Spring Flowers, Summer Showers

Hello!

Wow, it has been a busy semester, and I’m finally sitting down to write this! Buckle up, we have about 4 months to get through in this one, starting all the way back in March!

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Time Marches On

It has now been 12 years since the 9.1 magnitude earthquake and tsunami reaching 132 feet high devastated this area of Japan on March 11, 2011. I have heard both terrible stories and amazing testimonies from that disaster, and I thank God for bringing attention and His workers to this otherwise forgotten area of the country, despite all the loss and destruction. It was deeply moving and meaningful to observe my first "3.11" not only in-country, but while living one mile away from the shore that the tsunami swept over and beyond. Continue to pray for opportunities for the brokenness, caused by this tragedy, to bring about faith and freedom from the captivity of fear.

Spring Break in Kyoto, Gifu, and Osaka

I was able to spend my Spring Break traveling as a tourist for a day or two, then I visited friends to learn about how they do ministry, and how the Lord is moving through those ministries. I also got to help some with their homeschooling, and to teach one of their kids a few songs on piano! Even on vacation, the teaching never stops! I took the train back to Ishinomaki and got to have lunch with my friend, Jun, again as I went through Tokyo!

"Gospeling" at the station
in Gifu with friends

The fanciest panel of toilet buttons I've 
seen so far, at a rest stop during the
long bus ride

Tasty Thai food with
Jun in Tokyo

I had an interesting travel experience by taking an overnight bus ride from Sendai west to Kyoto. Though the plan said it could take 8-10 hours, it took over 11 hours! All-in-all, it was a good experience and got me to my destination safely, but I think I will only take that again if it’s the only reasonable choice. It was interesting to see (or rather, not see) the rest-stop stations in the quiet, dark hours of the night, in prefectures I’ve never visited. 

Sakura over a river in the old-town area of Kyoto

  

Famous "Glico Man" sign 
in Dotonbori in Osaka

While on these trips, I had the chance to have some great experiences! In Kyoto, I got to experience the famous cherry blossoms in full bloom! In Osaka, I got to see a figure skating performance by some of Japan’s, and the world’s, top figure skaters! When I first started learning more about Japan, the top male skater in the world was Yuzuru Hanyu, who retired from competing last year, but is still performing. Wanting to share the Gospel with him is part of what drove me to start learning Japanese, so getting to see him and other favorites perform in person was quite a dream come true! I was even able to attend a figure skating competition in April and got to see even more extremely talented skaters! I continue to pray for his salvation, and that of the other skaters as well, and hope that I, or one of their influencers, might have the chance to one day share the Good News of the One who gave them their gifts.

World Figure Skating Team Competition
Exhibition Performance

"Stars on Ice" figure skating in Osaka

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April Showers

In April, I got to celebrate Easter several times and in special ways! We talked about Lent and Holy Week in the schoolroom, and I got to share some American Easter traditions with the students (even though they’re American, they might not know about certain traditions). I also got to prepare and hold a Passover Seder with my roommate, following a video made by a Messianic Jewish family to educate both the origins of the Seder and the way the parts point to Christ and how He fulfills it. It added so much more meaning to the events of Holy Week, and I will definitely continue this tradition in the future. If you ever have the chance to attend, or to host a Seder, I highly recommend it!

I also got to help one of our schoolroom families with their team’s family Easter event! We hid eggs for them to hunt, and shared about how, like a seed has to die to give a flower a chance for a beautiful life, Jesus died for us to have a chance to have eternal life with Him. It was all of the families’ first time hunting, or even seeing, Easter eggs! It was a wonderful chance for children and their parents to hear the Good News and the true story of Easter. I was glad to be able to help with their event!

Easter Event at school family's church

   

 Many shoes at the door means many visitors

who attended our Easter Celebration     

On Easter Sunday, our church held their regular service, and many people came, some after a long absence, and others for the first time! One couple even brought their pet rabbit to be an Easter bunny! I was honored to be asked to play my harp for communion, and I chose “I Come to the Garden” and “Nothing but the Blood” as fitting hymns for Easter. After I played, the pastor shared some of the lyrics and translated them into Japanese so the congregation could understand the significance of the hymns I played. I am grateful to have grown up singing many hymns with such rich text, and I pray I never take it for granted.

