Lately.

When we are four years old, there is no question about what we will do the next year. We're going to kindergarten and that's just the way it is. "Hey sweetie, I need you to start thinking about your plans for next year. There's this thing called school and you can do that or you can stay at home and play all day. Consider what you think would benefit you in the long run when you make this decision. Let me know in a couple of weeks." No. The decision is made for us. The same is true for the transition from sixth grade into seventh, middle school into highschool and highschool into college. Yes, we make important decisions in the mean time, summer plans, which college to attend, etc. But basically the first time in our lives in which a life altering decision is not made for us, usually occurs during college when we're trying to figure out the "right" thing to do afterwards. Because afterall, we were created to do one particular thing for the rest of lives, and if we don't figure out what that is and find a job in that field, we have failed.

Sadly, this was my thought process for a long time.
Gladly, the Holy Spirit has been teaching me otherwise lately.

Louie Giglio summed it up pretty well at Passion 2011 when he said:

"We have spent our lives trying to figure out how to get in the “right” place. There are people perplexed about getting in the right place. ‘How do I know God if I’m in the right place, in the right relationship, is that the right guy, the right girl, is this the right time? Is it this grad school or that program? This degree or that internship? Am I in the right deal right now?’ We’re all paralyzed with ‘What does God want me to do?’ God wants you to carry the right thing all the days of your life wherever you go, that’s what God wants you to do. And that provides some margin and some grace in the decision you make about what you do.”

You see, it doesn't matter what we do, where we go. "Go wherever your passion leads you" Louie said. It makes sense. Because you see as born again believers, our passions are not our own, but they were given to us by our Creator. So as long as we're living for Him, doing what He created us to love doing, we have no worries! Relax (Virginia). We don't have to figure it out! You see the truth is that if we are carrying the name of Jesus in doing whatever we do, there is a lot of grace in whether we get to the "right" place or not. It's so easy to forget that ultimately we're not "in charge" of our lives. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9 Thank you for that, God.

Society makes it so hard to remember that though. There is such an expectation of a "five year plan." Everyone wants to know what you're doing next year, what's after that, and what if that doesn't work out?

"Now you know with that major, you'll have to go to grad school."

"Oh, well what are you planning to do with that degree?"

"When are you getting married?"

"What are you going to do with your life?"

I was venting to a friend on the phone the other night who is going through the same pressure. He jokingly suggested that we start answering these questions by saying "Well, I'm not really trying to live for myself so I really can't answer that right now." Or when asked "So what are you going to do with your life?" answer with "Well you know, I actually plan to do a lot with my life." Sounds funny, but I mean think about it. Yes, I dream of a particular career. But, how sad would it be if that were the only aspiration I had for my life? I pray that the career I end up with is only one way I glorify God with my life. I want to be so much more than a graduate student and employee/psychologist/counselor/whatever else. And what I'm realizing is that to get there, I have to take my eyes off of me.

When I was talking to my friend, he said "Well what is it that you want to do?" I told him that was the problem, I don't really know what I want to do. He really hit home when he said "Well, who are you doing this for?"

Silence.                                                                          

Knowing what the answer should be, I sat in silence for a second realizing the simplicity of it all. All this time I have been worrying about what I was going to do instead of focusing on Who I am doing it for. If Christ is the center of my life, if the Holy Spirit is active in my everyday, then wouldn't it make sense that He would take care of me and put me in the right place?

God promises us that He knows exactly the plans that He has for us. And He doesn't stop there. He tells us that they are good plans. We like these plans. We want these plans. Now how does God place us exactly where He wants us to be if we decide where we go and what we do? How can we choose yet end up where He directs us?

I don't know.

How does He perfectly orchestrate His divine will into my jacked up life?

I don't know. And I don't have to. I'm just so glad He does.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

Gotta Do Better Than Broke Back Jack.

What do boys and electives have in common? I'm equally terrible at picking them.
Thanks to Copiah Academy and Copiah-Lincoln Community College, I came to Southern having already taken 20 hours. Because of this, I've been able to take pretty light semesters, avoid summer school and wrap up this whole "college education" thing in the average goal of 4 years.
Since I had the basics of Math, English and Biology out of the way, I dove straight into my Psychology classes. I'm in my Capstone class now and after that, "Non-Psychology Electives" is the only section of my degree plan that so boldy states "REQUIREMENT NOT MET."
I was so excited signing up for classes at the end of last semester because who wouldn't want a semester full of electives, right? And it would have been a great thing if I had have a brain, that is. Of all the courses offered, I debated all summer which classes I should take. I didn't want some loser "basket weaving" class, I really wanted classes I had minimal skill level in but never had an opportunity to focus in on them. After much consideration, this is what I (so brilliantly) came up with.

