* Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! *

Advent has come and gone, Christmas has come at last.  However, many of the things that I was waiting for have not come, and so the waiting continues.  The language “click” is probably far from happening considering I’ve only been studying the language for 3 months.  The crippling homesickness, although I thought its arrival was inevitable, never came – it never even stopped by.  I don’t know if it’s because I spent 3 hours with my family (via Skype) opening presents and playing Farkle, if it’s because I’ve been so incredibly busy with Christmas activities, or both.

Our last day of class for the year was the 17^th, but daily life actually became busier!  I spent the majority of the week at Tokyo Lutheran Church at the various parties, services, and outreach activities.  On the 23^rd we had our Children’s Christmas Pageant and Party.  The pageant told the Christmas story, complete with angels, shepherds, sheep, wise men, and the happy family.  I had the opportunity to be an angel – an angel who spoke not a word. 

Afterward we all enjoyed Christmas treats, fellowship, and a visit from Santa (hm… Santa looks vaguely familiar, no?).  This was round 2 for this Santa and I’ll admit that things went 100X better than they did on Sunday the 19^th.  Yushi and I make a pretty good Santa-Reindeer team, especially when I actually know what’s going on!

Later that night, as is tradition at Tokyo Lutheran, two groups of Santas traveled around the Tokyo area and visited members of the congregation whom we hadn’t seen in awhile, or who maybe just needed a visit from Santa-San.  It was a good time, even if the people walking down the street looked at us like we were crazy.

On Christmas Eve we had 2 candlelight services – one in Japanese, one in English.  For the Japanese service, the choir sang a piece that included organ and handbells.  The entire time I was sitting with the choir, a little girl (who usually cries at the sight of me) was staring and waving at me.  As we recessed during the postlude, she waved enthusiastically as I passed her - I couldn’t have asked for a better gift.  After the English service, we went to a family restaurant and enjoyed some coffee and dessert.  And then…

Christmas came!  Christine, Allyson, and I shared in a breakfast feast, after which I got to spend some quality time with my family.  We opened presents and played Farkle – it was priceless (and hilarious).  The night ended with a showing of The Holiday in Allyson’s apartment.  Then Christmas day was over.

But don’t be fooled – the fun doesn’t stop here!  Allyson and I are about to embark on a whirlwind adventure to Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan.  Actually, we’re leaving in 15 minutes, so I best be off!  Because I won’t have a computer until the 5^th of January I must say this now – HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  ^_^

* Simple Gifts of Immeasurable Value *

After November, I vowed to blog more during the month of December; however, that has not been the case and just yesterday I asked myself ‘why?’  It seems that this Advent I have spent more preparing than reflecting.  Thus on my first unscheduled day in December I will reflect upon the simple gifts of immeasurable value that God has graciously given to me.  Let the reflecting begin!

* Filler Picture... I'm contemplating... Kind of... Or Maybe this is what I do instead of Contemplating...*

Gift #1 >> Community >> As I’ve mentioned before (more than once), God has placed me in an amazing community.  The community of Tokyo Lutheran Church has me involved in every way possible, even if that means taking more time to do things so that I can understand what’s going on.  Recently, 5 of us journeyed to the largest Christmas Tree in Japan and had a wonderful night of fellowship.  I can’t thank God enough for this gift, for this community.

* Fellowship at the Christmas Tree Festival *

Gift #2 >> Laughter >> God has recently given me the ability to laugh at myself, and to laugh at myself often.  The most recent example of this was on Sunday when I was Santa at church.  I had no idea what to do and heard different instructions from different people.  I went out in front of the congregation and made a fool of myself.  I butchered the names of the kids who came to receive presents and said “Ho, Ho, Ho” probably 6 or 7 different times.  Before, I would have been embarrassed and crying, but now I rejoiced when it was over and then laughed with Yushi about the entire experience.  Priceless.

* Having a good laugh after the Santa fiasco*

Gift #3 >> New Traditions >> Sometimes when you’re in unfamiliar territory, it’s easy to look at traditions and think that they’re pointless or crazy.  One example of this is public bathing.  Crazy?  I thought so, at first.  Another example, instead of sending Christmas cards, they send New Year’s cards… to everyone you know.  The post office will collect them and not deliver them until January 1^st.  Imagine 12.3 million people sending cards to everyone they know and the post office holding all of those until January 1^st.  I don’t get it, but I don’t need to understand in order to see the value of it.

