Konichiwa! (again) …This time it’s Karen writing (because Ray made me).  J

It’s a little past 5 o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, August 8^th and the team and I are waiting around for our English students to arrive for dinner at Inochi Izumi Christ Church (IICC).  Sunday was our first day actually going to the church and meeting the people from the congregation.  Monday we prepped most of the day for our English classes.  Yesterday was our official first day of ministry at this church doing Bible and English time (they call it B&E).  It has been interesting being at this church because I’m not really used to teaching English to adults; it’s very different from our Joy Joy program at Izumizano Bible Church.  However, it’s been a great blessing getting to know the church members and seeing their enthusiasm to serve us and communicate with us.

There’s a little bit of pressure on us to represent IBC well because this is the first time we’re at this church, but Doi sensei has great confidence in us which has been good for us.  Before we came, he mentioned that the church members were nervous and hesitant about having us at their church.  He was worried about how it would be and the attendance of our B&E time.  But praise the Lord for the fellowship of the saints because it has been great and many people have come out!

Our first day of teaching was last night and Sunny and I had a packed class.  We are teaching the beginning class with 19 students and the help of Ray and Chie.  David and Gabe are teaching the intermediate class with around 5 students.  Gary is the floating camera man and tea server.  Our schedule basically consists of dinner, English, Bible time (in Japanese), and fellowship.  There is 1 unbeliever in Dave and Gabe’s class and Doi sensei got to share a great deal with him on the first day, which was very encouraging.  Sunny and I have 4 nonbelievers in our class who are all older women and friends with each other.  One of them is married to a Buddhist monk.  They didn’t seem to enthusiastic about the Bible message but very enthusiastic about learning English.  Please pray for God to soften their hearts.

This morning our team met early to join the women’s ministry at IICC where me, Dave, Ray, and Chie shared our testimonies.  It was a very good time like everything else we’ve done. 

Being in Japan has been great!  Being with Takenaka san has been awesome as well.  She is definitely the matriarch of IBC in Japan.  She knows more stuff about IBC than us!  Less than one week to go but there are still many things going on.  Sorry I wrote so much but I probably won’t write again this trip…sorry Ray! Keep praying for us!

(Is it just me…or has my English gotten worse since I came to Japan?)

Some more pics:

Dinner at Goshi and Tomoko's restaurant (by Hamadera Bible Church).

First night of English classes with Inochi no Izumi.

Karen sharing her testimony at a women's meeting with Inochi no Izumi.

Sunny and her new friend Homare.