Day 23: City and Sea (都会と海)

It’s been a great past couple of days. On Saturday night, we had an event at Agape called “English Cafe.” It’s an outreach opportunity where people can come eat with us and practice English too. We had a really good turnout, so hopefully we can get even more folks to attend next month.  

Sunday was quite a day as well. Since Murray is in America, we had a fellow from the Japanese chapter of “The Gideons” speak to us. He was a very friendly guy, and I think everyone liked him a lot. Something pretty funny happened when he had to leave, though. There’s this very absent-minded older gentleman who comes to the church often—Not just on Sundays. If we leave the church door unlocked, it’s not uncommon for him to come waltzing in, maybe even in the middle of a Bible study or English class, just to hang out. On Sunday, he slipped out early and didn’t have tea with us—We didn’t really think much of it until our guest speaker had to go home. He couldn’t find his shoes anywhere. For those who aren’t familiar with the concept of a “genkan,” Japanese leave their shoes outside the main home in a special room connected to the front door called by this name. Usually, public places like stores and offices don’t have genkan, but a church is different—So no one wears shoes inside the sanctuary. If you haven’t figured it out yet, we eventually surmised it was probably the forgetful old man who had taken the wrong shoes. He lives extremely close, so a very kind lady from our church took a walk to his apartment, returning with our guest speaker’s shoes in hand! It was a bit embarrassing for us, but admittedly quite funny—And the speaker took it with a very friendly sense of humor. All’s well that ends well.  

Sunday evening, Kathy took me to an area about 25 minutes away by car called “Tarumi.” After about 2 minutes of being there, it definitely become my favorite place in Japan so far. Those who know me know I love the ocean, and Tarumi’s right on it. A variety of impressive shopping centers and smaller venues line the beautiful seaside, overlooking the breathtaking Akashi Kaikyo Bridge—The longest suspension bridge in the world. Adding to that spectacle alone, the suspension cables glow a variety of bright colors, lighting up the night and the dark sea. Basically, whether day or night, Tarumi is stunning. For dinner, we had okonomiyaki—A sort of Japanese “pancake” made from ingredients such as cabbage, shrimp, octopus, pork, etc — All topped with a special sauce mixed with mayo. It tastes much better than it may initially sound, I promise! After some shopping, we drove a little farther down the road and drank coffee at a Starbucks that overlooks the sea. This certainly won’t be my last visit. 

Today, after working at the church for a while, I went with Kathy to do some more looking around Sannomiya—A district which seems to never end when it comes to things to do. Any ladies reading who love to shop best plan to visit this area of Japan before they die—You probably couldn’t cover all this in even a week. One of the first places we stopped was an actual Christian bookstore—It’s literally hidden away on the second floor of a building whose first, initial floor hosts a sports shop. One small room filled to the brim with Japanese Bibles and theology books. As spiritually deprived as Japan is, it’s humbling to know that there are actual Japanese shining small lights even in the middle of a downtown district.

A large crosswalk in Sannomiya.

A few hours ago, I was able to teach a new class of two students. One is a longstanding student with us, a very intelligent high school school boy named Kodai, and the other is a full grown man with a wife and child named Yuuichiro. It’s an interesting duo not just because of the age difference, but also because Kodai’s English far outmatches Yuuichiro’s. It can be difficult trying to adequately factor their different skill levels into the same lesson, but I think it will be a good class when it’s all said and done. 

For those who have been wondering, my ear is improving—So thanks for the prayers. Much of my hearing has returned, and the ringing has largely subsided as has the infection itself. The doctor has me on medication meant to drain a large amount of fluid trapped behind my eardrum. The fluid has drained quite a bit, but there’s still a noticeable amount lodged back there that won’t seem to go away. I hope it will drain before Friday. If not, I face the possibility of having my eardrum purposely cut open in order to drain the ear. Not desirable, but I’m also sick of this ordeal at this point—So whatever.

This coming week in Golden Week here in Japan—A national holiday where many Japanese get rare time off. This weekend, I’ll be traveling about an hour south of Kobe to “Sakaide.” Akihiro, my university student friend that you might recognize from our karaoke trip, has invited me to go back home with him for a couple days. Our friend Manae is returning there as well, so I’m sure the three of us will have an awesome time. Manae and I are Christians, but Akihiro is not—So you can pray that Manae and I will be good witnesses. This is a super cool opportunity for me, especially being able to stay with a Japanese family for the first time. I’ve already accepted the fact that I’ll probably make an idiot of myself. Oh well. Often we must fail in order to learn. Thanks for reading. 

つづく。見ていますか？　この偽光

Day 18: To Teach Alone 一 (人でも教える)

Hello again. Murray will be in America for the next three weeks, so it's up to Kathy and I to hold down the fort. This is a bit stressful for both of us (more so Kathy) but also very exciting for me especially. I get to teach some classes solo now, without Murray's help, and will probably continue to teach them after his return. In addition, I'll be taking over one his Bible studies with a fellow my age.
So I'll be teaching that Bible study tomorrow morning (4/24) -- I've never really done a one on one Bible study before, but I think that, Lord willing, we will get along. After all, I don't think we can look at the Bible and be left in awkward silence. Just not that kind of book.

So in total there were two English classes I taught alone this week, not counting all the children's classes I assisted Kathy with. The first was with two junior high boys, and the second was with a very successful businessman. The two junior high boys have a pretty low level of English, and of course, I have a low level of Japanese. Sometimes it can be difficult to solidify the ideas I want to get across, but we mostly work out of a textbook, which streamlines things. It's not easy, but doable with a bit of preparation--Plus it's only a 30 minute class.

The second class I actually enjoyed a lot. The gentleman is very high up in his company, but he's not condescending at all--Extremely friendly and conversational. He does lots of international travel for his company, and wants to learn more English because of it. His English is semi-decent. While not super great, it's enough that I can break down complicated English concepts into simpler English words that he does know. And, for when I just need that one Japanese word, my iPhone dictionary usually does the trick.

Which reminds me--I finally got a phone here in Japan. Much needed! Kathy handed me down her practically mint condition (bless her) iPhone 5s, and upgraded to her coveted iPhone 6+. I prefer Android when it comes to phones, but phones (smartphones especially) are tricky business here in Japan--So I'm not passing down a free iPhone 5s for a mere $80 a month. Seven gigs of data and 4G--Plus, iOS has made some improvements since our last rendezvous. The iPhone 5s is snappy little machine to boot so--Yeah. I'm happy. My beloved Moto G will go into hibernation for the time being.

My ear has seen little change. Still the same hearing loss, swollen feeling, and ringing. I go to the doctor's, yet again, tomorrow. Hopefully something will come of it.

Anyway, I stayed up way later than was probably good for me writing this. I need to wake myself up in time to get ready for Bible study tomorrow. In closing, I'll leave you with the congregation of Agape Seishou Kyoukai sitting down for tea after the service--A weekly practice at the church.

つづく。見ていますか？　この偽光。

Day 14: Ear (耳）

Hey guys. Sorry I haven't been as active lately. Actually, there's a reason my activity has been down, and also why there haven't been a lot of posts about ministry. I've actually been sick, but didn't really want to tell anybody until I thought it was a good time.

The cold I had when I first arrived eventually subsided, but it developed into a nasty, nasty ear infection during its course. On the flight here, I experienced severe barotrauma during landing. It was extremely painful, and I think I may have slightly damaged my ear. Best I can figure, while I was sick with my cold, the gunk in my sinuses must have made its way to the damaged part of my ear and infected it.

