Return to Japan

Before I was entirely ready, I received word that it was time to return to Japan. I really enjoyed my time in the States - relaxing and recuperating with my parents in Colorado, and having fun adventures out in the Midwest. But God's timing is perfect and I knew it was time for me to head home to see my husband and jump back in with the youth ministry at the chapel.

The way they set it up, I had to notify the Air Force that I wanted to go back, and then wait on pins and needles for them to send me an email with my flight itinerary. Somehow I was given a spot on the very first flight returning to Misawa, which was great because it meant I was home in time for Easter. But it also meant they hadn't really perfected this system for making travel arrangements. I fully admit that I was FREAKING OUT because they told me I would be leaving Seattle on Thursday night, but did not give me plane tickets from Colorado TO Seattle until 10:00 pm on Wednesday night - less than 12 hours before I had to be at the airport!

Everything went smoothly after I got the tickets though. My flights from Colorado Springs to Denver, and then from Denver to Seattle were all on time. I arrived just in time to check in for our flight to Misawa, and only had to wait for about four hours before boarding. Several of my friends were on this flight so I had people to hang out with while we waited. Jenn Steffens was one of them so I got to help her out with her twin baby boys again! So fun.

The flight back to Misawa was only 9 hours long. But due to the time difference we left Seattle at 8 pm Thursday night and landed in Japan around 9:30 pm on Friday night. I wanted to try my hardest to avoid the jetjag, so I stayed awake during the entire flight. That way I would be tired and ready to go to sleep when I got home. So while all the other exhausted mothers and babies slept, I watched four and a half in-flight movies. =^)

Thankfully they had things well organized on the ground in Misawa so we did not have to wait very long before reuniting with our families. Again, I am impressed by and thankful for how well the military treated us during this whole crazy process. The Air Force rocks!!

My first couple days home were very laid back. James and I just rested and laid around the house - enjoying being together again after a month of separation. We made a quick trip to the grocery store to help re-stock the fridge. I know James was happy to have me home and able to cook for him again. ;^) Easter morning we went to church, and then opened our home up for a casual potluck so we could celebrate being home with our friends and neighbors.

The ground still shakes from time to time, but the aftershocks are less powerful and frequent. The base is pretty much back to normal, and spring is on the way! I think Dorothy said it best, There's no place like home.

225

One of the most exciting things I got to do while in the Springs was helping to clean up and paint the inside of the new First Pres college and young adult building. Located at 225 N. Weber Street, it is right around the corner from the main church building. I know a lot of people were very skeptical when it was purchased because this building was once a funeral home that was shut down because the owners were engaged in some illegal practices. Why in the world would they hold Sunday school classes for young people in such an ugly building (pictured here) where they used to house dead people?? I was there visiting the first week the college group met in this building, and can confirm that it was a very creepy place. It was dark, quiet, and there were black smudges on the walls in the basement where they used to cremate bodies. =^O

But the church has completely gutted and renovated the building, and you would never know what it was in the past looking at it now. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any pictures. But they completely redid the front - tearing down the strange archways and lining the front rooms of both stories with big plate glass windows overlooking Pikes Peak. On the main level they have an open meeting space with a stage where they can have large group meetings or concerts. There is also a little coffee shop in there so college students can come, hang out, and study during the week. In the basement they have several small group meeting rooms, one of which overlooks a play room so young mothers can have the freedom to attend Bible Studies without worrying about finding a babysitter every week. The second story is mostly offices for the college and young adult ministers, as well as a big kitchen overlooking a patio where they can prepare fellowship meals and have BBQ's.

While James and I were involved in the Seekers college ministry, we spent a great amount of time at our minister Mark Epperson's big house on Cascade. For many of us, it was a safe haven - a home away from home. We gathered there for fun and fellowship every Sunday afternoon, and held many fun group events there throughout the year. When Mark moved, the group suffered greatly because of the loss of that space and bonding time. The leaders recognized this and are praying that this new building will once again provide a platform for this kind of growth. They have all kinds of ideas for how to use this building as a launch pad to minister to the community, and I am so excited to see what God does in and through this space. We have joked - but it's true - that God is breathing new life into this building that was once filled with death and decay.

They are only a couple of weeks away from the grand opening, and so they had a big work day one Saturday and had all the college kids and leaders come in and clean, paint, and prep the space for the final touches. I mostly helped paint the big conference room/creative planning space at the front of the second story. It's amazing what a difference a little paint can do. We warmed up the space and trimmed out the giant windows with some black paint that made them really pop. I was so sore after over three hours of using a roller and crouching down to paint the trim, but it was worth it. I can't wait to go back and visit again and see how the room looks with furniture and carpet.

