PS.

I don't read over my blogs.
So if something is misspelt or my grammar is off the reason why is

1. I suck at spelling and grammar
2. I type fast
3. I don't spell check my blog
4. I don't have time to read over it
5. I don't care to read over it even if I had time. :D (I'm Lazy)

Thank You!!!

This week!!!

So this past week has been ...alright. I definitely had some ups and downs.

Tuesday, went to Waseda and had a pretty must non spiritual convocation the who day, until the end of the our day there. I went to the school's garden, with one of the Staff at Waseda, looking for some girls to talk to. Kimi stopped me before we went in and ask if we could pray. That actually was the first time I prayed here in Japan right before talking to someone. In the the garden, there were three girl students sitting in the grass. Two were together and one by herself. I wanted to talk to the girl sitting by herself, but I think Kimi thought I was talking about the two girls. So she started to walk over to them and I just followed along. We started talking about the basic stuff like "What's your name?" "What's your major?" Blahblahblah...
Then I had a few question that I took from the Student Impact Meeting that Friday. Started asking those question like: "What so you think is sad about the world and you campus?" "What do you do when you see people in need?" and then "Have you lead anyone in any thing that you believe in?" That question started everything. One of the girls said, "I believe there is a God that lives in our heart." Which of course lead to the KGP. I read it though and gave them a Japanese one and talked about God to them and chatted it up. At the end, they really thought it was interesting and one girl wanted my email address but they both didn't really want to become a Christian or anything like that. But hopefully I planted something in their hearts. UPS!!!


Wednesday, I went to Dokkyo. Which was the same old same old. I was to meet with this girl, lets call here Molly, Molly but one of my team mates Michelle talked with her and actually that day she prayed to reserve Jesus into her life. Which was so amazing. So that was a big up. But later that day I felt like giving up on all this mission trip stuff. I felt like I was being poured into as much as I was pouring out. So that was a super down-er. DOWN!!!


Thursday, went back to Waseda, but this day was by far the worse day on campus ever. Amy and I tried Soularium, which are 50 4x6 original photographic images and 5 simple exploring questions that allow the user to engage in one-on-one spiritual conversations with non-believers. Questions explore students' desires for their life and spiritual journey and provide many bridges to dialogue about Jesus, on this group of girls but the head girl basically spoked for the whole table so we couldn't really get a response out of the others.The head girl said that she doesn't need God now she just need to study and pass her classes. We didn't really get spiritual with them but we offered many many times. After that I had many dead conversations. Then I got into a argument with one of my team mates on different ways to share...NOT GOOD!! Later me and Ben talked to a group of guys, which then I realized how easy it is to talk to guys, but we didn't go deep at all we just talked and made an appointment to meet them again. All together...I would say that I felt like a DOWN at Waseda. Later that night me and Michelle met up with "Molly" and had dinner with her. During dinner, me and Michelle talked to Molly about what you should do after you accepted Christ into you life. I could tell it was a lot of information but I think it was all good. Super UP!!! Later that night, which laying on my futon, I just wanted to go home. Everything is too hard and I felt like I was being walked on by my own team. And how dark and lost Japan was...all together it was just making me ready to just give up and go back home. DOWN!!!!


Friday. At the Friday morning meeting, Josh, our staff for our Project, talked about how he felt like this is the moment where people start mistreating everyone and how stuff like that is the number one reason why team split up. And I thought that I don't want to be the reason why our team splits up and I don't want to be the reason why people are mistreating each other or whatever. And mean things I have against someone I should just let it go. So...I did...kinda!!! UP!!! Friday was good, all the way up till the Friday Night Student Impact Meeting. Molly and one of the staff members like planned out what I was to do with Molly the next day. I really didn't want to go to the Tokyo Tower but they like planned it in Japanese and then told me about it after. I was so stressed out. But I should have just let them plan it with out me or whatever. DOWN!!!

Saturday. Tyler and I went to the Imperials Palace. I was alright. My meeting with Molly was canceled. So after that we meet up with the most of the team and went to Odeba and went to a mall and stuff. IDK I was there for that long. After that...NINJA RESTAURANT!! Yeah, we went to a Ninja restaurant!!! It was really cool. I likey alot. I have a frog chesse cake and I didn't want to eat him becuz he was so cute...but Steve made me eat him and I was very sad. :( UP!!!!

Sunday....Yeah!!!

Long over due!!!

Sorry Sorry...that I haven't updated my blog. My computer doesn't work so I am am using my apartment-mate Megan's laptop.

