Ireland Bound!

We have been experiencing a real resistance when it comes to getting back to Ireland as we’ve felt God has directed us.  We’ve held onto it for some time now but the time was getting closer and closer and we still couldn’t afford tickets to go.  Rising prices have become like a plague and airline tickets have been effected by this.  Daily we looked seeing if we  could find a good deal and daily we walked away hearing that the prices had risen terribly.  Yesterday we decided to look again and found a deal that we could afford.  This doesn’t include living expenses at all nor does it cover the expenses here at home when we leave…there’s much to believe for still but we have seen God move before and will continue to believe…please remember us in your prayer!  We did buy the tickets and will leave on the 12th of May.  We will return on the 31st of May.  We are very excited though we know the battle is far from over.  Even though we have this trip now there is a far bigger trip to the Philippines in August that will last until October…so much needs to be done but our God is able!  These are thrilling times!

 

I will post a few more pictures of Japan as I can because I expect once we return from Ireland I’ll have pictures from there to share.  Graves fascinate me and this shot has symmetry and sadness about it that is contrasted by the bright sunny day that really appeals to me…notice the empty flower or incense holder.  The beautiful rolling hills where they have tea growing filled me with wonder .  The golden pavilion was a tremendous wonder to behold in the idyllic surroundings where it sits.  I expected to see bamboo forestsbut not so much pine.  Japan is blessed with pine, bamboo and amazing places to see.  It could rain quite heavily at times but the wonder of it thrilled me still…it even made for shots like this where the rain left beautiful jewels on some large leaves.  The canopy of trees left shadows on the ground that reminded me of the beautiful Japanese writing.  Above all it was the people we traveled with that made the trip.  Kazu and Gabby were great friends…and she doesn’t just take to everyone.  Kazu and Gabby decided to have a nice march that day…I think that they did a wonderful job together…I could weep still seeing these pictures…I miss those guys so much!  I know my little girl had a wonderful time too!  My goodness I love this picture!  We must go back someday.  Being there with the team and showing this amazing place to others was a crowning glory in my life.  Thank God for my wife who wouldn’t let it go until it happened!  Here is my son and RD hanging out in the bamboo forest of Kyoto.  This is one of my favorite places in all the world!  Here are Anna and Kazu who are more than friends, they are family.  Gabby took it upon herself to lead this Japanese tour.  I think Gabby felt quite at home.  Lovely and Anna.  I wish I was standing there right now!  My little girl followed in her older brother and sister’s footsteps and was an excellent traveller even then.  I couldn’t walk forever in Kyoto…always something new to me yet ancient in age. More graves.  Gabby poses with an old man who was selling mushrooms that he made from tissue paper.  It was a place touched by both new and old…you can still find people wearing the traditional kimono…so beautiful to see.  I think this is about it for now so I bid you farewell until next time.

Meet Resistance with Persistence

I feel like I’ve turned a corner somehow.  I have known a growing frustration with so many things whether that be the terrible price of gas to being so disgusted with the politics in this country and the sense that nobody is even fighting for the true cause behind what makes the news.  My son’s birthday was on Tuesday and that really started me to thinking about what was most important.  None of the world events can change the fact that God is still on the throne and His blessings are still relevant and even right in front of my face.  I’m going to really endeavor to keep things in perspective and that will effect my attitude toward blogging and even Face Book.  I’ve noticed a real drop in activity on my blog and on Face Book…or maybe that’s a drop in interest in what I’m doing…not really sure about that honestly.  Whatever the cause I will keep my focus and try to please God with it.  I believe that from that those that really do care and support me will be blessed in turn and those that don’t care…well, what does that matter to me? 

Our weather took yet another down turn that unfortunately will last for at least five days outside of Friday which looks pretty good.  I remain so thankful for memories that are archived from our trips past!  I wish I could look out the door and see bamboo forestsinstead of grey skies and brown grass still attempting to turn green.  It’s good to see spring show up on my friend’s blogs too!  Recently one of the blogs I follow put up some pictures that were from a graveyard…strange to see signs of spring there don’t you think?  I have a bit of a morbid side as those that know me can testify.  I took several pictures of the graveyards of Japan.  I want to do that in Europe someday…but I don’t know if anyone would want to join me!  The Japanese had many things dedicated to seeking favor or luck from spiritual sourcesbut as for me I will continue to seek God who makes those that believe His temple.  Oh how I miss the well cared for gardens and ancient trees of Japan!  Have you ever walked in the rain with someone you love?  I have in a place that has beauty that is beyond anything I’ve witnessed anywhere else.  Some things I can’t imagine seeing anywhere else in the world.  Yes, Japan is very unique.  I’m not sure of the color orange has some significant meaning but it does cause these doors to pop don’t you think?  Everywhere in the places you visit in Japan you can find stations to wash your hands in very pure but icy cold water.  I couldn’t get used to the familiarity of pine forests that I know so well here in Montana being the backdrop to ancient temples that were anything but familiar to me.  I found myself often trying to read the signs before I caught myself and realized it was way beyond me to do so!  Unusual shrines were everywhere…even on the side of a well used road.  Spectacular ropes garnished with lightning bolt decorations graced particularly special sights.  We walked through the tori gates in the pouring rain…I felt the profound sense that God was speaking to us about stepping into a new chapter of our lives.  They say walking in such a place is one of the things that you simply must do before you die and I believe it.  I say this with tears in my eyes in light of all that’s happened.  Lovely and I have often spoken of going here during the cherry blossom season.  Lovely and I weren’t the only ones who made friends with those who spoke a different language.  I think there must be a place like this in heaven somehow.  Sometimes the most beautiful light you can ever know is through the leaves.  I would like to walk this place in the evening when stone lanterns are lit.  For now I must be satisfied with faith.  Faith that there’s always a silver lining and hope through God in whom I place my faith.  The mysterious courtyards of life can never be opened without turning the key of faith.

