It definitely feels like summer now in southern Japan! We have many new and exciting things happening this month and next. Let me tell you about them!

First, a new customer to the coffee shop, Mrs. Y, decided that not enough people know about this wonderful place to drink coffee, meet friends, and talk leisurely with the owner. So she keeps coming back with different friends several times a week. Not only that, she has connections with local television stations. So two of them contacted Norman this month, asking to do interviews or short sections of their program, showcasing us and the coffee shop! The slight problem was that we already had a pretty booked schedule, and they wanted to film things this month, too.

All that to say, a 3-man camera crew came to the coffee shop last week to do interviews with us and our new employee, Mr. Shimazu. This particular show features couples in the Kumamoto area, highlighting their levels of happiness throughout their married lives. The crew came to our house afterward, took footage of our family singing, the O’Reillys (asking why they were in Japan), and interviewed the rest of the family. We will go to the TV station on July 26 for the live section of the show! Pray for us, please!

The second station will be filming us both at the coffee shop and our house on July 25. (Can you see how crazy our lives have become?) They will be asking why we’re in Japan and shoot footage of me making an American meal. This program highlights Suppers Around the World. The reporter will also eat with us. The O’Reillys don’t leave until July 27th, so we’ll probably have 12 people around the table that night!

Do please keep us in your prayers! We have no idea what God has in store through these opportunities, but we know He has a plan and it’s a good one! We’ll let you know how it goes!

Time to cool down! It’s hot!

Chris and Norman do garden duty, picking green beans.

Other things on our schedule coming up include the following:

• Two concerts (July 23 & 30) at Michishirube (coffee shop) as a way to help pay the bills
• Sell coffee as a vendor during a summer festival
• Kids’ Camp (July 27-28) – Chloe will be a helper; Cameron and Melodie will attend
• Norman speaks at a different Kids’ Camp (Aug. 1-2)
• Multi-church ABWE fellowship (Aug. 7); we’re renting a bus to attend it.
• We hope to begin homeschool again, the second week of August! (Whew, are we ready for that one yet?)
• Two charity mini-concerts in August by our family for the children who are homeless due to the earthquakes
• Chloe and Marty will be baptized on August 14th!
• Five days away for our annual ABWE retreat (August)
• Multi-church fellowship at Michishirube (Aug. 27) for Kumamoto area

This is all in addition to our regular Sunday Bible studies, individual Bible studies, English classes, and life! One lovely thing that has been a huge treat to Norman and me is that the O’Reillys graciously agreed to watch our children for a couple days this week. This enabled the two of us to have a little getaway which we can’t remember doing in a very long time. It’s the lull before the storm! Reality is a’comin’!

Thank you for your prayers! We need them this summer more than ever!

Coffee shop sign

Apple cake!

20 kinds of coffee beans

The coffee shop is going strong lately! We’ve seen more customers walk through our doors this month. With a concert tonight, we’ll see even more people. Cameron and Chloe will be the opening group for a duo who will play folk songs, I believe.

A small O’Reilly practicing with chopsticks. She was glad to find chicken nuggets in Japan!

The biggest change this month is having the O’Reilly family here! Our neighbor lady agreed to let them stay in her “Granddaddy House” which is kitty-corner to our home. They are able to have their own space, a tiny kitchen, and a separate bathroom. They got over jetlag after a week or so. After observing how Norman leads different groups he ministers to, Chris is “taking over” this week as part of his internship. Chris will have lots of new experiences and challenges ahead. Please keep him in your prayers!

We are glad we have a big table these days!

Mrs. O’Reilly teaches the Smith children music theory.

Baby O’Reilly figures he should learn ukulele like his bigger friend.

Our kids are getting lots of experience learning how to take care of small children! It’s great for them! And it gives us adults a little break.

This past week, saw these ministry opportunities: * English conversation class  * Meet Christian friends for fellowship and fun  * Men’s discipleship Bible study  * Ladies’ Bible study and prayer time  * Sunday morning and evening Bible studies  * Meet another family to encourage and reach out to them  * Child care  * Discipleship training time with O’Reillys

Thank you for your continued prayers. We need them still! Pray especially for a Bible study I have on June 29th. Pray for God to open hearts to His Word.

Stay cool!

We have been so busy this past month! So much to do; so little time!

First, more updates on the “barn’s” progress.

Fellow missionary Tom Carr uses his height to help put up the ceiling.

The kids helped paint.

The shower is put in the right place.

Walls are in for privacy in at least part of the bathroom!

The toilet is in and functioning! This is a great addition for those living in the cabin. Amanda and Keiko don’t have to traipse across the yard to visit the bathroom in our house now.

