"This moment, I love."

Monday night, I had a great night with my sweet friend Ayaka. After a day at Konan University and 5 Minute English in Sannomiya, I met her for dinner. We went to her uncle's restaurant and I'm telling you, it was the best night I have had here so far. We had a private room and her uncle cooked for us fried cheese, pork, chicken, shrimp, potatoes, and I don't even remember what else. After cooking, he brought his laptop in the room and told me to Google Earth my house.  It didn't really show up well so I googled my church and showed them. It meant so much to me that he wanted to see where I'm from and hear about my family and friends. Their concern and hospitality made me a lot less homesick. When I moved the mouse from America to Japan, Ayaka said "Wow! It is so far away! Thank you for coming!" Afterwards, he googled his house and Ayaka's house and he showed me picture albums of his daughters. We stayed talking and laughing for two hours until it was time for him to close the resturant. The next day we went back to Kansai Gai Dai and I met with my favorite little group- Tsumugi, Shiori, and the Miho's. We have plans to go to an aquarium in the next few days. Monday when we were at Konan, Jenna and I were going to meet with some of her friends she had met the time before. We were talking with them when I noticed the cross neckace one of the girls was wearing. We asked her what it meant and spent the next few minutes explaining. She was very interested and asked a lot of questions. Today we went shopping and had lunch with the two girls and have lunch plans with them for tomorrow. It is fun to watch the way God works things out. For example, yesterday we were doing Five Minute English in the rain. I was with Ciara, we were getting nothing but strange looks. My legs were swollen with mosquito bites and my mood was less than cheerful. John Ray and Jenna were prayer walking and they passed by and asked what they could pray for. I told John Ray to pray for my mood and I was silently praying for someone to stop. A man walked by on a cell phone and I prayed that he would turn around. That instant I kid you not, the man turned around. I prayed next that he would stop. The man stopped. I was getting excited and next I said "Lord, if it's Your Will, let this man come and talk to me." He stayed talking on the phone for a few minutes and then like I knew he would, he came and he talked the me. The power of prayer like I have never experienced before. He seemed interested and He took a "Steps to Peace with God." He's working, guys. A few minutes ago, I got an email from a friend I met a few weeks ago. I assumed she had forgotten or didn't care, but I was wrong. She wants to meet this week. God's plans far exceed my expectations. Thank for your prayers and know that God is working.
I want to close with this. The night I was with Ayaka, she stopped suddenly, grabbed my arm and said "This moment I love." This summed up my feelings for the past seven weeks. This moment, I love.

