Yoron Island Adventure

A giant step for Momma Payne this morning! Andrew was all packed up and ready to head out on his big Japanese adventure! He left at 7am this morning with 100 other 5th and 6th graders from our American Schools. He was headed first to Motobutu Port where he would catch a ferry ride to an outer island in the Ryuku chain. Yoron is about a 3-4 hour ferry ride from Okinawa. Once he boarded the boat he would meet his new Japanese friends from mainland Japan. He will also meet some kids from Indonesia. He was a little nervous, but more excited than anything else:) Scott took him since I needed to be home for the other two Paynes. He was introduced to his small group and knew no one. I consider this a blessing. I do not want him to be hindered by other friendships. I think this way he will be much more open to reaching out to others and making new friends (not that he has ever met a stranger!) Scott and I knew one of the boys in his group. He was the son of a classmate from TBS (The Basic School - First school Marines attend as 2nd LTs)! It really is a small Marine Corps. Andrew had met this little guy when they were both 3 years old. Neither of them have any memory of that, but Scott said they became fast friends. Please be praying for the safety of our children. Also be praying that Andrew does not become too homesick and that he enjoys every moment of this awesome opportunity! Here is a link to the place he is going. It also has a schedule of events in case you are an obsessive Grandparent that wants to know what he is doing every moment of every day. (This is in no way a judgement... Mine is posted on my cork board in my kitchen!) http://www.okinawa.pac.dodea.edu/Welcome/Gouldman2/index.html

Andrew and Dad totally psyched!!!

Off to catch his bus! (Note how different the school buses are here on Okinawa!!!)

***Special Thanks to my friend Heidi for taking pictures for me!!!***

Pin It