I drive a minicar

Last year when my parents were here and gas was Skyhigh my mother commented that maybe in America everyone will drive mini cars like us. My wife and I drive two mini-cars which are called Keicars in Japan. Would I ever drive them in America, probably not.

Japan and probably much of Europe are well suited for small cars for a couple of reasons: mass transit for longer trips and exclusive local city driving.
We only do local city driving and when traveling any distance use trains or buses. Japan has a highway system and it even cuts through the city I live in, but I have never driven on it. The local city roads we drive on are marked at 50 or 60 kmh max (30-40 mph). The roads here are also very narrow and large vehicles just do not navigate them well.

So when you live in a land of no high speed head on collisions like Japan small mini cars are fine. That land is not America though, I would never drive the cars I have now on American roads. Maybe in Guam though were the top posted speed limit on the island is 45 and that is only one small stretch.

New School New Opportunities

Today I had the welcome party at the new school I will be teaching at. I was one of 17 new teachers at this welcome party attended by about 60+ staff at the school. One of the Japanese teachers I know who teaches there is a Christian and has told some of the other staff who are Christians about me. One woman introduced herself to me with the opening words in a whisper, "I am a Christian too."

This new school contract is by the teaching hour and not a full time job allowing for more ministry time. One of the classes at our home is changing from an English class to a Bible Study Class. Though at the start it will only be 3 people, a Christian woman named Chikako, my wife, and myself I think it will grow (God willing). We praise God for his goodness and proclaim, "We are followers of Christ."

Met a Man looking for a Church Yesterday

Last night I was eatting out and a man who had seen me arround said hello. As I was by myself (Kazumi was away for a class she is taking) I asked to share his table. We talked and he told me he was a Christian and had moved to the area last November. He had become a Christian while studying at a college in Texas. Well we shared our testimonies with each other and I explained the status of the churches in area and was able to help him find a church that might match what he was looking for. I drew him a map and gave him the name of contact and he gave me his email address and phone number to stay in touch with him. Divine Appointments are the easiest to Keep.

Tentmaking and Business

One thing I am finding out about Japan is the hard side of doing business. I do not like it but it can't be helped. The English Teaching business is very cut throat. God has blessed us but it has been like walking a type rope some times. As it is all contract work, there was a situation in which someone asked to cut my pay when someone came in and bid lower.

It is the game of business. I do not go out and target other schools like ours but I also realize that I always need to act in what makes the best sense. At times that means expanding in what someone else thinks as their territory. As we set up a classroom and ministry, Lord willing in front of the station, many area churches and schools will feel threatened.

For example if we start something, we will need teachers so I have been talking to some of the area teachers I know who are under paid about working with us. Well the people who under pay them are also acquaintances of mine. They are not happy about maybe losing teachers. Also the 2 pastors in this city of 45,000 will not be happy about us starting something as they will see it as competition.

In the end I am reminded of the parable of the talents. We can fear criticism and hide our gifts in the ground so as not to offend someone, or be good stewards; and that means business.

Cherry Growing in Faith

Cherry is growing in faith and it is exciting to see. I got her the cartoon series The Flying House for her birthday last month. It is a cartoon about some kids stuck in a time machine that go back and visit Bible times. CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) produced the cartoon in Japan in the early 80s. I had seen it in America but the Japanese language version is much better.

The last week she has watched The Story of Jesus for Children produced by Campus Crusade International. From the Flying House she knew much of the content except Jesus death and resurrection. (I only bought the first half of The Flying House set as the whole set was over $500.) The Story of Jesus for Children is great and you can see it online. She watched it over and over again and explained to me about how Jesus was the Son of God, died on a cross, and then rose from the dead. My niece who is 6 and from a non-christian home came over and Cherry wanted to show her the Jesus Story and tell her about Jesus. My niece only watches Sponge Bob Square Pants. Riko, my niece, had no interest. But it made me realize the need for Cherry to have Christian friends as she grows up. It is not enough for us to teach Cherry we must reach Japan. Cherry and all Christians in Japan need a strong Church. God is establishing it for his glory.

Thank you for your Prayers

About 3 weeks ago I asked for prayer concerning a coming meeting with an area school. I believed the meeting would turn into a contract negotiation and it did. In the meeting I was offered a job and pay was discussed. Thanks to God who bestows favor and honor and your prayers, they raised the pay rate twice in the meeting and it came in where I had hoped.

Well the deal needed to go to the board for approval and it did. They raised it another 15% above what was agreed upon in our meeting. This contract is for 10 to 13 hours of teaching a week in a part time status. This provides us a stable income and enough spare time to launch a ministry in the area.

Now I ask for wisdom in what to set up in the building in front of the station. The planning on this will be very difficult. Over Christmas break we will be choosing and putting in some carpet, in my uncle-in-law's building.

Kazumi's knees are doing better now that she using a desk instead of being on the floor Japanese style. I told her months ago that the way Japanese people sit on the floor would make her knees go bad. She did not believe me until she could not walk. Now we have more chairs and sofas than before. PTL. I am not a big fan of getting up from sitting on the floor.

Returned From America

First, thanks to everyone we had a chance to see in America. Well we are back in Japan and this will be just a short note. One of Kazumi's student's mothers, who had been battling cancer, died the day we returned. The woman had been a head nurse at a hospital, she is survived by her 6 year old daughter who studies in our home.
We did not share this in many circles but Kazumi's father has cancer and had his voice box removed while we where in America and will no longer be able to speak. The type of cancer he has is very aggressive with an 80% death rate within 5 years. Kazumi's father is not a Christian nor the family of the mother who died this past week.
Pray for the gospel to move forward in Japan to give hope to the hopeless and eternal life to those facing death.