More sites

This past weekend, we ventured out with no real plan of where we were going. Since they typhoon, the weather has been amazing so we wanted to get out and see some sites. As we were deciding where to go, Jason suggested a place that he went on his "field trip" during his Japanese classes call Ryukyo Nura. It is a little "village" and they have authentic music playing and live shows and things like that. They also have lots of gifts to buy such as hand blown glass necklace charms and handmade leather sandals and things of that nature.




One of the favorite features is feeding the fish. They have a huge pond that is full of carp and coy fish that follow you around waiting for food to be thrown at them! For Y100 you can buy a box of food...Paige loved it!



They also had a creepy cave that housed a whole glass box full of Habu snakes. The Habu is a very poisonous snake here...and very lethal!


We also ate some Japanese ice cream that we loved and finished our little walk around the village.





After that, we decided to hit one more attraction that was up that way...Zanpa Beach! It was beautiful and had a lighthouse that we were able to go inside and on top! The stairs going up was quite the work-out for someone who is 5'4"...the stairs were tall and steep! But it was very worth it when we got to the top...even though I was scared to be up there with the hard winds! :)








On the way out of the parking lot of the lighthouse there is a small petting zoo. We have found that the Japanese like goats...they have them everywhere. I was expecting some exotic animals, but no...goats. Nevertheless, Paige loved them and loved feeding them.

Lions and Tigers and....TYPHOONS??

Well, as I sit down to update our blog, we are right smack dab in the middle of Typhoon Chaba! I have been in some crazy storms before in Arizona and mostly Nebraska, but none of those compare to this! The entire base was shut down and gates locked and we all have to stay inside until further notice! Thankfully, we still have power and water! This is the longest the TV has been on since we got here. We have cleaned, colored, napped and surfed...the internet (hehe) and still have the rest of the night to go! In some ways, it's a little scary, but mostly it's exciting!
Aside from this crazy weather, we are really getting into our own groove here. This past week, a friend from high school and her husband moved here. He is in the Air Force. It has been so fun catching up and we are planning on attending another new church together on Sunday! She has two kids, 1 is close to Paige's age and they have the best time together.
Jason had his first FTX (field training exercise) this week, which wound up being cancelled due to the typhoon! :) This was his first week of 'real' work since we've been here. Last we he was in his mandatory Japanese class (40 hrs) where he learned about the culture and even some of the language. He got to go on two field trips that we plan on visiting as a family when this weather clears.
I am getting more involved in our PWOC and loving it! I have met so many amazing women and some of them remind me of alot of my mom's friends back home. I love it! I have also taken on the role of FRG (family readiness group) Leader for Jason's battery. I am getting more and more comfortable here and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first shipment on Monday (Nov. 1)! I cannot wait to make this house a home!
Paige is, well, Paige. She is doing amazing and loving everyone she meets! She is learning how to write her letters and identify words, some of the harder letters and her numbers. I love watching her mind grow! We have been learning more and more scriptures (some thanks to the Cubbies cd we bought with her weekly verses on it) and she loves to hear stories of Jesus. She has even taken on praying and dinner and bedtime. It melts my heart (even though she thanks God for all the birthdays and all the outfits hehe)!
We love our new life here and thank God for all he has done for us here! Thank you for all of your prayers! Hopefully the next post we will have some more pictures to share! Till then...Konichiwa!!

One month

I cannot believe that we have been here a month already! Where did the time go? We are thoroughly enjoying it here and are getting accustomed to the lifestyle and culture here. It has been amazing to watch the Lord work in our lives and know that He brought us here...whatever His reason is. I started a new Bible study last week and am really looking forward to the next 5 weeks. God has blessed me with such an amazing friend that is also a believer and we have had some wonderful talks about our faith and our lives! This is a friendship that is truly from God and the mysterious ways He works! :) The presence of the Lord is more real in my life than it has ever been and I am growing closer and closer to Him each day!
Jason is still settling into work and how things are going to be. It's been a little unsettling for him the first month of getting paperwork done and running around every day! He is excited about his job and being the "old man" in his unit (which is mostly made up of 18-19 year olds). He feels that the Lord has placed him exactly where he needs to be! :) We are still in the process of finding a church. We have tried 3 and it's been cool too watch Jason grow spiritually when discovering for ourselves if the doctrine is sound at the churches we try. I pray that we will find one that fits soon!
Paige is loving it here as well! She is attending Cubbies on base and absolutely loves it! She asks all week if it's time to go yet! We have been working on identifying letters and numbers and that keeps all of us busy. She has also entered the stage of temper tantrums...BIG time! That's fun. The Okinawans love her and her curly hair. Everywhere we go they talk to her and wave and her and touch her hair! It's so funny and she just feeds on it and poses for them and giggles.
We are still awaiting the arrival of our belongings Nov. 1 and the 15! It will be like Christmas for us! But in the meantime, we are getting by with what we have and trying new foods and places! Gotta love the island life! :)

Here's what we've been up to...

YAY! We have finally have internet! Now I can keep on top of this!
We took a little drive to the Okinawa City Zoo. It's small and we laughed when we saw domestic horses and cats on display! It was fun...and cheap! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The people there loved Paige (because she was the only American kid there) so they took pictures of her feeding the goat!

 

We got a new dog! His name is Zinga...he's a miniature dachshund! Paige absolutely loves him and has taken him on as one of her "chores". She wakes up before us and lets him outside to go potty and brings him back in to eat breakfast!

 

This is a restaraunt where we ate. The food wasn't very good, but it was fun!