Japanese friends!

4-20-26

Friday, April 19, 2026

Jacobson Park

Random playtime while Carter was with his small group

After what happened last time at Jacobson,

    I prayed as I walked to the playground

        for connections and divine appointments

Immediately, I saw Haruka

    I made small talk

        and soon found out she was from Japan

    She spoke in broken English

    I spoke in broken Japanese

    She's a fellow big-family mom driving a Sienna

    They moved the end of March

        and she said I am her first friend :-)

Then when her family left, it was on to Akiko and Miho

    I noticed their daughters first

        and then tried to find their moms

    When I overheard "いつも",

        I launched confidently into 日本語がわかりますか？

    They are friends with Osaka connections

        whose daughters go to the same school

    Now I have their contact info, too.

And why not one more? Enter Yumi

    There with her husband and two young daughters

    Another connection

I walked away from that playground,

    incredulous about You answered my simple prayer

        abundantly! (four-fold!)

Calvin makes fun of me and my approach

    "Oh, are you Japanese?"

    [Japanese talk, Japanese talk]

    Five minutes later, "Can I have your number?",

        but I see it as God using my wiring

            in the grand story He is weaving

        He made me a friendly extrovert

        He gave me a husband interested in Japan

        He called me to be a connector

       so I'm just doing my mom thing (often at parks)

        and He knows that if a Japanese mom needs connecting,

        He can send her to the same park, same time as me,

            knowing that I'll open my mouth

                and be willing to appear foolish

                and extend the American Christian hand of friendship

This is my story

This is my song,

    and I'll keep singing

4-20-26

Two years ago,

    I volunteered at Friendship

        but even as a table leader,

            I made zero lasting connections

I didn't learn any names

I could say "ringo wo taberu?" or "boru nagete"

    but that was about it

I had a dream of "one day" going to Japan

    but no plans or dates

I never texted anyone

I didn't have anyone over for dinner

I didn't remember anyone from week to week

I never prayed regularly for them by name

And when I planned a park play date one day,

    zero moms came

Discouraged and because of a family circumstances,

    I didn't volunteer the next 1.5 years.

This semester, totally last-minute and afraid of over-committing,

    I started volunteering again

        and it has been a night-and-day difference

I know soooo many names (and kids! and backgrounds!)

    and I recognize their faces

I pray over them by name

    and have texted 40+ of them

I hosted a play date where 17(!) came

I have dates for our Japanese trip

    and can hold a basic conversation

I've had four different friends over for a meal

    and three over for games

I went from wanting one Japanese friend

    to now having too many(?) to keep track of

    (maximize my memory ability for good!)

I can't believe I almost didn't volunteer at Friendship

    this time around

    based on my prior experience

These four months have been a huge blessing

    and I see myself coming alive in new ways

    and I see You using me in exciting ways

I'm here for it!

The first time around, there was a trickle

Now there's a flood!

4-21-26

Nothing like sending 30+ texts

    only to get rejection after rejection

        to humble me

Everybody "has plans"

I was on a high    

    after my reflections yesterday morning

This setback

    caused me to not feel so highly about myself

Yes, some need friendship and connection,

    but many already have established friends

        whom they can be at ease with in Japanese

            and take a break from the English bombardment

Inviting still matters

    even if rejected

        because it's one more link

And I don't need

    30 women to show up at the park

I need the right ones

    who I can go deeper with

So, Lord, have Your way

I trust You with who comes

5-23-26

On 4 of my 5 weekdays,

    I met up with at least one Japanese friend

Monday - Marie (and briefly Natsumi)

    at Charles Young Park

Wednesday - Niho (and Yuria and Eriko and others)

    at Kizuna

Thursday - Ibuki

    at Lighthouse to volunteer

Friday - Haruka and Hiroka

    at Central Library

plus text threads with Ayana

                            and Honami

                            and Nanako

                            and Yuri

                            and Ena

                            and Misa

                            and Mariko

My prayer for one Japanese friend?

You've answered abundantly

                            lavishly

                            bountifully

                            time and time again

ありがとう!

5-23-26

Deep and wide

    It has defined 

        the way I approach the Bible

Deep - Bible study and Scripture memorization

Wide - Reading through the Bible every year

I need both -- deep and wide

And now it has also become

        the way I approach Japanese friendships

Deep - one-on-ones, over for dinner, back-and-forth texts

Wide - praying over all 100+ Japanese from the directory

            inviting dozens to park play dates

I need both -- deep and wide

    casting the net wide

    but going deeper with some

I am limited and finite, though,

    and I wonder

        How far wide can I stretch without breaking?

        Who are You calling me to go deep with?

            I can't go deep with everyone.

Grateful for Your deep and wide love

    and that there's a fountain flowing

        deep

            and

                wide