June joys

Birthday camp-out / rice planting crew

Birthdays, anniversaries, end of the CAJ school year, rice planting, with a dose of heavy construction, rainy season, plumbing issues, topped off by several Fuji climbing trips and lots and lots of coffee!

Moms waiting pick up

Throughout this month, I've been savoring a phrase from a sermon preached by my childhood home church (Lookout Mountain Presbyterian) together with the text from the sermon series at my local church, (Kurume Bible Fellowship): "God is determined to build dependence in his people by giving them more than they can handle . . . He will give you more than you can handle so that you will run to him." Colluded in comfort with: "Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, 'I will never let you down, never walk off and leave you"  . . . . So, let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is. . . . God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship - a different kind of "sacrifice" - that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets." (Heb 13:5; 13:13, 16, The Message)

I've had moment after moment of I can't do this! followed by run to me! And we've run, repented and we've gone outside to worship around the coffee mugs, on the front porches, squinting in the sawdust of our construction-site-home.

We run to Jesus with our joys and griefs:
- I've mentioned for several months, our neighbor's 6th grade grandson is in the grip of brain cancer. As I type, I can hear his little sister, who has moved in with her grandparents, shouting and laughing next door. I'm grateful that our neighbor has connected with a cancer research physician who attends our church  and hosts "cancer philosophy clinics" - please pray for fruitful conversation and counseling and for healing of this boy's body and his family's hearts!

Another beam in!

- In order to help fund our summer travels and supplement our overall budget, Ryan lined up a full summer of part-time work. Each job is physically draining (guiding visitors up mountains, house renovation and furniture repair) and often takes him away from his family. Please pray for his ongoing safety, and rest, and that our trip to the states would be restful, as he is briefly away from his summer jobs.

Nap time at coffee open house

- Fellowship and communion with neighborhood moms remains one of the greatest joys and challenges of my daily life. Seven Christian moms who are connected with our local pre-school meet regularly to pray and host an open house coffee time for other moms. The conversations are rich and full. Please pray for honesty, trust, and community.

 - And . . . . exciting development! - 

Through the astounding generosity of some family members, we're able to make a quick, unexpected trip to Georgia this summer! A close cousin is getting married, and we are so grateful to be able to be present and celebrate in person with them! This also means we will have a few days to spend with some of you! If you are in the GA/TN area between July 8 and 18, and have time to connect, please let us know!