Well, it’s been a strange feeling to have time move incredibly quickly yet seem to drag at the same time.  We have finally hit that time where we will be finalizing everything and getting on the plane soon.  We have been in contact with the pastor in Ireland and that all sounds good.  Hearing his voice reminds me forcefully of Africa…that accent and those mannerisms that are so very Ghanaian.  We are trying to tighten everything up at the church so people keep some momentum while we are gone.  Last night was really exciting.  We’ve been having some really wonderful praise and worship.  I had a strong vision of a meeting we had in Africa so many years ago.  It was way out in the outskirts of Accra, Ghana where there was a little bible training school for upcoming ministers.  We arrived late…an occurrence that isn’t rare because of what the Ghanaians call “African Time”.  The meeting was in full swing with them praising God with everything they had in them.  They were leaping as one…six hundred people leaping in a single mass.  The floor was dirt so that red African dirt was rising in a cloud that was at least waist high.  I have seldom been so moved at a sight in my entire life.  The grim note to this is that I am reminded of our dear driver and companion Ado.  He was just recovering from a terrible bout with malaria.  He was telling me what a wonderful football (soccer) player he was.  His charming smile and unforgettable face still is branded ever in my mind.  I remember him leaning out of the car window scolding someone that was hanging precariously from a bus near the car then he sheepishly turned to my mom and said “Oh, sorry mum”…as if we could understand him since he spoke in the local dialect which we didn’t know.  I hear his voice still…but now we found that he had died…not sure of the specifics…he was a young man who had married not too many years ago.  None of us will ever forget him.  We will meet you on the other side my brother  .  It’s a sobering thing to go away from a place and know that when you return many of the things you grew familiar with have all changed.  People you’ve known have passed away…so much is different.  I can’t escape a sense of urgency to return to Africa.  All that we do seems to lead inevitably back to where we first started on the mission field.  Much tragedy has visited those we love so dearly but now we will meet with our friend Joseph Baise.  He says that I am American Joe and he is African Joe.  Our church is called Eagle Ministries International…he says that he is a black eagle…I smile at this but sense that he is seriously a part of us.  Destiny is drawing us back…I find it amazing that we are being drawn to where they say humanity started… the cradle of civilization…it is a return…it is a new beginning.

I have only one more post that I will make from this country since next Friday we leave for Ireland and Scotland.  How amazing that is to say!  I want to continue with the pictures I’ve got from our journey to Japan because we have a deep love for that country as well.  I will never forget that place either, I know we must return there as well.  Is it strange to you or is it just strange to me to visit China town in Japan ?  I found it strange but fascinating as well.  What a tremendous entry to this section of Tokyo .  There are some amazing looking restaurants to witness and it does have a distinct Chinese edge to it .  There are theme parks that I’ve seen trying to imitate being in other countries but there’s really nothing like really being there .  We very often saw groups of students wandering around…could they be playing hooky ?  Gabby didn’t know what to think, poor little thing.  We went from store to store just to see the wonders of each little shop .  Sometimes the outside of these places was as enchanting as the inside .  Row upon row of exotic sights greeted our eyes as we walked on enjoying a beautiful day .  This dragon looked hungry and I was too however my taste buds relish the challenge of a new dish more than the others in our team…maybe you can see why …burn ‘em up LOL!  Seeing lanterns like this in Walmart just isn’t the same .  It surprised me that the Japanese flag wasn’t displayed more prominently around the city but it looked proud on this ship .  This was a wonderful harbor and port , I can only imagine the goods that the ships bring in .  Still the flowers grabbed my attention .  It was fall but you’d never guess by the weather and the plants growing everywhere .  Ah, such delicate beauty !  I wonder if the locals thought we were crazy taking pictures of it all …well, I’ve seen the Japanese tourists in Yellowstone National Park…so I guess we’re even!  This ladybug seemed to be a rebel…not a spot to be seen !  I know, I know, more flowers .  These looked like they were puckering up for a kiss !  We brought the children to visit a school not far from my mother in law’s house…it was really interesting to visit the classrooms and see how school is there and then have our picture taken with a teacher from America and another teacher from the school .  Here is Lovely, Gabby and I eating after a church meeting .  One day we visited a small market to see the sights and hear the sounds.  It’s a whole new perspective on fish and sea food for this landlocked compadre, I can tell you  !  It was very early and people were busily shuffling about buying or selling their wares .  There were fish I’d never even dreamed of .  Variety is the spice of life they say .  Well now, these things look a little like …uh, moving on…try not to think about it….  Where was I?  Ah yes, produce !  Wonderful produce !  These just had too much personality to not photograph !  We spent tons of time just seeing what we could see.  Sometimes you take the shot other times it takes you and this one took my heart somehow .  How could I not notice the manga?  My goodness I’ve never seen so many comic books !  I think this is one place I’d do just fine without a car…everyone walks, bikes or rides the train , .  It’s not so bad once you get used to it.  Here are some kids we saw on the way home one night …just to cool don’t you think?  Here is my skeleton hiding in a sakura blossom shirt …and here’s another blossom .  What do you think?  You figure you live in a big city ?  This is not like where I live …but I still love it! 

Ah, a visit to Shibuya…you will indeed get your eyes full here LOL!  What some ham?  I’ve seldom seen such a mass of people in my life !  We went with our friends whom we had brought tee shirts to…they wanted to return the favor so here we were !  We found a wedding chapel which was pretty amazing in itself but more than that there was an actual wedding going on !  We saw the family gather and the priests who officiated the wedding !  Our friends didn’t quite share our enthusiasm but they were very patient and good to us as always…meet Hisau (don’t know how to spell that) and Hitomi and their two children .  Finally we left the wedding behind, thankful for the chance to see it .  Back to the busy streets and people strange to my foreign eye …notice the anime style dress?  I thought that sort of thing was only in Japanese cartoons!  This dog thought we were the weird ones though .  It had been quite a day and it was time to go home .  So much to see in this land of the rising sun but what made it the most wonderful for me is that God had done it and I got to experience it all with my family…including my little girl who seemed to enjoy every moment of it !