Trent and Lindsey's journal

humbled

2009-07-11T15:46:00.005-05:00

I thought living in Japan was a humbling experience. Pretty much every day for the 19 months that we lived there, I felt like an idiot at some point. Japanese culture is considered "high-context" which means that there are many hidden rules, understandings, protocols, etc for living life embedded within the culture. Insiders know them, outsiders don't. As a gaijin (foreigner), I was always messing up. I'm sure I often did many wrong things that I didn't even know were wrong. The Japanese people are overall extremely gracious and forgiving, but that didn't stop me from feeling ignorant and frustrated. I like being an insider, a "knower." I like knowing what is going on, what to do and how to do it, being in the loop, doing things the right way, following the rules. But almost every day for 19 months I had some experience that made me feel very helpless and in need of grace. Humbled.

Now I have just begun experiencing something much more humbling - raising a child. Theo is not even 1 month old yet, but already I have felt more helpless and needy than I ever did in Japan. I like clear instructions, rules, schedules, and plans. But as far as I know there is no rule book for taking care of a baby, and Theo doesn't seem to appreciate the wonderful schedule that I am trying to arrange for him :) I don't like making mistakes.. like accidently clipping his finger instead of his fingernail and making him bleed. I don't like having absolutely no idea what to do.. like when to make him take a nap and when to let him stay awake. I want to be the perfect mom - who doesn't? But it's plain and simple to see that perfection is an unattainable goal. Which makes me so desperate for God's grace.

This week I picked up my Bible for the first time in awhile (sadly) -- and this passage was in my daily reading:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Thank you, Lord.

The best advice I've found in any baby-raising book was this - pray for wisdom! So this verse has also come to my mind many times in the last few weeks:

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Again- thank you, Lord. For your grace. For giving wisdom as you promise. For using little Theo to make me depend on you more. He really is a gift.

July 6, 2009

2009-07-06T10:33:00.004-05:00

Today, July 6, was my due date for little Theo! I can't imagine if we had made it this long! What in the world would the last 3 weeks have been like without him??? I am so thankful that although he was premature, Theo is so healthy! God has been good to us!

3 weeks later

2009-07-05T13:30:00.005-05:00

Have 3 weeks really passed since Theo was born? It's SCARY how life has become such a blur! I know I am going to wake up any day now and Theo will be a teenager. It's amazing to watch him grow and change every day, but I wish I could capture each moment and remember it forever. Here are some pictures from little Theo's first 3 weeks of life:

All dressed and ready to leave the hospital. We had very limited clothing options since Theo was/is just a little guy (6 lb 2 oz when we left the hospital). None of his newborn clothes fit him or even looked halfway decent! When we got home, we got him a few preemie outfits. Now the preemie clothes are finally a little too tight around his belly, but he's still too small for most of his newborn clothes. So we rotate like 5 outfits that actually fit him!

Leaving the hospital! Yes, I rode in the backseat and stared at him the whole way home!

First doctor's appointment. Really it was just a weight check when we was 4 days old. Now he's had his first real appointment since then! He grew 1/2 inch and gained 1 lb 11 oz since he left the hospital - making him 20 in and 7 lb 13 oz now. The doctor was really surprised at how much weight he gained in just 2 weeks! So was I :) I had been worried about if he was eating enough.. I guess he is!!!

Our first family photo at home. Theo was 1 week old!

I looooove Theo's beautiful hair!! While I was pregnant I never could picture what I thought Theo would look like, but the one thing I hoped is that he would have hair when he was born. It was such a silly thing that I hoped for, but God gave it to me :) This picture was after I washed and combed his hair for the first time at home.

Trent's first Father's Day with Theo :)

Theo with his one and only cousin, Ashton. Ashton is almost 4 mo old and pretty big for his age. Put him up against little Theo who was several weeks premature, and it's quite a contrast!

Theo's first real bath, once his umbilical cord stump fell off. I will admit, he didn't seem to enjoy it. But he's had several baths since then, and now he seems to like the water! As soon as he realizes he's naked and hears the running water, he gets really quiet and still and opens his eyes really big. He especially loves it when I swaddle him in a towel and wash just his hair in the sink. (I don't like washing his beautiful hair in the same water that I wash his body, so I wash it afterwards.)

One of my favorite faces that Theo makes.. I swear he just wants to be kissed! And I gladly kiss him anytime!

