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KatRoze
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Name: Kathryn
Country: Japan
Metro: Tokyo
Birthday: 4/12/1982
Gender: Female
Interests: I enjoy being involved in whatever local church body I happen to be serving in. Whether it be singing in the choir, teaching children's church, leading youth group or an adult Bible study - that is where I find my most joy! I also like to play volley ball, basket ball, play interactive card & board games with friends, go horsebackridding, read classic literature, watch old musicals (on screen or on stage), make friendship bracelets and bake cookies. :)
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Nonprofit
Message: message me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
2/24/2006
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| . . . a foreign film with subtitles in another foreign language. At least, my life is like that. Last night I had dinner with some Thai friends here in Japan. They are all sweet, fun girls who are married to Japanese men. So, their Japanese is better than mine, but it was still easy and comfortable for them to carry-on in Thai. I didn't mind; in fact, I rather enjoyed it - just watching their faces tell their stories and listening to the new linguistical patterns in their speech. Every now and then, one or all of them would turn to me and give me a brief summary of the conversation in Japanese.  Ganbattemasu! I did my best! It reminded me of the time I went to see a German opera in Toledo, Spain and they had Spanish subtitles. (That's right, a live opera with subtitles - figure that one out.  ) And the times I was out in the country in Guatemala working with indigenous people groups whose first language was something other than Spanish. Or, the time I was in Turkey and became a Spanish to English translator for a Turkish/Spanish/English translation chain. lol That was crazy!
Adventure can be fun and exciting as well as frustrating and tiresome. I never imagined my life would take this direction, but maybe that's because it's not really my life any more. I have surrendered to my Lord all that I am and all that I have. Oh, I still have those daily battles, but most of the time it's a short struggle as I remember how good my God is to me and how much better it is to let Him be in control. I pray that no matter how mundane or adventurous your life seems you would find the same freedom I have found in complete surrender the Lord Jesus. | | |
| Ni hou! No, that's not Japanese; that's Chinese! One of the few phrases I was able to understand during my week there. Yes, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in Beijing with a former college roommate who is now there teaching English at a university. It was a great time of adventure, fellowship, insight into a new culture, and a chance to renew my Japanese visa. :) I even had the privilege of seeing a new Chinese brother in the Lord baptized on Ressurection Sunday! What a blessing! I must say, though, it is nice to be "back home" in Japan.
Well, my trip to China signified my "half-way" point on this six month trip to Japan. Has it really been three months already? Time continues to speed up, it seems. Yesterday marked the first day of the new school year in Japan, so our English classes with We Go Eigo are now in full swing once again. The program has expanded from two teachers teaching two classes two times a week to now five teachers teaching two classes five times a week. We're still working on balancing out the days, as most kids want to take classes with their friends or siblings all on the same day, but it's great that we're growing. The more kids we teach, the more connections we have with people in the community and the more oppertunities we have to share the Gospel.
In fact, just this past Sunday, the church here in Tokorozawa had an early Easter service (not quite sunrise) followed by a bar-bee-que. All of the students and their parents were invited and a few actually came. Two moms who came with their kids, who had never come to the church before, expressed interest in coming again. Praise the Lord! Thank you for your prayers for the lost of Japan! It really makes a difference.
 Oh, the We Go Eigo Spring Camp was great! All the kids had fun and we only had one minor accident (someone chipped a tooth). We went to Okutama, where the church has had retreats on occasion. They had cabins and regular bathroom facilites and a nice covered cooking area with fire-pits, so we weren't really roughing it. But it was definately a challenge getting everyone settled down to sleep with futons wall to wall in both rooms of the cabin - 20 girls, 13 boys, and 5 adults. It was a fun time, though, and we had the opportunity to share the Gospel message with the kids - most of which had probably never heard it before. Keep praying that their hearts would be open to the Truth.
Well, I think that sums it up for now. I'm enjoying my time here, staying healthy and busy with the work God's given me. I'm working on getting a photo account set up online so y'all can see what I'm up to. I'll send an email when it's ready. Hope you all enjoyed celebrating Christ's Victory over death this past Sunday and remember to live in that New Life every day! Thank you all for your prayers and financial support. May the Lord continue to work in and through you.
Blessings,
Kathryn
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| Okay, so it's been quite a while since I wrote anything on xanga . . . or anywhere else for that matter. I going to try to revive the habit, though. I'm starting with a little 'face lift' for my blog. Next I'll add some updated photos and share some of the cool things that have been happening in my life lately. :) | | |
| Watashi wa Nihon'go e ikimasu. That's Japanese (written with Roman letters) for "I'm going to Japan."
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been super busy. I started my Japanese classes two weeks ago - and I'm loving it! We haven't hit the characters too hard yet, and I can tell from the way the teacher says, "Don't worry about that yet," that there's more to this language than first meets the eye. I must be patient and preserve. I just hope that I can say a few basic phrases when I get there in two months and that by the end of my stay I can carry on a short and simple conversation.
Two months! Okay, so it's more like 2 1/2, but still . . . It's amazing. When I separated from the AF just over a year ago, I had no idea this is where I'd be headed right now. I think I like letting God be in control, even when I don't know what'll happen next. I do know that He'll take care of it and it will turn out better than I ever dreamed!  | | |
| YEAH! I am so excited!  My dad will be returning this Friday from his six month business trip to Japan! Halleluiah! It's not as though this was his first trip away from our family. When I was a little girl and he was still active duty in the Navy, this was normal life - here for six months, gone for six months, here for three months, gone for three months, every other birthday, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. That was life. But it's been a long time since we've had that. Of course, I moved away to college on the mainland six years ago, and began my own "yearly visit" cycle which only continued when I moved to Turkey with the Air Force. But when I decided to get out and move "back home" I didn't forsee my dad leaving three months later! But just like we did in the "old days" we pulled through - my mom, brother, and I. My dad and I kept up an almost regular correspondence of letters (snail mail). I managed to get along with my brother most of the time (and even enjoy hanging out with him on occasion). I also managed not to have too many arguments with my mother and was able to provide some companionship and support. But we're definatly all ready for him to be home. I feel like a kid again, getting ready for Daddy to come home from being out to sea. Maybe I should make a banner for him and tie some yellow ribbons around our mailbox. lol | | |
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