Surprise!

As soon as I woke up this morning I knew something was different. It was QUIET. A strange sort of quiet - muffled, soft, distant. I jumped out of bed and ran to the window, and sure enough, the first SNOWFALL!!! (I think I would be slightly more excited if I had found boots already... but snow is snow, and there's a thrill that I hope always goes along with it).

It's falling now, in almost absolute silence, in big flakes past the window, cascading and whirling like a giant waterfall. The ground is coated white, the coppery-orange trees left over from fall are frosted. Grey falls against grey in the sky like tufts of goose down. A whirl of white confetti; a tickertape parade from our balcony.

And even now - silence.

Beautiful and still.

Please pray with me for Japan and for Sapporo. Blanket this area with your prayers the way the snow falls - gently and persistently, filling in the holes and corners until all is clean and fresh and new.

*Pray for the nine junior college girls planning to come to our apartment and eat tacos tonight! Pray that they would see Christ displayed so greatly in us that they would want Him for themselves. Some names are Yuuka, Noriko, Maki, and Aki.

*Pray for Yuriko, my new friend from the nearby university. She met Amiko, a Christian friend of mine at the same university, and the match was a success. Apparently Yuriko's boyfriend has a Christian grandfather, and Amiko says she's a little interested in Christianity. But she does not want to be pushed. Pray that the Holy Spirit would speak so gently and softly, as the snow falling outside, that she will not be afraid to commit her life to Christ.

*Pray for Heidi's work with about seven apartment women and nine children who come over to learn English each week.

*Pray, on this Sunday, for a revival to take place in Japan's churches - especially those here in Sapporo. Pray that they would be havens of hope and healing, places of truth, and places to which young people are drawn.

*Pray for the seven junior college English club students planning to come over for tacos (one of the biggest ministry tools yet! And we get to eat the evidence!! :) this coming Thursday. I really love these students. Pray hard for them: Kumi, Minoru, Ayumi, Ayako, Mana, Mari and Asami. All but Mana heard the gospel presentation at Korean Night.

The snow is still falling in diagonal slants outside the window.

Pray, pray for the peace of God in Sapporo.

love,
jenny