shaping up

I'm finally starting to feel the burn, the strain...muscles are developing in my calves from going up and down the stairs so often!!! Oh, and I think my arms are starting to shape up again. My last few of months in Texas, I didn't exercise much, so my arms started to get a little flabby (thanks for pointing that out, Yoko! j/k).
Today & yesterday I helped Pastor Takarada with the BGCT's Gospel choir mission trip. The whole group is really great. I like them a lot. They, as well as their music, really encouraged me. Before their concert last night, I was thinking, "I'm so glad all these people came to Japan to share the Gospel with the people here!" They're reaching people in a very special way--through music and testimony. But when they started performing songs with lyrics about waking up in the morning and not having any doubt as to God's faithfulness, I felt a strong conviction in my heart. For the last couple of days, I've been feeling sorry for myself and lonely and wishing I had friends to make ME feel good, forgetting my purpose here, GOD's purpose for me here. I need to be brave and to remember that God brought me here and His purpose(s) will prevail. I need to stop laying around the apartment and get up and study or call an old friend...do SOMETHING! My friends have been really helpful in that area. One of my friends, even though she's struggling and going through a hard time emotionally, called to check on me and said I should call her when I need her, and that I shouldn't have to feel lonely (she lives less than 30 minutes away from me, after all). Another sent me a message on Facebook saying she's helping with her church's VBS while she's in a waiting period. Neither of these ladies knew exactly what I had been doing or thinking. God just used them to encourage me.
Back to the gospel choir. I did LOVE helping the group, but is was really tiring! We traveled so much and so far each day, and they all had so many questions. I don't know how Pastor Takarada would have been able to get everyone through the train ticket gate each time without some help! Yesterday I went with him and about 5 others (all BGCT employees...I felt really honored to be with them!) to the BGCT Japan office. It was a really great experience. I took some pictures on my cell phone, but somehow I lost them. I hope I can go back someday. Then I can show you what their map of their missions in Japan looks like, and the statistics of how the Baptist church has grown in Japan since 1947. It's really intriguing. And the people who worked there were so great. I had already met two of them before--one in Texas and the other at a church in Shinjuku, both last summer. They recognized me! That was cool.
Today we took a group of about 13 people to Asakusa, the tourist district of Tokyo. They have a bunch of traditional-style trinkets and clothing and such. I helped one lady find a good deal on a summer kimono (yukata) for herself and one her daughter. Again, that was cool. ^_^
It amazes me how much seems to be common sense to me, but must not be for everyone. At least three of our group had their American money mixed in with their Japanese money, so that made paying for things like souvenirs and train tickets a lot slower, as we had to sort through it all each time.
Our group was so loud, compared to everyone else, especially at the station! They commented on everything and discussed everything happening on the train, and sang loudly when we went up an escalator. Some complained about the food, some that they didn't like "being squeezed like sardines" in the train, others questioned the ticket system at the station. Everyone had a a question about something. One lady asked me what the boats in the harbor did (I don't know...). Another asked me what something at the convenience store was (I don't know...). They wanted to know how to say things in Japanese. One lady finally figured out how to say "sumimasen" (I'm sorry/excuse me/thank you) and used it when she accidentally bumped into a man on the train. His response? "You're welcome." LOL
I met a girl at the church last night. Well, I guess I should say a "lady," since she's 29. She looks like she's my age, though! She's not a Christian, but she really likes church and stuff because she had a Christian host family when she lived in Boston for a month studying English. Most Japanese people have a negative perception of religion, especially Christianity. It's so great that a host family in the States was able to alter that stereotype in her mind. YOU, my friends, can make a difference in this world right where you are!!! But, you're welcome to come here and make a difference, too. ;)