This is Patty. She just found out that we have another delay. Poor Patty. She wants to fly to Japan. She is very sad. It's true. We have another delay. However, we have news from Japan, and we are told that we will be flying out next Friday. Hooray! Although it's been a testing of our patience, it has been good in so many ways. Rather than us being a bunch of random individuals going to Japan, God has truly formed us into a unified team. We're praying the same unity will happen with the three trooper teachers already there.

This morning the pastor of Grace Fellowship, Jerry King, came and spoke with us about waiting on and for God. He shared from Acts 16:6-10 about how Paul and some of his companions wanted to go to Asia, but God called them elsewhere, changing their plans and causing them to wait. Then he talked about when he and his family went to China, their delays, and how they only got to stay about a year, after planning to stay 3-5. It was actually very encouraging. Not in the sense that we may not go to Japan, but that God's purpose is always bigger than our own, and we are called to obey, not "do." Obeying sometimes means waiting, sometimes means suffering well, sometimes means abandoning all that's close to us, but it always means drawing closer to our Father and living his perfect will--even if it's not comfortable.

Pastor King also shared this sonnet by John Milton, written as he was losing his eyesight:

When I consider how my light is spent,

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

And that one talent which is death to hide,

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide;

"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"

I fondly ask; but Patience to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts; who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed

And post o'er land and ocean without rest:

They also serve who only stand and wait."

Pretty much this says it all. God is above anything we could offer him. He doesn't need it, he only asks for our service for our sake. Though our attitude doesn't always match, it is a privilage to wait.

For those of you wondering...nope, still no visas. We do, however, have the understanding that Mr. Maki is planning to travel later to Sendai (in Japan) to put some fire under some tooshies--but in a much less direct, Japanese way, of course. As you can tell, we've had a lot of time on our hands...this is Lis, Adriane, Tammy, and I prettending to be (buff) old men. Yes, we need our visas SOON! Today was much better as far as morale goes, but it's been up and down. We had worship music practice this morning for two hours, and all in all it went pretty well (we're planning to lead worship on Sunday at Grace Fellowship as a team). Although we're very different in our gifts, it seems that many of us have strengths in the musical areas of life, and deciding "who was boss" was a bit of a challenge a couple of days ago. It's coming together nicely, though, as we learn to submit to each other and consider the group before ourselves--a good lesson to learn, and a very Japanese way of thinking. I was also kidnapped by my mother today and taken to see some model homes and floor plans for new houses. Yes, my parents are moving while I am in Japan, and they're going to build closer to my dad's work. It was good so see the beginnings of things that will transpire in my absence...a bit hard to believe they actually will, though. It's very time for bed. But, before I go, some quotes from the last 24 hours: Adriane: (about our community sleeping quarters): "This place is starting to get a funk." Patty: "Design, German, and dessert...all in one night! Nothing could be better."

Well, another day has passed at what feels like the extended version of camp. All seven of us girls are staying in one room, so instead of the "5th day of camp" feel from never going to bed on time and having to get up early, we're having the "14th" day of camp" feel, which I think is a new one for all of us. It's fun, though, and it's good to get to know these women (and Nate) on a deeper level. A variety of backgrounds and strengths/wisdom are represented, and we have a lot to draw from as a group. It will be great to meet up with our other three teachers when we get to Japan and see how the puzzle gets completed. This morning we finally did what we've all been waiting anxiously for: watched the Academy Award-winning Funehiki, Where Dreams Come True. We were particularly delighted when, during the showing of a cultural dance, the narrator (who was clearly reading a script throughout the film) stammered out in a monotone voice, "here the dancers raise a lusty cry" and later something about a stew "warming the cockles of the heart" just about the time "the chill of winter begins to penetrate the bones." Truly it made our dreams come true...literally, because afterward we were all so sleepy we were ordered off to a mandated "nap time" by our leader. Aaaah, at least my dreams came true at that moment. No word on our visas yet, but the majority of the group believes (when I say believe, I mean took a random guess) that they will be sent tomorrow. Considering the three poor sensei (teachers) in Japan have to cover our classes while we're not there (or so we're told), the sooner we can get there the better. We're still praying... Quote of the day: Nathan Tucker while describing a favorite dessert of his: "It's like pumpkin pie on crack!!"

Left: Our team: (front to back) Cristy, Trishah, me, Lis, Tammy, Kristin (a friend of some of the teachers), Patty, and Adriane. Below: Our Orientation Leaders/Former teachers: Nate (also our team leader), Bethany, Erin, and Rebecca. Well, I had planned to start this once I reached Japan, but currently we're not quite sure exactly when that will happen. Our group of 7 (female) teachers and our fearless (male) leader planned to fly out very, very early on Monday the 15th. However, our visas never arrived; hence we are currently "stuck" in Mansfield waiting for Encho Sensei ("head teacher," what we call Mr. Maki, our boss and host) to head to Tokyo with a perverbial "big stick" to get things rolling. Aparently the recent terrorism in London has caused the Japanese government to do extensive background checks on those entering Japan to work, so I guess we're somewhat suspicious-sounding characters, because it's been delayed quite extensively. Our plan at this point (Lord willing) is to fly out the 31st, and we would all appreciate prayers in that regard. We've been staying at Grace Fellowship Church and as gracious has everyone has been to our group, today marked the beginning of tension and a partial dissipation of the "honeymoon" stage of team living. It would help to feel usefull. Personally, this time has been really good to get to know the other teachers and to actually grow in my relationship with God. I've been able to process a lot of things that I've pushed aside because of the whole "life" thing, so getting those out on the table has been great. As a group we've done a lot of neat things together...such as, but not limited to: painting the youth building an avacado/mustard color (as for color choice, we claim no responsibility), heading to Cedar Point for some thrills, learning some Japanese phrases and characters (hoping to learn a large portion of the alphabet before we go), enjoying the cuisine of generous families in the church, hiking at Mohican, the rich cultural experience that is the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival, "talking about our feelings" in our (again, male) leader's terms, breaking a van's radiator, learining about Japan to prepare ourselves for inevitable culture shock, and lying out on a friend's lawn watching Waiting for Guffman projected onto an old bedsheet. For being essentially "purposeless" here, we've found a lot to do. Well, that's all for now. If you're curious, the name of this site came from my fellow teacher, Patty, who decided that my realistic/occasionally pessimistic view of life merited me the title of "marshwiggle"--Puddleglum's species in the Chronicles of Narnia series. For now, oiyasuminasai! (goodnight)