by Whitey | Mar 7, 2008 | Weekly Re-Cap
Good news: I know what day of the week it is this time.
On the other hand, I’m not sure what to say. Let’s see…
Japanese studies are keeping me busy. It’s more and more clear to me that when April comes, and I’m full-time, I’m going to be super busy with studies and should be careful about taking on more responsibilities. Fortunately, the pastor and church agree, and I’m not under any pressure to do more than I’m able.
Meanwhile, I’ve got one private English student now, as I’ve mentioned here before. He was going to pay me, but yesterday I suggested that instead we do a language exchange; for the first hour I’ll teach him English, and for the second hour he’ll help me with my Japanese. I think I could use the extra Japanese practice more than the extra money. And I’m sure he doesn’t mind saving a few bucks either.
It’s going to be a busy month: With this being the last month of my part-time course, there’s more and more new stuff to memorize. And with a final exam at the end of the month, I’d better review the old stuff and make sure I know it too. Right before that exam is the Immanuel Church’s annual national conference, which means a short and busy trip to Yokohama and Tokyo, which I’ll return from the night before the exam. Right after said exam (the next day), the new, full-time course begins — with a placement exam.
Sigh…
Having said all that, I should get back to studying. That’s it for this week.
by Whitey | Feb 28, 2008 | Weekly Re-Cap
Stuff about this week:
1. Japanese is still going well but getting harder. I’m going to have to turn it up a notch if I’m going to keep up. This week we were learning about complicated verb conjugations. It wouldn’t be so bad if they’re weren’t so many “exceptions” to the “rules” (How many exceptions do there have to be before a rule is no longer a rule?). It also helps if you know the basic verb from first before you start conjugating it, I suppose… (ahem).
2. I had my first one-on-one lesson with my new English student. I found some material to use online, and I think it went pretty well. I had fun, anyway. The cappuccino was good too.
3. Speaking of coffee-related products, I think I’m going to make a trip to Mr. Donuts in a few minutes. The endless free re-fills make it the ideal location for studying. Also I just like to get out of the church building and into the real world.
4. I just realized, in the middle of writing this post, that it’s only Thursday. Not Friday. So this Re-Cap should wait a day or so. But whatever. Here you go.
To be continued…?
by Whitey | Feb 22, 2008 | Weekly Re-Cap
Numbered highlights from the past week:
1. I have an English student now! Last Saturday I met with Yusuke, a guy who just moved to the area from Kanagawa and whom I got connected with through a missionary friend up there. Yusuke and I will start meeting more-or-less weekly at Starbucks for one-on-one English lessons beginning next week.
2. In case you missed it, I posted a new podcast episode (#9) last night. Scroll down a couple posts to see (er, hear). In other website news, earlier this week I also posted a new photo album (My Nagoya) in the photo gallery.
3. This week during my Japanese lesson, I got the words for “drink” (nomimasu) and “sleep” (nemasu) mixed up, and told the teacher and class that I had drank for seven and a half hours the night before.
4. Sunday night, a guy I know from back in my Bible college days, whom I hadn’t seen in like five years, came to Nagoya. Ryan lives in Tokyo but was in Nagoya for the day on business, so he joined me and several others, mostly youth and young adults, at my church for supper. It was good to see him and to get caught up, although it’s always a little bit surreal seeing someone I know from home here in Japan. He’s coming again this week, too, so we may get together again.
5. This Sunday afternoon I’m on deck to do some fun ministry with the junior high and elementary kids in the afternoon.
6. Sunday night I’m supposed to do a live conference with a church back in Canada, during what will be their morning service. They’re doing a missions emphasis and wanted to connect with me because I’m one of the missionaries they’re supporting. Should be fun, but given the 13-hour time difference, it will make for a late night.
Thanks for reading and praying. That’s a wrap for this week.
by Whitey | Feb 8, 2008 | Ministry News, Weekly Re-Cap
This week, instead a normal re-cap (if there is such a thing), I’m posting my prayer letter, also being sent to my supporters via email.
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Hi everyone,
Sunday night I went to a multi-denominational youth worship gathering, called Heart and Soul, hosted by a local seminary. It was bi-lingual, which was nice, the speaker was good, the band was really good, and there were lots of people there. I met some fellow-expat/missionary-types too. It’s great to see someone taking the incentive to get young people from different denominations together. That’s the kind of unity that the Japanese Church — and Japan — needs.
