In Japan: "God can do anything!"

Hello Friends and Family!

I want to give you a heads up... this post is rather long, so... sorry 'bout that :) This week I have had 7 hours of reading sessions a day everyday! It is wonderful that my readers are so enthusiastic, but I have to admit that by the end of each day I am exhausted. It's funny because a couple of times I have caught myself talking really slowly to Ian and Lauren because I'm becoming accustomed to slowing down and enunciating really clearly. Then they laugh and say.... um... I speak English! And I'm like, "oh. right. sorry!" So I'm going to start off with just a list of my readers, who they are and highlights from reading sessions!

Kiyomi - a sweet, older lady who teaches Japanese to foreign businessmen. She did LST last summer, so she is a little further along. Last lesson we were reading the story of the good Samaritan, and she told me how she helped a poor man in Laos build a bungalow hotel so he could support his family. It was a good conversation about how Jesus wants us to care for others!

Miho - A housewife who is currently pregnant with her second child! She is always very diligent to read the story ahead of time and comes prepared with questions!

Saori - She works in a curry and coffee shop! She is very talkative and wants to practice English because she has family in Norway. When we read the story of Jesus' birth, she said that miracles are hard to believe.

Misao - Her English level is a little low, but she is full of energy and enthusiasm. We are doing the Matthew workbook (it is easier English than Luke). She has been studying with Ken, the missionary regularly. In our last lesson, she told me she only understands a little bit about God right now, but she wants to understand more. Our lesson was about the shepherd who lost a sheep and so he goes and searches until he finds his sheep. She understood very quickly that Jesus was like the shepherd and people are like the sheep. One of the questions was "Are you important to God?", and she didn't think so, so I had an opportunity to tell her how much God loves her.

Takatoshi - A 66 year old man who is good friends with Ken and has been doing LST for 4 years now! He is now in the John workbook (#3), which has really deep texts. The lesson last time was about baptism, when Jesus says that a man must be reborn by water and spirit. He started asking some really good questions, like "when were you baptized?", "did you ever have any doubts that the Bible is really true?". I was able to really share my story with him, and tell him about the Holy Spirit. At the end of the lesson, the party was supposed to start but he didn't want to quit talking! He said, "I really enjoy talking with you, and next time, I want to tell you about why Japanese people have such a difficult time knowing the truth." Please especially be praying for him, because he is really seeking.

Keiko - She is a very interesting woman, and we have a lot in common! She sings in a classical chorus, and she is a retired educator. She said she thinks Jesus teaches the right morals, but she is afraid to give up her Japanese customs (like ancestor worship), even though she said, "I don't believe them very deeply, but they are important to my family."

Chiyuki - an 11th grade girl who goes to Eiwa Christian school. She studied abroad in Canada for a year, so she is fluent in English. Unfortunately, she says chapel at her school is very boring, and I think she is disinterested in Christianity as a result. I am praying that her heart will open up and that she will come away from LST wanting to understand more.

Satomi - She is a graduate of Eiwa, so she is familiar with many Bible stories. She studied interior design in New York for a couple of years, so her English is also very good. Unfortunately, I think she has a similar view of Christianity as Chiyuki does.

Haruka - A sweet 14 year old who speaks very limited English. She also goes to Eiwa. We are doing a very basic workbook which has very easy English stories from many different books of the Bible.

Koichiro - He is married to Kiyomi, and just started reading this week. We are working on Matthew. Our last lesson was about storing up your treasures in heaven. He said that wasn't realistic because having a lot of money is very important! Well... at least he's honest!

Kumiko - An interesting junior high girl who grew up in Morocco (thus, she speaks English very well). She plays saxophone in brass band club, and her parents are LST readers as well! We have only had two lessons, but I am excited to get to know her better!

Misaki & Hikari - 8 year old and 6 year old sisters who are SO cute. Their mom lived in San Francisco for 6 years, and she has had them both in English preschool for 5 years. I am teaching them Sunday School style. They are adorable, and they are Keiko's granddaughters.

Noriko - A sweet lady who is very soft spoken, but very sweet. She has done LST for the past 2 summers, so she is farther along in the book of Luke. We have good conversations!

Mikio - a very funny retired engineer! He is a hoot. He has been working with Ken for 3 years and always attends English Bible Class. In our last lesson he asked me what a Honky Tonk is?

Please be praying for all these readers! They are all wonderful and I am so blessed to get to know them. It's been a great week. We are now up to 45 readers, and they are all scheduling regularly, so we are encouraged. Here are a few pics of reading sessions!