Norman and I visited the USA (Chicago and Baltimore) for two weeks in July. Our main purpose for going was to attend the Missionary Enrichment Conference with ABWE. (We are required to attend every five years, and it had been six years! And flying in July of 2020 from Tokyo for our normal furlough time would be super-expensive with the Olympics.)

In Chicago, we attempted to recover from jetlag and visit my family. I got to see both my sisters, my brother, their families, and my mom. We were also able to meet up with Blake, whom Norman had mentored some years earlier in Japan. Blake is now leading a multi-cultural Bible study in downtown Chicago. What a blessing to see one of our “children” walking in God’s paths!

My mom and me

In Baltimore, we were happy to be able to meet up with Tom & Amy McVicker (and their two girls) who will be coming to Japan to work with us as soon as January 2020, God willing. Please pray that the McVickers are able to gather the remaining portion of their monthly support to be able to come.

Tom, Veronica, Amy, and Abigail

Norman and I had a great time together during this trip. It was a chance to really reconnect and remember what it was like back before we had kids and so many responsibilities!

A special thanks to Keiko for gifting us with money for good coffee in America!