now to Part 2...

Hey there! I'm in an internet cafe in the airport just sending you a quick update. The CPI team is getting checked in and they leave in about 3 hours to head home. I'm here to see them off, activate my rail pass, and thus begins "part 2" of my grand November adventure in Japan. :) Last week was very good --- hard, like usual, but very good. Our team worked very hard during the week to care for crying babies, execute an awesome vacation bible school-like program for the kids, run the powerpoint and video for the main session, set-up rooms for training sessions, and hang out with the youth MKs. I'm so proud of the long hours they gave to serving our missionaries in Japan! We celebrated yesterday with a day of fun in Tokyo, although some of them were too tired to enjoy it, I think. I was digging it! For those of you who have been here and would like to hear it -- I went to Harajuku and feasted on Yakiniku for lunch (yum! are you jealous?), took a bus tour of the Imperial Gardens, Business district, Government district, and Ginza, and shopped in Odaiba with Reiko and Kie. And the evening ended with some pericula, of course. :)

A final prayer request for our team: safe travels home, sure, but do pray that God would continue to move in their hearts as they reflect and share about their trip. May the connection of their service this week (holding babies?) to the greater church-planting and missionary efforts in Japan serve to fuel a greater love for our Lord and His Kingdom in their lives! Pray that God would continue to call many back to serve Him here.

And....Part 2! I've got several meetings planned these next 3 days in Chiba, and a few more to finalize. You can pray for these:
1) Good, quality time with Ai-chan. We've been roommates for a week, but we've been working so hard that we haven't seen much of each other. Pray for rest for our souls and that we may encourage each other this week. She just moved to Chiba, so it can get lonely.
2) Time with the J-Girls -- Mayuko, Reiko, and Kie. Reiko and Kie have spend much time in Orlando the last year. Remember them? Pray for our times together and that we would have good spiritual discussions.
3) Bible Impact Tuesday night. This is a Bible time for the Impact Student Ministry at Chiba University. Christian and nonChristian students come. I worked with this ministry before.
4) Time with the missionary kids (high school aged girls) here and in Nagoya.
5) Time with two Christian girls about my age from Oyumino Christ Church (my home church here). Pray for mutual encouragement and good heart connection.

...and this is just in Chiba! I'll be here through Tuesday night, leave Wednesday morning for Nagoya for 2 days, then Karuizawa for 2 days, then back to Chiba one day and head home on Sunday, November 20.

Thanks for praying! I'm feeling much better - almost back to 100%. God is good! More later--HUGS!