Also got the car out of shaken (inspection) last night. $900 something for the inspection and gov't fees, and another $800 for brakes, tires and CV boots. It actually looks pretty good inside since part of the crazy costs of doing this every 2 years includes cleaning the car up. And they changed the oil for free they said. This is all the Japanese version of cash for clunkers program, but it is in reverse- the car owner pays a lot of cash and the gov't OK's you to drive your clunker for another 2 years. The mechanic told me he went to college in California and was shocked that he only had to pay $40 there and the inspection consisted of looking at the color of the exhaust.
Now now all the vehicles are legal. The overgrown bush on the side of our house is chopped down to a frightened little seedling. Most weeds are pulled. Still have to take our souvenirs around to the neighbors. Lady next door got up early this morning to sweep up a bunch of cigarettes left in the street in front of her house. But we'll wait for the right timing to give her the gifts.
Christian has 'meet the teacher' day today. One of his 2 teachers is his mom, so that should be pretty intimidating for him. All 3 kids went by train to a pool yesterday in a city nearby. Kayla left early for Volleyball practice, the boys got home at 5:30 sunburnt even though they said they 're-applied' suncreen 3 times.
House church was good Sunday, we talked about what God did/taught us this summer since. Bring your own lunch day. 1 lady is ready to take Japan for Jesus, another family is having serious troubles.
We got news yesterday that a church in FL where we have some old friends has decided to give us a good one-time gift, praise God.
Still hoping for some other churches we visited this summer to come though.
The flight over was not very fun but we made it all together at least. I wonder why an airline would only have 1 tv screen on a flight lasting 14 hours? Oh well, got some reading done. And I had a window seat so I could lean on the side and get some sleep. The buddy passes definitely saved money but waiting around the airports for available seats and packing and unpacking several times was no fun at all. At least the Turner's connected us with some friends in Atlanta who put us up at their nice house on the lake.
Kim's at the school. Time to get the kids up and going.
We have been told to raise $2,500/month more in support this summer at our field coordinators request. We are aiming for this because we are running short about this amount each month. We also have loss some of our prayer base and would like to get more and more of you to face Satan head on in the fight for Japan. This battle we fight here is not a physical one but one that is taking place in the spiritual realm. If you would love to share in our ministry here by supporting us through prayer and possible support, please send me an email or comment on my facebook or here on the xanga site. We we are scheduled to speak at three new churches but could use more. Some of you may be at churches that said they would consider adding us 'later', the later is now. Lets work together to keep workers in the harvest field of Japan...now is a great time to be here with the economy collapsing all around us...people are ready for a god other than money...desperation is everywhere....hearts are ready...will you help lead them to Jesus?
The U.S. has gotten itself in quite a pickle. The pickle I'm speaking of is gay marriage. Why, for the last 200 years of U.S history, has gay marriage never been an issue? Now, for some reason, gay marriage is okay? Even though the American people in many states have voted, some more than once, and agree that marriage should be kept between a man and a woman. One of the best suggestions for keeping marriage between a man and a woman that I've heard is asking this question; if marriage is acceptable between same sex people, then where does the definition of marriage end? Can a woman and a horse be wed? Can an old man and an eight year old girl be wed? Of course we would say 'no way' to these suggestions!! BUT, we were saying 'no way' to the idea of two same sex people getting married just 10 years ago. What has changed? The people we have in office now is what has gotten us into this pickle, beginning with the president. There is a hate crimes bill that is about to pass the senate, and has already passed the house. When it passes, and it will pass, it will silence preachers, Christians and supporters of traditional family values, all across America. Mark my words, the freedom of speech that our country so freely enjoys, is coming to an end. If you don't believe me, give it a good 10 years. If this blog is still around, you will call me a prophetess. So, I'm writing this while I still can, for my children and their children.