I’m Hungry…

…and slow.  Because after ten years of making Fasting a relatively regular part of my walk with God, I’ve only NOW (like, an hour ago) figured out what the point of fasting is.  I mean, like, REALLY figured it out.

I mean, I always kind of knew.  All the usual reasons: “man does not live on bread alone,” and Jesus fasted so we fast, makes us reliant on God, grants humility, helps us understand Jesus’ pain and suffering, etc etc etc.  And while all of these reasons made sense, fasting has always felt like 10% actually connecting with God (if only because I spend the mealtimes in prayer instead) and 90% checkbox (because it’s what a “good” Christian should do).

Why do I really fast? Fasting is supposed to teach us (among other things) how to depend on God, right?  But how?! Cuz honestly, it’s a struggle to even focus about God when all I can think about is how HUNGRY I am!  Today especially.  Usually I can at least make it to lunchtime before I start to notice I’m skipping meals, but today at like 9am on the dot my stomach was already growling.  Come ooonnnn.

Language Mishaps

These are the same ones as in my November newsletter, but just for anyone who doesn’t get/read my newsletter, I know this is everyone’s favorite section anyway…

If you would like to get my newsletter, send me an email and I’ll definitely add you!  ❤

I told my English students how I had hurt my ankle while in the US, but they have a hard time hearing the difference between “A” and “U” and thought I had injured my “uncle.” How violent! 😛

I always get tsumaru (packed or clogged) and tsumazuku (to stumble) mixed up and then tell people my nose stumbles due to allergies.

Four years and counting and I STILL can’t get tadaima (I’m home) and okaeri (welcome home) straight.  I keep walking in the front door and announcing to my roommate(s) “Welcome home!”

I helped interpret a workshop on “Faith and Science” for a Japanese conference in September (Japanese to English). It all went smoothly until the closing prayer (probably the easiest part) when I began by praying to “Our Fatherly heaven.”

I got the word for canal (unga) wrong and told a friend my parents’ neighborhood have lots of people who live “lying face down” (enga).

Another friend’s mishap! 😀  A colleague was telling me about the prayer night they had at church where they prayed for world issues like kiga (hunger), sensou (war), and ninjin hanbai (carrots-for-sale…??). She meant to say jinshin baibai (human trafficking).

I made a Wedding Cake!

It was nice and small and “easy” (considering it was a 6-layer cake haha) and honestly the main reason it turned out half as nice as it did is because Emma wanted to do the “naked” cake look (ie, virtually no frosting decoration needed) and the lady who did the flower arrangements is a genius!! Thanks for making me look good, Miho-san!

• Day 1 – Big layers baked, leveled, & frozen

 

• Day 2 – Small layers baked and frozen

• Day 3 – Frosting & stacking

• Day 4 (day of the wedding) – Flower decorations and cake cutting!

Emma and Taisei got married!

Tribute to my (former T_T) roommate Emma & her new husband Taisei!

When Emma & Taisei first started “officially” seeing each other, there was still quite a bit of fear and uncertainty on Emma’s part.  Actually, that’s putting it pretty mildly. To be frank, Emma was totally freaking out.

Mount Fuji Conference!

Actually, I lied, we’re not really AT Mt. Fuji.  But we’re “close”!

(You can just see the tip of Mt. Fuji poking out over the mountains)

Language Mishaps

Back from the US after a 2-week trip home in August!  Despite a few hiccups in the trip, mainly due to a sprained ankle my first full day there, it was a fun and relaxing time at home.  I was gonna add some pics too, but WordPress is not cooperating with me at the moment so I’ll add those later…

And back on the blog as well everyone’s favorite language mishaps!  Well, maybe not my favorite…

Introducing my roommate!

God is really amazing in the way he answers prayers.  Even seemingly impossible and random things like a NEW ROOMMATE.  I mean, seriously, how awesome is HE?

Besides her lovely ability to live with a couple of crazy foreigners (surprisingly rare here), Kana’s sweet, fun-loving, God-seeking personality have made her an easy and wonderful addition to our home.  So glad to have her!

Worship time!

Have I mentioned I’ve started leading worship at the bilingual church?  Yep, me.  That’s right.  And when’s the last time I led worship in ANY shape/form/group?  Uhhhh, NEVER.

So yeah, this is NOT because I’m particularly talented in music or gifted in leading worship or have a decent singing voice (and btw, I have none of these things), oh no, but I’m leading more or less because there is LITERALLY NO ONE ELSE who can do it.

Honestly, leading worship at church is probably at the bottom of the list of ministries I expected to be involved in, beaten only by things like performing miracles and becoming a pastor.  Though, looking back, I probably should have realized this was going to happen when my completely out-of-the-blue and urgent desire to really start learning to play the guitar was immediately (like literally an hour later) followed by my teammates the Murrays gifting me with a FREE guitar that some short-termer had RANDOMLY left years ago and it JUST HAPPENED to still be sitting in their house with NO ONE else to use it so Jess, if you’re planning on getting a guitar anyway you should just use this one…

God totally gave me this guitar as a heads up, but I was way too slow to pick up on it.

Four years and a New Car

About three weeks ago I celebrated 4 whole years in Japan.  FOUR YEARS!!  What am I still doing here?!  So, I’ve heard men often buy a new car when they go through their mid-life crisis.  Maybe missionaries have mid-ministry crises and then also buy new cars.

ORR maybe they just forget they stopped two feet behind a small rock pillar and then drive right into it.

See that tiny little stone pillar…?

Let’s (re)start nice and slow

Nothing big and flashy.  No promises I know I won’t/can’t keep.  Let’s just start with a Bible verse that’s been challenging me recently.

“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:7

How can I make outreach, ministry, LIFE in general, less and less about me and more and MORE about HIM?  Let’s start there.