Take the d"A"y Train

This is the train station for Harajuku, a big teen hangout area. Doesn't it look like a German sausage house or something haha? I apologize for the lengthy wait you have all had for a new entry. Things have been quite busy here, and I was without internet for a week which didn't help things. So, soon I will get you all caught up!

For now, here is the answer to my last poll...how many trains do I take to school?

If you answered 2 you are correct; I used to take two trains to school in the beginning because it is an easier way to go since you are not transferring in busy Tokyo station. Occasionally I will take this way if I want to get off at a certain stop on the way home, or really feel the need to sit down

however...

If you answered 3 you are also correct; I now take three trains to school because it is a much quicker route! Even though these trains are more crowded, I feel like the time difference is well worth it.

Placement Day

Matthew 28 :18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Before I came to Japan and spoke at various churches people would always be shocked that I didn't know where I would be working. All I knew was that I was coming to Japan to study Japanese for six months and then go wherever God sent me. Today was the day I found out where I would be spending the next two years. I have been placed at the Lutheran Language Institute and Center Church as well as Suginami Church. I will continue to learn more of the details and what these two site will entail. I'm so excited for my site training where I will get to observe the people I will be replacing and see what responsibilities I will have. I do know that on Tuesday through Thursday I will work at the Lutheran Language institute and on Fridays I will go to Suginami to teach classes. I'm really looking forward to the variety of activities I will be involved in between these two sites. I will also get to work alongside two other VYM missionaries; Katrina at Center and Jenae at Suginami. Here they are!
At the end of March I will be moving into my own apartment and starting to teach the beginning of April. After we found out our placement this evening Lindsey, Yukie (our director) and I went out to a French Restaurant to celebrate. We had an amazing three course meal! First I had cauliflower soup, then a blue cheese, walnut, salad and honey crepe, and last a desert crepe with apples, caramel and ice cream. That was topped off with a cuppacino. Tomorrow I will be helping out with a Kids Day at the Center with a Valentines Theme of "You Are Mine".

Winter Wonder(ful)land

This Sunday, like every Sunday we go to visit a new church (which is almost every Sunday), after the church service I was asked to introduce myself. At first it was quite intimidating to do this, and Yukie our director would do most of the speaking besides saying our name for us. However, over time as we've had more language class it's been fun to tell people my name, where I'm from, where I live now, and maybe one other little fact. One special thing about this Sunday was that I woke up to look outside and see beautiful big flakes of snow coming down, and not just coming down like the one other time I've seen snow here, but actually sticking some! It made the 20 minute walk to church that you see here a little interesting because I did not choose the right shoes to wear. Anyway, during the church service I had heard several prayers about how the snow and that it was very cold. So, I began introducing myself saying hello, nice to meet you my name is Carol. Then I said, "I'm from Minnesota where it always snows a lot...therefore I think today is wonderful!" And everyone laughed. After church I wandered around the East Gardens by the Emperor's Palace and got to take some pictures of the beautiful snow. It is one place people could even have a little spot of grass in the big city to make a snowman! Today most of the snow is gone except in a few spots on the side of the street where it got shoveled off to, but I was so thankful for the snow! Last winter it didn't snow at all in Japan so I feel really blessed to have seen it twice now! Winter is pretty funny here, yesterday it was snowing the entire day, today was a warm and sunny day, and tonight it has been pouring rain! It's also funny to me that everyone uses an umbrella in the snow which I have never done before, but here the snow is so wet that it is wise to. I hope you are all staying warm this winter!