Snow Ball Fight

With a predicted high of 35 degrees Fahrenheit, the indoor temperature was sure to be even colder along the unregulated hallways.  The prospect of sitting outside the classroom for 45 minutes was not a cheery one as I considered the second period one-on-one reading test that would occur.  As I approached the entrance to first year class 7, I was relieved to see the dear OL (Office Lady), whom I regard as a friend, setting up a heater per my earlier request.  I tried to express my heartfelt gratitude, for I knew that the kerosene heater was heavy.  I made a mental note to bring my own light weight electric heater for the remaining test periods in the week to come.

As I entered first year class 7, I noticed several coats dripping with snow and gloves that appeared covered with a layer of ice.  "What have you been up to?"  I asked no one in particular.  No one bothered to answer as they crammed as much information into their brains as possible before the test began.

As the students came out, one by one to read to me, many seemed grateful for the heater and scooted their feet closer to it. I noticed several without socks.  I asked one young man where had his socks gone.  He replied, "They got wet."  

When the bell rang and second period ended, the team teacher for this class, Ms. K, approached me with the written tests she had collected.  "You may have noticed many students were wet," she reported, "Apparently they were playing in the snow.  Several students' dripped water on their test papers.  They asked for new ones, but I didn't think you had enough extras and I think they're still legible."  It bewildered me that an entire class of 32 students could have gotten themselves soaked through with snow before the lunchtime free period.

When the 2:50 afternoon bell sang out that it was cleaning time, I trudged towards the chapel, key in hand.  As I approached, I saw the boys from first year class 6, the students who were my cleaning charge, throwing balls of snow at one another.  And in their midst, I beheld the petite figure of Mrs. T, dodging and throwing with them.  The puzzle was solved.

I bent down before anyone saw me, scooped up a handful of snow and threw it right at first year class 7's home room teacher.  And thus I joined the battle.

Volunteering in Ishinomaki

From August 14-16 I volunteered with three friends (from Kanazawa Baptist Church) in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture.  This area was afflicted by the March 11, 2011 tsunami disaster.  Here is a summary account of the experience.

First, I want to share a story about what happened on Tuesday night (Tuesday morning EST).  At around 10:20pm (9:20am EST), as 3 of us (Lightson, Mika, and I) were headed to catch the night bus in Kanazawa, our friend Tomoko, who was traveling by night bus from Toyama (a different location), texted me saying she had missed her bus and was chasing after it.  Images of movie car chase scenes flooded through my mind and it was hard not to laugh at this stressful situation.  She asked me to pray.  A minute later my phone vibrated with a new email and it was the Grace Point Prayer chain forwarding my request for prayer for our trip (Grace Point is my home church in SC).  10 minutes later Tomoko texted me that she had managed to catch up with the bus and was now safely on her way to Miyagi Prefecture.  I can't help but think that we weren't the only ones praying at that moment, so I earnestly thank those of you who prayed for our trip for your prayers.

Our three days in Ishinomaki flew by and I feel that the people there blessed us more than we could have possibly blessed them.  On Wednesday we pulled weeds for a lady, Mrs. S.  Then she had us all over to her home for lunch (a rare invitation in Japan).  That evening we were invited into her friend Mr. O's home for an elaborate cookout with food like cow tongue and preserved whale meat.  While Mrs. S and her husband had survived the tsunami and managed to rebuild their home, Mr. O, who lives in a shared house, lost his whole family.

Thursday and Friday we worked on cleaning up a beautiful Japanese home so that the carpenters could come in and rebuild it.  We did various tasks: tearing down walls, pulling out rusty nails, vacuuming up endless tsunami dust, power washing, etc.  I'm very thankful for the skills that Dad had taught me (how to use hammers, pliers, and saws) and Mom had taught me (how to use a broom, dust pan, and vacuum cleaner) while I was growing up.  I'm sure neither of them ever dreamed I'd one day be a part of a project to restore an old Japanese home, I know I didn't.  Our volunteer leader, Stephen (who works with Ishionomaki Christian Center (ICC), the partner organization of Grace Mission Tohoku (GMT)) told us that it was very rare to mud-out a house these days since it's already been two years since the tsunami.  It took the owner this long to decide he wanted to rebuild.

