Yes, Most of Our Events Involve Food

All is well in here in the Land of the Rising Sun. We are "genki". We had our first real snow of this winter yesterday. It covered the ground, but that was about it.

At our church there is a couple we have become friends with. He is from Germany; she is from Japan. They met in England, and their common language is English. The have an infant daughter who gets cuter every time we see her. Saturday they had us over to their home where we had wonderful fellowship and excellent German food (dinner and breakfast). We spent the night at their home and then went to church with them Sunday. It was the first time we have spent the night away from our apartment since coming here. It was a nice change. (German Dinner: Red Cabbage, Potatoes, Beef with Veggies and Salad -Oishii!)

At church on Sunday we had a special event after the service. A couple that was on the verge of divorce had a recommitment ceremony. About a year ago their marriage was basically over. She hated him because he was not what she had come to want in a man. He came to our pastor for marriage counseling (our pastor is a marriage counselor by profession). During the ceremony, our pastor mentioned how the husband was like "crushed tofu" when he first came to see him, but soon the love of Jesus touched his heart, and he was born again. In the mean time, the wife also came for counseling through the urging of a friend who attends our church. She stated in a session that she had no intention of changing her mind about divorcing her husband no matter what our pastor said to her. Needless to say, she did change her mind, a full 180 degrees. In seeing the change in her husband from his new found life she came to the Lord also. Our pastor said that the husband went from "crushed tofu" to "jelly" to "iron", and the wife now says that he is the best person for her. This change, especially in her life is a testimony to what only the Lord can do. It encouraged us about those we are praying for. It was a wonderful ceremony and celebration about the restoration that is found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus.