Pioneering in Japan

It’s been in the 90’s for almost 3 weeks now, apparently unusual for Tokyo. It's so hot, I even learned how to say "it's hot" just from overhearing it so often! Meanwhile, China’s on maritime maneuvers with the US, thanks to Obama. The Fukishima nuclear plant is leaking radioactive waste into the ocean, and one of our volcanoes is erupting ash and smoke. So maybe it's finally time for everyone to stop being so smug and aloof. Maybe it's time to open our hearts to the hope that Jesus offers Japan! Just a few weeks ago I started one-on-one Japanese lessons at a local City Center (I am determined to know more than just the names of my favorite foods!). There's a large room with several big tables where students and their teachers can practice their nihongo . Although there are individual lessons going on all around the room, it's not distracting. This is Japan, where everyone studies (and no one makes too much noise). They have a whole program dedi...

Honey, you can come out of the nursery now... A faithful reader of this blog texted me the other day (now don't be jealous, we love all 5 of you!) and asked why I hadn't posted in a while.  "So how's your English lessons/meetings going? Are you able to meet up with people at Starbucks or 7/11 or something I think you mentioned?" inquired the upbeat text. I replied calmly (using only lowercase type) "Well, no one has called us back... and I didn't exactly want to blog on THAT!" And yet, here we are! Someone, somewhere, wrote that my last post on Wilderness Pioneering was an encouragement to some folk out there in the wilderness. Well, if that be true, let's just keep "telling it like it is" for a while. Now this is what I call roughing it! Pioneering is NOT like getting shipwrecked on Gilligan's Island! You might whine about missing out on the good life "back home", but reality is, the Skipper...