MERRY CHRISTMAS from Tohoku!

Me as Santa-san!

We have had several Christmas activities over the past few weeks. But my favorite one was last week. On Friday two of my coworkers and I got into the car to give presents to various kids that we have been working with. Since most of these kids don't know me very well, I had the great pleasure of dressing up as Santa. It was a first for me but it was a blast. We visited seven families that day. I would ring the bell my coworkers would hide around the corner as I sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas. The kids would either hide behind their parents or stare at me very confused. One even freaked out saying "Santa-san is here, Santa-san is here!" Overall it was a success.

After four Christmas services and three Christmas parties in 48 hours, I am officially pooped. As one of my friends put it "we have truly celebrated Jesus' Birthday this year." I hope that you all had and continue to have a very Merry Christmas. Eat some delicious pie for me.

Love,
Katie

Cars, Emails, & Presence

Volunteers for a Christmas Party
in temporary housing

Last Friday three of us went to Ishinomiyaki to deliver some information about the upcoming General Consultation. We planned to go to four different people’s houses. But after spending two and a half hours at one women’s house we soon realized that it was not going to happen as we planned.

We frequently visit people in the various cities around the Tohoku region so that we can give them information about upcoming events. It seems that every week we are going somewhere else. Sometimes I dread getting in the car. I think "well we could just save money and time if we sent the information by email or mail." When we arrive we go to someone’s house, or meet them in a coffee shop, or a church. We small talk for a little and I wonder why we don’t just get to the point, drop of the information and head back to Sendai maybe even arrive at a decent hour. I know I am heartless.

But Friday as we sat at Maria’s house the true purpose of our meeting came to light. She told us hilarious stories of her kids, why she came to Japan, problems that she has had, and ideas that she has for the future.  We are there not only to inform but to listen and share. We talk about the triumph and struggles that we have had. We laugh with each other until I think we are going to burst. That Friday I realized that the purpose of our trips is about relationship; it is about sharing something of ourselves’ with one another; it is about being present with that person at that time. The name of this project is “Let Us Walk Together.” We are not here to just give things and leave. We are here to walk with each other in the recovery process and more importantly in the journey of life. 

 

Shota is taught how to make yakisoba
like a professional.

Add caption

English class students singing to
Christmas Carols in temporary housing.

Thanks for tuning in,

Katie

Earthquakes, Snowball fights, & Humility

This past Friday, while we were preparing for the following days stress management program, there was an earthquake. We were on the 6^th floor of the building so the quake was a lot scarier than it would have been on the ground floor. Besides being shaken up a bit we were alright.Thank you for your concerns.

Marian, a study abroad student from the Philippines, and I were in charge of the children’s program. We played dozens of games, made Christmas cards, Marian taught Tagalog (national language of the Philippines), and of course we played in the snowed that accumulated over the 48 hours.

I have learned never to start a snow ball fight with kids that actually get snow in the winter. Playing in the snow with these kids was slightly terrifying. I was also reminded about how humbling kids can be. Any time I spoke poor Japanese the kids were on the floor laughing at me. Maybe I should hangout with 7 and 8 year olds more often. They don't cut me any slack. Beside the occasional joke in my direction the kids were wonderful. 

One of the best things about the people I work with is that they love to share what they know about the world. There are also four nationalities represented in the office. So I get to learn about all the cultures and countries they come from. I learn about the problems that arise in those countries. For example why people leave their homes and go to a place where they don't know the culture, the language, or anyone there.

When I first came to japan I was under the impression that foreigners come here for work but that is not always the case. Many of the women we have encountered through this work originally came to Japan as mail-ordered brides. They chose that route in life because they had very few other choices. They came to Japan in hopes to have a better future, hopefully after marrying get a job to help support their family back in their countries. Once they get here they soon realize that it is harder than they expected. The husbands need a wife to take care of their ailing parents, or to bear their children or to take care of their households. There are also many cases of domestic abuse in these relationships. Sometimes they live in the country so they are completely isolated from people and are unable to leave the bad situations they are in.

Before the program  many of these foreign women did not know that there were others from their country living near by. They lacked support and community where they really needed it. That is part of the reason we have these stress management programs. Its not only to help them recover emotionally from the disaster but also for them to build a support system.  The more I am around these the more I am amazed their strength. 

Please keep these women and their families in your prayers. 

Thank you for tuning in,

Katie 

Reunions, Workshops, & Tests

Well hello there!

I am trying this new thing where I post a blog once a week. Its revolutionary, I know. All that to say please tune in every week. 

The weekend of Thanksgiving I was able to visit an old friend of mine from Camp Quarterman (my church camp back home) who is currently stationed outside of Tokyo. I haven’t seen my friend, Andrew, in 5 years. Needless to say we had loads to catch up on. Andrew and his wonderful wife were perfect hosts. We spent the weekend eating American food (that I don’t normally get to eat), watching movies, decorating their apartment for Christmas, and touring Tokyo. It was a nice to have a little bit of home here in Japan. 

English Development workshop

I started the English Teachers Developments training this past month. We had two of the planned 5 sessions so far. During the workshop we focused on classroom management, mainly how to get the kids attention and keeping them on task. Starting in January I will have regular English lessons with these women. Living in Japan they don’t get many opportunities to speak in English so that have lost a lot of what they learned before. I will try my best not to give them a Texas accent but I cannot guarantee it. 

Japanese Santa in a
shopping center.

Last Sunday we took our Japanese Proficiency test that we have been dreading for months. I think that most of my fellow classmates did well but we all agreed that it was difficult. Thankfully it is over. Next week we are having a meeting on how we will continue the class. Now that the test is over we can study Japanese at a slower pace. yippee!!!!

This weekend we have another stress management program. I am in charge of the program for the kids. There will be 19 kids coming this weekend. Luckily one of the study abroad studies who volunteers with us from time to time is helping out as well. The kids are all half Japanese and half Filipino. Which means that most of them speak only Japanese, some maybe speak Tagalog, and a few might know a few words in English. It should be interesting…

That is all that I have to report for now. I hope that you are all having a wonderful start to Advent!

My wonderful tour guides and I in
Tokyo. And yes Tokyo does have a
mini-version of the Statue of liberty.

God's Peace,

Katie