For a while, I was in some major pain and had some less than pleasant things coming out of my ear. Eventually, my ear drained and most of the pain went away--However, at the time of this writing, my ear is still infected, swollen, and my hearing ability has been affected to a very inconvenient degree.

My experience with the Japanese medical system has been interesting, though not necessarily unpleasant. Japanese medicine is socialized, so it is quite cheap to get medical care and medications here. The detriment, of course, is the lack of personalization. You don't have a personal doctor--You just walk in and see the doc on duty. I've had to go multiple times, so it can be a little frustrating not seeing the same doctor. They take detailed notes that get passed on to future doctors though, so at least there is a sense of progression. I've been on multiple medications the past week or so, and today I was described Prednisone as a more extreme measure to beat this heavy inflammation.

I have received a couple hearing tests, and they have shown that the hearing function in my left ear is currently quite low. The nerves inside my left ear are also being affected, unfortunately. The doctors seem confident that if we can beat the infection soon, my hearing should slowly return. Please pray that I can be rid of the infection, and that the healing process can begin--Permanent damage would be heavily unfortunate, as you can imagine. To me, it basically feels like my ear is swollen shut. I can hear myself inside my head when I talk, and the ear rings. Loudly. All the time. It's very annoying, and makes talking to anyone in a group setting disorienting and frustrating--Especially when they're speaking Japanese.

This has obviously been a rather depressing and discouraging time for me. I am thankful God has brought me this far, and that he has been caring for me even in this sickness. But I just can't help but question--Why bring me this far and allow these problems that have inhibited my ministry and ability to perform? I've been thinking of my mother though all this. Though she's not here in person, her influence reaches across the sea, into Japan. She knows more than anyone what it's like to be struck with illness and not understand exactly why. Pray that I'll be able to exhibit the faith and Christ-likeness she has exhibited over the years through much worse experiences. When I was talking to her this evening, she reminded me of Paul's thorn in the flesh. He did not understand why God placed it there, but trusted Him despite it.

To everyone who's been praying for me--Thanks.

In lieu of a picture set, here's a video I took of Murray and Kathy rehearsing for some of the worship music during Sunday morning. It'll give you a good feel of the music style here at Agape. Please understand that it's difficult for me to get actual pictures/videos of services in progress. As you can imagine, the reason I don't attempt to get them is that it feels disrespectful to be whipping a camera out mid-service.

つづく。見ていますか?　この偽光。

Day 11: Football (アメフト)

Welcome back, everyone. Today I got to go watch some sports. Since I’m here in Japan, I wanted to watch something culturally relevant. So what better way to bask myself in the Japanese way than…American football!  

Alright so maybe American football isn’t so traditional here, but it’s still interesting to see the Japanese play. Murray’s son, Josiah, goes to a university a little ways from here and they play American football, so we went to a see a game today. The rules are, of course, the same as anywhere, but it’s intriguing to see the small idiosyncrasies noticeable only here in Japan. The most noticeable thing is how low the all-around “energy” is compared to America. Of course crowds gasp and get excited if something unexpected happens, but there’s no constant roar like you’d hear in the States—And you certainly won’t find a rabid fan ripping his shirt off and dancing with his body paint on. Japan likes to maintain a quiet, reserved persona, and it’s even evident at sports events. The most noise was being made by the cheer-squad. Speaking of which—Check out this guy who leads the crowd in cheers. He’s awesome. 

In any case, our team slaughtered the opposition. I hear that they’re the best team in their league, so it makes sense.  

I got to ride the train system quite a bit today as well, which was beneficial. It’s something I can always learn more about, as it can basically get me anywhere in Japan—For a price of course. It can be a little overwhelming at first trying to read what you need to read and then go where you need to go, but I think I’m getting the hang of it. 

Tomorrow’s Sunday, I just remembered. Maybe I can try to give you guys an idea of what our service is like at Agape.  In the meantime, pictures.

Football!

The mountains around the field were breathtaking.

This is a popular shopping square in Myodani Station--The closest station to where I live.

Oh--And for those of you praying for the Bible study I was supposed to have today, I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, we had to cancel due to some complications. I assure you that these complications weren't "cop outs" by either party and we hope to reschedule--So I'll keep you all posted on that. Thanks for the prayer.

つづく。見ていますか?　この偽光。

Day 10: Men, Women, and Marriage (男と女と結婚)

There's a huge outcry in the United States pertaining to sexism, but Japan has its own problems as I've come to find out. Women are afforded basically the same opportunities here, as men, but sketchy things go on behind the scenes. It's important to remember that Japan embraces a "shame culture," which means that, unlike America, it's less about "standing up for yourself" and more about "making sure not to shame yourself." So, for example, the woman who gets abused by her boss or molested on the train is very unlikely to speak out against it. It's not to say, of course, that such a thing would never happen in the West (it does), but it's fair to say the the social consequences are even more severe here in Japan. You simply just don't make a fuss. It's shameful and unseemly.

The same sort of thing goes for men to a certain degree, but the rules are more lax for them. Men can simply get away with more because of their gender and this unfortunately allows them to take advantage of women quite often. These problems can really even be traced back to childhood. It is common for boys to be disciplined quite lightly and for parents to be more strict with girls. The idea is, "If we spoil a boy now, he will spoil us later in life when he's rich. Right?" Once again, we sort of see the thoughts of the Japanese loop back to work and money. 

These unfortunate mindsets don't make marriage any better either. Murray has told me that there are more marriages in Japan based off nothing but money than one would expect. Apparently there is even a saying--"A good husband is healthy and absent." In other words, a good husband is one who is healthy enough to work, and spends all day there making money. Japanese men, as a general rule, spend obscene amounts of time at work, often 6-7 days a week. When the men do happen to be home, they more often than not expect their wives to be there too.

The members of Agape Bible Church are mostly women, and there are many women who would like to come but don't--It has a lot to do with these problems. The church is mostly women because most of them are wives who have the time and opportunity to come on Sunday mornings. There are next to no men because they're either still working on Sunday, or are taking their "well-deserved morning off." Then, there are many women who would like to come but don't because their husbands forbid it, as church is simply robbing them of their wife on the only day they have off. And, as mentioned earlier, the wives don't want to speak up or take a stand--It's all ingrained in the culture. 

There are a lot of difficult cultural barriers to overcome here. It's evident why Japan is not the most popular mission field, but its rocky soil is nothing to an Almighty God. We trust in His ability to break down even the most troublesome cultural walls. 

On a lighter note, have some pictures. 

A very pretty pedestrian area near where I live.

Young children and their mothers watch English class.

つづく。見ていますか?　この偽光。

Day 8: School (がっこう)

One thing about Japan that's really hard to swallow sometimes is the incredible strictness of the school system. Pre-school to early middle school is pretty much the same as the States, but let me tell you--At the end of middle school, it gets real.

Here in America, I'd say that college is pretty important. I mean, it's a good thing if you can go to a well-respected college, but the most important thing is just having some sort of degree. Even then, unless you're going into an incredibly specialized field such as medical, your options are pretty broad.

It's nothing like that here in Japan. Here, college pretty much decides the kind of job you can get. Want a good job? Get into a good college. But it's not as simple as that even. See, to get into a good college you have to get into a good high school. And how do you get into a good high school you ask? Rock those high school entrance exams. So it's pretty fair to say that your whole life starts to be decided during the end middle school. A lot of stress for young kids.

And as you've probably guessed, school in general is no cakewalk either. Even more so than the States. Tonight, I taught one of our Wednesday night English students for the second time. He's beginning the 11th grade, and attends one of the top high schools in the area. He showed us his schedule for the new semester tonight, and it contained about eleven classes total, with seven periods a day. He told us that he pulls at least a couple all-nighters a week just to get his work done. These kids aren't working just so their parents will praise their grades--They're working towards their future. It depends on this stuff to a very high degree.

