Dodgin' the Bullet

6/29/07

This week the girls and I have done more traveling than a middle-aged carpetbagger with itchy feet. We took a few days off to see what Stan and Michelle have been up to down in Kyushu. We did most of our traveling via bullet train or “shinkansen,” if you want to get technical. I don’t know how many of you have ever been on a train that reaches speeds over 285 km/h, but it is not fun especially when the jerk in front of you refuses to close his window. I endured three hours of blowing and blasting winds which sent me flailing all over the compartment. I tried to stay in my seat for as long as possible but when we got up to speed the level of lactic acid in my forearms was so great that I lost my death grip and just couldn’t hang on. Most of my hair was blown straight off of my head into the lady’s clam chowder behind me and my cheeks were flapping so hard that they knocked a molar loose and I think I swallowed it. I kindly asked the gentleman in front of me several times to shut his window to which he arrogantly replied, “I have poor temperature regulation and the breeze feels nice, so you can just shut up.” Breeze? I just about lost it when he said that and all of the sudden I had a deep sinful desire to flick the back of his ear very hard and I would have had it not been for a particularly potent gust of wind that knocked me out of my seat and onto a plate of pastries that I had just recently purchased for half-price at the last train portal. That really got my goat but unfortunately the wind was so powerful that I had no choice but to lie pinned to the ground for the remainder of the trip. Needless to say when it was all over, my pastries were in no condition to be consumed but I ate them anyway and I now wish I hadn’t.

Barring the above turbulent tribulation, the trip to see the Mistaks was a success. We were able to hang out at the coffee shop for a while and Stan even whipped up some of his prefecture famous Café Ole. I have to say I’ve never had a drink so uplifting and refreshing. Upon downing the last drop, I couldn’t help but softly sing a song to myself while I reveled in the drink’s invigorating aftertaste. During our time at the coffee shop we were able to talk to some of the customers with whom the Mistaks have developed relationships. Stan and Michelle both have been doing a great job getting to know the people they meet. Most, if not all, of the people they’ve encountered have returned several times over the past month. Along with getting a taste of the coffee shop, no pun intended, we were able to meet the Carr and Sadowitz families who generously had us all over for dinner. Both families told me how they’ve fallen in love with Stan and Michelle and how much of a blessing it’s been to have them in Miyakonojo.

On Monday, the Kellers, Mariah, and I will leave for the U.S. I’m looking forward to returning home but at the same time it will be difficult to leave the friends I’ve made. God has taught me several valuable lessons here in Japan and I can’t wait to share them with the church. Thanks again for all the prayers and Lord willing I’ll see you soon; until then try to keep it real.