Fuji Videos!

Dearly beloved,

Yes, I climbed that Fuji Mountain and it was a success! I have changed my attitude now though about the mountain; it is no longer that I "conquered" that mountain and my obnoxious prideful attitude got taught a lesson in respect haha. Last year I blamed the fact that I did not get to the very top (I got so close - to station 9 out of 10) on not having oxygen hehe, but this year I had oxygen AND a climbing stick, and man, I didn't know if I'd make it at some points. I can get dramatic, but I think this situation allows for dramatic haha.

Four of us climbed Fuji at night so that we could see the sunrise in the morning. It took me about 7 hours going up, and 4 hours coming down. I was the slowest going up as the atmospheric difference seemed to affect me more...hehe more excuses - but really I was nauseated every 3 steps after a certain point!!

One cool thing about the trip, which I was looking forward to, is that we would collect stamps on our wooden climbing sticks as we climbed up! So now I have about 6 or 7 stamps on my stick! They were almost always burned into. It's one of the best souvenirs I can bring back to America I think! :D

So here are the links to the videos, again all thanks for Amanda!!!!

We saw tons of traffic going back into Tokyo from Obon season ending:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X86Sj8z5AyQ&feature=channel

The beginning of the hike:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs0o_s0skWQ&feature=channel

7th level--Sonya explains the oxygen story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs0tElICipI&feature=channel

Sunrise from the summit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Mwax-MBCk&feature=channel

Sonya's funny comment about the sunrise (We actually captured it on video!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVHETOe3Qk0&feature=channel

Watching people slip down the mountain was kind of funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbV8kJGxUIA&feature=channel

Going down the mountain on Tuesday morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbBVveFHAUQ&feature=channel

Ok returned from retreat. It went so well. I didn't think this would be a result but spending time with this group caused me to love Japanese people more. It was such a good time. Thank you for your prayers I will update more later.

Sleep now. Climbing fuji again tomorrow. This time I will make it to the very top.

Sent from my iPhone

Interns Returned Home + PR for the Weekend

Yes, the interns returned home to the U.S. a week ago. They did a great job getting around in this culture and city, meeting with all of their contacts and friends, and leading volunteer teams around. By August 6, they were all gone :(. Sad, but all good things must come to an end right? It is good to know that life can return to "normal".

I don't like excuses but I have been meaning to get around to giving an update except I have been fighting the urge to crawl into a hole now that I have a chance to catch my breath. I wanted to take a complete and utter break from life for a few days and then start back up, but it hasn't worked like that. There is always something I need to get to...and they're not difficult but I guess I'm getting burnt out...

Well, even though summer is technically over for us Ms here, there is still so much work to be done!!! There are SO many people to follow up with...to be honest, it is hard to keep track of them all!!! But we don't want to lose one single person in this shuffle. There are three ladies who received Christ in their hearts, who I am personally involved in. I will update more specifics about them another time, but please pray for them that they will be grow in their faith and love for Christ. Then there are tons of others, who were introduced by volunteers and interns. Some are definitely seekers, some are open to the message we have to share, and some just want to learn English from us. Please pray for us, that we will be wise and discerning about the people to follow up with, that they will want to meet with us, that they will be receptive to the Gospel, that friendships would be started and strengthened.

I also have another specific prayer request. This weekend, (my Tokyo Saturday morning is your California Friday night) a few of my coworkers and I are going for part of a retreat with a Japanese group of believers. They are a group of believers who meet for house church and we see God working amongst them. We have been joining in with them, building relationships with them, encouraging and challenging them in their faith. This weekend will be a time where we will be building deeper relationships and seeing how God leads this group. Please pray for us that the Holy Spirit would be amongst us, and that language barriers would not be an issue, and that we will be sensitive to God's guidance in what step we should take next with this group.

Thank you so much!! :D