It's kind of a weird thing to swallow. I mean, yeah, there were times during high school/college where I was busy, but I always had time to pursue my hobbies. An all-nighter before exam day here and there perhaps, but I never felt all that overworked. I've heard it said that many Japanese schoolkids are robbed of their childhood--And that's sad.

It all comes from the work-a-holic culture here. Work is the most important thing of all. Doing good work means you have value. Doing poor work means you don't. It kind of defines you. Just another ugly blemish that makes the gospel all the harder a message to preach.

つづく。見ていますか?　この偽光。

Day 6: Immigration (イミグレーション)

Hey guys. Still trying to fight off this darn cold, so it's gonna be a short one today. Went to a English class this morning with Murray where we taught three older women. One was a visitor, so hopefully she'll come to future classes.

After that we went to Sannomiya to visit the immigration office. I was able to get all my paperwork in line and I received a Visa of Ministry! This allows me to stay in Japan doing mission work for up to one year. It's an ID of sorts, as well, so it opens up some necessities like being able to buy a phone and such.

You can be in prayer for me and a fellow named "Taka." He was one of the guys I met at the Bible study I attended at the Godwins on Saturday. I've been texting back and forth with him, and we agreed to meet up and try for a Bible study together on Saturday. The Godwins have their Saturday study bi-monthly, so I'd like to study with him every Saturday the Godwins are not. This is my first solo ministry opportunity here in Japan, so please be in prayer for me and Taka.

Today, I'll share some older pictures you've never seen before. These are all of Sannomiya. Definitely my favorite place in Japan so far.

つづく。見ていますか?　この偽光。

Day 4 & 5: Karaoke and Easter (カラオケとイースター)

Sorry about the delay in writing a blog yesterday. To make up for it, you get to hear about two days! Yay!

But before we begin I feel like I should correct some false information. In my previous blog I mentioned the fellow I met and was able to do Bible study and gaming with—Kei. I said that he was not a believer, but that was incorrect. He is indeed a believer, but don’t cross him off your prayer list yet. Of course we always pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but Kei has a particular problem pertaining to church attendance. He says he wants to come to church, but since his mother’s only day off from work in Sunday, she expects him to be home with her the whole day. He’s very nervous about defying his mother’s wishes, so please pray for wisdom and guidance for him so he can fellowship with his church family as well as his immediate family. 

Carrying on, the day before last I had the opportunity to go to lunch with Murray and a fellow my age named Akihiro. He is a seeker who is very interested in the things of the Bible. Murray is hoping I can connect with him, and I think that’s already happened. We both share a great love for music, so I’m hoping that through things Bible studies, karaoke, and just general meet-ups we can have a great friendship.

Akihiro and I both attended a Bible study at another missionary couple’s home—The Godwins. They live in downtown Kobe, called Sannomiya (三宮), and they are preparing to end their ministry here in Japan soon. They’re training Japanese Christians to take over the Bible studies that they’ve been hosting because of this. I had the privilege to attend one such Bible study and it was simply fantastic. These studies are done in English, mostly, so that the attendees can study the Bible and English at the same time. I think that sometimes, when you encounter someone who cannot speak your language well, your brain tends to subconsciously register that person as perhaps being less intelligent somehow. Well, that’s obviously not true, and it was even more evident being able to study with these Japanese. Some were Christians, others not, but they all genuinely sought to understand the Word better and asked amazingly interesting questions. We were studying Proverbs 9, and so much interest was shown about “Wisdom.” They all wanted to learn more about wisdom, what it really was, and how they themselves could attain it. It's awesome. 

After the Bible study, I went with Akihiro to a karaoke parlor. Karaoke is sort of a known concept in the States, but nothing like in Japan. Here, there are whole buildings dedicated to a past-time usually reserved by Americans for Friday nights at the bar. You pay a very reasonable fee (about $6 for an hour and a half) and that lands you all the non-alcoholic you can stomach and a room solely dedicated to your group. You find your room number (much like finding a hotel room), walk in, close the door, use a touch screen to start picking songs, and boom—Karaoke. They actually have a pretty decent selection of Western songs, so if you’re not confident in your Japanese reading skills, they have you covered. It really is a blast, and not as embarrassing as one might thing. You just let loose and sing. No one cares if you’re good or not. I’ll definitely be back many times, guaranteed.  

Akihiro about to exit karaoke with me. We were out of time so sorry for the rushed picture.

Of course, I had to use the train system to get to Sannomiya and back. I had Akihiro helping me with both trips, but I feel like it won’t be long before I can start using the system confidently myself. 

Today in particular was Sunday, so I was able to attend a worship service here in Japan for the first time. Murray didn’t preach as long today, since he wanted me to share my testimony. but other than that it was a pretty normal service for them. It’s certainly different from what I’m used to back home—The music especially is much more contemporary than what I'm familiar with, with drums, guitar, and piano—But it doesn’t really bother me. Many churches that used the modern worship style feel fake or phoned in—Agape’s worship feels genuine, and I think that’s the important thing. Singing praise songs in Japanese, I can handle, but I still need to work on understand sermons in Japanese—That might take longer than I have!

After church, there was another irregularity in that we threw an Easter party for the children. Last week’s weather was very poor, so it was postponed until now. Kids were able to find easter eggs with candy, dye hard-boiled eggs, and then hear Murray speak about Christ’s death and resurrection. It was a blast helping out, and awesome to see little kids getting exposed to a gospel many in Japan haven’t heard.  

I feel like I should write more, but unfortunately I’ve fallen ill with some body aches and a scratchy throat. This sort of thing is common in international travel, so it’s nothing to worry about. You can just pray that it doesn’t affect me too heavily as to impair my work. I’m going to go try and and sleep it off. In the meantime, have some pictures. 

Looking down Sannomiya. 

Bible study at the Godwins. Akihiro is in green, on the right of me. 

Seeking.

Finding!

Children and parents at the Easter party.

An even younger group!

Oh yeah, we helped.

つづく。見ていますか?　この偽光。

Day 3: Otaku and Raw Fish (おたくと糸作り)

So today when I woke up, I went downstairs and was immediately able to join Murray and a guy my age named “Kei” in a Bible study. Specifically, they were discussing Old Testament prophecies related to the death and resurrection of Christ. He actually did ask tough questions! In particular he wanted to know if people just weren’t conspiring to fulfill known OT prophecies. But, as Murray explained, Pharisees and Roman soldiers had no interest in pinning Christ as the Messiah—Quite the opposite, in fact. Kei spent a lot of his life in Hawaii before he came to Japan, so he speaks both languages quite fluently—More so Japanese, but his English is still quite good. After the study, him and I went up to my room for a while and played some games. I learned quickly that he was quite fond of games and anime himself, and so we proceeded to geek out pretty heavily. Making a friend with my interests in Japan this soon is a blessing for sure. We agreed that we should head downtown to the hobby shops sometime soon. Kei is what we call a “ kyuudousha” (求道者) — A seeker. He is quite interested in the Word, but not a professed believer. If this friendship gives even more opportunities to be witness to Kei, then it’s something even sweeter than two otaku heading downtown to look at anime figures. 

Later, Murray and I went to pick up his grandson named Leo, who also is being raised here in Japan, from preschool. I thought it was pretty hilarious because as soon as we entered the facility, all the children started pointing at Murray and screaming “Santa-san!!” Murray actually does bear a certain resemblance to the one and only St. Nick, but it’s more so highlighted by the fact that many people/organizations in the area call upon Murray at Christmastime to play the character. Murray always agrees—With the stipulation, of course, that Santa gets to tell children the true meaning of the holiday. 

