わじあじあ-Wajiajia- The Diamond in the rock!

 The Owners and Artisans

Wajiajia is a wonderful nook in Kofu. My first year in Japan I was honored to go with Nagisa to visit her friends who have this very unique shop. I took many pictures of the Chai Tea and cookie they offered me and loved the eclectic feel of the store. Nagisa took Matthew and I to Wajiajia again for our trip and I fell in love again. The Owners/Artisans are very unique. They travel all over the world picking up little trinkets, jewelry, pots, pans, bags, clothes, and many other things which are organic and very earthy. They then resell these things in Japan along side their own creations. They have many drinks but the many authentic Chai Teas they have are my favorite. The lady above then bakes these complementary buiscuts/cookies which go along with the Chai so perfectly. Nagisa told Matthew that he would think this shop is "a Molly and Nagisa Shop" and boy is she right. I love this shop and love to spread the word about it wherever I go. I bought a pair of earrings again this time that were created by the Owners which were made of ocean glass from a Japanese beach and gold metal pieces which had a very unique detail to the finish. I also bought this little house made of recycled materials which reminds me of a little farm house back here in the Midwest! What a wonderful shop I can't rave about them enough. I hope they travel to America someday and we can meet up and find cute shops here in America together! 

 The chai tea and cookie- even the serving plates are wonderful! LOVE IT!

The outside of the shop- hard to find if you do not know what you are looking for- The mystery and seclusion makes it one of my favorite places!

~MOlly

The Second Part of the Journey!

So the journey in Japan continues..... We travel from Tokyo to Isawa Onsen (in land straight-ish west from Tokyo). Here is where our dear friends THE CHEN's live. 

History-

Ok it is my first waking day in Japan and I am already overwhelmed by a lot of things but this I still do pray "Lord lead me to a church and friends to help me as I venture into this first year of teaching." And he does through a few mutual friends a Women of God named Annie McInnis (at the time). She started as a fire starter in Japan gathering friends to have bible studies and turned into a wonderful sleep over friend who paints her ring finger too and loves to run and struggles with me and encourages me... OK so that is who I am visiting.. A sister and brother in Christ... Their relationship I saw at the beginning and now get to see the fruit of God's hands! 

 This is the wonderful church I went to while teaching in Japan. Annie and Adeng are singing for music night. I SO loved to visit my Japanese home church to see old friends and see growth. This was all from pictures for Matthew before the trip so people became more than pictures here. Better to remember and pray for. We were able to go to church as well as a English Bible Study one night It was fantastic.

 This is the Chen's home! What a nice view and wonderful home.

 Annie said lets walk up the mountain- I said yeah sure... WOW it was straight up in the air but we made it! 

 Every meal we at with them was SOOO delicious and made with love. They are both wonderful cooks so we enjoyed it all. Especially the Japanese breakfast below!

 Below is an after Bible Study sushi eating. It was Fantastic!

After during this wonderful trip we  went to visit my Family close by in Kofu.

History- 

The Muramatsu's took me in the first 2 weeks to stay at their house and then send me off to my new place. What a wonderful Family- God orchestrated that one too! We went on family trips, when to their home in the mountains, and spent many hours studying Japanese together. SO here is the time I got to celebrate new babies, laugh and hug family and have them meet Matthew. 

 Some of the family- Left to Right- Akane (sister) her daughter Yuni, Nagisa (sister) Jyo Jyo (joe joe) the cutest son, Natsuko (sensei and mom)

 Yoshi (dad) is on the left and in front of her is Miyu- the daughter I knew from the last time we were there. I gave them some books and a sock monkey.

 Nagisa and I are very close sisters and she shared many great places with me. Washiyashia- I need to look up the spelling- was a WONDERFUL diamond in Kofu. I will write more about it later.

 Isn't Jyo Jyo soooo cute! We had so much fun!

After visiting family for a few days we went out for lunch with our dear friends Takao and Roberta.

