Reutter's Life in Japan

For me, there’s nothing like getting out into nature that helps me connect deeper with God and have a time of life-recalibration. I like to do this at least once a year. I find a place within a days drive and book a place to stay where I can go around, exploring. All along the way I like to listen through large sections of the Bible, accessing my life and taking a lot of time to pray. I have my camera and drone nearby to capture the beautiful scenes and thoughts along the way.

These kinds of trips are energizing for my soul, and this year I went to the southern tip of Chiba along the Pacific Ocean and had a trip worth remembering. The footage came out fantastic and the experience has my family ready to go and try it in the future! What do you think? Would you want to go on Pacific Retreat in Chiba?

While Grandpa and Grandma were with us in Japan, we did a skit that my mother loves to do with the kids. She’s done this for years every time they get together, and every time we get a really good laugh out of it. This year we decided to record it and, instead of putting it into a vlog-style episode of Life in Japan, we decided to make it its own episode. Please enjoy Human Puppets by the Reutter kids.

Where the beginning of the Sakura marks the grand entrance of the Spring in Japan, the end of the sakura is a beautiful gateway to the rest of the year. Trees and plants sprout leaves and get green. A new school and business year begin. And in our case, this year, our we say goodbye to our parents after a month of being with us. It’s all in this very special episode of Life in Japan.

Over the years we’ve produced over 200 episodes of Life in Japan, and sometimes it feels like we’re only getting started. Since the episodes follow our life in Japan, they come in various forms and subject matter, but some themes (like family, faith, Japanese culture & lifestyle, etc) appear again and again.

But there are episodes that, for me, are my favorite to produce. What makes them that way? I think it’s because they incorporate all of my favorite aspects of Japan — pristine locations, Japanese culture, family fun and adventure. And recently we produced one of my favorite episodes yet: an unforgettable trip with family to Odawara Castle at the height of Sakura bloom.

One of my favorite days of the year is Easter. It’s not just because it’s one of the two major holidays that Christians all over the world celebrate, but it’s because of everything it stands for. It is hope from despair, light over darkness, life from death, beauty from the ashes. It is the day we remember and celebrate that Jesus is not dead and buried, he is alive forevermore! And this year we had a great awesome Easter celebration like no other. If you need to feel some joy, look no further than our Easter celebration at PAZ Church this year.