Friends, I know you are praying for me because your prayers are being answered!

The first few weeks, my biggest prayer requests were for loneliness while I'm here and that I build relationships.

I realized today that loneliness has not been an issue since I've been here. This week, the last few days, I've missed my friend especially very, very much. I would see something or do something and it would bring someone to mind. I went to the mall and wished Jamie and Leslee could be there. I listened to Benny Prasad and thought that Jess would love him and Kristin would love his story. I saw the cutest aprons and thought of Krista. I went to the park and wanted to sit there with a cup of coffee, talking to Lauren and Andrew. I ran my route and started dancing to my music and wished that I would be running with Christie. Katie, Jim, Lori, Heather, Sarah, all of them, all of you have crossed my mind so many times the last few days, and I've missed you. But missing is not the same as loneliness, because I can not imagine being anywhere else than right here, right now. Surrounded by the Body of Christ, immersed in Him, with His promises and His support and His protection all around me, so visible--well, there's just no room for loneliness.

And yesterday, I saw just how the door is opening for these relationships to be built. A new student in my Wednesday morning class took me out to lunch and we ended up sitting and talking for hours. Wednesday evening, I met with Atsuko, a student from Saginuma who teaches Japanese, and let her teach me. It was an amazing opportunity to sit with her one-on-one and begin to see who she is and how she relates to people. And then after class, she and a few others asked if they could throw me a welcome party and take me out for sushi. Next next Friday night, we'll all go out to one of their favorite pubs and celebrate not only the chance to learn together, but another one of the student's birthdays. Tonight, too, I've seen just how blessed I've been in this area. Thursday nights are my HiBA nights and as I sat down on those couches tonight, I felt like I was among friends. I'm meeting a few of them downtown on Saturday and spending the day there.

Friends, God answers your prayers.
Thank you.

I got out of the train tonight at Higashi-Tokorozawa and thought to myself, Aah, I'm home. When I caught myself saying home, I had to smile and look around, for this is, this feels like home. I thought how great it will be to come back here, maybe next year or the year after, and visit. How exciting that will be! And I kept smiling. As I walked up the stairs to exit the station, I prayed, God, I'm so happy. And He caught me. It's not happiness, it's joy. I'm overflowing with joy. There's just too much.

The Lord is good.

Today, I thought I'd leave you with my typical grocery list, because it's different here than it was at home. This was spurred on by today's trip to Costco. Oh, the selection! It's almost sinful, haha :)

1 package frozen soybeans.
4 apples
1 head of broccoli
1 8-pack (or 6-pack, depending on price) of bread
1 half-gallon of milk (different from our milk, less pasteurized)
2 packages banana chips/dried bananas (from the 100 yen store)
1 package raisins
1 package peanuts
1 tub margarine
8 eggs

I have only purchased meat once so far. There's a meat store next to Yaoko, our market. And that was chicken breast. They like fatty meats here, so luckily for me, the chicken breast was the cheapest selection! Generally, I don't cook with meat. When you combine it with the rice, it just makes the meal feel so heavy. Rice they sell in huge bags, so I've bought that only once as well. Coffee I haven't yet purchased and I'm not looking forward to that because it's very expensive. I still have two jars of peanut butter, which I usually eat with the apples. I bought four onions, cut them up, and froze most of them. I think they will last me for awhile! I also did buy some cheap cereal I found in the convenience store--less sugary version of frosted flakes. I keep that to snack on every once in awhile. And there you have it. Grocery shopping a la Laura, a la Tokyo.