater scheme of things, it isn't so bad.

Fairy Tale Castle

.

Little did we know that we had our very own fairy tale castle in our back yard!

Evening out

.
Yesterday, with good friends Mr. Baxter, Mr. Joustra, Mr. Wilms, Ms. Kenny and Mr. Bun we went out to Kobe for both business and pleasure. The highlight of the evening was a Harbourfront Brazilian restaurant which served, among other things, all-you-can eat meat on skewers and great tasting pineapple. It was an evening to remember!


Check out Mr. Baxter's blog and Mr. Joustra's blog for more pics! Much thanks to Josh and Rob for supplying the photos seen here!

A light on a hill

.

Time Flies

Today is exactly six months since we arrived in Japan. Happy anniversary, us.

At it again

.

Speaking of going full out on construction... count the high-hoes! For all of you who may be wondering where Bec has been lately, don't worry, I'll give the computer back to her soon :) -Rod

Daily Shot

.

It was as peaceful as it looks.

Opportunity

My mind is still kind of jumbling through everything, but tonight I had by far one of the most interesting lessons I have had to date. For those who don’t know, the voice room is where students in Nova come to practice conversation: no structured lessons, only free conversation. One thing that sometimes frustrates me about this room is that there are so many “taboo” topics: basically anything that may offend a student shouldn’t be talked about…politics, religion, or other “hot” issues.
I began innocently enough…we were talking about Japanese history; somehow the topic turned to religion, and soon enough they found out that I was, indeed, a Christian. The students began asking me some of the hardest questions I’ve ever had to answer…is the God of Christianity the same God of the Jews and Muslims? What is the one most important belief in Christianity? Why are there so many churches? Doesn’t “catholic” mean universal? Why are you a Christian…is it only because your parents were? Why are churches so big/expensive? Why do people convert?
These are questions coming from people who have been born and raised in a polytheistic religion, but also, as one student said, “a religion-less society”…meaning that it is all tradition, without belief. (That in itself is a whole other debate and topic…are we in the west any different…but that will have to wait for another day!) But, for the first time since we’ve come, the first time in a long time, really, I was able to share openly what I believe, and what the foundation of Christianity really is. It was encouraging (and also a little sad) to hear one student say (albeit in an academic sense), “I’m very interested in Christianity, but I don’t know any Christians.”
Please pray that as inadequate as my words were, they may somehow take root and lead to more openness and questions.