Miho's Beauty Salon

The weather and the girls long hair were not cooperating. Jane had some nasty tangles that we were spending a lot of time getting out only to have her wake up in the morning all tangled up again. So we went to task today and Mihoko did an excellent job of cutting their hair. The girls were actually so happy to be like their friends. Rachel wanted to look like cyrise Tribble and Jane wanted to look like cyrise and Natalie Tanaka. I think she got the Natalie look down real good. They are soooo cute.

Thankgiving in Iruma

Well this is what we ate. Japan isn't turkey friendly and Ham is only on the military bases or you pay 30 to 40 dollars for a softball size ham. We went to costco and had their world famous broiled chicken. Mihoko is getting good with the little toaster oven and made some corn bread and we had some other goodies. It was great. Then we have Me eating a full on Bolinger style breakfast. Scrambled eggs, Pancakes with apricot pineapple jelly, coffee, and a good glass of milk. Thanks to friends who sent us these items we were so blessed. You can't get bisquik here nor apricot pineapple jelly. We are so blessed to have friends like you that think of us and want to send us things we want. These aren't needs like we need a car but these are home comforts and truly they are blessings. The other picture is some actual bean burritos. We get the refried beans at costco and some mile cheddar and wah lah we have bolinger bell in Iruma Japan. We do eat regular food too like hamburger helper and PBJs. I have not acquired the taste for fish, rice, and miso soup in the morning.

Sorry this post is so not spiritual but from time to time I am just going to blog about things my mom or sisters might enjoy looking at. In this case the person who blessed us with these items found a special place in our heart for a taste of home. Thank you and God bless all of you praying and providing. God is doing an amazing work.

Merry XMOS

Even the Burger places here in Japan get into the Merry Christmas idea sort of.... One of the chains of fast food burgers, which I have only eaten twice since being here, has changed their name for the season. The MOS burger chain is now the XMOS burger. You can get the gobo and carrot burger with Rice patty buns and no meat it is just fabulously terrible. Hey can't sell the burgers let's market the name.

Can anyone say c c c c c COLD

Yup!Iruma is officially cold for me. The Morning temp hit 3 degrees Celsius which would be approximately 37.5 in the low morning. Afternoons are in the 13 range which is about 55 Fahrenheit. I have never woke up to seeing my breath out from under the covers. I am needing an electric heater. The Japanese still use kerosene and propane to fuel heaters here. I am a little scared to gag on the fumes. We will stick to electric heat. Mihoko got a Hot Carpet (hatokapeto) in the front room and kids rooms. Those are toasty to wake up on. I sneak in to the kids room in the morning and just thaw out. I have a big winter futon that is very polar proof. I can sleep in that dude all day long. It is just getting up to run to the facilities and get the day started that we shiver. I am such a baby when it comes to cold. Some other missionaries are shaking their head saying this is nothing. Hey our time in California for the last two weeks was in 80 to 90 degree weather I am having culture weather shock. Anyway things are going great. Thank you for the bike. We got a Mama Chari bike with a kids seat for Jane and a basket in front. Jane loves it. It is just that our faces and hands freeze in the COLD weather. I am praying for a car. We need a car to get our family around town. We will start classes for ESL on the 9th of December and have sample classes for kids for two or three weeks and then in January we will begin the actual instruction. We are able to use our Apartment buildings multipurpose room for the classes. It should be fun. Pray for a lot of kids. We get a lot of exciting responses but it feels like well wishing. God is at work we will see what he is going to do.

Flu SHOTS!!! Yikes

While we were in California we went in for Jane's 4 year old check up she had to get 5 shots. OUCH! She didn't cry. While we were there we had to all get flu shots. Who is that hiding behind Jane under the counter. Nathan doesn't like shots. He was brave... a little...Hmm we're fine now. Rachel our transplant "I can take anything" hero thinks its a little funny.

Thankgiving in Tokorozawa

Well we got back Friday and Saturday night we went to CC Tokorozawa for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a packed house and we had a great time sharing with so many who came. Pray for Shingo who I shared the gospel with but he wasn't convinced he needed a Savior. Seeds were sown.

