There is a break from the old year and a pause before the new year starts.

This pause is Japan's spring break

a time unique to Japan when one can truly relax, take a breath, and fill with expectations for a new season.

[Life in Japan Theme Song]

One of our favorite retreats is Yamanakako, one of five lakes near Mt Fuji.

This year we've gotten special permission to do a big bonfire — that is, if we can get it going.

Alright Becca, you're getting all ready, all prepped and ready to go?

Me too! You too, Sarah? Good job.

This cardboard is cold, feels wet.

Before the new can come, the old must go. And nothing symbolizes that better than a bonfire.

Alright! Snap, crackle, pop!

Whew, we're doing it!

There we go.

Whew! Yeah, baby!

It's fire time, guys! It's fire time!

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Oh boy!

These branches aren't really... They're too wet.

Let's put the plywood on top of it.

I'm feeding her marshmallows as we wait.

Are you getting an early start at those marshmallows? Yum!

Camera, do you want to throw in some cardboard for me?

Here you go!

Where should I throw it in, Sarah?

Right here. Right here?

Yeah! OK, here we go!

Here we go. Throw it!

Oh, I missed. Can you help?

Alright, I think we won, you guys! Yeah!

I was almost... I was ready to give up!

The fire's great over here, now we're trying to bring it over here.

How's it going to bring it over here?

Not good. Not good!?

Do you have any words of wisdom from a bonfire side here?

Don't stick your hands in it.

Don't stick your hands in it! Words to live by.

Look! It is going going going! Look at all that smoke!

Hey! Our cabin!

Oh gosh, our cabin, dude!

What in the world?!

Holy cow!

That scared me so bad! She was coming right at me and didn't say anything!

Wow Izzy!

There's lots of hot coals now.

Let's go. We'll go all the way to the platform height, OK?

1, 2, 3 Go!

Yeah! Whoa, Dude!

Oh boy!

Is this puzzle central here?

Yes... It's puzzling.

Oh here we go.

What does it look like when it's done? Oh my goodness!

Will it ever get there? Will it ever—wow! What a place!

That's where we're having our next... Our next retreat?! Come on!

Sometimes the greatest hindrance to experiencing something better is holding onto the old, dead familiar things.

There is a season for relishing the old, and a season for embracing the new.

It is the process of death and renewal that brings new life as perfectly symbolized in Japan's beautiful sakura blossoms.

Well Ben, good fires die hard, huh?

Yep, the next morning, fire's still going.

There was hot coals, and we were able to revive it.

Look at these guys — they're getting ready for a super special Paz kids!

It's going to be at Easter, at church in the main services — the Easter story.

Alright guys!

It's the intense part of Catan — deciding where to put your settlements!

You don't want to get this part wrong!

We love to celebrate spring break with friends, and this year we're invading the local zoo with a group as big as a school.

We made it.

Zoorasia Zoorasia.

Hello Elephant — bah!

Look- there's an elephant there, already!

I don't think they're bigger than that, right?

Here comes the Eisenmanns with their 5 boys.

Setting a world-record for Japan!

Minori, this is your first time here, right?

Have we been here before?

We have been here before, but you were little so you probably don't remember it.

New Caledonian Pigeon. Wow! How big was the old one?

We found some monkeys, dude!

They're just chilling up there— look!

He's like a sloth monkey, huh?

I like pandas. I like dogs.

You like dogs?

Yeah, because the kill any...

Hey, I like pandas and giraffes.

Oh, pandas and giraffes.

OK, coming up on the Tiger.

Bah! Ahhhh!

Ah, there he comes! Wow.

Oh my cutie, wutie-ness.

Hello! How are you today? I'm so happy.

Good! Nice of you to join us.

Heavy? Heavy!

Look, that guy has such a long tail!

That's some cool looking monkeys, huh?

Some little ones.

I can smell the pee.

What does the monkey say? What does the monkey say?

[Imitates monkey] That's right!

What do you see Sarah? A lion!

For real.

Do you see the lion, Joshua?

What's the lion doing?

What kind of face is he making?

He's making a normal face.

Oh, a normal face.

Did you wear out already? Yeah.

Just taking a little break then? Ok.

That's fine. You can take a little break.

Becca did you see this?

Animal Crossing

Animal Crossign! No it's not.

Hey John, it's kind of like Kurobe Gorge, only not quite as scary.

