Steamy July

Family trip to a park 

We're sending out this letter a bit early since we know we will be extra busy after the baby is born; thanks for celebrating with us!

What's ahead

1) We're grateful for the margin this summer offered, and look forward to the last few weeks of summer holiday. Please pray with us as we anticipate the renewed demands of the next term. Ryan's teaching schedule will change somewhat, but he hasn't gotten a final word on which new class he will be teaching.

2) Nelle Caitlin's father, Ethan Pettit, is able to come help out for about a month as we adjust to life with three, and return to our work and school schedule. We're so thankful for those who have conspired to make this trip possible! Please pray especially for my mother, continuing to work her regular job and create beautiful wedding flowers in his absence.

3) Although our baby is due August 10, the midwife is hoping for an earlier delivery because the baby is already full size (3kg) by Japanese standards, and very healthy. We remind her we are, after all, "big" foreigners, so our babies are also big, but also try to comply with her exercise regimen and recommendations. Please pray with us for a healthy delivery and smooth recovery, any time in the next few weeks!

This muggy month . . .

As I write, a sudden rain shower blissfully cools the air blowing in our 38 C (100 F) kitchen. Now that rainy season is over, it is hot! Today, Ryan and E spent the hottest part of the day in the river outside our house, along with many, many neighborhood kids. L and I spent the day trying to stay cool inside while recovering from our head colds.

Find of the week: a rare kind of stag beetle right in our yard!

The timing of this baby gave us an unexpected holiday. While summer is typically filled with travel, masters classes, family visits and trips to Sendai, this year we decided to just stay and rest. Obviously, we are sad not to be at family gatherings and catch up with lots of you in person, but this summer gave us lots of margin that we probably wouldn't otherwise claim.

Post-hiking stretch!

Since we are in Tokyo for the summer, Ryan was able to squeeze in a few trips with his brother's guiding company. He wakes at 4AM, eats a quick breakfast, catches the first train of the morning to meet the day's crew of nervous hikers at a downtown hotel, and head for (as E says) "mountain Fuji." The saying goes "you're a fool if you never climb, but you're a fool if you climb more than once" - no comment on guides who summit dozens of times a season! Hundreds of thousands flock to this famous mountain, eager to claim the summit: weathered hikers, overweight tourists with bad knees, families towing young children: during peak season, the flashlights of hikers trying to reach the summit by sunrise makes a snake of light visible from hundreds of miles away. Hiking becomes more like shuffling through a crowded train station or shopping mall. For Ryan - naturally prone to introversion - the constant chatter with clients was by far the most taxing part!

Each pregnancy has been a major cultural experience. As we work with local caregivers, we discover ways in which pregnancy and giving birth are intensely cultural processes - certainly our vocabulary is now rife with unusual words! Although westerners find layers of clothing, leggings and long walks ludicrous in a hot summer, adherents to Traditional Chinese Medicine swear by keeping the core body and stomach warm and staying fit. As our midwife said, those who give birth in hospitals can eat and wear whatever they want during pregnancy, and rely on doctors to bail them out if something happens. However, those desiring a natural, traditional birth must do the needed preparation. We're doing our best to respect our caregivers, and to discern between cultural, medical, and opinion.

making shave ice with neighborhood friends

To cap off our "last" activities before the baby comes, our last organized "English play time" found our small downstairs rooms crammed with 12 kids and 5 moms, jumping on the couch, kicking balls, cuddling guinea pigs, spinning out shave ice for snacks after reading time. Our small air conditioner was no match for the constantly opened doors and many bodies - really, we were all just waiting for the after party: swimming in the river! We will see each of these neighbors over the next few weeks as we all cluster around the shady parks and river to stay cool, and we look forward to resuming classes in September.

 Thanks for tuning in! Next time you hear from us, we will be a family of 5!