Winter break highlights and Happy New Year!

With the new year comes many changes, not the least of which is a brand-new Kumamoto J-3. We welcomed Brent into our little family at a party a couple of weeks ago (which, incidentally, marked the halfway point for Morgan, Caroline, and me). He's still in orientation but will start full teaching at Luther when the new school year starts in April.

Yōkoso, Brent! (From L to R: Morgan, Patrick, Brent, me, Caroline.)

Other highlights from the past month:

Attending a Christmas Eve service in California.

Technology is astounding.

Well... not quite. But thanks to mobile technology, spur-of-the-moment ideas, and the fact that my home church has Wi-Fi, I was able to Skype into my home church's 7pm Christmas Eve service from Japan at noon on Christmas Day. (Special thanks to my older brother, who held the tablet over his head the whole service so I could see.) It was a surreal and moving experience, singing with my home congregation in California in the early afternoon Japan sunshine. I even managed to close my curtains and dig a candle and holder out in time to join in the final candlelit rendition of "Joy to the World."

Boxi Rocks!

Not your usual rock band. Or your
usual pastors.

This is the rock band founded by Sekino-sensei, pastor of Tokyo Lutheran, featuring two pastors and a seminarian who's currently serving in Kumamoto. "Boxi" is an alternate spelling of bokushi, Japanese for "pastor." They had their first Kumamoto live show a couple days after Christmas at Murozono Church, one of the Lutheran churches in town, and I thought they were going to bring the rafters down! Guest vocalists included Murozono's pastor Nishikawa-sensei (a former seminary classmate of Sekino-sensei) and Luther's chaplain Choi-sensei. I bought a t-shirt after the concert (no CDs yet, unfortunately). Their logo is... interesting, to say the least. The design on the bass drum is actually the emblem of the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church:

Luther on bass, Calvin on guitar, and... Jesus on drums.
(Does anyone recognize the one on the left? We haven't been able to figure out who he is.)

Costco!

Look familiar?

Thanks to some generous friends, I had the opportunity to visit the Costco warehouse in Fukuoka, a two-hour drive from Kumamoto, at the end of December. It's almost like an exact replica of Costco in America, except the prices are higher and there are of course many more Japanese goods for sale. But it's the only place in Japan to get distilled white vinegar, peanut butter, Orville Redenbacher popcorn, and Costco muffins. Yes, those Costco muffins.

Fitting a Costco haul into a Japanese car is
a photo-worthy accomplishment. (Hi, Katie!)

It was also a startling reminder of just how long I've been in Japan. We had pizza for lunch at the food court and at first bite I was overcome with such nostalgia that I started to cry. (It was delicious, and with the exception of the distinctly Japanese cheese, tasted exactly the same as home.) Everything was the exact same size as Costco in America, but after a year in the land of tiny cars and a 12-inch "large" pizzas, everything seemed gigantic. It's going to be an interesting transition at the end of my time here.

This year has started out pretty well, if busy. There are still many changes a-coming, and now that I have a full calendar year in Japan under my belt, I have a new resolve to make the most of this last full calendar year as a J-3. There are several ways I hope to step up this year in my faith and service as a missionary. Please pray that God's will be done and that we are able to be strong and courageous to do the work He's called us to do this year.

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1 (NIV)