-------------------------------------------------A-Hyphenated-Identity

~~Loose~ Ends~~

2008-08-12T18:23:00.000-07:00

Just some loose end shots from week 3 of English in Action. It's crazy to think that's it's all over now. Thank you so so much to all of you who have been supporting me and thinking of me through out this hectic summer of ministry. The Lord has truly answered your prayers and also has accomplished the many goals I had for me. I look back and see that everything I did were things I never thought I could do in my lifetime. There's so much truth to all that because God did it all. He was the teacher, the speaker, the friend, the missionary the whole time. I feel that I'm going into my senior year with a different perspective on this phenomenon called life and the good and bad of it.

Pier jumping!! The deciding factor of me NEVER going sky diving.

The Pottery church. SUCH a cool experience that I will never forget.

They kept us for lunch too!

I'm now in Tokyo until the 23rd. Just excited for some chill time and fun with the family. See many of you soon!

STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!

2008-08-07T02:55:00.000-07:00

We decided to crack down on the kids these past two weeks because of the nightmare we had the first week, so "Stop! Look! Listen!" was drilled into their heads as soon as they walked in the door. But part of me regrets it.... because I kind of miss the insanity. Oh, and I decided that I love ADHD kids.

Another tactic we enforced are "time outs." Yeah... you remember when you got those! Well... I realized that it was our teachers that needed those the most. I've never been more excited about getting back to my dark apartment to just sit all alone, in the silence. I now empathize with my first grade teacher when I could not spell "cat" for my life or my 5th grade teacher who told me everyday to listen. It's no wonder that the retention rate of teacher is 70%-80%... I wonder how long I'd last? It has been so hard this week trying to get these kids to speak and write English, and yet remember the cause of Christ and the example I am to set. Props to those teachers out there doing both successfully! It's hard to see the kids walk out of the class every day, wondering if there's any seed sown, let alone any English learned. but I trust that the Lord is working in those little hearts, despite scary Miss Hannah or migranes!

Imprinting the white image of Jesus into the brains of small children.

English in Action week 2!!

Line up!!!

Mizuki loved it so much, she came back every week.

Speech contest! Yukiya had an Australian accent.. lived in Sydney for two years. It was fantastic!! He won!

Friday beach BBQ

Old McDonald

Week #2's cute little boy: Takuto

"Bluuuuueee" ... "Bllluuuuueeee"

Helping Akira write his speech. it goes something like this, "Today, I would like to talk to you about my pencil. Sometimes it is long. Sometimes it is short. Other times, it is gone." Masterpiece. (He's our other ADHD boy)

Please note the "DYA"

Tomorrow is the last day of the 3 weeks. Please pray that all we've done would be sealed and protected, watered and nurtured. I just now realized typing this.... but tomorrow marks the end of my summer ministry! It's been fast, yet life-altering. Hard, yet heart-softening. I mentioned this a few blogs back, but being here in Japan has reminded me, again and again of my love for these people. I cannot put it to words, but no matter how far I run from these people, my heart stays in this land. Think of the impact Japan can make on the rest of Asia, if only the Christians here could be encouraged. They are so scarce.... and ministries are too. Please don't forget about Japan. Please don't forget the Rich Man.

It had been so long since I'd heard the Lord when I read this straight forward passage the other day: 1 Corinthians 7: 17-24 "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.... So brothers, in whatever condition each was called, let him remain with God." If you know clearly the task God has placed on your life, and you are running away from it... let me urge you to remain in it. Distance from it will eat you away like it has me this past year. Don't do that to yourself, the World in need, and especially God. Other things may seem more dignifying... but what will that matter in the end. Other things may seem easier... but since when is it about you? Other things may pay better, but oh, the horrible things riches do to the heart!

Cool story: Katie took me to the Okinawa pottery village yesterday after class. Galleries after galleries of beautiful, hand crafted pottery. We approached one pottery after they had closed and peaked into a building with a man crafting some bowls on a wheel. He invited us in to watch. Katie spotted a Bill Wilson poster and asked if he was a Christian, and he all of a sudden opened up and told us his testimony! Apparently, one day, he opened up the Bible and read from Genesis the creation of man. Being a potter, he was inspired by the verse "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:6)" He told us that seeing this passage made him realized that God was available to all men, American and Japanese, since he molded us with his own hands, individually with the dirt of the earth. So he has created beautiful works of art to the Lord every since, and he now uses his pottery as a church every Sunday! So, that's where we're going this week! How awesome!! Christians may be scarce here... but they're here!!

The Christian potter.

Got to get some Okinawa tourism done this past weekend!

Gosh, I love aquariums. This is the largest fish tank in the world - 3 feet taller than Georgia's!

Pineapple park - all you can eat. I knew to stop when the citric acid started eating away at my intestines.

This weekend: pier jumping and snorkling!

Atodenei~~~

Hana Sensei to Miss Hannah

2008-07-28T02:23:00.000-07:00

"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes!"
"Father Abraham had many sons... many sons had Father Abraham!"
"Old McDonald had a farm... and on that farm he had a DUCK!"

I feel 15 years younger as I've sung old songs, done finger paints, and played heads-up-7-up. I chuckle when I realized 3 weeks ago I was in Brazil being called "Hana Sensei," the Japanese way, and now I'm actually in Japan being called "Miss Hannah." I just began my second group of students today in the English in Action summer program here at Okinawa Christian School International (OCSI), and let's just say, I can't thank God enough for the weekend! OCSI has been doing this program for many many years now, but when it was struggling last year, an ESL company, DUO, asked if they could help out in advertising. So thanks to DUO, the program was promoted very well, flying in most of our students from Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto. But that required us to scramble around for harder lesson plans and academics over just crafts and songs! We had everything from kids who couldn't say "hello" to kids who went to American school! And why were they here? I don't know... but as I've learned in my TESOL classes... flexibility is key!!

You know how your always hear that Asian students are behaved respect their teacher? Well, I learned this week that I was very very wrong! This kids were insane! We had the ADHD kid, the group of four rascal boys who got time outs every hour, the smarty-pants girl, the angry chubby boy... you name it! Katie and I learned a lot of lessons last week about teaching, so today we started the week on a much more serious note with straight up English and rules. I think they're scared of us this week. Now, I miss the craziness!

Anyway, all said and done, I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for the Gospel being shared. It's been so cool having the opportunity to directly share the Gospel with these children and see a genuine interest in their faces. My favorite moments are after the Daniel video when the four rascal boys couldn't stop saying "Wow! God is awesome!!" or when the kids didn't want to stop reading the illustrated Bibles we gave them. 11 children gave their lives to Christ, so pray that that decision develop over their years. I know that they don't completely understand the concept, but Katie and I pray everyday that they would bring that interest into their homes and somehow begin the process of salvation in that house.

I'm reminded of Hiroko in Brasilia. She told me that when she as a little girl growing up in Ehime prefecture, she attended a Christin kindergarten held in an old Shinto temple. She said that she vividly remembers all the Christian principles that were taught by her teachers and she is confident that those are strong seeds that developed into her current self. Please pray that Katie and I would take every opportunity to mention Christ and the power of God, and that those small comments would stay vivid in these childrens' minds as they grow older. These 3 weeks could make a greater impact than I know!

Thanks to Ellysa, our great helper, here's a stack of shots of the 800 she took for me...

I'd like to give some awards to my students..

The princess award to Rena - so beautiful! Like a Japanese doll!

Mizuki gets the Smiley Award. She was the girl sobbing and hiding behind legs as she walked in for her first day, but was laughing and smiling an hour later.

"I'm a HE" award to Mitea: Considering "her" long flowy hair, girly name, and cute face, no one figured out that HE was a boy until Thursday. I didn't know what to do when I went to their beach party on Friday and watched all the kids point a Mitea in his swim trunks saying "You ARE a boy!!!"

The Cute-as-a-Button award to Taiga. Flowers from little boys are the best!

The ADHD award goes to Takumi. This is the kid that spins in circles while everyone else is singing Old McDonald. The crazy thing is he was one our best students. He was, surprisingly, my favorite!

