1000 Gifts, Vol. 2, #27

261. feathery leaves of carrots rising from dark volcanic soil in fields lining the road
262. trees, trees and more trees lining the 2-lane expressway towards the beach
263. the intake of air as I saw Fuji for the first time this season
264. the unexpected pleasure of running into a friend at the airport, where we both were waiting in the arrivals lobby
265. anticipating fall
266. a brief conversation with my octogenarian neighbor, in the lobby today
267. the whirring sound of families riding bicycles through the park
268. picnicking with the families from the school
269. sitting in the hot afternoon sun, while reading
270. a friend's genuine, "How are you?"

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a flavor I have come to love since living in Japan. Growing up, other than pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie, I was not aware of any other ways to eat pumpkin. And I always chose mincemeat pie or pecan pie over pumpkin pie. But in Japan, I enjoy pumpkin soup, boiled pumpkin, pumpkin salad (similar to potato salad), tempura pumpkin, and more!

Yesterday I found a new pumpkin-flavored food by my favorite chocolate chip cookie manufacturer.

Chocochip Cookies Pumpkin

It's the American traditional homemade country cookie!

The Bakery Does Halloween

Continuing with the pumpkin theme, tonight I picked up a pumpkin sandwich at the bakery (complete with pumpkin roll, pumpkin salad, and jack-o-lantern sticker).

Unless a grain of wheat... (Part 1)

... unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

John 12.24

Initial fruit continues to be seen from Mr. N's faith-filled life and faith-filled death.

Last Thursday in my English class, I was trying to explain the word "pamper" and how to use it, because one lady was trying to tell of going to the spa. I said it means to treat someone special, and then asked the ladies to try to use it in a sentence.

A church member in the class said, "We want to pamper the young widow in our church."

Our goal in English class is to plant seeds of the Gospel, through the Bible lesson afterward, but also through the natural sharing of our lives. Last Thursday I did not teach a Bible study on "what the church is," but the English students probably learned more of what the Body of Christ is and how it loves and takes care of its own, than they would have through an academic study.

Sauna

Summer days here feel like being in a sauna.

Summer nights, too, for that matter.

So, why did I spend ¥400 to actually GO to a sauna?!?

...

...

...

I returned VERY relaxed!

Music Recommendation

I'm not usually the source of anyone's music recommendations, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity.

A friend just introduced me to this internet radio station and I'm enjoying listening to Japanese praise songs from my past, as well as from my favorite Japanese Christian music group. If you live in Japan and are looking for language practice, or if you want to keep up with your Japanese language ability while you're in the States, or if you just want to hear what Japanese praise music sounds like, I highly recommend this site. It's also listed in iTunes, under Radio, then International, as JRadio.net.

How do you hello?*

The last time I was in the States for more than a few weeks, my cell phone plan provided me with 400 minutes of call time a month as well as unlimited free calls on nights and weekends.

For about the same price, my cell phone plan in Japan provides me with 30 minutes of outgoing call time a month and unlimited free incoming calls. Period.

My phone keeps a log of my 30 most recent phone calls. As of September 26th, my 30 most recent outgoing phone calls took place between June 16th and September 23rd.

While tempted to compare and complain, I remember the cross-cultural mantra, "It's not right; it's not wrong; it's just different."

(* "How do you hello" is taken from the Skype website.)