Halloweeny, Halloweeny, Halloweeny

Halloween festivities continued on Tuesday night with a costume party hangout for students we've met at Nichi-dai. Because I had so much going on with the overnighter, I didn't have to help plan this one so it was refreshing to just show up and hang out with the students. We played Birdie on the Perch and taught them several line dances. One thing I've learned from this past week is you can do the Electric Slide to basically every song.

On actual Halloween we were on campus at ICUHS and held a mini festival. Students stopped by our room and said "Trick-or-Treat" and got candy and Subway sandwiches. We had a few games and prizes and taught the Electric Slide again (this time to the Monster Mash). About 35 students came and most of them stuck around the whole lunch period! I got to meet over a dozen new faces so that was a huge blessing.

With Hiro and Leimi

Doing the Electric Slide

Juggling Tangerine Jack o'lanterns

Mandatory group photo

After school about 10 or so students came back. We played several intense rounds of Jenga and each had the opportunity to connect with students at a deeper level. One of the 3rd years walked with us to the train station and Jacob, Christine and I got to have a cool conversation with him. His life has been incredible- living on every continent except Antarctica, and never staying in one place for more than 5 years. Because of that he is very open to talking about different things so it was neat to get his views on Christianity in Japan and different spiritual concepts.

The game heating up

Figuring out my game plan

Talking about the universality of certain symbols

Picnic Family and Johnny!

After all the candy and costumes, my Halloween quota has been reached for about the next 5 years. But the Lord used all of the festivities to plant a lot of seeds I think, so praises to him for that! Please keep all these students in your prayers this next week or so. Halloween is all about the facade, masks, and hiding. These students hide a lot of pain and brokenness every day, please pray that our loving Father would be able to use us to enter into that hurt with them.

Again, all thanks for the pictures goes to Christine, Pun fu Master :)