Today was just the day the team needed after a long travel day. Everyone got to sleep in as breakfast (see pictures) was at 8:30. It was a leisurely time. Before Paul did his orientation, a lady name Yoko showed up who is a great cook and has prepared food for the Seahorses for many years. Paul honored her this year by having special made a Seahorse jersey with her name on the back. Before we did the orientation, Paul had the team practice both the Kimi-Wa song and the Hippo song. The hippo song had been more of a chant, so we listened to the real Mary Rice Hopkins version on YouTube to get the tune down. Paul then introduced then introduced Hasui-sensei who gave us a history of ministry here in Iwata as he is a part of JISP (Japan International Sports Promotion). It is a group of pastors who have seen the vision and benefit of sports ministry. As he explained (and Paul translated), there are many Japanese who will not go to a church, but they will go to a soccer/sports events where they are willing to hear a message. After orientation, there was a long break until lunch at 1, so Paul escorted a group to a local mini-mart where the team could buy some snacks on their own (10-min walk). We returned to find lunch all set out on the table. What a servant heart Yoko has. Bowls of rice with lettuce, broccoli, chicken & potato salad (see picture), along with some soup. Before lunch we were visited by the coach of the Daiichi club that we will be playing. He has had a long-standing relationship with the Seahorse and this church and came for a visit and wanted some pictures. After lunch there was some more down time until 3:30 to prepare for the late afternoon clinic and evening game. When it came time to go to the clinic, it showed once again what servant hearts these people have as 6 different cars show up to transport us to the field. On the way to the field, there was a surprise treat for the team. Hasui-sensei had arranged for us to be taken inside Yamaha stadium where the Jubilo Iwata play. They play in the J League which is Japan's highest level of play. They are so careful with their field, that while we could go inside, we could not walk on the grass, but only on the turf around the edges. The turf is so special, that when it comes time to change it, instead of throwing it away, they remove it and use it for local school fields, so that is why Iwata schools have grass fields and most others are just dirt. After this visit it was off to do clinics with the boy 6-13 about. We split into three groups to practice dribbling, shooting and passing. Then we mixed up the players and played several games. Afterwards we sang Kimi-Wa, the Hippo song, and Brett gave his testimony. After the clinic there was a short break and then it was some games against a men's team of 70 year olds. Hasui-sensei said that this the first time they have had contact with him, so hopefully this will continue. They played very well. We did our songs after that game and then Paul spoke about his book and then passed it out to the men, explaining how God works in mysterious ways and can work in their lives that way too, and they too can have an assurance of where they are going after they die. They it was off to the sento (Japanese bath house) for cleanup and relaxation. Then, believe it or not, at almost 10pm we walked to the restaurant (Joyfull) for dinner. By the time we ate dinner and got our rides to pick us up, it was 11:30. While breakfast tomorrow morning isn't until 9, the ladies have to be up early enough to move all of their stuff out of the sanctuary for church by 9, then eat, and then people start to arrive around 10. It was a loooooonng day.
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