Out and About with Mamiko

This is how our day ended. We were exhausted but satisfied. We placed literature with a woman who also took this shot... Below are the things we enjoyed...

These are shots of a lake in an old town in Japan. I think we were at Tako city. I found the gray clouds dramatic and breathtaking!

My husband below drove for hours... We had calls that took hours to visit but it was worth the drive... I really appreciate my hubby's willingness to take Mamiko and I around Japan... literally.

So we stopped by a rice field and decided to pose a bit...

when all of a sudden, we hear thrashing sounds behind us...

A closer look reveals that lobsters roam in the rice fields!!!! The pictures conveys the idea that they're dead but they weren't. I guess they felt like tanning...

Yusuke tried to lure them out with a long blade of grass but with no success. It was exciting to find out that there exists fresh water, river lobsters!! An old lady around the area told us that they tasted sweet, almost as sweet as clam meat... Mom would've loved to see these!!

During that one Friday afternoon with Mamiko, we worked with two elders from our congregation. The brother on the left side is Ichiro and the other is Jesse. We had a great morning! Definitely a lot of laughs...

Mamiko was asked to do a presentation. She seemed excited... :)))

A random, cool customized version of the truck Yusuke and I used for a few months when we moved to Japan. I was impressed with the capability of making this truck look cool...

We also made a quick stop for some peppermint tea. For some strange reason, I just kept having this feeling that someone was staring at me...

We stopped by a ramen shop and were amazed at how huge and tasty it was...

Amazed because it cost only 150 yen!!!! ($1.50) Crazy!! Super delicious... Mamiko and I had the soy sauce flavor and Yusuke had the salt flavored one.

We did a little informal witnessing at a well known Mall in Narita. I called out for both of them to walk naturally and... well...they did!

Tea Time at the Tulip Garden (without the Tulips)

My husband and I

He was pretty excited to be out. He knew inside that he would have a great day!

We joined Brother and Sister Iwata's car group. It was super fun! Sister Iwata is a bit shy but once you get to know her, she's a sweet, fun sister...

Yusuke's friend's name is Phillip. He visited from the states and the funny thing is he speaks fluent Japanese! Yusuke and I were shocked! He is a shy fellow...

But loosens up easily when he's with my hubby...

aww...aren't they cute together?!!!

Our Spiritual Children

Amir is Yusuke's Bible Student. We met him and his wife ages ago but could never find them home. We continued to visit every week and would leave notes for them. Finally one day we found them! They invited us in and expressed appreciation for the notes and magazines that we left. As of May 2010, they became regular bible students. In this picture, his wife is not around... but I will get one later...

That's us after the study. Amir took the picture.

Every time we meet for our studies, they prepare so much wonderful treats! Yusuke and I are grateful for their hospitality and thank Jehovah constantly for blessing us with appreciative bible students.

Circuit Visit May 2010

So during the Circuit Visit I got really sick. That's me half dead while we were heading back home after service. My loving husband took this shot and I must say that for a half dead person, I look pretty decent. :)) My hubby takes good care of me.

Above is the Narita English Congregation including three visitors and our Circuit Overseer.

Below is what we refer to as the "TEMPLE STREET" where we do street witnessing. This place is right at the Narita Station where we frequently go. I love this area...

Below is our Circuit Overseer Brother Michael Shinsato originally from Hawaii. He says that he knows the Odanis very well. His visit was refreshing and timely. As of September 2010, we will no longer be a congregation. We will become a group. His visit was faith strengthening and a boost to our zeal! One thing he emphasized was to be positive in our territory and make many progressive bible studies if we want to be a congregation again! Never have I felt the true realization that to do this, we NEED Jehovah's help and guidance. That fact alone gave the group a spirit of zeal... and it definitely motivated Yusuke and I to work hard! It's almost like a missionary assignment!!!

This is Ichiro Matsumoto, a good friend of Yusuke and I. He is our elder and he was able to join in on our Pioneer meeting because he was able to serve as an AP for a couple of months. He came to Japan years ago from California. Nice brother!

Below are fellow Pioneers. There will be a few remaining in the Narita English "Group" in September so this meeting was a bit special for all of us...

Yusuke, me, Mari, and Fumie took brother Shinsato out for dinner and I gave them a bible riddle. Who was the first drug addict mentioned in the bible?

As you can see, it was something worth meditating over. We had a great time! It was neat getting to know brother Shinsato better as well as hang with the friends. We ate our fill of unlimited Pizza and headed out a little later with great memories...

Togo and Family

From where we are to that building on the horizon is where we drove. There is an under water highway!! Super scary but fun....Denson, Tyrone, Mali, and Mia- we are definitely taking you there when you visit!

After the assembly at the Ebina Branch, Yusuke wanted to take me to check out the ocean view... It was freezing cold...

but so sweet of him to do that for me.

The picture above is our favorite and was taken by Togo. Who is Togo you ask??

Togo is Yusuke's best friend and childhood buddy! That's him with his lovely wife Naomi and their cute son Yuto. We stopped by after the assembly..

and they took us out to Denny's!!!

I think Yuto enjoyed our company as well. I hope to have a child one day who is so willing to have us pick his nose....

We had a great time with them... We'll definitely visit again!

Circuit Assembly April 2010

We were pretty excited about joining our first Circuit Assembly 3 hours away from home! Yusuke conveys that excitement better than I can...

Narita English Congregation minus my hubby. (he's taking the picture)

I(Ely) look super old.

Narita English Congregation- with my husband in it this time. (Rikki is taking the picture)

We parked a few minutes away from the Ebina branch and walked through neighborhoods to get inside.

Brother Masaki Matsubara, a dear friend of ours from our congregation helping out with the parking.

Random people except for the woman in the picture. Her name is Olga and yes, she's Russian. We made friends and she even taught me a few Russian phrases.

FUYUMI!!!!!!!!!!! My good friend who visited Saipan years ago. She jumped off high rocks at Grotto and even went crab hunting with my mom!! I stayed with her at Gold Beach Hotel to keep her company... she went to Nepal for a year and is back to help with the English Congregation. She is an awesome sister..and friend..

Our good friend and Yusuke's pal Rikki. He is a down to earth guy and real fun to be with... Yusuke and I enjoyed getting to know him better at Ebina.

Yuko,Sachie, and Fumie- good friends from Narita English Congregation.