It seems that God keeps dropping new opportunities into our laps! We had one concert lined up, but now we have a total of three in the works!
October 2 — Our family will do a concert at an area nursing home.
October 14 — Our family will do a concert at a community center.
November 1 — Our family, plus a couple friends, will be doing a charity concert at a cafe. The money will benefit a Christian-run farm in India, who provides food for the poor.
This week and into next, Norman is a part of a 12-artist exhibition at the Shimada Museum in downtown Kumamoto City. In addition to hand-made flutes and whistles, he is displaying paintings that include conversation pieces. Norman hopes to meet many new people, as well as be able to explain his paintings that have spiritual meaning behind them.
We are currently in the planning stages for building cabins for GRIT next summer. Depending on how the money holds out, we may build only one of the two we need. Last summer we had 6 participants in the summer program, but next summer we are opening it up to 12. We are also seeking helpers to drive the group around, help with meals and laundry, and possibly help in the teaching times. An older couple could do some of this. A seminary student or associate pastor could gain cross-cultural experience. It could be a great opportunity for anyone with a willing heart!
We are excited at the new prospect of being able to purchase land adjoining ours. Buying this land would make building cabins a whole lot easier and cheaper than trying to place them on our steep mountainside as we had been thinking. Nothing is settled yet, but we are waiting to see what God will do.
Homeschool is in full swing these days. We have multiplication facts flying around in our brains, learning how to take careful care of our teeth, relearning how to find the area of triangles, and searching for those elusive nouns and verbs.
We have chances to share things about God here and there. Sometimes it is in more detail than others. We really need more helpers here in Kumamoto to reach the 1,000’s of people. A family interested in serving in Japan will be visiting in November. Pray that God would send them quickly!
We are currently praying about beginning a new Bible study/work in our new area, Kikuchi. With about 35,000 people in the area, and no real church worth mentioning, it is a field ready for work! We are researching a place to meet and have found a place we could lease for 2 years in a great location right next to a McDonald’s. Pray with us to know God’s leading in this.