Getting the kitchen set up. Little by little, things are coming together!

The shower has cold water…but not hot yet! We hooked up Keiko’s clothes washer so she can use it whenever she wants.

As you can see, Norman’s been hard at work trying to finish this project in the midst of all the other things he’s doing these days. This week, he began clearing out the storage things in the large meeting room in hopes of hosting a larger gathering in June.

Moving to another topic, our grand “renewal” opening of the Guidepost Gallery and Coffee store went well enough. Definitely, more customers walked through the door, but our coffee adviser who’s helped us get this thing going was much more optimistic regarding sales. However, we were able to meet many new people and make more of a realistic effort to pay the bills.

We hosted a concert on May 21, inviting an area man to play acoustic guitar and harmonica and sing folk songs. It was well attended. We served dessert sets which included our flavorful coffee and sweets made by me! The Japanese people really seem to like apple cake! Chloe and Cameron also sang solos and played guitar and ukulele for a short part of the concert.

Life in Kumamoto is settling into some sense of normality. There are still many blue tarps covering rooftops due to shifting (or missing) roof tiles. Lots of remodeling is going on. Others are still waiting for insurance estimates and carpenters. Donations have come in to ABWE to be used for helping victims, and our missionaries have discussed how to disperse it. We hope to give it out very soon to those in need.

We are preparing for Chris and Sarah O’Reilly and their two children to be here for 8 weeks this summer! It’ll be a new kind of “GRIT”! Actually, it won’t be GRIT-like, but we hope it’s a blessing to them and to the work here. They should arrive June 1.

As always, we appreciate your prayers for us and the work here in Japan. We need your help!

Since life has been topsy-turvy these past couple weeks, I have neglected to post updated pictures of the “barn” addition’s progress. Norman ekes out a few hours here and there to try to finish this needed work. Our goal is to have it finished in time for our next interns who will arrive the first part of June.

The floor boards are down! Foundations are important.

The floor is in. It is covered by linoleum…and flattened cardboard boxes so we can step on it with our dirty shoes!

Next comes the outside framework to be able to attach wall boards

It’s coming along!

Putting on the outer siding and a recycled window

More siding progress

Amanda approves the addition next to her “cabin.”

Norman’s got the inside framework ready to go.

Now for a little insulation…

That’s where the project is up to for now! Norman’s also trying to get our storefront ready to sell coffee drinks and coffee beans. We hope to open that part of the gallery next week (May 5th). Fliers are written, printed, and ready for newspaper distribution. We hope to make many new friends and acquaintances through this avenue…as well as help pay the rent on the place we use for Bible studies.

An update on earthquake issues: Keiko will definitely have to move out of her apartment. Ensuing aftershocks made more cracks appear and more ceiling to fall down. Fellow missionaries and friends helped Keiko box up her things in preparation to move. She just decided to quit her job in order to pursue ministry in a bigger way, but her boss begged her not to quit for at least three months. (She works in real estate…which is under high demand now!) She will be moving temporarily to our homestead, as she finishes working her job and decides where God is leading her to serve. She is considering several options. Please keep her in your prayers, that she will know clearly what God would have her do. Quitting her job was a huge step for her, and I know God has something amazing in store for her!

We currently feel maybe one aftershock a day. Things seem to be settling down, thankfully. Most people have electricity, gas, and water, though some water isn’t fit to drink yet. Stores are pretty much back to normal.

Thank you for your prayers!

Wow. The past week has been up and down…literally! (Or maybe it’s side to side.) Anyway, schedules are out the window, people are in desperate states, and emotions are all over the place. We’ve been brought to the end of our physical and emotional strength, and have been encouraged to rely on God to get us through.

On Monday, fellow ABWE missionaries gathered at the preschool (owned by one of our church regulars) where our Sunday night Bible study currently meets. There was some damage to clean up, and the missionaries brought 4 van loads of supplies to distribute, which was great since stores in the Kumamoto area were quickly depleted.

Supplies! Lots of bottled water, instant food, paper products, and baby diapers!

Sorting and getting ready to distribute things

A corner inside where the wallpaper was torn during the quake

We as a family were blessed to have been away from home during the second quake. Stronger in strength than the first, the quake caused two bookshelves to fall over onto our beds…where we would have been at 1:30 a.m.! We are grateful that God protected us in this way. Besides that, we were able to have Keiko and Sue at camp with us. There’s nothing as scary as being in an earthquake all by yourself at night!

It was strange to enter a convenience store and find empty shelves. Many grocery stores were simply closed. There were gasoline rations or closed gas stations. It felt like the end of the world!

