SYME Week 1

Week 1 of SYME came to a close last night with all the students and staff gathered in the common area of the building to watch the movie "Hachi: A Dog's Tale." The movie was new to most of the students and staff. There is a special connection between the storyline of the movie and Japanese people. The real-life Hachi was a dog owned by a university professor in Japan with the last name of Ueno. Professor Ueno would take the train to and from work each day. Hachi would faithfully wait at the station for his master's return. He continued waiting there faithfully long after the professor died. A statue of the real-life "Hachiko" stands in the courtyard outside the Shibuya train station in Tokyo (see photo). The movie brings tears to the eyes of anyone who watches it, including men. If you're Japanese, the tears flow very freely.

Hachi and Me in June of 2011

Earlier in the week, we began classes with a total of 10 students, three of them were new and the rest returning from previous semesters. We ended the week with 9 students. One of the new ones decided not to stay due to some personal matters he struggles with. In addition to the 9 students, there are also a total of 7 others who are either student-teachers, interns, or part of a program called IDP (International Discipleship Program). Part of my role involves discipling and facilitating the ministry of these 7. In addition to the classes for the regular SYME students, we have a few "advanced" classes for the 7 on topics such as: the use of social media to evangelize, creating and implementing a vision for ministry, and evangelizing using a Christian worldview message.

Dale is serving in several ways very consistent with her gifts for ministry. She is leading a "family group", a group of SYME students and staff that comes together each morning to discuss the daily quiet time Bible reading. Dale is also team-teaching a pronunciation class. In addition to all of this, she is just being Dale and motherly to everyone.

Elliott began his freshman year high school classes this week through the Indiana Online Academy. He pretty much kept to a schedule each day similar to what he would have back home. In addition, Elliott is serving on a Bible club team (teams of students prepare a Bible club lesson each week for presentation on Thursday nights). There are two SYME students who happen to be similar in age to Elliott and he is making good friends with them.

A typical day for Dale and me begins officially at 9 a.m. with family time. From 9:35 to 11:45 am, students are in their English class and Bible class (even the Bible classes are taught with learning English as a second language in mind). At 11:45 until 12:30 pm, we have chapel. Chapel is scripted according to various weekly themes of Christian discipleship. Then we have lunch at 12:30. Afternoon classes begin at 1:30, continuing on until 4:30 p.m. The evening meal begins at 5:30 pm. From 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., the students study on their own. At 8:30 p.m., they are free to speak in their own language. Until that time, they are only allowed to speak in English.

Each day is obviously busy, though not overwhelming. We Gilmores typically get to
 bed at night around 10 p.m. Since we arrived in Japan, I've been waking up around 5 a.m. each morning, having devotions, drinking coffee, etc. Dale and I go for a walk together around 7 a.m. Then we eat breakfast and finish getting ready for the day.

So there you have it! Our daily routine for the first full week of SYME!

Thanks for praying for us. We leave SYME today for Tama (in Tokyo) where we will be attending Megumi Baptist church tomorrow morning. I will be speaking in their morning worship service for Pastor Yuasa. Pastor Yuasa is driving to SYME today to pick us up. We plan to return on Monday.

Dale and I were talking this morning about how much we miss everyone! We constantly are talking about HHBC and praying for everyone. We love you and thank the Lord for your faithfulness! Please remember us and pray for us.