I don't have a picture of Theo's #1 favorite activity (eating), but this would be his #2 -- sleeping! He's awake more and more these days, but still spends a lot of time sleeping. I wish he would sleep more at night and less in the afternoon, but that will come with time, I'm told. Speaking of time, do you see how much he's grown in just 3 weeks??? I can't believe my little boy is growing up so fast!

Maybe I am crazy to think anyone cares enough to read all of my thoughts here, but at least I will be able to look back and remember these first precious weeks when Theo stole my heart :)

announcing....

2009-06-15T08:10:00.004-05:00

Theodore Thomas Roberts was born at 12:27 am on Saturday, June 13, 2009. He weighed 6 pounds 9 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.

bedrest

2009-05-24T11:49:00.002-05:00

We said we would keep up our blog, and we do plan to. There's just not much to blog about these days. Lindsey has been on bedrest since we got home, trying to encourage Theodore to stay put for as long as possible. That has impeded our ability to visit all of the people and places we had hoped to visit, but it's worth it! She had one exciting night in the hospital last weekend, but everything turned out okay. We would appreciate your prayers for little Theodore in these final weeks. Thanks!!!!

by the way

2009-05-14T14:08:00.003-05:00

Today is our 4th anniversary! The past 4 years have been a blessing in every way. We've had great joy and great challenges - God has used it all for our good. He is so faithful.

And I couldn't ask for a more wonderful husband. I love you, Trent!!

saying goodbye

2009-05-14T13:08:00.004-05:00

Our last few weeks were filled with goodbyes.

To co-workers:

To Japanese friends:

To our precious Monday night Bible study group (Ro, Jun, Chi, and Saya):

To the sweet kids I taught:

And to our home and pet mint plant:

Of course, it wasn't easy. It's never easy to watch a chapter of your life end. But we know God has great things in store for us in the next chapter, and so we're looking forward to all of the huge changes to come in the next 6 months. Besides readjusting to life in the US, we will be welcoming a new baby this summer, moving to Chicago, and Trent will begin law school at the University of Chicago this fall. So it's going to be busy, and crazy, and probably overwhelming at times. But God faithfully sustained us through 2 busy, crazy, overwhelming years in Tokyo - He made them wonderful. We know He'll do the same in the years to come.

in Texas

2009-05-06T15:45:00.002-05:00

This update comes straight from Dallas, Texas! We are home after a very smooth flight and easy day of traveling. THANK YOU for praying for our travels. We will write more soon, after we've had a full night's sleep and can think straight!

today is the day

2009-05-05T14:54:00.003-05:00

It's not even 5 am yet in Tokyo, but we are about to leave for the airport. I'm sorry we haven't blogged more in the past couple of weeks - we've been really busy! I'm sure you can imagine!

Anyway it's sad, surreal, and overwhelming to say goodbye to our "home," but we're looking forward to the next chapter of our lives that God has planned.

Please pray that we'll have a safe and painless trip. Next time we update, it'll be from the USA!

PS: Our awesome neighbors Chi & Hi drove us to the train station on Wednesday morning to see us off. What great friends! Please continue to pray for their salvation!

making progress

2009-04-24T20:46:00.003-05:00

Less than 2 weeks left before we head back to Texas, and as you can see we have been making progress in packing! I really should have taken a picture of the disaster that was our tatami room just a couple days earlier, but all I captured was the finished product.

We've also been busy seeing friends and saying our goodbyes. Last week was busy, but the coming 12 days are going to be crazy. We have plans every single day up until the day we leave! At least it's a relief to know that we're already almost done packing, so we don't have to worry about that! Please pray for us as we say goodbye to many special friends that we've made over the past couple years.

The thing most heavy on my heart is saying goodbye to Chi & Hi, our neighbors and good friends. They have been such precious friends to us, and especially as Chi has seemed more and more open to the Gospel lately.. it's very hard to leave now. I so want to see her put her faith in Christ, but the decision is hers alone to make. We have 2 more Bible studies left (with the Monday night group) before we go home. Would you please lift up those times and Chi specifically? Please ask God to give us wisdom in what to share, and that He would make our friends' hearts open and receptive. Please especially pray that God would move clearly in Chi's life and capture her heart.

Can't believe the journey is almost over.. thanks for everything along the way!

great visit

2009-04-16T05:38:00.005-05:00

We were sad on Wednesday to say goodbye to Lindsey's parents, who had been here visiting us for a couple weeks. We had tons of fun with them and have many pictures to prove it!

They helped us with our Monday night Bible study group, with Ro, Jun, Saya, and Chi.