Making salvation bracelets

Paint prints

The helpers judging the speech contests for the advanced students

Let's pray. Repeat after me.. "Dear God..." "Dia gud..."

Animal flash cards

Miss Katie doin' her thing

Miss Hannah doin' her thing

We attempted sugar cookies!

Family portraits

;-)

;-)

Week one!

OCSI - this is taken from the 4th floor of my apartment building! I know...

Please continue to keep Okinawa in your prayers. Compared to the main island, Okinawa is a completely different culture. In fact, the people don't like to be called "Japanese" but rather, specifically "Okinawan." If you know your American history, Okinawa was American property for a long time during the war, so today, there's military bases ALL OVER the island. Before that, China owned it. Therefore, Okinawa is rich in mixed culture. The generation speaks a completely different language and this goes for the religion also. The people here are much more aware of the spiritual realm as opposed to the main islands that are very materialistic. The picture above is good example: Those statues are Shi Shi dogs placed at the entrance of almost every household. They are supposed to be a protection from evil spirits and a welcome to good. Well.. I don't know if any of those spirits are good.. But the good thing is of all the prefectures in Japan, Okinawa is the most evangelized (20%), probably because of the great American influence. The people here are very very laid back, I think I would be too if the beach was right around the corner!

Miss you all! Have a great week!

Home is Where the Heart is: Okinawa, Japan

2008-07-19T04:18:00.000-07:00

Hola friends! I'm back! But now from Japan!

I left my house in Cleveland on Thursday morning around 7am and after 24 hours of travel, landed in Okinawa last night, Friday, at 9pm. Do the math... I lost like 14 hours! That just shows how far ahead Japan is ;-) Jet lag has been brutal... woke up at 2 am this morning... and my goal is to stay awake until 10 tonight. Can't do it.

Okinawa, Japan has quite a history in my book! I came to this very island in July of 2003 with Teen Mania and have loved it ever since. The 3 weeks of intensive ministry I had that month was really a turning point in my life - it was on this very island that I dedicated my life to the Lord for the missions field, and I'm back! Being back has very quickly refreshed my love for the people of Japan and although the future is so so blurry, the mystery of it seems so exciting again like it was in 2003.

I'm coming back to Okinawa this year with very different connections and purposes. In 2003, it was through Teen Mania and Kadena Community Church. In 2008, I come because I was referred to Okinawa Christian Schools International's (OCSI) English in Action program by Nancy Geischen, the regional representative who came to TFC during our missions conference. The crazy thing is, I found out over dinner tonight, that those connections are also connected! I hope I don't lose you here.... Katie, an OCSI teacher I'm teaching with for the next 3 weeks is originally from Oregon. She worked as a Teen Mania intern for a year and was the girl who referred Diane and Keith (Okinawa military peeps who lead teams to Kenya through TM) to Kadena Community Church who organized the 2003 Teen Mania trip that I ended up going on! So tomorrow morning, I get to go to Kadena Community Church again to hopefully see a lot of my team mates from the 2003 Teen Mania trip that I haven't seen for 5 years! Either Okinawa is a really really small island... or God is huge!!

www.ocsi.org/

I spent the day today getting adjusted. Went to the bank... the grocery store... (I discovered that shopping for one person is extremely difficult and in the long run, expensive! In Japan too! Gotta love the single life..). My accomodations here are in the missionary apartments. I have a 3 bedroom for myself since all the missionaries are gone for the summer. I'm not complaining now, but I'm sure I'll get lonely very soon. Oh, and I might mention that I open my curtains to blue sky and ocean every morning with a 10 minute walk to it! I spent the afternoon today ruining my Old Navy flip flops walking on the coral reef observing see urchins and crabs. I frickin' love this island!!!

Starting Monday, everyday from 8-3 Katie and I begin the English in Action program. Every week, a new set of 20 kids (2nd-5th grade) are getting dropped off from the local area (some even from Tokyo). We have the same schedule each week and the objective is to teach English through the Gospel. So we're starting out with creation and teaching vocabulary out of that... Max Lucado's You Are Special with star crafts afterwards... games... games... and more games... pretty much, FUN. ALL of these kids come from non-Christian homes, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that the Gospel would penetrate their hearts each week and somehow it would be taken back to their homes.

No photos this time.. my apologies. I soon will plaster this page with aqua blue shots of the ocean to smear it in your face. No worries. LOVE YOU!

Hannah

Goodbye Brazil...Good Morning America...

2008-07-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

America welcomed me back this morning with the bright orange sun climbing up the silhouette of Manhattan, as I wandered off the overnight plane from Sao Paulo with the usual “I’m going to throw up any second” feeling. I’ve been flying my whole life, and my stomach has never gotten along with air travel. I touched American soil again today at 5:30am, and until my flight at 10:14, I sit here in Newark International beginning my very tardy blog.

It’s surreal to think that the 7 weeks that seems so long back in May has now come to a close, proving itself to be insufficient and brief considering the new Brazilian family I had to say goodbye to last night. I will miss Brazil so so much, of course for its food, beauty, and heritage, but above that, I will miss the people so much. Through my encounters with people of all demographics, backgrounds, and opinions, I have been given so many new perspectives on this life and world. I hope this new wisdom will not be forgotten by my comfortable life here in the States.

Let the many updates come! It’s been what… 2 weeks?? Stay tuned for the long-awaited speech contest, “crackland,” and Sao Paulo churches.

After the departure of the Swanton team on Tuesday, we had to crack down on preparing for the speech contest. Everything from cooking, shopping, crafting, and making giant paper cranes was squeezed in to every hour we had. Driving all over Brasilia with Fumiko taught me life-long lessons again about bargain shopping and somehow dragging your two kids along with you everywhere while doing it. As crazy of a week as it was, apparently it gets worse before Japanese camp and graduation, so I came at the right chaotic season. It was sad to share my last devotion and supervise my last game (never have I ever – never fails), but I’m confident that the seeds I sowed will be watered and nourished well by Fumiko, Yuri, and Hiroko.

From the right, Hiroko, Fumiko, and Yuri.

The big day on Sunday came after a shaky practice on Saturday. About 200 some showed up, not quite the aspired 300, but we were satisfied. It all went so so so well! Us teachers were sure that someone would completely wipe out and forget their entire speech seeing that that was the pattern in practices, but not one person forgot anything! It was cool to see all of or critiquing and drilling paid off big time. In between speech categories, we had the dance team from Paraiso Alliance in Sao Paulo perform, Okinawa drum squad, the old lady dance (again), and much more. I of course was put in charge of the rock-paper-scissors game. Toshi gave a brief Gospel message too. The whole thing ended up being 3.5 hours long, which was painful, but we couldn’t stop smiling at the end. After a sigh of relief, it was hard to believe that the event I had been working towards for my whole internship was now over…

Aline

Akemi - Speaking on her family and aspiration to get accepted into military school.

Paulo - Speaking on his interest in Okinawa drums.

Race to see which team could fold a giant paper crane first.

The dance team from Paraiso Alliance Church in Sao Paulo

Street Dance

A shout out to STORM's It's Not Us Drama team - I present to you the Model/Muscle Man skit Brazilian mime style! I couldn't contain myself...

Janken - Rock/Paper/Scissors game

Like so...

Rikyu Kokumatsuri Taiko

Giving out butt loads of presents and medals. To all the higher level students, we gave Japanese/Portuguese Bibles and Yuri is going to start a Bible study with the students on Sunday nights. Praise God! Be praying for that please!

Pastor Akira (Paraiso) asked me yesterday what I enjoyed the most during my internship. I would definitely have to say being called “Hana-Sensei.” At the Alliance Japanese School, it is evident how many seeds are being sown in these kids lives. Of all the Japanese schools in Brasilia, ours is known to be the most fun and light-hearted. Although the quality may not be the best, that is not what we are after. Thank you to the Nucleo Bandereinte Alliance Church for the life-changing experience that I will never forget and continue to pray for.

My Brasilia Family:

I invited my students for some interviews, games, and activities to get to know them all better, outside of the classroom!

Oh the many tears shed at the airport.. from the left Yuri, Miwa, me, Fumiko, Hiroko, Pastor Toshi, and Akira.

Marcos and Michelle!