On Easter Sunday, they opened the building up to the congregation so they could see the inside and pray over each room. God has given this church such a great, missional vision and James and I are happy to be contributing to it, even from afar.

Praying for Japan

One of the primary reasons I chose to return to the States during the voluntary evacuation was to share the story of what we have been through and to ask more people to join us in praying for Japan. I am still overwhelmed with the incredible opportunities I was given to speak, and for the gracious response. From Colorado to Tennessee to Illinois and back, friends and strangers alike were moved to pray and help out in any way they can.

Some people donated to the Red Cross, either online or by texting "Redcross" to 90999. I've also been trying to spread the word about these pendants a friend of a friend designed. Part of the proceeds are going to help restore a cultural heritage site here near Misawa that was washed away by the tsunami:

The first Sunday when I was home in Colorado, I went to the college and young adult group at First Pres (the group where James and I met, and continue to invest in.) It was great seeing old friends again and seeing how the group has grown. They had just returned from their spring break trip to the Dominican Republic. The college leader, Katie Dayton, opened up the floor to the students so they could share the ways they saw God working down there. They talked about how their theme song for the trip was "Beautiful Things" by Gungor. It talks about how God makes all things new, and raises beautiful things up out of the dust and rubble.

That obviously struck a note with me. At the end, they let me go up and share - asking them to join in with the hope I have for this broken nation. Japan is the least Christian nation in the world, and one of the most difficult missionary fields because of the strong cultural and language barriers. They are a proud people who have a difficult time understanding concepts like self-less love, grace and free gifts. But now, they have been shaken to the core and are suddenly asking those tough questions. Once so guarded - they are forced to interact with Westerners while in this vulnerable state, and are accepting gifts and hand-outs knowing full well there is no way they can repay us. So I've been praying that this will build bridges and begin a spiritual revolution here.

Later that week I was invited to a small group where some of my friends and mentors from the church gather to pray through scripture. I was so humbled when they spent almost 30 minutes focusing on the Japanese people. Here are some of the scriptures we prayed through:

Psalm 46:1-3, 6-8, 10

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging... Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall, he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolation he has brought on the earth... Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Isaiah 42:3-7, 10, 16

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope. This is what the LORD says - he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the gentiles, to open the eyes that are blind, to free the captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness... Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them... I will lead the blind by ways that they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them, I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

John 11 (The Death of Lazarus)

"When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's son may be glorified through it... Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe." (4,14)

I was also able to share this with Intervarsity in Carbondale, with my brother and other close friends and family in the midwest, and with my mom's small group and the women's ministry at First Pres. God opened so many doors for His glory so I invite you all to join us in praying! My friend Dave said it best - may this tsunami be viewed in the future as the waters of baptism bringing in Japan's salvation!

Midwest Adventure - part 3: Final Tennessee Days

Nate wanted to be back in Nashville by 7 pm on Sunday night so that I could go with him to church. He's been attending Ethos Church, which meets in an old brick bar near the train tracks. It's just about the last place you would ever expect to find a thriving young church, but the setting is so perfect. When you walk into the space, you see the long, wood bar running down the right side of the room. It's lit by red pendant lights which give the room a neat ambiance. Scattered around the room are little tables with cups of juice and real loaves of bread for communion. The ministers are awesome and the church is doing some great things around the world - feeding the hungry in Africa and combatting human trafficking in India. But my favorite part about visiting Nate's church was the worship. Of course - being in Nashville near Belmont University - most everyone in the congregation are musical. The worship was lead by one guy with an acoustic guitar, but everyone was singing at the top of their lungs, harmonizing and stomping their feet to create a drum beat. It was so moving, and I did not want the music to ever end.

After church I dropped Nate off and then headed downtown to see my friend Jason Snedeker. I met him through the Seekers college group at First Pres, and he was a part of James' and my wedding. But I haven't seen him since then so it was great to catch up and hear all about the new leading lady in his life. It's crazy to see how far so many of our friends have come in the last three years. I wonder where we will be in another three?

Monday was my final full day in Tennessee. Nate had class most of the day, so I decided to drive out to Knoxville and see another one of my close high school friends who is working at a camp north of there. I met Ian when he was a high school freshman and now we have both graduated from college and have traveled extensively. He is such a silly, warm hearted guy and getting to meet up with him for lunch was definitely worth the 6 hour round trip.