After that, we three went out to get “kaiten-zushi” (回転寿司). This literally means, in Japanese, “sushi that goes around.” All the tables in the restaurant are connected to a conveyor belt that is filled with small dishes of food. These dishes cost a low, flat rate. You grab the food you want, eat it, and then deposit the dish into a slot which counts your dishes. You then simply pay for the amount of dishes you consumed. There is a screen on the table where you can order speciality dishes as well. These dishes are then delivered to you on a conveyor belt above the main one that goes faster—Like a bullet train. Maybe it’d be better if I just showed you. Yeah, I filmed vertically. Like a moron. 

Sorry. 

Should be noted: I ate raw fish here. I've never done that before, but actually, with some rice and soy sauce--Actually not that bad. And I don't think I'm sick! 

Tomorrow I’ll be using the Japanese subway system for the first time, as I travel to attend a Bible study at another missionary couple’s house. Hope you look forward to hearing about what I’m sure will be an interesting experience. 

つづく。見ていますか?　この偽光。

Day 2: To Teach and To Learn (教えると習う ）

Yesterday evening, after I finished writing the first blog, I went to the church to observe Murray while he taught a couple English classes for children. These children were in the age range of 6-8 years old, so I’m not quite ready to teach them yet. The English obviously requires more explanation than it would with teens or adults, and my Japanese still isn’t quite at that level. Still, I love watching and participating when I can. Murray introduces me to students old and young as “Ethan-sensei” which I always find amusing.

My role is to introduce myself to the children very slowly in English in very plain terms. “My name is Ethan McGonigal. I am 20 years old. I am from America. From the state of Virginia. I have one younger brother. I have one younger sister. I have a pet dog.” All this is said very deliberately and slowly, of course, as the children grasp to understand as much as they can. Then Murray quizzes the kids on things I said with questions like, “How many siblings does Ethan have?” He also gives them the opportunity to ask me questions in English. Some kids are very shy and won’t say anything, but others are more interactive. There was this one girl who wouldn’t stop grabbing my hand or giving me high-fives. I’ll ask them questions in English too, and if they’re simple enough they can usually respond to a certain degree. The rest of the class consists of Murray quizzing them on their Roman letters, writing words on a whiteboard so that they can be read aloud, or playing games like Simon Says. Most of the kids always seem to be having lots of fun and it’s great to watch them learn little by little. Some funny stuff does happen though. I think my favorite moment was when Murray wrote the word “eat” and one girl blurted out “pineapple!”

Later on we did a class with two boys around the age of thirteen. Murray says I’m more likely to be able to take over that class alone since it’s taught out of a textbook, and doesn’t require as much advanced Japanese as teaching a children’s class. As long as I can follow the textbook I should be okay. I think I can probably handle it. Another class I got to help with on this evening in particular was with a Japanese businessman in his mid-fifties. He is the head of a certain department in his company, and they sent him to take lessons from Murray since they’d like him to do more international travel. This requires better English of course. His English knowledge is actually pretty good for a Japanese, but his pronunciation is stereotypically lacking and he fails to understand a lot of idioms and expressions. Murray teaches him out of a textbook as well, and it would seem he would like me to eventually perhaps take over this class at some point as well. I actually feel quite comfortable with it, because I only need explain advanced English concepts using simple Japanese and simple English, which I can do. He’s a very friendly man who asked me questions about my life, but also enjoyed telling me about his latest business endeavors. It was a lot of fun getting to talk to him, so we’ll see how that whole gig goes in the future. 

It’s interesting how even though we’re teaching English classes, you can feel the subtle drive of ministry behind it all. Even the fact that we’re doing them inside the church is a bit influential in and of itself. Just because of that fact that the Japanese have to walk inside a church with religious imagery everywhere must be a bit strange for them in and of itself. The children in these past few classes have been invited to an Easter party on Sunday evening (since the weather was nasty on actual Easter Sunday). We plan to do an Easter egg hunt and then a resurrection message. The Christmas party was apparently quite successful, since Christmas is big here in Japan. But Easter is not—So it looks like the turnout is going to be much lower. Murray asked many children today if they could come, but the response was quite often a very quick “Muri muri muri.” （むりむりむり。） —  Basically, “Impossible,” or “I really can’t.” I could see the disappointment in Murray’s face and it was honestly quite disheartening.  

Interestingly enough, the older gentlemen we taught’s wife is a Christian—And quite a strong one by what I’ve heard from the Trim’s. He is not, however, so that’s a huge ministry opportunity right there just to be examples and expose him to Christianity. The textbook we use for him is a Christian text with verses, so that’s a start. It would be nice if we could get him to come to church, but many Japanese businessmen don’t since it’s their only day off. For him it’s no exception, it would seem. 

There are many cultural barriers here to overcome, and many of them simply do come from the workaholic culture of Japan. Work comes before anything else, church included, and it can be hard to get Japanese to even one service because of it. As stated previously, many just want their mornings off. Some husbands actually forbid their wives from coming because they want one day to be pampered with undivided attention. A sad state of affairs. 

Only the Lord can turn us to Christ, as we know. It’s simply our job as the instruments to be good friends and neighbors to the Japanese until they come to us with real interest—I think the Trims have been accomplishing that very well. I hope to do the same.

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.  

Agape Seisho Kyoukai from afar.

A road near the church. 

A park near the church.

Church sanctuary.

Yours truly. But don't worry--I won't be preaching.

つづく。見ていますか?　この偽光。

Day 1: Welcome to Japan (日本へようこそ)

Well, I made it. It was a crazy long trip but I made it. Kind of crazy to think all my luggage made it halfway across the planet, but it did Thankfully. For my last flight from Tokyo to Osaka I rode on a Japanese airline called “All Nippon Airlines” (Nippon is what the Japanese call Japan). It was, as expected, the most comfortable of all the flights. Extremely spacious plane with soft seats that recline back about 5x as far as American ones do. United was a great airline to fly with, don’t get me wrong, but ANA blew them out of the water.

When I actually got my bags from Osaka’s airport, I had to flag down an attendant to work the bus ticket vending machine. I couldn’t read enough Japanese Kanji to work it properly. She was very kind and I was able to get my bus ticket and go. The bus ride was about 25 minutes long, and I got to see the Kobe cityscape all lit up—So that was cool. 

I got to the stop and was picked up by the Trims. It was about a 10 minute drive to their house from there. The Trims have a son my age named Josiah who usually attends University but was on break, so he was staying at the Trims for the night. No sooner did we put my bags inside that he asked me if I was too tired to go to an onsen. For those who don’t know, an onsen is sort of a Japanese spa that consists of various pools filled with water from natural, underground springs that are then heated to very high temperatures. I’d always wanted to go to one, so I took him up on it immediately. Sorry in advance, but I couldn’t take pictures there. 

One thing about the onsen that I didn’t realize I was getting into was the clothing situation. As soon as you walk back to the men’s section of the spring, clothes come off. All clothes. Come off. And not just for the spring area—The whole men’s facility. So yes—You and everyone else walk around absolutely, 100% stark naked. Not going to lie, it feels a bit violating at first, but after a few minutes you realize that nobody cares and well—Everyone else is just as naked, so whatever right? 

