Friday, August 17, 2012

State-Side


8-17-12


Well I have officially been home for a week now.

It was really difficult to leave Japan.
The last day that I worked/was there a bunch of homeowners stopped by the house just to say goodbye – I felt really special but it made the day rather hard. I realized that I had never had to say goodbye to non-christian people that I may never see again – and that was HARD!

Said goodbyes to the Morigo family Friday morning and then headed out. Had 3 flights (one which ended up being delayed 2 hours), and was awake for approximately 22 hours – but finally made it home. And then broke my record by sleeping in until 1pm Saturday.

This week has been quite challenging. Trying to read adjust to life here and missing everyone super much, and having REALLY bad jet-lag! I still feel a little off even a week later.

I guess that's kind of all....
It looks like the Lord is providing me some work for a few weeks coming up here, and other then that really just seeking what He has next for me.

Thank you all once again to everyone who supported me with prayer while I was gone!
And to everyone still in beautiful Japan – Keep pressing on and finish well!

-Erin

Saturday, August 4, 2012

The 'A' Team


8-4-12

WHAH! Another whole week of my life has already flown by!!!!!

Well – it been another interesting week here in Japan.
We finished the house we were working on on Monday – which has ended up leaving us houseless for a week..... So this became 'special project' week for the 'A' team (which is apparently the name of Justin's crew. Who knew right?!)

Project #1 -
Tuesday- We worked putting insulation and flooring back in, in a house that SP had done much earlier in the year – apparently he thought he needed more dirt under the floor so they pulled a bunch or the sheets of plywood up to do that and he wanted us to put them back....
After we finished that we went back to Nihei's house (the on ewe had just finished) and put in a few pieces of drywall in a place that they decided they did want us to do.

Project #2-
Wednesday- We worked with Hide and his crew, and between Justin and I (who were both automatically assigned to drywall) most of the house got sheet-rocked!

- (I can't remember for the life of me what we did on Thursday – I think we worked with Hide again...)

Project #3-
Friday- our crew minus Justin went with Yuki and Yu-kun to do mud-out. First time I got to try mudding out. It was kinda fun. Did lots of sweeping and then was helping Simon knock out walls. But it only lasted for about 2 hours – Because Justin called Simon and I off for Special Project #4.....

Project #4-
Still Friday- Simon, Justin, and I were asked to plywood the inside walls of a rice farmer's barn.
So.... Huge building- high ladders holding OSB.... not my favorite job. I stuck mostly with framing.

Saturday (today) – Worked on the rice barn project this morning until about 12 – then met with Shoji-san and a bunch of other people from Shichigahama that I hadn't seen in a while for lunch (sushi).
After lunch we stopped and visited the Otomo-san's had coffee and looked at their garden, then we drove to Shichigahama and walked on the beach a little and helped some other carpenters get their van out of the sand. After that we stopped and visited Suzuki-san (Justin's very first homeowner), and then finally headed back to base.
And I have just spent the last hour of so learning a cup and clapping game and having a bilingual conversation......
SO TIRED!!!!!!

So yeah. That's what's happening over here....
Tomorrow – Church and then maybe some errands.....
till then S.L.E.E.P!

Anyhow this is probably my last post from Japan as I will be home next Friday - the 10th.
So until next time!