Tuesday after the speech contest, I was off to Sao Paulo again, very very sad. Not only was it sad to leave the people, I had to pay R$100 ($50) for my 14kg over-weight suitcase. I think I bought one too many hammocks this trip… In Sao Paulo, I was put under the care of Lauro Uezono and his family. Yoko is his sweet wife, and they have 4 daughters, Yukari, Megumi, Chiemi, and Ayumi. When he asked me what I wanted to do, I answered “rest.’ So that is what I did, sleeping in as late as his teenage daughters did every morning. Well, not 1:00pm like Chiemi… haha.

Here are some fun non-ministry stuff I did in Sao Paulo..

Banco Real on Avenida Paulista was doing a special exhibit honoring the Japanese Immigration because of the heavy investments and contributions the Nikkeis have made in the financial realm of Brazil. In the photo, Hiroe just found her parents' information on what boat they came on, etc., a historical database on all immigrants.

The Brazilian Havaiana flip flops were inspired by the Japanese zori. If you're wearing flips at the moment, say "arigato" to their inventors.

The many, many, many products of Brazil by Japanese companies.

;-)

Oh art museums, how I love thee. MASP (Museo de Arte do Sao Paulo)

I can say I've seen the Brazilian ocean now!

My fourth and last Churrscaria.... I was forced to finally attempt the chicken heart...

The result: not so good.

Now for the ministry I did in Sao Paulo:

I LOVED the churches in Sao Paulo. Saturday night was the youth group/college/career group at Paraiso Alliance and Pastor Akira asked me to speak there. Paraiso is a very interesting church. The congregation, for some reason, is almost all made up of 20/30-something year olds, therefore, many young Christians whose parents are not saved. Therefore, the church is very fun, young, and cooool. The church consists of 4 pastors - Pastor Akira, Jurandir, Takashi, and Joseph - but all bi-vocational - as in they have their own professional jobs and work part-time as Pastors on top of that. The fruits of their hard, busy labor is so so evident there. It was so unbelievably easy to get to know the people of the church since we had so much to relate with and I was so touched by how welcoming and interested they were in my presence there.

I decided to speak on life's disasters and what to do when they hit, considering the demographics of the group. I started out with a fun "natural disaster" game involving a lot of running and screaming.

Hitting up Job, Joseph, and the parable of the house built on the rock. If you've been reading my blog, you may notice a theme in the spiritual lessons I've been learning - the beauty of struggle. My fear for this generation of young Christians is that they will believe what Christian culture tends to teach about how when you're good with God, life is good and perfect - no disaster or struggle. Well hey, I've been reading the Bible for a long time now, and it's FULL of disaster and God's sovereignty through it all. In the parable of the house on the rock, no where in the passage does it say that the storm never hit the house on the rock. It's our foundation and our reaction that matters most in those times of disaster.... that's that in a nutshell... It looked like the message was pretty well accepted, getting a lot of reaction and heart-to-hearts afterwards... yey!

Hellloooo Rudge Ramos Alliance (this would be the Grandma/Grandpa church ;-)

McCafe after church Sunday night with Paraiso

One last item that has really laid upon my heart another burden to bring back... Monday Lauro and Hiroe took me to CENA, a rehab center in the heart of Sao Paulo for drug addicts, alcoholics, homeless, gays, transexuals, you name it. I wasn't allowed to take any pictures for legal reasons, and part of me didn't want to for how horrified I was at times. We were given a tour of their building and I was so impressed by the developement of this place! They have everything from dental/medical equipment, showers, counselors, and soccer camps. We sat in Pastor Joao's office as he told us story after story of God's grace and provision in CENA. He also told us about the filthy things that go on right outside their doors... He told me of an apartment own the road designated specifically and only for prostitutes. When he offered to walk me there to see the husbands of these prostitutes waiting outside for their wives to get off work, I couldn't help but to burst into tears. I so badly needed to see that, but my heart ached so hard to imagine it.

We didn't get the chance to go the the apartment, but instead, we were taken down the street to "crackland." Imagine approaching a road with a crowd of about 200 kids, adults, and elderly, sitting on the curb openly smoking cocaine or stumbling toward their dealer, compulsively, for hours and hours. The smell was unbearable, but over the smell, I sensed this nasty chill of the devil's presence there binding these people... I've never so intently stared at the blank faces of people who desperately lit their pipes. Some people were literally crawling on the ground searching for any small piece of crack to fix up with. The crazy things is that the police station is right down the road, but the police force of Sao Paulo is so corrupt, that most of the cops use too... The only enforcement they would do was every 15 minutes, they'd drive down the road with the lights on and the crowd would simply hide their pipes in their coats, as if nothing was going on. The cops know, but choose to do nothing. How does that line up?

For about 30 minutes, I watched two evangelists talk to Renaudo. Here are his words, "I used to be a Christian, but I got into this. I want to get out and become a Christian again, but I'm just going to fall right back into this. Besides, God would never forgive me for what I do." This is the common thought of all those people in crackland. Renaudo said he would come to CENA for help. Please pray that Renaudo would actually come and believe in miracles, experiencing the Lord's grace so that he may share that same grace with the rest of his friends on that street.

Here's CENA's site if you're interested:
www.missaocena.com.br
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6046647653674698072

Well this blog entry has taken me long enough to write... and I'm sure you're thinking the same thing. Just to let you know, this is not the end of my blog. I leave for Okinawa next Thursday and go right back into ministry on the following Monday. Please continue to think of me!

Tchau Brazil, Konnichiwa Japan!

Long Time No Blog

2008-07-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

Hey y`all-

Sorry for the super delay... I`ve been in Sao Paulo since last Tuesday, and I haven´t had any internet access. I don´t have much time now either. But I´ll update you when I get back to the states on Thursday about the awesome time I´ve had here in Sao Paulo! Keep me in your prayers.. I´m feeling a but burned out, but I don´t want to go home!! Can´t wait to see you all!

Hannah

Kizuna

2008-06-27T19:14:00.000-07:00

Many of our students are part of a Okinawa drum squad and a few of them went to Sao Paulo last weekend for the Centennial Okinawa Taiko fest. All 1150 participants learned the same beat and did it simultaneously. I'm sad I missed out... I'm missing gout on a lot of centennial stuff in Sao Paulo, but youtube is wonderful!

Urban Farmer

2008-06-25T19:32:00.001-07:00

Time to up the date.. sorry for the delay again. This past week has been crazy crazy crazy with the team from Swanton here. Shedding many tears, they just left us yesterday. I'm assuming they didn't miss their international flight again... no news is good news! Thank you guys for all the encouragement and support you left us with here in Brasilia! We look forward to your visit again in 2010!

This week is mostly occupied with preparing for the speech contest on Sunday. June 29th seemed so so far away on June 1st when I arrived here in Brasilia. The date is so exciting, yet so dreadful because only 2 days after that I have to leave this wonderful family and home I've been accepted into for good (or maybe not?). So as I scramble around, making giant paper cranes, making up anthropological journal entries, and make hundreds of candies, I'm trying so desperately to breathe in as much of this experience as I can. 5 weeks was by no means long enough... but I thank God so much for every minute of it. Ok, ok, no more good bye mushies, i still have 5 days!!!

I'm gonna miss these kids....

Believe it or not, last Thursday was my first day of tourism around Brasilia. It's been so crazy that I haven't left the church much at all! I guess I'd better get used to it.. since my whole life will be in a church anyway ;-) I again tagged along with the Swanton team on their tourism day.

We of course started the day off with a Churrascaria lunch (Brazilian all you-you-can-eat steak barbeque). I love my meat rare, as you may be able to see in the very attractive photo of myself.

Then we headed to the TV tower for a good view of the city.

Modern Art?

Pastor Toshi and Takao-san

Below the TV tower is the fela, or hippie market, a tourist's dream come true. I'm making my third trip there this Saturday to actually buy stuff. The first time was just looking, the second time was weaving in and out of the stands with Fumiko, the church's fight-to-the-death bargainer. Y'all have got to see this woman wage war on the sellers. Just imagine the nicest looking Japanese lady say a bunch of Portuguese really fast with hand motions and looks, then walk away mumbling "muito carro... muito carro...," "too expensive... too expensive..." At times I felt I needed to take a step back in case some blood started spewing. Well, by the end of that day, everything ended up being muito carro, so we're going back into the last battle on Saturday for last minute strikes. Please keep us in your prayers.

