This morning, we signed to rent our first apartment! The one we had been praying about and waiting on, was still open, and ended up being a lot cheaper than we had originally thought. Giving it over to God, He made it even better for us!
We officially have it on the 1st of next month, so only a couple of days away!
Here are some pictures of the apartment:
It's got three rooms, one in the middle (kitchen/dining room), and two on the sides (one tatami room - bedroom, one on the otherside - livingroom!). then there is the mini entrance way to put your shoes, and a bathroom to the left (has a tub, and space for washer/dryer).
It's really nice, we like it a lot and are excited to move in!
The other blessing, was our Okinawa Wedding Reception party we had at the church in Ginowan. We got blessed with a gift that paid for us to put it on. So everyone at the church helped to set it up, decorate, and put it on for us! We were SO blessed, it was a great night.
We also got another blessing, from the Gushiken family! They are a pretty famous family on the island, they (together as a family) perform traditional Okinawan songs and dances, with Christian lyrics. They are a really cool family, and we have recently been able to spend time with them and have started to make really good friends with them.
Well, they called us and told us for a wedding gift, they wanted to perform a traditional wedding dance for us, AND to dress us up in the outfits a husband and wife would wear to a wedding party! (called Kyuusou, with Bingata designs on it - hand painted Okinawan patterns, instead of machine made designs).
one of the ladies at church made us a cake! it was SO delicious!
Eder and Joel!
Excited!
The Gushiken girls!
Mrs. Gushiken helping me put the socks on.
Eder is tall.
Finished!
Eder's almost done!
Make-up time~
Eder got a hat!
I'm not good with hair, so they helped me out.
Oh, what a handsome king of Okinawa!
Coming into the party.
Ready to perform~
Everyone!
Performing the wedding dance. (song and dance talks about/shows the growth of a flower, the flower and even the bud are beautiful and important because it will grow. I think, someone explained it to me, but it was a rough translation.)
Hakugaijin (Aka: Tim and me with the CD) performed too!
Rob jumped up for his guitar solo.
Hanna and Ayana enjoyed the kakigori (shaved ice).
Answering Tommy's questions about our marriage thus far, and making a thank-you speech.
TheNewell's!
Joel making his "best man" speech.
Us and the Gushiken family (minus their sons).
Eder's old English student, Chiaki! And her boyfriend.
The group from Paradise Chapel!
Last picture of the night.
So we were completely blessed by everyone, and really were so glad to share our wedding celebration with our family and friends here in Okinawa. Over 100 viewers of our wedding were from Japan, watching the live feed. We have never felt so loved.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
1 John 3:1
1 John 3:1
We are so loved, and get a huge family of brothers and sisters out here.
We would like to ask you to keep praying for us, we are never not in need of prayers.
Please pray that everything goes smoothly with the apartment, that we meet our neighbors on the right foot, and that we can make good relationships with the owner and everyone around us. Pray for opportunities in the area for ministry (there is a track field right down the street from us).
We don't have a car yet, there might be one we can get but it is still not certain.
Pray for our health (a lot of colds and flues are going around right now).
And for continual guidance for whatever the Lord asks us to do here! We are excited! And want to stay willing for whatever God has for our lives.
Thank you everyone, God bless the rest of your month.
Wow, that was a fast answer to prayer! (at least from my point of view)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the pics, I think they capture your life and the area well.
Your prayer requests are even encouraging, God will do wonders. God called you to a ministry, and you are doing it, and now you can have all the confidence of His will, because you're in it!