Rick and I left the kids with his parents on Sunday afternoon(Dec. 29). It was harder than I thought it would be. Rick and I both were trying not to cry. We drove up to Columbus, Ohio to spend the night with Rick's cousin, Aaron Holley.
The next morning, we got up early, ate breakfast and went to the airport. We waited and waited for our flight. We found out that our flight had been delayed for 2 hours. That meant that we would miss all of our connecting flights. Rick worked everything out. The Lord had plenty to with it too. We got on a jet that we were not booked on and got to Detroit, MI. When we got there, we got on a flight to Tokyo, Japan by the skin of our teeth. The only seats left were in business class. We were quite pleased about that. That flight was the longest one I'd ever been on in my life. It was 14 hours long!
When we got to Tokyo, we had to pick up our luggage and go through customs. Our luggage was the last off the plane. On top of that, someone on the other side of the
carousel had taken my bag off the belt. We started to panic, but found out(by asking for help)that it was sitting right over on the other side. We ran to customs. The guy was real nice and we got through quickly. Then we ran to the flight desk. I was feeling a little sick by then. The ladies behind the desk worked really hard to get us on the last plane leaving for Okinawa that day. I don't know how, but they did it. We ran out to the shuttle and got out to the plane. What a relief!!!
On that last 3 hour flight, I wasn't feeling very well. I was coming down with a virus from home. I tried to get to the bathroom, but fainted as I tried to open the door. i don't think I was out very long before we hit some turbulence. I woke up bumping my head on the wall. The flight attendants didn't even see me until I said, "Ow! Ow!", then everyone was around me at once. I had an embarrassing moment. I tried to tell them I was sick, but they couldn't understand me. They finally understood...too late. I ended up sleeping in the galley for the rest of the trip. They kept asking me if I needed a hospital. I said no, but I would probably need a wheelchair when we got there. So, that's how I ended up getting a ride through the airport. I went out to meet the Millers, while Rick picked up our luggage. At least we made it. What a trip!
Thankfully, the Millers live close to the airport. I was able to get to bed as soon as we got there. The Millers made a special trip to the store for me. They brought chicken noodle soup and 7up, two comfort foods for the ill. I got better quickly, and I sang and played the piano that night. It was their New Year's Eve service.
New Year's day we went over to the Budist Temple. Just to walk up to it and see what it looked like. There was a long walkway leading up to it that included several flights of steps. we walked up to the next to the last level. In order to go inside the temple you had to pay $ .05 for a blessing to be prayed over you. We didn't want that. It was sad to look around and see all the darkness. People who buy prayer papers and prayer boards. They write their prayer on the back, then tie it on these strings with special string. On a certain day every year, the monks burn the prayers and they think the smoke rises to the gods and the prayers will be answered.
I thought all the street vendors were neat though. All the new smells. Most of them were alright. The goats and pigs didnt smell so great though.
The next day, we took the Millers onto Camp Foster to do some "American" shopping. We bought them all kinds of things that they can't get at the markets. Then after we ate lunch in the Food Court, Rick and I went "Christmas "shopping. It was so much fun.
When we got home, we had just enough time to wrap the gifts before we had to walk over to the Ota's house. They served us a traditional New Years dinner, salad(with sesame dressing), rice(of course), a stew of some kind(it had hard boiled eggs, raddish, little smokies, seaweed and pork in it), and pig intestine soup. They wanted us to eat some and guess what it was. I guessed after the third bite. It was good, but the thought of it made me sick.
We sat around talking after the meal(I could understand very little of it). Then we held kimonos up to ourselves to see which ones would look good on the other. That was only the ladies, by the way. They asked me if I'd like to wear a kimono to church on Sunday night. I said Ok. It was something to look forward to. Finally, my head started to nod. I was sooo tired! Sister Ota told the millers to take me home quickly so I could go to bed.
The next day we went out to eat for lunch. It was alot like hibachi, but over there it's called tempanyaki. They cook everything in front of you and the cheff does a little show for you. We had two cheffs at our grill. They had a contest to see which one had better tricks. It was neat.
