Reunions Galore

We have seen so many people – it has been fun, refreshing, encouraging…Here is a photo album of our many friends and relatives we have been privileged to spend time with, so far.

Four Generations of Smith’s (my mom’s side of the family) Pictured Left to Right/Back to Front: Aaron (my nephew), Jeneva, My Dad, Kristin and Mike (sister and bro-in-law), Ethan (Aaron’s brother), Ron and Tiffany (sister and bro-in-law), Josiah, Me, My Mom, My Grandmom, Aunt Leslie, My Grandad, and James.

Picture 1 (L to R, B to F) Calvin, Josiah, Shane, Sebastian, Sam, Jeneva, Camille Picture 2 Josiah and Ian

Picture 3 James, Bryan, Tom            Picture 4 Joyce, Tracy, Patricia

Picture 5 Emily, Hannah, Camille, Jeneva

Approved!

Our time in America has been rushed and chaotic but well worth it. On Friday we completed our interviews and training for our transition to Long-Term missionaries and we are happy to report that we have been approved. What does this mean? Well, we will return to Japan on April 2 to fulfill our commitments to Oyumino Alive Church Plant, Open House English Classes, and Covenant Community School International. After that, in July, we will come back to the USA for a year or so of Home Ministry. We look forward to our time of visiting the many people we are not able to see on this trip and the time we will have to visit churches and share the other part of our work as missionaries; raising support for the work in Japan, and bringing before the American church the call of Christ, to all his people, to be involved in missions.

We Have Safely Arrived

We arrived in Orlando on Saturday night.  We had a whirlwind evening and morning with my Mom and Dad, went to worship with our home church family on Sunday morning, ate lunch with some of our closest and longest friends and then hopped in the car and headed for Atlanta.  Our first two days of Orientation and our first interview are complete!  Tomorrow we have our big interview with CMTW (Committee of Mission To the World).  Please pray for us as we go before the board and are interviewed on our readiness to become Long-Term Missionaries.  We are both excited and nervous.  We look forward to what God has planned for us!

We Leave SOON!

I thought I would take a moment and let you all know that I am getting very excited about going to the US in just a few days. Here is a short list of why I am excited.

I will worship in English.

I will get to talk to my mom in person.

I will see LOTS of people I love.

I will get to shop at Old Navy, Target, and Shopping Malls.

I will be able to stop at any 7-Eleven and get a make-your-own gourmet coffee from the highly convenient coffee bar.  (We have 7-11 here but there is no coffee bar!)

I will be able to read and comprehend every word I see.

I will eat at places like, Frankie’s Wings, Kelsey’s Pizza, Carrabba’s, T.G.I Friday’s, Ruby Tuesday’s, and even Taco Bell.

Oh, the list goes on… But please pray for us as we pack, prepare, and plan this week, and travel and interview with MTW next week. If you don’t hear from me for a while please stick around. I’m gonna be busy but I’ll be back!