Megan's Home from Greece!

This promotional video will give you an idea of what Megan's been up to the past month.

Harumi Reunion in Singapore

Home assignment isn't home assignment anymore. We've been to Penang Malaysia in January, and to Bandung Indonesia in April for meetings with our regional leadership team for Asia Spice. Since flying on a low cost carrier meant a layover in Singapore, we were glad to reconnect with some Harumi and Toyosu "alumni" who have relocated to Singapore and are enjoying life there. We're thankful for one woman who is continuing to study the Word in a local Japanese church there. 

Are You Surprised?

CRASH Japan is the relief organization Carol and I volunteered with as it was gearing up immediately following the tsunami, and we've been to the disaster area several times with CRASH.

When you consider how many tsunami survivors are elderly, and how many still have mortgages on homes that were destroyed, it's no surprise the number of people living in temporary housing has not declined. Many Christian organizations are intentionally connecting with these people to build relationships. If you're having trouble reading the numbers on the left, it's still around the 300,000 range.

Getting Creative

With congregations gathering in rented meeting rooms, baptismal services are a challenge. Tokyo Bay is too cold this time of year! 

A deluxe hotel room with ensuite jacuzzi (and spectacular view) is a creative alternative

Mrs. Kojima recently decided to be baptized...

...and her husband also very recently made a profession of faith and was baptized at the same time!

Here are the Kojima men together. 

On the Road Again

We're coming to a location near you! Carol and I enjoy speaking on Sundays together, but we're also enjoying our times with small groups, seniors groups, youth groups, men's breakfasts, women's lunches and anything else that comes our way.

We look forward to putting one of these prayer cards in your hand when we see you somewhere in Ontario.

When It Snows in Tokyo...

...everyone, sumo wrestlers included,  is enlisted to help out. If you are traveling any distance in Japan in the winter, you need to have tire chains. The highways won't let you proceed without putting them on when there's snow on the road.

There's definitely snow on the road in Tokyo, because it doesn't get plowed. Why bother when it usually melts quickly, and everyone has tire chains?

I'm still thinking of a good caption for this picture.

Family Christmas in Japan

Well, not our family. We're on home assignment in Canada, but there was a family Christmas celebration in Harumi on Sunday, and you'd never guess what was featured at it...

Gospel Hula! Since hula is a dance that tells a story, it's inevitable someone would think of this, and Kimiyo, the woman on the left, is a former dance instructor who of course connected enthusiastically with this. You can see Kimiyo and two other women from the Harumi Praise Time interviewed on the video clip below.
CGN Report on Gospel Hula