Team HOT: Sayonara Nihon

Well, today was our last day here in Japan (Nihon) and boy are we all going to miss it. Today was a sad day of goodbyes to people we had built such fun and loving relationships with. Our team was split for the morning to attend our church services. At Agena Sensei's church, Wil and Janet gave the sunday school lesson and played duck-duck-goose with the kids. The kids loved it! Nicole and I walked in the church with our homestay and the kids upstairs were screaming and laughing and having soo much fun! By the way, just to tell you a little bit about Nicole and my homestay...we visited a castle and then did some shopping with the three girls (two about Nicole's age and one, a fourth grader) and their mom. When we got home after the couple's party, we played the game Sequence with the entire family (mom, dad, brother, 2 sisters, and a friend.) Unfortunately, it was a short stay and they brought us to church the next morning where we said our goodbyes. It was a lot of fun and though difficult to communicate, Sequence really broke those barriers and helped us all to have a good time. And now...back to church! Nicole and Wil gave their testimonies and did a great job, really touching a lot of hearts in the church. Following service was a potluck similar to last week with even more great food. (If I come home 10 pounds heavier, please try not to make fun ;) After that, Nicole and I got a chance to go karaoke with Stacia (Mary Jo's daughter, our Asian Access contact) and some of the members from her home church. So that was a lot of fun for both of us and totally different from what we envisioned. It was very mellow and calm with an atmosphere that we could just relax in after two long weeks. Tonight the entire team went to another potluck at Higa Sensei's church and ate some more delicious food. (I tried goya, the vegetable of Okinawa, for the first time...it is sooo bitter!) But don't worry that is the ONLY thing I didn't particularly care to eat for this entire trip. We did some awesome worship (One way, Jesus!), listened to a short message from Higa Sensei and then got to eat everything from rice balls to tempura to KFC. Then we all gave our thank-you speeches and fellowshipped with the youth and other people there afterwards. Finally, we said our goodbyes to all of the wonderful members of Higa Sensei's church :(... which brings us to now where we are all packing up and getting prepared to go home. These two weeks have been absolutely incredible and I know I have been so touched and moved by the pastors and people of Okinawa. The pastor's visions for their churches are incredible and truly inspirational for the entire team. Sure, I can't wait to get home and sleep on a comfortable bed with a pillow, drink ice-cold water, and shower without getting out and sweating again anyway, but I will miss Okinawa, waking up to screaming kids in the preschool, talking with the awesome translators, and just being able to minister to and serve the people here. Thank you for all the support you have given us through your prayers and for being faithful "checkers" of the blog. See you all after our trip home!

Love, Britt

Duck duck goose with the kids!