Daniel
Shortly after graduating high school I fortuitously got into my first IT job. I speed ran life to the best of my ability over the next decade. After various adventures, career advancements and heartbreaks I was left with myself and what I knew. My self was rapidly evolving for a milieu of reasons; spiritual awakening, disenchantment with work and a newfound addiction to seeking truth. What I knew was that if I didn’t throw myself at living in Japan during my 20’s that I’d regret it for the rest of my life. The Holy Spirit had piled onto that conviction too. I also knew that I wanted Trinity to join me.
So in rapid succession, with approval from family, concern from friends and a hefty amount of divine intervention… Trinity and I reconnected December of 2022, got married August of 2023 and arrived in Japan January of 2024. This leap for a better life, the move and skafo, would not be possible without her encouragement, kindness and frankness. Especially the frankness…
As for skafo: I’d always wanted an outlet for my thoughts. I’d record multi hour conversations with beloved friends on my phone in hopes of sharing it one day. I’d write when I couldn’t wrestle myself out with reason. I had repeatedly been exhorted by close friends to write and share my experiences. It’s funny to me because I actually am terrified of having a public persona online in any capacity despite the innate desire in all of us to be famous and heard. I’m a long time lurker. Occasional commenter. A nebulous member of the silent majority that values privacy. But no more. I believe we are reaching a point where the price to hide your convictions is the eventual disappearance of them from the world.
Welcome to my soapbox.
Trinity
Hey there! I grew up in a well known bubble called Orange County, located in Southern California. I spent most of my years living the typical Californian experience: going to the beach, keeping up with fitness, enjoying the West Coast pleasures all the while filling notebooks with my thoughts.
Most people are put off by me when we first meet due to my excessive questioning. It’s true! While alarming, I genuinely am interested in getting to know who I’m talking to. When in doubt, I default to saying exactly what I think… I don’t have the fanciest vocabulary but I somehow always manage to make a discussion intellectual by challenging others in their reasoning and decision making.
In 2020, my heart could no longer deny the existence of God after He had pulled me out of an acute psychosis that had lasted about 3 weeks. I am now 28 and married to my best friend who I’ve had the blessing of knowing since I was in the 5th grade. We were very close through high school but went our own separate ways after graduating. Our orbits collided in December of 2022. Recently, we left everything we knew and owned behind to move across the world to Japan. I barely know the language, it is my first time outside of the US and I stick out like a sore thumb. Thankfully, I’ve always been sensitive to the call of adventure and challenges so here I am, OC brat turning homesteader.
Home in California (for me) was no longer a place that encouraged growth. I knew I needed to leave.
~Welcome to skafo. I hope you revisit soon 🙂