We started the day with a Japanese church service, complete with Japanese worship and scripture readings. The sermon, given by Pastor Taizo, focused on how we should learn from the parable about the wedding feast (I believe it's somewhere in Matthew). Basically, the message was that we should be willing to serve in God's kingdom regardless of how it would affect our daily lives. We were able to listen to the sermon with headphones, through which an American missionary translated the sermon into English for us. Taizo's style is similar to Grace's Dave Rod; very blunt and thought-provoking!
I already typed up a bit about the festival, so let me skip to the awe-inducing department store we visited later that day: First of all, the ground floor was one GIANT grocery store. Even compared to American groceries, it was on the large side. Compared to your average Japanese market, this store was a mall all in its own. The whole reason we went to the grocery store is to...well, buy groceries.
But that dosn't mean we did a little exploring.
The next floor was all clothes and hair accessories..and, actually, just hair. It sold wigs that, in the words of Bri, felt "suspiciously real". 0.0
And then, there was the kimono department.
(I wanted to post pictures here, but my computer is still refusing to upload ><)
Anyways, this magnificent little part of Japan was tucked in the back of the store. They had stunning formal kimono, including the elegant furisode. The closest American equivalant I can think of would be a cross between a prom and wedding dress. A girl can go out and buy a furisode to celebrate Adult Day, a special holiday in mid-January that commemorates young people becoming of age. In Japan, you're considered an adult at 20 and can then vote, buy cigarettes, drink, etc. The bright colors, flashy patterns, and loooong dangling sleeves of the furisode traditionally signal that the wearer is a young woman elligable for marriage. Today, they are worn to very formal occasions only. Some women can only rent out a furisode due to their enormous costs. One of the furisdoe I found cost around $1000! Though, I'm still trying to figure out if that's just the kimono itself, or all of its trappings.(Kimono underwear is actually very complex.) We did, in fact, find a 30-piece ensamble being advertised. We tried figuring out just what those 30 pieces could be and only made it to 7.
Obviously I couldn't buy one of these gorgeous outfits, but Bri and I did get to play a little bit of dress up before leaving the store! :D You can see us going native on the BEK Facebook page.
The third floor of the department store is a giant floor-wide arcade; but that's the only stuff I know about it. We didn't have a chance to go that far up. Maybe later....
I want to blog more, but it's getting late, and we have to be up early tomorrow for our first day of BEK!
Please pray for me and my vocal cords. I'm supposed to lead worship, but my voice is already starting to fail after today's worship boot-camp. I hope it comes back soon :(
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Just a quick blurb before bed.
It's been a long day of hustling around in the wonderful Japanese humidity, which is like Indiana humidity, but wetter. But it was definetly a fun one. :)
We arrived in Higashi-Kurume last night around 8:30 and greeted by the gracious Pastor Taizo of Kurume Christ Church. Everyone and everything made it safely! Quite a change from last year.
After being beaten down by jet-lag, it actually took me a while to get to sleep last night. And then I was up with the sun the next morning. And really, I'm pretty much adjusted already!
We attended an early service @ KCC and then returned a bit later for their summer festival, which was quite the social event. There was lots of people from the community coming in as well as KCC's own members. There was lots of tasty Japanese food, games, and good conversation. Later, we went to a Japanese grocery/department store. But that story is going to need a LOT of enthusiasm to tell, which I frankly don't have the energy for. It will be included with tomorrow's post(s). :)
Have a good night/morning!
We arrived in Higashi-Kurume last night around 8:30 and greeted by the gracious Pastor Taizo of Kurume Christ Church. Everyone and everything made it safely! Quite a change from last year.
After being beaten down by jet-lag, it actually took me a while to get to sleep last night. And then I was up with the sun the next morning. And really, I'm pretty much adjusted already!
We attended an early service @ KCC and then returned a bit later for their summer festival, which was quite the social event. There was lots of people from the community coming in as well as KCC's own members. There was lots of tasty Japanese food, games, and good conversation. Later, we went to a Japanese grocery/department store. But that story is going to need a LOT of enthusiasm to tell, which I frankly don't have the energy for. It will be included with tomorrow's post(s). :)
Have a good night/morning!
Friday, July 27, 2012
O, Canada!
Time to kill a 5-hour layover. Why not make a blog post?
Right before take-off to Toronto, a girl hustled on board with a toddler in her arms. Both were wearing tye-dye t-shirts that explained, "Two people fell in love, and then here we were!" Or something like that. Not long after, another child with a matching t-shirt came on. Then another came on. Then another. And then another. And then yet another! The final count? 10 kids. I don't know who they were (besides the next Dugger family) or where they were going, but my prayers are definetly with those two people who fell in love (and all the passengers who get to sit next to their toddlers).
Things are moving pretty slow around gate 73. I just tried a food court poutine (a Canadian delicacy of french fries topped with cheese and gravy). It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but not exactly my new favorite international dish.
-For some reason, I can't upload pictures right now. I'm sure you were all dying to see the masterpiece that is poutine. ;) -
While we were sitting around the food court, a woman came up to us and asked if we were going to Colombia. As it turns out, she and her group were headed out there to do their own missions work, evangilizing door to door using rubix cubes. I'm not exactly sure how that's going to work, but it sounds pretty awesome! It was refreshing to cross paths with her!
We've already had one tiny mishap with luggage. We were told that we needed to claim our luggage at Toronto and then re-check it for the Tokyo flight, only to be told (after waiting a half hour by the carosel) that our luggage was already taken to the Tokyo plane. I certainly know worse things have happened, so I definately can't complain too much. Let's just hope this is the last of any luggage confusion :)
With love, from Canada <3
Right before take-off to Toronto, a girl hustled on board with a toddler in her arms. Both were wearing tye-dye t-shirts that explained, "Two people fell in love, and then here we were!" Or something like that. Not long after, another child with a matching t-shirt came on. Then another came on. Then another. And then another. And then yet another! The final count? 10 kids. I don't know who they were (besides the next Dugger family) or where they were going, but my prayers are definetly with those two people who fell in love (and all the passengers who get to sit next to their toddlers).
Things are moving pretty slow around gate 73. I just tried a food court poutine (a Canadian delicacy of french fries topped with cheese and gravy). It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but not exactly my new favorite international dish.
-For some reason, I can't upload pictures right now. I'm sure you were all dying to see the masterpiece that is poutine. ;) -
While we were sitting around the food court, a woman came up to us and asked if we were going to Colombia. As it turns out, she and her group were headed out there to do their own missions work, evangilizing door to door using rubix cubes. I'm not exactly sure how that's going to work, but it sounds pretty awesome! It was refreshing to cross paths with her!
We've already had one tiny mishap with luggage. We were told that we needed to claim our luggage at Toronto and then re-check it for the Tokyo flight, only to be told (after waiting a half hour by the carosel) that our luggage was already taken to the Tokyo plane. I certainly know worse things have happened, so I definately can't complain too much. Let's just hope this is the last of any luggage confusion :)
With love, from Canada <3
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Here is the link to the livestream:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/japanbek
Since there is a 13 hour time difference, you might want to have some coffee handy :) The Tuesday session starts at 9 PM; Wednesday, 1 AM.
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