GRIT approaches!!!
Well, we are only a few weeks away from the start of GRIT 2008. That means I am hard at work making copies of material, preparing lessons, taking stuff to camp, going over supply lists, making schedules for everything from preaching to cleaning, and in general trying to be as prepared as I can for everyones arrival on May 15th. Oh, I am also trying to meet people and develop relationships here in Kikuyo! In my spare time I think about the Japanese study that I need to be doing, just before I drift off to sleep...
April in Japan is Cherry blossom time! We have had our picnic under the blossoms even though it was a little chilly that day. It is interesting to watch the news and see them follow the line of "prime cherry blossom viewing" as it moves from the South to the North with rising spring temperatures.
Skinny pigs, dead guppies, and such is life...
Well, I suppose I should begin by saying that we are in mourning for two dead guppies...apparently they brought home some kind of tail rot that was too much to handle along with the stress of a new home. We are hoping the others don't die as well. We have 4 babies now and 2 adult females still holding on. Go guppies!
We visited a pet department last week and saw a Guinea pig. Cameron came home and told Susan about the trip and was all excited about the "Skinny Pig" that we saw!
Friday we drove to camp to begin preparations for GRIT this summer. We took a load of stuff and did a little cleaning and airing out of blankets and futons. We are really praying that in the future the camp will be used more that 2 or two weeks out of the year as it is currently. GRIT using it for 8 weeks will be a step in the right direction!
Saturday we left early and went to Miyakonojo for out monthly ABWE team meeting. We returning home around 3pm and I unloaded the van and went to Kumamoto to a RC car track to watch a race and see if I could meet a few new people. I was successful on both accounts! Please pray for some fruitful relationships from these contacts.
Monday is our day off and a day of prayer. We cleaned the house and ran a few errands during the day and then Sue Hahn came over for supper and a time of prayer for the work here in Kikuyo. Thanks for joining us in prayer!
To God be the glory!
Home alone!!!
Susan and the other ABWE ladies are on a retreat, for three days! And I am home alone with the kids. So far so good. We have been keeping busy and even having fun occasionally.
I have been using some time at night to get our quarterly video ready to send out. I think I will be able to get it finished this week and start sending out copies in a few days.
We will be making a trip to camp this week. We need to start getting things ready for GRIT, starting in just one month! Aaaagh! Back to work...
Home Alone!!! ....with 3 kids....
Susan is off at a ladies retreat... she left me with the kids.... for three days....
So far so good though, we hit the park and McD's before coming home for naps. Only 5 hours left to make it through the first day!
In other news, Sunday night three ladies came to the ladies bible study. Susan and Sue Hahn are going to do a great job. Hopefully a few more people will join as time goes on. For me, I am still trying to make contacts with men in the area. I have a few, mostly through biking or rc cars. Most churches that I know of struggle to get men, particularly men who are willing and capable of leadership. We will do our best and trust that it is in the Lord's very capable hands.
The kids have been asking for pets, everything from dogs and rabbits to dolphins and poisonous centipedes. So, we have guppies. And we already have babies! Cameron also has started a roly poly colony ) mom is less than thrilled... I also met the owner of a beetle supply company who provided us with a few pairs of breeder beetles (Ookuwagata, Kabutomushi, and Golofa pelagon - look them up on Google...impressive). I will add some pictures to the website later. It's turning into a regular farm around here!
Beginning Life in Kikuyo...
Well, we haven't TOTALLY finished unpacking but we are far enough along that I feel OK leaving it and getting out and learning something about our new neighborhood. I have meet three men in the past two weeks who have been really friendly, Mr. Morishige, Akira, and Ichiro. If we are to reach men, we have to begin by meeting them and developing relationships. Along those lines, Akira is taking me to a cycling group that meets every Tuesday evening at 8pm. Pray for new contacts!
Sue Hahn moved to Kikuyo this week. She and Susan will be starting a Ladies Bible study next weekend. Two or three ladies from the Geisler's Bible study are interested in attending. As seems to be common for churches in Japan, we are starting with mostly Ladies interested in the Bible. One reason is that most churches have more women working and making contacts! Pray for men to step forward and out in to God's harvest field, we need more laborers!
