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)