Hello again!

As threatened, here's the remainder of my long overdue Christmas/New-Years/Whats-going-down-in-Sendai-town email.

Group photo around the flaming pudding! Christmas Eve.

I spent both Christmas and Christmas Eve in the company of local missionaries and other foreigners connected to the church. Both were really cosy with really good food including a huge turkey, singing, storytelling, games and Christmas pudding.

Any time now, this pudding will be ready to eat!

Hmm.. maybe Rosanne poured just a little too much rum on.

As for the Japanese, Christmas is not such a big deal. The shops enjoy selling a little bit more but come Christmas day you'd hardly know it was Christmas. The shops are open, the decorations gone and even the Christmas carol techno remixes have stopped playing.

Likewise, although the new year is a really important holiday time, New Years' Eve is a very quiet affair. At midnight I was on a subway and when the year ticked over no-one even so much as looked at their watch.

Some of the Christmas crowd, mostly the Taylors (OMF missionaries from Britain), the Westons, Paul (from Sydney working at the university), Ray and I.

I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of the church I'm helping at.

This is the regular morning service in Japanese. See if you can spot me trying desparately to read the Japanese fast enough to sing along.

I don't have so much to do at the morning service other than playing the piano horribly once and generally spending most of the time looking up words in my pocket dictionary.

The church is quite small, consisting really of only three families plus a couple of extras, but it is very welcoming and friendly. There is a really good family atmosphere. Often after church we have lunch together and for the Christmas service there were lots of other activities like games, some of the boys played some songs, a magic show and a puppet show.

Mr. Higashi, one of the deacons of the church, and a very funny puppeteer.

Most of my responsibilities are running the Kids' English before church and the English service in the afternoon where I have lead the service, lead Bible study and played the piano not so horribly (yay!).

Piano frustration. One of my less successful attempts.

That's probably enough for one email. In short, I've been having a great time. Lately some Japanese friends have taken me sightseeing including visiting Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, Matsushima (some very beautiful rock islands by the coast), going to the hot springs and participating in the ancient Japanese tradition of purikura (aka sticker photos). And then there's the food. But that really deserves a separate email.

The Shinto shrine was quite sad. At the shrine they ring loud bells to wake up the god, and then clap their hands twice and pray briefly. The particular shrine I visited was dedicated, not to a warrior or person as many of them are, but instead to a large pot. And although for many I suspect it is just a matter of tradition rather than a ferverent belief, it was really sad that these people who are often so resistent to the gospel which could set them free, are so willing to throw their money (literally) and prayers before something so hollow.

My friend and I in front of a five-storey Buddhist temple. (And yeah, I realise that was a very boring caption.)

The weather here has been fantastic. Last week it snowed heavily but some days it's sunny and warm. It's never as cold as Denmark but without central heating I have had some new experiences like going to the toilet only to find the water has frozen over. And waking up can be difficult when the first thing you see in the morning is your own breath!

And unlike Denmark where the bike paths are cleared very efficiently, riding a bike here after it's been snowing is much more fun!

Ok, finally, the real purpose of this excessively long email, please pray! For:

1. My health! If you keep praying maybe I can make it back to Australia without one sick day!

2. My piano playing. :)

3. The church here. I know it's hard to pray without knowing the church well, so I've included a picture of the people below. Please pray that:
- more people in the area will come
- those who haven't accepted Jesus yet will put their trust in Him
- our Japanese brothers and sisters will be effective witnesses to their community

The church I'm helping at. The ghost-like one is Raymond who has now left (but is with us in spirit! Just kidding!)

The church building. One day I plan to be able to read the entire sign.

Thanks again for all your prayers. I really appreciate (and need) it.

See you soon!

Brian.

PS- Terraces people: Can anyone tell me how Tim M, Tim D, Joel, Yi Vee and Tanya are? I've tried to contact some of them but haven't got a reply.

PPS- Nic, what's the plan with the Thailand trip now?