My journey through my 1.5 month mission trip to Nagoya, Japan. Please read more on the tabs above!
Week 8:
Lunch with Lighthouse team! 
Dinner with Hana 
Nagoya Port 
Small carnival 
Purikura 
Late night Karoke 
Ry! 
Summer interns with Keiko sensei 
Lunch with office staff 
Intern pic with Kuni 
Judy and Nora Ruck 
Brett & Taylor!! 
Last mentoring night 
Hawaiian BBQ that does not give you food coma after 
Matcha Latte Boba 
Me with office staff! 
Plane with Lauren
Overview of Week 8:
Week 7:
Sharing my testimony at church 
Passed out on the floor at church 
Claire and I eating after church 
Ema! 
Shoma and I playing this game that he was very good at 
Kawai Family ❤ 
Pictures with Lily 
The Ruck girls 
Lauren with her normal bag 
Dinner with Moe and summer interns 
Watched Tenki no ko in theaters! 
My last lesson with the one and only KEIKO SENSEI!!!! 
MonAmi Cafe 
Mister Donut 
A GRAPE MOCHI. so good. I can’t believe I found it so late. 
Counseling Children with Play Seminar
Overview of Week 7:
During my time here, I have met about 6 short term teams who came to help out in Nagoya. The teams definitely keep missionaries busy, but also creates many opportunities to have different events that turn out to be a huge blessing. It has been super cool to get to know fellow believers that I will one day get to reunite with in heaven. The missionaries here do have so many different responsibilities, and I don’t know how they all do it! So much respect for those in ministry!
I was so grateful to meet Nae, and the opportunity to share the gospel. It was really a God given event, and I am glad I have more people I can pray for by name in Japan.
I am not ready to leave. Goodbyes are hard, and it seems very surreal that I’m leaving soon. When I say goodbye to someone, I say that I will definitely see them later. I will definitely be back in Nagoya.
Read more: WEEK 7
Week 6:
Ichibakku Gospel Church’s Pastor 
Working on my blog in the apartment 
Map of the park that I got lost in 
Somewhere in the park 
NC3 BBQ 
Tutoring Sarah and friends 
Splendor with Isaac 
The omiyage that is pilling in the CBI office 
Tutoring at the Ruck’s! Judy and Nora 
Nora! 
They feed me well 
Super local festival near Motoyama station 
Takoyaki 
Squid! 
Lights at the festival 
Interns + Megumi 
Summer interns 
Christian book store!!! 
Thai food with Lauren 
Lunch with Rina and Lauren at the apartment 
Reading princess books with princess Lily 
Paton learning super duper fast 
Heart & Soul: Board Game Night 
This is what they give you for pho! So tiny 
KCM Los Angeles Night 
Karaoke with KCM team
Overview of Week 6:
I was back to my original routine schedule this week, and it was great! I kept mentioning to the other interns how much fun I was having this week. I enjoyed all my tutoring sessions with each family and all the events that I did along this week. I’m super thankful for the KCM team and the different events we got to do together. The interns all agreed that they really were a refreshing group that gave us energy. I was glad to meet with people from home too!
I was really glad to have that time with Rina. Although I didn’t find a person to invest time into yet, I was glad I got to share my testimony and talk about the gospel with her. I’m really feeling like we are leaving soon, so it makes me incredibly saddened. Time is really flying!
Read more: WEEK 6
Week 5:
Kyoto Tower Hotel 
Captain Paton! 
Japanese Hamburger 
Yukata fun 
They did our hair too! 
Interns! 
Traditional Japanese Starbucks 
This is in the Starbucks! 
Dinner with a nice view 
THAI FOOD 
Found this on the walk back to the Ryokan 
Ryokan! They had a sign for the PCPC team 
Inside the room! 
Ofuro! 
SUPER fancy breakfast set up for the team 
SO GOOD for me! The team wasn’t very fond of super Japanese food 
Make your own tofu! 
Waiting for tables at Kura Sushi 
Golden Temple 
Selfie with the Temple 
Make a wish and try to make it into the bowl? That is my guess 
Older Trolley/Train 
I definitely bought this! It is actually pretty good with toast 
SOBA 
Stairs that light up 
Ry at mentoring at the Rayl’s 
Part of the KCM team from California 
Goodbye to the PCPC Team!
