I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration.
This December has been busy with a Christmas concert (on the 11th and 12th of December) at church, English classes, (Keisuke at work), music practices, and some celebrating in between.
Keisuke's store was very busy but that is good for them.
Here in Japan they do not celebrate Christmas very much but Keisuke and I enjoyed making celebrating our Savior's birth anyway.
On Christmas Eve we had a nice dinner together. We read from Luke 2 in the Bible, the story of the birth of Jesus. It was a good time to reflect on the reason Christ was born. To imagine that the King an Creator of all creation humbled Himself to become a human baby and be born into this sinful world. And that He was born to one day die in our place on the cross and bear all our sins. He took our punishment and made a way for us to be saved. Because of Christ's death and resurrection, we can be saved from hell and have eternal life in Heaven after we die.... I guess to a Christian, every day is Christmas as we remember what Christ did for us. Truly the best and biggest gift we could ever receive.
On Christmas day Keisuke had to work and I had to teach English classes, but Alicia and I had mini Christmas parties for our students. Christmas night after Keisuke's team music practice we came home and skyped with family. So that was special to get to see most of the family. We sure missed being with them as they were all together in Charleston for Christmas.
The New Year holiday is a huge celebration time for Japan. Most companies, stores, (even HOSPITALS!) close for the New Year holiday. To most people it is a time to go to the temples and pray for blessing for the coming year. It makes me a little sad when I see everyone going to the temples and praying to gods that can not do anything, that don't even move or breathe. There are many traditions they do as families, hoping for blessing, success, etc.. for the new year. Even the food eaten has special meanings or wishes attached to each item!
As Christians we gather on New Year's day and have a special worship service thanking God for the past year and asking for God's guidance and blessing on this next year.
But it is also a special time because everyone has a break from work, so it is a special time for families to get together.
It was so nice to have Keisuke around for 5 days! His sister was in town also so we spent lots of time at his parents house and also had the family over for lunch on Friday.
Keisuke usually works every day from 10-7 so he is usually gone from 9:30 till 7:30 or so. But since he didn't have work for five days we enjoyed the extra time to do things around home and also with family, church family, and just the two of us.
We took advantage of the slower evenings and watched the three Lord of the Rings movies which have always been my favorite. Keisuke had never seen them.
On New Year's day we went skiing on a mountain about an hour away. That was really fun. Keisuke is really good at skiing. I am not, haha but I still have fun.
Another new happy thing is that Keisuke and I are now on the same music team! Now we can practice together at home, and go to the same practices, and use our gifts together to serve the Lord. We are pretty excited about that. Our team will be singing at the Gospel service this next Sunday (the 9th).
We are excited to see what God has planned for us this year. This past year has gone by very quickly. It was a year filled with sad things and many happy things.
Almost a year ago (Jan. 22, 2010) my dear mother finished her fight with cancer and this life on earth, but she is in Heaven now with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I can't believe it has almost been a whole year, but we still miss her. I am so thankful for the hope that we have as believers in Christ, that we will also go to Heaven one day, and meet again with my mother too.
There were also various struggles with my health, and the uncertainty of Keisuke's and my future together. We didn't know what was going to happen. But God did the whole time! And He faithfully cared for us and led us to the point where we are now.
2010 was special with getting engaged in April and then married in August. It was sad to leave family and friends in the States, but we are so blessed here in Japan with a church family that loves God and are faithful to the Bible. We also have Keisuke's family here and stay reasonably connected with family at home through skype/ email.
This year our church is starting prayer groups (kind of like small groups) so we are excited for those to start. Keisuke will be a leader in his group. I will be in one of the women's groups but we don't know with who yet... They are working on splitting up the groups right now.
I am the leader of the English ministry now. Please pray for God's leading for me in this, and that through this outlet, many students might hear the Gospel and believe.
We are going to be recruiting new students too, so please pray that God will provide just the right number. My main prayer is that there will be people saved through this ministry. Please pray for the hearts of the Japanese people to be opened up to Jesus who is waiting to save them!!
Well, I will sign off for now. I am going to make dinner.
I hope to hear from you all! We miss you all and love you!!
here is are some links to pictures put up on facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2084296&id=161501693&l=1ecd91db7f
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2084295&id=161501693&l=9caa1535f5
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=564736398186&comments
