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Our Japanese friends, Mama Carter, Dee, and @jennhelvering at Maurice's Starbucks! (Taken with Instagram at Starbucks)

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Final blog post...

September 6, 2012 Wow, what a trip. We have all made it back safe and soundly to Nashville! God blessed the team with very few hiccups. It has been an awesome 10 days and we are so glad that we have been able to connect with our Japanese friends. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support that you gave this team. We definitely felt the prayers of our friends and family in the states. :) Blessings, Amanda Phillips

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Our new friends sent us home with hugs, tears and bittersweet waves! They waved at the bus until we couldn't see them anymore. ---Vanessa

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Christopher and Pastor Daniel presented Pastor Izaya & Pastor Yasu with a special gift from Christ Church this morning before we left. ---Vanessa

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These sweet ladies served us during the tea ceremony this morning. --- Vanessa

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Boarding the plane from Osaka to San Francisco. It’s been an incredible trip!

---Christopher

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Japanese presents....priceless!! #ccjapan2012 #lastdayinjapan (Taken with Instagram)

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Last concert for the choir tour...Osaka, Japan! #ccjapan2012 (Taken with Instagram)

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September 5 through the lens of Jenn

As the hum of laughter and conversation (and sleep) fills the bus tonight on our way back to Kyoto from Osaka, my mind begins to dance through the moments of this full and rich day. The unique tune of the famous "Nightingale Floor" of Nijo Castle continues to play its delicate music - this morning, sweet Sister Koto took a few of us in her cute little lavender cube of a car to see the historic home of the Shogun (emperor) in the 17th century where the absolutely brilliant architects built an internal security system into the floors - somehow when one walks on the premises, even with Sister Koto's petite frame and soft step, the floor boards make a sound akin to a Nightengale's song which then resonates throughout the halls alerting all present that someone is near - incredible!! The other element I cannot help but mention about Nijo Castle is the breathtaking intentionality of the architecture - every line correlates with another and creates such a warm and peaceful environment - I spent most of the tour with wide eyes and open mouth in awe of the art and intentionality. Perhaps diverging slightly, a recap of the day must include the experience of eating soba noodles at Steve Jobs' favorite restaurant in Kyoto - respect to where respect is due since I am currently recollecting this day on my iPhone ;) And the noodles were delicious! Another moment of the day, and really the trip, that I have deeply loved is the ebb and flow of dialogue which occurs during the travel between destinations or during any stolen downtime at a venue - it is this unguarded conversation that one really gets to glean the true colors of a group when they are not "on" - and I must say, I am honored to serve with this team who is the real deal - we laugh until our bellies ache but we are also unafraid to go deep and come to each other unmasked - what a gift. And somehow this trip has whirled by as we now find ourselves rounding up our final full day. The concert tonight was powerful and the words of Pastor Yasunori sum it up best as he turned to me and said, "Jenn, when everyone sang 'Holy Ground' in Japanese, you were one." Truly that is what occurred tonight as the concert turned to a worship service and we all united without distinctions of American or Japanese and joined our voices claiming this Holy Ground. Church, family, and friends - thank you for journeying with us - thank you for the deposits you have made in us that have now been sown into Japan over these last few days. It has been overwhelming to experience the endless authentic, deep, unsought gratitude our Japanese brothers and sisters express. And it seems quite clear that this is only the beginning of the story beautifully narrating a partnership between Christ Church and Japan - so we all continue to wait with eager expectancy for all that lies ahead. Blessings, Jenn

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Steve Jobs' noodle shop for lunch! This was the room he ate in when he was in Kyoto! #ccjapan2012 (Taken with Instagram)

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September 4 (#2) by Derek Sands

Tonight was an exceptional evening with the church body of Kyoto Central Chapel.  Again, I am a little lost for words.  The body at KCC rolled out a beautiful spread of food of "make your own sushi", fruit, sandwhiches, spare ribs, salads, etc.  It was wonderful.

We each had an assigned seat with an envelope with scripture cards in it, and an origami bird sitting there.  Every detail is attended to.

Our evening began with some traditional Japanese entertainment.  Two lovely ladies were the entertainment playing music.  The first instrument was the Shamisen, basically, a three string guitar.  That is a little crude of a description, you get the point.  I will post a couple of pictures soon.  The next instrument was the Bamboo Flute.  This instrument is extremely difficult to play.  Pastor Izaya took me into the hallway for me to try to play it.  It took some time, but I was able to make some sounds.  The third instrument was the koto, a thirteen stringed instrument.  You will have to ask Christopher how difficult that was to play.  He had the opportunity to give it a whirl.  These two ladies Wowed us with their amazing talents and music.

Fantastic entertainment and food wasn't enough, we were lavished with gifts as well.  I was entirely humbled by the love and graciousness shown by this new family of mine.  I love these people!  I am so excited that we are all in the same family, one family of God!

I'm not quite sure how to describe the connection to my Japanese brothers and sisters except to say that there is no language barrier to large for the Spirit of the Living God to make seem small.  We are co-laborers in the harvest field with the church in Kyoto Japan!  This is a great call and honor. 

Thank you to the leadership of Christ Church for accepting the call and supporting the Church here in Kyoto!

Derek

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Retreat center #ccjapan2012 (Taken with Instagram)

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Retreat center #ccjapan2012 (Taken with Instagram)

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Retreat center #ccjapan2012 (Taken with Instagram)

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Sabastian escaped the kitchen into the lobby #ccjapan2012 (Taken with Instagram)

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Four new children of God! #ccjapan2012 (Taken with Instagram)

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These are the four students that decided to follow Christ last night. #ccjapan2012 (Taken with Instagram)