As a life long native of Southern California, Snow was never something I had to deal with on a daily basis. It was always something that I went to visit, played around in, and then returned home to my warm home on the coast. But this past week saw the seasons first big snow here in Morioka, and I’m learning all kinds of things. For instance, if you don’t clear the snow off the top of your car, it will all fall onto your windshield the first time you stop at the bottom of a hill. Also, even if you have 4WD and snow tires, a patch of ice right before a stop light is a terrifying thing. Please pray for our safety, particularly on the roads as we learn to drive in these conditions. This is going to take some getting used too. On the bright side, Titus loves the stuff.
Tomo has been keeping busy helping out church. Last Sunday she chopped vegetables for a church lunch and then played piano for the worship service. Our church also decided to put together a women’s choir for Christmas, and Tomo was asked to play piano for that as well. She also participated in the church wreath making outreach event, and just spent the better part of her evening tonight making a sheep costume for Titus to wear in the Christmas pageant tomorrow.
Language school has taken up most of my time for the last few weeks. Since the beginning of December I’ve had 7 Japanese tests, including the JLPT level N4 test, which is a four hour long three part test, and a two-day, 6 part final exam for the winter quarter at my language school. Over all the tests have been helpful, and I think will give me a good idea of where my strengths and weaknesses lie. I seem to be doing fairly well with the grammar and pronunciation, but I’m struggling with learning all the vocabulary and Kanji. Overall I think I am still on track to meet my original goal of being able to pass the N2 test at the end of my two years of language study, and in fact my teacher is encouraging me to try to go beyond that and study for the highest, N1 level test.
Tomorrow at Church we’ll have a children’s outreach program, featuring the aforementioned Christmas pageant, and a children’s hand bell choir. This coming Friday is the Christmas English Cafe, where I’ll be giving the Bible message (in English). Pray that this season they, and many others throughout this city and prefecture will learn why the coming of Christ is cause for celebration all over the world.
Thank you for your prayers, support and partnership. After 9 months of living here, we’re still at the very, very beginning of seeing what God will do. Thank you for your patience and perseverance in continuing to lift us up and support us as we prepare for many years of labor and service in this country, in the hopes of seeing God do something that has never been seen before in the history of this nation; opening the eyes and hearts of the people to know and love Him.