I asked Stephen why people want to rebuild their lives in Ishinomaki.  After all, if it were me, I wouldn't want to move back to a place that had been destroyed by a tsunami.  He said, many people have no place else to call home, and others, even if they want to move, can't afford to.

We worked alongside the full-time staff and volunteers from other churches in Japan.  There was a group from a church in Tokyo that included several Koreans, and a group from a Brazilian church in Nagoya.  I had the challenge of speaking Japanese to non-native Japanese speakers since I can't speak Korean or Portuguese!  The devotions and sharing times were translated in Japanese, English, and Portuguese, which made for interesting gatherings.  It is so great to see people from various backgrounds working together to help.

I wish we could have stayed longer.  We prayed with and for the long term staff members based at ICC/GMT before we left on Friday.  I'm so happy to have been a part of this ministry and hope I can return to help them in the future.  I urge you to continue to pray for Ishinomaki and Christians there and all over Tohoku.

Top Left -- Working on the house Left to Right: Sergio (Brazilian Church team), Stephen (ICC staff), Lightson, Tomoko, Allyson, and Mika.

Top Right -- In front of the beautiful old house that we hope will be restored.

Bottom Left -- Pulling out stuck sheet rock and dirt from the cracks.

Bottom Right -- The man in the center, with the blue and white striped, collared shirt and khaki pants is the owner of the house.  We were able to pray with him.  He has started producing a quarterly newsletter called "Rolling Press" that includes stories of the volunteer work that has been happening in Ishinomaki.  He gave us each a copy.

Photos taken by Hajime Abe (Pastor) who leads a small house church in Ishinomaki.

Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord

I have been back in Japan for nearly 11 months.  1 year and 16 days ago I was offered this position.  This was a definite call from God as He threw the door wide open providing more than I realized.  What has become especially important to me are the people in my life.  As always, God surrounds me with people to encourage me and also people who need encouragement from me.  I have a church that provides the home and family affection I need, I have coworkers who are more than willing to help me as I deal with the ever frustrating fact that I am illiterate in this country, and I have students who unashamedly say, "I love you!" in the halls.  In addition, God has connected me with people who are more distant in relation to my work and church.  In this way, I have felt like I have been able to immerse myself into this community.

It is still my hope, for God to open the hearts of those around me and call them to him.  For Him to use me, giving me the words to speak or right course of action to take.  It's not easy, and those who seem open to Christianity, have a part of themselves closed to anything more than simple acceptance of us.  I don't want my God to be the God of a foreign people group in the eyes of the Japanese.  I want Him to be real to them.

As I sit here in the office on this day of torrential downpour typing this, I look upon the sleeping face of my coworker, my junior here in terms of arrival.  He serves on the religion committee with me as the only non-Christian.  My heart goes out to him and my other coworkers.  What will my Lord have me do?

Delicious Indian food made by my friends on Sunday.

A new acquaintance braving Friday's torrential downpour in order to hail a taxi.

Kanazawa Bay when I drove up there last Tuesday.

Anticipating the Sakura

The weather is being quite fickle.  The Japanese have a saying, 「三寒四温」(san kan shi on).  It means "three days cold, four days warm."  This is how the weather has been for the last few weeks.  The constant changing led me to have a bout of hay fever earlier this month.  But, spring is a wonderful season: full of new life and, especially, flowers!

The plum blossoms are already blooming and the sakura (cherry) blossoms are budding (some varieties have already begun to bloom).  They are all expected to be in full bloom by the second or third week of April.  I'm so excited!  This is my first spring in Kanazawa.

On Tuesday I went to a local park and community center with some friends.  One of my friends took this picture of my chasing after a basketball (note: basketball in boots is not a good idea).  You can see a pink glow to the tree in the background.  It has sakura buds.  The whole river (behind the tree) is lined with sakura trees.  Most of the city has them, and so basically the whole city will turn pink for a few weeks!  

I'm very excited.  I might even get to go 「花見」(hanami) or "flower viewing" with some friends.  It's a popular tradition in Japan to go and appreciate the view of the sakura blossoms in the spring.  Popular viewing sites will be crowded with people picnicking under the trees.  When my mom visited me in Okayama in 2011, we went to many places to enjoy the cherry blossoms.

