明日から本当の仕事をはじめます。約束しよう。

A beautiful day in Saitama, the country side of Tokyo, near Higashi-Kurume.

a community garden in higashi-kurume

This morning we all woke up today and headed down toward a place in Tokyo called Mitaka, where the Campus Crusade for Christ Japanese headquarters are. The headquarters are in an oval shaped building with a winding staircase on its side. We made our way up into the high floors of the building and into a small room with straw colored walls, a table, and some pink chairs. There everyone began to pray and praise God, to think on the importance of faith in Christ, and share our hearts and emotions for Japan, surrounding the few months between the tsunami and earthquakes, and us arriving in Japan. This morning we all felt very much more connected to each other. In a deep way we knew something more about each other, and to hear the stories of others and how God has impacted their lives, was amazing. It's really an honor to be working with a team like this one.

After we had spent some time talking, we headed down to lunch. We went to a place called Ootoya, a family style diner located on the second floor of a a building with glass walls on three sides and a cozy but clean atmosphere. The plates we ordered were rather inexpensive, and HUGE! I had soba with chicken katsu, which was absolutely delicious. A typical meal I could have eaten in California, yes, but it doesn't taste the same. I remembered for a moment why returning to the United States was so difficult the first time I went to Japan, partially because the food here is just so amazingly rich and wonderful.

This is our lunch together as a team! Can you see the daikon radish in the far corner?

Once we had finished lunch, we headed out to the CRASH Office in Higashi-Kurume. Finally, the moment we had all really been waiting for. At the CRASH Office, we were able to sit down with the organization that had taken Campus Crusade on to help in projects that will aid in the rebuilding process of the areas affected in Japan by the tsunami and earthquakes. The office is on the corner of a street in Higashi-Kurume, with sliding doors, and a beautiful lobby. Behind the reception desk, there are white boards everywhere with schedules and times and maps and drawings in English and Japanese. In a few rows are volunteers sitting at their own computers working tirelessly to figure out the details of CRASH's mission to serve Japan. Our team headed into a private meeting room and were given details and instructions, guides and lanyards, even some cool bright green buffs to wear on site.

I think that was when it all really hit me. I am a part of something far bigger than myself, even than I could have ever imagined. We looked at a map of Japan and the areas where Crash is doing small projects. It was amazing to see those small acts adding up little by little, beginning to cover the map. Even if the work that we do is small or not so heroic looking, I will be happy to know that I was here to help.

Kelsey and I being "Here to Help"... maybe a little too enthusiastic.

 After our visit to the CRASH office, we were set free! Literally. To go and explore Higashi-Kurume with a map and see what the city was like. Kelsey, Rachel, Renee, and I took the bus out to a place called Qurune, an indoor shopping mall, to get some supplies we need for tomorrow. It was a fun excursion to say the least, and now that we are all good and tired, I can see a good night's rest ahead of me, I hope. Jetlag has been a much talked about issue these past two days and I am hoping that it will wear off sooner rather than later for everyone so we can do our best these next couple of weeks! Gosh, I'm just so excited to be a part of this. I know that on March 11th, I wasn't the only one feeling helpless and wanting to just drop everything and come to Japan. It's amazing to see how God has brought this group together, and I'm excited about His plans for Japan and the small part, but the part nonetheless, that we can play in all of it.