After that, we crossed the street to the market. It's a street that has a roof over it and is much like our flea markets. People standing by their things and calling out to you as you pass by. We did buy some things of interest. A coinpurse made intirely of a frog(yes it really is a frog skin), some nightlights and a wooden hat. We also bought some of the money cards because they are so pretty. On the way back to the van, Rick insisted that I stop at one of the vending machines and buy a soda. I bought a can of Mt. Dew and it was 20 oz! We brought the can home with us.
When we got home, we had just enough time for the Millers to open their gifts. That was so much fun! The looks of pure joy and excitement made every penny worth it. Then we had to get ready for the Kyans to come over. I had a hard time if Kyoko wasn't in the room with me. Sister Kyan doesn't know much English at all. Language barriers are so tuff!
The next day was Sunday. The Millers waited until Saturday evening to ask if we could teach Sunday School. I tried and tried to figure something out but went to bed with no ideas at all. Around 3 a.m., I woke up with all kinds of ideas floating around in my head. I got up and began to write them down. Everything came together quickly. I revised one of Rick's object lessons about the spots of sin and how to get rid of your sins. We then had to run it by Kyoko to see if anything would be lost in translation, and to get her to write the sins in Japanese so we could put them all over Rick's shirt. It went okay, for my first time speaking through an interpreter. It turned out to only be about 10 to 15 minutes long. I got ahead of myself a little bit. The Lord helped us anyway.
Sunday evening, we went up to the Ota's house to have our kimonos put on. Let me tell you, they are soooo uncomfortable! They are like wearing a corset. By the time everything is tied on, you can't breathe, and you can just barely move to walk. You can't relax either. You can't sit back in your seat because the huge bow gets in the way! I got through it though. I somehow found the breath to sing. After church, Brother Kyan took pictures of everyone in kimonos. There were 10 of us in all. It was a rich cultural experience.
The last few days were full of ministry to the surrounding islands, sightseeing, and shopping for souveniers. We had a children's service in a public park, and went calling door to door on the next island. We ate at a little restaraunt and had taco rice. Then we went across the street to the ocean and played volleyball(without a net)in the sand. We had two of the young people from church with us that day. We even explored a ruined castle on the way home.
Tuesday, we went looking for a place that Kyoko wanted to show us. We found a place that was like it. Then we went down to the ocean again. We stopped at a little place an got some seafood. Oh, is fresh deep fried squid ever good! We ate at a picnic table along the road. Then they took us down to walk on the coral. It's really sharp. You don't want to trip and fall on that.
The Millers had their English students over for class that night. I stayed up as long as I could. It had been a very long day. The students enjoyed talking with us. Rick exchanged e-mail adresses with one of them.
Wednesday was our last day. We went to several dollar stores. We just had fun hanging out with the Millers for one more day. Then came our last service at the church. Rick gave his testimony, and then came the long, sad goodbyes. We don't know if we will ever see those people again. We made many friends and we miss them.
We rode the monorail to the airport the next day. One of the ladies from church met us there to say goodbye one last time and to give another gift. We said quick goodbyes to the Millers and headed through security and customs. Of course, our trip home was uneventful and safe.
My first international experience was a great one. The Miller family and the church family at Okinawa made it unforgettable.
It was great to see our kids again. A little time away changes one's perspective just a little bit. We are glad to be home.
I did miss one little thing, but I can't remember the name of the place. I'll have to ask Rick about it and add it later.
That scary piece of equipment(just an APU).
After we got in the air and leveled off, we were allowed to get up and look around. I took a look into the cockpit to see the pilots and the controls. Then we all started heading to the back of the plane. It was refueling time. I stood on the deck and watched as an F-15 flew up and got refueled. I finally got my turn in the hole. You have to take two steps down then lay down on a cushion to see out the windows. I got to take pictures of the jet refueling. It was so totaly cool!
I am very greatful that I got to go on that flight. I had a totaly awesome experience that very few civilians ever get.