This week is Passion Week, or Holy Week.  It is the week Christians focus on the days leading up to Christ's death.  Today is Maundy Thursday.  I recently found out that "maundy" is derived from the Latin word "mandatum" meaning "mandate" or "command."  

On Thursday, Jesus Christ gave his disciples this command, "And now I give you a new commandment: love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34 GNT).  

This is the commandment that all who trust in Jesus Christ as the Son of God live by.  (For more on this, visit The Presidential Prayer Team blog post for Maundy Thursday).  

Unconditional love is something many people have never experienced.  Seek each day to show others love with no strings attached, expecting nothing in return except approval from your Heavenly Father.

~GO TO THE ANT, dear readers~

The Rabbit Arrives!

My friend Chitose Taguchi and I (in Kanazawa)

2011 is the year of the rabbit! My mother is a rabbit. My father is a rooster. According to the Chinese zodiac paper placemats that I used to read when I would go to Chinese restaraunts the rabbit and rooster should never marry. I read that and have never given the Chinese zodiac any credible thought since. I mean, sure, my parents have their differences, but their love for Christ has always been strong. Plus, my sisters and I are absolutely gorgeous (at least I think so). So, I that shows a great combination of genes, right?

Anyway, I'm sure you're wondering how I spent Christmas and New Year's Day.

Well, I was very disheartened that Santa Claus didn't leave anything for me (has to be because I don't have a chimney, right?). Christmas evening was lively though. I had three single girl friends over for a supper of ham, chicken wings, mixed vegetables, scalloped potatos, and cupcakes. The cupcakes, unfortunately, tasted slightly like they'd been barbequed due to the fact that I burned the butter in the icing. We ate them anyway. To be honest, cakes here are not as sweet and fluffy as cakes back home. I used a cake mix for the cupcakes, but maybe I should have made them from scratch (like I have that kind of time!).

These are the lovely ladies I spent Christmas with (left to right): Laura, Yumiko, Eri, and me.

The day after Christmas the English Bible study (MEETS) had a Christmas potluck. My coworker Tim came with his wife and his parents (who were visiting for a month over the holidays). It was a fun time of good food and fellowship.

I left on December 30th for my New Year's vacation. I stopped in Kyoto for 5 hours and went up the Kyoto Tower and toured a nearby temple and dined on some good okinomiyaki (it had squid in it! YUM!). Then I got on a train and headed north again to my final destination: Kanazawa.

Kanazawa is the place I stayed for 2 months during summer 2005 with the Taguchi family. I also went there in July 2010 to see my friend Ayumi before she left for America (she spent New Year's with my family and I with hers, how fun!). The other 5 children (the Taguchi family has 6 children and 3 grandchildren) were all home during that time. I had plenty of opportunity to practice my Japanese. I didn't know I even knew enough to carry on a conversation!!! I visited Kenrokouen (a famous garden park) and took photos of the snow. I went to a temple called Ninja Dera because it has lots of secret traps and such. I also went to a foot onsen (which is a hot spring). Boy, that water was so HOT! I'm so glad it wasn't a full body. I had yakiniku 3 times during my stay (that's like a meat based meal with several types of grilled meat).

On January 5, I left Kanazawa and headed to Osaka. I spent the night in a hotel in Osaka (I didn't do the capsule hotel because it was very far from the station, this hotel was difficult to find and it was very close!). The next morning I went to a shrine that took me over an hour to get to (because I got confused, Osaka is HUGE). I wanted to go there because it's a shrine that is from like 700AD with Japanese style design, not the Buddhist style influence. I also went to Osaka Castle (which the inside is a big museum dedicated to Hideyoshi who built the castle and is a hero/monster of a man in history). So, when I finally arrived back home the night of the 6th I was tuckered out. I had a very relaxing vacation in Kanazawa but wore myself out in Osaka (I suppose I was a bit foolish, huh?).

Top: Kenrokoen Garden (considered one of the top 3 in Japan by the Japanese) covered in snow.

Middle: Ninja Dera - looks like it's 2 stories, but actually 4! (and one floor is hidden because building regulations at the time forbade temples to be taller than 3 floors).

Bottom: Foot hotspring - It's REALLY hot!!!

Anyway, since then classes have begun in full swing. We've lost a few students, which isn't good. We will begin a new campaign (where we leave flyers with special coupons in people's mailboxes) starting Tuesday. So, please pray that more students will come.