Dr. Pepper and Pop Rocks

"He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul." Psalm 32:2-3 is a good description of our activities of the past week. Monday we held a 4th of July party and then left out early Tuesday morning for our Intern Retreat and we arrived back home Thursday night. These verses remind me so much of the Seelen family. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He doesn't advise, or encourage, He makes. This wonderful family I am working with this summer is so dedicated to their mission and so enthusiastic and hard working every single day that I am glad the Lord provides opportunities of rest and retreat where He  makes us lie down and rest.
Monday was our 4th of July party at Suma Beach. It was the Seelen's homeschool party as well as a time for our Japanese friends we have made to get together. We spent the morning preparing the food and packing everything up to go. Tents, grill, decorations, etc. Because I like to think that I am the next Paula Dean, I absolutely loved the time in the kitchen that morning helping prepare the food. There's nothing like wearing red white and blue, making potato salad and listening to Lee Greenwood while you're in Japan. I've never felt so at home on the other side of the world. We had been praying the the rain would hold off as there was a 60% chance all day. We arrived early to set up and spent some time on the beach before our guests arrived. My friends Ayaka and Yuri were supposed to come but they would be a little later because Ayaka had a big exam that afternoon. The party started to die down and the rain started to come and Ayaka and Yuri were nowhere to be found. I began to pray/panic and was very excited when my phone rang and they were almost to the beach. Jenna and I went to meet them and fixed them a plate of food. They had traveled two hours to come to this party and had to eat in the rain while everyone was beginning to leave. Something about that doesn't settle well with Southern hospitality so after talking to Mrs. Teresa and Jenna we decided it would be best to invite them over to our house after the party. They brought their friend Mickey and they all came to the house. We talked, sang and danced and they had their first taste of Dr. Pepper, cookie dough, and pop rocks. I gave them each a ring pop and they almost cried. They said they had seen them advertised on tv but couldn't buy them in Japan. When I told them to open them up and eat them they gasped and said ''Oh no, we can't eat it, we will save it forever!"
The first event of our retreat was going to Soba village and making our own Soba to eat. After we made it, we went in a room and waited for them to bring our Soba out to eat. We said the blessing and a few minutes later, one of the kitchen ladies came up to our table with a huge smile on her face and told Hannah "I am Christian." She folder her hands, bowed her head and said "Yes, I believe, I believe." This was amazing and definitely was a good boost of encouragement for the day. Later we made it to our cabin and had spaghetti and smores and good ol round of Catch Phrase. The next morning we woke up and went to Tottori to the sand dunes. If I never go to Egypt, I'll be okay with that. Climbing up that sand dune, I felt like I was there. It was beautiful. Afterwards, a few of us rode camel which for me, just made the day. I had a two hump camel from Mongolia named Cherry. He had to wear a mask though because he had a bad spitting habit according to the our guide. I leaned closer to his face to take a picture and he flung his head back and jerked. I guess he didn't like that very much. Afterwards, we went to a beautiful cave, like nothing I have ever seen before. I am doing a horrible job of describing it because I just don't know how. Absolutely gorgeous. Because I lack in balance and coordination about as much as height, I found a pretty little rock about half way in and planted myself until everyone had climbed all the way through. We then spent some time on the beach and headed back to the cabin. The day before was Hannah's birthday so we had cake and icecream and played a mean game of Sharades. I've never been one to play games, but I think that may be changing, and well, I don't hate it.
This next week, I hope to get back in the groove of things and continue our harvesting work. It was nice to have a break, but I'm ready to get back doing work. Thank you all for your continued prayers and encouragement.

Happy Days.

