Thanksgiving

This was actually a simplified meal we ate on Thanksgiving. We are missing many dishes in this picture.

We have always celebrated Thanksgiving at my mother's home in California. It was a big family deal. We have a big family and there was big food too. Here in Japan, thanksgiving is a little different. There are turkeys here but not so much the expense but there are not many ovens that can cook a big turkey. Our convention oven can bake but it just won't fit a 12 pound bird. We opted for Chicken from Costco. It was really good and with all the other fixens we didn't miss a bite. This year we had a private family time and then on the following Sunday we had nine friends come together. Three of our Christian friend and 6 non-Christian friends. The six are from our English School. it was great to be sharing our story and faith.

Our family tradition is to go around the table and say what we are thankful for. I was surprised at the answers. Some even indicated that Mihoko and I are who they are thankful for to be sharing with them and inviting them into our lives is a big deal. The smallest acts of kindness can transform an individuals life that is dull and monotonous. We played a game and in the course of it found four of the ladies were all nurses. They didn't know and neither did we. They were sharing stories and one Christian nurse shared her search for meaning in life even though she was trying to make a difference and care for people she felt it was in vain...until she met Jesus. She professed that she prayed every morning to some unknown god asking for the things she needed that day. She was having a form of a relationship with a god she didn't know. She looked into other gods and none of them fit the nature of the one she had been communing with. Then she met Jesus. He was even more perfect than the one she had and he filled her every need and longing. One of the other nurses got all excited testifying she had been praying for a while to some god she didn't know but knew he existed. She was yearning to discover who this god is? She was not ready to identify Jesus as her God but she is now very serious in learning more about him. We are so blessed to be watching the action happen all around us. Pray for Sugai san and Sato san to have a relationship with Jesus and for many others to be actively sharing their faith. We are so thankful to God for bringing us to Japan. All praise to him.