Friday

Good morning again everyone, I hope you have a good day on this last 'week day' of your week. My Friday went well. This morning I had some time to actually video chat with my family, which was really a blessing. It always blesses me and makes me happy to get to see them. After that I had another English lesson this morning, and it went really well. When we were done with the lesson, Hinako, Eastin, and I went downstairs to the wooden deck and played soccer and Hide-and-seek for about 45 minutes. It was really fun to be able to play with them like that, but they absolutely wore me out! While playing soccer (in flip-flops) I hit a blister on my little toe with the ball, it broke and also tore off the next layer of skin! Needless to say, that still hurts. :) Then after lunch I helped Aidan with his English school. For the past two weeks, he and I have been working on writing the stories he makes up. Today he got very excited when I told him we could 'publish' them, and send copies to all of his family in America. His face lit up, and all he could do for the next 10 minutes was plan illustrations and cover art, and poems for his new books. :) It was fun to watch him.

After my nap this afternoon, a couple of ladies came over and helped Abi and me put on our yukatas, since we were going to another festival. I wrapped mine by myself, and thought it looked pretty good. But the lady tying them apparently didn't, because she undid all of it and did it again. :( I had fun at the festival, but I forgot to even take my camera with me... I would tell more about the festival now, but it's 10:15 and I'm really tired... Maybe tomorrow...

The real reason I even wanted to post anything tonight, is because all day I have had this tune running through my head... This tune has been given to one of my all time favorite hymns. (And don't be like some people I know and say that old hymns can't 'reach' people. They are some of the most beautiful things ever written.) So when I got back from the festival I just had to look up and re-read all of the words. I want to post some of them here for you...

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin.

....

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,

And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

I encourage you to read these words not with the familiar tune determining emphasis etc. Read it as just a poem. It is definitely one of my favorites. I know that, for some people, seeing big cities with lots of lights and huge skyscrapers and tons of people makes them happy. Having lived in rural MS all my life, I didn't realize how much I missed nature. When I went to Nikko it was like I could breathe again! I saw huge, splendid, green mountains. I heard mighty waterfalls. I watched grass sway in gentle breezes. I gazed while clouds covered and then revealed again the tops of mountains that seemed so close, yet so far away. It was breathtaking just to see the things that only God could have designed. Visiting shrines and temples, and noodle shops became tiring soon. But being able to watch as God's artwork surrounded me was something I never grew tired of! Perhaps that's why I love this old hymn as I do. I feel like I can really sing it from my heart... I know it's not just words. I understand them.

Well, I hope you all have a good day, and now I'm going to bed! :) I hope that this post is coherent and makes sense... I am so tired I can hardly think, much less type!

My love to you all,

Hannah