History-

Takao and Roberta took care of us as well. Roberta being a missionary in Japan married her first English student Takao- and wonderful story best told by them! Takao's amazing stories and history always gives me a better understanding of Japan and deeper appreciation for everything that has happened between the US and Japan in history. Roberta is a mother to us who always kept us well taken care of encouraged and loved. She was always giving us knowledge we could use and we enjoyed every min of talking with both of them.

After this we were dropped back off for a few days with Annie and Adeng and then we will start Stage 3.

This is so short and I can't begin to tell you how much God was preparing our way and how much we grew in him by visiting Japan.

P.S. Your time is now, your choice what to do with it. Choose Life.

~MOlly

二本 Japan Adventure overview....

Our train ride to Tokyo from Narita

Japan, Nippon, the land of the rising sun! What? Why Japan I get asked many times. ------
History-5 Years ago in 2009 I spend a year teaching in Japan- as my older posts record. It was due to my desire to see the world and follow God. I was accepted into a wonderful Japanese Family- who to many I still call my family (where then I get the look like- you are not japanese how do you have family there?) Well I do they adopted me 5 years ago and I plan on visiting them as much as I can!  I also met my first missionary of my generation- Annie McInnis (Chen) and a wonderful church who we pray for fervently. Anyhwo....Matthew, my husband, is a Marine who was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan early in his military career and has always wanted to visit the base again.
-2 years ago when we got married we told eachother- WE want to see Japan from eachothers eyes to see what we always talked about the family, base, and sights that we were able to see but just not together. Thus we saved and saved and last summer said we are going to Japan 2013! And we did! It seems like a whirl wind but here is a few blogs about our story! 
Japan Adventure.
So our Japan Journey begins June 5, 2013. We left Sioux Falls to Denver then to LA then the 12 hour plane ride to Japan.  When got to Tokyo we were going to stay there for a few days just to rest up and get our minds set for the re-adventure. Right away we found out that we do not "fit in". Now some of us more than others. Our first "hotel" was very small but not just the space the door way was around 6 ft and Matthew is 6' 5". We laughed many times.... (this was the whole trip- we laughed often and joked around and had a blast.)

We also went to the Sky deck at Ropongi Hills off the Ropongi Station. It had a great view. Matthew enjoyed seeing the window washing mechanics as well which was a highlight for him. 

 Our first few days we visited many Tokyo sites. We saw the huge lantern at the Sensoji Temple off the Metro Station Asakusa. (Tokyo is based off of the Train station.- or that is how I travel!- There was one map that allowed us to go anywhere in Tokyo which makes Tokyo a very easy city to travel).

 We also were able to eat at some of the best places in Tokyo and eat the food of the area. We ate Tempura (japanese breading) close to the Sensoji Temple and we sat on the floor. Now that is not something we always did -sitting on the floor- but it was a fun experience. Also the look the man behind us gave when Matthew stood up I thought he was going to drop his food from his mouth.

 We then went to Shinjuku station and ate sushi at UOBEI a computer based sushi resturant with sushi that came out on Shinkonsens (fast trains). I had never been here before and had a great experience. Tokyo is a place I knew well due to living 3 hours from here in Kofu. So I was able to show Matthew my favorite spots.

So this is the first few days. We walked a ton so no extra workouts were needed. We ate and enjoyed the first few days... Next on to Isawa Onsen and Kofu which means going home....

Till next time..

(this will be a new thing- a thought for the day something I have stumbled upon for the time). 

In order to receive the gifts God has for you, you have to step out and seek him. He is waiting...

 ~MOlly

タだいま- Tadaima! We are home!

Well  after being getting married, .....

moving to Sioux Falls to follow Matthew's dream of being a firefighter, .....

buying a house, ......

improving the house, ....

and celebrating our year 2 anniversary with a trip to Japan, ......

WE are back "from the Top". Just a little side note- Vanden Top is dutch for Van-from, den-the, Top- you get the picture. I hope to reignite this fire of responding to life events with a little bit of humor and keeping track of this new journey Matthew and I are on together. 

P.S. His mercy endure forever! 

~MOlly

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