Nebuta Festival

Every August they hold a massive festival in Aomori city called the Nebuta Festival. No one seems to be absolutely sure how the festival started. But it possibly grew out of the Chinese tanebata festival, where the people create wooden framed structures wrapped in paper and float them out on the water to purify themselves and send the evil spirits out to sea. Over time, the structures grew in size and complexity. I don't know how much the Japanese focus on the historical meaning of the festival. It's more of an opportunity to come together as a city and celebrate!

People from all around the area gather downtown and line the streets, cheering and clapping as giant glowing floats and hundreds of chanting dancers parade by. Attending this festival has been on my Japan bucket list since we arrived, but it just never worked with my schedule till now. I feel like I keep repeating myself by saying this - but I am so thankful that James was able to go with me and share in this fun, albeit repetitive memory. (The parade was certainly a spectacle, but they played the same song over and over again, every group of people that marched past chanted the same meaningless phrase, and slowly the floats all started to run together...) Here are a few pictures and a video to give you an idea of the sights and sounds of Nebuta!

It was a little crowded...

The people had these bells pinned to their yukata so the air was filled with jingling.

One of the Nebuta Floats

Taiko drummers! Love it!

We had fun taking many, many photos. Some of the ladies from the
13th sent photos to their husbands via text message.

James and I in front of a float.

Me with my friends! We had so much fun!

The Japanese people LOVE American babies!

Below is a video showing the parade and capturing a snippet of the one song we got to listen to for three hours straight!



Summer Grillin'

Sometimes it's the small joys in life that stick with you most. For a long time, James and I have wanted a grill, but couldn't justify investing in one when we keep moving all the time. But luckily, a friend of ours PCSed in June and gave us a nice, little propane grill for free! We've enjoyed grilling out in the sunshine - trying new recipes and savoring that smoky flavor.

It's been especially fun utilizing the fresh herbs from my garden in recipes for the grill. Below is a photo of our first meal cooked out on the patio. Grilled chicken marinated in a garlic, lemon and basil sauce, corn on the cob cooked in its husk with a rosemary butter rub, and some garlic, rosemary rice. It was SO delicious. Truly the taste of summer!

Osorezan: The Mythical Entrance to Hell

At the end of July, we got to check off another box on our "To-See" list here in Japan. One of the popular tourist locations is the Bodaiji Temple and thermal features in the sacred Buddhist area known as Osorezan. It's located up in the center of the hatchet-shaped peninsula north of Misawa. So we grabbed some snacks, an atlas and the audio book we were working through, and drove up the coast.

One of the mysteries of the drive up Shimokita Peninsula is all of the signs that hang from the lamp posts counting down the kilometers until some landmark that has something to do with garden gnomes. On our last trip we figured out what building the signs were pointing to, but it was closed. This time, it was wide open, though, so we took a slight detour to explore the gnome building. I'm not sure what we were expecting - maybe a museum or a reconstruction of a gnome village. Turns out it was sort of a children's learning center set up near the nuclear plant up there. Weird. But it did have some displays of gnome statues and a playhouse fashioned after a fairytale cottage where gnomes might live. We took a couple minutes to gawk at the oddity and try some of the interactive features including fishing for stuffed sealife. But then it was time to get back on the road.

Apparently we chose the one week a year when Osorezan is packed to explore its mysteries. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get as close to some of the structures as I would have liked to, out of a fear of offending the Buddhists who were there to pray. That's ok, though. It was a really creepy place so we were not overly eager to linger.

Why was it creepy you ask? Apparently the surrounding area resembles descriptions of Buddhist hell and paradise, including eight peaks and a river that souls must cross on their way to the afterlife. The area is rich in volcanic activity and smells strongly of sulfur. Cracks and pools bubble up and blow hot water. The ground is gray and covered in sharp volcanic rocks piled into little mounds that supposedly symbolize places where souls are trying to build bridges over the river. Among those trying to cross the river are the souls of dead children and unborn babies. Apparently the pebbles are offerings from their parents to help them make their way into paradise. During the festival we stumbled upon, mourning parents come to consult with blind mediums in hopes of communicating with lost loved ones. They place pinwheels at the base of guardian statues to protect them from demons. It was unreal. Truly unique experience... not one I want to replicate.

The one cool thing that I was glad we found was an iconic red Japanese bridge for a family pic!

On the way home we indulged in some more tofu donuts! Yummy!!! Over all, it was a fun excursion. Time spent with the hubby is alway worth it!

PYOC Summer Camp Out

This summer in PYOC we've had a lot of fun. The kids requested we do another camp out at base beach in July. I was happy to oblige, but planning any outdoor events during the first half of the summer was a major gamble because it rained almost every day for weeks. But God is faithful and ensured that the weather cleared up just in time for some fun out on the lake. For about three hours our students had fun canoeing, riding on jet boats, tubing and water skiing. I had fun watching them!

Swimming always builds up a good appetite. Thankfully, our leaders are multitalented and are equally capable of teaching, driving a boat AND grilling up a feast!

During dinner, we were blessed with the most beautiful sunset of the summer so far. God has been teaching me a lot about listening to Him rather than my own wisdom/anxiety - and that was surely a humbling moment. I panicked that morning and wasn't sure if our event would happen due to ominous clouds and a forecast of rain. But everything is possible with God - and He not only held back the rain, but he blessed us with that GORGEOUS sight! Spectacular!

I was really excited to have my friend Lacey there as an extra volunteer. We had one of the students take this fun jumping picture of us in front of the sunset to commemorate the occasion.

After dinner we pitched some tents, then gathered around the campfire for a devotion, some s'mores (a few made with Reeces cups = AMAZING!!), singing praise songs, and sharing our testimonies. Hearing some of our students take a risk and share about the amazing things that God has done in their lives was, without a doubt, the highlight of our camp out.

In the morning, we had an early breakfast of muffins, donuts and fruit, and spent some individual quiet time with the Lord by the lake shore. What a wonderful event! I am so thankful for these students and for the opportunities God has given me to pour into them during this assignment!