I pray you and your families enjoyed your Christmas and New Year’s time together. As we enter into 2008, I was looking back over December and the busyness of the season. I enjoyed celebrating the birth of Jesus with all of my students and church families over here. There were many class parties, a couple of open houses and the exciting evening of caroling in front of the international store at Fujigaoka subway station on Dec. 23^rd. That was a wonderful night and I must say my Japanese singing is coming along slowly but surely. The 2 open houses I held were lots of fun too. I didn’t think I could squeeze 16 people into my little place but I managed. Just so you know I am standing in my bedroom to take the picture!
I had a wonderful Christmas with the Hieberts in Toyota and some other missionaries and friends. The turkey was delicious and we played some games, sang songs and I enjoyed the time even though I was far from ‘home’. On Boxing Day, Andrea (from Osaka) made perogies and I made cabbage rolls…what a great time that was! It reminded me of my Christmas Eves growing up as that is what my parents would prepare for our family and friends. I was certainly busy and didn’t have time to miss home too much.
On Dec. 27^th a group of 9 went to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. There were 3 students, some friends and 2 other missionaries. The Christmas light display and singing were amazing - as was going on the Jurassic Park ride again! I wish I could send a video I took of the huge Christmas tree and the music and dancing, but of course it won’t work on paper (ha ha ha). Perhaps when I come to visit next August I can play it for you at another dessert night…it really was beautiful.
I rang in the New Year with 2 other missionaries and we saw the city lights from high atop the Umeda Sky Building in Osaka…truly spectacular. It was pretty cold outside though and the wind made taking ‘focused’ pictures on my little camera a bit difficult at times. But I did manage to get a few good ones. We also went to the Port of Kobe and then to Kyoto. We went to see the Rokuon-ji Temple or Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto on New Year’s Day. The 2^nd and 3^rd floors are covered with gold-leaf on Japanese lacquer. Although I had been here before, today the sun was shining so brightly the temple was reflecting into the pond that surrounds it. I am attaching a photo in the hopes you can see how beautiful it is. We did many other things too, but this is one of the sites that I wanted to share with you.
Usually I am not one to make New Year resolutions as I know I won’t keep them. But I was given some words of advice from another missionary here in Japan. It made me realize how self-centered I can be sometimes and I felt humbled and saddened when I think about it. Here I am in an amazing country, serving our God and trying to reach out to the Japanese for him. Yet, I tend to get caught up in the excitement of being overseas and living in another culture sometimes that I forget why I am here. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are living in another country and how we all need to be more respectful of the culture and our actions and how they can reflect on other people. It’s about focusing on God and how he will work through us so that we can share his love and His Word with the Japanese…to reach them for his glory so that others may come to know who Jesus Christ is and how much he loves all of us.
So with that said, I have made a New Year’s resolution. I have started doing Rick Warren’s ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ again plus I am spending more time in God’s Word and seeking to grow closer to him. Rick Warren says that many people are driven by the need for approval but one key to failure is to try and please everyone. I am one of these types of people…trying to please everyone all the time. This is one of the sure ways to miss God’s purpose for my life. God says “I know what I am planning for you…” so I need to let him always be in control. This is my resolution!! God knows my heart and he is working through me to reach out to the Japanese.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
- I ask that you pray for me to stay focused on him alone to remember where I am and why I am here.
- Please pray that I will stay in good health for the coming year.
- Would it be too much to ask you to pray that I get some snow? (ha ha ha)

PRAISE ITEMS:
- Thank you to Paul Dyck and MBMSI member care for their caring, love and support. It is so helpful knowing that if we need help, advice or just a word of encouragement, they are only a ’click’ away!
- To all of you, who pray for me daily, thank you! You helped to make my Christmas in Japan very relaxing and peaceful.
- For all the Christmas cards and wonderful email wishes - it made my first Christmas away from home so special and I appreciate all of you so much!
- Praise God for good health.