Our time in Iowa is coming to a close. We have greatly enjoyed our stay at the parsonage beside the First Baptist Church here in Waverly. The church family (whom we met only after moving in) has been so gracious and kind. They have been a huge blessing.

After this coming Sunday, we will be driving down to Norman’s family in Alabama, visiting one last church before flying home to Japan on March 28-29.Norman is the packer-extraordinaire. He has been packing up boxes to mail to Japan of stuff we have bought here and can’t buy in Japan. We’ve already shipped a few boxes. So much stuff!

One of the joys of furlough is discovering good Christian books. Norman is reading Gaining by Losing, Disciplines of the Godly Man, among others. I have been reading Running Scared, and True Womanhood 101. There’s some good stuff out there! Another blessing of furlough is experiencing vibrant, thriving churches here. To know people are loving and serving God in our old homeland is encouraging. We’re all on the same team with the same goal! Let’s keep up the good work. (Matthew 28:19-20)