11.30.05 - refreshed

back in tokyo after 10 days back in cali. God knows exactly what i need, and when i need it. i was having a very challenging time the past few weeks in japan. i know that God is stretching me and really pushing my limits in teaching me and allowing me to grow. but it was getting to the point where i felt like i was ready to snap and break. but undoubtably, God knew what i needed.

being able to return home for thanksgiving was a blessing. after feeling like i've been moving a million miles per hour the past 3 months, God knew i needed a break, and of course it came at the perfect time. it was great being able to hang out with everyone and be back home. even though my time back home was short, i found it to be relaxing and refreshing. it was nice being in familiar territory, where i didn't have to think so hard about where to go and how to get there. if anything, thanksgiving served as a good vacation, allowing me to get refreshed and geared up for the next few months out here. not to mention fattening up for the cold winter.

it's nice coming back to japan, and picking up where i left off. except now feeling refreshed and recharged. the next few months are going to be mad hectic, but after my time back at home, i feel excited about the next leg of my journey out here. let the adventures resume!

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11.16.05 - holiday season

christmas lights are already starting to go up in tokyo. i love this time of year! the decorations, the lights, the crisp air, and the changing colors of the leaves. i'm constantly being reminded to be patient, and to be aware of the things God is showing me. this past week, i bought a jar of salsa in hopes of a little "taste of home". unfortunately, the lid on the imported jar of salsa was screwed on so tight, that i wasn't able to open it. it almost felt like it was teasing me... so close, yet so far! i was even tempted to break the glass jar. i still haven't been able to open it, but i know i'll be able to open it when the time is right (or when i get a jar opener thingy-mabobby). but it reminded me of how i need to be patient with the things that God is teaching me. to not get ahead of myself, and more importantly, not try to get ahead of God's plans for me.

after almost 3 months of living in tokyo, i'll be making a trip back home for thanksgiving. i'm leaving this thursday, and will be back in the bay until the 28th. i've got so much to be thankful for, and i'm looking forward to seeing everyone back at home. the daily commute has become routine, and i'm faced with challenges at work everyday. there's still so much i want to do, and the weekends seem way too short. life in japan has been a non-stop whirlwind these past 3 months, and it'll be refreshing to be home, even if it's only for a short time.

so if you're in the bay between 11/17-11/28, holla at'cha boy!

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11.07.05 - b-boys and b-girls

felt a little under the weather this weekend, so i stayed in on saturday and rested. kinda bummed i wasn't able to go to the motorshow. felt back to normal on sunday so i was able to go to church. after church, went to the waseda university festival to watch a performance by the waseda university breakers with josh and 2 buddies. the waseda breakers are a world class breakdancing crew with over 200 members in their crew. you can check out a short clip here. they put on an awesome show featuring many different dance styles, including house, reggae, pop, hip-hop, and breaking.

it's hard getting used to the weather. one day, it'll be perfect and sunny... then the next day it'll be like a monsoon. it also doesn't help that the meteorologists on tv seem to change their weekly forcast everyday. so i picked up a heater on my way home to keep me warm.

one and a half more weeks till i get to come home for thanksgiving!

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only a God like you - tommy walker

for the praises of man
i will never ever stand
to the kingdoms of this world
i'll never give my heart away or shout my praise
my allegiance and devotion
my heart's desire and all emotion
go to serve the man who died upon that tree

only a God like you
can be worthy of my praise
and all my hope and faith
to only a king of all kings
will i bow my knee and sing
give my everything

to only my maker, my father, my savior
redeemer, restorer, rebuilder, rewarder
to only a God like you, do I give my praise

only a God like you, only a God like you
only a God like you, only a God like you

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11.02.05 - "aki" (fall)

os! it's already november! it has cooled down quite a bit here in tokyo. i've been able to travel around the kanto region and outside of tokyo quite a bit recently for work. i've gone all over chiba, as well as day trips to nagano and fukushima to visit customer facillities. pretty neat being able to see a bit of japan outside the cement/steel jungle of tokyo. the trees are turning colors, and the countryside is a refreshing sight to see.

saturday, went to the ICU (international christian university) festival to see josh do some rapping. it was dope. later, josh, toshi, justin, mike, and i went to kashiwa stadium in chiba to watch a j-league soccer game. josh's friend maques plays for the omiya ardija, who beat the kashiwa reisol 2-1. it was my first time going to a soccer game... it was a lot of fun, despite getting there late, and getting a little wet in the rain.

in other news, i picked up a guitar on sunday. there's a bunch of instrument shops on the same block as church, so i decided to browse around. i got an awesome deal on a seagull m6 cedar gt. sounds great and plays smooth... not quite a taylor, but i'm happy to have a guitar to play out here now.

we have another holiday on thursday (culture day), so we might go catch another soccer game. hopefully i'll be able to get out to see the tokyo motor show this weekend too. woot! anyways, here's a song currently at the top of my playlist:

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wholly yours - david crowder band

i am full of earth, you are heaven's worth
i am stained with dirt, prone to depravity
you are everything that is bright and clean
the antonym of me, you are divinity

but a certain sign of grace, is this
from the broken earth, flowers come up
pushing through the dirt

you are holy, holy, holy
all heaven cries holy, holy God
you are holy, holy, holy
i want to be holy, like you are

you are everything that is bright and clean
and you're covering me, with your majesty

and the truest sign of grace, was this
from wounded hands, redemption fell down
liberating man

you are holy, holy, holy
all heaven cries holy, holy God
you are holy, holy, holy
i want to be holy, like you are

but the harder i try, the more clearly can i
feel the depth of our fall, and the weight of it all
and so this might could be
the most impossible thing
your grandness in me, making me clean
glory, hallelujah
glory, glory, hallelujah

you are holy, holy, holy
all heaven cries holy, holy God
you are holy, holy, holy
i want to be holy, like you are

so here i am, all of me, finally everything
wholly, wholly, wholly
i am wholly, wholly, wholly
i am wholly, wholly, wholly
i am wholly yours

and i am full of earth and dirt, and you
here i am, everything

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