"WALK THIS WAY!!"
I stuck out my rear end and thrust my chest forward. Asuka, Toshi and Mochi did the same. A little laughter, a little embarrassment and it was Toshi's turn. "WALK THIS WAY!!" Toshi waddled like a wounded, overweight duck and we all followed suit laughing way too hard. Next it was Asuka's turn, then Mochi's and around and around it went. We were passing out fliers for Watage's coming festival in what some might consider an unorthodox fashion. Mochi was extremely embarrassed. Toshi was a little bit lost, and Asuka could have made a career out of this game. On the way back to "headquarters," Asuka and I sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," "Ten Little Indian Boys," and "If You're Happy and You Know It." An hour under the Sendai sun passing out fliers with these three guys - it was the most life-giving part of my day.

On these days there's nothing that takes life from me more than my inability to understand as much Japanese as I would like to. Trying to overcome the barriers of language and culture can drain physical and emotional life - but there is surprising redemption in expending this life because it is poured out into the hands of God. I wait on tired knees to be taken up to higher things.