Lindsey & her mom visiting the hot springs in Odawara

Trent & Lindsey's dad playing golf in Odawara

Dinner in Odawara

Trent & Lindsey's dad dressed up like samurai warriors

In front of Odawara Castle

Lindsey's dad's 52nd birthday (I know, the cake is wrong! My bad!)

Touring the Imperial Palace

God has blessed us with such wonderful families! We are so thankful that they were both able to come visit us and experience our life here at some time or another! We love y'all!!!!!!!

unspoken

2009-04-12T09:36:00.002-05:00

Please pray today for an unspoken request on behalf of a precious friend. Pray that's God's will is done, that He will make Himself known, and that He will be most glorified through the outcome of the situation. Please pray for His mercy and love to be evident regardless of the result. Please pray for our friend, that she will be feel perfect love and peace and that she will know Who it comes from. Thank you!!!!!!!

sakura (cherry blossoms)

2009-04-05T17:15:00.006-05:00

Lindsey's parents are in town visiting, and they picked the absolute perfect time to come to Tokyo -- sakura, cherry blossom season!

Beautiful! Although pictures just can't capture how beautiful it really is!

With Lindsey's parents

Roberts family photo :)

A view looking up

We had a picnic with friends

Trent & Ku-san didn't make it into the group shot

Aww, little Sasa-chan

A little child doing a traditional festival dance.. can't decide if it's adorable or terrifying.

He liked Trent!

Another traditional festival dancer. This one is a mischievous looking fox that is the mascot of a Shinto shrine by our house. I have decided this one is definitely creepy, not cute!

Trent & Brian took advantage of the huge crowds of happy, relaxed people and set up a booth during the festival on Saturday. Their signs said "Free Bible," and they offered free Japanese Gospel of John books and evangelistic tracts. They were able to hand out over 350 tracts/books and talk with 30+ people! Praise the Lord for allowing them freedom to stay at the park for almost 8 hours and for the many curious Japanese people who had the opportunity to hear/read the Gospel!

Chatting with Japanese

Reading a tract

Tonight we're having our Monday night Bible study group over. Things have been going really well lately - please continue to lift up these friends of ours and ask God to make their hearts soft and receptive to the Gospel! Thank you :)

Tadaima = We're home!

2009-03-28T23:44:00.006-05:00

(Pictures added 4/6/09)

Since we got home from training last week...

Jun-san, whom Trent has been discipling since September, came over for dinner and watched The Hope DVD in Japanese with Trent. Through the DVD he was better able to understand what baptism is. (He doesn't speak very much English, so it can be difficult to communicate about complex topics.) Jun-san says that he wants to be baptised - please pray that God will help him to fully grasp the significance of baptism and to follow through on his conviction. We also prayed together with Jun-san for his friends and family who are not Christians. We found out that his younger brother lives near-by, and Jun-san said that he will invite him to study the Bible. Please pray that God would use Jun-san to share salavation with those around him.

We had an awesome team here from the Air Force Academy last week! They shared the Gospel with many, and even saw one guy accept Christ during 5 Minute English! Praise the Lord! Please pray that he will be a faithful disciple and that God will use him to win other Japanese to Christ!

Today we had lunch with the Sugar family (our neighbors) and were able to share a little bit about the meaning of Easter and the power of the Bible. Please pray that God would give them a desire to know more about Him.

Ken-san came over for dinner again and told us that he did watch The Hope DVD! He has lots of questions and likes discussing Christianity, but seems hesitant to join a Bible study group. Please pray that God would continue to give Ken-san a hunger for knowledge, and that He would also touch Ken-san's heart in a real way. Please pray that Ken-san will see that the Gospel is true and personal for him, not just an interesting story. (This actually happened right before our training, but we never blogged about it.)

PS: Tuesday is our neighbor and precious friend Chi's birthday. Would you please say a special prayer for her this week, that she would realize how much her Heavenly Father loves her and wants to have a relationship with her? Please pray that He will give her faith to believe. Thank you!!

babymoon

2009-03-12T01:22:00.004-05:00

We are home from our babymoon in Hawaii! We agree that it was our favorite vacation we've taken together - we had so much fun! Hawaii is definitely the most beautiful place I have ever seen.. and we only saw Oahu! I hope one day we can go back :) Here are a few pictures from our trip:

And here is a belly picture, which a few people have requested. I'm 23 weeks now and can't believe how fast it's going!

And with that, we have just a little more than 2 months left in Japan. Did I mention that I can't believe how fast time is passing these days?

