We got back last week and still doing the initial start-up stuff.  Yesterday I got the scooter insured by a nice grandma at the bike shop down the street, they called back at night to say that they'd accidentally kept some of my old paperwork and wanted me to come get it.  The owner was there to give me a lovely hand towel as an apology gift.  We talked about the 2 former people he noticed who owned my scooter, one now in Albania, the other in India at the moment.  I got 2 years of insurance since it was only $20 more than 1 year.  Although I'm not sure the scooter is gonna last that long, but it might, it's about 25 years old already.   

Also got the car out of shaken (inspection) last night.  $900 something for the inspection and gov't fees, and another $800 for brakes, tires and CV boots.  It actually looks pretty good inside since part of the crazy costs of doing this every 2 years includes cleaning the car up.  And they changed the oil for free they said.  This is all the Japanese version of cash for clunkers program, but it is in reverse- the car owner pays a lot of cash and the gov't OK's you to drive your clunker for another 2 years.  The mechanic told me he went to college in California and was shocked that he only had to pay $40 there and the inspection consisted of looking at the color of the exhaust.

Now now all the vehicles are legal.  The overgrown bush on the side of our house is chopped down to a frightened little seedling.  Most weeds are pulled.  Still have to take our souvenirs around to the neighbors.  Lady next door got up early this morning to sweep up a bunch of cigarettes left in the street in front of her house.  But we'll wait for the right timing to give her the gifts. 

Christian has 'meet the teacher' day today.  One of his 2 teachers is his mom, so that should be pretty intimidating for him.  All 3 kids went by train to a pool yesterday in a city nearby.  Kayla left early for Volleyball practice, the boys got home at 5:30 sunburnt even though they said they 're-applied' suncreen 3 times. 

House church was good Sunday, we talked about what God did/taught us this summer since.  Bring your own lunch day.  1 lady is ready to take Japan for Jesus, another family is having serious troubles. 

We got news yesterday that a church in FL where we have some old friends has decided to give us a good one-time gift, praise God.
Still hoping for some other churches we visited this summer to come though. 

The flight over was not very fun but we made it all together at least.  I wonder why an airline would only have 1 tv screen on a flight lasting 14 hours?  Oh well, got some reading done.  And I had a window seat so I could lean on the side and get some sleep.   The buddy passes definitely saved money but waiting around the airports for available seats and packing and unpacking several times was no fun at all.  At least the Turner's connected us with some friends in Atlanta who put us up at their nice house on the lake.

Kim's at the school.  Time to get the kids up and going.

    

 We are pleased at the way things are falling into place for our summer home service.  The calendar is packed and I cannot imagine squeezing in one more appointment but I would if you asked nicely.  We have been told to raise $2,500/month more in support this summer at our field coordinators request.  We are aiming for this because we are running short about this amount each month.  We also have loss some of our prayer base and would like to get more and more of you to face Satan head on in the fight for Japan.  This battle we fight here is not a physical one but one that is taking place in the spiritual realm.  If you would love to share in our ministry here by supporting us through prayer and possible support, please send me an email or comment on my facebook or here on the xanga site.  We we are scheduled to speak at three new churches but could use more.  Some of you may be at churches that said they would consider adding us 'later',  the later is now.  Lets work together to keep workers in the harvest field of Japan...now is a great time to be here with the economy collapsing all around us...people are ready for a god other than money...desperation is everywhere....hearts are ready...will you help lead them to Jesus?

Phil and I had a much needed date night tonight.  We left Kayla in charge, hoping for the best out of the children.  We made it to the mall and found the much anticipated Mexican restaurant...I don't think I could ever get tired of eating Mexican...yummy.  There it was, in the midst of noodles, sushi and Korean...the oasis.  This was no Taco Bell, the tortillas are homemade and everything tasted delicious..and fresh and healthy.  We were surprised that it was a good as it was.  For my dinner I got a small coke, smallllll nachoes, and a chicken taco.  It was out of this world, all of it.  The whole set cost $8.30, well worth it. We even splurged and got extra guacamole, something that is hard to find in this land of fish and rice.  Really, it was great food.  Afterwards, we ran to the third floor to catch the movie Angels and Demons. I had read the reviews and felt that the movie in no way was blaspheming Christ or His Church.  The Catholics in the world may not agree with me, but I'm not Catholic in the sense of being A Catholic by denomination.  The movie was slow in parts, a good story and plot line, predictable in many ways, and a great eye-opener for me.  I haven't cared/had much exposure to the Catholic way of doing things.  I found that man has taken God's perfect plan for His Church and mucked it up with rules, regulations and people who are give more power than The Word allows.  Personally, I would wait for the dvd and rent it...not worth spending heaps of money on.  But for us, it was this or 17 Again, the only two English movies showing.  This will be a last date night for a long while...it was wonderful and refreshing...to sit and talk uninterrupted over sour cream, cheese and tortillas.