* My New Year's Cards - made them myself! (2011 is the year of the rabbit) * 

Gift #4 >> Old Traditions, The Familiar >> When I say “old traditions,” it really ties into what’s familiar.  I’ve been listening to the Christmas music that I’ve always listened to at home and have done simple things to make my apartment feel a little more like home (Owatonna home).  Also, I recently took a trip to Tokyo Disneyland where I found myself remembering our family vacation to Disneyland in CA.  I rode many of the same rides and found great happiness in the memories that came with them. 

* Tokyo Disneyland - Christmas Fantasy 2010 * 

Gift #5 >> Unexpected Surprises >> When I left Spain in May 2008, I left a lot of people behind, never to see them again.  One of those people was my friend Akiko, a Japanese woman who now teaches in New Zealand.  But God has a marvelous sense of humor and brought us together again in Tokyo just yesterday.  We spent the day together wandering around Shinjuku, speaking only in Spanish.  Never in a million years did I think I would see her again face-to-face.  It was such an unexpected and marvelous gift.

* Reunited at Last! *

I’ve been given a lot and I’ve done nothing to deserve any of it.  It’s in this mystery and miracle that I find myself 3 days before Christmas, the day on which the greatest gift is given.  We all receive the same gift, and it’s a gift that we share because 1) we are called to share it and 2) there’s more than enough of it to go around, for the love of our Savior is infinite and wonderful… and made for all.  Merry Christmas!

* Long Overdue – ごめんなさい！(sorry) *

This blog post is overdue by about 2.5 weeks – my apologies!  Without further ado…

Well, I have officially been in Japan for just over 2 months and so far it has been absolutely amazing!  The best place to begin is to describe the typical week.  Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday I have Japanese class for 3 hours with the 2 other J3s, Allyson and Christine.  Although Wednesdays is my “day off”, I usually attend a lecture at the seminary or a Bible Study at the Church headquarters.  On Fridays I am able to attend/help out with an English Bible Study at the Hongo Student Center/Church, which is right near Todai University (the main university in Tokyo).  Saturdays are usually free and I spend all day Sunday at Tokyo Lutheran Church attending the various Japanese worship services and helping out with Sunday School.  And just today I joined the choir by accident!  It’s a busy schedule, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

* Allyson, Christine, and I - the "new" J3s! *

Along with the ‘usual’ are special events and random exploring fun.  The first weekend in November I went to an Owl City concert here in Tokyo.  This was particularly special to me because my family went to a concert of his in Owatonna on Sunday, October 31^st and I was able to see him that same week.  It’s the little things that connect us over the big ocean.  The second weekend in November I was able to help out and attend an English Bible Camp held by Hongo Church.  It was in a quaint chalet out in the country.  It was the first time since I arrived that I had really seen nature! 

* Owl City in Tokyo! *

Before a full recuperation from the Bible Camp, I packed my bag again and travelled to Hiroshima and Kumamoto for a 5-day trip.  In Hiroshima, all of the current J3 missionaries met for a retreat.  We talked about our highs and lows, went to the Hiroshima Peace Museum, took a train and ferry out to Miyajima (the island that holds Japan’s most photographed landmark, the Miyajima Gate – it’s big, orange, and appears to be floating if the tide is right), and ate some good food!  After a couple days there, Allyson, Christine, and I went south to Kumamoto to see where we will be working come April.  We met all of the short-term and long-term missionaries and were even able to share a Thanksgiving meal with all of them.  It was an amazing trip that put my mind at ease – no more big question marks when talking about where we’ll be living, working, etc.

* Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima *

Upon returning from Kumamoto, Thanksgiving came around again!  This time I went to my home church (Tokyo Lutheran Church) where 40-50 people shared in a potluck Thanksgiving meal, complete with a 20 lb. turkey!  And now we have entered the season of Advent, which the Tokyo area missionaries celebrated last night with a wine and cheese Advent party.  We are in full swing with Advent and Christmas festivities at church and once classes break I know that I will be spending the majority of my time at church for different practices, parties, and services.  I have been so incredibly blessed in my home church placement in Tokyo.  I have been adopted and accepted into the congregation and have been able to participate in more ways than I ever thought possible.  This church is by far my favorite part of Japan, which is why my heart breaks when I think about moving to Kumamoto in April.  So for now I’m basking in the glory of this church and of these people.  I’m so blessed!

* 1/2 of the group that celebrated Thanksgiving at Tokyo Lutheran *

There we have it!  I hope I didn’t bore anyone with this summary.  And with that I will wish you all a Happy 3^rd Week in Advent.  Until next time!  またね！