Movie Night

Tonight we had two Japanese families over for a meal and movie night. It was a great chance for everyone to get to know each other better. Because Japanese people typically lead isolated, busy lives, this outreach is one way we're living out our Christian faith through fellowship. We are very encouraged that Moriya-san wants to be a part of the praise band playing bass and guitar. We also pray that the children can be a part of the upcoming sports/music camp we're doing in June.

That's So Funny!

Today we said "goodbye for now" to Janelle and her dad who are returning to the United States so she can finish high school. Janelle has been a good friend to Ellissa and has been a regular member of our family when her dad has presided over out-of-town weddings. It is our prayer that she continue to be surrounded by faithful Christians and uses her God-given talents in a way pleasing to Him. We wish them all the best and hope to continue to stay in touch.

Since We've No Place To Go...

This is what the road from our house to the LCMJ language school looks like when it snows. The kids were happy to have a half day off of school to play and Julina joined us for Japanese class. I had forgot how much snow can be around Christmas.

Karuizawa Chapel Puppet Show

Ellissa and Julina use God's Word in Japanese to share a puppet show with the children of Karuizawa Chapel. [link to YouTube video]

Congratulations Broaddus Family

We share in the joy of the birth of Suzanna Ikuyo Broaddus to her parents Brian and Yoko and sisters Naomi and Sara. They are back in the States from Japan on furlough. We're looking forward to meeting their newest addition when we all go back to Japan. Please join us in praying for their continued success on the mission field!

Cost of Education in Japan

Here is a breakdown of education costs for one year of schooling in Japan for one student. CAJ is the Christian Academy of Japan where we hope to enroll our children.
Elementary public: $3,423.70
Elementary private: $14,084.59
Elementary CAJ : $8,118.15

Junior High public: $4,835.01
Junior High private: $12,992.15
Junior High CAJ : $8,625.84

High School public: $5,338.80
High school private: $10,705.77
High school CAJ : $8,933.296

Please be in prayer about our transition to Japan as our children's education is very important to us. CAJ's prices above are discounted 50% for missionary families and a tremendous bargain compared to other alternatives in Japan. It may be that we have to homeschool if there is a waiting list at CAJ. Our preference is to avoid homeschooling, but God knows His plans for our family.

I Got You, Babe

Promoting foster parenting has not been easy in Japan, a country where blood ties and traditional family structures are paramount. But in recent years, a home setting has begun to trump institutional care in officials' views of what's best for children who face abuse or abandonment. And now, the government is revamping its foster-care system to increase the number of caseworkers and better promote the option for families. The number of children in Japan, a nation of 127 million people, is still very small. In 2007, 35,925 children were placed in institutional foster care, a 12 percent increase from 2000. During the same period, the number of children who live with foster parents grew 68 percent to 3,633.
[source:CSMonitor]

Setting a Good Example

Yuko Obuchi, minister in charge of tackling declining childbirths, said Sunday she is pregnant with her second child. According to the Cabinet Office, it is the first time an incumbent Japanese Cabinet member has become pregnant.
"My son will have a younger brother or sister," the 35-year-old minister, the second daughter of the late former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, said in a gathering of her supporters in Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture, who clapped at the announcement.
She also said the baby is due at the end of September. "Irrespective of myself being a minister or prospects of an election, I'd like to give birth to a healthy child," Obuchi said. [source:breitbart.com]