Earlier in the week Kane, Ariel and I got to eat dinner with one of our Japanese friends from Southern Miss. He is from Tokyo but was in Osaka for a few days, so he called and we met up and ate with him. We went to a really good Japanese buffet where you have 90 minutes to eat as much as you want, or can. It was very good and lots of fun. I put a bit of pasta salad on my plate and was surprised when I saw the octopus legs that I originally thought were noodles. People have varying views on strange foods in foreign countries, and I would like to share mine. Now, I am a huge believer in ''Follow where He leads, swallow what He feeds,'' however, when one has the choice between eating octopus and fish paste or rice and chicken, I see absolutely nothing wrong in sticking with what you know.  People don't become more righteous by eating fermented soy beans. (Steps off soapbox.)
Next thought. Tuesday night, Ariel and I went to eat sushi with our sweet friends Shiori, Tsumugi, Ana, Nao, and Miho. Great conversation soon struck, and we have good leads on a couple of them. I am soon to start weekly Bible study with Miho. She is excited, which makes me more excited. Wednesday, I went to Harborland in Sannomiya with my dear friend Yuko. This is the one who told me my Japanese was terrible. In an effort to get some kind of compliment, I memorized the days of the week and recited them to her. She just laughed at me. It was worth a shot. :) She made us a Japanese lunch box with chicken, steak, egg, sausage, unidentifiable foods, and salmon rice balls which happen to be my all time favorite. After eating and hanging out for a while, I had to get back for workshop that started that afternoon. Charlie's friend Joseph who pastors a church in Osaka spoke to us. He was very encouraging and it was a great message to have halfway through the summer. Afterwards, Teresa cooked mexican for our usual ''Wednesday night home cooked meal.'' She does a great job of making us feel as home. After we ate, Mark told me to go put tennis shoes on and meet him outside. Immediately, I knew where this was going. Bike riding lesson #2. Poor Mark, he's being so patient. I'm just not getting it.
Thursday, we went to Konan and then 5 Minute English in Sannomiya. I was partnered with Drew and we went to a spot that was very successful for me the time before. Twenty minutes passed. Nothing. The thought popped in my head that we are at the same place doing this same thing on the same days. People generally have set schedules that they follow each day so it just makes sense that at least some of the people walking by have seen us before. And of those people, we can infer that at least a few of them have wanted to stop but were too busy, nervous, afraid... So, I began praying to myself that the Lord would send me someone who had seen us before and wanted to stop, but finally decided to today. I prayed this for a few minutes until a middle aged woman came up to me smiling. She said ''Is the practice really free? I have seen your signs before, but I have never stopped. I have wanted to, but I just decided to stop today.'' Mmmhmm, perfectly orchestrated. It was beautiful. After a big smile of satisfaction and amazement, I not-so-gracefully picked my chin up off the floor, and tried to answer her question. Her name is Yuko, (popular name) she took my card and is supposed to call me next week. If I get a call or not, God answers prayer, this I know. Sometimes in cool ways just to show us He can.
Today we went to Kansai Gai Dai and I had lunch with precious little Ayaka. Now I know I am calling each Japanese that I meet ''precious'' because they all are but let me tell you something, it's different with this girl. I mean, I am already preparing myself for the tears that will come the day I have to leave her. The first time I saw her she was smiling and laughing with her side pony tail and bright yellow leggings like she had just popped right off of Saved by the Bell. Right then, I knew we would be friends. When we first met her, the California team was here and several of those girls really reached out to her and made a huge impression on her. Today we were just talking, I was letting her lead but prayerfully waiting for a plug. When she started talking about boys, I thought we would get nowhere. She asked if I would ever like a Japanese boy. I told her that I did not have a problem with that, but he would have to be a Christian because that is what matters to me. She knows we are Christians, so the fact that she continually wants to see me instead of running away is an accomplishment in itself. I continued and told her that I really don't worry about having a boyfriend though because Jesus is in control of my life and He gives me what I need. I told her that He will give me a good boyfriend if that is what He wants me to have. She perked up and said ''Ooooo, He does that because He loves you?'' I was so excited she was getting it. She then asked, ''So you don't have to worry about anything because you know He will take care of it?'' I said ''yes, that is exactly right.'' She grabbed my hand, and said ''You are very dear to me.'' Hearing that was better than the first time I saw the scene in Forrest Gump when he meets little Forrest  and asks Jenny ''Is he smart?'' Chill bumps and tears, chill bumps and tears. She said she wants to learn more about the Bible, so I asked her if she wanted to start meeting to study together. She kind of backed away and said that she was very busy. I looked at her and said that it was no problem at all. I told her that if she did decide to study, she did not have to become a Christian. Hearing that is just what she needed. She smiled and said, ''yes, I will study with you.'' She then hugged me and said ''Thank you for telling me about Bible but not pressuring me to be Christian.'' Y'all. I love her. Pray for her, her name is Ayaka. I want everyone of you to see her, I can't tell you how cute she is. Tomorrow, I am going to the mall with my friend Saki. I just love her too. Great days are happening here.
I'm tired. Matane. (See you later) :)

Shrimp. Onion. Bell Pepper. Repeat.

