New Address!!

Sorry guys!!! I got locked out of this blog a while back and hand to change the address....it's now www.shannyray.blogspot.com... thanks for checking!!!

Okinawa Christian School Camp Counselor...

Towards the end of September all of the college students split in to two groups and went to the OSCI camp to assist as counslers. 1/2 went with elementary students and my 1/2 went with 80 some odd middle schoolers.

Here are a few picts of the camp...

Here is a picture of a traditional Japanese Hot Bath...I didn't actually go in because being naked in front of people just really isn't my style...just can't really adapt that much to the Japanese culture...but it looked really nice all bubbly and hot. My roomies and I wanted to go in...in our suits but just never got a real chance. Maybe sometime.
Here is the view for the bathroom window up in Nago...the pineapple capital of Okianwa...we had the famous pineapple with dinner and it was pretty amazing.
Yeah this is me...woo...my Mom was wanting pictures of me on my blog but it is hard to take decent pictures of yourself...and it is kinda akward asking others to take pictures of me....so, this is what ya get. LOL
Oh yes..these are the ridiculous shoes that we all had to wear. I think they were all size 5...they were so small as you can see that my heal touched the ground. In Japanese culture it is customary to take off your shoes before entering a house, and then there are often different slippers through out the house for "comfort" and "cleanliness" I am guessing. There are some for outside, some for inside and some for the restroom. However...my American feet seem to be about 5 sizes too big for every pair.
I was blessed to have a room with 3: quiet, well behaved, quick to bed, and late to rise young 6th graders along with a bed.

Camp overall was a good experience...we spent lots of time indoors doing skits, crafts, at the gym and then outside playing with water ballons, going on nature hikes and spending some time at the beach. The coolest time though was most definately the last night when Aaron one of the students here at the college was able to share a gospel message at a campfire and afterwards the Lord blessed us with the opportunity to pray with a few kids to recieve the Lord as their personal Savior and also just to clear up some questions and encourage those who were already saved. I pray that Jesus shined through us and that kids will continue to seek the Lord.

Recent Picts...

Hear no EVIL...See no EVIL...Speak no EVIL!!!

Last week we went to a famous carnival and a few of us dressed up in Kimono's...they were fun but I am glad that it was a one time experience.
Last night we

TOO CUTE!!!

...Introducing the Velarde Children...My new temporary housemates...

Micah...Hannah...& Silas

I taught them Chubba Bubba in the car and they thought it was so funny that they imitated it the whole way home...there lots of fun to have around...and Sandra is such a blessing!

Please pray for Silas he just turned 1... and on the 18th and 23rd he is going in to have some tests done to check the status of his growth...just pray for the Lords will and the comfort for Damien and Sandra. Thanks your prayers are much appreciated by us all!!!

A picture of Sandra is coming...but I thought she might not appreciate the pictures that I have...so I have to wait till I get a good one.

The Infamous Flour Game

This picture pretty much describes it all...I don't really need to say anything else.

BUT...

I can't have her killing me so I guess I will jump in on the action!

We had what you might classify as a little to much fun...hope you enjoy!

Koekeusie Dori...or something like that!!

I thought this frog purse was so cute...

Oh..you have got to be joking that is so disgusting!
Here is something a little more plesant...it is right across the street from where we played in front of Lawson's...(Haley should be posting some more from last night if you wanta check em out)
Haley and Ni-Ki...what are you doing?

Back in Buisness...

Sorry...I know all you die hard fans...well my parents...have been dying to see some new pictures...and I have been slacking. I don't really have any excuses so I won't try to explain myself but will try my hardest to not let 2 weeks go by again. Hope you in enjoy...I have lots to share so hopefully over the next few days as time permits I will catch you all up to speed.Dosen't she look like she's meant to be driving that thing...
Michelle, Hannah and I went on Foster base Saturday to Foster Fest in order to pass our Franklin Graham tracks and on our way out we stopped and took a litte tour of the army trucks...

That hat is heavy and it stank so bad...lol!!

Chew on that for a while and I'll be back with some more...Shannon

I........... I AM FORGIVIN, I AM FORGIVIN!!! SU........BETE YURUSHITA!!

So I'm a little imbarresed by this picture...but I guess it shows my true colors!!! LOL...I really do think I enjoyed my 30 seconds (litteraly) of musical fame just a little to much. Thanks Tim...your cd is going to be a hit!!!

ShIsHiMi!!! Mmmm

So this was the Sushi line...we were taught how and then let loose...it was lots of fun!!!

The rice plate in front is a traditional Oki dish...it's like mushy rice with seweed...and then in the big pots was a traditional soup that is served on special occassions...it has pork or chicken, seweed (of course), some kind of large potatoe looking veggie and some spices. I tried the soup and could do with out it but didn't venture so far to try the Rice dish.
Look at all this food...and them imagine 3 more tables filled! And more in the frig...we were truly blessed! Thank you Sachiko!!!
So I was quite adventerous this Monday...in one night I tried for the first time...raw Squid (had the oddest texture but yet wasn't bad; my favorite of the three I think), Octopus (it's really really really chewy) and Salmon (tastes pretty normal)...along with some other Okinawan Fav's.
This is Sachiko...the wonderful Okianwan Angel that blessed us with a night of good food, fellowship and a glance at her work as a missionary in Nepal. It was really encourgaging to hear her heart and she how the Lord is working in her life and through the ministry that she has started.

My Fantastic Roomies!!!

So...This is the Gang! NIKI (she really is always hungry)...MISTY (one tough momma)...ME (head and shoulders above everyone...so typical)...MICHELLE (my other half)...HALEY (o-na-ra...we'll leave it at that)...& DUDUJI (my running partner)!!!
And here is us in real life!!! I love these GIRLS!!!

...RaNdOm..

Here a few pictures from this last week...this is me and Michelle my little buddy MICAH...isn't he adorable...he makes me miss Noah lots...
Oh...How I love the "BUCKS" I can't get enough of it even in Japan...I think I am addicted...ut oh!!
Here are a few pictures of that amazing park I have been raving about...it is truly one of the prettiest parks I have ever been too... and it is amazingly close and free to the public, and well taken care of.

Hope to get some more picts up soon...but I have been a little under the weather this weekend so I haven't been doing much!

Remember....

Iesu san wa anata o iishimasu!!! Jesus Loves You!!!

Shan~

Waiting for the Redemption of our LORD!!!

Psalms 130

1Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD;
2Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
5I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
6My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7O Israel, hope in the LORD;
For with the LORD there is mercy,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8And He shall redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

This chapter really spoke to me this morning, the whole chapter but I will just share one verse...I was running in a park down the street from our house along the ocean and I was totally blessed by one of the most gorgeous sunrises ever...not that I could do God's art justice...but it was like a orange and red flaming fire ball coming up over majestic purple and blue mountains.... (yeah I'll stop there, I told you it would sound corny...just imagine something breath taking.) But back to the main point...I was so in awe of the sunset that I told myself that I was going to get up early every morning so that I could see the sunrise...but see what I realized, once I got back and read this chapter, was that I was enjoying His creation more that God the creator; of course I was thanking Him but... not the way I should have been. I was wanting to get up every morning to SEE SOMETHING...not to SEEK HIM! And that's what he showed me in this chapter in verse 6...that I need to be longing for the Lord more than morning, that I should be waking up aching and longing for our Bridegroom. We can never get enough of His goodness...He seeks to bless us and prosper us...the Lord is so good! Thanks for reading hope you are encouraged! Have a blessed day!

~Shannon~