my sentiments today

"A heart torn between two pieces of earth. Between two different and unique people. This heart feels like it may break. With one, yearning for the other. And then a breath... Peace...Be with the one and keep the other close. So close you can almost taste, touch, and hear it. Red, the dirt. Beautiful, the faces. So distant yet so near. Always in my heart."

Strange Encounters

I was sitting down by the beach under the shade of a palm tree just reading and taking in the sights as I love to do. Joel calls is people watching and "creepy," but whatever. Anyway there I was when this elderly Japanese woman came slowly walking by me. She was short and a bit pudgy. She was wearing a white tennis hat (click here for a pic) and carrying a large plastic bag full of aluminum cans. She was a happy woman. Out of no where she started smiling at me and speaking to me in Japanese. She then sat across the way from me. We proceeded to have a conversation. You know how it is trying to communicate with someone when you don't speak their language, there is a lot of nodding your head, pretending like you know what they're talking about, and a lot of gesturing. Through our conversation I found out that she is 81 years old. Let me just say right now that she looked maybe 65. She has 4 grown boys, her husband is dead, and there is no bus to her home in Chatan so she walks. She found out how old I was, that I was married, and have no babies. She just yabbered on while I smiled and nodded at her. She pointed at her cans, said something, and did some other gestures to which I think she said that she has collected enough cans for 3 drinks of sake. This amazed me 1, because she's so old and still getting around, rather slowly, but still. And 2, well, she drinks quite a bit. She also asked me if I was going to be there tomorrow too. I think she enjoyed our strange conversation. I did too. Days like today make me wish I spoke Japanese.

One afternoon in Japan

Today, sitting in the sunlight in the sand, I took in some of the Japanese way of life. Shutting my eyes I heard the tiny voices of children talking, the cheering of a crowd watching a volleyball game, voices singing in harmony because of a won volley, and laughter everywhere.

These are the sounds of a peaceful people.

My eyes still closed, I smelled the Japanese flesh popsicles(YUM!!), a smell that reminds me of home and mom's bbq. I also smelled the salt of the sea as the waves crashed against the sandy shore.

Opening my eyes I saw families far and wide, scattered on the beach enjoying each others company. Children of all ages digging in the sand , running, and splashing in the water. Young and old alike, floating on intertubes in the water. A group of college age students sitting under a gazebo like tent drinking, laughing, enjoying life.

A culture of such tradition, of such modesty, closely knit to family, finding enjoyment in life.

I am brought to curiosity...Do they ever work? When...it's 2pm? Do the teenagers actually like spending time with their parents? Why don't the women wear swimsuits but instead shorts and long sleeve shirts? What are they talking about? ...

What a beautiful culture, full of life, tradition, and mystery. I can only speculate what aspects of God's character are shown to the world through this people. Maybe patience. Maybe peace and serenity...

Give me grace to learn and to adapt O God.

Far off places

I am just an ordinary girl that seems to end up in the strangest places.
I lived in Burkina Fasa, Africa for 2 years, which was the best time of my life. I lived among some of the most poor and needy people of the world. I played with children all day long, and somehow got to call it "work." I made so many friendships and memories there with the local people. I became fluent in 2 new languages.

And now I find myself in Okinawa, Japan with my lovely husband, where most days I hang out with other women and "go shopping." The best days are the ones when my husband and I go exploring.

Life seems to take the funniest of turns. From living in the dust to living on the sand. From living with nothing to living with more than I could ever have asked for...Who would have known that a plain ordinary girl, like myself, would have so many adventures? Don't get me wrong, I love that, somehow, I am the one traipsing off doing "things of grandeur." I just never though that I would end up here, ever really. The two places are so very different. Its hard not to compare them. My hope is that this place and these people help to mold me into someone who I never thought I would be.