Looking Back

It has been a dreary bounce back and forth from passable weather to rotten cold rain or even some snow.  We stand now under a winter weather advisory…yes, you heard right, an winter weather advisory.  It will be a few days then we bounce back to nearly sixty degrees.  I admit this has dampened, sometimes literally my enthusiasm to get out and take pictures.  My walks have been more for exercise and personal prayer than anything to do with my camera and I don’t see that changing for now.  I have a solution for now though since I have a large collection of pictures of our trips to Japan.  My mother in law’s departure from Japan is bitter sweet for us.  She helped us get there and now she’s gone now and things are so bad there…only God knows when we will be able to return.  All of it makes me want to look on the pictures we have and remember.  I will begin to showcase those photos again.  I hope you all enjoy it.  These are in no particular order…I love them all.

 

One of the most enjoyable and beautiful walks I’ve ever had with my family was in the bamboo forest of Kyoto.  This area is untouched by the nuclear mess and the earthquake and tsunami…in fact I’ve heard many have gone there until things improve in other parts of the country.  Visiting ancient temples and shrines was always an experience.  I found that it was a striking contrast between the oldand the new.  The weather during our first visit in particular was absolutely the most perfect I’ve ever experienced.  I felt invigorated and it spiked my desire to see all there was to see.  Honestly it reminded me of a born again experience where everything seemed so fresh and exiting to me.  I felt so incredibly privileged to be able to witness all of these things that I never dreamed I’d be able to see.  You never know when you’re in a place like this when or if you will return…I clung to this moment with all that I had.  Our friends Kazu and Anna were wonderful to be with.  Lovely and Anna were like two sisters.  We talked and laughed and enjoyed all there was to see.  It was often like walking into a fairy tale or through a picture frame into a marvelous image to beautiful for words.  Kyoto holds some wonderful memories…all powerful and entrenched in our memory.  This is not a local sushi bar or a Japanese garden…this, this is Japan!  This is where it wasn’t just about decorations in a restaurantor some small garden.  It was the whole nations filled with mystery and wonder.  I cannot condemn this nation or these people because I’ve been there…I both know it and love it and I believe God has a plan that is not about death or destruction.  I believe there is a future for Japan where it will rise like a heron from the banks from one of it’s serene poolsto the wonder of us all once again.  Japan has a language as complex and mysterious as the nation itself…it is beautiful in writing.  Lovely has studied it and is able to read some of it now…if only we could have had that knowledge then!  Sometimes we found ourselves in quiet little areas like this and just relished the calm.  Lovely really enjoys green tea…I can’t say I follow her in that but it was amazing to see the tea leaves picked clean in these areas.  Apparently Lovely isn’t alone in her appetites!  Bringing the team along to see the things we had seen was a totally new experience.  Here we are with Anna and Kazu…it seems so long ago already.  I loved to see the massive temple bells with the log used to ring it.  This was so different from the rope to ring bells here.  It could really rain in Japan but this never ever dampened our enthusiasm to explore!  Mysterious little shrines were everywhere…this one had a symbol much like a swastika…it wasn’t an actual swastika but did look like it.  The wildlife had a distinctive Japanese mannerism…I can’t exactly explain except to say that it looked like it was made to be thereand nowhere else.  So many wish for luck of one sort or another…some place their requests on paper that they put in various shrinesit may be there is no luck in a four leaf clover or strength in a unicorn but there is the blessed hope of salvation through Christ…I want them all to know this…it will never come through condemnation.  Whole cities were wiped off the mapin the recent disaster.  What kind of person would take that as an opportunity to judge?  Every day we traveled from station to station.  One station near my mother law’s house had a nest of little birds.  We enjoyed watching them develop throughout our stay.  I didn’t know what was written on these tags attached to these lanternsnor did I always understand what was being said by the people around me but do I have to know to love the beauty that’s all around me?  I don’t think so.  I long to walk the narrow streets again…to know that once again the dark face of judgment has been turned away andhas been shown to be nothing but a liar once again.  God’s promise will have it’s day and in the mean time I won’t judge what I cannot understand.  It is the goodness of God that brings all men to repentance.  If He be lifted up He will draw all men unto Him.