That aside, the onsen is amazing. It’s like trying out 10 different hot tubs. Springs with bubbles, regualar springs, springs with jets, your own personal giant bowl of steaming water, etc. Then, after you can’t feel your muscles anymore, you go to a bathing area complete with body wash and shampoo. The Japanese shower a bit differently than American's. The whole floor of a Japanese bathing area is like a shower with a drain. So you sit on the floor atop a stool and rinse yourself with a handheld shower head. Then you later up, and when you’re ready you grab the head again and wash off. This is all done sitting down, like I said. I admit, the concept doesn’t seem that pleasant, but it’s actually very comfortable. And since you’re holding the shower head, you can get a warm and concentrated stream where ever you like. It feels pretty nice!

I got my first Japanese culture lesson while we were drying off. Josiah has lived in Japan his entire life, so even though he’s of American blood he’s essentially a Japanese that speaks perfect English. We were talking and apparently I was talking too loud. He kindly told me to quiet down and told me that if I don’t be careful of that sort of thing I’ll get labeled as a “KY” or “Kuuki Yomenai” (くうき よめない) — This means, “one who can’t read the air.” Essentially, it is the culture in Japan to heavily mind your surroundings and not become louder or more excited than those around you. I know I’m going to break more of these rules but I don’t mind getting called out. I can’t learn otherwise. 

Before I left the spa I stuck my feet into a cold tub filled with fish called “Doctor Fish.” It’s kind of creepy but also kind of nice. They’re tiny fish that swarm your feet and legs in a piranha-like swarm and nibble off your dead skin. It doesn’t hurt—Just tickles. Your feet come out all rejuvenated. It’s certainly something. Anyway, I just went home and went to bed. 

I have time to write this now, so I also snapped a couple pictures.  

Here is the outside of the Trim’s home/

A look to the left.

A look to the right.

This is my room here.

Once the room of a young child. It’s still pretty cluttered but I want to get it more straightened up. You can see that my mattress sits up against the wall during the day and that table goes in it’s place. The Japanese don’t often sit on chairs at desks proper, but usually sit on their legs at a low table like this one. It takes getting used to, though not entirely uncomfortable.

For kicks, here’s the bathroom. 

And shower area.  

In about half an hour I’ll be leaving with Murray to observe him teach English. Wish me the best on that, and look forward to hearing about it next time.

つづく。見ていますか?　この偽光。

Day Zero: さぁ、始めよう (Now then, let's begin)

It’s kind of surreal to think that I’m actually going to Japan. I mean, yeah, I’ve been dreaming and fantasizing about it for the longest time, but to think that tomorrow I’ll actually be boarding a plane and flying halfway across the world—It’s kind of indescribable. I’m not really nervous, but I’m certainly not calm either. It’s only eight months—not an eternity by any stretch—but certainly the longest I’ve ever been away from those I care about most. It’s got me thinking lately about the people I care about, and how I was so heavily molded by so many different people in my short time so far on the planet. Looking back, I met lots of people and was affected by all. I feel like now is a good a time as any to look back and give people credit where credit is due. Because I didn’t become who I am today by sitting around, all alone—For better or for worse. Yes, we are responsible for our actions, but only a fool would say our company has no effect on our person.  So thanks to the following in no particular order...

• Caleb and Phillip Hall  

My brothers. I mean that in every sense of the word. “Friends” doesn’t cut it. We’ve known each other since the beginning and have helped each other keep going along the way. We’ve also witnessed each other’s greatest faults and shortcomings and have stayed by each other’s side nonetheless. Ridiculously late nights of Playstation are burned into my memory even more so than MW2’s crosshair was burned into my retina. Caleb—Our 6-hour-long chats have helped me through the most depressing of times, and your ridiculous sense of humor has had my sides in pain on countless occasions. Phillip—If I ever need a bodyguard, you know I’m calling you up. We all know you’re not as talkative as Caleb is, but our times spent together are just as meaningful. Whether it was beating the crap out of the other kids with pool noodles, beating Double Dragon Neon, or our conversations on theology—Life is never wasted with you. Sorry for baiting you into all those fighting games that always just made you mad in the end, though. Guys, I hope we continue to be just as close, even now as things get busier and life gets more complicated. I’m always here for either of you, and I know I can count on you guys just the same. Caleb—Keep drawing and chasing your ambitions. Phillip—You’re a lot more like me in that you’re not positive as to exactly what the heck the future holds yet. I’ll be praying for you both. Keep in the faith!

And thanks to the whole Hall family—You guys know I love you all, and that I’m forever thankful for the hospitality and the overlooking of my many flaws. See you when I get back!

• Joey Thurmond 

They say you can’t make friends over the internet, but you and I both know that’s absurd. We spent forever only talking only PSN, but just last month I went and visited you and your family in NC for the second time. You’re certainly another friend that has stuck closer than a brother, and like Caleb and Phillip, our mutual faith in Christ makes our friendship that much sweeter. I’m sorry that you’ve had to see the unpleasant, opinionated, and argumentative sides of me over the years. It means more than you know that you’ve stuck with me despite it all. Thanks for introducing me to Kingdom Hearts, for always reading my written works, and listening to my songs despite how bad they all are. Again, like the Halls, our late-night gaming sessions are some of my fondest memories, and I hope they carry on even into the future. Also—Lara Croft. I’ll leave it at that. You’re one of the greatest writers I’ve ever met. Keep writing the most raw opinions you’ll find anywhere, and showing people that gaming journalism isn’t a weak form of the career. I’ll be keeping you in prayer, and I hope God will bless your ambitions to the fullest. God bless your family as well—The very definition of generosity and hospitality. Love you guys! 

• Grandpa 

One of my greatest and most respected mentors—The amount you have taught me about what it is to be a true man is almost boundless. I’m sorry it wasn’t easy at times, but thanks for never giving up on me. The happiness you’ve brought not just me, but all of us, throughout the years means more than you could ever know. Whether it was looking at old comics, hearing the stories of your childhood, or going to car show with you, us kids ate it up like candy—We still do now. Your example in recent years has brought an even more “mature” tone to your testimony. Your extreme endurance and example to remain Christlike even in the face of darkness is truly a wonder. Just as you’ve supported me since the beginning, I will support you until the end. I’ll be praying that God will continue to bless you, teach you, keep you—As I know you’ll be doing the same for me.

 • Grammy  

The definition of “selfless.” Like my Grandpa, you are one of the people I respect most as an extremely wise mentor. Your constant giving of yourself and your resources is an extremely Christlike example to all who come into contact with you. I feel as though you’re one of my biggest supporters, and that I can come to you with any problem. Thanks so much for all the childhood memories. Yes, the candy, presents, and money over the years truly made for some great times—But make no mistake. The best part of visiting with you is just getting to be with you. I know we all wish Pap-Pap had been around to see how our family has evolved throughout the years, but I know we’ll be able to tell him all about it someday soon. I’ll be praying for you just as I know you’ll be praying for me. 

• Pap-Pap 

Pap-Pap, you went the way all mortal men must walk quite some time ago. It felt early—But I know it was only God’s perfect plan. Some children in this family are too young to remember you, but I am not. I always looked up to you as a kid and now, as an adult, I can respect you even more—Especially for the values you instilled into my father that he has passed down to me. Your attitude and testimony remained true all throughout your life as well—Even in the face of death. “Better than I deserve” has become a staple in this family as you taught us our sinful state before Christ, and the power of His mercy in turn. You left a legacy here on earth. Thanks for always showing interest in my hobbies as a kid, and giving me all the love and attention I probably demanded at the time. I’ll be seeing you soon. 