Next week we will be at training every day, but once we finish with that we hope to get back into our "normal" lives for the rest of the time we have here. Please pray that God would help us to finish strong :) Thanks!!

suicide in Japan

2009-03-11T21:51:00.002-05:00

"About 32,000 people killed themselves in Japan in 2008, keeping suicides above the 30,000 line for an 11th straight year... Government officials said the latest data do not necessarily reflect the fallout from the global financial crisis, but warned suicides could rise as people who lose their jobs in the economic slowdown begin to despair several months later." (Taken from The Japan Times 3/7/09)

The Japanese people are so in need of Hope. Please keep praying for this country!

lately

2009-03-01T03:42:00.001-06:00

What has been going on lately?

-- Our team has 2 wonderful interns here working with us this spring, Jessi and Cassandra. Lindsey has been working with them often, trying to start new Bible study groups around West Tokyo. So far they haven't had much response, but they continue to work faithfully and ask God to bring people to the groups.

-- Trent visited Korea last week for a leadership conference at Handong International School. He had a great experience fellowshipping with Korean believers and encouraging students at Handong. He learned a lot and is very grateful he had the opportunity to attend. (Sadly he didn't take any pictures... sorry!)

-- We have our first nephew! Lindsey's sister had a healthy baby boy last week. Praise the Lord!

-- Last night we had a new friend, Ken-san, over for dinner. He is very interested in Christianity and asked questions continuously for several hours! He has already read the book of John and said he loved it! We gave him a copy of The Hope DVD in Japanese, which explains the Bible from Creation to Christ. We pray that he watches it and that God helps him to recognize it as true! We're praying that Ken-san will not desire to learn about Christianity and read the Bible only for academic knowledge, but that he would see his personal need for Jesus and be moved to give his life to Him.

This coming week we are going on our "babymoon" to Hawaii, our last vacation together before our little family gains a new member this summer :) We would appreciate your prayers for a safe and refreshing time together. Thank you!!!!!!!

the lifter of my head

2009-02-16T23:52:00.006-06:00

"But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill."
Psalm 3:3-4

The description of God as the "lifter of my head" has never been one that connected much with me.. until this past weekend.

Over the past couple weeks our team spent a considerable amount of time distributing fliers, inviting people to come to different Bible study groups we're hosting in the area. In all I think we distributed about 5,000 fliers. But this week when the times came for the groups, no one showed up. We weren't sure what kind of results to expect; I mean we weren't expecting a crowd to fill our home. But still... not 1 person out of 5,000 who received the newsletter was interested? It was disappointing.

And this in the same weekend that Trent observed an informational meeting in Shibuya for a cult with over 500 attendees! How can 500 people show up to hear more information from a lunatic who says he is god, but not 1 person show up for Bible study?

I was home alone Sunday evening, making dinner and thinking about Japan.. and all of a sudden my eyes just filled with tears. There in my kitchen I was overwhelmed by a feeling of defeat. I asked God, why did you bring us here? The Japanese people don't even care that we are here - they don't want to know about You. Will this country ever change?

That night at the end of my quiet time, I came to this verse in my Bible study:

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

I was so thankful for that reminder. It felt like a message straight from God's Word to my heart, exactly what I needed. Whether we see results or not, the work that we do here is not in vain. God has promised us that. There's a purpose, whether I see it or not. Even if I feel like I am working in vain, God promises me that I'm not.

I felt in that moment like God gently put His hand under my chin and lifted my head. I had cried aloud, and God heard me and answered me. My eyes were low, my spirit defeated, but as a Father, God tilted my face toward Him and said, "Keep your eyes on me."

Sapporo Snow Festival

2009-02-12T01:02:00.000-06:00

Last weekend we traveled to the Northern island of Japan, Hokkaido, to experience the 60th annual Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan with our friend Audrey. The snow and ice sculptures were amazing, and the whole city was beautiful! We had a great time and are so glad that we went! Enjoy the pictures:

Sadly, Audrey fell and broke her arm on our last day, so say a prayer for her as she recovers :) Thanks!

There are LOTS more pictures on our Picasa picture site, so go check them out! The link is on the right side of the page!

prayer request - new groups

2009-02-10T18:54:00.003-06:00

This week our team is starting up 4 new Bible study groups in the West Tokyo area. Trent and I are hosting 2 of those groups at our home. One is for men only, a study of different men in the Bible and what their lives reveal about God's purpose for men. The other will be a progressive study through the Bible - from the story of Creation to the life is Christ. Both groups will last for 6 sessions, from now through the end of April.