My first month+ here in Nagoya has been spent focusing on language, getting to know people and generally just settling in — not in hands-on ministry. I have to admit that a part of me found this frustrating, as I wanted to dive right in to ministry right off the bat. But I think Pastor Saoshiro was right in recommending that I take this time to settle in. It takes time to get to know a new group of people, a new city and new church. It takes time to adjust to life in another culture, even if, like me, it’s not your first time there. It’s been an adjustment getting used to going to school, doing homework, and studying again.
Tuesday night Saoshiro-sensei and I chatted about getting me involved in ministry. Soon I’ll start getting plugged in to the life of the church more actively, and that’s something I’m looking forward to.
Here are some things you can be praying about:
- Please pray that God will continue to help build relationships despite the language barrier. And thank Him with me for the friendships I’m building already.
- Pray for my language studies. They’re going well but I have a long way to go. Pray that I’ll be patient and diligent in my studies and that God will help me make more progress.
- Pray for my church — Immanuel Nagoya Church — may we have an effective ministry in Nagoya. Also, there may be some pastoral/leadership transitions in the spring. Pray for God’s will to be done and for a smooth transition period.
- Pray for God’s direction and blessing for my ministry here.
Thanks for your prayers!
by Whitey | Jan 25, 2008 | Weekly Re-Cap
This week I…
- Visited a fellow-missionary’s church for their Sunday night “Gospel Cafe” event. Met some cool musician guys and had a good chat with them.
- Biked to class on my new bicycle.
- Podcasted.
- Had a good meeting with my pastor / mentor, Joseph Saoshiro.
- Found a large bookstore and picked up some English-language books on Japan and Japanese (actually that may have been late last week).
- Studied more per day than I’m used to studying per week.
- Suffered a headache or two (which may or may not be related to the above.
- Spent a lot of time at Mr. Donut, because the re-fills are free and I like studying somewhere other than at home.
- Went site-seeing with a couple of guys from the church today. Photos coming soon, I hope.
And that’s a wrap for this week. Maybe next week I’ll have more to say, but for now it’s getting late and I’m tired.
by Whitey | Jan 5, 2008 | Weekly Re-Cap
As of tonight, I have officially been in Japan for one week. Things have been going well. I really like the people at the church here, and the neighborhood and city are going to be fun places to live. This week was spent mostly on getting aclimated and settled into my new surroundings, getting to know people, and numerous New Years-related events; New Years, of course, being a big holiday in Japan.
You can visit the Photo Page for some new pics from the past week. Meanwhile, here are some written highlights and thoughts from the past week:
Sunday: I attended my first service at Nagoya Immanuel Church (where I was introduced and brought brief greetings), as well as lunch with some of the youth — all of which was good, but also a huge reminder of the language barrier. I certainly feel like I have a lot to learn. But, I also have many new friends to learn from, and it can’t hurt to be immersed in it like this. Still, occasionally it feels a little overwhelming. In the evening I had supper with Pastor Saoshiro, the staff and their family. I really enjoy my new Family and look forward to working with them.
Tuesday: New Years Day was a full day, with a special service in the morning and a big New Years dinner with the Family.
Wednesday: Wednesday was an even more full day, with a combined district-wide service (at which I was introduced again, and brought more greetings, this time throwing in a little Japanese). Afternoon and into the evening was spent with the youth, with a special service for them (and in part by them) and again lots of food.
Thursday: There was a missionary couple (Ron and Joan Stoller) I met in Osaka when I lived there a few years ago, who just happen to live in this area, and also happen to be friends with Ken Saoshiro, one of my new cohorts here in Nagoya. Small world. They had a party on Thursday we went to, and it was good to catch up with them.
Friday: Pastor Hirase (one of the staff pastors here) took me out on his scooter to help me do my foreigner registration thing at the ward office, to help me pick out a computer printer, and to give me a whirlwind tour of the city. It was both a fun and productive day.
A good week, all in all. My jet lag didn’t last too long; as of yesterday I was feeling pretty much back to normal. And now that I’ve been around the city, done some shopping and laundry, and been here about a week, it’s starting to feel like I actually live here and am not just visiting. The weeks to come should be interesting and fun, as well as challenging, as I begin my studies and ministry. I’ll try to keep you updated with shorter, more regular posts. In the meantime, that’s a wrap for this week.