• Uncle Joe 

Uncle Joe—I’m not quite sure how Heaven works, but I hope that you have met my Pap-Pap at this point. If we retain elements of our earthly personalities, I think you two would get along well. It hasn’t been too long since you left for home, and it was a disheartening experience for all of us. A sister lost her brother, a father a son, and a son a father. I lost an uncle. But, like Pap-Pap before you, we know that you know live in the presence of Almighty God—Someday we will join you there. Uncle Joe, I feel like you’re heavily responsible for the person I am today—And that his a high compliment. People can laugh and scorn all they want to, and that’s fine, but video games are a huge part of who I am. They have taught me a lot of things, and molded some of my greatest memories. You gave me my GameBoy Color as a child and informed me of good games versus bad ones. Most kids weren’t smart about their games—But I was thanks to you. You continued to game into adulthood teaching me that games aren’t something you outgrow, but mature into. Now I’m a bigger gamer than ever, and proud of it. Thanks for everything throughout the years. I’ll be seeing you soon. 

• Josh Valent 

You’re technically my cousin, but you might as well just be my brother. Growing up with you and playing Nintendo by your side are practically the greatest memories of my childhood. Super Metroid, Dream Course, Mario Party, Smash Bros., Star Fox—Man we had it good back then. Just spending hours upon hours on the floor playing video games because nothing else mattered. One of the greatest things about our friendship is the fact that we haven’t let our age get in the way of our fun—We still get together and Nintendo-it-up frequently because we both know that games aren’t just something you “outgrow.” You’re always smiling and laughing—Even through the most truly terrible times. It’s something to be admired. I’ll be back soon, and we can game on all over again. Until then, may God keep you well

• Uncle Kerry & Aunt AnnaGrace 

The times I’ve had with you guys over the years are some of my fondest memories. Just hanging out with you guys is awesome—Whether it be playing ping-pong, video games, or just talking. Yes, you guys are my elders and I respect you as such—But there’s a sense in which I consider you guys my good friends as well. Uncle Kerry—I’ve always loved talking tech with you. You’re one of the few people I can geek out around without feeling like I’m speaking another language to someone else. You’re also one of the few people who makes me jealous with their tech set-up. I’ll never understand why on earth you spent so much time at school, but your level of biblical knowledge is something that’s always inspired me.  Aunt AnnaGrace—Your patient and honest personality is awesome. You’re one of the few people that actually challenges me upfront on my more radical opinions and really makes me think about my own mindsets. I love our Youtube sessions and talks about music—It just never feels like we have enough time to go over everything I’d like to. I hope you guys will be praying for me, as I’l be praying for you. Let’s do coffee when I get back, okay?

• Uncle Tom and Aunt Laura 

It’s no secret that God has blessed your family with abundant material wealth, but it’s also no secret that He obviously knew who he was entrusting it to. The generosity you’ve shown the whole family throughout the years has been a blessing to us all. Whether it’s a trip to Sight and Sound or dinner for the whole McGonigal clan, the gatherings you guys host are a grand time for all. I always love hanging out in the basement drinking soda and playing pool or ping-pong. Trips to your place are always just great. Thanks for being such great example of generosity and hospitality to the whole family. I hope you guys’ll be praying for me in Japan, and I hope to see you soon when I get back! 

• Travis Baber 

If we told people we met because of “My Little Pony” I don’t think anyone would believe us. Funny how the show doesn’t even play the slightest role in our friendship anymore, but hey—All’s well that ends well. Thanks, man, for being a fellow geek in this city full of dudebros. It’s been harder to hang out lately with your weird-hour-job, but I hope we still get to hang out, game, and talk tech even more down the road—Also waifu wars. Hanako will always be best girl—Get used to it.

• Corey Bartley 

Senpai—Stupid weeaboos for life. It’s been a blast getting to know you these past couple of years, dude. Having someone with the same tastes in games and anime is crazy awesome, as I know you’ve found out too. You’ll always be the best ADC I know, and thanks for dealing with my saltiness on the Rift. Come visit me in Japan if you can grab the cash—We’ll go to Aki and tear the place up. There won’t be a single figurine left. I’ll always be here for ya, man, if you need someone to talk to.

• No Name

You don’t have to read this, but I feel that if I’m writing to people who helped me get where I am today, not writing to you wouldn’t make any sense. Yeah, I had a big crush on you, and I’m sorry for making all those years so unnecessarily awkward. I was a victim of all sorts of unkindness from all the other kids throughout the years, it’s true—But of course I realize that I brought much of it on myself for just being myself—An annoying, troublesome person. I don’t look the whole experience with much fondness, but I’d be lying if said there wasn’t a good time or two mixed in there. I feel I need to thank you because you taught me some things that made me who I am today. Your unkindness taught me that it simply just sucks to be mocked and scorned by anyone at all. All that teasing made me much more aware of others after I left. When I joined a church plant after I came to Waynesboro, I made it a point to always be the first to welcome newcomers into the group—No matter how strange, or even annoying, they were. Everyone wants to be accepted. In the meantime, I held a grudge against everyone there, and your letter that you sent me years later taught me even more. Your apology humbled me and taught me that I could forgive—Not only because it was Christlike, but because when it was all said and done I probably had a lot to do with my own mistreatment. I wasn’t quite the innocent victim I thought I was. We don’t talk much anymore, and that’s understandable, but I hope you’re doing well and that you’ll continue walking in Christ. Stay sharp.  

•Pastor Riddle 

The past few years of sitting under your teaching have been the most beneficial of my Christian walk. Reformed, Calvinistic theology has deepened and strengthened my faith dramatically, because now I understand the gravity of our sinful state which means I can properly understand the gravity of Christ. Yes, some of truths of the Word aren’t what you would call “convenient,” but that’s what it’s all about—Understanding that we are mere men before a Holy God. I see you as my greatest teacher, and even a second father. Thanks for listening to my long-winded rants about life, society, and theology. Those long car trips from Charlottesville to Lynchburg were the best. You’re certainly one of the people that has shaped my life the most, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please continue preaching the truths of the Word until you can preach no more—I’ll miss being there in person, but I’m glad I can still get your sermons online. See you when I get back. 

• Hannah, Lydia, and Sam

Thanks guys, for hanging out with me at church almost every Sunday. I try my best to not hog conversations, but you guys know I’m terrible about it anyways. Thanks for dealing with it so kindly, and listening to my rants on things you probably didn’t care less about. Hannah—I know we butt heads basically…every time we come into contact, but I do love and respect you as a good friend. Even though our relationship is a weird one full of disagreements, you always showed interest in my life and what I was accomplishing in it—I actually appreciated that more than I’m guessing you know. That actually reminds of this one time years ago where you asked me to come play basketball with everyone at church. You probably don’t even remember something so mundane, but I came from a pretty “non-inclusive” church background so it actually meant a lot to me and I never forgot it. I hope God gives you success in everything you do. 

Lydia—I feel like you and I connect in the area of music. I really enjoy talking about all kinds with you, and I’ll miss not being able to do it anymore (at least in person). You actually got me listening to a genre of music I never thought I’d be interested in and that’s pretty awesome if you ask me. I hope I introduced you to music you may have never thought to listen to as well. I’ve heard your musical talent and I think you’re a great artist. If I have the courage to make my terrible music available to others, I know that you can make your great music available to the public as well.  You may need some time to make that decision, but I hope you do let others in on your songs someday. Even if music doesn’t end up your “career,” I hope you continue to always pursue it at least on the side. Thanks for your friendship, and I expect an album when I get back. Okay, at least an EP or something. 

Sam—Sometimes I forget you’re so much younger than me, man. You’re definitely wise beyond your years. I think I told you once I admire your quieter tendencies. I wish I had the ability to only open my mouth when I have something profitable or genuinely funny to say—You’ve definitely got that gift. Continue to utilize it—A well kept tongue will serve you well, let me tell you. Like Lydia, thanks for teaching me all about Broadway and for never ceasing to amaze me with your piano skills. I wish you the best in all that you do—Thanks for your friendship, and like Lydia, I want that album when I come back—You guys can do it together.

