Hello!

Greetings from snowy Sendai! Happy New Year!

Yes it's another email from Brian (bringing the total to a very impressive two!) which means two things:

1. I haven't died from eating inexpertly prepared puffer fish, and
2. I need your prayers again!

I thought I'd continue the acrostic format, this time using the Japanese expression for "Happy New Year" as the basis: Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu. Ok, maybe not. My Auntie suggested I write in haiku but that seems to be beyond my abilities.

So instead, here is a plain prose description of my life in Japan--along with lots of digital photos which should make the episode a little less arduous.

But first of all, THANK YOU to everyone who prayed for me. I asked you to pray for my health and the very next day I felt ten times better. My eye and asthma troubles completely disappeared and I still haven't been sick yet which, all factors considered, is a miracle.

I've also had more time for language study. Each week I have two regular meetings for language exchange. Nevertheless I wouldn't say I can speak Japanese yet but I've made some baby steps in the right direction.

So thank you for your prayers!

And now, let the visual journey begin!

Here I am, making an idiot of myself in front of my bewildered onlookers much to the bemusement of my translator Rosanne. The idea of the cafe is to provide a social event where people can practice their English through conversation and activities like singing and hear about Jesus. For my part I played the piano horribly and gave my testimony. I enjoyed giving my testimony and I think it went quite well, unlike my piano playing.

Here I am, making an idiot of myself in front of... hang on, I sense a pattern emerging here! This was the second of two Kids' English Christmas parties that Raymond and I helped with. This time the theme was "Christmas in Australia" which I promise was not my idea.

My involvement included a short speech on Christmas Down Under, running Australian trivia, helping to teach "My God is so big" and playing the piano horribly.

Grace Kai is the name given to the weekly English Bible study held at the house of Jim and Terui Grace who are local (OMF) missionaries. Ray and I didn't really have any special role here other than helping out occasionally (and being very glad that Steve plays the piano here!), but I wanted to fit in some more photos of Japanese people!

Actually the guy on the right is from Brazil, but just pretend he's Japanese.

That's probably enough for one email but don't worry I have plenty more photos to dump on you so expect part two any second now!

Brian.