Also, Sunday night I will be performing my clarinet and giving my testimony at Kurashiki Church. This church has an evening service every week, but this week they decided to have the young people of the church lead it. So instead of a sermon, 3 people are giving testimonies (incuding me). Thankfully, this lovely girl is going to translate for me (I emailed it to her in advance) so I won't have to speak it in Japanese. Below is the testimony I plan to share:

Allyson’s Testimony - Sunday, January 23, 2011

Hello, my name is Allyson Randall. I am from America and am 22-years-old. I arrived in Japan on May 28, 2010. I work as an English teacher at Agape English School in Shin Kurashiki.

I grew up in a Christian home and have claimed Jesus Christ as my Savior since I was a child. Growing up, all my friends were Americans. When I became friends with people from other countries, they usually could speak English. I was used to being surrounded by people who believed in my God and spoke my language.

Coming to a foreign country is very difficult. Especially if you come alone, and live alone and stay for many months. I live in an apartment by myself. I have to do all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry by myself--things that I hate doing and can’t do very well. This is the first time I have ever lived alone. At first, it was fun and exciting, but living alone can become really scary. When I hear a sudden noise or the doorbell rings and I don’t recognize the person standing outside, I am a little afraid.

When I encounter people in stores, restaurants, and other places I visit, I realize that I am not understood. Most people only speak Japanese. I only understand a little Japanese. If I need help, I find communicating very difficult and sometimes embarrassing.

Despite being alone at home, and embarrassed when I shop, the truth is that I am not alone. Everyday when I go to work I am with coworkers and students. On Sundays, I attend church and have met many people through various church activities. Many wonderful people who, even if they can’t understand me, care about me.

God is always with me. When I get scared in my apartment, I find comfort in Him. When a shop clerk understands my question, I thank God for allowing understanding. And when the Christians I’ve met come by to check on me, feed me, and invite me to events, I remember that I am with my family. As a Christian, all other Christians are my brothers and sisters. Wherever I go, as long as there are people who follow Christ, I am with my family.

So, even though I get lonely and scared, God has never left me. God says (in Genesis 28:15), “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Catch Up

So last weekend I went to Kanazawa to visit old friends. My friend Ayumi left last Wednesday for Anderson to study for 6 months church music and English. I hope she'll have a good experience there. While in Kanazawa, I went to the Origami Museum in Kaga City where there is a microscopic crane on display (you have to look at it through a microscope). Also, we went to the aquarium on an island about 1 1/2 hour drive away. Kanazawa Church's kindergarten had their summer festival Sunday evening so I was able to help out and enjoy that.

Last Wednesday we had our Kids Party Time. We originally had planned to have it in June but didn't get enough response to feel like it would be good so we cancelled and rescheduled. We had 13 children, 8 were from our school. They made crafts, played games, and were read the story of Jesus Christ, for some, perhaps most of them, this was their first time to hear about Him.

On Thursday I taught the SORA class alone. It went very well, the kids cooperated nicely. I really enjoyed it.

Friday Cindy's friends Paul and Violette visited for lunch. They are a missionary couple on the other side of Okayama. They're very nice people.

On Sunday, I went to Kurashiki Church and met a man from Canada who goes there. Afterwards, I attended this free concert that I passed by. There were a pianist, clarinetist, and singer. The clarinetist also sang. It was actually the sound of the clarinet that attracted me. I've never felt truly worthy of playing the clarinet, but the sound of it when I hear it in someone else's capable hands captures me and I'm entranced. Oh, and do you know how sometimes you see someone and you're certain he/she looks VERY familiar, like you've met them before, or you've seen them on more than one occasion? Well, the man who was seating people for this concert and giving them cold tea was just such a person to me. I sat there searching my memories to figure out how I know him, and I came up with NADA!!! He sang one song too. He's got a good voice. He didn't seem to recognize me and said "Thank You" in English when I left. If I meet him again, I can say "Hey, you sang at that concert, nice voice." Of course, I'll have learned to say that in Japanese by that point.

So, this week is a full week! I basically have a full class load except maybe one, and then next week I'm on my own, with a new class (two sweet little girls ages 2 and 4, I think).

Thanks for your prayers! Remember, you can always ask me a question and I'll post the response on here.