Let me back up a few...
My team:
Megan
Amy
Tyler
Katie
Natsumi
Ben
Chris
Steve
Michelle
Richard

We are split up into smaller groups so we can hit more campuses. My group is:
Amy
Natsumi
Ben
Steve
Michelle
We go to Wasada on Tuesday and Thursday and Dokkyo on Wednesday and Friday. Monday and Saturday is our free day.

The other group:
Richard
Tyler
Chris
Katie
Megan goes to Tokyo on Tuesdays and Wednesday and Sophia on Mondays and Thursday. With Friday and Saturday off!

Anyways, Wasada University. Wasada is a really pretty campus with lots of tree and grass and green. It's one of the top University in Japan. People study for a year after high school just to get into the school. If you make it into Wasada...you already have a job waiting for you after you graduate. So we want to reach the future leaders of Japan. The one thing about Wasada is that it is a very open minded campus. But because everyone is so open minded, there have been cults on campus before. So some people will listen to us but not really want to come to our meetings and stuff like that.

Dokkyo University. Dokkyo is alright. Not that many people just walking around outside. But Dokkyo, has a huge language department. So there are many student learning English or taking other classes taught in English. We are not officially there on campus like the other University, so we can't go out sharing. We do have an English Lunch were at the Lunch table we can share and all that. For me I like going to Dokkyo even thought it's an hour away from where we live. I have shared so many times at Dokkyo and these people really want to hear about God. It's amazing!!! Right now I am talking with these 3 girls. Two are Christian but the don't really believe that they are really a Christian. So I am trying to answer their questions and make them fill comfortable as a Christian. The other asked someone before many time how to become a Christian, so she really want to know and learn about God. :D YAY!!!

Anyways other then just sharing on Campus, we have been, it seems, all over Toyko. On Saturday we all as a team when to Toyko Sea Disney. It was so fun. But there were no fire works on the 4th of July...it got cancelled. :( Before that on Thursday my group and the staff went to Harajuku and went shopping and took those sticker pictures in the photo booth. Two Sundays ago we went to Akehabara and went electronic shopping ( I got a water bottle)!!!

Last Sunday, everyone went to an America Church in Japan. It was...all right!!! It's okay and all. You know!!! But for lunch that day some of us went and had "America Food" at a restaurant that tried to make "American Food." One thing is, is that the hamburger doesn't have the bun. Everything is way too greasy and it still looked Japanese...they had chopsticks....???? haha
But it was fun eating there.

HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T TAKE WE ANOTHER WEEK TO UPDATE MY BLOG. L'LL TRY HARDER TO UPDATE IT AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY. :D

MY TEAM PICTURES!

From the top left corner;

Steve, Tyler, Ben, Chris, Natsumi, Amy, Michelle, Katie, Megan and Talisha.

Sadly we are missing Richard and the staff Josh and Adrianna.

PARTY GLASSES!!!!

So, it 7:30 am in Japan.

OMG....I'm in Japan. NSDGUIRSDJDBRTIHEFG7834UH!!! My team just landed here last night around 6:30pm in Japan. We exchanged our money and then hopped on a train. The train ride was about an hour. Not that many people in board. You know, normal!!! Then...the train stopped at the subway. Where we would, with all of our luggage, change trains two more time. The subway was packed and filled with people. And Natsumi turned around to us and said, "This isn't even bad. This isn't even the rush hour." WHAT!!! We were packed in there. There is no way more people could fit in the cart we were in. Anyways, All together is took maybe 2 hours. The whole time was out-of-their-minds sleepy! Ben and Amy were laughing for no reason. It was great. Last night, Natsumi and I went to 7/11. YES THEY HAVE 7/11 HERE!!! And it's way different then ours. It's crazy! Shaving stuff, make-up, notebooks, the list goes on. Just think of things that are not in out 7/11 because every thing you just thought...it's in Tokyo's!!!

So now...I am just eating some Shisuko-n BIG (it's like Frosted Flakes) looking out form my 3 floor apartment-home for the next 3 weeks and thinking how great God is for bring my whole time here safely. I love Japan. I mean I haven't really been out, other then the train and the walk from the Eki(Train Station) to my Aparto (Apartment).

My whole time is still asleep...or at least my Aparto mates. For some reason, my jet lag is gone. YAY!!! But today is a free day so I'll be walking around the city with some of my team...doing Japanese things! :D

Bible verses of the week or day...well it was yesterday...so YEAH!!!

At our group meeting yesterday, the speaker spoke on 1 John 4:7-19:

1 John 4:7-19

The one verse he talked about in depth was 1 John 4: 15 which reads:

"All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have

God living in them, and they live in God."

Whoever confess Jesus is the Son of God has God dwelling in them. And because God is love and He is dwelling inside then they should love like God. And because they love like God then they should love one another.