Scoping out the berimbao, afro-Brazilian instrument

"Nao, obrigado... mais photo por favor?"

Oh... Poker night... and yes, I AM on a missions trip.

Saturday afternoon some church members and I filled up two cars and took a 30 minute ride out to a neighboring city, Gama, to visit and do a service for a drug/alcohol rehab center. They are currently building a new facility. The men their are very optimistic for healing, very encouraging.

That same night was the follow up service to the English camp. It was so cool to see almost everyone from camp return to the church for the service. Although the camp was mostly focused on friendship and English, this service was a direct evangelistic attempt. Pastor Andy gave a great Gospel message that I'm sure pierced many hearts. We all had a great time of fellowship afterwards too. I know a few that have decided to come to the church and others who are considering. I pray that the seeds sown at the camp and the service will be watered and fruitful, even though the Swanton team or I will not see it happen.

I had to say my advertisement for the 41st and last time...

I've seen a lot of the interest that Brazilians have in American life and culture since being here. Although, most of the time I'm not too fond of being an American, I'm continually reminded the fact that my American citizenship is a huge bridge and tool for ministry. Like I talked about in my last post, even though I hate being the Americn, or the "rich man", I was reminded by a very precious person in my life (Laura, cough cough) that God has made me that man for a reason and I must use it for the good of the kingdom by giving it and sharing it. Loving my riches will only make me spiritually poor, and despising my riches will get me no where either!

So whoever said city peeps can't farm was very wrong, cuz I totally did on Monday! I figured if I was going to have an extreme Japanese-Brazilian cultural experience, what better to do than dig up some maniocs and plant some lettuce? Yoshida-san took the great risk of allowing a Tokyo girl like me take foot on his soil... I never really found out what he thought of me, but I know I learned how to dig up manioc potatoes, peal the thick skin of them, trade potato roots for lettuce and brocolli sprouts, and plant them. Farming has become a very difficult market for the Japanese-Brazilians. Of the 60 some lots in the Vargem Bonita suburb, only 4 have been doing well. But Mr. Yoshida has been a trooper ever since he came to Brazil in the 50's, raising 4 boys on his own after his wife passed away. He taught me a lot of lessons that day, beyond agriculture, on toil and dignity.

Pedro (Yoshida-san's grandson) was kicking butt, it must be in his blood.

My lettuce/broccoli garden still isn't growing...

It was a refreshing day... but I think I'll stick with urban life...

Thanks for your visit! Come again!!

Comfort 2 Camp Ground 2 Favela 2 Comfort

2008-06-19T03:05:00.000-07:00

"Hi!!! My name is Hannah! And I'm an AMERICAN! I'm here to invite you to our English Camp! It's on June 13th, 14th, and 15th at Cocalzinho. THIRTEEN Americans will be there to practice and learn English with! We will teach you about American culture, like eat American food - hotdogs, hamburgers, french fries, coca-cola, marshmallows... mmmm, and play American sports like football and baseball! There's even a pool there for pool games!! But most of all, we just want to become your friends and get to know you! So please come! It's only $R65.00, including transportation, food, and lodging! That's waaay less than what you spend on the weekend! See you there!"

Saying that advertisement about 40 times over was proved worth it this weekend. The American team from Swanton arrived on Friday, 24 hours late since missing their flight in Atlanta, very sad. So we dropped off their extra suitcases at the church and loaded up 3 buses of 13 gringos, 20 church staff, and 54 Brazilians of all English levels. I went through language shock going from all Japanese to all English!

Something to add about the Brazilian culture that I personally really, really struggle with. Schedules are... just suggestions. Marcos had a whole schedule planned, but it wasn't used much at all. We were supposed to get to the camp around 7pm on Friday, well, we got there at 10. We were supposed to teach 4 times, but we taught twice and 2 hours of free times became 5. But the main purposes were accomplished - friends and fun. And I might add that I can't believe I had to come all the way to Brazil to learn how to chill out!

Please be praying for the church service at our church this Saturday night. The English camp was not openly promoted as a Christian event, but our goal was to invite as many people to come to the follow-up service. From the looks of it, most everyone from camp is going. Here are some shots:

My new friends Ehberly, Karine, and Edelene ;-)

Make a "P" with your body... GO!

The Americans brought a dance to "Lean on me" (the DC Talk remake, yes, the one no one sings anymore). I had to hold myself from laughing when all the Brazilians were like "this song is sooo cool!!" I'm terrible, I know.

American dinner!

My kids class!

I cropped out the boys with speedos for you ;-)

I should probably take a moment to introduce the Swanton team. VERY cool people! The team is composed of Pastor Andy and his daughters Abby and Hannie, Pastor Miguel ('05 TFC grad!), Jim and Joann, their daughters Samantha and Stephanie, Peter and Kathy, Judy, and Erin. Swanton Alliance church switches back and forth from Brazil and India every other year, so they have brought a team in '04 and '06. So they were familiar with the area and the English Camp too. It's been nice to have some homeland lovin'!

Other than Japanese school on Wednesday and Friday, I'm sticking with the North Americans this week. On Monday and Tuesday we took a ride to Estutural, the favela of Brasilia (slum, shantytown, or garbage dump community). As you know, Brasilia is a fairly new city, therefore, it is known around Brazil to be a city of job opportunity. But that is not necessarily true... Many of the inhabitants of Estutural come from the state of Bahia, north of here, which is home to many Afro-Brazilians, or the poorest of the country. So they come down to Brasilia and after seeing no legit jobs, they settle in the favela for a "better life." This better life consists of a home made completely out of garbage that the family found at the dump - the walls are scraps and cardboard pieces, the floor of mud, decorations/plates of "hand-me-downs", and TV's/stereos most likely sold for cheap by a robber. The crazy thing is... we see this as a miserable life, but this life I just described is ten time better than their old lives in Bahia where they had no food or shelter. So in their mind... they are rich and comfortable. It's all perspective huh?

Making baggies of clothes by size and gender.

A majority of this house was built with the funding of Swanton Alliance church 2 years ago. The lady cried sooo much when they came..

Therefore, the true Gospel is very hard to preach to the people of Estutural. The popular Gospel that is heard in these streets is the again the prosperity gospel where if you believe in Jesus, he will give you wealth, health, and happiness. When I was told this, my first question was "Is it successful? Because health, wealth, and happiness doesn't really seem to exist there." Well... again, in their mind, they're wealthy and happy with their garbage dump food and stolen TV, much more than what they had in Bahia. Please pray that the people of Estutural would not see Jesus as only a provider, but above that, a Savior.

If you can tell, the people in this photo have orange vests on. That's a recent action made by the government to control the chaotic situation at the dump. If you would have gone to the dump 2 months ago, you would seen entire families with all their children digging through the toxic waste. The trucks and bulldozers have no care where they drive, so many people, including children died from these sorts of accidents. So now, the government has distributed special outfits to authorize only certain people to be on the dump. But keep in mind that this dump is VERY controlled as opposed to some others in Brazil or around the world (like India where the government actually places the untouchable cast onto garbage dumps).

Some of you reading my blog are my very close friends who have heard my never ending worries of what my life ministry looks like (Africa? Japan? America? Brazil?). Others of you have known me since the day I developed that passion to be a missionary in Japan for life. Since entering college I have fought and fought that calling. I have wrestled so much with the Lord after hearing about the people who have to sell their bodies, dig through garbage, and die for a single meal on the table. The AIDS epidemic has brought many tears to my eyes and the children tossed around for sex 6 times a day has enraged me. How can I not do anything??? But here's how my mind has been directed in the past month: to the rich man.

Hear me out on this... Sorry if it's way off the wall.

