It's been a week of renewal and saying "good-bye". I'm going to work backwards through the week.
Our fall interns are leaving soon. Whitney left today, the 11th; Amy and Jude leave on the 21st. We got together for a dinner last night in their honor. This was my first experience of eating at a traditional Japanese table; sitting on a pillow on the floor.

This is my chicken dish; sorry I forgot to take a picture before I had eaten some of it. The menu: deep-fried marinated chicken, traditional miso soup, white rice, shredded cabbage, their version of potato salad, cooked onions served in dipping sauce, and cucumbers. It was a very tasty meal. We've adapted to eating with chopsticks, even at home in our apartment.

At the next table, this little girl and her family were also having dinner. She crawled over to our table to explore us. Her parents seemed amused at her curiousity; so were we. I think she reminded us all that babies are the same no matter what country they are from; a gift from God, and irresistable!

Our first house church meeting in Tachikawa last Sunday, was joined by the fall interns and two Japanese ladies. We wanted Whitney, Amy, and Jude to be a part of our first meeting since they had worked with us each Thursday in that city. It was a great night.

For the Georgetown folks: Do you remember Masa who was a regular at Georgetown Baptist Church during 2006? He lived in our community for one year while learning English and working with sudents at Scott County High School learning the Japanese language.
We had been in touch with Masa and were finally able to connect this week. He travels to Shinjuku every Wednesday for an advanced English class. From his town, it is a three hour bus ride each way.

He has fond memories of his time in Georgetown and kept asking about different ones of you. He told stories of how you had been kind and helpful to him while he was there. I will relate those to you personally as I have the opportunity.