Furlough and More

As usual, the past few months have been very full. From the middle of January, I was able to spend about 5 weeks in America.

I traveled by car from Illinois to Wyoming and then to Tennessee. Along the way, I was blessed to visit with several of my supporters and share about the work in Japan. It was, of course, pretty exhausting to travel all that way by myself, but it was so important and really wonderful to see so many good friends. Thank you to everyone who listened to me talk a lot about Japan and God work here and all the people that I love.

I also got two sweet weeks with my family. My sister's wedding was beautiful. And it was good to have a little bit of a family vacation. Thanks to Megan and Taylor for inviting us to crash your honeymoon. I am so thankful for our time together.

And because it was furlough, there was also the issue of raising funds so that I can continue to work in Japan. God blessed that element too. Although my support situation remains a little unstable, I didn't loose some of the support that I thought I would. And I was blessed with a couple of new supporters. As I look at the next year or two, I remain short $300-$400 per month. In the next couple of months a few of my supporters are moving and changing job situations, so I am not sure what that will mean. Please pray with me about this, and please be on the lookout on my behalf for people and churches that might be able to send a little financial support my way.

In Japan, this is season of transition. March is the end of the fiscal year and the end of the school year -- everything in Japan seems to come to a close in March and start again in April. So that means that we are saying, "Farewell," to several of those who have been teaching English in Mito and serving God with Mito church. In April we will welcome a group of new teachers. I am sad to watch my friends go, but I am looking forward to getting to know the new ones who will arrive in about a month. It is a joy when we can all worship and serve together.

One of the ministries in which we all can serve together is the English Bible Class ministry. We had our closing party on March 4th -- and it was a great success. I was in America until about a week before the party. So I am especially thankful for all the teachers who worked hard to make the party a really great end to this year's EBC ministry.

This year Joel is hosting the Asia Mission Forum, and he has asked me to help with the registration. I am blessed by the opportunity to be part of preparing for this time together. This year's AMF will be held at the end of July in Kuching (Borneo, Malaysia). Please pray with me that this will be a time of refreshing and learning and connecting for missionaries and ministry workers from all over Asia.

At the end of this month, I celebrate two years in Mito. I am so thankful for the relationships that God has blessed me with -- it is so good to be part of his kingdom. And I am thankful for the opportunity I have to serve in Mito and grow with this group of people.

Please pray with me . . .

~that God will continue to heal the hearts of those touched by last year's disaster, and that he will continue to be with us as we try to be his hands, his feet, his voice here.

~for God to continue to guide the Mito church family to unity in him.

~that I will see the chances that God provides for me to build relationships that encourage and strengthen my friends and bring glory to him.

~that we will be full of hope -- hope in God, hope in one another, hope for the good things God will do through us and for us.