A Home Away From Home..

Dear Everyone,

I'm here. I have finally arrived in Japan after a long and tiring period of traveling 1/3 of the way around the world. And I'm feeling great! I got to Leena and Hayoto's house around 9:00 last night and there were plenty of hugs to go around. I love my Japanese family and it was so great to see them again. Before I get to talking about where I am staying and my schedule for the next couple days, I want to share a few incredible things that happened once I left Hawaii. Shortly after my last post, pre-boarding for my flight to Osaka began. While I was waiting to board, I had an opportunity to talk with an older Japanese couple who spoke hardly any English which was a quite a time. After they boarded, an American man approached me and introduced himself. His name was Jason and he had overheard my broken conversation and wanted to see if I needed any help once I arrived in Japan. He had been living in Japan with his family for the last 10 years and remembered what it was like having trouble speaking and getting around. I had a chance to share about my trip and what I needed to do once I arrived in Osaka and he quickly offered to help me translate around the airport when we arrived until I got onto my taxi! What a tremendous blessing. I wish I could describe the sense of peace that God has given me since I left Atlanta. Everywhere I have gone there seems to be someone that I am supposed to meet and once I do, they help me in some way for my trip. God's provision is truly perfect..Once we landed and Jason helped me to the taxi, I noticed that the lady who sat across from me on the plane was sitting next to me on the taxi, and she spoke English. We had some great conversations throughout the ride and I shared about why I was in Japan and she seemed to enjoy listening. After our talk she offered to let me use her computer and I was able to email my parents and let them know that I had arrived in Japan safely. Thank you Lord! After a pleasant taxi ride and a great reunion at Leena's doorstep, I came inside to see my new home for the next several days. Their house is so cozy and I feel right at home. I posted a few pictures of what it looks like and I'm sure you will notice some the differences between Japanese and American homes! The architecture is very unique but the only real differences inside are me having to duck under every door frame and the style of toilet and shower. Once we had caught up for an hour or so, I took a shower and went immediately to bed. Now I am up and getting ready for a free day of getting acclimated to Japan again and doing a small bit of shopping and ministry preparation. Over the next few days I will be sharing my testimony, giving a presentation on Georgia, singing, and leading a devotional for the youth at a local church. God has truly blown me away on this trip so far and I just got to Japan. Please pray that God would give me strength as I adjust to the new time zone and that He would give me the words to speak as I go throughout the city over the next few days. Last but not least, are the shout outs for the day. This is a tradition that I started last year on the blog and is something that I want to continue for this year from this post on. There will be 2 shout outs per blog. And the first shout out goes to.... The Warren Family. Your support and prayers are deeply appreciated and I wish Michael could be here with me again. He was such a role model for me and I miss him dearly. I can't wait to sing some Journey when I karaoke and dedicate it to him. The second shout out of the blog goes to... Reid. Love you and miss you bud. You will be excited to know that I sat by a pitcher for a Japanese university on my flight to Osaka. They had just finished playing in a baseball tournament for Japanese universities in Hawaii and won. Even though I don't like baseball and he could barely speak English, we had a great time trying to talk over the course of the 7 hour flight. Hope things are going well at FBC this summer and I can't wait for Japresentation 2.0. Thank you everyone for all of your prayers and support and I will post again soon!

Only By Grace,
CP

Mahalo Hawaii! Konnichiwa Nihon!!

Dear Everyone,

It has been an awesome day so far.. I am currently sitting at my gate waiting to depart Hawaii and fly into Japan. I had one of the best nights of rest I have had in a long time. I got up this morning around 7:30 and took a very relaxing shower. After that I went to have breakfast at the Plantation Cafe which was located right outside my hotel. And yet again, God was at work.. As I sat down to eat breakfast I happened to overhear a lady sitting directly behind me talking on her cell phone about chicken and dumplins. Being from Georgia, I couldn't help but get excited once I heard those words. After she finished talking on her cell I turned around and started talking about chicken and dumplins with her. Turns out she had some family tie to Lawrenceville and I mentioned that I went to the University of Georgia. Through our small talk I was able to talk about my trip to Japan and she was very encouraging and I gave her my blog address to follow. I forgot to get her name but it was great to meet her and be encouraged. God is so good and it's incredible how He has me meeting people and giving me opportunities to talk about my trip with strangers and before I even get to Japan! Once she left the waitress brought me my ticket which was printed for the wrong amount. She charged me for a regular breakfast and not the buffet which is what I had. Upon telling her this she simply smiled and quietly replied "It's alright you're missionary". How awesome is that!! God can inspire you and speak to you even in the small things. I couldn't help but laugh and give praise as I went back to my room to pack. As I checked my email one last time before leaving the hotel, I found out through some emails there was a small confusion with Leena on my arrival time and apparently my printout was wrong about the day and time I arrived. Leena was very worried due to the little mix up but I called her as soon as I could and everything was settled before I left the hotel. Once I packed up my two bags and double checked everything, I went outside to catch my bus back to the airport. Now I am sitting here at my gate waiting to board the plane in about an hour. Please pray for safe travels and that everything would go smoothly once I am there as far as getting from the airport to Leena's house. Pray that God would continue to connect me with the right people at the right time. I give God thanks and praise for the amazing time I have had already. I can't wait to see what else He has planned over the next 3 weeks! Ps, hope you enjoy some of the pictures from the trip so far, click to them to see a larger version...

Only By Grace,
CP

Speechless already...