Unfortunately, the drive back from Knoxville did not go as smoothly as all of the others. As I drew nearer to Nashville I could see some dark storm clouds looming over the city. So I turned on the radio and - to my horror - found out that there was a tornado watch in effect. I continued listening and monitoring the situation as I got closer. Soon, my worst fears were confirmed. An emergency message was played that told me there was now a tornado warning and if I was driving I needed to exit and seek shelter. There was no where to go except into a McDonald's near a gas station. So I waited it out in there and watched the news on TV until we received the all-clear. It definitely rained very hard and the power flickered for a second, but that was the worst I experienced. 30 minutes later, I was back on the road, headed to Belmont for a final meal with my brother.

Originally we had planned to go out and explore the downtown area and do a little sight seeing, but it was still raining outside. So instead we just headed to the local Qdoba Mexican Grill for some more tasty burritos and good conversation. It was not a completely wasted experience, though. Suddenly Nate looked up from his meal and whispered that Jonny Diaz, the famous Christian artist, had just walked in. Apparently they had performed together at a First Pres winter camp before Jonny hit it big. So Nate got to introduce me to a true celebrity!

Unfortunately, that was when we had to say good bye. Nate needed to head back to campus and I would be flying home the next morning. But I didn't wallow too much. The rain finally stopped so I grabbed all of my camera equipment and headed downtown to get some final shots of this beautiful city. I really didn't know what to expect but I love the heart and energy there. This vacation was a crazy whirlwind but I had so much fun and did not want to leave. Thanks to all my friends that helped to make it such a fantastic experience!

Midwest Adventure - part 2: Road to Louisville & Back

On Friday morning, I got up early, ate breakfast with the Langans, and then drove all the way back down to Nashville to pick Nate up from school so that we could head up to Louisville, KY and spend the weekend with our grandparents. I was a little nervous because this crazy plan meant I would be driving for almost eight hours. But I'm happy to say that we made it safe and sound!

That road trip with Nate was SO much fun! We threw all four of his instruments into the back, grabbed some Chipotle burritos for the road, and cranked the music. He introduced me to some new bands and helped make the time pass very quickly.

On the way, we stopped at a roadside attraction that Nate has always wanted to visit called Dinosaur World. It's sort of like a zoo - in that you walk around in this outdoor park and look at all of the exhibits. Except instead of live animals, you look at dinosaur statues. It was a little cheesy, but that was perfect since our goal was to take as many silly pictures as possible. We definitely got some great shots that I know we will both treasure for years!

That night, we arrived at my favorite time of day - just in time for dinner! My uncle brought us some take-out from my family's favorite BBQ restaurant. Mmm... We mostly just relaxed and talked, which I think was great for everyone. Nate definitely enjoyed getting away from school for a few days and having a little me-time. I got to share some of my travel pictures with them, and Nate played his guitar for us. We played some card games and enjoyed hearing what is going on with the rest of our extended family right now. Plus, my grandmother went way over the top and fixed my favorite meal of all time before we left. Ham, sweet potato casserole, creamed corn, green beans, and rolls. SO good!

Another really exciting part of that weekend was getting to see my high school mentor and long-time friend Mr. Cameron. He and his wife are currently living in Indianapolis, which is only a couple of hours away, so he agreed to drive down on Saturday and meet me for lunch at the King Fish Restaurant on the river. The morning started out with a major storm which threatened to foil our plans, but thankfully the rain let up just in time. The restaurant was fantastic - not only was the food great, but we had a seat by the windows overlooking the Louisville skyline. Time absolutely flew that afternoon. We ended up talking for almost five hours, covering a wide range of topics. He has followed my career progress and travels for the last eight years, but I think this is the first time that I got to open up and share about my faith and what it is that makes me me, which was very exciting. I look forward to more conversations in the near future that will hopefully be very fruitful. =^)

It was hard leaving my grandparent's home. I definitely wish I had more time with them. But I think I will always feel that way. They are not getting any younger and I don't know how many more trips I'll get to make out to the house on the green hill next to the fish pond. But if it weren't for this voluntary evacuation, I have no idea when I would have seen them next. So I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to visit for even this short amount of time.

One of our favorite movies is Elizabethtown, which takes place just a few miles south of Louisville. So Nate and I made sure to stop by and take some pictures. The movie is all about the journey of life and involves a long road trip, which was very fitting for our own adventure. So we enjoyed listening to the soundtrack and celebrating those themes of life and love on our way back to Nashville.

