We have arrived at Tsumagoi!  What a beautiful place.  Quite the opposite of Tokyo.  LOTS of green grass (well more brown than green at this time of year) and trees.  On the trip down here we were blessed to see Mt. Fuji!  That does not always happen because of the clouds.  But God gave us a "hug of love" and allowed us to see that beautiful mountain covered with snow!

We are currently in the middle of our first day with the TCK's.  Things are going very well.  Thanks to all of you who are praying for us.  We had a great time of small group "house church" this morning.  Or maybe I should say "hotel church."  We each went with different groups of missionaries in their hotel rooms for about an hour.  We read Matthew chapter 2 and discussed the verses, then we had a time of prayer.  What a sweet time of fellowship with this missionary servants.  

One mom shared what a challenge it is just to go to the doctor!  Imagine taking your sick 5 month old to the doctor, trying to communicate what is wrong and what medicine YOU think you need!  Oh my goodness, what these parents do every day as they obey God's call to be here in Japan!  Please pray for the missionaries here (and in other countries) that the language would come quickly and easily.

Speaking of language skills, I must share a "funny" that happened with one of our team members.  I will leave the name blank to protect the person involved (hahaha).  One of our sweet ladies (yes that means Jared did not do this!) has been trying so hard to speak with the Japanese in their native language to be respectful to them.  While we were at DisneySea she was making a purchase and when the cashier handed her the bag, the cashier said "thank you." So "she" wanted to say thank you back, but in Japanese, which is arigato.  Instead "she" bowed to the cashier and said, "origami."  Yes, she bowed and said "folded paper" to the cashier!!!!!!  We have gotten many chuckles from that story.  In fact, her classroom here at Tsumagoi is right beside the origami classroom!!!!  What irony!!!

Our God is so good.  As I said earlier, we read through Matthew chapter 2 this morning.  If you read through it yourself, notice how when Jesus was a baby/toddler/preschooler and couldn't yet take care of himself, God had it all taken care of.  He sent, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to Egypt, then back to Israel, and then to Galilee, to keep Him safe!  And Joseph obeyed each time.  Really think about this situation.  Here you have a young, newly married couple who move to a different country and culture with a young child.  Then when they think they are going "home" they move to a different area than they had lived before.  What challenges they must have faced as the obeyed and followed God.  But they obeyed and followed in spite of the challenges.  Keep your eyes on HIM and rejoice greatly when you see HIM!!!!!!