• Sarah Washburn 

Sarah--I feel like you and I share a lot of the same ideas, and our outlooks on life are relatively similar. You defy the image of the stereotypical, frivolous girl and all these are reasons I think you're awesome. You were always there to back me up in an argument against Hannah, and I always enjoyed our talks. I know life has changed a lot lately, but I hope you realize I consider you a good friend and only wish you the best. Hope you'll be praying for me as I'll be praying for you.

• Mrs. Reed 

My “former” piano teacher was a good one, but she was very conservative and didn’t really think outside the box. It was you that taught me music was my expression of my thoughts and feelings to others—Not the feelings of others conveyed through me. Nowadays I love creating music, but I don’t know if I would’ve had the gumption to pursue that if it hadn’t been for you. Thanks for all you taught me about the piano, music, and even about life! I know I was probably one of your weirdest students, so thanks for the patience too. I hope you keep inspiring other students like you did me—And I promise I’ll try to appreciate “pitty-patty” music more often.  

• The Pointe Crew 

Austin, Austin, Kevin, and Claire—You guys made my four years in Williamsburg awesome. I’ll never forget the all the crazy and stupid stuff we did. Playing Smash Bros. and StarFox for hours, running around getting lost in the woods behind the neighborhood, building all our “forts,” and playing sports in “the field.” Too much fun. Yeah, we had some rough patches here and there, but all that tends to be hazy compared to all the good times. I wish you guys the best, and I hope we can continue to catch up throughout the years at least here and there. 

• Organization KH 

Jav, Supa, Ani, Fur—They say you can’t make real friends online, but OKH has been proving those uneducated folks wrong since the mid 2000s. We came together because we all love Kingdom Hearts, but we stayed friends all this time because we’re an awesome group that talks about hilariously stupid stuff. Jav and Supa—You guys are just awesome and always looking at the positive in things. Love playing games with you guys, and I guess I need to install SF3: Third Strike so you can wreck me at it soon. Ani—You have a hilariously blunt sense of humor which I love, and I’ve learned some awesome vocab from you over the years. Sorry we didn’t get to play as much Destiny as I think we both would’ve liked. Fur—Our resident tsundere! We all know you’re actually the friendliest “assassin” on the planet, but don’t worry—The secret’s safe with us. Glad we’ve been able to keep up over the years to talk rock music and anime. Watch subs, Fur—So much better that way. You guys are my online buddies, so me leaving the country changes nothing of course! Still feel the need to give a shout-out though. 

• Nandor and Miklos Shaffer

I’m actually listening to “The Made” as I type this. Love the fact that we met through Joey—Crazy how people get connected, right? I haven’t known you guys super long, but it’s clear that we definitely connect not only as friends and Christian brothers, but as music lovers as well. The fact that you guys have already produced an album makes me super jealous and I hope to follow in your footsteps someday. I can tell you guys have a really strong faith, so I pray that God will only continue to make you stronger and that you’ll continue writing great songs for many years to come. Talking to you guys about games, theology, and music is so refreshing because I don’t often get to talk to mature Christian brothers about those things. I know you guys feel the same on that one. I hope that we continue to keep up and become better friends—And I hope you guys will be in prayer for me in Japan, that I might be a Zealot as well.

• Taco Bell Crew 

I always tell people I didn’t mind working at Taco Bell—I just couldn’t stand the customers. The crew was the best, and I love you guys. We made it through some seriously stupid stuff and helped each other up when we were down. 

Mark—Everyone at the Bell thought you were a jerk—And you totally are, but that’s okay because we’re both jerks. It’s why we got along so well. We definitely held each other high during some of the worst times ever. You made my time working there so much better, man, and I can’t thank you enough for it. We had some seriously awesome and hilarious times. I hope everything keeps going well for you in Staunton and that we continue to keep up. Stay frosty!

Sharie—You made me feel valuable and needed as an employee—A sentiment that not every manager provided me. You probably saved my skin from Maria’s unholy rage once or twice, so I definitely owe you for that. Closing with you was the best. Even if your musical taste wasn’t the greatest, I still liked listening to Johnny Cash Radio. I hope you’ll keep rocking on and I’ll see you when I get back.

Michelle L. — We’re practically dating, right? Yeah, we may have hated each other each shift until 8 P.M., but that couldn’t be helped, right? We had a lot of awesome closes together and I’m going to miss those for sure. Keep being awesome, and stay in touch! 

Jawaun—I don’t have anything to say to you. Moving on…Kidding. You go way overboard sometimes, man, but one can’t help but love Waunie the Pooh! Seriously, lay off the constant degrading insults. But keep being awesome too! Love you, Waunie!

Maria—I respect you as an employer and I think you run an airtight ship. Personally, though, I think you sometimes treat people with undue unkindness. It’s the times you were smiling that I think people respected you the most. At the end of the day, though, you’re a good boss. You threw us parties, gave us Christmas gifts, listened to our work/real life conflicts, and I always got the days I needed off. You recently left the Bell, so I wish you the best of luck in whatever you do—Thanks for the job!

Cat—You and I made and awesome drive-thru duo and we really clicked as friends who definitely supported each other. I enjoyed our coffee and Silk Road exploits, secret handshake, and stupid antics. I hope we continue to be friends—And hey. Please don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone, please. Please? I’ll be praying for ya. 

Drew— Yeah we got on each other’s nerves here and there, but I respect you as a person and as a hard worker. You got yourself where you wanted to be because of those good qualities. I’m glad we were able to put aside our differences at least near the end. Keep on rocking—Hope you continue to do well. 

Beth—Love you, Beth. Definitely one of the kindest, most considerate people I’ve ever met. You’re one of those amazing people that gets beat down and continues to keep on moving. I’ll be praying that God continues to grow you and gives you the strength to excel. I loved working with you, and I’ll miss our conversations! We’ll definitely keep up, though. See you at the crossroads. 

Thomas—You’re young dude, but you’ve got a lot in you. I respect your work ethic and I really enjoyed hanging with you. I know you don’t believe in Him, but I’ll be praying that God will give you wisdom as you finish out school and begin raising your daughter. I wish you the best, man. 

Desiree—Smurfette! Geek power. Heck yeah.  Thanks for being my fellow geek friend at the Bell! We liked some different stuff, but we definitely connected anyway. Thanks for helping me in drive-thru when I was getting wrecked and always having an encouraging word. I wish you the best at Orbital Grill and beyond! 

Mary and Sandy—You guys may or may not hate to admit it, but you’re literally almost the exact same person. Just different ages and stages in life. It’s a good thing though! Your “no BS” attitudes make you forces to be reckoned with, but you also both have kindhearted personalities than can light up a room. Thanks for making my time at the Bell that much brighter and I wish you both the best.  

Bobby—Speaking of lighting up a room—Dang, Bobby. It’s no secret that we all love you. Possibly the most positive person I’ve ever met, I’m not sure there was ever a moment where you weren’t laughing or smiling. It’s obvious that you love people, and I really appreciate all the good times and laughs you gave me and everyone else. Keep on rocking, man.

• Duel Analogs/Staunton Gaming

It’s been a blast playing Smash with you guys. I’ve definitely upped my game tremendously since I started hanging with you all, and I’ve loved every single second of it. I never thought I’d actually have a whole group of guys to play competitive Smash with! 

Dan—Thanks for getting the whole thing kicked off and being my wingman at G2K. It’s always a blast talking with you whenever I come in there. Also, thanks for introducing me to the wonderful world of Prog Rock—I’ve learned about some awesome bands through you and I can’t thank you enough for that. See you when I get back, man. 

