Well, Eric finished up school on Friday for the next two weeks, and we have had a great Christmas season so far, celebrating in many new ways with many new friends. However, we are realizing that we need to pace ourselves a bit, as there is so much to do and so many great opportunities at this time of year. All three of us are quite sick and our house sounds like a coughing chorus. I took Noa to the doctor on Thursday morning because she was running a pretty high fever and was not herself. She is doing significantly better now, though she’s still coughing a lot, like Eric and I.
Tomorrow is a big day for the congregation at Toke (the church plant we’ve been attending) as we will have our first ever candle-light service in that town. I am particularly hoping that some of my English students who live there will attend. Please pray for this service, that God would be glorified as we celebrate Christ’s birth in a town where there has never been such a celebration. Also, we would ask for you to pray for our family. We are pretty worn out physically but are longing to be involved in several events over the next few days. Pray for strength when we need it, and discernment for when to stay home and get well. Here is a picture of our sick girl who has been quite the cuddler these last few days. Pretty much all she’s wanted to do is read books and snuggle. 
Right now (hoping that we will all be feeling much better), we plan on spending Christmas morning as a family at home, joined for a late brunch by two guys on our team and two Japanese girls who are good friends. In the afternoon we will head over to my parents’ house to spend the rest of the day and have our Christmas feast. We are excited as this is our first Christmas as a family to be in our own house on Christmas Eve and Morning, and to have some time with just the 3 of us on this holiday. We will so miss our family far away! But we’re so thankful for the gift of each other and that my parents and several siblings are close by to join for part of the day.
I probably won’t get around to posting again til after Christmas, but be sure to check in for pictures late in the week.
We so appreciate you keeping up with us and especially for your prayers for our family and Japan. May you have a very Merry Christmas, as there is so much to be joyful about! May the miracle of Christmas – God becoming man to save sinners, Light finally coming to a dark and waiting world – truly bring merriment in your hearts and homes.
“God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing ye dismay. REMEMBER, CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY! To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray. O tidings of comfort and joy!”
Merry Christmas!!
Love it– Love you! Have a very merry Christmas, Noll Family!!
Praying that you all feel better very soon, and are able to rest, both physically and spiritually, during this season, as you reflect on God’s gift to us!