Dear Everyone

I just sat down for the night in my hotel room in Honolulu. It has been the most interesting 24+ hours of travel I have ever experienced. All my flights were smooth and I arrived in Hawaii as planned and very exhausted. Along the way I got to share about my trip with some folks on the plane, on the bus in Hawaii, and even Japanese people! One thing I didn't expect was to show up at my hotel and see a 100 person line out the door to the check in desk. Just so happens a tour group of Japanese ladies had their flight cancelled and had to stay at the Ala Moana last minute. As soon as I was told I was gonna have to go to the end of the line, I asked for directions to the nearest beach. One of the best questions I have ever asked in my life. I can't fully describe how beautiful and soothing it was to walk right up the cool Pacific waters at twilight, letting them wash off my travel-beaten feet, and have a chance to sing some quiet praise to God. Wow is all I can say... Once that was over I came back over the hotel and waited in line with all those Japanese ladies and it was awesome. I eventually decided to speak up. That way, I could practice my Japanese with them and they could practice their English with me. So for the next hour in line I made about 10 new friends and had quite a few laughs. Just imagine a college kid wearing a blue tie-dyed shirt with a UGA hat in the middle of 100 middle-aged Japanese women trying to interpret each others language! Best part was that I got to describe why I was headed to Japan and what type of work I am interested in to the ladies who could speak English. After that, I went on one last errand for the night. And it was an epic one: To get my Mom a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt from Honolulu (I love you and miss you Mom!). It was fun navigating through the streets of Honolulu and just getting to see some of the town on my way to the Cafe. Hawaii is such a beautiful place and it constantly reminds me of how awesome and gracious of a God we serve. To be a complete stranger somewhere, but to feel at home is an incredible moment indeed. After the t-shirt run, I quickly walked back to my hotel and nearly collapsed. It will be so nice to actually sleep in a bed tonight and be refreshed for my long flight tomorrow. A flight that could range between 8 and 12 hours.. Please continue to pray for my travels as I head to Japan and get my body acclimated to the time difference. Can't wait to wash and get to bed. Ps, I will be playing around with pictures on here so it might be a few posts before you start seeing any but hopefully those can be up soon. Thank you for all of your support and I'll update as soon as I can..

Only By Grace,
CP

Laundry, Man Vans, and Waffle House..

Dear Everyone,

It's finally here. For real. In a matter of hours I will finally begin my journey to Japan which God has brought together over the last 5 months in an amazing way. God has truly provided everything I have needed for the trip to happen since day one when I felt His leading back to Japan. Now for some details on what's gonna be happening over the next 24 hours..
Over the last couple hours I have finished all my laundry and have my REI 80 liter pack mostly full. Just a few toiletry items to squeeze in tomorrow after I get ready to leave. Currently, I am about to finish a presentation on the state of Georgia that I will be giving to some college students in Kyoto. Hopefully I can fit everything there is to know about Georgia on a powerpoint. We'll see.. That's about it for the rest of the day except for a farewell supper with all of my close friends in Athens at 7. Once that's over, I will come home and TRY and get to bed because tomorrow starts at 3:15 am. Key word is try..
You read correctly. I said 3:15 am. As soon as my alarm goes off I'll jump up, finish packing, and head to Waffle House for my last legit meal in America at 4 with the brothers. Once the time of eating and fellowship is over, we will have a prayer time for my trip and then only the bravest of the brothers will get in a mini van to take me to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Officially dubbed the Man Van on Mission it will feature: Phil, Cody, Eric, Kyle, and Nathan. Hopefully we can be off by 5 and I can be dropped off by 7. My flight leaves Atlanta at 945 and here's my flight schedule overall: ATL to LA to Honolulu. Fortunately, even though I have a 19 hour layover there, I have a hotel room to sleep in for the night. (Thanks and love you Mom and Dad!). After that, I fly out of Hawaii the next day into Japan and then take a taxi to the missionary family's house! Please pray for my travel as I make my way over to Japan. Pray that God would guide me by His Spirit and that I would have opportunities to serve and love with the heart of Jesus. Thank you for all your support and prayers. More updates as I have the chance..

Only By Grace,
CP

Goodbye Class, Hello Japan!

Dear Everyone,
Sorry it has been a while since my last post, but life as a college student can be ridiculously busy especially when you do a maymester course. Good news is I'm done with class and only 27 days away from leaving for Japan!! Although Japan is so close and I can begin to officially to prepare, there is so much to do before I leave. I will be singing in a wedding, teaching vacation bible school, and taking the GACE. There is no rest for the weary they say.
I am happy to report that the Lord continues to provide financially for my trip and I am still receiving funds to go. I just want to thank all of you following who have personally contributed prayerfully or financially. Know that you are helping advance the love and message of Jesus Christ in a place where it is desperately needed! As of this morning I officially received my schedule for the 3 weeks I will be there. Throughout my blogging you may see the name Leena who is my missionary connection in Japan and who has graciously prepared my 3 week schedule. I will be involved in the following activities during my stay in Kyoto; taking a few Japanese classes, working with local college students, participating in on-campus devotionals, sharing my testimony and singing all over, help with teaching English classes which are a part of a church ministry, giving a presentation on the state of Georgia, participating in relational ministries all over Kyoto, and helping out with a church camp. I am not quite sure what I may do as far as sightseeing/adventuring but will just go with the flow. I am just happy to serve the Lord and meet needs. Continue to pray for my trip and that the Lord will guide and reveal His will for me in Japan as I prepare to go. Thank you for all your support and prayers. I'll be in touch soon.

By Grace,
CP