Maybe it's because as a teenager I would have much rather read a Southern Living magazine than Seventeen. Or maybe because being home with my parents was much more appealing than a highschool football game. My cookbook collection, my love for Branson, Missouri and my bladder medication as well as the above can attest to the fact that I am (and have always been) an old lady living in the wrong body. I've always had a huge heart for the elderly (possibly because I feel as though I fit in best with them) so while in Japan I have been looking for some way in which I could specifically minister to this select group of people. I talked to Mrs. Teresa a little bit about the elderly in Japan and she said that they are often forgotten about. This didn't settle well with me in the least bit and unless the problem is solved, I hope it never does. I began sharing with her my desire to help and serve in this fashion. She immediately perked up and said ''Oh, well you need to go with the Southaven team to the Daycare Center!'' In Japan, nursing homes are called ''Daycare Centers''  and it just so happened that our volunteer team from Boulevard Baptist Church in Southaven was going to the center to host a barbecue, play bingo and sing for the residents. I was so excited, I could't wait. The building was small and quaint and I believe they have about eight or nine residents at the present time. James, a member of the Southaven team, is a master barbecue man so we were all in for a treat. He grilled chicken (with Rendevouz BBQ sauce) and shrimp shiskabobs. I helped him prepare the food in the kitchen, cutting bell peppers and putting the food on the skewers for the shishkabobs. Shrimp. Onion. Bell Pepper. Shrimp. Onion. Bell Pepper. Shrimp. Onion. Bell Pepper. Afterwards, I was able to spent time with the precious residents. Two of them had birthdays that day so we sang to them and celebrated with cake after lunch. I became especially close to a little lady named Kimi. She is about 4'6'' inches standing straight up, and I easily could have picked her up and taken her home. If I knew how to get back to the center by myself, I would. This is one case where Charlie probably rejoices in my lack of directional knowledge because I'd be camping out on the front steps of that place if I could figure out how to get there. Before I left, Kimi gave me a fan and a cell phone charm. We hugged five times and she had to pull her cute little handkerchief out to wipe her tears each time. Most people want to come back from Asia with babies, I want 86 year old Kimi and all her friends. After they pulled me away, I had a few minutes before I had to head to Sannomiya to meet the rest of the Interns for 5 minute english. I was partnered with Drew this time, and the first forty minutes were completely dead. I started getting real discouraged and honestly, a little mad. A little while later a man walked up to us and said ''Hello, do you know Charlie, I know Charlie.'' We were so excited, and we told him ''yes! we work with Charlie.'' He asked if we were all Christians and I asked if he was. He is and has been for five years. He told us that he knows evangelism is hard in Japan but that we should be encouraged because if we keep trying, the people will come. While he was talking, two girls came up and stood behind him. He saw them, smiled and said ''Go ahead, get to work'' as he walked away. Thank you Lord for encouragement from Japanese brothers and sisters in Christ. Friends, to God be the glory, great things he has done.

Overload.

Overload. This is what happens when you don`t blog for a week. Whew. Well, Tuesday Teresa took me to the hospital to get my ankle checked out. They took a lot of x-rays and determined that i had a pulled ligament or something like that. I never really liked to play outside as a child so all of this swollen ankle and skinned knee business is new for me. I`d much rather have surgery, I know how to do that. Elevate your leg while you sleep, what is that? Weird. At the least, the hospital trip was a great cultural experience. Teresa of course had to fill out all of my paperwork, I was amazed to see that we had to draw a family tree using Japanese Kanji. I`ve never had an x-ray before so it was a little exciting that my first one was in Japan. Wednesdays are rest/personal ministry days which worked out well because I was able to stay off my foot Wednesday as well. Thursday, we all went to Konan University to our friend Sono Sensay`s English classes. I helped lead a less complicated version of the game ``Ships and Sailors.`` Thank you USM Luckyday for all of your icebreaker tricks you have taught me the last few years. I never thought I would need them on the other side of the world. :) At lunch I went to meet my new friend Yuko for an English lesson and Ariel came with me. We went to a coffee shop and had lunch. Yuko is a Junior High School teacher and I`m telling you, it took all of five minutes of talking to her before I just became crazy about her. She is simply precious. Both of her children are in college now so I think being around Ariel and I was refreshing for her. Plus, she had a good time laughing at my attempted Japanese. At one point she bursted laughing and said ``Your Japanese is terrible, but you are very cute.``  Next week she wants to take us to Harborland (not sure what it is) for a picnic. She knows a good bit of English but wants more help and practice. Please pray as we are forming a relationship with this sweet lady. Friday we went back to my favorite campus and I had lunch with my dear friends Shiori and Tsumugi (Smoogy) :) This time, they had a table full of friends who wanted to meet me as well. I think they are all planning to come to our July 4th beach party. In a few weeks I am planning to go home with Shiori and meet her sister and grandmother. I am so excited about that, I just love this girl.

