Woodshed

Have you ever been taken out to the woodshed? Probably not. In fact, I'm not even sure where that American idiom came from, but I know what it means. It means you are going to get a good spanking!

Well here at Megumi Chalet, the woodshed has a whole different meaning and a connotation. Here it is the quaint little coffee shop on the grounds where everyone likes to hang out and have a cup of coffee or an ice cream sunday. That's where I'm hanging out, meeting with some of our missionaries and covering everything from health insurance questions, to legal documents that need to be handled! The focus of this week for me is helping our missionaries with a variety of such matters that need attention. It is so much easier to do a lot of this in person than via email or phone.


Today is a rainy cold day. Perfect for the woodshed!

Key prayer request: Wisdom in my meetings.

Karuizawa

Karuizawa is a town nestled in the Japanese Alps about halfway between Tokyo and Nagano (headquarters for the 1998 Winter Olympics). Karuizawa hosted equestrian events in the 1964 Summer Olympics. The town also hosted curling in the 1998 Winter Olympics. To date, it is the only city in the world having hosted both Summer and Winter Olympic events (in the picture I'm on my way via shinkansen or bullet train from Ueno).


It is also where Asian Access (A2 for short) missionaries gather every March for our annual spring conference (see picture of Thursday night worship below). We meet at a place called "Megumi Chalet". Megumi is Japanese for "grace." It is a rustic camp similar to what you might find at Christian camps across the U.S. It is a place full of memories for our missionary families and their kids. I'm here safely and tired from three days of travel. The weather is cold and there is snow on the ground. Across the valley floor is a ski resort (pictured behind me) that I can see when the clouds part long enough. I'll be here until Monday.

Key Prayer Request: Continued adjustment to the time zone. Health as my body adjusts to the cold weather (compared to L.A.!). Good relational connections with the A2 community. The speaker, Scott Shaum, as he ministers to us.

Arrival in Japan

I love arriving in Japan. It always feels kind of like returning home. Even though it has been 25 years since I lived here, a part of me will always think of Japan as home. Flying in over the coast and then making that landing at Narita airport--I've done it so many times--is a very good feeling. The Japanese say "kimochi ga ii" which somehow captures the emotion better than anything I say to myself in English.

My flight was smooth and uneventful, which is what you want! Several A2 folks were on the plane including our president's family, executive assistant, and our staff psychologist. So it was fun being together.

As I post this I'm settling down for, prayerfully, a good night sleep at a hotel near the airport. Tomorrow I get up and trek about 75 miles north of here to Karuizawa. More about that once I'm there.

Key Prayer Request: Good sleep as I adjust to the jump to a time zone 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles. Safe travel via bus, train and taxi to the conference location.

At LAX

LAX. Airports are interesting aren't they. I don't know about you, but for some reason my heart always beats a little faster as I enter "the airport zone." I'm always glad when I get through security and am ready to board the plane. Then it is "relax" time (at least until they start boarding!). I hope you find these blogs helpful as you think to pray for me along the journey. I'll post a key prayer request at the bottom of each blog. Thank you for praying!

Key Prayer Request: Safe flight to Japan, hydration on the plane, healthy upon arrival.