Violin Performance
Poetry Writing
Advanced Public Speaking
The Life of Jesus

Let me start my saying that just because you took violin as a child, played in a couple of weddings and love Meryl Streep's "Strings of the Heart" does not mean you need to take a violin class with thirty violin majors from foreign countries. Just because your Speech teacher Freshman year was the most amazing teacher alive, just because he told you your speech was the best he'd heard in two years, and just because you were elected to every position you ran for in high school solely because of your speeches does not in fact guarentee that you will whip through "Hell 101" as the teacher calls it, with no problems. And perhaps the most humorous of all these mistakes, just because you know and love Jesus does not by any stretch of the imagination mean that you should sign up for a "Life of Jesus" class at the University of Liberal. You know each semester you have that one class that you especially dread going to each time it meets? That's how I feel about every single one. But through all of these struggles I face every day from 8-5:05, I am learning new things as well as reinforcing what I knew before. Example: Jesus is not an Avatar. But I believe the most disturbing of them all has been my Poetry class. I mean yes I love the violin, and have a passion for writing/giving speeches but basically I've always thought I was a fantastic poet. I'm finding there's a lot of cold hard truths my mother should have told me a long time ago. But when you write

"I had a horse his name was Jack

I rode his tail to save his back

Woah Jack, don't come back!"

as a six-year old, what are you supposed to think? The first day of class rolls around, and I realize I'm going to have to dig a little deeper than broke back Jack to do well in the class. Our first assignment was to metaphorically draw two objects together who have nothing in common. I decided to sign up in one of the last groups so I could hear what others in the class came up with. I left discouraged every day as the teacher was never truly happy with any poem. One day he said "I don't want you to write about how much you love your baby or your honeypie. It's about chickens on fire people. GET WEIRD."
"Get weird" is all I needed to hear as I've never really had a problem with that. After much thought at the Labor Day lunch table with Mom, Clark, Aunt Judy, Caroline, and Ted Dear, we decided I should just write something down, turn it in, and drop the class as soon as I was able to get into another one. Incase I couldn't, I still had to write a poem as it was due the next day. I shot off ideas at Clark and Caroline as he was playing playstation, she was texting, and I was lying on the couch. An hour or two later, a beautiful comparison of Potatoes and Lady Gaga became the final work. Partly thinking I was going to be thrown out for "not taking the assignment seriously" I stumbled to class the next day. I finished reading and my teacher says "When you start comparing things to Lady Gaga, that's when I know you're really getting it."
I couldn't believe it, completely blew my mind. Of course he also had a deal of constructive criticism to offer but was impressed overall. As was I with his reaction.
Needless to say, I'm staying in the class. All of them actually. In violin I'm sqeaking like a mouse, don't agree with one statement in Relgion, and dread my first speech but I'm being stretched, I'm growing (no, unfortunately not in inches) and that's what really matters.

Scatter-brained update.

Language is a funny thing. You think you're getting the hang of the little bit of Japanese that you know, and then your friend (graciously) laughs in your face when you say "scary" when you meant "cute" or "rice ball" when you meant "hello." Or, you're having a conversation with a friend about the crime rate where you are from and suddenly she has a confused look on her face and says "Okay, but is it hot or cold?" Embarrassed, you laugh as you realize that she said "climate" not "crime rate."
Or, when you accidentally insult your friend's job because you thought he said his work was "boring stuff" when he said "bowling staff." And my favorite one, you become utterly confused when receiving directions to your friends house as she says "cross the street and then you will see the injection." Better known as "intersection."
These funny little mishaps add a nice touch of humor to our long, exhausting days. At times, I would hop on a plane tonight and at other times, I feel like I could stay for years. The Lord is sustaining me for sure and He sends encouragement at exactly the right times. In the last post I mentioned that a lady I met during 5 Minute English emailed me. Well, today we met. We stayed talking in a coffee shop for two and a half hours. She is very interested in the Bible and we started an in-depth study today. She has several Christian friends and has been to church a few times before and is very open to hearing the Gospel. Like most Japanese, she claims Buddhism but is not committed. She began asking questions as we read the Bible so we lost track of time and she left later than she needed to. She was supposed to leave at 5 to go cook supper for her husband. Sorry, husband. :)

How you can pray:
-Pray for my meeting next week with the friend I met with today
-Pray for Charlie and Teresa, Barb and Liz and the other missionaries who will be following up with the contacts we have made after we leave
-Pray for harvesting of all of the seeds planted
-Praise the Lord for who He is. Praise Him for the work He has done here and will continue to do

"Japan, in case you didn't know is the second largest unreached people group in the world. The whole country doesn't have a clue." - Louie Giglio

"God is not looking for big faith, but even a little faith in a big God." - George Mueller

We're not called to understand Him, just believe Him.

"The Land of the Rising Sun can become the Land of the Risen Son!"

Praise the Lord, and rest in His peace.

Love you all, Virginia

"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.