I would now like to interrupt this post with a quick joke:
Knock knock.
Who`s there?
LEE ALLRED!

Yes, this was the week that Tupelo came. Hooray! A hug from Christine and Mrs. Martha is not the same as one from my Momma, but it sure did help. We did five minute english with them a couple of times and today, we held a ``Children`s English Festival`` with them. They have been a great encouragement for all of us but it has been especially nice to spend time with people who have been an influence in your life for as long as you can remember. This week it has been a blessing to come together and do Kingdom work with new friends as well as those familiar faces you`ve known forever. Added to that, Boulevard Baptist Church from Southaven is also here. They have been a great team full of energy and excitement as well. I just love coming together with a group of believers, putting our differences aside, and doing work. You prefer this, I prefer that, well it really don`t matter. There are less than 1% believers in this country. ``It don`t matter`` what we like, let`s be the church, let`s get busy, let`s go.  This makes me so excited that I am almost standing up at the keyboard typing it. Sweet mercy.
As far as struggles and satan`s attacks go, he`s still at it. Which in a way is exciting because it simply means he`s scared. Which, he should be. Good things are happening all around friends, this we know for sure. The enemy has got a stronghold on these people but we can rest assured in the truth that our God is in control. After sharing with my friend Nathan Door (he was an intern last year) some of the struggles that have been facing our team, he sent me this in an email yesterday which really helped boost our spirits.
``All of this can only mean one thing. The enemy is fighting back. And he only fights back when he`s afraid. The fact that he`s so desperate to get you out of there means one thing only: you are meant to be there, and you are needed.`` Amen, brother.
Keep praying to our Father, the Creator God. Be excited about what is happening! Thank you all for being a part. Love you all. No, really.
VBL

Oh, Sunday.

Sundays are a favorite day all around the world. While doing five minute english when we get to the question about their favorite day of the week, 9 times out of 10 they will say Sunday. This Sunday has been a little different though for several reasons. First of all, I am typing this while I sit at a table with my foot soaking in a pot of hot water. Sound odd? I thought so too. It's actually a typical Japanese tradition to  spend Sunday afternoons soaking your right foot in a kitchen pot full of hot water. Okay, okay. I fell and twisted my ankle and now it's the size of  Rhode Island. This morning, I decided to go for a quick little run. On the road there were little dirt piles about every few feet. I thought I would be real cool and jump over them. After jumping the first one, I did in fact feel cool. So, I tried again. Mistake. I tripped on a rock, banged my left knee and rolled my right ankle. I've always kind of felt like a little old woman, so I'm actually okay with walking like one. :) What's funny is that satan is trying so hard to discourage me (and our entire team in every way imaginable) and he's just not going to. Because of this "injury" sweet Mrs. Teresa, recently re-named by me as "Mama T" will not let me leave the house so I have had more time to rest, read and study the Word. Good try, satan. The second odd occurrence of the day (it just took me four tries to correctly spell "occurrence") was that we didn't have house church this morning. Four people were supposed to be baptized at the beach but because of the rain, it was moved to a small cafe. We ate Japanese curry, then they just rolled out the little baptism bath and went at it. Two men, one woman, and a little boy were baptized. One of the men baptized was married to the woman who was baptized and their son was the boy who was also baptized. To top it off, the man is in a wheelchair so the woman baptized her son AND today is her birthday and her and her husband's wedding anniversary. Take a moment to soak that in.
After church we took one of our Japanese friends and her two precious babies home. Then we went to a pharmacy to get some things for my ankle and knee. I have now progressed from the soaking pot to the elevation stage where I am lying on the floor with my foot hiked up on the couch. I am glad two of my team members are nursing majors. I had just planned to throw a bandaid on it and go so my mother would be proud to know they are taking great care of me. Pray for our team. There are a few of us suffering from minor sicknesses/injuries. Also, there are like 12 or so girls living in this house making it an estrogen filled pit of doom at times. We do love each other but sweet mercy, it is only because of the Holy Spirit within us. One time I heard Beth Moore say that you can tell the Spirit is working in your life when you look at someone and think "you know what last year I couldn't stand you, and now you're not too bad." Haha please pray that we have the patience to make it past the frustration. Together we are the Body and we are to work together as one. This is something we all know, though at times it is hard to see each other as a valuable part of the Body instead of a hangnail or a kidney stone.
The California Baptist volunteer team leaves on Wednesday and my boy Lee Allred and the Tupelo crew come in tomorrow night! Woo hoo! One of our teams was asked not to return to Kobe University. God was really working through the contacts that we had made there so we are not too surprised that satan has thrown a hurdle in the way. My team is scheduled to go there tomorrow. Charlie knows a Christian professor there so he is going with us to try to mend the broken relationship and see if we can return to the campus. Please pray. Thank you for remembering us and know that your prayers are being heard and answered by our all powerful Creator God.