Cody—Thanks for always generously opening your place for us, man! You’re definitely my main Smash rival, and I know you think the same of me. We push each other to the limits in our matches, and no matter who wins or loses that only means we become a little stronger every time we face off. Keep practicing—I’ll be back with a vengeance. 

Robby—It’s a shame we got to know each other better only just recently, but hopefully we can hang more when I get back. Thanks for opening your place to me, my brother, and my cousin for hype Smash, arcade, and Guilty Gear action. I look forward to becoming the best May that Johnny’s ever seen and permanently erasing Carl. Period. 

Kaleb—Even though you have terrible taste in waifus, you’re still awesome. I really do consider you the “spirit” of DA. You really keep the group going with your enthusiasm and knowledge of the game, so I hope you continue to do the same while I’m gone. I’ve enjoyed all our friendlies and competitive matches, and I hope to play you soon—Maybe even in Japan! Who knows?

Nick—The best Smash player I know—And also the most humble! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your humility in victory and your willingness to show me all the tricks of the trade. I’ve really enjoyed hanging with you, and I hope you’ll teach me more in the future. 

Anthony—Thanks to you too for your generosity in opening your home to us. That mega tourney was absolutely unforgettable, but our Ike vs. Mario friendlies are just as much so. I’ll get you next time. 

Jimmy—You’re one of the friendliest guys in the group, man, and a fantastic Ness player. I love our matches and I hope I get to square off against you again soon. 

•Tommy Annest 

I’m a day away from my flight to Japan—I wouldn’t have made it this far without you, man! It was thanks to your help that I finally have this opportunity. Thanks so, so much for walking me through the TEAM process, for praying with me, and encouraging me along the way. I hope you continue to help others in the same way you help me.  I’ll be praying for you and your wife, man, and I hope you’ll be praying for me as well. 

• Peter Marshall 

I didn’t forget you, man. I robbed the educational system blind—And you helped me do it. There were a lot of rocky patches along the way, but I can’t thank you enough for all the help you gave me in achieving my goal. You’re a big part of the reason I have my degree and I can’t thank you enough. Keep rocking on with your music, and I’ll be praying for your family—Please pray for me as well! 

• Ray Hargreaves 

I never thought that simply tweeting one of my biggest musical inspirations and favorite comedians would land me a Skype call with him. Multiple Skype calls! Dude, I can’t tell you how much our talks have meant to me. Your genuine desire to help me better my music is appreciated more than you could know, and just talking about whatever has been just as awesome. I constantly take your philosophy of “not having expectations” to heart, and I wish you the absolute best in whatever you do. Keep dropping it like it’s hot. Can that “whatever you do” be a new album sometime soon, though? I’ll be praying for you, man, and I hope you’ll do the same for me. 

• Micah  

I love you like a brother, man. I guess there’s a reason for that. You’re one of my best friends on earth and I hope you realize it. I know we didn’t always get along the best when we were younger, but I know that in the past several years we’ve really become a lot closer. Your sense of humor is indescribably clever and your creativity puts mine to absolute shame. Your programming endeavors constantly wow me, and you’re also the best pinball wizard I know. I love being able to constantly geek out to you, my fellow Nintendo loyalist—Even though sometimes I know you could care less about some of the things I’m crazy about. Our gaming sessions, arcade trips, and even our talks are just the best—You’re on your way to great things, man—I can feel it. Keep on keeping on, dude. I love you tons, and I’ll see you when I get back. Work on getting that table so I can play it too.

• Cady 

We butt heads a lot, yeah, but I know you’ll miss your bro-bro deep down. It’s kind of funny because I almost feel like we got along better when you were younger for some reason. Then you actually got an attitude and it all went to pot. Kidding. I love you lots and your insane personality always makes me smile, and I love the fact that I have a little sister who can utterly decimate most of my friends in Smash. I’ve trained you well. I hope you keep on horseback riding since you seem to enjoy it so much. As cliche as it sounds, keep on being you and don’t change for anyone. See you later!

• Mom and Dad 

Mom. Dad. I think it’s probably best to just say—I’m sorry. I think, in many ways, I failed you both. Yeah I mean, sure. I got good grades, lived clean, and never did anything reckless or criminal. You both know I’m saved through Christ as well, so it’s not as if you have to deal with a non-regenerate child either. But I just think that I gave two a way harder time throughout the years than was ever necessary. I’m opinionated, prideful, and don’t like being told I’m wrong. It’s caused a lot of fights and sad times throughout the years. I’ve said so many things I regret. Made so many mistakes. Mistakes that probably should have earned me worse consequences than I received. But, in all the ways I failed you—You two never once failed me. After the consequences had been dished out, there you two were—Always ready to reconcile and put things in the past. You two are not only my parents and greatest mentors—But I consider you my best friends as well. I know I don’t always show my love for you both as I should. But I really do try, and I think you both know that. I hope that God will take me and mold me even further in Japan. I hope to return to you as a better son—And simply a more Christlike child of Christ altogether. 

Mom—I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You are, by far, the strongest person alive. You’ve suffered. Suffered. And then suffered some more. Half of what you’ve gone through would cause some open bitterness towards God—Even rejection. It takes true strength to, even through the questions and doubts, rely on an Almighty God to direct you—Even when it’s agonizing and disheartening. So many Christians could use even fractions of your strength. Don’t get me wrong, of course I recognize that God Himself affords you this strength, but the work you put into understanding God and your role as His child is evident and to be admired. As I said earlier, your strength also shows through how you raised Micah, Cady, and I. Yeah, Micah’s easy we all know it. But Cady and I actually aren’t perfect. It hasn’t been easy, but we know you love us all and your constant love and care has made home such a warm place to be. And homeschooling three kids isn’t what you would call “fun” either. You could have spent all these years doing so many more entertaining things with your time like so many other women do, yet you chose to fully dedicate to loving us. Teaching us. Guiding us. Selflessness. I treasure our time spent together so much. Our long conversations (sometimes debates!), Starbucks runs, and even video games from time to time (bless you)! Mom, I love you so much and I always will. Thank you for always being there for me and teaching me so much. I feel that if I can be half as strong as you someday, I’ve done well. Of course I’ll be praying for you, and I know you’ll be doing the same for me. 

Dad—As I said before, you and Mom are my best friends. And you are my greatest mentor and role model. I could have never made it this far without you, Dad. You made all that I am possible. You’ve taught me so much about what it is to be not only a man, but a Christlike man. Just observing you all these years has afforded me so much of that knowledge. Of course you aren’t perfect—But that’s just the human condition we all suffer from. I can learn just as much from observing your flaws as I can your strengths. But make no mistake: Your strengths far outweigh your flaws. Through all of school, work, and just life in general you’ve always been there for me. I know that sometimes I may have gotten upset and maybe didn’t properly thank you for all that you did for me, but I know you know I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. When a situation knocked me down into desperation, you were always there to pick me back up and encourage me to press forward. And I’ve always loved how you don’t hold grudges. Even after our biggest fights, it never took any time at all to repair the relationship. It always meant so much to me. Our times spent just being together are some of my greatest memories. Our hunting trips, Mario Kart/Need for Speed sessions, or even just talking one on one—I’ll always treasure those things. Dad, I love you so much. If I can become even half the man you are today then I feel I’ve done well. I’ll be praying for you, and I know you’ll be doing the same for me.

These friendships mean more to me than anyone could ever know. Even if you weren't explicitly mentioned here, if I know you then you've made an impact. You don't come into contact with someone and not learn something, after all. Well then. Let's begin. 

--Ethan