We hope everyone has had an enjoyable weekend and Monday. Since the conclusion of the Otawara program last Friday, the team has had the opportunity to take a few breaks over the weekend and get back to the swing of things with the Nasu English camp this week.
On Saturday we went with Ohashi-sensei and Pat to an amusement park nearby with ninjas.
The park had various attractions and shows based around ninjas, however they were too stealthy, and we weren't able to get many pictures.
Luckily food doesn't move.
On Sunday we attended the church service, after which a member of the church and some friends took us out to see a festival in a nearby city. He said it was the largest festival in the prefecture and given the crowds, that was easy to believe.
Thus concluded the weekend and preparations commenced for the Nasu English program. The story around how this program emerged is actually quite interesting. Originally the intention was that the Otawara program would run 2 weeks, with one week for the elementary students and the second dedicated towards kindergartners. Due to some scheduling issues with the kindergartners though, the entire second half of the program was combined with the first week and the Nasu program was suddenly added on as an option for students in that city. (Nasu is a city about 45min north of Otawara that is famous for its eggplants and countryside and snakes)
At the beginning of our trip and work in Otawara, about 5 kids had signed up for the program. Somehow throughout the course of the week and up til today when we were driving there, about 16 kids total has signed up for the classes. We later learned from Ohashi sensei that through a series of interesting events, the church was allowed to advertise to 3 schools in the area, something that generally prohibited by the schools. The 3 schools in total had a population of around 300 kids.
In all the changes to this second week, I think I was able to see God's constant work in our lives and in this ministry here. Sometimes I think the things the church attempts here just might be impossible, but am reminded that in following after God, all these things He has called us to are indeed possible.
Bible study at the Nasu program.
This might be a longer update as the end of the class wasn't the end of the day, sorry. Some of the mothers of the Otawara program invited us over to dinner this week as a thank you for coming to Japan.
Today we visited Manami-san house. Her children Fumiya and Momoka have attended the program since the first year and she's been an active participant in the English program. I am always surprised at how kindly she has treated us as visitors, and all her work in helping us with the program as well as caring for us the other times. This year's surprise was having us over at her house and preparing small presents not only for the members of the team but also for those who were on the team in the past as well. At her house, she also asked us why we became Christian and we were able to share a little bit of our story with her.
Somen noodle machine. You put noodles on top and try to catch them before they hit the bottom. Momoka on the far left and Fumiya is on the left.
The noodles were just the beginning...
Prayer Requests:
- Christy's stay with the team was only intended to be one week and she is currently flying back to the States :(. Please pray for her safe travel.
- As the Nasu program is growing, please pray that the kids through the English, songs, and Bible study will have the seeds of Jesus planted in their hearts.
- Manami-san is not a Christian but has been attending the Bible studies and discussions with members of the church. Please pray for her heart to be transformed and for her to see Christ's love in her life.
- As we will meet two other families soon, please pray for the Lord to be working in these relationships and in their hearts.
Thank you for reading and God bless!
Will
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