The woman who so badly wanted to give the little she had for refreshments... the man cooking the old food over the methane gas floating out of the ground for dinner... the naked girl with a mile long grin on her face for her new teddy bear... Then, I see the rich man in Mark 10 walking away sad when Jesus told him to sell all of his possessions to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I see the 100 suicides a day in Japan, one of the richest countries in the world. I see the American dream fulfilling the physical, temporary need, and then the wretched, empty heart lacking in the spiritual, eternal need.. How does that add up?

Since being in Brazil, I have heard 6 different people speak/teach out of Revelations 3: 14-22, aka, the Lukewarm/Hot or Cold? passage - you know... that passage that Americans don't like hearing? In a round-about way, the passage is God speaking to the man who says, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing," and those who "are not realizing that they are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." And that doesn't mean physically wretched, but spiritually. How bluntly God says, "You are neither cold, nor hot. I will spit you out of my mouth." And Jesus bluntly says the same, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:23)

Are you getting my point? Well... in response to Mark 10:23 - No one ever said it's impossible, so I'm up for that challenge!

Watching men and women dive for dinner as the truck unloaded yesterday made me think deeply of the rich man's soul. Position of comfort and prosperity is so very dangerous for the heart because it replaces this dire need we have for the grace and mercy of the God Almighty. The enemy has warped God into a wallet, house, or car, making people think their work and toil has saved them, and therefore they reject the saving cross of Christ. I pray that this doesn't make me sound like a heartless wanna-be-missionary who never wants to touch poverty. By no means am I saying that I will not end up in Africa or Brazil. But I feel the need to say that the rich man needs the Gospel too, so let's not forget him! Despite how badly I want to spend my life feeding the poor and rescuing the children, the Lord continually reminds me of the primary definition of "missionary:" one who lives and shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That's enough depth for now, my head hurts and it's 3am, I've been trying to upload a video and it's not working. G'nite...

2008-06-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hey yáll, I know it´s been a week since my last post. I´m hoping to get a chunk of time tonight on the internet. Have 2 minutes before class. Thank you to Dr. E for doing my homework and lookin gup the difinition of Seicho-no-ie (the popular Japanese religion I mentioend earlier in Brazil: A Buffet of Religion)

`´Hannah - I found this description of Seicho-No-Ie.The Seicho-No-Ie Truth of Life Movement is a nondenominational movement based on the belief that all religions emanate from one universal God. It is dedicated to spreading the truth that every person is a child of God; therefore, in reality every person is divine in nature and the possessor of all of the creative powers of God´`

Almosts sounds kind of attractive.. but so so so evil.

That´s all! I just had to satisfy my blogspot withdrawal. Stay tuned for updates on English camp this past weekend and our visit to Esturtural, the favela (shantytown, slum, garbage dump) here in Brasilia. So... brace yourself!

Peace and Love,
Hannah

2008-06-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

Sup people?

As I wait for my ofuro (Japanese bath - the best everrr), here are some updaties. Umm... let me think...

It's been a pretty kick-butt week so far. Monday especially! Toshi, for some reason, was invited to this special gathering for Nikkei lawyers for a book premier that some lawyers and such wrote on the Japanese-Brazilians, The Nikkei of Brazil (and I of course bought one, despite it's Portuguese penmanship). So I tagged along, and let's just say I was pretty under dressed. It was this fancy shmancy thing with a bunch of high up government people and lawyers with sushi and sake. I got my book signed by the editor, one of the authors, and even the Japanese Ambassador! One of the lawyers there invited me to a special luncheon on Sunday, but I can't go because of English Camp. But hey, I got invited. I won't lie, those gray haired men loved me!

Miss Nikkei Centennario of Brasilia

The 3rd guy from the left is the one who invited me to the luncheon. If you notice, he has a metal on his coat, given to him by the Japanese Emperor for his work and studies on the Nikkei.

Tuesday morning Toshi, Hiroko and I went out for homon (home visiting) again. This time, we visited a very prominent character in Brasilia, Mrs. Fumiko Kanegai. Her and her family were one of the 5 families specifically asked by the president in 1960 to farm the dry ground of newly established Brasilia. He woul dnot allow anyone but Japanese to farm there. It was amazing to hear her story of coming to Brazil as a child, teaching herself portuguese, experiencing the aftermath of WWII, and being a part a creating the very strong Nikkei Farming community in Brasilia. Some historical facts for ya: When Japan surrendered, most Japanese living in Brazil refused to believe that Japan had lost because so much of their self-identity and pride came from their home country. Fumiko was on the side of kachigumi - the winners, as opposed to the makegumi. There were many many fights an killings during that time between the sides. Today, prewar and postwar immigrants are drastically different in thought and lifestyle. I think that a part of her still believes that Japan won...

Backing up a bit to Sunday... Pastor Toshi was given this great evangelism opportunity by a former Japanese school student who quit because she is pregnant with her first. She asked Toshi to come to their family gathering (about 40 people) to deliver a message. Most of her family are non-believers. Well, here's the sad story. Harumi, the former student was informed by the doctors that the child would be born very sick and die shortly after birth. This tore the family up into confusion. But, praise the Lord, the doctors have found that the baby will actually be born normal. So, to share the good news, Harumi gathered her family together on Sunday afternoon and asked Toshi to use the situation for an encouraging message. It was so touching to see a broken family come together in unity, celebration and thanksgiving toward a God that they previously never noticed. As far as I know, one family has committed to coming to our church, and I had some amazing conversations with some of the family members about God's good purposes in all good and bad.

The question of "why do good things happen to bad people?" and "Why do bad things happen to good people?" has rung in my head continuously for the past week. It is SUCH a hard question to answer as a Christian, especially in an age like this where earthquakes and cyclones kill thousands and millions are sold into slavery without consent. What do you do with that, you know? But through this situation and others, I am reminded so much of God's much, much higher understanding of the world and the way it works and has made it self to be. When Joseph's brothers came to him in sorrow and apology after putting him through decades of slavery and suffering, Joseph's famous response was, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today. (Genesis 50:20)" So my answer to those questions, well, it's "I don't know." But, here's what I do know. God is so good. And God will love us, work in us, and through us, despite us.

Some extra shots...

Dinner at the Ueno's

Students

Food Bingo

Fellow Methods and Materials classmates - remember that game we plated where Dr. Crosby read the text and we had to run back and forth to remember what he was reading - try doing that in Nihongo!

Well friends and family. The next couple days are CRAZY! The American team of 12 from Swanton, OH fly in tomorrow at noon for the English camp this weekend. Please be praying for that and that the Gospel would somehow be communicated. And for myself... as I scramble aorund to plan 3 hours of lesson plans...

Off to my ofuro! *sigh*

Hannah

Abandoned First Love

2008-06-07T13:19:00.001-07:00

I fell in love again yesterday. No, not with a Brazilian. My first love, Jesus Christ. iTunes was playing on random last night and I stumbled upon an old favorite by Jars of Clay "Worlds Apart."

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

Take my world apart
I am on my knees
Take my world apart
Broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart

I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart

I realize that the only fuel I'll have for a life of ministry is the fuel that the beloved Son provides. No husband, child, hobby, or friend will measure up to the fulfillment that Christ has given me thus far. I am overwhelmed by this feeling sometimes. There have been times where I am clouded with worries of tomorrow. There are days where I ponder upon all the hard questions about God that I may never find an answer to in this life time. But somehow, this undeserved love I receive everyday produces this faith that assures me. "Hannah, I never said that it would be easy, I only said you'd never go alone."

I've been reading through Acts, and came upon the part where Paul was in Ephesus and he was about to depart from them (Ch. 20). His farwell message was rich in urges for them to shepherd their congregation well to and to stay doctrinally pure. The book of Ephesians even opens with another reminder to take good care of the body of Christ in feeding, resting, directing, and applying. But then you turn to Revelations 2 in the seven letters to the churches, and God has this message for them:

"I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first."

My prayer for myself and for all people in the field of ministry, that despite all the toil, work, and effort, we would never fall into the lie that work is what wins the favor of our merciful God. I pray that we would remind ourselves daily of why we do what we do, and that is because Jesus who took on our inadequacy to work toward salvation, our depravity and sin and conquered it all with death on a cross. That's what's getting me through this summer. I hope the same for you...

Here are the shots I promised in the last blog:

We were given these half sheets of origami and we were told to put our wish on it.

