| | Sorry gang, I guess this is the first post of 2009. I've been trying to think of ways to get updates to ya'll in the most efficient way possible, and obviously updating Xanga hasn't been part of that strategy so far. At any rate, I think I'll keep this up until I can set up a blog that works better, and if/when that happens you will all be the first to know. I say 'all' because it appears that I've had footprints this week despite the obvious dry spell. But for those of you looking for life and ministry updates, here's what I have since last time, utilizing the easy to scan bullet format.
* Finishing another 10 week round of language school, only one more before we look at a partnership program (like an internship) with a Japanese pastor. I'm looking forward to working with a church near Kawasaki (close to Tokyo), focusing on youth ministry, ages ranging from middle school to the college and careers groups.
* Enjoying basic conversation with both Japanese and fellow language students. I've been spending more time talking with people in the office at my language school, as I've also volunteered to be a group leader in the upcoming school field trip, as well as put together a team which created the school's new hata, or banner/battle flag. In the latter case I didn't do any of the actual art work, just worked more as a go between for the school and shy art students.
* I've done two interviews in the past two weeks or so, one in Japanese, one in English. The Japanese one was taped and heavily edited, if used at all. I don't have a radio so I haven't checked, but I've heard it's a popular radio program. They were just talking to language students about their favorite dives/haunts in Tokyo, as well as their impressions of the Japanese, proving that they are as narcissistic as any of us. The more I look at myself and societies in general that more I find that to be true, people love hearing about themselves, talking about themselves, etc. It's something I try to remind myself not to do, especially when I meet new people...but then here I am blogging about myself for all ya'll. The second interview was for some sort of Money TV show, where I was asked about how the high yen prices are hurting me as a foreigner in Tokyo. I kept it short and to the point. In retrospect I realize that, as I was on a day trip with a friend I wasn't dressed to impress, and may have ended up on TV with my signature sweatshirt, ballcap and jeans combination. Sorry mom.
* Looking ahead to this summer I've been asked to be the speaker at a five day children's bible camp. I'm humbled to be asked, but another part of me realizes that there was a shortage of available, affordable (free) speakers available. Even so, I've worked as a counselor before at the same camp and love working with children so I think it will be a blast. Please pray that I can put together 8 30 or so minute messages that get the message of 'staying in touch with God' across without terribly boring them. I think they're mostly 11 and 12 year olds. This will be done in English.
I imagine a lot of this will be in my upcoming newsletter, which will look drastically different from my newsletters in the past. I'm aiming for more of a personal approach to the reader, that is, more easily scannable, while not sacrificing content for you readers who enjoy my prose and witty banter. I suppose that's all for now, Thank you all for your prayers, thank you all for your support. We serve a great God, and I'm blessed to be working for him, alongside all of you.
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| | Posted 3/13/2009 10:27 PM - 6 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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