Monday I had my first Japanese class. My heart sank when the first thing that my teacher said was, "I'm sorry, I don't know English very well." I will meet her at the language school in Kofu--about 20 minutes from our hotel in Isawa--every Monday for one and a half hour. She seems very nice, but it is difficult sometimes to understand eachother. We'll have to see how it goes! My brain was very tired by the end of the lesson and I felt very overwhelmed! (What were those people at the tower of Babel thinking anyway!) I have to remember that one Malaysian lady at church didn't have the luxury of a formal lesson, but just learned from TV, magazines, and a dictionary! I should appreciate my lessons! I am excited to learn, but am terribly impatient with myself and find it quite humbling to feel so inept at something. I guess God knows that my too-often-proud heart needs some humbling! Bro. Willis is always saying that Japan is a great leveler! Afterward I found myself somewhat arguing with Akihiro over the Japanese alphabet. It went something like this: Carrie: Why do "shi" and "tsu" have to look so much alike? That is so dumb! I'd like to call the prime minister and give him a piece of my mind! I've been told three different ways to tell them apart and I still struggle! Akihiro: Now honey, think about English. Is it so bad that the lowercase L and the uppercase I are the same? What is the difference? You just learn it and apply it to the context. Relax, take your time--you'll get it! Carrie (humbled for getting wound up): Yeah, you are right.
He has been very supportive with my impatience and unrealistic expectations! (It is a good thing I love him so much! I wouldn't learn Japanese for just any old person!) Anyway, once I calmed down and got things in perspective I was ok. I was very comforted to look up in the evening sky that night and see the big bright full moon--so often a reminder to me that God is in control and He can give me courage, strength, and grace to go on when I feel so weak.
Mom is praying for the "gift of tongue" (skillful language learning skills) for me, but any prayers you would care to add on that account would be much appreciated! (Sorry--seems like I am always asking for prayers. I guess that's another class in this "humbling school" of life)