Then they proceeded to give us instructions on how to fold them.

They're so you can connect them. They're collecting like a million of these to create a huge Japanese-Brazilian flag.

I got a little bored...

Connect like so...

We were occupied with assorted performances too. This was the least of the cheesy ones.

Pray for me tonight as I speak to the youth group. Just like American youth, they're pretty aimless and live two different lives in and out of church.

Ate Mais!
Hanny

Brazil: A Buffet of Religion

2008-06-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hey friends-

Just a quick entry today. I have updates that you could be praying for..

Yesterday I went to a ´`Centennial Origami`` ceremony honoring the important Nikkei characters in Brasilia (like politicians and professors). It was an unbelievably long ordeal of 3 hours. But the idea was cool... I´ll post some shots later, I´m not on my laptop right now where I can access my pics.

ANYWAY, on the bus going to the event, I had an interesting encounter. The second stop for the bus was the group from the Seicho-no-ie temple. Here´s where I need your prayers. A 3rd generation lady sat next to me by the name of Elizabeth. We had a long conversation about her beliefs and practices. Seicho-no-ie is a new Japanese religion, brought to Brazil in 1930 and has exploded in popularity since. 80% of the followers are Brazilians, while the rest are Japanese. I sitll have yet to do my research on it, but from the looks of it and with my previous knowledge, I know that it is very New Age. They believe that God created all things to be good and man made it evil (good so far..). But I think it is very Deistic in the sense that God has no involvement in salvation, but man saves themselves through practice and reading of their many scriptures. All sickness is healed and pain is relieved when one can fix their heart and soul, or from the inside out.

I invited Elizabeth to come to our speech contest at the end of the month, and she was extremely interested. But, she can´t go becasue of previous appointments with her temple... so please pray that maybe she would cancel those plans to come to this event so I can continue our conversation. Seicho-no-ie is one of many, many religions that Brazilians practice. Even worse, the Brazilian mindset is that it is acceptable to mix and match. So the Brazilian will be Catholic by name, and practice spiritism, Seicho-no-ie, Buddhism, Hinudism, Mormanism, you name it. The pattern I´ve seen is that they take our the ´good stuff´that benefits them (like healing sickness and adding wealth), and there is never any love for God or a realization of his soverignty. You may have heard stuff like, ´oh... Brazil´s already so evangelized...´eh... not so much. The Prtoestant church has gained a terrible repuation in Brazil becasue the Prosperity Gospel and Neo-Pentecostalism (money suckers) has been so heavily taught, that church is seen as hypocrites that say you´ll be rich, but people obviously aren´t so rich in Brazil... continue to pray for the really messed up spiritual state of Brazil.

One more for you. Today Pastor Toshi, Hiroko, and I went around the farmlands to do some home visits with the 1st generation Japanese (OLD people). They do this on a regular basis. The first lady, Koyama-san had been reading a Bible that Toshi and Hiroko had given her. I believe she has been Buddhist up until this point, but I was amazed to see her deep thought and interest in the Word. She has been reading the Bible in order, being at the point of I and II Kings and was intrigued as to why humanity was always in wars and having bad Kings. We were able to explain to her that that portion of the Bible, although is redundant and ``boring,`` is there to prove humanity´s depravity. It was when Isreal was disobendient to the law and went their own way, creating their own god´s and making their own riches that they were conquered and defeated. Man can do nothing without God was the message we gave to her.

Koyama-san came to Brazil in 1959, and moved to Brasilia in 1960 when the city was first established to work the farmland. The Japanse were specifically asked to come farm the dry, unfertile ground of Brasilia because they had gained the reputation of being excellent farmers. So, she has been on the same land, in the same house ever since. She expressed her frustration with the current generation on the world being spoiled, having everything handed to them, and she took this frustration to a realization that all is God´s and all is given to us by Him, so we should be so much more thankful for all that we have. I was inspired by her deep thought, and I can´t wait until she gets to the part about God loving us depsite our selfish ways and therefore sending a cool guy named Jesus to save us from our depravity. Please pray that her very straight path to salvation would not be hindered or blocked.

So Obama and Hilary are teamin´ up huh? God Bless America...

Eu te amo!
Hannah

Suffering for Jesus in Brazil

2008-06-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

I partly understand why Eve gave into picking the apple off the tree... something about picking fruit directly off of a tree is very pleasing.... ok. That might be a little different... But I have been introduced to fruits I've never even heard of since coming to Brazil! We went to the home of Harumi and Louise for lunch yesterday, and just walking around their yard, I could pick bananas, aceloras (sweet/sour cherry-ish), panhas, lemons and coconuts. There was even baby watermelon growing out of the ground because their son Filipe had spit a seed in the yard! I had a little snack in their back yard while waiting for lunch...

bananas

watermelon "weed"

panhas - can't really describe them to you... good!

aceloras - we picked them and made juice for lunch

My first coconut water drink!

There were four weiners running around too...

This is the sky, everyday, I've never been so mesmerized by CLOUDS before... I find myself finding animals in the sky like the old days...

But in all seriousness, it's been overwhelming how kind people have been here. I've been invited for lunch and dinner by so so many people already, and I'm so encouraged to be invited into the homes of people be told of their histories and lives. My mom always told me that as a baby, I never played with toys, but I just watched people. I hope this doesn't sound stalker creepy, but I love nothing more than sitting down with someone new and hearing their story and getting a peak into their daily life. God truly lives in all people... I encourage you to look for him in everyone around you, he's there! I praise the Lord for the Christian community that he has blessed me with because it is the blood of Christ that puts me in connection with my brothers and sisters in Christ! I hope to be able to say the same with many new people here in Brazil...

On Sunday after church, I attended a Japanese cultural festival and Curso Module, one of the bigger Japanese language schools in Brasilia. Yakisoba (fried noodles)... kimonos... yukatas... dancing.. ikebana (Japanese flower arranging)... We had a room to post our school's information too. I met a professor from U. of Brasilia and asked me to come in to discuss anthropological topics on Japanese-Brazilians! I'm a nerd, but sweeeet!

Ladies dancing to the Centennial Immigration theme song

Kimono fashion show

essays written various students

In the morning I of course went to Nucleo Bandereinte Alliance Church and in the evening to Riache Fundo Alliance Church. Although Most of the services are in Portuguese, it is so cool to see three different languages coming together to worship the same God. That truly proves how big God really is. I love how church is done here in Brasilia. It's been so long since I've seen church done in community and fellowship. Both churches have less than 100 members, but it's the quality, not the quantity that matters. It warms my soul to see the church leaders having to boot people out the door to turn off the lights and lock the gate, and they still continue their after-church fellowship in the dark cold for another 30 minutes - as opposed to the American mega-church where you never see the same person twice in a month and the parking lot is empty in 5 minutes. There is an air or unity and support here and I wish it was easier to find that at home..

This week is pretty much the same schedule... went to like 6 English schools today... 3-4 classrooms each to promote the English camp next weekend. Tomorrow's another day of teaching Japanese and critiquing speeches, and Thursday I'll be visiting individual homes of the elderly. Be praying that the seeds sown in the classroom will be sown on fertile ground rather than rocky ground. I may have mentioned earlier but most of the students come from non-Christian families and many broken homes. As teachers, we believe in faith that although we don't see the immediate fruits of our labor, 20 years down the line, the students will remember our talk and mention of Jesus and cling to that memory...

Brazilian kids = bonita

Thanks again... bed time! Oyasuminasai (g'nite!)

Brasilia: A Tempting New Home

2008-05-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

(WOW it's been a few days... I hope you don't mind a lengthy blog)

"Tudo Bem?" from Brasilia! I've been here in the capitol of Brazil for... 4 days now and I have so many updates! .. now where do I start?

