Week 4 & 5

I'm tempted to make an excuse for being so late in writing another update... Busyness likely played a part, but laziness was the root. I apologize for taking so long! 

The past two weeks have been packed with events as the school year is wrapping up here at CCSI. I am trying to deny the fact that my time here is already more than half way up. 

These past two weeks have had plenty of ups and downs. Thankfully, more ups than downs, and God is training my stubborn heart through the downs. :) 

I've especially enjoyed the privilege of getting to participate in the Alive International church (held at the chapel next to the school) praise band for the past couple weeks. It's  amazing to play alongside incredibly talented musicians, but even more so to see a  multicultural family united in worshipping God. The community I've witnessed in CCSI and the churches that meet at Honda is really unique and beautiful; a sanctuary in a place I might otherwise feel isolated. I'm sad to think of leaving after only just beginning to get plugged in here. However, I'm so thankful for the way everybody has gone out of their way to welcome me into this community. 

I am so thankful for everyone praying for me every day as I walk through this internship. Praise God, I have been able to have really wonderful times of devotion lately, which have given me strength to fight everyday battles of self and sin. God has especially been speaking to me through the books of Psalms, Jeremiah and Esphesians. Tomorrow, I am planning to lead the school devotion time, hopefully with a passage from Ephesians. I'll be touching on identity and new life in Christ, both pertinent themes in my life recently.  

I would appreciate prayer for a couple things. (Also, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email with your own prayer requests!) 

1. Please pray for continued energy as I wrap up classes and prepare for the English camps coming up. 

2. Opportunities to talk with and encourage my teammates in their faith. 

3. The continued battle against pride and self-centeredness 

4. That I would be more outgoing in practicing Japanese with people

5. That I would keep my mission--to show the love of Christ--fresh in my mind always, (even on the days when I'm tired or frustrated). 

Thank you so much for your prayers! Here's some photos from the past couple weeks. 


Friday: everyone works together with five minutes of weed-pulling! 


The neighborhood Buddhist Temple 




Rachel's science class -- experiments with tofu? 


My precious art students--making their own sketchbooks 




Took over an English class at Kokubunjidai


The neighborhood park--favorite place to take a walk 


Exploring the neighborhood Shinto Shrine 


Peter and Ian hard at work in Language Arts class


Gathering for morning worship 


Farewell potluck for the Mirabellas (missionary family headed back to the states)... will be greatly missed! 




Morning devos 


Iverson's grandkids... so cute! 


Cookie making competition at Honda Chapel 




After church volleyball 

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