BIGGIES

The dog was bigger than the horse...well, the dog was huge, but the horse was just a stuffed animal lying on the couch.  Pet dog, Big Ben (my name; he's called "Ben").  He may be humongous, but he's gentle, smart, and well-trained.  There was a ladies' Bible Study home meeting I attended today.  Any of the ladies there could say "shake" to Ben, and he would comply.  Any one of us could say "house" and he would obediently go to his couch at the side of the room.

Joe and Noney Mitas, the missionaries heading Bethel Baptist, have a big treat: their daughter Elisa is back from the U.S. (where she is studying counseling and music) .  It had been five years since she had been in Japan, but she blended in right away with the church ladies at the Bible Study, with the toddler there, with...Ben.  I almost called him Marmaduke; he is so big.

It was my third time at this home meeting, held once a month...which means today marked the beginning of my third month in Iwatsuki?!?  It WAS March 19th we left Koriyama, come to think of it.




Akashi (Testimony) Notes

  A recent biggy for me: this Sunday, I will be giving my testimony to the Bethel Baptist folks during worship service.  At the business meeting afterwards, they will be voting on my church membership.  There is an outline form to fill out--just to make sure all the important areas are covered--which I just finished writing.  Writing out, and reading, the way God has worked in my life thus far, made me get teary-eyed again.  He is so good.

I like Psalm 23:6 (this was not part of my testimony), where it says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life".  HIS goodness, HIS mercy, follows ME, even when I have my back turned to God and am walking in the opposite direction!  All I have to do is turn around, and when I do, I'll find Him right there, ready to forgive and bless--God's Love follows me even if I do not readily, uncomplainingly, unfailingly, go "house", "shake", "wait", or "sit", as Ben does.