The past two days have been a blur for me. Lots of things going on in a short time. But it has proven again how helpful it is to have the GRIT team here. Let me tell you the Daycare story!

Our neighbor, who is a cook for the nearby daycare center, invited our whole group to view fireflies one night with the daycare children. Norman and I were too busy preparing for other things, but the GRITers jumped at the chance. Even though they didn’t know much Japanese, they happily went. Turned out that a couple daycare staff knew some English. And the principal of the school invited them to visit the following week at 10 a.m. to join in their English time.

We had time in our schedule to do this, so I accompanied them to the daycare. Our friend and fellow-Christian Keiko joined us, too, and hit it off with the principal and the kids! We sang silly songs in English, introduced ourselves, had a question and answer time, and then were invited to stay for lunch! Despite the fact that some of the GRITers are less than adventurous when it comes to food, they did an admirable job cleaning their “bowls.” Good job!!

Our family has a standing invitation to drop by the daycare any time, and because of the GRITers being here, we now have new contacts right down the road!

That evening, we attended my English conversation class at the cafe downtown. It was a small group, but we got to meet and talk.

Today (Thursday) was very interesting and fun, too, with God at work again. We attended an English time at a Japanese friend’s house, and she invited about 6 sixth grade girls over to learn English from Amanda G., whose dream is to be an English teacher some day. They had a Q&A time, and then the whole group played a game in English.

While the young people were doing that, I was able to spend time talking to a new person from Singapore. We got to discuss our religious backgrounds, the common bond we have in learning Japanese, and getting to know each other. I hope to be able to meet her again soon.

Earlier this week, the GRIT girls were able to share the gospel with some Japanese ladies who spoke some English. They gave us their contact information, so who knows what God will do with that!

Coming up next is homestays in Japanese houses and the GRIT concert. Thank you for your prayers! God can do more than we can imagine!

Every day, the students take one hour to study the Bible and pray. Keeping close to the Lord is vitally important to spiritual growth.

The concert is on Sunday afternoon at a tearoom. Time to practice!

More practicing!

Song time at the daycare

“Look at my boo-boo right here!”

“Hmmm. I hope it’s good!”

(clockwise from top left) Green tea, salad and deep-fried vegetable ball, tofu side dish, pork broth soup with bean sprouts, and special rice! Would YOU like some?

This was my table mate. He was rather quiet!

Coffee and English conversation time

The whole group at the English conversation class

The GRITers help prepare food for the group each day. Amanda’s eyes were bothered by the onions, so she tried a new method to counteract it!

Playing an English game with the sixth grade girls

The girls had fun, and the winners each received an authentic dollar bill! The losers got real American quarters!

English conversation group on Friday

Friday was a busy day meeting with Susan’s monthly English conversation group. The GRIT team interacted with the ladies, allowing opportunity for English dialogue.

One of our GRITers is still a kid at heart…well, actually, she IS still a kid at age 12! Running barefoot through grass is one of her thrills in life!

We were grateful for clear weather on Saturday since we hosted a barbeque at our home. Several friends and Bible study members attended, and the GRIT team was able to get to know them better, share their testimonies of why they came to Japan this summer, and give more opportunities to practice English.

Norman and his friend

Wednesday was a day for Japanese okonomiyaki (fried as you like it “pancakes”) and visiting the Kumamoto Castle. Norman was down for the count with some bug, so Keiko and I took the group to experience Kumamoto!

The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of the narrow building.

Keiko demonstrates how to mix well the bowl of special flour, egg, cabbage, and preferred meat.

Next step: Place well-mixed batter onto the grill set into the table.

How long do I stir this?

Once the bottom is nicely browned, it’s time to flip it over. Look at this face of success!

All that’s left is the special sauce, mayo, fish flakes for the brave, and trying to eat it with chopsticks!

Following our romp at the restaurant, we walked the two blocks or so to the castle. Then the real work began. There were quite a number of steps to climb outside the castle, and I counted 136 steps inside the castle. Whew! But the view at the top was worth it!

GRIT team 2014! About to enter the castle grounds.

The castle! (I had to get at least one picture of me in here!)

Proof that they were there!

A random castle-goer from Tokyo stopped us to practice his English.

Great view of Kumamoto City!

After a quiet Monday and Day of Prayer, Tuesday had a different taste to it.

First, the GRIT team attended a culture class led by Mr. Matsumura, a friend of the Smiths.

“This is sushi.”

He has taught many a group of foreigners about why Japanese work such long hours, the mindset of Japanese, and what they like to eat.

To make the lesson even more memorable, they all went out for sushi afterward!

Will it be good? Will it?

This particular restaurant has a revolving train of sushi options which you can retrieve when it comes by your seat. Or you can order specific dishes that appeal to your taste buds.