And that is so true. We, my team, need to love the Japanese people first with the knowledge that God loves them. He died for their sins too.

Here in Cali with my team

I wish I have a good picture of everyone to show ya'll but I haven't brought my camera out yet at all. NO, wait I did! We played leg war. Yeah...LEG WAR!!! Just look it up! We are bonding really well. I can't say that I dislike anyones personality...so far. HAHA! and hopefully I won't. Everyone is so different but it's amazing how much we are the same at the same time. I LOVE IT!!!! I can't wait to see how things work out in Japan.

So I feel like naming everyone now so if I talk about them later ya'll will know who I am talking about.

• Megan
• Amy
• Tyler
• Ben
• Chris
• Natsumi
• Steve
• Josh (STAFF)
• Katie
• Richard
• Adrienne (STAFF)
• Michelle (STUDENT LEADER)
• Tobin (BABY)
  

Tobin is the child of Josh and Adrienne and he is the cutest little boy ever. LOVE IT!!!! But including Tobin, there is 7 girls and 7 boys. CUTE!!! :D

But anyways, together as a team we are still short the money we need for all of us to go to Japan. We are 5000 dollars short. Which is amazing!!! But still, we need 5,000 dollars!!! If you or if you know of someone who could help out it would just bless our whole time. I acutally went over a few and I am planning on giving that to the people who are in need of support. But if you feel a need to help out please send you checks to the address below:

Campus Crusade for Christ

C/O Chrissy Tsai

16 Technology Dr. Suite 205

Irvine, CA 92618

Inside please add in a little note that reads:

Talisha Vernon

Project (Tokyo B)

Welp...it's dinner time and I am hungry. But if you have any questions please feel free and email me. :D

California!!!

Just got into California!!! My mom came along because...hmmm....I really don't know. But it was fun. We left DC around 5:30pm and arrived in Salt Lake City 8pm. But it was a 4 hour trip (we gained 2 hours). Then from Salt Lake to OC. And left at 9:30 and we arrived here around 10:00. But again we gained an hour. Yep!!!


I still can't believe that I am going to meet up with my team and head off to Japan in a few days. It's just amazing!!! Ever once and a while, I think back about year and see how much I have grown. Ahhhh! :D


Welp!!! I guess I should get down to business. Monday I needed $108 to go. Today before I left, I went by my church and they gave me a check. It was 500 dollars!!!!! So I have not just reached my goal of $4,900 but I have went over it by $382. Yay!!! It's all because of God!! :D

Tomorrow I am looking forward to hanging out with my mom at the beach and then later that day meeting up with my team. Again, I ask for every one's prayers. We sure do need it. :D


God Bless Everyone!!!

Tomorrow...Tomorrow, I love ya...Tomorrow!!!

Update

Three days ago I had $450 dollars left to go.
Two days ago I had $405 dollars left to go.
Yesterday I had $205 dollars left to go.
Today.....$155!!!!
Tomorrow I am going to my church's office to get a check because my Pastor talked about my trip today and people decide to give.

YAY!!!
God is so good!!! In the last few days all this support came in. I am so excited!! And I fell loved by everyone around me.

Anyways, Tomorrow...I will be on a plane flying to California.

Oh California

Do you not know how long

I have waited to see you?

You are so far away,

but tomorrow I will see you.

I am so excited to meet you,

California.

I hope you are excited to meet me too.

hahaha...jkjk

But me and my mom are going to fly out and get to Cali around 10pm. Tuesday morning we are hitting to beach and sight-seeing. And at 2pm I will get to meet my lovely partners in crime, all the other students going to Japan Summer Project. :D

My japanese address!

My Japanese Address is
3-21-17 Koenji, Suginami-ku, Tokyo JAPAN

So I want LETTERS. You guys better send me letters, okay? :D It takes a week to two weeks for a letter to get to Japan. So I would say don't send anything after July 11th.

$4,450!!!

Almost there!!

Friendship

I just wanted to add a picture of my awesome friends.



Starting with me and going to the right: Me, Ken, Caroline, Jessica and John.

Oh how much I love them.

I'll miss you guys when I'm gone. :D

"They have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to forward them on their journey [and you will please do so] in a way worthy of God's [service]. "
- 3 John 1: 6

I still can't believe...

In five crazy days I will be on a plane heading to Cali, meeting everyone on my summer project and then off to Japan. WHAT? God is so good!!!! I just wanted to Thank everyone who have supported me, not only on my mission trip but in life. I praise God everyday for you all. Thank you again.

Right now I'm at $4,450. Which means I need another $450 in these next 5 days. I have faith that God will provide beyond my needs.

Anyways, these past few days I have been heavly in the word and these are some scripture that I will keep close while I embark on my journey to share the Word to the lost and the mislaid.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid?"

