Elizabeth's Secret Garden

  While in Japan, I got to experience the culture through traveling, but also experience what it is like to teach at a Japanese Preschool. My husband had done ministry in Japan for 6 month several years ago, but this was my first time. My husband and I spent our first two weeks serving at a preschool that is part of a local Church. I was grateful for the time that we got to spend getting to know the teachers, parents, and children. I was amazed by the level of respect and responsibility that the children had. On the very first day of visiting, the children put on a 45 minute performance. They had memorized several songs and the 4/5 year old children were able to play instruments. The children were taught a level of responsibility that is very different than what I've seen at schools at home. These children were given jobs and took care of serving food and cleaning up after meals.  I was able to read a butterfly story in English to the two year old's and the older age groups. I...

Japan is truly beautiful. The people, the country, and the language. Summer of 2024, my husband and I embarked on an epic journey to go to literally the other side of the planet. My husband had gone several years back, but this was my first time going. I had prepared in every way possible for this journey from studying the culture to diving into learning the language. What I wasn't prepared for was leaving part of my heart behind in Japan. So I decided this week that it was time to share this love with others and give everyone a little taste of what living in Japan is like and all the places there are to see.  This was the community of Gamagori that we stayed in for the first two weeks before continuing our journey across Japan. This area is considered rural in Japan. A much more peaceful town than living in the heart of Tokyo.  This is called a Genkan which in kanji is 玄関. Whenever you go to a home, you stop here and place your shoes in a rack or designated area and then typi...