Hey everyone! Nago is just fine and dandy. Typhoons are just a part of life down here, nothing really big. In fact, this time of year is called typhoon season. There might be another one coming this week, we are not sure yet. If there was ever a place prepared for a typhoon it is Japan. Everything is made for rain. Everything.
The roads all have great drainage systems, the houses are made to withstand rain, if it is not made of concrete, it was made to take the weather, and so nothing was really hurt by the typhoon except the plant life (which took a pretty good beating). A few houses had a little water damage, and one house was hurt by the wind, so there is not really anything to be done by way of service, but that is good I guess.
We stayed inside while the typhoon lasted. For the second day the power was out, but by the end of study we could go out again and we actually were able to get in three lessons that day! What a miracle and a blessing! On the third day everything was dry again and the only remnants of the typhoon are the branches here and there that were broken in the storm. So that is that. :)
Besides the typhoon, things are pretty normal. Our investigators need help and prayers. They are facing a lot of adversity and trial. We must have the lord's help in these things or they will all fail. Yesterday we wanted to go to meet a referral, a Grandma that had taken us out to dinner. We rode for four hours there and back, next to the ocean and over the island (meaning huge stinking mountains :). We did not find her before we had to come back for appointments.
For anyone who does not understand humidity I will describe the scene for you. Not a single article of our clothing was dry, and when we put on our helmets, sweat squeegeed out of the head bands and dripped down onto our ties... yeah it was 大変. We were exhausted when we finally returned to Nago, and we had accomplished nothing that we went to do.
I think I learned a little of patience from that. I learned that I need to be a little more quiet, and a little more patient, and a little more diligent. I learned that I should go and do the things I am asked to do with no complaints at all. I learned that even when we are doing something difficult, even when they do not turn out the way you want them to, there is still beauty along the way. I am so grateful for a Father who created such a beautiful world for us to live in. I am so grateful to be serving here. I love this work.
