Jabberloop

I had such a great time tonight! I have a tesuto (or test) ashita (tomorrow) but I don't want to study until I've written all about it! Carol and I went to listen to Jazz like usual on Wednesday nights, and the band was amazing (Jabberloop was the name- I hope we can hear them again)! Carol took video and I'll be sure to post a link later. So re ka ra, we headed off to Starbucks to study (there are 4 in our area, our favorite is the one that is on the second floor of a building and overlooks the train tracks. At night, it has a great atmosphere with all of the city and train lights gleaming through the windows.) We were sitting in two plush green chairs when two Japanese girls sat down at the table next to us. Icchan and Rika. We got to chatting with them (mostly in Japanese!!!) and learned quite a bit... they are nurses in Kawasaki, they both have boyfriends who they don't really think are attractive, they love karaoke and go to a place only a few blocks from where we live! They really want to practice speaking English, and we want to practice speaking Japanese! All Japanese people study English in Jr. high and High School (if they go) but the classes are taught by Japanese teachers, and so they only learn to read and write in English, not to speak the language. They are often intimidated and nervous about speaking English. I'm so excited to see the application of what I'm learning, and it helped me so much more to hear and practice the language in a real life setting. They made us promise to email- which of course we will! I can't wait to meet for coffee again- or maybe karaoke! They were in awe at the length of my fingers and legs and we all had quite a laugh about the size of our noses compared to theirs.

As I think about the mission strategy here- to build relationships in which to share Christ and connect people to other nationals who are Christian- I am so grateful for the intense language study that is included in our orientation. I feel overwhelmed often in class and like I'm drowning in new vocabulary, but the rewards that come from the relationships that can be built are worth all of the frustration and challenges that I face. Pray for my relationships here; that they would be living bridges that would connect people to the God who made them, loves them, and gave His life to redeem them. And please keep praying for me and my ability to remember all of this vocabulary! There are so so so so so so so so so so so many words- every day!!!!