We have been passing out tons of fliers/invitations around West Tokyo and praying that God would bring Japanese with open hearts into these groups to hear the Gospel. Please pray with us that God would use these new groups to reach the Japanese of West Tokyo. Thank you!!

tanjoubi (birthday) time

2009-01-31T18:42:00.003-06:00

Somehow while we weren't paying attention, another year passed and now we're turning 23. It's amazing how quickly time passes! Lindsey's birthday is Sunday, February 1st, and Trent's birthday is Wednesday, February 4th. Our friends Chi and Saya threw us a little surprise birthday dinner party last night - they are so sweet and thoughtful!!!

On my birthday we went and took purikura pictures!

And here is a picture of Trent having a very special birthday flan that I made for him!

Also here is a link to a funny video about Japan from CNN. Further proof that Japan loves Obama!!! Enjoy :)
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/20

rent-a-friend

2009-01-16T04:06:00.003-06:00

If you have a few minutes, check out this article. This is proof of the depth of loneliness so many Japanese feel.

Rent-a-friend in Japan
By Duncan Bartlet
12 January 200
BBC News

In Japan, now back in recession, the economic situation has taken a sharp turn for the worse in recent months. But the Japanese still like to use their money to have fun, as Duncan Bartlett has been finding out.

Lola - or Rora - to give her a slightly more Japanese pronunciation - is a beauty and she knows it. Customers pay by the hour for her company. Usually they just want to stroke her, but as a special treat for favoured clients, she will lie back in a chair, close her eyes and pose for photographs.

Lola is a Persian cat who works at the Ja La La Cafe in Tokyo's bustling Akihabara district. It is one of a growing number of Cat Cafes in the city which provide visitors with short but intimate encounters with professional pets.

When I called, there were 12 felines and seven customers, mostly single men.

One man, in his early 30s, was attempting to bond with an Oriental Longhair by means of a rubber mouse. Yutsuke, who speaks with a lisp, is normally rather shy with people. He longs for a cat of his own but frequent business trips make that difficult. Besides, he lives alone, so the Ja La La is his solution to the problem.

It costs about £8 ($10) an hour to spend time in a Cat Cafe. If felines do not appeal, other establishments will rent you a rabbit, a ferret or even a beetle. There are more than 150 companies in Tokyo which are licensed to hire out animals of various kinds and although beetles may be cheap, dogs much more popular.

First you pay a deposit and a hire fee. Then you are issued with a leash, some tissues and a plastic bag and given some advice on how to handle your new friend.

Kaori is a pretty waitress who regularly spends her Sunday afternoons with a Labrador. They go for a walk in the park if the weather is fine, or if it is wet they just snuggle up in front of the TV in her apartment. "When I look into his eyes, I think he's my dog," Kaori told me. "But when I take him back to the shop, he runs away from me and starts wagging his tail when he sees the next customer. That's when I know he's only a rental dog."

Of course, it is not only animals whose loyalties can be decided by money, as people who work in Japan's vast entertainment business will testify. The industry offers an enormous variety of opportunities to exchange money for company.

Very popular at the moment is the Campus Cafe, where men go to socialise with female university students. It is cheaper than the upscale hostess clubs in which businessmen and politicians drink whisky with women in kimonos, although that is a business which is in crisis because of the recession. Only a small proportion of the trade involves sex. Most hostesses are flatterers not prostitutes and customers come to find comfort in their words, not in their arms.

One specialist agency is known as Hagemashi Tai, which translates as I Want To Cheer Up Limited. It rents relatives. Actors are despatched to play the part of distant relations at weddings and funerals. For an extra fee, they will even give a speech.

But the firm's services do not stop there. It can also provide temporary husbands to single mothers who want them. The website says the "dad" will help the children with their homework. He will sort out problems with the neighbours. He will take the kids to a barbeque or to a park. He could also appear at the daunting interview with a nursery school head teacher which parents are required to endure in order to persuade the principal to give their child a good start in life.

There is a service for women who are about to wed too. Apparently, they can practice for married life with a hired husband, although whether this involves seduction or sock washing is not exactly clear. And if things are not working out with a real husband, a woman considering a divorce may choose to hire a "mother" in order to discuss her marital anxieties.

Mr M.O. from Shizuoka near Mount Fuji called upon the services of I Want To Cheer Up Ltd because he needed a father. Mr M.O. has been blind since birth and had a number of concerns that he felt he could not speak to others about. "I kept it all inside and couldn't deal with the criticisms that had been directed at me by my parents and teachers," he testified.

