Can I do it?

I was just thinkning about some of my friends here that don't know who God is. I don's know how to lead them to God; I don't know what to say EVER- to anyone! I want to be a campus minister, but when I think of people like Jenn and Mike back at ETSU and every other minister I know, they all seem to have such an ease with knowing what to say to lead people in the right direction. I recently got an email from Jayne that asked up to pray for wisdon for twhat to say to some of the questions she had been asked recently by some of her Japanese students. That gives me a little hope- if she doesn't know what, maybe it is okay that I don't know. But the fact remains that she can at least get herself into thost situations. I don't even really know how to answer the EASY questions... I don't even know what the easy questions are!

As I was thinking about this, almost to the point of dispair, as I have a bad tendancy to slip into drama-queen mode sometimes, I asked God to teach me. Jeremiah 33:3 came to mind, though I didn't know exactly what it said. "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." Soon my eduation will begin!

11-month Anniversary

After lunch today, I went to the AIC office to be interviewed for the newsletter. As I was crossing the street toward the building, I noticed a man on crutches carrying a briefcase. The though occured that I should ask him if I could help, but I convinced myself not to. It turned out that he was the interviewer! James also scame to my interview, which did NOT make me less nervous, but it didn't make me More nervous either, which is good.
I stopped at Tokiwa Park on the way home to read for a while. Today was beautiful and sunny, but chilly so I needed a jacket as I sat in the shade (my kind of day). As I walked toward home, I realized that I think about some silly things sometimes. For example, I worry about the reaction that others may have toward my interview. I have no control over that, and everyone will react differently. So why do I even waste my energy thinking about it? In Psalm 19, the writer hopes that the "words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart" will be pleasing to God. I think that that is a better goal than trying to please everyone in Asahikawa that might read a monthly newsletter!

Middle is fine by me

While my patience was a bit better today, classes were really difficult. I signed up for Japanese class at city hall tomorrow. I am very excited but also very nercous. The lady interviewed me in Japanese to see which class I would fit into. She only asked me my name, where I was from, how long I had been here, and what I did here. I misspoke several times even though these are such standard questions that you'd think I'd be great at them by now. She put me in the middle class, but said that I would probably be bored some days, but that I could help othersif I wanted. I was stinkin' excited at this placement. I had wanted to be in the second class and her telling me that it may be too easy boosted my confidence. I am so nervous though! The first day of school! AHHH. On the list of think I want to do while living in Japan, as far as personal growth goes, is study Japanese and study Buddhism. I think it would be silly for me to leave this country and never have really applied myself to either. Speaking goal: to have dinner with somone ONLY in Japanese by the end of the year. 頑張りましょう！