I got a bike (and what that means)

What a feeling; to have the cool wind across my face and my hair blowing behind me! I feel powerful! Yep, that is how I feel riding my "new" bike around my neighborhood in Hachioji City, Tokyo. 

I haven't riden a bike for many years, and so I was repeatedly yelling "Metcha Kowaii" (Which means, "very scary" in Japanese slang) on my first ride home. Over the past 24 hours I've gotten a little more comfortable with the bike and I look forward to not being at all afraid of the ride. 

So what does this mean? First, I think this is a mile stone in my life in Japan because I am now a little bit mobile! Second,  it might means that I fit in just a tiny bit more, because many Japanese ride their bikes everywhere, weaving through pedestrians and other bikers.   

My bike, which doesn't have a name yet!
Any suggestions?

My Life in Panoramas

Upon my arrival in Japan I got an iPhone6.

I've left the dark ages and entered the 21st century! Along with that comes a great camera that has the ability to do fun panorama photos.

I've used panorama to capture many moments and places in the past few weeks. Since pictures are worth 1,000 words, this time I will just share pictures with captions to tell about my new life!

Be sure to scroll to the bottom for an AMAZING surprise! :)

This is the view of my street! My house is the one on the left!
We are so blessed to have our own house (not just an apartments).
I receive mail directly to the house, so if you want to send letters see the "contact me" tab!

I live with an American teammate Carrie, and 3 Japanese girls, Maina, Miyo, and Kanako. Our house is called a "Share House".
There is also a Boy's Share House! This is our first dinner party at the Boy's Share House, called "B Studio".

B Studio in action! The guy's house is called "B Studio" because it is a studio!
They are really talented musicians and it is fun to listen to them!!

Family time!! Each Friday we meet as a Tokyo Staff team in the home of some of our staff!
There are many wonderful kids in our staff family. Here we are singing together.

Last weekend we were able to make a trip into Shinjuku (the "heart" of downtown Tokyo). Here is Godzilla at a theater! 

Dinner with the Roods! Mark and Jin Rood and their kids (L to R, Kayla, Josiah, and Abbie) have been in Tokyo for 14 years!
Carrie and I had a nice dinner with them last week! LOTS of laughs!! 

Last weekend we traveled into downtown Tokyo for a conference called "Working Together".
Students and alumni from BEST clubs all around Japan lead workshops about life and work!
It is a great time for networking! Here, my friend Ryoko is leading a workshop about drawing! She is amazingly talented! 

At the end of "Work Together" we circled up and one person from each BEST club shared about their experience.

Our friends Ryoko and Yuka took my teammates Carrie and Adam and I to a Cat Cafe!
We ate snacks and played with cats for an hour! There were about 12 cats roaming around the cute, Christmas decorated room! 

These are my beautiful housemates, Maina, Carrie, and Miyo (We were missing Kanako)! 

Not a Panorama, but I wanted to show a bit of
what my street looks like! We live a smaller town,
so it is peaceful! 

All my housemates! Top to Bottom: Miyo, Carrie,
Elsa, Kanako, and Maina

Friends!! That snowcapped mountain is MOUNT FUJI! I can see "Fuji-san" from my bedroom window every clear morning!
This has been so incredible!
I wish photos could describe how majestic it is. It reminds me of the presence of God here, and his goodness to us! 

It's Happening

Tonight I'm putting the final items in my suitcase and preparing to go to Japan!

My flight leaves from Roanoke at 9am, and I fly from Los Angeles on Friday afternoon!

I don't really know how to describe all of the emotions I have been experiencing. Recently I read a quote that said "You will feel most tempted to quite when you are closest to your calling."

This has been true for me! I am so excited for what lies ahead! I am thrilled to be reunited with Japanese friends and to make many new friends! At the same moment I am so sad to leave my meaningful relationships here in the US and that makes this extremely difficult. I know that God has called me to Japan and that is what matters the most! Jesus said that if we want to find our lives, we must lose them. So, here I am trying to lose my life for the sake of Jesus.

I'm so excited to keep you all updated on my journey- thanks for your support!