I had a moment of panic at 7:54am. I am always on the 7:53am train, but today I was still in bed. I've never been late to work except one time when the trains completely stopped when it snowed. For any business related meeting or work in Japan, being on time is late so I'm always early ("on time"). I figured that out soon after I started working here based on a comment when I was five minutes early (that was practically late).Praise the Lord I made it to work at 8:56. That's crazy. I was out the door in 8 minutes (hence the ponytail) from the moment I looked at my phone. I did my makeup on the platform behind a column in three minutes before my third transfer..and I ran, knocking people out with my duffle bag during transfers. The rush hour trains are not ideal for anything bigger than a small clutch. Sometimes I'm sure a little person running in a trench coat with a duffle bag and purse flying on either side was a funny site to see.
I got permission to leave work early to catch my flight. Since it's Golden Week starting tomorrow, the flights tomorrow cost three times as much. Now I'm on my way to Nagasaki! This is my present state: between super excited, tired, relieved...and waiting for a bus. One bus, two trains, two flights, and then a train away!
Snack time at the airport.
Last night I got off work at 9:30pm and then packed for the trip. The night before was my church small group Bible study, and the day before my friend was visiting. I will post my friend adventures from April 19-29 when I have better Internet connection to upload photos, but for now I'm at least due for a brief update.
Life has been nonstop since mid-April when my mom came, then my sister and niece, then a high school friend, then college friend, now Nagasaki, and then I only have two weeks to figure out all this legal stuff before moving back. It is a lot like when I first moved here: except this time removing my residency, health insurance, social security fees, transferring money, canceling my phone plan, cleaning the house completely since this time no one will live there, visiting my grandma as a few times, packing, sending my stuff.
Honestly it is overwhelming and stressful to think of figuring it out alone again. During the beginning of my time here, that was probably the hardest part. But this time I am 100% sure, based on last time, that God will help me through.
Psalms 9:1-2 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalms 18:29-30 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
I'm not in fact alone at all! I understand why many psalms are about remembering God's faithfulness and trusting Him, since that is what gives me peace this time around.