Today is our first full day in Japan. What a blessed and necessary way to start the trip as we were able to sleep until 9 with breakfast not until 10. Everyone woke up seemingly rested and ready to go. After a relaxing breakfast, Pastor Hasui & Paul went over what to bring in the team backpacks for the day (change of clothes and towel as we will go directly to the sento after the clinic). The clinic will be with 4th-6th graders and is a new ministry that Pastor Hasui has not had the chance to make inroads in yet. Then they discussed what the entire schedule will look like over the next several days, so the team can now what to expect. After the morning orientation, the team started breaking into impromptu practice of the Japanese song (Kimi-Wa) and the spiritual song (My God Is So Great). The song Kimi-Wa is about being joyful, but the traditional beat is rather slow. I don't think Japan has ever seen a version of Kimi-Wa like the one we came up with. It will be once through traditionally, and then our version. See the video of what we came up with (thanks Matthew for filming it). Then the coaching staff (Paul, Sims, Jesse, English & Addison) worked on what drills they will be doing at the clinic.
At 1:30 we left for the clinic. It was about 15 minutes and we were taken there by several of the church volunteers who are always so gracious with their time. The venue was beautiful (you will see) and by a river that was swollen with the unusually heavy July rains. The field was black sand on dirt, but amazingly the only puddles were on the side of the field. They keep the dirt so packed, it doesn't puddle mostly. We did lots of games and clinics, so the video montage today will be a little longer as I tried to get a little of everything and get as many ladies in as possible. The club modified its program for today as some of the activities they scrapped because all they really wanted to do was play games against us. This meant the ladies played many games (4th graders, 5th graders, 6th graders (twice I think) and then the adults & coaching staff). Each game may have been only 10-15 minutes, but it was still alot, and they had so much fun against us. The final game against the adults was a 0-0 tie, so Paul had it go to PKs. We lost 3-2, but it was a fun time. During the game, Franci & Steve & myself had significant opportunities to connect with the adults who were watching.
After the game, we did our Japanese song, spiritual song and Addi gave her testimony. Then there was an exchange of gifts and final goodbyes.
After we left the field, we went to the sento (Japanese bath house) to bathe and then it was off to a restaurant called Joyful for dinner.
We had a wonderful experience after the clinic was over, the kind of thing we come here for, but for now, it is something that we will have to share individually with you.
Pictures--7/7
Pictures--All
Video Montage--7/7
Kimi-Wa--practice version--7/7
Kimi-Wa, Seahorse version, 7/7
My God Is So Great, 7/7
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