THIS is what Christmas is about!

Today was such a great day! I got to tell lots of kids and teachers about Christmas. I got to tell them about Jesus and God. I told them about God's love, life, and forgiveness. It was amazing! I can't believe this is my real life!! I LOVE it! For most of the kids, this is literally the first time they've ever heard of Jesus. They have zero idea that Christmas is about Christ. Some of them were SO excited! Ranto's and Yuka's (3rd graders) faces lit up as they asked urgently, "He's a real person??", "Yes!", I confirmed that Jesus is a real person. Again, "He's a real person?!!?" It was incredible! "Where was he (when he was alive)?" When I told them that we exchange Christmas presents because they help us remember God's gift of love for all people, Mirai said, "So, God gives the presents to Santa, and Santa gives the presents to us?" ;) Ren asked, "Why did Jesus come from heaven and be born on Earth?" Oh gosh!! "Good question." How do you answer this question from a 6th grade Japanese kid who has no frame of reference for sin or relationship with God or eternity or grace...and use simple enough English for him to understand. or somehow make yourself make sense using rudimentary Japanese??? I'm amazed that God chooses to let us partner with Him in this work, even though He could do it better and more efficiently Himself. Wow! Christmas is the jackpot of telling people about Jesus here! Please pray for these students and staff members at my schools to come to know who God truly is this Christmas.

It's like I'm camping in winter.

Well, the day has arrived. Last night was the first time this year I've had to wear both my ski hat and neckwarmer to bed. I can't yet see my breath in my apartment though, so I'm not complaining. Maybe when that day arrives, I can take a picture of it to post...I wonder if you can see breath in a photo...??

Some favorite student quotes recorded in my school journal...

On an English assignment, when asked to write something he's good at, Hiroki (who I absolutely love!) (9th grade), wrote, "I'm a strong gambler."

"As old as!!" shouted Yuusuke (9th grade graduate) as he left jr. high for the last time, proud to spout out the English he remembered.

"Peenatto!? いいなあぁぁ!" exclaimed Kyoutarou (7th grade) when he found half of an old peanut (or potentially an almond) under Ishida San's desk while we were doing end-of-the-year deep cleaning at school. These kids are always hungry! Because.....during the 5 hours between their breakfast and lunch, most of them have morning sports practice for an hour...and sometimes P.E. for another hour...and they're not allowed to eat anything. Anything! Not an apple, not an granola bar, not a peanut. Hence, Kyoutarou's thrilled response and obvious envy of whichever teacher it was who at one time or another during the school year consumed peanuts as a snack.

"Well, がんばって下さい!!" (Keep trying!!) Kensuke (8th grade) emphatically encouraged me when I replied with a definitive and shocked, "No!", to his question about whether I had gone to a love hotel with Yamazaki Sensei.

Ibuki (my 2nd grade sweetheart) whispered in his serious, husky tone:
マイア先生、気をつけてね。　(Mya Sensei, be careful, okay?)
Me: 何を気をつけて？ (What should I be careful of?)
Ibuki: ぶたインフルエンザ。 (Swine flu.)

On the English midterm, when asked to respond to the announcement that their class will get a new girl from Australia--
Nao (9th grade): "Let's go look (at) her."
Yuuhei (9th grade): "Oh! That's right. I like woman."