June: Tour Guiding, New Job, Hiji Falls/Okuma

Early in June, my friend Emma came to stay for a week. Being the adventurer she is, she decided to see where else she could explore while on a school trip to the Philippines. We took the opportunity to visit old favorites, as well as discover new places. 

Of course, the aquarium.

a native Okinawan village, also in Ocean Expo Park

the Tropical Dream Center

A local ruin, Zakimi Castle

Camp Zampa

We went to Futenma Fest (a Marine Corps Air Station), enjoyed fair food, stepped away for a bit to see Maleficent... 

 and climbed in all sorts of aircraft

and vehicles

and stayed for the All Time Low concert

 Another day, we went to the gorgeous Fukushen Gardens, a Chinese garden in Naha. 

After an application and interview in May, I started work part-time with Community Bank in June. The bank is literally across the street from Nathan's main chapel. I don't plan on making a career of banking, but it's a good way to fill my time and fund my future endeavors. 

Kicking off with our first summer event, we took a group of guys north to Hiji Falls. 

We walked along the trail, up and down hundreds of stairs to reach it, then jumped in the stream on the way back. We spent the rest of the day at Okuma, an area used by the military as a campground and resort. We swam in the ocean, built sand castles, drove go-karts and jet skis, and enjoyed a meal on a large, breezy patio. It was a great day outdoors, and everyone went home happy, albeit a little sunburned. 

May: Promotion, Seminary, Ryugujo Butterfly Garden

May was a busy month, though in retrospect it is hard to remember why. We have two things to announce. First, promotion to RP2 (E5). 

Second, something that has been brewing for several months. Nathan has decided to pursue chaplaincy with the Navy, and was just accepted into Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He will start online this fall, but something within the next two years, we will move to Boston where he will finish his degree on campus. It is a very exciting step for us, and a path we are sure is the best way.

As for other things this month, we held a Star Wars marathon at the chapel in honor of May the Fourth. We saw X-Men, Days of Future Past and Godzilla in theaters, and worked on creating a calendar of several summer events to get the single Marines off the base for a day.

Our tour spot this month was Ryugujo Butterfly Garden in Ocean Expo Park in Nago, and it was just lovely. We spend the afternoon photographing tons of butterflies.

and spent a little time being butterflies...