The most amazing thing in August was attending the baptism of three of our believers: Marty, Chika, and Chloe.

Marty

Chika

Chloe

Please keep these disciples of Christ in your prayers as they strive to follow God in every aspect of their lives. The spiritual journey is a battle that never stops until Jesus takes us home.

We were able to show our faces on television twice. Technically, we aired both in July and August. The picture below was taken during shooting for a meal I made that the reporter tried. It was part of a show called “Suppers around the World.”

TV crew taking close-up shots of Hawaiian Chicken in our dining room

Because of being on TV, we have had new customers to our coffee shop, since the camera crews took footage of that, too. Check-out clerks at the stores I frequent made sure to tell me they saw me, even clerks who normally don’t talk to me!

We have seen a few newcomers to our morning Bible study in August. One lady heard for the first time that Jesus rose from the dead. She was amazed to realize that.

I’ve been meeting monthly with my new friends Yoko and Yuko. They have really gotten into learning about the big overview of the Bible. Some good questions have arisen, and I believe God is at work.

Norman and I have had the opportunity to work with two different couples as they work through marital struggles. Satan would like nothing more than to destroy these families. Please pray for each spouse to submit to God’s truth in faith and follow through in their actions. Pray for us as we guide them through this. We need wisdom and patience.

Mr. Shimazu and us — the workers at the coffee shop

On another note, we have hired a worker to cover many hours at the Guidepost Gallery and Coffee shop (or Michishirube, in Japanese). Mr. Shimazu has been a friend and fellow artist for about 6 years. It is wonderful to have some freedom away from the shop!

To end on a chipper note, I bought some colorful blocks for the small children who visit our home from time to time. Apparently, Melodie thought they were perfect for her!

A chip off this old block