returning to contentment

Okay, all of you faithful Confessions readers. You've been so patient this summer waiting next to your Google reader, checking to see what the latest news from Millie is. Sorry about the hiatus. I got back from my summer in the States last night and am anticipating some early mornings to come with the jet lag. So, never fear. The blog is back. You can resume life as normal now.


It can be a challenge for people to return back home after having an amazing experience and to communicate the impact of what they've encountered. Maybe you've been on both sides of this. You do something and want to share the amazing-ness of that moment with someone else. This someone else listens politely and asks a few questions for about 10 minutes...then you notice the eyes have begun to glaze over and there is a distracted spirit about them. Bless you, dear friends. You try, you really do. It's just difficult on both sides.

I'm glad I had the time to be home. I loved seeing everyone and was humbled by those who told me they were reading the blog and were praying. (Thank you!!) People asked me if I get homesick in Japan. I'd be lying if I said I never miss home, but I think it's pretty rare. Maybe because I have skype and email, I don't feel so far removed. Definitely at Christmas, I was sad to be away from family.

When I was leaving Japan last month for the States, I remember thinking I was glad that I had at least another year here. If I was leaving for good now I would feel so, so sad. When we flew in to Osaka yesterday, I had the feeling of returning home. This isn't the first time I've experienced this feeling and I think it's telling of my contentment.

The most encouraging thing I heard from people during my stay in the States is that they could see on my face that I am happy. People told me that I was shining and had a light-ness about me. I was reminded at Christ Community Church in Wheaton about the difference in my spirit between now and when I last was there. I was so broken and discouraged when I left the church over a year and half ago. I thought I was returning home to a death sentence of my dreams for Japan. Kneeling at the altar again this time, I returned thanks to God for his faithfulness in fulfilling my dream for Japan.

So, here I am. Facing another year to be faithful in living obediently in Japan. Lord, prepare me for what's to come. Strengthen my roots in your love.

summer at home photos

weeding

"Should this autumn bring rain or storm, I know not;

my duty for today is to weed the paddy field."

(quote from Ninomiya Sontoku--famous old guy for something about farming in Japan)

I found this quote today and loved the wisdom it offered of active faith. This stage of life for me and a lot of my friends is intrinsically uncertain. But, really isn't this true for anyone in any stage of life? I guess the weight of the decisions we make as 20-somethings (ehhhh, I mean early 30-somethings-shoot) just seems so heavy. I often have to remind myself that God isn't stumped by my bad decisions. He doesn't say, "Well, crap Millie. Why'd you go and do that? Do you have any idea how I'm going to get you out of this pickle now?" This doesn't excuse us from making good decisions and just doing whatever "feels good." We can not base our decisions on our emotions; they are fickle, fickle things. I'm getting off track.

These words remind me that God expects me to be faithful with the here and now. I don't know what the "fall" of my life will bring, but for this season, I know what my task is to do and I need to do it well. Weeding is a tedious and never-ending job. But it's a necessary job. If the weeds are taken care of, there is a bountiful harvest. What kind of weeding do I need to do to be more productive for the Kingdom?

star-crossed lovers

Today is July 2nd and I absolutely can't believe it. Mostly because there are no red, white and blue banners and stars decorating every store and street. It just doesn't feel like summer to me, except for the rising heat and humidity everyday.

Tanabata (Star Festival) will be on the evening of July 7. The legend behind the festival is that the Cowherd Star (Altair) and Weaver Star (Vega), lovers separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year - on the seventh day of the seventh month. Children and adults write their wishes on slips of paper and hang them on artificial or real branches of bamboo. I'm seeing these all over the place. I read a description of this practice of hanging prayers/wishes on these branches of bamboo. It said that parents tell their children that if they pray diligently, then what they want will be granted. This is much like the American tradition of making a wish when you blow out your birthday candles.

I'm thankful that our Abba doesn't depend on our prayers to give us good things. I'm so glad that we have a good and generous God. Grace is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

Let's go to a garden...

Another lesson learned: when invited to go to a "garden," ask "Is this garden located on top of a mountain?" and "What kind of shoes and clothing should I wear?" If I had asked these questions, I would have been more prepared to cross the streams and tromp through the muddy trails without fear of ruining my new WHITE tennis shoes! Oh well. God's grace was abundant and I was able to take in the beauty of the mountain and the river anyway. I am always refreshed by nature and am happy to fill my lungs with the clean air that is rare to find in the city. When we were finished hiking, my friends and I were really thirsty. So, we decided that stopping by a karaoke place for an hour would be a good ending for the day since the drink bar was free and all-you-can-drink! I started taking this video of Kaori singing when the waiter came in with our drinks. She was really embarrassed and he was trying really hard not to laugh. As you can hear, I didn't hold back my laughter. Typical Millie. It was a good day.

We Need Ice Cream!

Preaching tomorrow--please pray. I have this dry coughing thing going on that's really annoying.

FUNNY story! Did you know that Baskin Robbins in Japan is called "satay wan" (say it really fast and you'll understand why). Last night, one of my students took everyones order for their favorites, promising to bring a feast of ice cream next week from Baskin Robbins. My phantom gall bladder is crying for mercy even now! Anyway...during our Bible study section of the lesson, we were reading about the temptations of Jesus. We read about Satan tempting Jesus to turn the stone into bread. I asked my students, "What do you think it means that man cannot live on bread alone?" Right away, my comedian of the class, takes off her glasses and says with confidence "We need ice cream!" I could not stop laughing! YES, we need ice cream--but we sure couldn't live off of it 24/7! Believe me, I've tried it!

uhhhh. okay.

