Losing It

I'd like to share photos of my vacation but having technical difficulties with the photo downloads so I'll start at the end of the vacation and share a story with you.

May your plans all be frustrated
and come to nothing
so that God's plans
may be fully realized in your life."
- Brennen Manning

I had an adventure getting home from Tokyo - everything went really smoothly with my non-reserve seat ticket on the Shinkansen (bullet train). I made it through Kyoto station and then on an express train to my local station. As I walked from the station to my house I thought - how this place really has come to feel like HOME and it was a good feeling.

The problem came when I got to my house in Nara and couldn't find my house keys - anywhere! I was locked out of my house and not sure what to do. So the self-talk started - "Keep it together, Harms, this could have happened to anyone!" Problem was - I didn't know how to solve this problem in this culture. I prayed God would help me get in the house without losing my cool.

I dumped everything out of my bags and searched for the keys - no luck.
I tried all the windows and doors on the house that I could reach - I was relieved and yet frustrated to find they were all very securely locked. I thought of stopping by the neighbors but no one was home. I drove to the Home Center store but it was closed. I contemplated who I should call - or where I could spend the night if I wasn't able to get in. Not knowing what to do next I saw the neighbor's light on, I swallowed my pride and rang the doorbell.

They had been collecting my mail during the vacation so when the 17 year old daughter "M" came to the door she saw me and she ran back in and then gave me the mail. I gave her the omiyage (souvenir/gift) I'd gotten for them from Tokyo. And then I swallowed my pride and explained that I was locked out of my house. She was the only one at her house so she called her mom. Then she brought out a phone book and suggested I try calling a locksmith, even pointing to a few phone numbers to try. Inwardly, I was hoping M would do the calling for me, but I muddled through with my broken Japanese to explain the situation to the locksmith.

After calling 2 places I found one that would send someone over that night to unlock the door. I thanked M and reported that the locksmith would call back with their estimated time of arrival. She went in her house and I went to sit on my front step reading my mail while waiting for the locksmith. After 30 minutes (of the 2 hour wait) M came back over and invited me to wait in her house.

I was blown away - and almost laughed -how God used me losing my keys - getting locked out of my house to allow an opportunity for me to spend an hour and a half hanging out with my 17 year old neighbor. We watched TV together and I learned she'd spent last summer in Australia and was hoping to go to Canada this summer to study English but due to the threat of swine flu she didn't go.

Eventually the locksmith came - and it took me longer to fill out the paperwork than it did for him to pick the lock. A few thousand yen later I was able to get in the house. As the locksmith was leaving the mother and youngest daughter from next door arrived home. They apologized for my trouble while I poured out my appreciation for their family's assistance. By the end of our talk she gave me some grapes and an omiyage (mini apple pie) from a trip they had taken somewhere.

Made for a unique end to my vacation and left me thanking God for using my mistake to build a relationship with my neighbors. And thanking him for the fact I live next door to some very kind people!

(p.s. Yes, I have an extra set of keys so things are all safe and sound now.)