Lindsey and I have been settling into our new house and getting everything arranged the way we like. I love our house! It has big sliding door/windows in most of the rooms which brings in a lot of natural light that I crave. It's quite hot and humid here still so we've had them open a lot to get air moving through. When you first come in our front door you remove your shoes of course, step up a stair and walk in. To the left is an adorable living room that I am in love with already. It has two brown comfortable chairs, a bookshelf, a coffee table and TV. To the right is a bathroom with a toilet that when you flush the water that refills the bowl it first comes out for you to wash your hands with. Then you walk into our kitchen and to the left in there is our shower/washroom. Up the scary small and steep stairs that I'm just waiting to wipe out on, are three bedrooms. Lindsey and I have turned the largest and prettiest room into a study/workout room. We have been sleeping just fine on our Japanese futons.

Yesterday Lindsey and I explored our area after unpacking our suitcases that arrived from the delivery man. We bought food to get us started. We made soba noodles and eggs for lunch and Japanese curry with carrots and potatoes with rice, mandarin oranges and peanuts for dinner. We were quite proud of our accomplishments for day one of being in Japan.

Today we came to visit the Lutheran Language Institute where we will be studying and met many people. We experienced Japanese rush hour on the train today which was quite crowded, we almost couldn't make it on to the train! We are learning and experiencing soo much but I haven't felt overwhelmed at all which is a big blessing. Soon I will hopefully share some pictures with you.

Ready, Get Set, Go!

Just like the races I used to run in cross-country and track in high school, as I approach the starting line of a new adventure, my heart beats with anticipation. I am not fearful, but confident knowing that in this race God will grant me strength and endurance. I have trained with other missionaries at Concordia St.Paul for two weeks in June, and studied the last four years at Concordia Chicago. Now the time for my beautiful feet to bring the Word to those who have not heard has come.

In less than two weeks on September 25th I will be getting on a plane headed for Tokyo Japan! Then I will begin my six month language training here at the Lutheran Language Institute. The woman standing will be my language teacher, and the woman sitting is Yukie, the VYM director who I met at my LCMS mission training.

This is one of the Lutheran Churches in Japan that happens to be righ by the language institute. My dad and brother Eric got to visit it while Eric was studying for four months in Osaka, Japan.

As I prepare to head out on this exciting new journey I feel excited and blessed because I know I have the power of God going with me. 1 Thesalonians 5:24 has been my theme verse and source of encouragement during these months of preparation. "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it". Thank you to everyone who has given me so much support and encouragement already, and I ask that you all continue to keep me and the mission work in Japan in your prayers.