2008.05.26:
一年前、あつしが Christian になった〜
I’m amazed to see how you’ve grown and how God has molded you into the person you’ve become: your desire to share God’s love with your friends, to grow beyond your comfort zones, so full of joy and life in Christ. ^_^ My life is blessed because of you.
Happy Birthday Atsushi… 誕生日おめでとう〜 ^_^
determined to make this my testimony this time…
“Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) よしゃ〜
I can’t believe how fast this month flew by… each day is so full of its own troubles and blessings, incidents, emotions, and thanksgivings (especially with the beginning of the new school year). but FINALLY, we have a little time to breathe. Tying into Golden Week (the first few days in May when all of Japan rests) Handai is also celebrating their anniversary, so we get an entire week off! ^_^
Hrm…. there’s that feeling of having too much to write about that… I can’t really think of where to start. I guess, I should post this at least (if anyone is in need of something to pray for): Feels like with so much ministry stuff happening these days, we haven’t had much time to focus on our own team development/well-being… I get the feeling that Satan’s been working overtime as well, with all the work that God is doing through our team and prayers. There’s been a lot of unspoken tension and unloving feelings among STiNTers, staff, even married couples. It’d be really great if you could pray for our team relationships when you remember Japan. If nothing else, it’s my biggest prayer these days that our students will continue to understand God’s love more and more as they see the love overflowing from our team.
Even in the midst of an exhausting month and the troubles that pop up here and there, I’ve been so thankful to even be experiencing these things in Japan. After seven months… it still blows my mind that I’m actually here. I dunno why I expect to hear Spanish outside my window… -_- but it still surprises me when I hear people talking in Japanese every morning. And lately, there’s something so familiar about the ’summer smells’ in Osaka. I dunno what it is exactly. Something like wood… and the flowers + a kinda moisture in the air… reminds me that I’m really here. hehe… I realize it all sounds crazy. ^_^ But there’s just no possible way to describe each day or these feelings… with people that haven’t experienced the same.
Hrmmmmm…. I believe USC is done this week. I can’t believe two years have passed already since I graduated. Last year was a big shock for me (to think back on the things I was doing exactly a year ago) but this year… it’s like it all happened in another lifetime. I remember when this year’s graduates came in as freshmen… like Oscar, Chengja, Kyu… I feel so far from them now… but congratulations to you all… You take up a very special part of my heart. Good luck during finals week! Hwaiting~!
Anyway, didn’t really write about anything meaningful… but just thought I’d let people know that I’m still alive and well. Hope to hear from some people soon~