A Quick Update from Sanda!
Greetings! Spring is almost here in Japan, and I’m hoping the cherry blossoms will be coming out soon!
This week is the final week of classes here at Flip English before Spring break. I have two classes that I have been teaching the last several weeks, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know each of the students. My favorite are the first graders - they are so expressive and energetic! Even though it’s challenging, I love teaching them. It will be hard to say goodbye this week.
Last week I was able to help teach several classes at another local English school owned by our friends. It was fun to meet new kids and experience a different method of teaching. My favorite moment was the surprise of seeing a friend from the first time I was here on the World Race! Her daughter goes to that school, and it was so great to see them again!
A week ago we hosted a ladies cooking class here at our house. Six ladies came, and we taught them how to make an American brunch of omelets, bacon, and potato hash browns. Niki and I enjoyed spending time with these ladies, and getting to know them more. Even though there was a language barrier, we were all able to communicate and had fun cooking together!
We have also been hosting “fun nights” every other Saturday night here at Flip House. Two weeks ago we had Texas Taco Night, and taught everyone how to make tacos and how to line dance! We had 4 Japanese friends come to that event, and it was a blast (see the picture below). This past weekend, we had an ice cream night, and 11 people came (19 including us and the Thomson family)! It was a fun time of playing games, talking, and eating ice cream. I am so thankful for the chance to make new friends through these events.
Every day is filled with learning Japanese, spending time with friends, planning for events, teaching English, prayer meetings, and daily activities like shopping. I am thoroughly enjoying each moment, and time is flying by. In less than a month I’ll be back home... I already know it will be hard to leave, especially saying goodbye to all my friends here. However, this time the goodbyes might not be forever...
The Thomsons have presented the opportunity for me to come back to Sanda for a year or two, which I am currently praying about. I am so excited about this, because I'll be able to continue the relationships and work that we are doing here! I really feel that this is where God is leading me to stay. Please pray with me as I seek God for direction and wisdom! There are a lot of details still unknown, but I trust that everything will work out. I would love your continued partnership and support in this!
Prayer requests for the upcoming weeks:
-Tomorrow we are hiking Mt. Rokko with our friends T and M. It’s a hard mountain to hike so I’m hoping I’ll survive it! ;) But all joking aside, pray that we’re able to have encouraging conversations and deeper relationships with our friends.
-This weekend I am going to visit one of my previous host families from the World Race. It’s been almost a year and a half since I’ve spent time with them, so pray that it will be a great reconnection!
-Next Wednesday we are leading a hiking/picnic event for our students and friends. Pray that many people will come. We are praying this will be a time to connect with students outside of the classroom and get to know them more personally.
-On the final weekend of this month, we are partnering with a church to put on an overnight youth retreat. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the students who are coming!
Thank you so much and God bless!!!
