Finally!! I feel like we have all been sick for the longest time, but I believe that because of your prayers we are finally 'genki' (fine, healthy). Thank you!
I wanted to share with you that we have started a new church...well, Caden did...kind of. As you can see from the picture at the left Caden started a Lego church. The men all actually stopped battling to attend a service. I love how the knight gives his sermon while holding a sword! That will captivate an audience. Are you taking notes Pastor Keith??
Now that we are better it has been back to studying in full force. I have a refreshed ambition to do well in school and I need that in order to keep on truckin'. All our vocabulary has been falling into place, but as far as kanji goes it's a losing battle...for me. Dana is outstanding at kanji! He has a way of remembering each kanji by putting it with a sentence. It's hard to explain over an email but it makes total sense. His sensei was so impressed that in the middle of Dana explaining his technique his sensei asked him to stop so he could grab a paper and pen to make notes. Dana was encouraged by that! For me, kanji wa totemo muzukashi desu. That means, kanji is very difficult. Thankfully all my Japanese friends agree with me.
Many of you are biting at the bit to know how Dana's meeting with M-san went. Well, it went awesome! Dana and I, as well as many of you, prayed about this meeting and the Lord definitely showed up at their meeting as well. Dana came home and said he had never presented the gospel like that. M-san wanted to meet with Dana about prayer. M-san has a very dedicated prayer life, but he's Buddhist and he's praying to the wrong God, therefore, he doesn't feel fulfilled and he's wondering why. It is completely apparent to us that God is calling M-san to him. So, the first thing Dana did was explain to M-san who the God we pray to is. He also took him through what the Bible says about prayer and how Jesus prayed. M-san was very responsive, but continued through the conversation to try to make a connection between Christianity and Buddhism. It will take time, love, care, and prayer for M-san's eyes to be completely opened, but I have a confidence that it will happen.
There is another encouragement from M-san's family. We went over to M-san's house that night to visit and be educated on a holiday that was on that day. While we were sitting and talking, M-san's wife, Y-san, pulled out the Manga Bible that we had given them. This Manga Bible takes you through the life of Jesus. She held it up and told us she had been reading it and that she finds herself wanting to know more and more about the man she is reading about. My face lit up so much I think I could've outdone the sun. I told her that if she ever had questions that I would love to answer them and if she wanted any more material I would be happy to get them for her in Japanese. She invited me to come to her house some time to learn Japanese flower arrangement (she is certified) and also to learn Japanese calligraphy. I am definitely taking her up on that!
Thank you so much for all of your prayers. Please know that you can write to us any time. We appreciate all of you and keep you in our prayers. Until next week....
