Our Town #2 保育園 Preschool

Debe takes the kids to preschool 3 or 4 times a week.
She is not leaving them there, but they go to play and interact with the other kids.

Emi just loves playing with other kids, so she has a blast.
Mika is not yet 2, but she enjoys anything that Emi is enjoying.

The best part is that we can do this at no cost!
It is a "service" that they provide to the community (provided the parent remains with the kid).

Tuesday is "Pool Day":

First Service

Well, we had the first service in the new building yesterday.

The new cafe looks beautiful. It is nice to all be in one room, instead of three.

There is more parking, which is nice, although even with the 18 or so spaces, we run out too quickly.

For now, the cafe (the middle of 3 floors) will be used for both the sanctuary (Sunday AM service) and the cafe (Sunday PM). When the bottom floor is completed, that will become the sanctuary.

The top floor is used for children's ministries and the Bible College classes. It is cool that they are all together in one building now, so that things like bibles, supplies and friends do not need to be brought from building to building.

We had a potluck to celebrate the new space. Of course, we all ate too much!

Last Service at the Old Cafe

Wow, yesterday was the last service at the Koinonia Cafe. Well, I should say the "Old" Koinonia Cafe, since we are relocating it to a different (larger) building.

It is hard to believe that 2 and a half years have passed by. We were privileged to share a short message, which was followed by a time of sharing memories.

We have a lot of wonderful memories in the old cafe, but we are looking forward to making a lot of new ones.

God was so faithful in blessing everyone in the past years. He has also been faithful in blessing us with a wonderful new building. And so we know that He will indeed bless the future as well.

Our Town #1 - Panya

Thought we'd post some interesting things that are in our town.

A big reason for our recent move was so that we would be closer to things (walking distance).
This way we hope to get more involved and meet more folks in town.


This is a bakery about 2 minutes away.
There are plenty of bakeries in Japan selling everything from different kinds of breads to cakes and even things like pizza.


A good, cheap place to get our "Pizza Fix"

However, this bakery is different. Although it sells the same items, it is a "Community Supported" bakery.

What that means is, it is also used as 1) a "co-op" to sell local fruits and vegetables, and 2) a training center for teaching the mentally challenged skills such as baking and growing and selling plants.

It is kind of unique, but more importantly, it is very delicious.


Emi likes the play house most of all!

Wednesday Night Guest

On Wednesdays we have a Bible Study. We are now in John 6.

Usually, the girls just chill in the playroom with Debe. This week though, we had a special guest!

Haruki is 3, as is Emi, so they had a lot of fun playing together.


'Course, their favorite game was to climb in the toy box..


Forget "Kids on the block", we had "Kids in the box!"

Meeting the Neighbors

They have an interesting custom in Japan. When you move in to a new place, you are supposed to introduce yourself to your neighbors on the left side, the right side and across from you.

Also, you are supposed to give them a gift (usually some cookies or laundry detergent). Well, we only have 1 neighbor since our building only has 2 apartments; one of which is our own.


So after many attempts to meet our neighbor (she works late), we finally were able to catch her one morning. We introduced ourselves and gave her some detergent.

Well, she knocked on our door a couple days later and had some stuff for us! We have lived in 5 apartments in Japan, but this is first time that someone has reciprocated the "moving in gift."

She hooked us up with a Jimmy's German Chocolate Cake and a Pineapple! (pictured above)

It was perfect, as we could share the cake with the folks who came to the Wed. night study and we saved the pineapple for after Friday night prayer time. It was a cool blessing!

Goodbye Ping

We have known Ping for the 4 years that she has lived here in Okinawa.

She has really become a part of our family and so it is hard to say "goodbye", but say it we must as she leaves tomorrow for Taiwan.

Some friends and co-workers came to a "Going away" party





The girls will really miss their Auntie Ping her as well.


Well Ping, come and visit soon, and let God guide and direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6)