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May Flowers

With the beginning of May came Golden Week, a series of national holidays back to back. It’s not a full week of holidays, but most people take off the days before or after to make it a full week! Several of us from my team took a hike up high on a nearby mountain. It was so fun to be outside in the beautiful weather and surrounded by things growing in the spring air! The azaleas were in full bloom and it was as if I was surrounded by rivers of corals and pinks! God’s creation continually amazes me and reminds me that He gave us these things to enjoy and point our attention back to His love and grace.

I again spent time with the team in Gifu with whom I had visited during Spring Break. We attended a training time in Nagoya which was very beneficial. The training was hosted mainly by Brazilians, so everything was in Portuguese, and I listened to the English translation over a transistor radio. I was amazed to see such a large gathering of not only foreigners, but believers! It’s probably the first time I’ve been in a room with that many believers in Japan, an estimated 500 at least! Pray for what God is doing through His Brazilian church in Japan! 
When I got back to Ishinomaki, several team members from the Osaka location of Be One were visiting. I got to know them better, and hear about what God is doing there!

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Fun times in June

Time with other folks on my team, just to relax and build relationships, has been so important and fun. A new team member, Haley, has been joining me in watching (yet again) the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy movies. There is so much imagery and deeper meaning in Tolkien’s writings. And there is lots of trivia to discuss! Haley and I are both Tolkienites, so it’s been great fun! I thank God that He has given me a friend like her and that we got to become so close so quickly!

It's now tsuyu (rainy season), so there is lots of rain almost every day, even causing some flooding, making getting around more difficult, especially without a car! 

One of my roommates was able to go home to California for two months and has returned refreshed. I am thankful for my roommates and the relationships the Lord has built there. 

A very exciting event! One of our team couples delivered their first baby just recently! Sadly, both Mama and Daddy tested positive for Covid, so they were separated from their daughter for the first few days, but they are home and enjoying the time with their new baby girl! My roommate and I took dinner to them and got to hold her! We also just gave her a baby shower, which was so fun and special! I helped with organizing the games and the flow of the party, which was new for me, but a great experience!

The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra is currently touring Japan, and came to perform in Ishinomaki! I got to attend their performance of Tchaikovsky's “Swan Lake” with one of the families from the schoolroom, who appreciate and love music as much as I do! It was my first time in the local performance hall, and I was very impressed! I was so glad to attend that concert with such wonderful friends.

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Looking to the future

This is a time of uncertainty for me as I look to my future in Japan, with the end of my one-year contract drawing to an end. I am certain that God has His plan for me, so, though I don’t know yet what or where it is, I am looking to Him for my next assignment.

So many circumstances have changed the ministry landscape for the entire team here in Ishinomaki. The leadership shared with me that this year has not looked anything like they anticipated. They have loved having me as part of the team, and though they don’t want me to leave, they have opened that door for me because the schoolroom of missionary students is now down to very few. 

I have enjoyed my time with IKG (Gospel Choir) and developing relationships with the members. I had my last rehearsal for the summer (and possibly much longer), and they knew it was my last, so I was able to choose which songs I wanted to sing. I used those to show the message I want them to remember, and asked them to consider the truth of what they sing and to Whom they sing. They all said they would miss my smile, so I said that my smile is only because of God’s joy and true love and I have those because I believe in Him and the words we sing. Besides the director, there is only one member who is a Christian. It is so fascinating that the Japanese are so drawn to Gospel music. Pray that these ladies would think on my words and come to the true understanding of the message in the songs they sing. 

I have also had several opportunities to share about the Lord with my language partner. Just last week, she was able to join some of us from church for dinner, so she now has more connections with believers! I pray that, no matter where the Lord takes me, I can continue to strengthen and pour into the people with whom I have already established relationships, as well as provide opportunities for even more community and new relationships. Pray that the Lord would continue to stir her heart and draw her to Himself, and that the other believers she met would be able to keep connecting with her and her husband. 

I will be flying home, the Lord willing, at the end of June. Our mission conference is July 7–14. This will be a wonderful time of sharing what the Lord is doing in Japan and being refreshed, both by seeing church family, but also by being with other missionaries. I look forward to what the Lord has for me during this time. I will have a table set up Sunday, June 9, so please come say hi! I would love to show and tell in person even more of what God is doing in Japan!

Before I knew I would be able to actually move to Japan for the job for which I had been hired (thank you pandemic), I agreed to go on a choir trip to England! So at the end of the Mission Conference, I will be flying with friends to England to sing about the Lord for 10 days. (I am thinking that my body will have no idea what time it is, having not been in the States very long and flying out again!)

