Well, we're moved into our place here in Funehiki. It's very nice and it's pleasant just to be out settling into a place at all.
Today we went to church at Funehiki Evangelical. An old friend, Shinji Okubo, the assistant pastor and also a teacher at Wakakusa Gakuen, delivered the sermon...entirely in Japanese!!!
Shopping, too, is a challenge, not knowing the language, but that hasn't deterred Hannah from giving it her best shot! We've discovered the local 100 yen store (equivalent to a $ store...only better) and there is now no turning back.
Tonight we went to the O'Bon festival in Funehiki. It commemorates a time when the spirits of the dead are said to revisit their graves, similar to a Hispanic "Day of the Dead," however the Japanese celebration is marked by paper lanterns, all sorts of fancy fair food, and fireworks. It was a most enjoyable evening. Tomorrow we begin shadowing in our teaching positions at our respective schools. Please keep us in our prayers as we continue to find our footing here in Japan.
