One Year Later, Part 2...

one year ago today, my STINT team and i returned to Tokyo after spending two weeks evacuated in Kyoto. those two weeks evacuated were almost as stressful as being in Tokyo, because even though we had time to relax and didn't have too much going on, we never knew when we would be able to go back to Tokyo, if at all. we constantly scoured the internet for news, not only to hear what the Japanese government was broadcasting but also America and Britain, because we wanted to know what the rest of the world was saying. the Japanese government doesn't have the best reputation for keeping their people fully informed, but also CNN and BBC were blowing things a little too over the top, so we needed to know what our friends and families were seeing and hearing. our days were filled with skyping and emailing to worried loved ones back home, updating our supporters, and attempting to plan ministry events we weren't even sure we'd be in the country to actually host. we did get some fun moments- we found a great cafe pretty close to the house we were staying at, and a few of us would go there regularly to sit, drink a latte, read and journal. we got to do some sightseeing, and even some ministry on campuses in Kyoto such as Kyoto University and Doshisha. i spent a day by myself wandering around the Kyoto Imperial Palace. i even got to take a couple capoeira classes. and of course, with 7 of us (the KCCC STINTers had been evacuated to Korea) cooped up in one small Japanese house, we had many bonding moments, such as cooking together, watching movies under the kotatsu, and plucking Mike's eyebrows.

it's weird to look back on those two weeks now. it's hard to believe that was a year ago. those weeks seemed like the longest two weeks of my life, never knowing when we'd be able to go back to Tokyo or if Cru would send us back to America. and now, ironically enough, even though there was no natural disaster this year, Cru DID send me back to America, but to be in Hawaii working with Cru at UH Hilo. it's still hard not to miss Japan. every time i think about my friends, about JCCC, about Waseda University and Odori Samurai and Paddy and Diente FC, my heart aches.

i know i haven't really written much at all about life here in Hawaii (and i will soon, i promise), but as nice as it's been to be back in America with Target and no exchange rate and people who speak English, i still really miss Japan, and in many ways i still feel like i'm starting my STINT year all over again, still getting to know my team, still getting a feel for the campus and ministry...it's hard to not look back and realize that even though at this time last year, things were so uncertain and unstable; however, i wish with all my heart i could be back there right now.