Keiko

I still don't know how we got involved in this exchange student program (who recommended they call us). A woman from church asked us if we wanted a student just for the weekend a few weeks before that, but we couldn't do that one (too busy). Maybe this was how it got started. She made a good point about how God was bringing the nations to us and it seemed like a no-brainer... so instead of just turning them down to make life easier, we decided to go for it! The schedule was open enough that we thought it would be doable.

It was doable... but not easy. Our student was very shy (the shyest of the group from our observations) and didn't speak much at all. We tried charades and a translator friend who had been an MK in Japan (thanks Peter!) but most of the time, we didn't talk much.

Keiko was very sweet. She was polite, always ate everything we gave her, was a good student, and genuinely seemed to enjoy the kids and their energy (except maybe when Cambria stood really, REALLY close to her and played with her hair in slow motion on a few different occasions. She wasn't really into that much :)

Taking her back and forth to the Max station was also a challenge, especially on days that Cliff worked, because it was so early in the morning.

Some bloopers and international faux pas highlights:

1. Lochlan crying the whole way home after picking Keiko up from the Max because he thought he was going to get to "wide wain" (ride the train).

2. Making rice only once and completely ruining it by checking it before it was done, making it mushy and soggy...

3. Taking her to a garage sale as the very first thing she ever did in America...

4. Taking her up to St. Helens and not planning the timing of all of our destinations, making the trip very long and causing us to not be able to take her on her first camping trip.

5. Didn't plan enough time for Mason's testing appointment and had to eat my breakfast (waffles, blueberries and whipped cream) while driving causing the berries to roll around on the floor.

6. Were late to Keiko's first Max drop off point with all the other students because we couldn't find the station and had to drive her downtown on their first day of class.

7. Taking her up to Crown Point on the night that a bunch of weirdos wearing real animal tails (fox, racoon, etc.) clipped onto their pants to watch the sunset.

But we did do some things right and got to enjoy many fun things in the northwest. A few fun visitors centers, 

an exciting caving adventure,

a fun backyard breakfast around the fire pit /hammock swing as a consolation prize for our failed camping trip,

and a full day of swimming at grandma's and grandpa's pool in the sun, playing with the neighbor's farm animals, picking blueberries, and enjoying the sunset at Crown Point (she specifically said she loved sunsets).

Then, after 2 and a half weeks, they left for home.

 

 

 

She made this letter and these origami figures as a surprise for us to find when we got back from the airport.

 

Then just a few days ago we received a letter from Keiko that said (among other things), 

"Thank you so much for those two wanderful weeks. That was a great experience for me. We go to the pool, the mountain, the cave and so on. Do you remember these things? I often remember these memories and talk to my family. These memories are very precious for me. 

I'll never forget your kindness.   

Thank you again for all you did for me."

I'm glad she said she had fun... It was somewhat challenging to figure out fun American experiences for her with 4 little kids in tow. The experience was really good for them (our kids and a few of our kid friends as well) for sure. So, that said, I'm pretty sure we would do it again :)

And although we weren't able to openly witness to her, I admit I teared up a bit when the song "Sing Until the Whole World Hears" came on the radio. Hopefully the Lord will use the experiences she had living with this crazy Christian family for His glory in her life.