I have been meaning to post this for a while but just haven’t gotten around to it. We had a blast celebrating Christmas here in Japan and it was so exciting to see the ways that God was working. He is so good. Here are some photos and highlights from the season:
Translation Appreciation Dinner
The school threw a dinner to show appreciation for the many people who translated an Astronomy textbook for the elementary classes. It has been wonderful for all the elementary kids (in both the English and Japanese tracks) to get to take this class together this year. We are so thankful for the many people who used their time and gifts to make it possible. It was a festive night of celebrating, and even getting to hear a talk by a visiting professor of Astronomy. We had a great time helping to prepare and serve the dinner, as well as enjoying the festive atmosphere with friends.
Elementary Kids’ Christmas Party
We really had fun one Friday after school, having all the elementary students over for a Christmas party. We are so thankful that God has not only called these children’s parents into ministry here in Japan, but that he has called each one them too. Eric really enjoys getting to teach these kids, and the girls and I always have a great time when we get to hang out too. Noa LOVES going to the school over lunch break. We actually watched the movie (the Polar Express) in Japanese since most of the kids are bilingual or trilingual anyway. It was such a fun afternoon.
Toke Kids’ Christmas Party
It was so fun to help our friends, the Nagata’s throw a Christmas party one Sunday morning for the kids in their neighborhood. We sang, played games, made crafts, they heard the Christmas story, and Santa Clause even showed up again this year (but Eric made me promise not to post photos of that part).
Sumodon Christmas Party
We had a great time at the Sumodon (our Church’s young adults group) Christmas party. Me and several friends made homemade pizza for the evening and had a ton of fun getting ready. The party was a blast and we met so many new people, many who came to the church building for the first time.
Other fun stuff
We had our last Moms’ and Kids’ club of the year and I was so encouraged to realize what a great community of moms we have who come regularly. I am so excited for our meetings in this new year. This is Noa with her friend Mirai whose mom helps to run Moms’ and Kids’.Noa calls him “Rai Rai” and they are good friends.
My friend Chizuka teaches hip hop dance classes and her students had their first recital on the 23rd. It was so exciting to finally get to watch these kids who we pray for together and to see them dancing their little hearts out to worship music. I am so excited that they have Chizuka in their lives and I can’t wait to see how the Lord continues to use her gifts and love for kids for His kingdom here in Japan.
I got to visit with my dear childhood friend, Sayaka, and her mom on the 26th. She is an airline stewardess so we don’t get to see eachother often, but it was such a treat to get together for coffee at my mom’s on the 26th.
And some Sister Sweetness (for good measure):
We had a fabulous time a few weekends ago, remembering Christ’s birth through acting out the nativity story with the students from school. Thank you for praying, and please continue to pray with us that many were touched and realized the true miracle of Christmas.
The heavenly host, appearing to the shepherds (and animals):
The Hallelujah Chorus, worshipping the newborn King:
The star that led the wise men:
Carpenter Joseph (aka Eric) worked really hard on this star this last week and I am really impressed with how it turned out 
Wise Guys Men:
Shepherdesses:
It is so exciting to me that this, Noa’s third Christmas, is probably the first year she will begin to understand that Christmas is about Jesus’ birth. We have loved playing with Nativity sets and reading books, and talking all about Baby Jesus. Last week, when looking at gifts under a tree she said to my sister, “Baby Jesus, present. Died on the cross.” It’s been so exciting to see her make the connection between the Baby in the manger, and the Man on the cross. May the Holy Spirit continue to make the story of salvation real in her heart.
She loved watching the Nativity, her favorite part being when the “Angels say Ha-ye-yu-ya!!!” She came up right away after it to check out the baby Mama was holding and realized it was one of hers! (Hope that wasn’t too confusing to her!)
Merry Christmas!!
It’s that time of year again!
CCSI will put be putting on “A Living Nativity” tonight and tomorrow, twice each evening. Please pray that the Lord would use this to show many people the miracle of Christ’s birth and the salvation available through Him. Please also pray that it wouldn’t rain tonight. The weather says 70% chance, but we know our God isn’t a God of chances, right?
With school being out, Eric has a variety or responsibilities and jobs. One of the Japanese school board members is going to the states next month and wanted a document to give people about CCSI and also how one could support the school. Enjoy!
Above is a picture of our daily Japanese stretching time. We listen to a song in Japanese that directs us how to stretch ( I do not understand most of the Japanese, but I follow Ai-Sensai who is stretching next to me on the right). This is one of the many cultural activities that we share. Stretching is important enough for every Japanese student to take a break from their very busy schedule and stretch each morning.
Much like our muscles needing to be pulled, sometimes in an uncomfortable way, I am realizing that our lives with Christ need to be stretched daily as well. The more we are stretched (especially when we think something is impossible) the more we are forced to depend on the wonderful grace of Christ Jesus, and not on our always tempting works of our own flesh.
One practical way that this happens is through Covenant Community School International. CCSI is a school that is constantly stretching. It has too, to survive as one of the few (possibly only) schools in the country to combine a Christian education with homeschooling, as well as an English section of the school and a Japanese section. There are many times where I do not know where the time, money, energy, people, wisdom, or help is going to come from, yet in my short 8 months here God has continually provided abundantly for this school. There are times when it is uncomfortable for the staff, students, and/or parents, and each time God provides answers and resources. Please pray for all of us, as this school is stretched and God continually provides. Pray for Robert Stewart, for wisdom, as he is the headmaster of the school. Please pray for Ai-san as she is not only teaching the Japanese children full-time, but also creating a Japanese-Christian elementary curriculum and helping with most of the many translating needs of a bilingual school. Please pray for the 21 students, that they would grow in their understanding of God’s grace and that they would share Christ’s love with many.
Tonight we had our first Christmas performance with the school. The Lord really blessed all of the logistics of it and everything went off pretty much problem-free. Whe are doing a living nativity, where there is music and narration (pre-recorded) and the cast just acts, without saying anything. We did two performances tonight and will do two more tomorrow night. It was very exciting to see all the people that came out tonight to watch, especially to see some of my English students from the community. Things went so well, and there was such a great response, that we are really praying that even more people will come out tomorrow evening. The narration gives an awesome Gospel presentation, and it was very clear tonight what a great outreach opportunity this really is. Please pray with us that the Lord would bring many people tomorrow night to hear the good, true news of Christ coming to save sinners. Please pray that he would prepare hearts for the message and that he would use this outreach greatly for his Kingdom work here in Japan.
I’m posting some pictures from tonight’s performance, maybe we will be able to get a video on here sometime soon, too.
Inside the school building, there was a really neat coffee house set up for people to warm up and sit and enjoy music. The kids have been preparing Christmas carolls to sing and they did great!
