Cherished Friendships

There is something really special about having two worlds collide. There is something really special about having friends who care enough that they will come to experience my home for this season of life.

The past week and a half of having Jori and Morgan here has been so encouraging! I love the opportunity to see my corner of the world through a couple pairs of new-to-Japan eyes. I've enjoyed noticing again some of the beauty of this little island, as well as some of the challenges for which God is giving me strength to overcome. Having friends here has made me recognize some of the things I miss about my Indiana home, but it has also given me a fresh excitement for this stage of life in Japan!

I love to see the bond of Christ, even as it crosses oceans, cultures, and time. Being in Japan away from my Indiana church and family has reminded me of how easy it is for us to take for granted the family of God. What a gift it is! One of the most beautiful things of being in Japan is seeing the wonder and awe of those hearing the Gospel for the first time. It warms my heart to see these sweet students so captivated by Bible stories!

Sometimes it feels like I have left my family in friends in Indiana, which is partially true, but the more impactful truth is that my community has just expanded. It was so fun to have friends here and connect two pieces of my family! One morning, I had breakfast with three friends - two from America, and one from Japan - who all trust and serve the same God. What a beautiful gift!

When I have friends here, of course I have to show them as many of my favorite places as I can. We enjoyed spending time at the river, doing some shopping, eating lots of different kinds of food, going to a lookout, and hiking!

Of course, having friends here is a good excuse to try some new things myself, too! With this being my first time here in spring, I have been loving the plum blossoms and just the start of cherry blossoms! Another first for me was renting kimonos for a day in Asakusa. This past Saturday, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit a dear friend and sister a few hours away, and tour an old castle! Then on Sunday, after church in Shioda, we took a little detour to get a wonderful view of the beautiful Mt Fuji! It was our third time seeing Mt Fuji this week, but definitely the best, closest view!

Friendships are a gift from God. How thankful I am for both the old and the new, both here and there!

And friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them! ~Friends, by Michael W. Smith