It's been quite a transition from Sao Paulo to Brasilia. I landed in Brasilia about 3pm on Tuesday to the realization that I had to say "tchau!" to any English communication. No, not Portuguese, but my life and language here in Brasilia for the next 5 weeks will be in japanais. I am living with the Yassui family who speaks only Japanese in the house - I guess I knew I'd be speaking Japanese a lot.. but not this much. It's been very good for me, but I find myself having headaches a lot. I'm either dehydrated (doubtful because I carry a quart of water everywhere I go - it's a desert here..), I'm getting yellow fever (again, doubtful because the first thing I was forced to do in landing in Sao Paulo was to get an immunization), or my brain just hurts from trying to transition into a language that I normally only get to speak once a week!
Anyway, Pastor Toshiyaki, or Toshi Sensei is the pastor of Nucleo Bandereinte's Alliance Church, a 2nd generation Japanese-Brazilian (Nisei), making his son Akira a 3rd generation (Sansei). Toshi has been the native pastor here in Brasilia for about 15 years now, and his wife, Hiroko is actually a Japanese woman who ended up sticking around after a 1-month missions trip to Sao Paulo with her church in Ehime, Japan. Therefore, she would be a 1st generation Japanese-Brazilian (Issei)! I like to joke that I'm a Non-sei... haha...

(My humble abode for the next 3 weeks. My room is actually located on the 2nd floor of the church. The Yassui's live behind the church, and the fellowship hall is above their house, with my room at the end of the hall. The Japanese languages classrooms are also on the first floor.)

(Something very unique about Brasilia is it's organization. Everything is divided up by street, meaning that there's a "church street," "school street," "pharmacy street," "national embassy street," etc. Assemblies of God is to your left... and the Mason's to your right!)

Like I mentioned earlier, Brasilia has only been in existence since 1956. It was in 1960 that a young, single woman, Ninomiya-san, from Japan came by herself to plant the very first Alliance church in Brazil, and that is the very church I’m serving in for the next 5 weeks. This woman who ended up serving in Brazil for almost 40 years beat the American Christian and Missionary Alliance in getting to Brazil. You go girl! So, I’m living on Alliance pioneered Brazilian ground! I think that’s pretty kick butt…

Ninomiya specifically came here to Brasilia to reach the Japanese-Brazilians. She began the Japanese language school to prevent children from losing touch with the roots. Hiroko, who was influenced by Ninomiya to come to Brazil has taken the baton and has been heading up the language school for 15 years now. Most of the children who come to the classroom are sent by their parents who do not attend church. Therefore, the school is a great opportunity to plant seeds early in the lives of the children. I will be teaching Japanese with Hiroko for my time here. This month is in preparation for the speech contest at the end of the month where the kids will get to show off their skills to their friends and family. This gathering will be evangelistic, so please be praying for that. We’re aiming to get 300 people to attend. This week I have mainly been critiquing the kids' speeches and helping them with pronunciation. I was able to share my testimony in each of the 3 classes today, so I hope that planted some seeds too!

(Sharing my story)

(Japanese morning exercises with Hiroko!)

My heart was warmed last night… I attended house group with Toshi and Hiroko and I met a very precious lady named Takahashi-san. She is 94 years old (she claims to be 93). She is a 1st generation Japanese Brazilian who cam to Brazil as a nurse to the Amazon and stayed because she could not afford to go back to Japan. So for 74 years now, she has called Brazil her home, never returning to Japan. My conversation with her was probably the funniest thing I’ve ever done. Being 94, she’s quite senile and her short-term memory has failed her. I initially introduced myself as a "halfy" and she was impressed with my Japanese. We'd go on with our conversation about the Amazon.. life in Brazil and about 10 times in our 15-minute conversation, she would interrupt and say, "Whoa... you're speaking Japanese! Are you a halfy?" At times when she was telling me about all the cobras, monkeys and pirahnas of the Amazon, she'd slip into Portuguese, forgetting that I could not speak it. Oh... so presh... Takahashi-san has only known the Lord for 4 years now, and being too frail to go to church, Hiroko goes to her twice a week to pray. So I hope to go along and talk some more with her some more!

I have a really bad feeling that I'm not going to be learning any Portuguese while being here... if I'm not speaking Japanese... I'm speaking good ol' English. A Brazilian by the name of Marcos has been taking me around Brasilia to English schools and classes to promote a Christian English Camp that him and I will be doing in a few weeks. On Wedneday, we went a public school and spoke to about 8 different middle school classes. They asked us to return today, and I was in for a surprise… instead of 8 small classes, the teachers gathered ALL of the students for a mini seminar with “our new American friend Hannah!” Well, after telling them about the camp, I was bombarded with questions about America. Not questions about Hannah Montana and MTV, but heavy duty questions like, “Obama or Hilary?” “Do you like Bush? “What are your thoughts on the Iraqi War?” “What do you think of the Kyoto Protocal?” and “Do you have any issues with immigration?” I was taken back by these Brazilian highs schoolers' extensive knowledge of American issues and politics! Ashamed with the little opinion and knowledge I had (which will now change), I felt I was stammering the whole hour… but Marcos later told me that I spoke very diplomatically, so I guess that's good… Toshi explained to me later that the college entrance exam requires Brazilian seniors to state their opinions on world issues. I am impressed by that! I made many many friends today, I think this may be one of the only places that I am actually liked as an American… and I intend on taking advantage of that!

Love you all so much... Have a wonderous weekend!

Cidade de Sao Paulo

2008-05-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

It just keeeeps going...

My one and only tacky tourist picture... to prove I'm really in Sao Paulo

This morning at breakfast, we received sad news that Tamie Komono, a Japanese-Brazilian lady from the Fukuhamos church who had been fighting cancer for months had gone to be with the Lord. After Tim and JoLee took me to the C&MA field office (where I took the photos), and to the mall where I got my Starbucks city mug (to add to my collection), we went to Tamie's funeral. I never met this woman, but from the ceremony and the many people who grieved over her death, I gathered that she was an encouragement to many. Tamie was single, about 60 years old, and had 5 other siblings, all believers. The church community around her will miss her very much. Next Saturday, the church will hold a memorial service for her. Please pray not only for her family and friends, but this service dedicated to the honoring of her life would be an evangelistic tool to many who do not know the Lord as she did.

Off to Brasilia tomorrow morning at noon! Boa Noite (Noichi)!

My First Japanese Embrace

2008-05-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

One time I tried to hug my cousin good bye, and it was probably one of the most awkward things I've ever done... I think she actually tried to push me away! Typically, it's not very culturally accepted in Japan. But today, at Vila Ema, a Japanese-Brazilian church plant here in Sao Paulo, I received my first hug from a Japanese person..

Last night when Alex and I were discussing schedules and times to be ready for church, he said that Vila Ema started at 10:00am. Being aware of the Brazilian time schedule, I understood it common and accepted to be at least an hour late. So with that assumption, I responded, "So church actually starts at 11:00am right?" And Alex's response was, "Nooo, they're Japanese." haha...

The church was held in a garage with about 30 or so attendees. Most everyone was Japanese, with a few Europeans. All of the worship was done in Portuguese. Fortunately, I understood because they were all songs I recognized, but it was still fun following along in Portuguese. At one point, they switched gears and sang "Shout to the Lord" in Japanese, but that's all the Japanese that was spoken the whole time. I was glad to have the opportunity to move over to the corner with a translator and two other elderly Japanese people to hear the message in Japanese. I think they were really confused when a gringa like me busted out her Japanese Bible and nodded at every good part of the message!

At the end of the service, I was blown away, and really thrown off into confusion when a mob of elderly Japanese ladies and men attacked me with elongated embraces, stretched smiles, and pecks on the cheek... I have never seen such warm greetings come from Japanese people. I can honestly say that that was the first hug I received from a Japanese person. I suppose that warmth and charisma is what makes them also Brazilian. I hope and pray that that is a door wide open for evangelism! I was touched by the conversations I had, and my time at Vila Ema only makes me more excited for the ministry I have prepared for me in Brasilia for the coming weeks..

Christian and Missionary Alliance Church (at Vila Ema)

If you look closely at the screen, that is "My Jesus, My Savior" in Japanese.

The Brazilian family sent by the Brazilian C&MA to Japan. I believe they are specifically ministering to the many Japanese-Brazilians who have reverse-migrated back to Japan for economic reasons. The Brazilians in Japan are considered "dirty people" because they mostly work the "dirty jobs." Japanese people tend to be racist against people who are not pure blood. Therefore, the Japanese-Brazilians in Japan have been very open to the Gospel.