Midwest Adventure - part 1: Nashville to Carbondale

This trip back in the States was completely unplanned - but I chose to view it as an opportunity to do things and see people that I would not normally have had time to if James and I both took vacation time to fly back. One of those things I really wanted to do was head out to the Midwest and see my brother Nate, who is studying music at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. From there, I could drive up to Carbondale, IL for a couple days to see some of my old college friends and speak to the InterVarsity college ministry about what is going on in Japan. Nate and I also planned to drive up to Louisville, KY for the weekend to see my grandparents and my high school film mentor who lived near by. Then we would head back down to Nashville, and I would hopefully get to see a few more friends before flying back to Colorado. I was only out there for a week so it was a true whirlwind adventure. But worth it!

I arrived in Nashville on a Tuesday night. The city welcomed me with live country music in the airport and the voices of country music stars making the announcements over the intercom. It was exciting! After picking up my bag, I rented a little white Nissan Versa, and set out into the city! I've never rented a car, made a hotel reservation for myself, or taken a solitary road trip before so this vacation was very empowering for me.

I got a little lost on my way to Belmont, but that's fine. I wasn't in a hurry. I made it there in time to pick Nate up and take him out for a late dinner at Chili's. It was great spending that time one-on-one and hearing more in-detail about his life. He is so solid in his faith and is so far ahead of the game compared to other freshmen boys! I was very impressed. =^)

The next morning he had classes to go to, so I had a few hours to myself. My hotel was only a few blocks down from Centennial Park - the home of the famous, full-scale replica of the Parthenon. So I decided to head down there and take a walk with my camera. The weather in Nashville was gorgeous - high 70's and sunny. The grass was green, the trees were blooming and flowers were popping up all over the place. What a change from the cold, snowy winter weather in Misawa!

Nashville is known as the Athens of the South - and so this gigantic Grecian temple is not quite as out-of-place as you might think. Apparently they've restored the inside as well and you can go in and see the statue of Athena. I didn't have time to do that, which is a bummer. But even seeing the beautiful architecture and magnitude of this building was incredible!

After my walk, I met Nate for lunch, then followed him around and listened as he accompanied some vocal students in their seminar classes. Belmont has a beautiful campus. They had colorful flower beds scattered all over the place which added to that awesome feeling of springtime. It was also great hearing Nate play and getting that glimpse into the way a music school operates. Looks like he is getting a great education.

Soon after those vocal classes ended, I hit the road again and drove 3.5 hours north to Carbondale. The drive was so much fun! The weather was perfect, and the car had a really nice sound system in it so I got to jam to my favorite music the whole way. The redbuds were blooming so the roads were lined with their bright purple blossoms. I felt free and independent, which helped heal and uplift my spirit after a few very stressful weeks.

The first thing I did after arriving was meet some of my old college friends for dinner at my favorite restaurant in town - Steak 'n Shake! Most of the people who were able to come meet me were freshmen when I graduated but are now seniors and getting ready to graduate in a few weeks. In many ways, I think the timing of this trip back has been very fortunate. If I had waited even a few months to come back and visit, most of my friends would have been gone!

The next morning, I went out to breakfast with my friend Matt Jones and his wife Cassie. He is one of the five guys I hung out with all of the time during film school. We definitely missed the rest of our group, but I very much enjoyed catching up with him and reliving old times. He is seriously one of the funniest people I know so it felt good to laugh so much.

Soon after that, I met my college pastor Patrick and his adorable three year old son Zeke for lunch. Patrick and his wife Nettie have been a huge influence in my life and spiritual development so it was great to catch up and talk through things that we're both going through right now. I also got to stay with their family that night, which was very fun.

I had the afternoon to myself so I called some of those friends who had already moved on and continued to focus on reconnecting with old friends. Then I grabbed a bite to eat and walked over to take part in their weekly InterVarsity meeting. It was SO great - they have grown so much. The worship team sounded great, the leadership team did a fantastic job putting together a program that was both funny and compelling, I got to hear a word from Patrick and Nettie, and then they gave me an opportunity to share what I've been through and to invite them to join me in praying for the salvation of Japan. Being there helped renew and affirm my passion for college ministry and I am eager to get back to Misawa and continue working with the youth there.

Back in Beautiful Colorado!

It took me several days to readjust after arriving back in Colorado. I was exhausted, jet-lagged and very sick. But thankfully, with some medical help from the Air Force Academy, I started to feel much better. Good enough, in fact, to go out and hike around a little bit in one of my favorite places in town - The Garden of the Gods.

It was extremely windy out that day, but I still managed to get some great pictures of the beautiful red rock formations. Being out in the crisp mountain air, and looking at Pikes Peak was one of the things that really helped me feel at home.

Sunshine, beautiful scenery and photography - what could be better?