Baptisms!

Baptisms are so exciting! On earth, and in Heaven, there is rejoicing that another soul has been won for God's Kingdom!! Recently in my church, New Life International Church, we had two young adults get baptized! Praise God, he is alive and at work in the hearts of Asian people!

The first to be baptized was Cho Kun.

"kun" is a Japanese term of endearment used for boys, like saying "little Cho." He came to Japan from China one year ago to attend Eiwa University, the same campus where our church meets. Adeng, my boyfriend, was and is instrumental in bringing Chinese students to church, and helping meet their needs as they arrive from China. Last year Adeng had a gyoza party, and invited many new Chinese students to attend. Many of these students also started coming to our church, and are still attending! Cho was the first to give his life to Christ, and we already see evidence of God's hand at work, helping others strenthen their faith too! Hallelujah!

This is Cho Kun and a friend making gyoza (Chinese dumplings) last year, upon arrival.

The second to be baptized was my dear friend Priscilla Chau.

She is from Hong Kong, and came to Japan one year ago to study Japanese at a language school. Priscilla has had God working in her heart for many years, but didn't commit her life to Christ until she started coming to church in Japan, and was encouraged to take the next step. Now Priscilla and I meet once a week for devotions and prayer, to help her build a stronger faith and get in the habit of reading God's word and praying. She is also a member of our Thursday night English Bible study group (which always ends up being bilingual= awesome!!)

Below, from right, Ewah, Priscilla, and me, at my apartment for Bible study!

Please join me in prayer for our new brother Cho Kun, and sister Priscilla, as they begin their new walk with Jesus.

Bible study girls below, from left, Ramona (Jamaica), Bethany (Washington state), Joy (Iowa), Ewah (Hong Kong), Chaung (S. Korea), Kari (Hong Kong).

*I mentioned our Thursday night Bible study. There are 6-8 girls who attend regularly, and we have a blast studying, praying, laughing, crying, and eating together. Our home countries include: Jamaica, Hong Kong, Mongolia, S. Korea, & America. This group has helped each one of us girls as we are all living in Japan, away from our families, and striving to survive in a foreign culture. God is working in each of our lives, and sharing his blessings has been powerful!

Recently, we Americans introduced Mexican tacos to our Hong Kong friends. They really liked them! What fun to share our cultures through food :)

~Spring in Nippon~

Winter has finally subsided and spring is slowly creeping into Japan. Spring brings the most beautiful of landscapes in this country. Spring (in Japanese "haru") means that all the plum (ume), peach (momo), and cherry (sakura) trees bloom, and the whole countryside becomes one big pink puff! It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. The pink flowers, above, are peach blossoms. The cherry blossom in Japan carries a very significant meaning to Japanese people. I will quote (indirectly) from a book, because the author puts it so well ....


"Cherry blossoms are a very important part of Japanese spirit. They do not fade or wither like other flowers. At the height of beauty, they drop. You see birth, beauty, death. Sakura season is the end and beginning of the Japanese school season. The Japanese fiscal season. Everything. "
~ From "Moon Over Tokyo" by Siri L. Mitchell.


Interesting, isn't it? One great tradition that comes with Sakura (cherry blossom) season is called "hanami" which literally means "flower watching." Offices, schools, families, you name it, will have hanami parties where they picnic and relax all day underneath the cherry trees, just enjoying the blossoms, and the magical shower of flower petals when the breeze blows. These parties are so popular, that some businesses will stake out or rent a "spot" in a park, even the year before. Then they'll send the man on the bottom of the totem pole to go lay blue tarps and sit in their site, very early in the morning, on the day of the party. The Japanese are serious about their sakura. I hope to attend a party this year, however I live amongst peach orchards. They're only a stroll away, and for free. Nice!


As the season for school change rapidly approaches, I'm preparing for change too. Next year I will not teach with my teaching partner, and dear friend, Sachimi Sensei. She will be moving. I'm not sure what my "post" will be next school year; the BOE could change my schedule to teach at other schools. Actually, every teacher faces this same possibility for change. Can you imagine-you are a 3rd grade teacher this year, but in one weeks' time (last week of March) you could receive news that you're being transferred to another school, maybe 45 minutes away, and you'll be moved to 1st grade. You have one week to prepare. Good luck! ... YIKES! But that's just the way it works here. I've never heard a Japanese teacher complain about it.



Here are some cute pictures from school recess. My girls are SO talented at the unicycle. It is my goal to unicycle in Japan before I leave!

Here, the boys are making paper flowers (yes BOYS making FLOWERS!), Preparing for the 6th grade graduation ceremony. The students all prepare to send the 6th graders off by decorating the gym, preparing performances and cards ... you name it, they do it! They are so awesome!