Lunch after church: Brazilian BBQ, all you can eat steak! Pretty much, they come around with different parts of a cow on a stick and you say yes or no to it... and WHY don't we have this in the states? Oh, and it's only like $R20, like 15 U.S. dollars...

The Zell's passing me on the the Bubna's until Tuesday

An interesting fact I learned about Brasilia today: the city of Brasilia has only been in existence since 1956! A bit more history for ya.. for the next 5 weeks, I'll be in a "planned city." The capitol of Brazil was always Rio or Salvador, so in order to get some of the population to move inland, the government hired people from all over Brazil to construct the city. The Japanese population is there now because of relocation and farming. As you can see, Brasilia is a very modern looking city.. my kind of city!

Well, for two nights until my flight to Brasilia, I'm with Tim and JoLee Bubna, the C&MA field directors of Brazil. I haven't had any bad host family experiences yet... even if I did, I wouldn't post it anyway ;-)

Later gator

I bought a scarf from Equador, in Japan, in Brazil

2008-05-23T18:44:00.000-07:00

So I've been wanting a pretty scarf for a long time... and I bought one today from 2 very nice Equadorian ladies in Liberdade, the Japanese business district here in Sao Paulo. Alex, Melissa, and I took the subway today to Liberdade, literally "liberty," pronounced "Liberdagy." Very cool place. I was in cloud 9. This "Japantown" that's in the heart of Sao Paulo looks just like the shopping neighborhood down the street from my dad's place in Tokyo, except everything is translated in Portuguese.

"Voce falar japanais?" I would ask (can you speak Japanese?), and I was lucky to find someone who could answer yes. Most of the Japanese-Brazilians there were Nisei or Sansei (2nd of 3rd generation), so their Japanese was either poor or non-existent. But the few conversations I was able to have were very good. But I realized today that these people have most likely never been to Japan, because Brazil is their home. I feel that I will have difficulty finding common interests because of the drastic cultural difference. Please continue to pray that doors or relevancy would open and relationships, despite the differences, would result.

Liberdade

The Butsudana shop, or "Buddha shelf" store. Most likely every Japanese Brazilian will have one in their home while professing to be Catholic.

The most popular Ramen restaurant Asuka.

An ad from a local bank, "100 years of Japanese immigration to Brazil."

Sounds of Sao Paulo

2008-05-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

The urban serenade of Sao Paulo City... TV's broadcasting the hourly soccer matches.... men yelling at the moving screen... fireworks going off at every goal... and the echos of barking dogs following every explosion...

I've been in Sao Paulo for 2 days now. Of the many cities that I've been to, this by far is the most unique! Being the 3rd largest city in the world (#1 Mexico City, #2 Tokyo), housing 22 million people, I'm not kidding when I say this.. there are people EVERYWHERE! Fashion statements are loud and proud because of course, all the models come from here! It's almost as hilly as San Francisco, and with the mad-man driving, a drive to the grocery store almost feels like a roller coaster at Cedar Point! I'm lucky to be here in May, being 'winter' with dry 60's weather - like that perfect day in spring before all the pollen invades. Portuguese sounds beautiful, but I change my mind when I try speaking it when 'r's are pronounced like an 'h,' and 't's are pronounced like 'ch'...

The Zell family, who I've been staying with have been so hospitable (Alex (TFC alumni) and Julie (Nyack Alumni.. ew.. :) and their daughters Melissa, Jodi, and Linsey). They have been missionaries in Brazil for 3 terms, and total of 9 years. Alex teaches at the Alliance seminary here in the city while pastoring their church plant here in their humble abode. Julie makes wonderful brownies and brews phenomenal brazilian coffee at just about every hour. I've beat Melissa at chess already, and in two days, we've already also played phase 10, fill or bust, apples to apples, and skip-bo. So... if you'd ever send them a care package, GAMES wouldn't hurt!

Their info:
http://www.cmalliance.org/im/mlocator/missy.jsp?m=43355

A Brazilian couple came for dinner tonight, Marcelo and Elaine with their twin babies Felipe and Clara. Marcelo is of Japanese descent, and Elaine is of Italian, therefore, the twins were halfies like me! Marcelo didn't speak much English or Japanese, but it was still a blessing to hear his heart and story. Elaine was a youth leader under the Zell's when they first came to Brazil, when she started dating Marcelo who was an unbelieving Buddhist at the time. After Alex had the opportunity to share the Gospel with Marcelo, he said he was not ready. But after some time, Marcelo has had accepted Christ in a dramatic fashion. Over a decade later, he has gone through seminary, is now studying for his masters under Alex, and desires to start a church plant and be a missionary to the tribes of the Amazon! Even better, he has lead 2 of his Buddhist brothers to Christ! Praise God! I hope to have the same stories by the end of this summer!

From left to right: Linsey, Julie, Felipe, Elaine, Marcelo, Clara, Alex, Jodi, Melissa.

We're off to the Liberdade district tomorrow. That's the "Japantown" of Sao Paulo. I'm psyched for that. More to come! "Obrigado" and "tchau" with a kiss for now...

Peace out America!

2008-05-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

A 5 hour lay over in Houston… what do you do? FINALLY post your first blog!

Hannah Ito here! Hello and THANK YOU to all of you visiting my summer blog. I’m at a state of mixed emotions, sitting here at gate E15 waiting for my flight to Sao Paulo. I remember back to my freshman year in college thinking of all the places I’d go on my internship… India… Cambodia… Romania…. Brazil?! Who knew that here are over 800,000 Japanese-Brazilians living in Brazil? I tell that to people that I'm going on a 7-week missional internship to the Japanese-Brazilians, and they all say,”… that’s random…” Well, let me tell you that it has been the most “random” year of research, and my heart for these people has progressively swelled and expanded!

(if you're not interested in history, skip or skim the next 2 paragraphs!)

In a nutshell (NOT a file box, RBS diagram, or senior paper), once upon a time, in the early 20th century, Japan was NOT the powerhouse, but Brazil was (where the good coffee comes from). So the Japanese government put pretty posters up everywhere, convincing rural Japanese families to pick up and move to beautiful Brazil to work the coffee plantations and come back with some yen. Little did this families know however. The Japanese government only wanted to balance out their population for economic purposes, and the Brazilians needed some workers to compensate for the African slaves they has to let go in 1888. “Well hoooow convenient!” they said!

So in June of 1908 (notice the exact 100 year difference!), the Kasatomaru docked at Santos outside of Sao Paulo with families full of hope and confidence. But it didn’t take long for them to realize the extreme difficulties in acculturation and soon formed their own communities in the midst of surrounding persecution. To make matters worse, the Pacific war broke out which intensified the persecution from Brazilians. When Japan surrendered, the Japanese in Brazil had to face the fact that they had been betrayed and forgotten, and they would never return home. So since then, these people have taken on the identity of Japanese-Brazilian, or Nikkei, and the number of them has climbed up to be over 800,000, the largest population of Japanese outside of Japan. Crazy!

Today, the Japanese-Brazilians still look Japanese, but act Brazilian in their language, religion, and lifestyle. While being there, I will be doing a variety of things, and this is definitely a tentative schedule. I fly into Sao Paulo and I will be there for a week. A lot of this time will be adjustment and tourism, but I will have the opportunity to visit various churches. From there, I fly to Brasilia, the capitol, and my ministries will primarily be there. I have opportunities to teach English and Japanese, participate in the Centennial celebrations, and help out with vacation bible school. It is the older generation that still primarily speaks and Japanese, so I will visit a lot of elderly’s homes also for individual evangelism. But in all honestly, I’m pretty clueless as to what my 7 weeks in Brazil looks like. I have no expectations, and I am SO EXCITED!!!

Before I leave on a jet plane, I’d like to thank some people in my life for their encouragement and wisdom that has brought me to this point in life:

And there are so many more... I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for y'all's part in my life. I hope you will visit this site often this summer. I'd like to update at least twice a week, but you never know… Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Feel free to e-mail me at hannahito@gmail.com, and my skype name is hannahito. Hope to hear from you! Ciao!

Acts 10:34,35 “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”