So for the 40 hour famine i decided to go blindfolded, i thought it would be a fun challenge. I set some guidelines though:
- Eyes closed @ all times.
- If i needed to open my eyes i had to do it in a dark environment.
- Only time the blindfold was allowed off was when i showered (Strict eyes closed rules apply).

The whole experience was a learning curve. My listening skills + my playing definitely benefited from this (Had lots of spare time so i practiced). I've been wondering whether it would've been the same if it had gone on for longer.

In the grand scheme of things it was a little easy. I didn't have to go to work, i didn't have to go shopping (Although my dad did ask if i wanted to go to the mall w/ him but i wasn't brave enough). I didn't have to live an independent life; I had people to help me. I did as much on my own as i could though.

Being @ home was fine. I have a good imagination so i could picture where everything was, i just lost the details (That made watching tv + dvd's fun). It sums up how i approached everything; filing in the gaps. I hurt myself a few times, you can't tell that the door's half open or that the shelf behind you is closer than you thought.

Outside of home was interesting. The garage seemed further than i thought + i had no idea where i was when i went out for dinner. My perception was based on past experience, it makes me wonder how people who were blind @ birth deal w/ this; What do they base their experience on if they have no reference?

Socializing was fun. I was content to listen + take in everything around me. It gave me time to adjust to the new environment. I could pick what was where by where people walked, where they talked, the noises they were making, etc. What was funny was the silent moments (It felt like no-one was in the room) + when people forgot that i was in the room; They'd usually try to include me when they remembered. It showed some of the social stereotypes too; I'm not sure if i enjoyed the attention.

The only times i really needed help was getting to + from places (Thanks Simon!), meals (Thanks Satellite + co) + telling the time. Life is awkward when you have no concept of time! I could've been doing all this @ night for all i know. A couple of people were really good @ describing things from the conversation for me, it helped w/ my imagining process. I did feel awkward on being waited upon though...

So that's it in a long nutshell. I hope i don't forget this experience, maybe it will be useful one day. Feel free to ask questions if you have any! L8rs...

Hey all! I'm doing the 40 hour famine so please sponsor me by talking to me or going to www.famine.org.nz/monavalefalls + pledging online! I'm going to be blindfolded for 40 hours... Who wants in?

So people have been asking what went down in Japan + to be honest so much happened + I’m a details person too but lets see what happens...

19 days + a team of 6 young people from my church (Oxygen Youth @ Elim Cathedral Of Hope) based in Utsunomiya, Tochigi in Japan to help the Minemachi Christ Church w/ their annual Spring Camp (It was school holidays in Japan) + whatever else they wanted our help with. I was excited about absorbing as much of the culture as I could but was super nervous about the ministry side of things.

The people were amazing + I can't say that enough. So open, so generous, so friendly. There was always a way around the language barrier + it made me realize the fun side of getting to know people. It made teaching some NZ phrases that much more interesting!

What we saw was only a drop of what Japan has to offer but it was amazing + we saw so much! From Narita airport to Tokyo + its surrounding areas (like Ueno, Akihabara, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Ochanomizu, etc), to Utsunomiya + Nikko... You get the idea. Each region was unique + it was fun discovering what was special about it.

Highlights would be Tokyo Disneyland (Splash mountain!), the many shrines (Including Nikko National Park), the ski resort where the Spring Camp was at (It snowed too!), the numerous multi level cd/dvd stores, the 100 yen shop 'Daiso' (Or the Japanese $2 shop), the markets, the stores w/ numerous multi level anime stores, in a weird way the On Seng (Communal naked bath house)... I could keep going but I won't.

The food... Oh my goodness! I tried everything I could get my hands on: Gyoza, Okonomiyaki, Sushi, Japanese + Korean Barbecue, Squid, Octopus, Nato... Amazing! The servings were massive; I've never eaten so much in my life! Japanese candy + McD's are way better than in NZ (Buy Poiful jellybeans!). I've got enough candy to last me a while (Including German candy... Go figure!)

I loved their drinks selection. Fizz (Dr Pepper in a bottle + jelly Fanta), tea, water, sports water (Pocari sweat), juice (Calpis), water, coffee (Cold + Hot), beer... You get the idea. You could wander anywhere a few meters + find a vending machine (Some had hot + cold drinks in the same machine). Restaurants have a 'Drink bar' option which is smorgasbord drinks + McD's has a selection of juice, water, fizzy + tea drinks to choose from w/ a combo.

I love Japanese tv! So funny to watch even if I didn't understand a word of it (Including Japanese dubbed shows like Alf + Full House). There was Sasuke 2009 (aka Ninja Warrior 2009), the world baseball championship (which Japan won), game shows, anime shows (Bleach!), Sakura watch, etc. The thing to get used to was they cut straight to + from an ad w/ out warning.

Ministry was interesting but good. It went a lot better than I thought but things turned out a lot different than I initially thought, but I think it's what God wanted. I was expecting to sing, play guitar, talk the way I normally would but I did a pretty average job of it. I think I ministered better by hanging out w/ people but I definitely got more from talking w/ these people + observing. God is definitely doing a work in Japan, it's was so amazing to be a part of + I had never felt anything like it! I can't wait to hear more about what God is doing + I hopefully I can be a part of it again. In hindsight I think by putting myself out there I did what I was supposed to do even if I don't know what the results might be.

So that's it in a nutshell, still kind of long though. It's easy to see that it had a profound impact on me. I'd love to visit more of Japan + be a part of what God is doing. If you want to know more about anything specific then just ask me + lets chat. I really should put some pix + vids online too...

Thanks to everyone who helped me out or looked out for me whilst I was in Japan!!! Until we meet again...