Overview of Week 5:
I feel like I am finally used to being in Japan now, and can see myself here for longer. The PCPC team being here had all the interns extremely busy, but now it feels like we have a lot of free time. I’m very thankful for rest and realize the importance of it as well.
Read more: WEEK 5
Week 4:
Lighthouse! 
Playing with Isaac 
Many copies of Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul Tripp 
Ry 
Made it to Hamamatsu with PCPC! 
Sweets from the a family from Kasai Church 
Friday Introductions 
Saturday BBQ Party 
Fancy breakfast at a fancy hotel 
My doppelganger, Saki! 
Kambe sensei’s awesome message with a children’s book 
BBQ outside 
Watermelon Split Game 
Freeze dance! 
Church service at Kasai Church 
Water Battle 
Saki’s little sister, Rin who was fascinated on how much I looked like her sister. 
We could probably all pass as sisters. 
The cutest kids. 
THE KAMBE SENSEI!!!
Overview of Week 4:
It was an absolute joy and honor to be able to serve with Kambe sensei at Kasai Christ Gospel Church with PCPC. The two events we helped out with were a blast, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. In the short time we had there, I felt like I was a part of their church family. I was grateful to be able to experience how God was working in Kasai, and I left super encouraged. Please continue to pray with me for the Kasai Christ Gospel Church and for the salvation for the students who come to these monthly events.
Read more: WEEK 4
Week 3:
Kishimen (one of Nagoya specialties) 
Lunch with Moe! 
Sending copies of Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hand (shout out to Erisa!) 
Attempting to teach the alphabet 
Family Dinner 
Baby English 
Dinner with the Kang’s 
Hand roll Sushi dinner with the Cain’s 
Dinner with the Cain’s and other interns 
Mentoring Night 
Meeting with Kambe Sensei 
Osu Shopping Street 
Curry in Japan is good 
Fun day with Jamie! 
Tebasaki (another one of Nagoya’s specialties)
Overview of Week 3:
I have been really loving hearing the testimonies of Japanese Christians. They are all SO encouraging and point to how amazing and sovereign God is. I have been still very exhausted despite it feeling like I’m not doing much. I learned that many missionaries feel this way in Japan because of many reasons, one reason being cultural stress. I learned that part of their calling is to accept that they may always be at a 50 or 75 percent of their energy for the time they are in Japan. This is why many missionaries who go to Japan burnout quickly and go back to the States. I am loving each event I am able to be a part of, but I feel so tired afterwards. I pray that I can focus on the positives and not complain about the exhaustion I feel at times.
Read more: WEEK 3
Week 2:
Mochi Taiyaki 
Lauren showing me how to take out the trash. 
Lauren and I working on our blogs at a fancy Starbucks. 
Sasashima Live 
Heart & Soul board game night 
Joshua Messick – Pro Hammered Dulcimer player 
Helping out sell CDs for the concert 
Curry + Naan 
How a Starbucks in Japan politely reminds people about how it is closing time soon.
Read about week 2 here: WEEK 2
Prayer Walk:
Please read about what I learned about Christianity in Japan during my prayer walk: PRAYER WALK
Week 1:
Arrival in Nagoya 
Waiting for Claire in the bathroom 
Osu Kannon Temple 
Ramen Karage set 
CBI building
Overview of Week 1:
I was super excited to come to Japan and ready to do anything, but with the long traveling time and the packed events in the beginning, I felt a little burnt out. I was discouraged by my exhaustion and thought that I couldn’t see myself doing missions in Japan long term.
After reflecting, I believe I really needed more time with the Lord. I was being sinful of trying to take things into my own hands instead of giving everything to the Lord. My disappointment grew from unmet expectations and I minimized my sin thinking that I deserved the rest after the long trip. I am looking back now and am thankful for everything I did during this short week. I often stopped and said, “Wow, I’m in Japan”, and was amazed that God brought me here. I’m still super excited of what is to come and hope to let go of expectations and trust that God will do what is best.
Read more day to day details here: WEEK 1
Japan with Hannah 