Brief Introduction
I am now back in Tokyo, Japan and trying to get settled in a bit so it may be awhile yet before I can get photos uploaded to this blog but I am thankful to God for helping me finish my school year well and also for giving me safe travel on my return trip to Japan. There is so much that has happened that I am going to use a different format to highlight my experiences from the latter part of college to my days being back here in Japan.
Graduating from College
Leading up to graduation I was trying to pack up all of my things into boxes and put the most important items in my suitcases that were returning to Japan. Unfortunately, I could only bring back two check-in luggage that weighed 50 lbs (23 kgs) but I was able to finally get my 2 bags full (mostly of children's literature) and leave 6 boxes at Dale's so that I could bring that back little by little whenever I return to Dubuque or whenever one of my family is there (i.e. Caleb and Amy)
I had promised Dale that I would make him an apple pie before I left but time ran away from me and it came around to May 6th, the night before graduation, and I said, "Dale, I don't have enough time tonight so..."
...I woke up at 5:30AM and baked an apple pie!
May 7th I graduated from Emmaus Bible College with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and I also graduated with honors (magna cum laude) and received the student teaching award.
Trip to Madison, WI
I needed a ride to Chicago on the 9th but everyone I knew was driving down on the 7th or 8th so a fellow classmate of mine in the teaching program, Karen Carter, offered me a ride to Chicago after she visited with some friends of hers in Madison, WI. The Difonzo family has two daughters and both of them attended Emmaus so I knew them but I hadn't met the parents and it was a great time sharing stories on the way up, playing card games and guitar while I was there, and also attending their church in town.
Trip to Chicago, IL
On May 9th we drove down to Chicago and I was able to meet up with Mr. DK, my 8th grade teacher at CAJ, where I helped mow his lawn, played with his church softball league, ate dinner and then stayed the night. Early the next morning, DK drove me to O'Hare where I was able to get all of my bags checked in. I weighed my bags and it turned out that I had exceeded the weight limit on both accounts: 51 lbs and 52.5 lbs... but the United representative told me that she'd let it go which was AMAZING!
I took a flight from Chicago to San Francisco and then from San Francisco to Tokyo. From Narita Airport I combined all my luggage into my large hard case suitcase so that it weighed about 100 lbs but it was easier to wheel through the train system. After about 2 hours of travel by train I arrived on a drippy, wet Higashi Kurume evening.
Becoming Uncle Victor
Caleb had asked if I would be willing to proctor for an AP World History exam the next day because he would be with Amy at the hospital so I said that I would. That morning at 3AM Mom and Caleb left for the hospital because Amy's contractions were getting stronger. By 5:10AM I couldn't sleep (because of jetlag) so I woke up and got ready for the day. When I walked into CAJ's academic office the headmaster's secretary asked if I wanted to be on the substitute teaching list and I said "Sure!" I didn't even have to ask and the Lord opened that door for me!
The AP World History exam was broken into two sections and the second section was 2 hrs 10 min. long but I had forgotten to bring a book. However, we were in a Korean-Japanese church and they had a bilingual Korean-English Bible so I read and read and read some more. By the end of the exam I had finished the book of Revelation! Shortly before the exam was done the registrar came in and handed me a paper which read:
Enoch Jedediah Eby
Born 9:58 AM
3900 grams
It's great to be an uncle!
That night I was going to visit Amy and baby Enoch but I had a slight fever so I didn't want to pass it on to baby Enoch. I slept it off and the next day my fever had gone down but now Ethan and I were heading down by train and then car with some friends to Tim and Mamiko's wedding.
Tim and Mamiko's Wedding
Ethan and I left at 6:50AM to go down to our cousin Tim's wedding. When we got to Fusa we met up with my cousin Anna and Gypsy who is a family friend. Steve and Edie town who know our family well drove us all down to Osaka and from there we were able to meet with the Mikaelson's who live in Takarazuka where Caleb did his ICS internship. The Mikaelson's area Norwegian family and it was great fun hearing their stories and of the Lord's work in their lives and the also in Takarazuka.
The next morning I was dressed up in a 3-piece suit and Ethan and I were both wearing fadoras (sp?) The wedding was very God glorifying and it was good to see the cousins and also friends I hadn't seen for awhile. The Mamiko Fujimoto's family and friends were all there so it had a Japanese ceremonious feel unlike any wedding I had attended. Mr. and Mrs. Fujimoto are not believers but their daughters are and hopefully they will turn to the Lord soon!
Great is Thy Faithfulness was sung and also Kimi wa Aisareru. Mamiko played "You Raise Me Up" on piano. The message was brief and full of the Gospel. Tim read a letter to Mamiko sharing how much he loved her. The vows were given and now it is Tim and Mamiko Benedict!
The reception was held at the Ritz-Carleton which was a fancy hotel and they had all sorts of food from Carbonara's to salmon with capers to Italian Gelatos! Caleb and I sang two songs during the reception and there were various other performances, speeches and toasts during the course of the reception.
Substitute Teaching
I know have the opportunity to substitute teach at CAJ so at this point I will be substitute teaching for:
12th grade English
Physical science
PE for K, 1st, and 3rd
Prayer Requests
- That I will get over jetlag
- To do well at my substitute teaching
- To continue reading my Bible
- To practice my Japanese
- To be an encouragement in word and action to my family and also to those here at CAJ