My plan at this time is to be in Denton through the month of August. Please reach out, as I would love to catch up individually with you!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Hello!

I pray you have been well, safe, and warm during this chilly season! (Or is it only cold here?)

First, just a quick update of December's events and travels, then we'll look at how the first two months of 2023 have been!

The IKG (gospel choir) Christmas market performance went very well! I got to carpool with some members I haven't spoken with as much yet. This day was a great opportunity to share more about why I am in Japan, that I am so joyful in my singing because I truly believe the songs we sing and the One to Whom we sing, and about the true story of Christmas. 

I was also able to share the story of Christmas with my language exchange partner, and she was very interested in what I shared and asked several questions about the meaning of different parts of the story! She had heard a little of it before but was excited to learn the whole story, including Who the Baby is, why He needed to come because of the Fall, the promise of a Savior and prophecies throughout the Old Testament, and the meaning of the gifts of the wise men that indicated Who He is and foreshadowing His sacrifice on the Cross. I was able to tie the Christmas story into the Gospel story and emphasise our need for a Savior and Redeemer. Pray for her as she continues to contemplate all I shared, that the seed planted would continue to grow, and that she would realize her need for a Savior.

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, I led the schoolroom kids through the Advent wreath (sans candles) and had a short lesson about the word each candle represents. It was so special to hear these students reading scripture and sharing their thoughts and hearts. I hope to continue having weekly devotional times with them in the new year. 
We also had a schoolroom Christmas party! They had lots of fun showing their creativity and teamwork through marshmallow sculptures, acting out the "12 Days of Christmas," and other fun winter- and Christmas-themed games and activities!

I came back to Texas on December 20, just in time for Christmas! I was able to play harp with the orchestra for my church's Christmas Eve and Day services, as well as the other Sundays I was home. It was such a wonderful time, and I was glad to get to spend time with so many friends and see so much family in those few short weeks. Thank you to everyone who took time to meet with me over the holiday season.

Be One's Christmas service

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I returned to Japan on January 14th, and started back in the schoolroom the following Monday. As a Texan, I'm not used to getting much snow, so this winter has been quite a learning curve, with so many days of snow, even though it doesn't accumulate more than an inch or so, if at all. I've learned that, since the snow here doesn't turn into ice, life continues as usual, if only slightly slower. 

At the end of January, I made a brief trip to Nagoya to visit a friend I made when I was in Nagoya last summer, as well as to attend a concert.

Snow Day (one of many)

Nagoya's Central Park the Mirai Tower (not the Eiffel Tower!)

We have a new teammate, Haley, who will be joining Be One for a year to help restart after-school and youth programs that haven't happened since before the pandemic! Pray for her as she continues to settle into a new place, a new language, and a new ministry. Pray for her to be effective in bringing in children from the community for a fun and safe place to play and build relationships.

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It snowed more in February, and IKG (Gospel choir) started rehearsing after the holiday break. We are learning a new song called Revelation 19:1, and the director took his time when introducing it to explain the story behind it, starting in the Garden, through the prophecies, the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the Church Age, and looking forward to His return, as seen in Revelation. For many of the members, it was the first time they had heard the story of the Bible so succinctly, from start to finish, in a way they could understand. Pray for their hearts to be receptive to the message of the One to Whom we sing.

I also got to meet with the a cappella group in Sendai again! This was our first time meeting since November, but we were able to sing together well and enjoy our time together. Pray that I can continue to be a light to these people, as well, even though I see them in-person infrequently.

One of the schoolroom families gave their daughter a new piano for Christmas, and gifted me with their old keyboard! It is such a huge and wonderful blessing! It is able to plug into my computer so I can use it for creating and composing songs or writing sheet music more easily, so I have been flexing my creative muscles a lot more over this past month.

Near the end of February, there was a national holiday, so a group of us from church decided to visit a nearby island and hike up to its mountain's summit. All told, the hike took about three hours, and the views were spectacular, but the best part was going on the adventure together.

                    

Deer

Snowy Trail

Wild Monkeys

 

Post-hike lunch of grilled
Minke-whale meat. Yum!

Praises:

• I was able to perform several times with the local Gospel Choir! I also got to share with more of the choir members why I am in Japan! 
• The schoolroom, while small in number, is going strong, and everyone gets along well.
• Christmas at home was a wonderful time! I got to meet with friends and family, and I got back to Japan smoothly enough.
• I've had a lot of great meetings and time spent together with teammates, language partners, and both singing groups, since coming back after the holidays.
• Thanks to the generosity of one of the schoolroom families, I have my own keyboard, which I can use to create and record music, as well as prepare and practice for worship!

