I’ve been in Japan for ten full days now and I have felt sick almost the entire time. I had two good days and went for a long bicycle ride with my friend and her family and the next day I took my first train ride into Tokyo alone and visited Meiji Jingu Shrine. I have had a sore throat and feeling achy and lethargic. I probably picked up a virus on the plane, combined with the long journey getting here. My body has not been happy.
The amazing thing is that I am still managing to do a lot. I am making the most of my time when I do feel well. This morning I felt a bit better and decided to take a bike ride to the post office. I was given a hand drawn map with no street signs, only landmarks, and it was supposed to take me about 5-10 minutes to reach my destination. Well, I am finding that I seem to do things opposite of how I am supposed to no matter what I’m doing! I like to do things the hard way. But, that is this best way to learn, right? So, today I screwed up and passed the post office somehow. Thankfully I had remembered to grab my friends cell phone and searched for a post office by GPS. It was a couple of miles of maneuvering through busy streets, up and down hills, and across overpasses and even under a few. Then I reached my destination. It was a tiny little building with a sign that read “ATM” but did not have a post office sign in English. I went inside and sweet a Japanese lady welcomed me in English! I asked if this was the post office and she said, “Yes!” I was thrilled that I found this place on my own and that they could understand me. My postcards are now in transit to the US, which makes me happy because my dad will receive a handwritten note from me and know I am okay. 😀
After my post office adventure I rerouted to a place I knew was close to home, Starbucks. When I arrived there I ordered a cold drink and enjoyed sitting on the patio for a long time resting and reflecting. I have actually done a lot since I have been here considering I have been under the weather nearly the entire time. My journey began with an epic long trip from Kentucky on a Friday, landing 300 miles south of my destination airport in Tokyo in Osaka due to weather on Sunday night. A crazy train adventure followed the flight that took me from Osaka to Tokyo station with my new travel buddy I met on the plane. A few days later I was invited to go on a trip to a flower museum with my friend’s sweet neighbors. I went biking around the area here alone to shop and look around and checked out a Shrine. I’ve been tutoring English via a children’s devotional to my 9-year-old Japanese friend Kazu. I had a sweet exchange with the three-year-old neighbor boy, Yuto, who told his mom I am “cute” which made my heart melt 🙂 . I’ve been eating wonderful meals prepared by my friend’s dad nightly. I have learned MANY new words in Japanese. Tonight I learned a difficult one for me to pronounce… “do itashimashite” (you’re welcome). 🙂 I visited a beautiful Shrine close to home with my friend and her husband. I watched two good movies on DVD (one action and one animated that I LOVED – Shaun the Sheep). I took a 3 hour round trip bike ride from home to the sea and back through the city with my friend, her husband and son. I took a bus/train adventure into Tokyo by myself to visit Meiji Shrine, which was a major accomplishment because I have a fear of maneuvering the trains alone. I got lost (hard way again), but I had a cell phone with help at the other end and I was okay and eventually made it. I took a trip yesterday to a GIGANTIC mall with the neighbors and their 1.5-year-old son Kei (Yuto was at Kindergarten). And today I had my post office, Starbucks adventure. That is a lot and I am here for 32 more days!
I am grateful for all of it. I have spent a lot of time alone and equal time with others. It has been a good mixture and I am learning so much. I am learning that I CAN do anything I set my mind to if I let go of fear and decide to step out of my comfort zone. I have felt the most gratitude when I took chances by myself. The train trip from Osaka when I first arrived, my first bike ride to Starbucks alone, my day trip by train to Tokyo and Meiji Shrine, and today…a simple trip to the post office and for a coffee…were times I felt the most gratitude. I have felt freedom like I have never felt in my entire life to be honest. God doesn’t want me to depend on others for my happiness…He wants me to grab all I can on my own in the moment I am in wherever I am. I’ve felt the Holy Spirit inside me possibly more so than usual, even while I am so far away from home…in a country that doesn’t believe in Christianity. I prayed to God at all three of the Shrines I visited and thanked Him for being with me every step of the way and taking care of me always.
My goal is to learn and grow while here. I am inspired daily. I’ve been emotional on many occasions with happy tears because I am so grateful, not only for this opportunity to live in Japan for 6 weeks but also for this second chance at life, a new life through Jesus. I am thankful to have a new start every single day. I am thankful to be free from my past and the chains that held me down. I am worthy and I am loved even when I am single and traveling through life alone…God is always with me.
2 Corinthians 3:17 “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Amen
That verse came to me via email from K-Love this evening. I can listen to my music here on the app. I can read my Bible every morning. I can watch video messages from church. I can remain in constant communication with God no matter where I am, what I am doing, or how I am feeling. It is a daily choice to walk with God. I was apprehensive about this trip because for the first time in my life I don’t feel like I need to go somewhere else to be happy. I CAN be completely content sitting at home in my apartment as I am here on the other side of the world. I’m not searching for something anymore. I’m grateful for this experience though and I am learning that the more patient I am, the more He gives me what I need.
Blessings,
Stacey ~ iamalive
(I’ve been posting my favorite pictures on Instagram @iamalive41 so please follow me there if you want to take a look…but here are a few).
