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Last Day in Japan! Final thoughts

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It’s my last night in Japan (sad emoji), part of me is excited to come back home though the other part wants to stay here. Coming back as you know I haven’t been writing daily and mainly it is because our last few days were literally packed- how packed you say? Let me say that we’ve walked around 16,000 steps maybe more each day.  While the other half wants me to stay here. Here are my thoughts about what has been happening and why there is a conviction to stay in Japan. I was involved and part of my university ministry about 9 years ago(can’t believe it’s almost 10 years since I started uni). I’ve always been interested in mission, just the idea to live and serve in another country always intrigued me. However, I never had the chance to go or see what is was like. I’ve been involved in many Christian events and conferences but never lived or experienced being a Christian in a foreign country. Now after 10 years I have had that chance and who knew it would be Japan.  I never really had
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Hope

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  Today we met Roger who has lived and been part of a creative arts ministry team since 2005. He spoke about the different ministries and opportunities he has done serving in Tokyo. He also has a master of all trades with a bachelor of physics, masters of music at one of the elite music school in the US and currently doing a masters of theology studies- in which he can be an appointed pastor at his church one day. Roger is heavily involved in the music and arts department where is runs workshops to help connect local Christian Japanese artists into the community in Tokyo. He shared about the challenges and opportunities in Tokyo (probably too much to share here) but it showed me a glimpse of his day to day work. Being an ambassador in his workplace to train and give opportunities to artist and musician a chance to be recognised in a place where recognition is scarce.  The team spent the rest of the day exploring the streets of Japan and even went to a hedgehog cafe in celebration of a
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Grace Centre Church

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  My review of the sleeping pod……. it was unexpectedly a huge surprise (in a good way) it was funny asking the locals and church members if they have done it before and not one responded with a yes. As I still reminisce about the hotel and procedure of instructions to follow.  Firstly, you enter a locker room where you drop your luggage, then you enter another room with segregated toilets and showers to do your business. Thirdly, you immediately walk into your isolated pods. The procedures of what is needed just to be in our pod, reminded me of a prison cell block from the walking dead. That being said, I give the experience of the sleeping pods 7/10 (would I do it again, probably not).. Moving into the morning we walked to the church which was located on a busy street and we worshiped in one of the building room. The space was quite spacious for 30 people but anymore it would of been quiet tight. By the start of the service the room was packed out and noted we had around 7 different n
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Tokyo to Sendai

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16.5 hours later I’ve arrived at Tokyo!! Though the flight from Sydney to Tokyo (with the intermission of stopping at Taiwan) felt I’ve travelled for 2 days…. I met the team with great anticipation and smiles and was told to get my train pass as we were going to Sendai (which in total was going to be another 2.5 hour ride)  🤦🏻‍♂️ We are currently on our way to meet with a couple who has had members of HCC serve their community since 2016. For dinner we were generously received Tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlets, by far the thickest piece of meat I’ve seen). During the night, we were welcomed with open arms and greetings by the missionaries  who serves in Sendai. I was humbled by the fact that the space of a typical Japanese house was the same dimension as my bedroom back in Sydney (maybe even bigger). Living in Japan is hard and living as a Christian was even harder- I was amazed to hear a woman and her husband, born and raised in Japan has known the Lord for 40 years! As I stumbled a
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Japan Vision Trip: Departing to Tokyo

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Since I’ve just began my school holidays (yay!) I thought it would be a good chance to reflect upon the year and share my experience of what is to come in Japan. Now I finally have some time for myself I can articulate my thoughts to you guys, so that I don’t have to explain my trip 100 times. I hope to update daily from today to the end of my trip.  9th of December   At this moment I’m just waiting for my plane to depart which is scheduled to board in 30 minutes. I can finally sit down after a hectic day (and no it wasn’t a school day).  I just came from our Christmas staff party at rouse hill. The food and ambiance was amazing- the chats and constant banter was definitely a great way to end the year. Though the time in between was filled with inner stress trying to go from rouse hill to the airport (and I haven’t even packed!). It was at least a 1 hour drive from the restaurant back home. I was scrambling and packing my luggage last minute as usual. Then I needed to travel another ho
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Wrapping up 2020

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  It's come to the end of year feeling. I can finally take a long deep breath and have the sense of not worrying about the day or week ahead.... only for 7 weeks.. well that's still plenty...  These last few months it really has been tiresome, busy, on-the-go weeks. It feels like an engine motor on a train that continues to drive without making a stop. Finishing off any topics of English or Mathematics in the tightness of 4-5 weeks, on top of rushing and writing student end of year reports. However, being on the other end now, I can say that the engine is slowing down. I can see the final stop of where the train is heading and I'm able to finally just sit and relax..  Something that I've realised through this process is that I wasn't able to self-reflect, and it really has been a struggle to do life. It was as though everything important to me had to be on pause. As I'm processing my thoughts onto paper, this year was a tough year - not only because it was my fi
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Purpose

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Monday 10th of August,  2020 Currently I'm reading this bible devotion with my triplet called "God of Creation" and so far it's been a great series. The planner goes for 11 days, at the moment I'm on day 3, but behind 2 days... I just wanted to share it because these last couple days has been quite distressing and gloomy (not sure what words to say, I'll let you judge). I don't know if you've heard the news about a school in the north-west that has had two students contacted with covid. Well.. the school is actually the sister school of Redfield College (my school) and these last 24 hours has been unstop, the emails from concerning families, the staff not knowing what to do in regards of this situation- do we listen to the AIS (educational department for independant school) or the Health of NSW. Right now feels like a battle against the students education vs students health. We were advise to get tested, which I did this morning at St George Hospital.
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