Sunday, August 7th: Isaiah 54:10

If you ever travel to Japan, bring one large suitcases full of American gifts to give, as it is rude not to give a gift when you visit somebody.  Then you can be prepared and will have a suitcase to bring home all the gifts you will be given in return.  Madelyn and I are having to learn this the hard way.  There is SO much left to pack!  So far I'm good weight-wise on both of my stuicases, I just pray there will be enough room for the little bits of stuff I have to leave out to get me through this week.
Anyways, today consisted of pre-church shopping, church, and a goodbye party for us Americans :)
We ate some random foods and people gave little toast/speeches in our honor.  They were all really thoughtful and now I know that if I ever return to Japan, I have many places I could stay :)  Madelyn and I also had to answer a few different questions about our time in Japan such as:
- Favorite Japanese word:  mushi (moo-she) it means bug/insect/worm and although I hate all those things, it's a really cute word and it makes me laugh
- Favorite Japanese food:  ice cream, it's really not but I still say it because if you say something like sushi, gyosa, curry rice, etc then that's all you will eat for forever and ever.  So I stick to something that's difficult for people to give you
- Worst memory in Japan: the language barrier. It's awful when I can't communicate with 98% of the people I meet
- Favorite Japanese location: Tokyo because I love the city or Kyoto because I love it's beauty
- Favorite memory in Japan: the time when little sweaty duck face boy fell asleep on me after he was crying at nap time, it was one of the best feelings every to know I was able to comfort him and make him feel safe and secure and loved all without having to speak any Japanese!
We recieved several going away gifts from church members, but my personal favorite is from Tan san (Mrs. Tan who had us over for lunch two weeks ago).  She shared with us a verse to encourage us through all that this next year and the rest of life holds.  She also told us she'd be praying for us always :)  The verse she passed on to us is Isaiah 54:10 "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has compassion on you."

The church family after our goodbye party :)

The afternoon and evening consisted of window shopping, grocery shopping, packing, dinner while starting The Sound of Music, and now blogging followed by writing a journal...only 3 to go!

Yeah yeah, baby!
I can count it on
ONE hand! :)
Only 5 more days
until I'm in MI!