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for all those with whom I've gotten to share my story of coming to Japan, that they would seek to know more about the One Who called me, especially the ladies in IKG and the members of the a cappella group.
• Pray for the new teammate as she settles in and adjusts to living in Japan and being part of the Be One team. Pray for all her ministry activities to bear fruit, especially with the children in the community.
• Continue to pray for those with whom I come into contact in the community, that they would see Jesus in me and want to know Him because of my presence.
• Continue to pray for church leadership as they seek God's guidance for the future of church and personal ministries. Also pray for me as I continue seeking what my part is in God's plan here.
• Pray for the hearts of the schoolroom kids, as they continue learning about and following God, that they would consider and act on the lessons learned during Advent.
• Pray for each other. Pray for the person who reads this next, only God knows who that is, that they will seek to be the light of Christ to those around them, active as missionaries wherever they live.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  

In Him,

    Amanda

"Fall" Be Home for Christmas

Here is an update from October and November,
and a look ahead toward Christmas!

    The last couple of months have been a bit more quiet, but I got to do some fun things! At the beginning of October, there was a long holiday, so I went down to Tokyo to see a friend who shares my birthday so we could celebrate together! I also got to see a couple of other friends, and to visit the church of another CTEN family while I was down there! 

Tokyo Sky Tree

Downtown Tokyo Skyline at night from Shibuya Sky Walk 

Spent some time prayer-walking around Sensōji temple, the most famous and most visited temple in Japan, and the most frequented spiritual site in the world. Even before Japan reopened to tourism, it was sad to see how many people still came that day to ask for help from the local kami or gods.

Friends from

 DBU days!

pillow fort fun with the Lath 
(another CTEN family) kids after church!

     Since Japan finally opened its borders to tourism, we were able to bring a couple over on a "vision trip," to see if this is where God wants them to serve. They were here for about three weeks, and we all got to know one another quite well in that time! It was fun showing them around, and teaching them about things that I had just discovered or am still learning. It helped me to realize how much I've been able to learn and adjust to so far!

     A couple in our church had a baby, so we hosted a baby shower, and I was in charge of decorations! It was so special getting to bless them, and to celebrate the new life! 

     I have now been a part of IKG, Ishinomaki "Kibou" (Hope) Gospel choir, long enough that I can participate in performances! My IKG debut was singing 5 songs as part of a festival held at The Historical Museum of Jomon Village to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Jomon Village is a prominent historical village, with artifacts and pit houses dating back to the early Jomon period, which ended around 300BC. It was fascinating to explore the area, and an honor to perform there!

  

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     At the beginning of November, we had another holiday in the middle of the week, so I went down into Sendai with my conversation partner for the day. She took me to her favorite cafes and stores, and we had a lovely time exploring and chatting! It was a great chance to talk about how God called me here and to dig deeper into what I believe, all of which she listened to eagerly and openly. Be praying that my time with her shows her the Gospel lived out, and helps her to realize her need for a personal Savior.

     That Saturday saw me back in Sendai with IKG for the Sendai Gospel Festival, where we sang with members from the Sendai, Nagoya, and Osaka locations of the same choir organization. I was able to watch other groups' performances as well, and it was amazing to see so many people singing praises to God, but tragic to think of how probably few of them actually believe what they sang.

   

     There was another weekend of Gospel performances a few weeks later, with only a few select groups performing, one of which was our group! Unlike the previous performances, this one was indoors, held on a stage that is often used for press conferences. We went down that morning to rehearse, then we spent time together eating lunch and getting ready for the performance that afternoon. It was a great chance to really get to know the other members better. They all commented on how joyful and enthusiastic I looked while singing, so I got to share with them that it's because I really believe in what I'm singing and to Whom I'm singing, and that makes all the difference. It was such a special day, and the guest soloist, who is apparently somewhat well known in Japanese Gospel circles, was really amazing to watch. I can't find anything saying whether or not he is a believer, but the way he was singing, it wouldn't surprise me if he is. Pray for those in the audience that heard the truths of the Gospel and God's love and hope sung, and for those with whom I sang and spoke that day, that they would realize the truth of what they sing and come to know the One about Whom they sing.

     In November, we held the first Be One Academy Game Day, where we took the students to a park for a picnic lunch and then spent most of the afternoon there playing games and having fun. 

