Arrival

 It's been pretty crazy so far, but I'll just start decompressing my info as it comes. I'm sorry if this is all a little chaotic, but there's been so much happening that It's hard to do a coherent line of thought.

So, I'll skip briefing, and just say for the moment that it was an awesome experience having my family grow. So, we got on the plane (~12 hours of riding) and all in all, not too bad of a trip really. I thought it might have been harder than it was. We had plenty to do, and the food was actually really good! :) I ate a LOT on that plane.
     

Anyways, we made it, and we went through customs, then got to get on a train to get from Narita airport to our apartments. Let me say their trains are nice. Marta doesn't even compare. They are properly maintained, they don't squeal when they stop, they're smooth... etc.
     Then we got to the apartment, and since it's just me and Tim sharing a room, we got a typical Tokyo apartment. I've heard it's about $500 in rent per month. (from a local) But it's really small. Although it has a burner, a washer (no dryer, everything is airdryed here) air conditioner, bathroom, ofuro (Japanese bath/shower) a bed, a futon. All in all, it's a pretty sweet little place, but I just wish it had a dresser to put clothes in...
     I slept on the floor on a futon. Let me say that this thing is awesome. It's comfortable, compactable, and probably not very expensive. I might have to invest in one, and use it in my dorm, just taking my bed and putting the pieces in the corner. We'll see how it goes though. Anyways, Tim being very sleep deprived and thirsty decided we should go across the street to the convenience store (conbini) So, we went outside, and wow, this city is quiet! Japan is all about being respectful, so people tend to always be quiet and courteous. (what they're thinking is probably another matter though :/ ) It literally will be almost completely silent when the stop light is red.

     It's also quite dark on the streets, and lots of lights are out. Because the fukushima power plant situation, Tokyo lost 25% of it's available power. It's amazing how well everyone works together here. It's definitely more of a society and interdependent country than America. So, when you walk out of the room, you turn off everything including air conditioning and the water heater (they have instant heaters here! So much better than a tank water heater) 2/3 of the Streetlights, signs, and store lights are off. The trains even removed 1/3 of their scheduled trains to cut back on power! Oh,  and recycling is real here. EVERYTHING is recycled and sorted. Glass, plastic, PET bottles, paper, burnable, and nonburnable. The trash trucks pick up different things on different days. It's pretty intense!
    Anyways, today we went to the student center for campus crusade and got to meet up with the staff, and get a briefing on what we're doing here. Really today was all about traveling a bit and familiarizing ourselves with the area. I had some excellent food, and we got to use the trains again. It's really an interesting city to look out over as you pass by. So much variety here, everything is like what we're used to, but with a distinct Japanese twist.
    On the spiritual side, I'm learning a lot about humility. I have to humble myself daily and be willing to ask for help, and be helpless. I really can't read most the signage here. I also am realizing that I don't have the language skills or the knowledge that I "need' to be able to evangelize properly. But, I'm also learning that God is here and his spirit will guide me, and use what I say as he works in the people I talk to.
    These people are so very lost. Today one of our trains was delayed 30 min because of a suicide, and apparently this type thing happens multiple times a day. The shame of losing a job causes men to go homeless because they're too ashamed to return to their house. There is so much here that is really neat, but there is also so much need that Christ has to fill. This country needs lots of prayer and the workers are so few. I'm really starting to see why I'm here, and right now I have a sense that I belong here. Maybe it's just the everything is new and interesting thing, but we'll see.


Thank you everyone for getting me here, and I know the Lord is working, please keep praying!