What Are We Trying to Say Here?

I'm not sure...

Of course, if it needs to be communicated clearly, you say it in Japanese. If you want to give an impression, you say it in English. Perhaps in the same way we use French to give something some "Savoir Faire"

...but this one's really odd, don't you think?

Signs of the TImes

English...and Chinese. This tells you about the boom in tourism in Japan.

However, this recruiting poster tells you about the exponential increase in foreign workers in Japan, as the population ages and decreases. 

Blame It on the Olympics

 November may seem like a strange month for a barbecue, but for over 10 years we've had one the first week of November and it's been sunny and cool, with no rain...ever.

This year however, the area of Harumi where we've held the barbecues is being converted to the Olympic Village for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

So that meant we had to improvise and hold them in a local park...until we heard the forecast.

And so it was that our barbecue became a picnic held in our meeting room. While Emi played games with the children, Carol and the moms talked about a project to help a C&MA pastor in the Philippines working with impoverished children. It was a good day! 

Karoshi

Ofuro Baptism

 Welcome to our apartment for a small baptismal service!

Unlike Keiko (see below) Ruri went old school in reading her testimony.

Yes, that's our "ofuro" or bathtub, that we're using. 

I made a mistake in one of the Chinese characters in Ruri's name, on the certificate of baptism.

Jacuzzi Baptism

  In central Tokyo, we're operating on a facilities-free basis, renting by the hour. That makes baptisms a challenge. We reserved a deluxe room with a big whirlpool for a recent baptism.

We're now in the "reading my testimony from my smartphone" era.

Our colleague Don Love with Keiko

Any major event in Japan demands a commemorative photograph, and a baptism is definitely a major event.

Happy Science University?

Yes, that's right! Close to where we shop for our vegetables, the HSU campus.

Happy Science is one of the new religions in Japan. It has a "Prosperity Buddhism" appeal, but is regarded by the press and by many people as a cult. This is one reason why people are nervous about "religion" 

Yet, with a relationship established, we have found people who do have interest in the Bible when they can study in an honest, open and informal setting.