taiwan/japan freedom tour diary -one-

taiwan/japan freedom tour diary

-one-

Friday, May 28, 2010 …..6pm PST

Dear Friends and Family,

After a fast-paced rush through check-in, gate, and security check we finally breathed a sigh of relief as we plopped down in our assigned seat with no time to spare- all eleven of us were accounted for. Whew!  To get there required help from Jeff Price (Ashton’s dad) and Yutaka, and favor from the authorities to allow us to cut into the long morning Delta flight lines. I’d never seen KCI lines like that before.

After a brief layover at Minneapolis, we took a 3 hr. flight to LAX. Some caught up on their precious sleep, while most of the girls watched a cute and clean chick-flik to help pass the time. Towards the end of the flight, we had the flight attendants surprise Joshua with an announcement  that it was Joshua’s 13^th birthday today! It worked, and we all cheered.  Baggage claim was easy because of the bright green laminated luggage tags from Ashton’s mom Kristin.

We’re half through our 14-hr. layover here.  Besides two meals, some shut-eye, and some last-minute omiyagi shopping (G’ma), the team all found a quiet corner of a terminal and refined some of their dance pieces.  Yutaka, G’ma , and Sue manned the luggage- all 22 pieces. Abi, Stanton, and Sue just returned from a fast walk outside—breezy, sunny, 70 degree weather. Bouganvilla vines, wild roses, palm trees lined the paved walkway. We’re wishing for the California beach, but we may have to wait till Taipei till we experience the Pacific Ocean waves.

11pm, PST

After some rounds of the “Scum” game, then checking in our luggage, we celebrated Joshua’s bday with some Hagen Das’ Ice Cream. Not sure if it was the ice cream or just the exhaustion, but we got slap happy after that. Stanton was animated, and had us in stitches…deep belly laughter!  We met up with the Blake and Tracy Staten family who Kirsti had recognized from last year’s conference. They will be on our flight too.

All eight children are now out for a fast-paced 15 min. walk before we begin the long process of international flight security procedures.

I am attaching the trip itinerary to give you some perspective of our trip. I’ll try to send pics once we upload them. When you pray, remember that we will be 14 hrs. ahead of your CST time. We are very grateful to all of you for helping to make this trip possible.

God bless,

Sue Kawase

PS: We’ve arrived in Taipei! Safe, quiet trip…most of us got our 6-8 hrs. of sleep!  --6:30am Taipei time

TRIP ITINERARY  

Friday May 28

Leave KC; short layover in Minneapolis; long layover in LA of 14hrs.

Saturday, May 29 : Travel day beginning early am on plane (lose a day due to International Date Line);

Sunday,  May 30 : Arrive about 6:00 am Taipei

Take Taxi to Taoyuan train station; Take High Speed Rail to Tainan about 90 min

Living Waters Church

teach children dance at Living Waters Church.

Serve in Prophet Dance seminar in the afternoon

Spend night at Confucius Inn (www.cambridge-hotel.com.tw) 06-2140033 across street from Living Waters Church 06-223-9418 www.lwcc.org.tw

Monday, May 31: Travel by bus to Kenting  (wonderful time to network); leaves at 9:00 am

Stay at Howard Beach Resort http://kenting.howard-hotels.com/

Attend All Nations Mission Conference www.allnations.us/

Tuesday June 1: All Nations Conference.

We have offered to serve in child care/teaching dance

YK and JK serving medical needs of missionaries in afternoons

Dance performance probably in pm

Plan on rehearsing/preparing for Japan ministry.

Wednesday, June 2: All Nations Conference.

Be open to minister while enjoying the people.

Ping Pong Tournament

Thursday, June 3: All Nations Conference ends

Travel by bus to Tainan; Stay at Confucius Inn

Friday , June 4: Long travel day—

Shuttle to HSR station to Taoyuan station

Taxi to Taipei airport

Plane to Narita Airport  (Tokyo) arriving 5:10 pm Terminal 2

Narita express train to Yokohama Ofuna station preferably #46 (1848-2041) or#52 ( 2044-2235

Spend night at home stays with Hongodai people in Yokohama

Saturday, June 5

Perform at Crystal Chapel tentatively at 2:30pm 1-37-10 Noshichiri Sakaeku Yokohamashi

Kanagawaken Japan 2470024

Travel by car/train to ShinYokohama station or Kamioka station

Travel by bullet train to Shizuoka Hikari 481  1722-1806

Stay at Living Way Church

Sunday 6

Minister at Ricky Gordon’s Church Sunday am 1-2 dances and YK teach

Kodama 669 1727-1741

Stay in Kakegawa

Monday 7

Travel by bullet train to Kakegawa for dance workshop

Minister in Kakegawa with dance workshop and evening performance.

Stay at the church in Kakegawa

Tuesday 8

Travel by bullet train to Hiroshima Kodama651 1313-1324  Hamamatsu Hikari 4711338-1518 Rehearse dance

Home Stay in Kure

Wednesday 9

Possible visit to Hiroshima Bomb Museum

Minister in Hiroshima

Afternoon possibly Sue and Yutaka doing counseling

Rehearse dance

Home Stay in Kure

Thursday 10

Minister in Hiroshima

Dance performance with Heiwa church and Natalie in pm

Home Stay in Kure

Friday 11

Walk to train station

Local train from Shin Kure to Hiroshima station

Travel to  Shin Yokohama station by bullet train

Local trains to Zushi

Home stay at Itsuko Hatanakas (cousin to Yutaka) in Zushi

Saturday 12

Local trains  to Jiyugaoka

Meet with Nakadaira for noon meal in Tokyo (Jiyugaoka, Meguro) dinner.

Sightsee in Tokyo

Travel to Narita airport area possibly Richmond Hotel Narita

〒286-0033
Chiba, Narita city, Hanasaki-cho970
Richmond Hotel Narita

TEL:0476-24-6660

Sunday 13 Travel from Tokyo to Kansas City (gain a day). Possible am ministry time before leaving.

Tentatively arrive home about 6:30pm