Whoa, what is this thing? What's it called?

The Golden Takin.

Golden Takin

What is going on here?!

Boy Sarah, you've got a good deal there.

Minori will do her best

Oh my freakin' kawaii!

What a cute little guy! Look at that!

His wing is so tiny — like oo.

And his body's so big. I think he can't fly.

Let's give Aunt Debbie a break. Thank you.

Hey! Hi! Konnichiwa!

How's the zoo?

Fun?

Sparkly

There he is. He was swimming.

There he goes! He's swimming!

There he goes!

He's so cute!

There's penguins! There's penguins?!

He's a good jumper!

Is there a Polar Bear here? Yeah, he just came out.

Hurry, he just came out! Oh go, Joshua, go!

We can see the Polar Bear.

Oh- Polar Bear!

Look at this troop here! Alright guys!

Good news! Lunch time!

Alright girls, good job.

Get the mat ready.

Ah Izzy cute! It's just your size.

That is so cute.

Wow- lunch time!

Oh look Becca! Cool.

Yummy! Yeah!

We're all ready to go! OK.

Yea, it's the funny nose one.

Look at the nose!

He's gonna say "Here's my funny nose."

Oh my! Look how big that tail is! What a nose!

Those monkeys can smell their breath real easy, because it's right there.

Oh my goodness! Oh wow, what a door!

Can I go in that door?

Did you see the nose on the monkey? Uh huh.

I did it! What did you do?

Come come come

He's like a little Ewok.

Everybody smile! Big smile!

We found it!

Wow! That's cool, huh?

Did you pick up a friend? I have a friend.

So let's go.

Too cute!

He won't even let go of our hand.

And now it's playground time and the kids are going to run all over the place!

Hey Izzy, whatcha doing?

I'm in Mickey Mouse clubhouse!

You're in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse? It kind of looks like it.

Oh my goodness! Wow! All of you fit in there?

I guess so.

Who did you pick up there, Ruth?

Oh, I picked up a little cuddle bug.

Look, he's got Zebra legs! Do you see that? Isn't that cool?

It's called the Okapi

Oh my goodness!

There's some monkeys just chilling, like Becca, right?

It has the strangest tail ever.

Yeah- there's some crazy... it's like a skunk monkey.

It's a "Skunkey"

Look, it's right there.

Look at that bird! Do you guys see it?

How do I say that?! The vulturine...

The Vulturine Guineafowl?

I think there's a "fowl" on the play

It look like a little house that you would maybe find in the Amazon too... Uh huh.

This house has ice cream in it! Oh my goodness!

Oh, it looks tasty

I got grape. And my favorite color.

Wow, that's good

What flavor do you have? Chocolate

Whoa! Fast, fast!

Do you like the flavor of the color purple? Mm huh.

Oh look, he's yawning. You can just barely see him.

Oh there he goes.

Here he comes!

He knows the lady's in there.

Where's my wife? I want to be with my wife.

I want to be with my wife, huh? Yeah!

There's the lioness There's the lady lion.

Wow, that's intense!

That's like you can feel it.

Here at the end of the day, everyone is pooped.

It's a good day but a lot of walking.

Just stand cute. Just stand cute. With your hands on your hips.

OK... 1, 2... smile at Mommy! No, just hands down.

Hands down!

1, 2, 3 smile.

1, 2, 3 look at me.

Good job!

Today is Easter! We're super excited!

Paz Church is going to be awesome today!

Check it out online or if you're close enough, come in person!

Easter is going!

Often when a new king came in, he came in on a donkey.

And the people of Israel were hoping that this was the king they were waiting so long for

Whether it's vacation with family, outings with friends, Easter celebrations or just enjoying the outdoors,

spring break is perhaps my favorite time of year in Japan.

There's only one problem. It's too short.

Break off little pieces, OK?

The birds are going to come and try to steal it.

Can you throw it? Can you throw it?

They don't eat bread! Ducks don't eat bread?!

Ducks do! I tried, but they didn't eat it.

I'm going to try feeding them. You're going to try feeding the ducks?

They didn't see it. They have to see it.

He still saw it! Maybe they're not hungry, huh?

This is a humongous bridge.

A "Huge-mongous?"

There's a shortcut, move please. Move please.

Parkour!

Where's Joey? Is he parkouring?

I did the other parkour! Good job.

There's more parkour?

Parkour.

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