This is why I don't talk to other foreigners in the train stations: I've seen the same guy at the same station waiting for the same train as me for the last couple of months. For some reason, I always avoid having conversations with other foreigners. I'm not exactly sure why. I'd like to think that I'm a pretty friendly person and like talking with people.

Today, it couldn't be avoided. Before I knew it, I was standing in line right behind this guy. We got on the train and I started my move toward an open standing spot. I was cut off at the last minute and needed to move. Shoot. The only open spot is next to the foreigner. I sat down and bit the bullet. "I've seen you around here for a while," was my introduction. After some awkward "how-do-you-do's" I found out he's been living in Japan for the past 3 years. Okay, don't get me wrong. I really am interested in learning about other people and why they do what they do, but this was just SO awkard. I inquired about his Japanese ability. He said he does alright and then proceded to make a point in telling me that his JAPANESE girlfriend helps him in that department.

OKAY, buddy! I wasn't even going there. But thank you very much for putting me in my place.

AWKWARD!!!! I think I'm going to start riding in a different part of the train.

A drip a day keeps the doc away

I read this article in the English newspaper I picked up on my way to work this morning. This article was so shocking to me. It did provide some good conversation in my English class.

"Though a needle stuck in the arm might not be everybody's idea of a quick pick-me-up, time-pressured Tokyoites are flocking to a clinic in the capital's Ebisu district to receive IV drips that promise rapid rejuvenation.
Yebisu Garden Place Clinic is located on the fourth floor of the Yebisu Garden Place Tower building, which houses many foreign capital firms.
What is unusual about the clinic, which mainly offers internal treatment, is a corner in it where patients are put on a variety of intravenous drips, including one designed to enable users to recover from fatigue and one formulated for beauty care purposes.
In the refined, cafelike space, businesspeople can take a short break hooked up to an IV as casually as they might enjoy a cup of coffee after lunch.
In the space, named Tenteki10 (drip 10), drips are administered in just 10 minutes. The clinic opened the space in April by remodeling one corner on the floor. Four chairs are placed wide apart in front of the counter, where patients put out their arms to receive the drips.
Those who visit the clinic for drips enter the corner through a different door from the one used by other patients.
At first, a patient has an interview with a doctor. Sitting face-to-face with a patient, the doctor asks about the patient's physical condition and allergy histories. If no problem is recognized, the patient is taken to the counter, where a nurse will ask the patient to choose a drip.
"Which menu item would you like to have today?" a nurse asked with a smile as she handed me the list of drip choices.
The basic course offers a drip of 50cc glucose solution fortified with vitamins for 2,000 yen. The course can be supplemented with options including a "comprehensive beauty care" treatment for 3,500 yen, "fatigue recovery" and "cosmetic whitener" treatments, each costing 3,000 yen, and "energizing" and "detoxification" treatments for 2,500 yen each.
Although this may sound a little expensive, it is not unreasonable considering that the service is not covered by health insurance.
As an option, I picked the "comprehensive beauty care" one, which is designed to generate collagen and get rid of pimples, according to the descriptions of the individual course's effects. Upon my request, the nurse took out an ampule and blended it with the basic drip. The transparent fluid instantly turned a vivid orange.
Finally, it was time to receive the drip. When the needle was stuck into my vein, the orange-colored fluid started dripping through the tube rhythmically.
Before long, I noticed a garlicky taste gradually spreading in my mouth.
"Don't worry--it's caused by a vitamin B group substance," the nurse said.
It took about 10 minutes until the drip was completed. When I looked into the mirror, my skin seemed fresher than before I received the drip.
Recently, an increasing number of people reportedly are visiting medical institutions for drips even if they are not really sick, with some of them saying, "I'm tired--would you give me a drip?"
The clinic's director, Ryuji Yasumura, 50, believes that the stresses of modern life are behind the service's popularity. "I guess many people suffer chronic fatigue and mental stress from the performance-based system in the current corporate society."
About 30 to 40 people visit the clinic for drips each day. On Fridays, people often have to wait in line, according to the clinic.
Sitting next to me, a neatly dressed businessman in his 40s was put on a drip he said chose to help him recover from fatigue.
"I enjoy playing soccer on weekends," he said. "My fatigue is gone after I come here, and I don't have any trouble attending an early-morning meeting."
When the drip bottle was emptied and a nurse removed the needle from his arm, he retied his tie as if showing his resolve to make a fresh start. He looked exactly like Kosaku Shima (a manga hero for businessmen).
For those in the rat race, a pain in the arm may offer temporary relief. But aren't they overdoing things a bit?"
(May. 27, 2008, source: The Daily Yomiuri, by Haruka Takahashi)

LOST Church of God

I noticed something very interesting today about the logo of the denomination I am serving with in Japan. Does this look familiar to anyone? Did D.S. Warner have something to do with the Dharma intiative? Is Ben Linus working for Warner? I'm forming some new theories....

japanese version of The Office (SNL)

feeling a little under the weather today, but this made me laugh. I watched it around 10 times!