Leaving you with lyrics from the song stuck in my head today : "There are tears from the Saints, for the lost and unsaved. We're crying for them come back home, we're crying for them, come back home. Father we will lead them home, Father we will lead them home."

Love you all,
VBL

Never Alone.

This is the end of week two, and we are beginning to really feel the darkness of this beloved country. You know you're doing something right when satan begins attacking you left and right. (Excuse the grammatical error but I cannot stand to capitalize his name. satan is many things but a proper noun is not one of them in my book.) Because this is my first post about Japan, let me give you some basic information about specifics we are doing here for those who may not know. In the mornings, we disperse and go to varying college campuses. We prayer walk for a while, then have lunch in the cafeterias. We separate from one another in an effort to meet Japanese. I know that some of you have been praying specifically that we make many friends and I would just like you to know that our God is answering that prayer more than you could imagine. Because learning English is so desired among these people, many of them are automatically attracted to us. I now know countless Yukis, Yukas, Rikas, and Shioris. A good problem to have. :) At somewhere around 2 o clock, we leave the campus and go Hope Walking. This consists of going throughout neighborhoods and placing "Hope Tracks" in mailboxes. Yes, this is legal here. We pray for the houses as we pass them. The Hope track contains a small mail-in portion where people can receive a free DVD of the Gospel. Within the first few days of our being here, we already received some orders back! Charlie said he has never seen a response so quick. God is moving. At the end of the first week, we hosted and "International Friendship Party" inviting all of our new Japanese friends. Charlie said that for our first party, he honestly was expecting 5-10 Japanese to show, based on his prior experience of hosting this type of event. There were over 30 Japanese. They outnumbered us! Never has this happened before. Don't tell me God is not here. The last event in our typical day is "Five Minute English." We spread out throughout different cities with signs that say in English and Japanese "Five Minute English Lessons." On the back of the sign are basic questions about culture and customs. The goal is to have the person read and answer the questions in English in an effort to have a spiritual conversation if the Holy Spirit leads. Though it may not sound like it, this is usually a fairly successful tool. On the first day of doing this, I met a man whom I later had two one-hour conversations with. He is searching for peace after a close family death and though he thinks he has the answer, he does not. The day before I left, my mom bought me a little book of Scripture by title at Allred's. I had this in my purse while talking with the man, and began using it as a tool to help him "learn English" with hopes that he'd learn a whole lot more (heh heh heh.) He took the book home and met me and Charlie the next week. They began speaking Japanese like crazy so I just sat back and prayed. My friend became very uncomfortable in the conversation as Charlie began to bring the Truth. That was last week, and I have not heard back from him yet. I ask that you pray for this man, that he has been totally miserable since our last encounter and that he would begin to realize what he is missing. Pray that all of satan's efforts to keep him away are bound and that we see this man again. Pray that he receives the peace he has been searching for, the Peace that comes from knowing our Jesus. Yesterday was an especially dark day on the campus as well as doing 5 minute English. When we gathered as a team, I just began to cry for the countless lost in this country. Like He always does, the Spirit comforted me and assured me (because I'm so stinkin' stubborn and constantly need assurance) that I am not alone. "Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." To God be the Glory.