After some discussion, the company sent an older man to have dinner with him. "Usually I can't open up when I meet someone for the first time but on that occasion, I felt I was really talking with a normal father. I'll use the service again," he said.

Loneliness is a problem faced by many people on these crowded islands. But the Japanese are prone to believe that, in the right circumstances, money can turn a stranger into a friend... at least for a couple of hours.

annual meeting

2009-01-14T05:22:00.005-06:00

We were a few hours outside of Tokyo last week, attending an annual meeting for all IMB workers in Japan & Australia. As you can see above, it was quite a big group!! It was such an encouraging time, though many of the women agreed that it was a rollercoaster of emotions! There were friends going home, leaders retiring, amazing testimonies of God's work, heartbreaking testimonies of pain and hardship, challenging messages about our Task. It was very refreshing and exciting. We feel really blessed to be able to have such times of fellowship and reflection as a group. Thank you, IMB!!!!

The area where our meeting was held was out toward Fuij-san, and several days the weather was absolutely perfect for viewing! I never stopped to get a picture, so I borrowed this one that my friend Kelly took on our last day! Wow!

the biggest holiday of the year

2009-01-01T18:27:00.003-06:00

2 things that I love about New Year's week in Japan:

1. We don't get junk mail! Usually every business in the general area sends someone by our apartment complex every day to put fliers in all the mailboxes. It is a big-time method of advertising here, stuffing mail boxes. So every day we get the most giant pile of advertisements in our mail box! I should take a picture sometime to show you the amazing amount of junk mail that we get every day. BUT the week of New Year's, literally everything is closed: restaurants, supermarkets, shops, everything. No one is working. SO for one week, there is no one to come by and stuff our mailbox full of junk!!!! I am enjoying it while it lasts :)

2. It is pretty amazing to see the whole city pretty much shut down for an entire week. Monday through Friday no one is working. The usual fast-paced, bustling atmosphere of Tokyo is gone, and for a few days it's kind of like living in a small town. Really I could go outside right now and walk around the block and maybe not see a single person. It's like the entire country agreed that for this week, they are all taking a break. No need for the grocery store to be open. No need for hair salons or malls or laundromats or restaurants to be open. Everyone has mutually agreed that their usually busy, productive lives are on hold so that they can spend time with family. It's very special.

We are having dinner with a family in our apartment complex tonight, at their apartment. Being invited at this time of year is special, as it's a very important time to spend with family and friends. New Year's is biggest holiday of the year in Japan, after all, so we felt very honored that they would ask us. We will be having traditional New Year's foods and hopefully getting to know them better. Please pray for us tonight as we spend time with the Sugar family :)

Japanese Christmas Eve & American Christmas

2008-12-27T23:04:00.004-06:00

For Christmas Eve this year we decided to stay home and make a special dinner for just the two of us. Here we are (we even dressed up!) next to our little Christmas tree and stockings in our apartment. We used the Self Timer on our camera for this one :)

I told Trent we could have whatever he wanted for our special meal, and he chose sukiyaki. Sukiyaki is very thinly sliced pork and/or beef with assorted vegetables like cabbage, scallions, mushrooms, etc. - all simmered in a special sauce. (The sauce is made from soy sauce, sugar, and mirin.) Sukiyaki is always a favorite with American volunteers, and our families loved it, too, when they came to visit. It is one of our favorite Japanese foods. Although we've had it at restaurants many times, this was our first time to make it at home.

Here it is cooking in an electric pan that we borrowed from our neighbors.

Of course no Christmas Eve would be complete for Trent without pumpkin pie, so I made one just for him! We spent the rest of the evening watching LOST on DVD :) Okay so I guess our Christmas Eve wasn't totally Japanesey if you include the pumpkin pie and LOST, but our dinner was!!

On Christmas morning we made quite a mess opening up all of the gifts our families sent us. We are blessed, aren't we?

Then Christmas night we went to the Brents' house with the rest of our team to have an authentic American Christmas dinner, including a turkey! The Brents' Christmas tree is a lot more impressive than ours, so we took a picture in front of theirs, too :) We're kind of blocking it though.

Ashley, Audrey, and I.

Trent and Adam playing with one of the horns from the tree, and Jeff in the background.

Some of the girls showing off our contributions to the meal :) I made mashed potatoes, Melanie made the turkey, and Audrey made her famous cucumber salad. Yum!!!!

Our holidays were completely wonderful! We hope yours were, too :)