Then, after all of this, the volunteer fire department workers came to our door midday on Thursday (4/21) to “highly recommend” us to evacuate our house due to the threat of landslides. Our house is right next to a very tall, steep hill. In addition to that, we live at the base of mountain off in the distance. With heavy rain in the forecast, all our neighbors had already relocated temporarily. So, we packed up our family and Amanda, and we holed up in our storefront building about 15 minutes away. Nothing happened overnight, so we were able to return home the next day.

Last night (4/22) was the first night we didn’t feel so many aftershocks. The days right after the big quakes, we would feel 15+ strong aftershocks a day. Very unsettling. Our 75-year-old neighbor told us he’s never experienced anything like this in his entire life. Chloe and I had upset stomachs for several days due to the constant shaking. Adrenaline spikes up and down, and we end up feeling exhausted.

However, we continue to try to help those around us, starting with those we know personally. In coming weeks, as the ground returns to more stable conditions, there will be more work to be done near the epicenter in Mashiki Town. Melodie’s violin teacher had her house there, and it is unlivable. We hope to be able to help her and others like her. For a very short time, people may be more open to speaking about spiritual things. Please pray that we can be a light during this time…and that we’ll have strength to face the overwhelming physical needs of those who have lost everything.

Some of you may be wondering whether we are safe or not, following the recent spate of earthquakes in the Kumamoto area of Japan. We are grateful to say that we are all alive and well. A few items fell off shelves and shook us up a bit, but that’s the extent of it.

We felt a longer, violent shake around 9:30 p.m. (Thurs. night – Apr. 14). That’s when the stuff fell down. Norman, Chloe, and I had experienced a similar tremor back in language school 13 years ago. But this time around, the aftershocks kept coming and kept coming. Our family stayed up until 11:30 p.m., waiting for the tremors to stop, but we finally went to bed. Our sleep was interrupted a lot. It seemed like every 15-30 minutes another tremor would occur, rattling the windows and doors of our old Japanese house.

Melodie particularly didn’t care for the noise and uncertainty of things. She would grip the arm of whomever was closest! Our intern, Amanda, had a new adventure in Japan! It was an unforgettable night. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.

A tree in our yard

Tulip and asparagus!

Cherry blossoms!

A definite sign of spring — people eating and relaxing under cherry blossoms!

Spring is definitely here! Today (April 2), we had temperatures in the upper 70’s. Our family has been in the process of planting our garden…as well as spiritual seeds where we can. Today, the kids, Amanda, and I were able to spend time with our friend Ritsuko.

Beautiful day to spend together

We are also springing ahead (slowly) in the progress being made on the barn addition.

Digging the trench for the water line

The frame for the addition

The frame with a roof on it

Putting on doors

Pink and blue water lines are in, ready for hooking up, after we finish the floor

The current state of our project — doors and windows! Next step: the floor!

Tango Gomez, who attends our Bible study regularly, came to do a homestay with our family for almost a week. He probably found our American ways to be a little strange, but he did his best to use English and do as we did. That included getting his hands dirty!

Cameron and Tango spreading gravel over the driveway

However, we didn’t do only work! We visited the petting zoo nearby to feed the kangaroos and other critters.

“I don’t carrot all if you feed me!”

Amanda has a little time off since this is the Spring Break between school years for the Japanese school system. The new grades begin in April, so she will begin working at the int’l preschool on April 6th. Keep her in your prayers. This is a new adventure for her! She is also making new friends and hopes to be a witness to them. Two of them are planning to come to our morning Bible study tomorrow!

Amanda and Ritsuko

I just finished writing our prayer letter (the snail-mail version), and realized how difficult it is to squeeze all that’s happening onto one sheet of paper! But I have more space here, so I’ll add to what I just wrote!

First, we got free advertising lately! A journalist from the town’s magazine came to interview Norman at our gallery/outreach center. We got pictures and a nice write-up about what we’re doing on the 2nd page of the magazine! Customers are coming to visit!

In addition to that, Norman had originally hoped to sell coffee at the gallery, but due to a problem with the landlord who helped put in the bathroom, the layout didn’t work out as planned. However, Norman worked hard to have an inspector come see what it would take, then followed her directions to add an additional sink and a wall to separate the kitchen area from the bathroom entrance. She should be coming back tomorrow (3/9) to give her stamp of approval. Once that’s in place, we can begin charging for coffee, giving the gallery a cafe’ sort of feel. Norman’s friend Mr. Takeshita, who’s in the coffee bean business, encouraged him to also sell coffee beans or freshly ground coffee since there is no other store in Kikuchi that sells it. March is the month to get this up and running!

