In Japan, it is very important for us, as “gaijin” (foreigners) to be as culturally relevant as possible. It is not necessarily expected that we do exactly as the Japanese do (and we don’t), but it is much appreciated when we act in as polite a way as we can. One polite and expected undertaking is initiating contact with our new neighbors, called “Aisatsu” (I think it means “introductions”). So we just went to all the houses on our side of the street and met the people who live at each. My dad came with us and did most of the talking. He introduced us and told them why we are here and how we came to live in this house. Then he (and we) apologized in advance for the terrible bother that we will be, for the noise we will make, and for any inconvenience that we could cause them while living here. We said over and over again, “Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu” (“please be good to us”). Then, we gave them a gift. When giving a gift in Japan, its important to express that it is “nothing, worthless and meaningless” Even if the gift were a diamond, it would be “worthless and meaningless”. So that’s what we said, but asked them to accept it anyway as a token of good will (we gave them hand soap from bath and body works, a real novelty here). Throughout this exchange there was endless bowing and smiling and complimenting both ways. It was actually really fun and we’re thankful for the opportunity to have this little insight into our new culture. It was great to meet the people in our community. Four of the five families have 3 generations living in the homes! It was also good to learn their names so that we can pray for them and get to know them as we see them around our neighborhood. Here is a little map of our street, with our neighbors names on their mailboxes.
Would you pray with us for these people that God has already put in our life here? Please pray that He would be glorified in our interactions with them and that He would be pleased to call all of them to Himself. Also, please pray that we would be good neighbors, getting to know them and not being a bother, and that our lives would be a holy witness to them of the God we serve.
Before we left America, a lot of people commented on how easy it must be for me to be coming “home” to Japan and how hard it must be for Eric. Well, it would seem that that would be the case. I have lived more years of my life in Japan than in the States, I love so many things about Japan – the people, the food, the way of life. I have missed Japan like crazy over the last six years since I lived here. And, especially in this last 2 years since we have been called to serve here in Japan, I have grown in my desire for this to be a nation that would turn to Christ for the Salvation that only He can bring. How thrilled I am that God would allow us to be a part of that in some small way in our time here!
But I have to be honest, it has been a HARD 5 days of being back. It has been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Isn’t it true that in absence we forget the difficulties, the things that rub wrong, and just think of the good things we are missing? More than that, I think its the tendency of our hearts to be malcontent with where we are and what we have now and instead long for what was or will be. In my years in America, there was a part of my mind that idealized everything about living in Japan and all the things that would make it better or easier than living there. There was probably even a subconcious lie going through my brain that told me life would be better, that I would be better, by living somewhere else, namely Japan. Well, I hate to break it to any of you who may be believing the same kind of thing about something in your future; but that same heart that tends towards discontent still exists in best of places. And what’s worse, my ability to complain (especially in my heart) seems to have found never-ending material to work with in my “promised land”. Its as though for every one thing that I missed and couldn’t wait to experience again, I find ten things that are different, uncomfortable, annoying, or just perplexing about this place.
So I am having a hard time being home in Japan. I know that probably next week (as we get completely over jet lag) it will feel a little bit more like home and less foreign. Hopefully, at least that will start to set in before that novelty of this new and different place wears off for Eric (Truly, I have never been more thankful for my husband than I have been these last few days. He is actually doing so well, both in adjusting and enjoying life, but also in loving and serving me and being a rock for our family.) Please pray for me. Pray for my heart, that I would look to Christ to find contentment and fulfillment, not to earthly things or places or even people. Please pray that I would be joyful in these very momentary and light afflictions of culture shock (or some form of it) and that being in yet another place that does not satisfy would only make me look more expectantly toward heaven, our true home.
On another note, I wanted to share a photo of three dear friends and their little ones that we left in America, and who I miss dreadfully. Tabitha (and her soon-to-arrive son “baby look”, Carly (and baby Liam), and Sarah (and Phoebe) have been true blessings in my life. I think part of the struggle the last few days has been missing the fellowship of close friends. Please pray that the Lord would build similar frienships for both Eric and I here in Japan.
I just wanted to point out three new links that we have added to the side bar.
The first is the Bensons. They are good friends of ours from home and they are now in Blacksburg, VA where Andy is in grad shcool and Jenny is working on Intervarsity staff. They are expecting a baby in November so their lives are sure to be interesting to watch 
The Pettengills are our friends from NY training and they moved to Costa Rica the same day that we moved to Japan. They are in language school now and will be moving to Honduras when they finish. It’s really fun to watch their blog, especially for us because we are in such drastically different places.
The Tuiningas are a precious family. Diana, the mother and blogger, was a huge influence in my life when she came as short-term missionary to Japan 12 years ago. It has been fun to watch their life from a distance and to see God bless her growing family. They have recently adopted two sons from Liberia and are now expecting their sixth child.
ENJOY!