     I went yet again into Sendai for a dinner meeting of the Sendai location of Full-House A Cappella Circle. Even though we didn't get to sing together, it was nice to spend time with everyone after not meeting for a while. I got to share some of my story about coming as a missionary and what I do, and they seemed very interested in hearing about it. Pray that I can continue to be a light to them, even though we don't get to meet very often, and that they will seek to know more about the One Who called me here.

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     If you thought that Japan doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, think again! They celebrate what they call Labor Thanksgiving on November 23, which happened to fall on the day before American Thanksgiving this year! Like American Labor Day, they are grateful for the job they have and the labor force, but it's also a day to celebrate the work that went into growing, harvesting, and preparing that year's rice. The Be One team took that day to celebrate a traditional American Thanksgiving, complete with turkey (despite the turkey shortage), stuffing, all the sides you'd expect, and even a pumpkin pie! It was so special to get to spend time with the team and some others from our English-speaking community, and I was glad to still have a "normal" Thanksgiving.

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     As the title of this update implies, I get to come home for Christmas! I was overwhelmed by the generosity of a few supporters who specifically wanted to make it possible for me to come home for Christmas, as well as a kind pilot friend letting me fly standby with his "buddy pass" to further lower the cost. I will be home December 20th through January 12! If you have time, I'd love to grab a coffee or meal with you and share more about what God is doing in my area of Japan! 

     Before I come home, I will have one more IKG performance as part of a Christmas concert! Pray that those who listen hear the true message of Christmas in the songs we will sing.

    

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Praises:

• I was able to perform several times with the local Gospel Choir! I also got to share why I am in Japan with more of the choir members! 
• I got to have a traditional Thanksgiving this year with my wonderful team!
• Be One Academy had its first game day, so we're all a little closer after that.
• I get to come home, and my flight was almost completely covered by supporter's generosity!

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for all those with whom I've gotten to share my story of coming to Japan, that they would seek to know more about the One Who called me.
• Pray for Be One's Christmas Eve service. Christmas and Christmas Eve aren't much of a big deal in Japan, especially as it lacks the religious connotations, so there isn't much planned besides a few Christmas parties for the different age groups and a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Pray for all we invite to be free to come and hear about the true meaning of Christmas.
• Pray for those with whom I come into contact in the community, that they would see Jesus in me and want to know Him because of my presence.
• Continue to pray for church leadership as they seek God's guidance for the future of church and personal ministries.
• Pray for a rejuvenating and beneficial visit home over Christmas, that I will get to see and do all I want and need to while I'm there. Pray for the meetings I have to help continue to guide my steps in His plan, not my own.
• Pray for each other. Pray for the person who reads this next, only God knows who that is, that they will share the reason for the hope and joy that is in them, and that the light of Jesus will shine more brightly than all the Christmas lights this holiday season.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  

In Him,

    Amanda

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If you feel led to partner with me financially, just click here, or go to 

https://www.cten.org/asia-and-middle-east-missionaries/amanda-griffin

and click donate, OR mail a check to

"Commission to Every Nation,

P.O. Box 291307,

Kerrville, TX 78029-1307"

and include a separate note stating that you are supporting Amanda Griffin.

Summertime, Part 2!

     

Hello, Everyone!

Here is an update from July, August, and September, 

the conclusion of summer and beginning of the fall semester!

(Warning, lots of photos ahead!)

In July, I started learning Japanese more intensely. Once a week, I met with a teacher online, with a language exchange partner, and a conversation partner. I focused a lot on conversation, grammar, vocabulary, and reading aloud during all of these meetings, so by now I can hold a decent conversation, talk about myself and ask about others when I first meet someone, and understand most common questions used when checking out or ordering. When I wasn't meeting with someone, I was either studying Japanese or exploring more around town and neighboring areas!

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Summertime, Part 1!

Hello Everyone!

Here is an update from May and June, the first part of summer!

A brief compilation of photos and videos from my adventures the last couple months! 

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The Schoolroom

At the end of May, the schoolroom had an end of year/semester party, and celebrated the graduation of our one senior. Even though the school year wasn’t over for some students, it was great to celebrate together with all the Be One Academy families while everyone was still around. For the month of June, there were 5 students in the schoolroom doing summer online classes, but now the schoolroom is closed for the summer holidays! It will reopen at the end of August, so until then I have lots of time to focus on language learning and to visit friends and other missionaries!

Too Darn Hot!

