by Whitey | Dec 21, 2007 | Weekly Re-Cap
These weekly updates will be a lot more interesting when I’m in Japan doing stuff. At least I hope so. These days as I’m in transition things are a little quiet on the news front. But here’s a brief re-cap of the week anwyay:
I finished my TESL course work on Monday. My visa came Tuesday. Also Tuesday, I had my last lesson with Haruka, my Japanese tutor here on the home front. I’ve been spending a lot of time with friends; in fact I’ve been out every night this week which is very unusual for me. It’s that bittersweet time of looking forward and looking back, of packing and planning and saying goodbyes. Oh yeah, and Christmas time too. In all the busyness of going away I’ve hardly thought about Christmas — but yes, I have done my shopping.
Next week, I’ll be spending Christmas with the family, and then traveling to Bangor, Maine on Thursday. Friday morning I fly from there, to Detroit, to Nagoya. It’ll be around 6 PM Japan time when I arrive on Saturday (but only 5 AM back here in NB). Then my new life, adventures, learning and ministry begin as I ring in the new year in Japan.
This site will probably be pretty much dormant next week. But I’ll try to post an update soon after I arrive in Japan. Till then: merry Christmas, happy New Year, and thanks for being a part of my Japanese adventures!
by Whitey | Dec 14, 2007 | Weekly Re-Cap
I don’t have much to say as far as new news goes, but here’s a brief look back at the week and a look ahead…
- I am only one assignment away from completing my correspondence course in Teaching English as a Second Language. I plan to get it finished today or tomorrow.
- Two weeks from this moment I’ll probably be sitting in the airport in Detroit, waiting to board my flight to Nagoya.
- No sign of my visa yet. I was hoping it might arrive today but it’s only been a week. Hopefully next week, since Christmas and my actual trip to Japan are the following week.
- I got a handful of Christmas cards and letters today from churches and individuals who are supporting my ministry. It’s nice to be remembered. One card even had a cheque in it! Always a nice touch.
- I shipped some boxes to Japan this week. Since I’m taking my guitar with me (of course!) I have less room for luggage on the flight. Also, since I’m going for at least two years, it’ll be nice to have more than the clothes on my back with me. Still, moving that far away is a nice way to force you to simplify. There’s certainly a lot being left behind.
- I may have a buyer for my iBook. The car is still up for grabs, though.
- Next week, with moving preparations, support raising and my TESL course behind me, I plan to spend lots of time with friends, as well as enjoy having time to study (cram) my Japanese, read some books, relax, reflect and pray before the big move.
I said more than I’d thought I would. It was more of a brain-dump than a news report, though. But anyway, that’s a wrap for this week.
by Whitey | Dec 7, 2007 | Ministry News, Weekly Re-Cap
I’m writing today from my friends’ house in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Here’s some bullet points re-capping the week in life and ministry-related stuff:
- My Certificate of Eligibility arrived yesterday, basically meaning I’ve got the OK to work in Japan.
- Since I finally had my COE, I mailed my visa application this morning. Should be back to me in less than two weeks. Here’s hoping.
- I posted a new podcast last night (see previous post).
- I’ve started the final module of my TESL course. Should be wrapped up by next week.
- I’ve got a quote in my email inbox for a plane ticket to Nagoya (from Bangor ME, through Detroit MI) for a really good price, and I’m pretty sure I’ll book it; it’s got me flying out on the 28th.
- My car is for sale. I’ve also got an Apple iBook G3 for sale, if anyone wants a slightly old but still good laptop computer. Also lots of comics, mostly Marvel, from the 90’s. There’s lots of stuff I’ll need to leave behind, so might as well pawn some off.
- I’m really looking forward to spending Christmas at home and New Years in Japan!
That’s a wrap for this week; see you next time.
by Whitey | Nov 23, 2007 | Weekly Re-Cap
It’s been quiet week in general, but a good week on the support raising front. I’ve had two churches increase their support commitments and one let me know they’re joining the team. I don’t have all the exact numbers yet, but we’re almost there! Now, as long as that paperwork I need for my visa comes in soon enough, it’s Japan by the new year!
by Whitey | Nov 16, 2007 | Weekly Re-Cap
It’s been a pretty good week. Regarding my TESL studies, it hasn’t been as productive as I’d have liked, but I’m hoping to make up for that today by finishing this big assignment I’ve been slowly working through and thus wrapping up module 3. On the support raising front, I’m still having trouble connecting with new contacts, but the support is still rolling in. In fact, I now have less than $9,000 to be raised! Check out the Support Info page for the details.
I’m pretty amazed at how much new support has come in just lately. It seems like all the seeds I planted for the past year and a half are finally starting to bear fruit. I guess that’s how it works, though. People are usually reluctant to commit to something on the spot (and I can’t blame them). And with church budgets, meetings are required before commitments can be made. So it’s taken time for some to jump on board, but jumping they are! Also, churches who couldn’t support me in last year’s budget have started to support me in this year’s budget, and some churches who have been supporting my ministry have increased support.
So… stuff’s happening. It’s looking totally possible that I could have my support raised by December, and maybe even be in Japan by the new year. I just hope the COE and visa processing don’t hold me back when the support’s raised and HQ gives me the go ahead. Let’s pray the timing’s right.
And that’s a wrap for this week. See you next week.
by Whitey | Nov 9, 2007 | Weekly Re-Cap
Another week has come and gone (more or less) and here we are again, wrapping things up with the Weekly Re-Cap. I don’t have too much to report this week (of course, I’ve said that before and written several paragraphs, so maybe I should just scratch that). Support levels have gone up a notch or two, and the good news is I’m out of the teens. I’m pursuing some new contacts, but the bad news is I haven’t gotten anything booked yet. This weekend I’m away doing ministry, but it’s not a team building thing, though one never knows what might happen.
I’m really looking forward to the day when these Re-Caps can be about what I’m learning and what God’s doing rather than all about support raising. On the other hand, God’s doing stuff in the here and now; maybe I just need to pay more attention.
Meanwhile, hits to the blog were up this week. My anime post from the other day got me some unexpected extra traffic. Maybe I need to do more writing here that’s not directly related to my ministry. This could be a good place to digest and memorialize what I’m learning about life, culture, Japan and so on… So yeah, hopefully I can get into the habit I’d planned on: Monday, Wednesday and Friday posts, every week. More when I’m in Japan — if there’s time.
I guess that’s a wrap.