Secondly, our front yard is under construction as I write this! Also in the plans for some time, is the goal to have our “barn” (which came with the property) usable for outreach, bigger gatherings, and larger groups, including GRIT. In order to clean out the extra storage stuff inside the barn, we plan to build onto the front of the building, creating a kitchen and bathroom/shower space. It won’t be big, but it will mean that the barn will be fully functional. Earlier this year, we finished the “cabin” attached to the side of the barn. However, without a bathroom nearby, it was less than ideal. Amanda Gray is currently living in our cabin, and I’m sure she’ll enjoy not having to run outside, across the driveway, to use our bathroom in the house.

Front of our house – trench is beneath dirt!

The barn…and the rough-up plan of the new shower/bathroom area in front of it

All that to say, today the men came to dig a trench from our existing septic tank to the barn. This included removing a large old stump and deep roots that were in the way, as well as some large boulders. Homeschool was delayed as we all watched them dig with the small backhoe. The one downer of the day was when Melodie saw them take the big rocks she had named and played on and bury them beneath the ground where they wouldn’t be in the way of the porch we hope to build in the future. A sad good-bye to “Mt. Everest.”

The former home of “Mt. Everest” 🙁

The barn — with the roughed-out plan before it — and the cabin beyond

Norman and whoever is healthy around here (two of us have had the flu) will be putting up walls as quick as they can, so the plumbers can return to finish hooking up the water. After that, Norman can work on a floor of some kind and move the appliances (that we already have!) from the barn into their new places. He is still searching for a good shower insert to use in a price we can afford.

Can we really squeeze a shower into this teensy space?!

Thirdly, we feel honored to be missionaries. Stuff happens to us that “normal” people probably haven’t experienced. This week, one of our supporting churches (Faith Baptist in Carroll, IA) sent our children a care package. Why? Just because they’re missionary kids! How awesome is that? It touched my heart when they told us they prayed over each child individually. So we had “Christmas in March” at our home!

Getting the package!

Opening the many layers…

The best part in Chloe’s opinion!

Fourthly, our new part-time teammate is here! Amanda Gray arrived March 2nd, and jumped right in to help since I was down with the flu. Our co-worker Sue Hahn took her around on Monday to get some paperwork finished, like setting up a bank account, getting registered as living here, etc. That always takes several hours! Then Amanda joined Sue’s English class and was able to give her testimony. Way to go, Amanda!

February has slowed down a little, though one week was abnormally busy. We have been harvesting some spinach and mini-daikons (Japanese radish) from our garden. Norman hopes to plant potatoes and asparagus in the near future!

We see growth in the spiritual realm, too! The woman who was recently saved, has been growing in her understanding of what the Christian life should look like. Norman’s men’s discipleship class has been equally thrilling, as these men take what they discuss and put it into practice in their homes.

Amanda at an okonomiyaki restaurant

We heard the good news that Amanda Gray received her visa to be able to work here for a year! She will arrive on March 2, God willing, to work at an international preschool and help us with things. We look forward to Amanda’s return! (She was with us during GRIT 2014.)

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I have been thinking about what true love looks like. A quote from my home church pastor came to mind. He gave the definition of love as something like this: Love is seeking the highest good of another person, not counting the cost, and not seeking anything in return. Wow! As I thought about God’s love for me, I realized that it’s true. God didn’t give His only Son to get something from us. We were were desperate and needy ones. Jesus didn’t give His own life for us so He’d receive something from us. He did it because He loves His Father, and He loves each one of us.

As you show your love for others this holiday, evaluate your level of love. Is it modeled after God’s love or by what you see around you in the world? It’s so easy to make our love conditional…with strings attached.

Greater love has no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

We survived the Christmas Crush of events and responsibilities! It was rather too busy, so we hope to utilize our resources and time better next Christmas. However, the real meaning of Christmas was shared with new friends and acquaintances. We leave the results in God’s hands.

Christmas with the Community Children

Now it’s January, and life will hopefully return to some form of normal! It hasn’t been normal since our return from our mini-furlough, but there’s always hope!

We hosted an intern for 6 weeks from December to mid-January. Chris Singh is studying Teaching English as a Second Language in Spokane, WA, and he did his internship in Japan with us. It meant a lot of carting him around to volunteer to teach or observe different English classes and schools, but we hope we were able to encourage him spiritually in his walk with the Lord as well.

Chris opening a present at Christmas with the Smiths

Attendance has increased at our Bible study in Kumamoto City. A couple of new families have been coming regularly. We have seen God working in these people in recent weeks. Our biggest blessing was seeing one of them trust in Christ this month!

Some of the folks who attend Sunday evening Bible study

As always, we appreciate your prayers and support in so many ways. Keep it up, please!