more than names and faces

i apologize. i (jennifer) am not as committed to blogging as i'd hoped, sorry it's been so long! these past weeks have been busy getting ready for the summer impact japan (SIJ) team to join us here in Tokyo (the program kyle and i did in 2005) it has been a huge task but at the same time, an great refreshment to see our 9 new friends arrive eager to dive into life in japan and into friendships with the students. introducing these american college students to our friends has made us realize how much we've grown to love them. they are no longer just names and faces that we trying to memorize and learn about, but beautiful people with amazing hearts. we wanted to take some time and share more pictures of them and our recent activities... in no particular order... please pray for these wonderful people!

our fourth year friend Megumi all dressed up after a day of student teaching at her elementary school. asako, on the floor, is a third year with the most warm personality.

meg and asako in the foreground and ariel and meaghan, two SIJ'ers from arizona in the background. can you feel the love? :) we had a great night chatting about life and topped it off with a slumber party in our living room! sweet!

this is definitely a "you had to be there" picture. masashi, keigo and yasushi were three of the six students that joined a student panel discussion to give the SIJ'ers a chance to ask questions about BEST club and life in japan. here, the guys are deep in thought about what their favorite part of BEST is. what an amazing time for us to hear their thoughts on God, the Bible and what BEST means to them. more on that later!

jennifer ran into ayumi at the train station on the way to a job interview. PRAISE THE LORD ayumi has since gotten a job as has her sister and keigo. thank you for your prayers!

the four midterm staff here in tokyo: mary, joanna, me and kyle. we continually feel blessed, challenged and loved by these two girls! we're so thankful to be on a team with them!

kyle and yuuri cutting way too many onions and getting a bit teary-eyed. yuuri is such a servant, with a real concern for all the people around him!

saaya is a freshman at chuo. she is incredibly patient (especially with my japanese!), eager and excited to hang out, and joyful to be around!

here is kanako, a staff from Shizuoka BEST, and ruth ann, staff from Utsunomiya BEST, at the end of SIJ orientation. they, were a refreshment to be with for sure!