More and More Goodbyes!

With seven days left, our time is very limited here in Japan. There are many people we love and will dearly miss. Also, the town of Hirosaki has become our foriegn home. The streets and pathways of this city will forever be etched on our hearts. There are many places in the city of Hirosaki that we will come to miss during our next years in America. Here is a taste:

The DAISO. Enough said...maybe not, but this is the greatest dollar store chain to exist in existance. The question you ask yourself when entering this vast store is, "What can't I find!" And truth be told, everything can be found, maybe not in the quality you would imagine, but the quality is the price you pay--$1.00 (actually more like 80 cents!). This is the 100 yen shop that has provided us with all essentials as well as even more non-essentials: writting paper, soap, candy, California Cola, plates, tupperware, locks, cleaning supplies, pens, pencils, decorations, cds, clothing, toys, games, yarn, folders, tissues, and much more beyond your wildest imaginations. What would have life been without you, Daiso.


Next on the list is the greatest thrift store of all time. If you know us, you know we love cheap stuff. There's something wonderful about finding that great deal at 90% the actual cost that drives us to extreme levels of saving. Although the prices at this particular thrift store are not what you would find in America, the quality is much higher. There are two theories for the high quality. Either Japanese people take better care of their clothes, or Japanese people run through their clothes as fast as fashions change. Whatever the theory, we reap the benefits!! Here's to you and your annoying theme song OFF HOUSE!!

SAKURANO, the mid range dept. store. How many times did we enter and NOT see our students--never! This dept. store is not any old ordinary dept. store. It is a city in itself. NO, not no mega-mall, but non-the-less you can spend a day easily within the doors of this fine dept. store. It is complete with a cinema, bowling, pachinko, hot spring, supermarket, 2 game centers, tourist information and souvenirs, McDonald's, a 100 yen store, and more shopping stores that have the same clothes than are needed.

MT. IWAKI, this scene defines our city. Without this scenic view our city would be any other city. The shear size cannot be captured on camera. Sometimes she can hide behind the clouds and fog, and when she comes out-BAM-there she is!! We have conquered her 3 times yet still she beckons us. Life will not be the same without her near to us, just a glance away!

But of course, our friends will be missed even more greatly. Good times have been had with all these wonderful people. Our great friends threw a party in our honor to say farewell. God has created some great relationships that we know will continue in this life as well as the much more exciting life to come in Heaven. Thank you to you all for your support, kindness, and love. We can't say it enough! We thank God when we remember you all!!!