Children's Christmas Program

On Saturday, December 5th, we had our Children's Christmas event. Two of our youth boys and one of their friends, handed out fliers to local elementary school kids as the kids were walking home from school (all kids walk to & from school...no buses) the week before the event. Taka was really impressed that these boys took off from their club activities (a very big deal) that day to help out in this ministry. Our 2 junior high youth boys are probably the only Christians in their school, so we were really encouraged that they would excuse themselves from club and joyfully pass out fliers. Taka says he would've been too embarassed to do that when he was in JHS. Some fruit of these boys' work...6 kids came to our Christmas program for the first time! Two neighborhood boys who sometimes come to our Sunday school also came, as well as some other neighborhood kids and our church kids for a total of 15. The turnout was lower than usual (the weather was really rainy & windy which may have been a cause), but none the less, we are thankful for the kids who came and were able to hear about Jesus, the reason for the season. The photos show the flow of the event, minus the game time because I was busy chasing Mika around! PHOTOS: Mika in the 3rd floor AV room (we were in charge of the power point for the songs)....Gathering to pray before the kids came...Yokoyama-san & Kitani-san leading the Christmas songs...Some of the kids (can you find Mika & daddy) dancing...Taka sharing from the Word about the meaning of Christmas....A Christmas puppet show for the kids

Thanksgiving International Cafe

On Saturday, the 21st of Nov., we had an International Cafe outreach event with the theme of Thanksgiving. Attendance to the previously monthly International Cafe dropped in the beginning of the year, so it was eventually changed to a "Movie Night" outreach, so this was the first International Cafe in months. Our English ministry teachers, Washiela and Miki, headed up the Cafe. This time they asked that people make reservations so they'd know how many to cook for, setting an initial limit of 40 people. Well, that eventually turned into 60! Washiela's eyes got bigger and bigger as she heard the number increasing. With thanks & prayers we decided it was a good "problem" to have and Washiela was able to find someone to pick up 2 more turkeys (from a Costco that's a 2-hour drive from here). It was nice to see many people come whom we haven't seen in a long time, many new faces, and it was also really encouraging that many (probably the most ever) church members came to help. One of my students came with his wife and daughter and another student brought her daughter and 2 of her friends. The meal was wonderful and everyone enjoyed it. I had to leave early b/c of Mika's bedtime, but the dinner was followed by dessert & Miki sharing the history of Thanksgiving, and Washiela shared about to Whom we are thankful to, and especially thankful for the indescribable gift of Jesus. Taka translated for the evening. The 23rd was "Labor Thanksgiving Day" in Japan. I looked up the holiday on Wikipedia and it says "The law establishing this holiday cites it as an occasion for commemorating labor and production and giving thanks to one another." We are thankful that so many could come and hear about God, from whom all blessings flow & whose "love endures forever." Oh, & 5 people came to our church service the next day! PHOTOS: First 3 are of the "getting to know you" game that was played as an icebreaker (you may be able to spot Taka all the way at the front as he was trying to help explain the game:)...Mika & Nodoka, a girl from church who I used to teach...Picture of people taking pictures of the turkey. It was the first time for many to eat/see cooked turkey, so many gathered around it to take pics....2 shots of Mika was one of my students, her daughter & friends...Hitomi, who is originally from Thailand came for the first time in a long time...and finally MY turkeys posing with the turkey:)