AAAAAAND....We're back!!
After a fun 2-ish months of summer break, school is back in session. Yesterday (Friday) we had our "Opening Ceremony" where I took this pic...the students are lined up in their homeroom rows and before the ceremony started they had to stand up and properly space themselves out in order to create perfectly straight lines. Yep, this is Japan after all!
A little over a week ago, I welcomed in my new coworker - Alison - to Japan and to Ichikashi! At the Opening Ceremony she gave a speech and made a great, friendly first introduction to the students. It's been really fun showing her around Kashiwa and explaining how things work at Ichikashi.
The other day (one day before the Opening Ceremony, and the last day of summer break) I arrived at school early simply because I'm an extreme morning person and can't really sleep in...haha. I got to school at 8am or so and was the first person at the office and the only one there for an hour...so I had this moment of silence to make my coffee and sip it looking out the window over the back of school. ahhhh....I was so grateful to be there. Right there. At my school office, looking over the Japanese countryside on a rainy day, in city I call home, at a job I love...thank you Lord! I officially have one year left here in this country and it's already bittersweet thinking about, but that quiet morning the Lord reminded me that every day is filled with His goodness and purposes for my life and I shall live each day to the fullest and not fret about the timeline! God gave me an extra boost of joy in that moment and He encouraged me that this last year is exactly where I'm supposed to be and how I'm supposed to spend my time.
There is no peace like the peace of Christ!!
心を尽くして主に信頼し、自分の分別には頼らず。常に主を覚えてあなたの道を歩け。そうすれば、主のあなたの道筋をまっすぐにしてくださる。
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.
Provers 3:5-6