These are pictures from this weekend activities! It was so much fun, I went to a castle and parts of the castle are 400 years old! That is like double the age of the United States! On Saturday my friend Junquo,Naomi and myself went to a town called Aizu about an hour and half south of Yonezawa. It was a beautiful drive! We first stopped by the Aizu chapel where we met up with some partners and friends of Keisen Christ Church. It was a great time of fellowship and they wanted me to come speak on Sunday but I had to decline because this was my last Sunday at Keisen Christ Church in Yonezawa. I got a call from a friend I met in Tokyo and she was nearby but it didnt work out to meet up. I realized after the call that in my time here I have made so many friends all over Japan. That is a pretty cool thing. I have a really funny story about yesterdays events but I want to tell it in person so I will tell you all about it when I get back in a week! The castle was so cool and the Lord of the castle and of the town was actually a CHRISTIAN! That is so phenomenal because  in those times Japan was very traditional and from what I understand he would have had some serious opposition in those days. The history in Japan is so rich and it was so fun to share it with my Japanese friends. I am going to miss them so much. Yesterday I was given a very special gift. My friend Junquo (top left) gave me Yukata (Summer Kimono) and she is going to help me put it on at my farewell party! That really touched my heart. Junquo and Naomi are probably my closest friends here in Japan and I am going to miss them dearly.
    On a different note today at church, I gave my farewell testimony and thank you to the church. It was so bittersweet. I am excited to get back to the states cause I miss you all and want to see you but at the same time I am leaving some of the best people I have ever met behind. These people are so special to me and hurts to leave them and not knowing if I will see them again but I pray that I will. Please pray for me as I began goodbyes because it is truly bittersweet and also begin praying for safe travel back to the states. That is a long day for me! It will be 14 hour flight, 3 hour layover in Atlanta, 1 hour flight to Charlotte! I really dont mind flying but who likes being on a plane for 14 hours! I am excited to see you all and share my stories! Love you all and see you soon!
Check out my other photos of the Castle!!!

Here are the long awaited pictures of me in Kimonos....Many people told me before I came to Japan you have to get pictures of yourself in a Kimino! These are Yukatas (the summer Kimono). A real Kimono is made of pure silk and can be very expensive. A lady in my church here, Takizawa took me to a Kimono party. She spent the entire time dressing me in different Kiminos and wraping the belt in many different ways. It was so much fun! One of the coolest experiences I have ever had in my life. It is such an art to wrap the belt. You would not believe the amount of layers that go into a Kimono and It was so hard to breath...they make sure your waist is as small as it will go. The people here are so nice and kind. I am consistently surprised at their kindness. They are always showing me their culture and always accepting of me. Mrs. Takizawa doesnt speak any English but she spent the whole night serving me. I think there are many things to be learned from the Japanese. They kept telling me I look very Japanese which I find quite humorous because both my roommates told me that many a times before I came here and now even the Japanese themselves think so...
    I also was able to speak with a Jet teacher who talk to me a good bit about the Christian church even though she is not a Christian. I was able to share with her my purpose in being here it was a great opportunity. She is actually a model and wanted me to go with her to a Fashion Show but it is Sunday morning so I will need to be at church. I also saw a foreigner tonight! The first foreigner I have spoken with in 6 weeks. However, he is from Nigeria but has lived in Japan for 3 years and so he mostly spoke Japanese but he also speaks English and French. It was cool to be surrounded with so much culture in one night. This place still surprises me and I love experiencing their culture here.
    I am so blessed and I can say that I have not had any serious struggles here at all. One thing that sometimes bothers me is that the people on the street especially old people tend to stare. It is so obvious and sometimes it gets on my nerves because I am use to my privacy in America but here everyone knows everybody's business. Some people look at me like they have never seen an American in their whole and for some it may actually be true. However, today I was walking down the street and the tiniest little lady bowed to me and said Konnichiwa with a big small. My heart was warmed so much by that, the people here are all so polite and nice but they do tend to be shy. I cannot believe I am down to about 3 weeks...It seems like I got here yesterday in some ways.
    As my classes are ending I am taking pictures of all my classes so I will try to post them soon! I hope all is well back at home...Blessings and I love you all.

Ha Ha, above is to show you what I  do in my spare time! The food in Japan is so different than American Japanese food. I have yet to see anything that resembles our Japanese steakhouse style food here. The food here is extremely healthy! I have lost a good bit of weight being here and I am not even trying. I made a promise before coming here and that was that I would eat what they ate and would learn to do what they do. I have and it has really been a blessing. I love the food! One day we went and got Soba (wheat noodles and sauce) after the main course they brought out this "rice cake" (it looks nothing like rice by the way) it is like a ball of gray dough paste. You are suppose to pick it up and dip it in this sesame paste which is like black liquid tar! I was scared but I remembered my promise so I just did it and well it was great! One of the best things I have eaten here yet! It pays off to step it up and just be willing to try new things. So lesson to my readers dont be stubborn just TRY IT! You may be really surprised. I have not had much going on these last few days. Monday is my day off! So there is not much to write about but I did want to talk about the food. Did you know Japanese people have the longest life span of any people group in the world. I am pretty darn sure it is the food! For breakfast they always have salad and for dessert they will eat sweet beans which are really good by the way.
Down to 4 weeks left...I love it here I do...however, I am missing my family and friends. I cant wait to come get me a cup of coffee at Village Coffee and hang out with my people. Love you guys...Until then God has me here...I can't wait to see what He has for me in these final weeks. Please pray that I finish well! By the way my English classes are going super well! Love you all...

In God's Grace,
Nikki