—Psalm 27:1

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

—Ephesians 3:14-19

"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."
—Luke 6:32-35

Packing...Packing...Packing

I have 7 days until I step foot in California and meet up with the other students and staff going to Japan. I can't wait at all. Yesterday I started packing. I either have to much clothing or not enough room. RAWR!!! I have my check list and all. Right now I am missing about 60% of the things I need for my trip. But I am also running out of room in my suit cast. I am allowed to bring two luggage from California to Japan that is under 13lb each. But it cost 15 dollars for each luggage from Virgina to California. So my mom wants to put every thing in one suit case which will make my suit case way over 13lb. If it's over 13lb I have to play extra. So I don't know what to do.

Other than packing, I still haven't moved from $4,325. But I still have a few more people to talk to. Hopefully I'll get the $575 before I leave on June 22nd. Of course, I am gong to keep praying for my trip, the other students and the Japanese students.

Gosh, I just realized how much of a passion I have for these Japanese students. I haven't even met them yet, but I still have an extreme passion for them. I want them to know what I know. That God has this perfect love for them that will never end. That he can be the love of their life and it will never fail. I just want them to be able to feel that, to know that.

I just can't wait! These 7 days, I am just going to narrow in on the Lord and what his plans are for me in Japan.
:D

9 days until I'm off to Summer Project.

Everyday, I have been counting down until I leave for Japan. I still can't believe that I am going to Japan, doing God's will and sharing the Good News. BEST SUMMER EVER!!! God has worked in crazy ways.

Right now I have 4325 dollars raised.

575 dollars left to go.

Do you know how amazing that is?!?! I wasn't sure if I could really raise 4900 dollar, but God is so amazing and perfect and an all able God, of course I was going to be able to raise the money. Even if I have to play the 575 by myself somehow, I am still amazed how God has provide for me. I don't know why I didn't have faith at the beginning of my support raising? It would have eliminated so much stress I had.

Well, I can't wait to see how God will work through me to reach these students. I hope and pray that He'll take me way way way out of my comfort zone. I want to learn so much. I want to have a deeper reationship with God! I'm just to excited to even really make any sense. :D

Why I am going to Japan.

Let me start at the very beginning, few of my friends and I decide to go to DC and hang out, go to a museum. On our way back we stopped at a bookstore. My friend Ashleigh had been reading manga, Japanese comic books. She picked one up and started reading it. Of course these manga were translated into English. She told me that she goes to the library and checks out manga. I never read a manga before…so I picked one up and started reading. At first I though it was really nerdy, well actually I still think it's nerdy, but one of the manga I picked up was made into a live-action Japanese TV show!

I found one with subtitles of course and started watching. While I watched this show about a high school Japanese girl trying to get by in school, I realize how pretty the language was. I thought it was so beautiful. I loved it.

But, long story short, I started watching more and more Japanese shows falling more and more in love with the language and the culture. I wanted to visit Japan one day. But the one thing I did find out that I didn't like about Japan was that only 1% of the Japanese people are Christian. I also found out that Japan is filled with lost soul and confuse people. The suicide rate in Japan is in the top half of other countries rates.

Well, last summer, I convent my mom to let me take Japanese classes. I really wanted to somehow help these people that I have feel in love with. But how could I tell them about God if I didn't speak the language. When I started the class, I knew how pretty the language was but I had no clue how hard it was to learn. I covered my walls with Japanese, determined to have this learnt. So with hard work, I passed the class and was heading into my sophomore year at George Mason.

One day at school, I saw a kiosk that said "Study Abroad." And on the table, sure enough, there was a flyer for Japan. Yes, this is what I always wanted. This must be my ticket to Japan. I grabbed the flyer and read it over in my dorm room. As I read and read on about the information on the sheet, about studying the language at a Japan's collage, God spoke to me. He told me that yes He does want me to go to Japan but this is not the way.

So of course I listen. I throw the flyer away, but now more then ever I wanted to go to Japan. How did God want me to go to Japan, if it wasn’t to study abroad? Two days later at Cru's weekly meeting, they had people come up and talk about summer project. What is a summer project?

They all explained that "Summer project offers the opportunity for you to take the good news of forgiveness in Jesus to virtually anywhere in the world with Campus Crusade for Christ so ultimately everyone will know someone who truly follows Jesus!" While they were talking, I heard that someone went to Japan on a summer project last summer. I had to find him. When I did, he explained things he did and how if impacted his life. Right then and there I just felt the Lord telling me that this is the way He wants me to go to Japan. To do his work and to share the word with the Japanese. I was so excided that I ended out being one of the first people in my project to sign up for Japan.