We Passed!

Our test results from December came in the mail today and guess what? We passed! Keith and I both passed our Level 4 Japanese proficiency test. Now I get to look forward to going out to eat with my Japanese teacher for celebration. Some people have said that I don't look like the same person as my ID shows on my certificate. I will let you decide.



So I was really looking forward to letting my hair grow out until May but I will finally do what my Mom keeps gently reminding me to do and get it cut. This is not because she told me to but because of much more exciting news. My good friend, Ryan, is now engaged to a sweet girl named Betsy. They are currently working on the date but are maybe looking at a May wedding. That means my hair has to get cut sooner and that means that I will return to the states, Lord willing, for a week or two to attend the wedding. So within the next month you should see some crazy hair cut pictures on the web so that way my hair has time to grow back to normal for the wedding.

Today, I was greatly encouraged during our staff meeting. On Monday nights I participate in a Bible Study with 5 seniors who are all Christians now. 3 of them clearly had no background in the Bible when they came in as Freshman. And now we are studying Ephesians together and encouraging each other in the word and scripture memory. An amazing blessing for me as I am reaping what others had sown for 4 years.

On the other end I am greatly discouraged in meeting with the Freshman guys. To me our relationship seems to be going no where. They seem to not be very interested in talking to me when we eat lunch to the point where sometimes I am lucky to get a hello out of some of there mouths. But when sports comes around on Sunday they seem to be more open through having fun together. To me right now it seems hopeless. It is easy to want to give up on meeting with them. This is an example of laboring where no one else has labored before me.

I am currently seeing the great rewards of labor and the great struggle of laboring. During our staff time I was encouraged to hear other stories that were similar and how God softened there hearts to have much greater relationships with those students. Please pray that God will help me breakthrough to the hearts of the Freshman guys. In Japan, the non-communication is often more important than the verbal communication. May God bless me in persistence so that I may rejoice one day seeing these guys come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.