Taikutsu na

I found someone with a voice as soft as mine..... how annoying. After every sentence i'm like "WHAAAAT?? SPEAK UP, I CANT HEAR YOU!! " Now I know how everyone feels when they talk to me. Next time, seriously, just yell at me "ENUNCIATE AND PROJECT PLEASE". Anyway, I started singing in church yesterday, well for alter call anyway. Most of the songs they sing I havent sang since I was about 9 so, I'm goning to need a little practice first. It was ok for the most part I guess :/~ . Well its Memorial Day and we're not doing anything. There was a picnic planned but those plans were scratched due to expected rain. Of course today came, and not a drop of rain. So, here I sit........and type.... Ha ha but not for long! I'm going to the park! Later! (Ja,Mata!)

Sweating is Wonderful...

If ever you want to relax...find a steam room. Those things are awesome! I go with a few of the ladies from the church onto the military base here to go to the gym. First we work out, and do that whole bit, then we head straight for the steam room! Its much better than the sauna, the sauna does nothing but make you feel gross, but the steam room...!!! I could stay in there for hours. The steam opens your pores and makes you skin so soft afterwards, its great for your hair too. Here's the best part, we were talking with a Korean woman while in there and she says that the steam room is the reason Koreans are so small and slender. Being in there will make you sweat off all those extra pounds! So, hop up people! Go find a steam room to relax and shed pounds in!

This is good

Great news...I'm joining the praise team here! Don't think that's exciting? Oh, trust me it is :)~ We had one Okinawan receive the Holy Ghost on Sunday. Apparently shes been trying for a while to get it. She said she kept trying to say "Arigatou" but couldn't get it out. Her kids are in Sunday school here, and don't speak any English. Soooo, in 2 weeks we are starting a new Sunday school program and I'll have to translate to them (AAAAHHHHHH!!!!).
I watched both Sunday services (New Life) on the Internet, of course, and thought everyone would want to know--the cameras do give close-ups of everyone on the platform :), so smiiiiile!

Its a lot harder to keep up with this blog than I thought it would be. From here on out, I'll try to write every 2-3 days. So, I went to two services this week. The music is a little different than what I'm used to, but you've got to work with what you've got . They don't have any musicians right now, so, they use a floppy disc loaded with songs ( older ones from hymn books) and put them into the keyboard to play during service. There are about 40 people in the church, that includes 10 or so Okinawans. They are really hungry for the truth, so keep us in your prayers.

I went to some old WWII tunnels this week. The whole network of tunnels were dug with hand tools by the Japanese soldiers during the war. It was huge!!This is a pic showing how they dug.This is the tunnel entrance.This is the same entrance looking up.This is a picture of the wall riddled with a hand grenade when 4000 Japanese soldiers committed suicide to prevent being taken by American troops.

This is more of the tunnel. It was so crowded in the tunnels that the soldiers had to sleep standing up.

These are pictures of the city of Naha. It looks like this any angle you turn, no such thing as empty space here.

I watched the Wed. night service (on Thursday morning), good to see Amber and Katie , Welcome Back!!!! You girls did good on your testimony and translation, I hope I can do that when I get back :}. It was funny to see Ephraim do announcements :*D . I was going to laugh but I thought he might hear me (lol), and get nervous. But... good job anyway!

:)

I went to Tuesday night Japanese bible study last night. Wow, talk about fast pace. Usually Bro Parker is there to teach while someone translates to Japanese, but he wasn't there this time. Soooo, was in a Japanese bible study instead of a translated English bible study (felt a little out of place there...). I would like to say I kept up with all of it, but, I didn't. It was me that had the translator :). After that I went to eat with one of the Okinawan couples, and they said they would only speak Japanese to me. That was interesting. At first I kept choking and stumbling over my words :D~ but I eventually caught up (oh yea!). I'm having lots of fun here and may not come home!! (j/k) - Later ;)

Here ya go

Sorry these pics are out of order, this should be down in the new friends section. Anyway this is us Sunday night at Starbucks in the American Village, they have about 3 Starbucks in a two block radius.
I love these steps leading to the bed!

State of the Art toilet. It has all of these buttons that I dont dare play with ( notelling what would happen)
This faucet is on the tank of the toilet. It has soapy water that comes out when you flush so you came wash your hands right there. it also keeps the in side of the toilet clean (because I wont :)~ ).
These are some of the church members ( sis. Parker on the right)

New friends...

These are pictures of my 'apartment'.
Small kitchenette.
Even came with a Japanese washer.

This is the shower room. You stand outside the tub , scrub down, rinse off and then soak in the tub. Oh, dont worry, there is a drain in the floor.

This is my bed with lots of storge space underneath.

Well here are the pix, enjoy! Ill type some more tonight!..

I'm Here!

Im finally in Japan! And it only took 3 connecting flights and 25 hours to get here! Im sooo tired, just cant wait for the jet lag to kick in =*). I'll try to uplaod some pictures this weekend but only after I sleep for an entire day! Sis. Parker (missionary's wife) got a picture of me coming out the the baggage claim area, and Im sure i was looking rough, on top of that I was lugging two 50 lb bags. Oh yeah, I'll make sure thats the first picture up. Ja,mata atode!

Hazukashikatta (That was embarrassing)

I cant believe how hard I choked at church last night. For those of you who don't know ( I couldn't imagine who ;)~ ) Bro Sutton called me to the front to say something about my upcoming trip to Japan. That wasn't the worst part ( well actually for me it was all baaadd) then he wanted me to translate what he was saying into Japanese. Of course I drew a total blank and all I could say was " Hi my name is Rachel". Now that I think about it, I could have improvised and constructed it into simpler sentences.....Oh shut up YOU, its too late for that now!!! UUgh how embarrassing! Sumimasen, Kondo Ganbaru! (I'll do my best next time).

Moving---Completed

Well, after days of crying, back pain, name calling and an unbelievable amount of junk, I'm finally finished moving! The Thrift Store was probably dreading all the times I came by with all my unwanted junk. "Oh no , here comes the Bag Lady...Honestly, Its the forth time this week!" :) Then they would hide the trucks when I drive up--"Nobody's heeerrrree....". It's kind of hard moving back home after being out for four years, but at least its only for a week (until I get back that is......oh yea). I don't think Ephraim is too happy about both of his sisters moving back in, but that's his problem. :)