Day 9, Worship, Sightseeing, Game

     It was great to have a 9am breakfast this morning. Many of us used the time to catch up on sleep, although a few are still struggling with jet lag.  After breakfast we were not due to leave for sightseeing until 11, so we had time for some worship and team sharing.  It is so great to have a worship leader in Mike.  After several worship songs, we shared some experiences that we had had to encourage one another.
     After worship and sharing, the wonderful people of this church again volunteered their services for shuttling us.  First we went to the Mitsuke School Historical Site.  It was the first school in the area and was built in 1874-5.  After the school, we went to a local temple.  Pastor Hasui explained that the main building was structured very much like a Jewish temple, with a building similar to the Holy of Holies, and the main temple where a ceremonial washing was required before entering.  It was said again to see the prayers that were thrown into the box, waiting to be burned so they could go up to God, or those prayers tied to the strings, again in the hope that God would answer them.  While sad, it was a blessing to see that and to know that our God knows
what things we have need of before we ask him!
     After sightseeing, we went to lunch---and it took forever.  Understandable as it was a rather small & popular hamburger place, and we were a group of 30.  So, our free afternoon turned out to be not so free after all.  But, the food was good and it was just another chance to be flexible.
     At 5pm, our drivers picked us up yet once again to take us to Higashi High School (we were there 5 years ago) to place the girls team.  We played 2 30-minute halves and lost 2-1 (Ashleigh scored our goal).  Then we played another 30 minutes of mixed teams.  After the game, we were informed that the other team had about 6 minutes to catch their train home, so we did just our song and testimony (Emily) and said our goodbyes.
     We had another set of drivers then take the girls to their homes for showering and then back to the church for pizza.  Yes, we didn't eat until after 10pm, but that is the hazards of having a game at dinner time.  Six of the Sangyo girls joined us for dinner.  After dinner, we got in a circle and everyone shared what the time in Iwata meant to them.  Even the Sangyo girls shared.  All of them, and Pastor Hasui's kids talk about this being the highlight of their year and wanting us to come back.  We then presented Pastor Hasui with gifts, and he presented us with gifts---as if what they have done for us already is not gift enough.  What a day.

Pictures
Day 9 Video Montage