Travis cooked up a 30lb Turkey. He BBQ'd the dude for 7 hours. It was scrumptious. The Japanese folks were so surprised to see a bird that big. They don't have turkey's here. The men from the yokota air base supplied it from the Base PX. We all brought our own side dishes and just had some great fellowship. We truly have much to be thankful for. I am thankful to God for all of you reading and praying for us. May God bless you and keep you and give you a great Christmas season.

Meetin and greetin

Just posting some picts of folks we had fellowship with at CCCM. It was a great time of fellowship. God has blessed us with some really great friends.

Cary I am going to get you. You know why too man. I love you but I am going to get you.

Shhh we're back in Japan adjusting

The cool thing in Heaven is there are no time zones and no jet lag. Pray for our adjustment time to be shortened. Goodnight/This afternoon.

Fires in California

Hey guys pray for the folks hurting now just before the holidays as many have lost everything. It is a sad time. My folks live in Cerritos and Mihoko's are out in Riverside. The Drive on the 91 freeway reveals a hard fought battle with many thousands of acres burned up. It is eery as many home are surrounded by fire and survived and then others are a complete loss.

Without a Moral compass anything is possible

Below is a news blurb that caught my eye...

News Catagories

Japanese Man Seeks to Marry in Two Dimensions

Date: 2008 November 1st Saturday [14:59] | Posted By: Spike

"A Japanese man has launched an online petition to allow the legal marriage of fictional characters. Taichi Takashita has started the online petition to allow himself to marry an undisclosed Manga character and has requested an amazing one million other people to follow suit by signing up.

Full Story
Taichi has stated that "I am no longer interested in three dimensions. I would even like to become a resident of the two-dimensional world" although he has not disclosed how he intends to accomplish this. While marriage is in decline in Japan, it is still only possible for a man and woman to marry. Therefore even though same-sex marriage is forbidden, this petition seeks to allow marriage to so called "virtual idols", anime, and manga characters, and characters from other media as well. We can only assume a big run on Lara Croft proposals then..."

Hey guys the above article is weird but this is the mind that has entered the Japanese Nation you can have online Anime girl friends; and well without the Moral compass of a Creator that gives life purpose this makes sense. When you have no rules to live by why would you want a Creator programed human unit to tell you what to do? Love doesn't exist it is the realm of lust. Even in the movie Wall-e he falls for a similar robotic unit. So Kermy can truly be married to Miss Piggy. I can see potential in this but also great problems. Divorce court will take on a whole new meaning could you imagine the Tasmanian Devil trying to settle with Wonder Woman?

Anime Marriage is well back to Romans one. God just gives them over to a depraved life. He still loves the soul but just lets them indulge their sin. And they are found in the end of life without excuse. Pray that we can have the opportunity to convince the people of Japan that the Moral Compass of Jesus Christ is the greatest adventure a Human can embark upon and it is multidimensional. For we are not Citizens of this world. Amen

Transplants using patients own stem cells

Hey guys this one got me excited. This lady had a defective wind pipe and they used her own stem cells to transform a donor wind pipe into her own cells so that her body won't reject her part. I see so much promise here for Rachel and a future Heart that is her own without having to take all the destructive medication that is taxing her liver and kidneys. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7736549.stm Check out the link

Thanksgiving at Mom's

Stuft need I say more...Praise God for mom. She worked so hard and it was fabulous. I am just sad that I won't be able to devour the leftovers for the next week or so. That's okay we had our fill and the fellowship was even better than the eats. The kids had a blast.

Pathway's to Manhood

Nathan had a sleep over at a friends house. Roger Arendse is a cool dad who love is son's Shane and Luke. Luke is Nathan's friend. Anyway, the Dads came out for a time to study the Bible and call each other into a more accountable position with each other regarding purity. It was a great time of fellowship and challenging for the boys. They even went swimming in the 90 degree weather we have been having. It is like Summer here in the middle of November. God Bless Roger and Sumako Arendse. They Love Jesus and want to serve him with a whole heart. Pray for unity and God's continued providence.

Rachel's Biopsy

Well the day came early and from Nasty tasting Versed to IV's to post op recovery all went well and Rachel is fine. She has been so blessed by God with a great heart and we are encouraged to go back to Japan with confidence and continue to plow forward with God's plans. Keep praying for her health. She is still susceptible to infections and viruses that can lead to rejection episodes. May God stay his hand upon her.