This one looks good!

As you can see, they lived through their experience with a smile on their faces!

Every year we have GRIT, God uses the young people to open doors to make new friends and contacts. He also gives opportunities to share our faith with others. This year is no different.

Because the GRITers joined me at the Gingira conversation time, I was able to meet a Christian woman who is searching for a good church. She knows an American guy who is also looking for a service in English, and she wants to introduce me to a friend of hers who’s interested in homeschooling. One meeting with this woman, and our network of relationships could be exponentially expanding!

At the children’s event yesterday, the GRITers provided games and English activities. Because of the GRITers presence, a man in his 50’s came to join in the fun and to practice his English. Norman was able to share with him the gospel and tell the difference between religion and the relationship we can have with God. God directed Norman to speak about the hope we have in Jesus, and the man said he was interested in that.

Please pray that God will work in these people’s hearts, and give us more opportunities to reach out to the lost Japanese people around us. My heart was breaking when I sat across the table from an elderly Japanese man, who does not have much time left on this earth, and hear him say, “I’m Buddhist,” and disregard the talk about Jesus. There is such a great need here. Only God can crack open hard hearts with His glorious light. Nothing is impossible with Him!

I wonder what a pickled plum tastes like….

Oh! Like that!

At my Japanese tutor’s home, two of the girls were able to try pickled plums and pickled onions. They said afterward that they really weren’t that bad! Doesn’t her face make YOU want to try one? 🙂

Initiative time!

Part of GRIT involves learning how people work together, as well as how different personalities help or hinder a team effort. Realizing our differences can help us learn about ourselves and others, and how to get along in the best possible way. Various “initiatives” are used throughout the summer.

This year we are meeting on several Friday evenings with Japanese English students for conversation practice. Though not a big group, these students worked hard to communicate in English! Some of the GRIT students found it difficult to word sentences without using slang, idioms, or big words. New friends are always good things to make!

Friday night cafe in Ozu Town

This week, we begin English conversation times with different groups of people.

This is the tiny Gingira shop!

The restaurant is located in an interesting complex of many small shops.

Mingling!

This is their “Dude!” pose.

Wednesday, half the group met at a tiny restaurant downtown to join my regularly scheduled English time. (The other half of the group got to shop and explore a famous shopping area!)

This was our “Gingira” group, named after the restaurant.

The GRITers were able to teach popular slang and phrases to the Japanese in attendance, and the Japanese taught them slang and phrases young people in Japan use. It was a lot of fun!

On Thursday (today), we visited English Cafe, held at the home of a Japanese woman who encourages her friends to use their English each week. I’ve been a part of this group for about 5 years, and they seemed to enjoy talking to new people in English.

On Friday, we plan to host a new English conversation time at a town nearby, inviting specifically the students learning English from our friend Blake. This should be a great chance to meet new people and spread our influence and God’s love as opportunities arise.

As always, the GRIT team helps prepare meals during the summer. Here we see one slaving away to remove delicious citrus fruit from their skins. They are all doing a wonderful job!

Slicing and dicing a very juicy fruit!

The Smith Family

Sunday was a busy day for us. The Smith family put on an hour-long concert at a local coffee shop at 2:00 p.m. The GRIT team joined us to sing one number, and Amanda R. played a piano solo. The GRIT team will also give a concert at this same location in a couple weeks. Afterward, the team had a chance to mingle with the 15 or so people in attendance, most of whom spoke no English. I was pleased at the efforts made in spite of that!

Chloe sang an original song for the first time

After tearing down sound equipment and instruments, we hurried to our Sunday evening Bible study in downtown Kumamoto City. We studied through the first chapter of James, then enjoyed a meal with each other. One of our faithful attenders and helpers in the ministry made a birthday cake for Amanda G. who had a birthday recently.

Today (Tuesday), the team drove 2 hours away to do some general groundskeeping at a camp. The team will return to this camp to lead games during a children’s event in the next week or so.

It’s been a busy start to our GRIT program! We appreciate your prayers. This year’s GRIT team is the youngest we’ve ever had (average age is 19). For most of them, this is the first real trip they’ve ever taken, the first time for a lot of different things. But we pray that they will take back home with them a new desire to serve God more fully than ever before.

Susan isn’t here with her camera or I would add a picture, the GRITers did a great job at Camp Shalom this week! They tore out an old deck, cleaned the camp inside and out (found two mice, one live and one dead, and a dead bird in the closets, fun, fun, fun!), and in general began the process of preparing camp for kid’s camp and teen camp later this summer.

We also studied the first lessons on Devo prep and basic Christian leadership. We are going to have a great time learning together this summer!