This summer has been the hottest on record for Japan! In Ishinomaki it got up to about 87º, and reached a heat index of 94º. Since air conditioning is so expensive in Japan, they opt for a single wall unit, which only heats or cools the room it's in. Many houses and apartments are also designed to allow for cross ventilation, which is sufficient for keeping slightly cooler when there is a breeze. Because of the lack of A/C, we have to find creative ways to stay comfortable during the day at home or at school, as well as overnight. Thankfully it has rained some the last few days, and has cooled off considerably. The heat has made for perfect days to visit local beaches, which has been immensely enjoyable and refreshing!

A Harp At Last!

As you may know, I was not able to bring my harp with me to Japan, and I have been missing having my own instrument since I got here. Thankfully, a team member knows a lady who happens to have an extra harp, so she is letting me rent it! This is much more affordable than buying even a used harp, and it is definitely an answer to prayer! Even though it is smaller than my harp back home, I have enjoyed playing different hymns and songs on it in the evenings, and look forward to using it for worship soon!

Make Friends and Influence People (for Christ)

One thing that is important for new missionaries is building community and relationships outside the church and outside the expat circles. Being a language learner has been a great foot-in-the-door for making friends. While I have a Japanese teacher I meet with via Zoom, I additionally meet with a local language exchange partner for coffee or lunch once a week. I have also joined a Gospel choir Surprisingly, Gospel music is a popular style in Japan, I have joined a Gospel choir (which includes only one other believer), and I am part of an a cappella ensemble, which meets in Sendai monthly. 

Have you ever had corn sushi or okra sushi?

I have taken several Sunday afternoon train trips to neighboring towns, and shop owners have been so kind and willing to briefly chat with me in my broken Japanese. This is improving my conversational skills, as well as my confidence in speaking with strangers. Pray for opportunities and the vocabulary to plant seeds in those with whom I speak.

Church, Ministry, and Looking to the Future

As I get more settled into life here, I’ve begun to seriously think and pray about how God wants to use me specifically in this community. Since Be One currently has Life Groups throughout the week and only meets all together for Sunday Celebration Service once a month, I have been visiting a church that meets in the neighboring town on the other Sundays. This has provided the chance to make a few more friends and join in their outreach events in addition to Be One’s events. Since Japan has lifted the restrictions on the size of gatherings allowed, pray as the other church and Be One consider the best way to do outreach or have events going forward. Pray for guidance for me as I continue settling in and finding my place and purpose here.

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With Heavy Hearts

Shinzo Abe

Even though this is an update from May and June, I must include what happened on July 7. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated by a man with a homemade gun, while campaigning for a member of his national party. Gun violence is extremely rare here, and Abe was a beloved leader, as well as the longest-serving prime minister. This has shaken the Japanese people, and could cause a great deal of fear for the future. Pray for Abe's wife, who has visited Ishinomaki in the past and wears Nozomi jewelry often, and his family and friends. Pray for the Japanese people to not give into fear, but that they would seek the One True God, Who casts out fear and is near to the brokenhearted. Pray that we can use this as a way to share God's love and hope with the community.

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Praises:

• The school year finished well, and those who have traveled got everywhere safely!
• I have a harp to use while I'm here! What a special extra gift from God, and a great chance to bless the missionary from whom I'm renting it, as well as those for whom I will get to play!
• Language learning is going well! I'm making friends and connecting with the community in special ways. 
• I am comfortable traveling solo by train or by car, so I get to explore the beauty around me every week.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for the summer break to be a productive time of both Bible study and Japanese study. Pray that I can learn a lot of Japanese over this break time, and that I can focus well to the end. Pray that my travel is smooth and refreshing.
• Pray for people to stay safe in the heat, especially young children, expectant mothers, and the elderly. Pray that the power grid in densely populated areas can stand up to so much power use for A/Cs.
• Pray for those with whom I come into contact in the community and in my adventures. Pray that I can learn and use vocabulary for witnessing that they can understand.
• Pray for church leadership as they seek God's guidance for the future of church and personal ministries.
• Pray for Shinzo Abe's family and the country of Japan as they mourn his sudden and tragic death. Pray that many come to Christ because of this, and that the people do not become fearful and make sudden and detrimental decisions and laws because of it. Pray for justice regarding the shooter, but also that he may come to know Christ and repent.
• Pray for each other. Pray for the person who reads this next, only God knows who that is, that they will feel God's love and know He is in control and is not surprised by anything.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Him,
Amanda