Reflections/Devotionals
Heart-To-Heart In Tamura / The Algorythm Taisou
Last week we had one of the nicest surprises of our time here. Turns out that every year, the city of Tamura throws a big party to welcome all the foreigners from the surrounding areas. It's called Heart-To-Heart, and it was a total blast. Besides all the fun games...
Setsubun
It's hard to know what to do as Christian in Japan sometimes. Of course, it's always hard to be a Christian in any culture, because that culture will be a mix of good and bad. Plus, even committed Christians will often disagree on what is the right thing to do because...
A Few Little Chips–WMAC Traffic & Weather
Okay. I know that many of you are often tempted to check the traffic and weather from larger, more "real" radio stations. And I can understand that--mostly. But I'm here to tell you that WMAC Radio is the best, most reliable source out there when it comes to...
Lessons on Art and Artists from Miyazaki
As many of you know, I (Mike) am a huge fan of the movies of animator Miyazaki Hayao. In fact, although I first came to develop an interest in Japanese culture through Japanese animation ( anime ), the only anime I now have any interest in are the movies of Miyazaki...
Mike’s Day Yesterday
Hello, world. Mike here. Thought I would take you on a little mini-tour of my day yesterday. Come along, now, come along... The day started with an unexpected trip to the Wakakusa English School to pick up teaching materials. After said materials were in hand, I...
Welcome to Koriyama Baptist Church!
As many of you know from reading our email updates, we've been wanting to visit some new churches recently, and on Christmas Eve of last year we decided to try out Koriyama Baptist Church. From the very first day, we fell in love with this church. For starters,...
More on Teaching English
Today I (Mike) would like to share a few random snapshots from the wild and occasionally wonderful world of Teaching English In Japan. Firstly, I'd like to take you on a brief multimedia whirlwind tour what it's like to teach in Mike's school. To start with, below is...
DJ Mike in Full Effect (TM)
Ladies and Gentlemen, We have some big news. We mean BIG. Not every day do we have news this big, this profound, this crazy. You see, Mike is a different man, a changed man, a much more creative and energetic man. And all because of the purchase of a $20 headset from...
SPECIAL REPORT: Mike’s Culinary Adventures (Holiday Edition)
A very Merry Post-Christmas to you! When many people think of Christmas day, they not only think about the music and the presents and the company and the real reason for the season and everything, they also think about the food. Indeed, Christmas here in Japan is no...
“First, A Tree”: Jen’s New Christmas Book Is Here!!!
For many, many years now, Jen has dreamed of one day writing and illustrating her own original children's book. In fact, ever since we started dating back in 2000, both of us have been waiting for the day when Jen would finally have the time and energy to tackle a...
An opportunity to witness–in school!!!
Today I (Mike) taught at Hirose Elementary School, and before I went into work, I prayed--a lot. Today was a wonderful and perhaps unique opportunity to share a little bit about Jesus-- in school . This week's syllabus requested that I " talk about Christmas ." They...
Mike, Jen, and the Sugaya P.T.A. Band Perform!!!
After we posted our first blog entry about Mike and the Sugaya P.T.A. Band, we got more than a few incredulous replys. And in fact, there was even one who postulated that the whole thing was an elaborate fabrication on our part! So to set the record straight, we want...
Autumn in Takine
Today excepted, this whole past week here in Tamura has been a week of non-stop wonderful weather. In fact, it was so nice that I (Mike) couldn't resist taking the digital camera to work and finally climbing up the hundred or so steps to the top of a local park to get...
Mike and the Sugaya P.T.A. Band
And now for one of the coolest and most surprising opportunities to happen to us since we've been here in Japan... As you remember, I work at a local Junior High School ( Takine J.H.S. ) four days of the week, and on Friday I teach at some local Elementary schools....
SPECIAL REPORT: Mike’s Culinary Adventures, Part 2
It's been a whole month and a half since the first installment of the story of Mike and his wonderful discoveries of the different foods of Japan, and when we last left our intrepid hero, he had eaten Nuts and Fish, fried squid, and natto, among other things. But of...
Folk & Pop Concert
Last Sunday (9/24) we (the Funehiki team) had an incredible opportunity to share our faith and our love for God in the most unexpected of places—a secular Folk & Pop Concert at the Funehiki Culture Center. Apparently, the concert organizer heard that the team...
SPECIAL REPORT: Mike’s culinary adventures
It's probably a safe assumption to make that pretty much everyone who knows me is aware that when it comes to food, I (Mike) have an insatiable flair for the exotic. Of course, that's just a nice way of saying that I eat some pretty bizarre things sometimes, and I...
Pictures from Mike’s new job!!!
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in Japan? NO? Well, regardless, I'd like to share a few pictures from my job, in case there's anyone who WAS wondering... Me at my desk at Takine Jr. High School (my primary school). I...
It’s not about me
It's all about You Jesus, And all this is for You. For Your glory and Your fame. It's not about me. As if you should do things my way. You alone are God, And I surrender to Your ways. From Jesus Lover of My Soul by Paul Oakley It's not about me -- this refrain has...
Let’s go for a ride…
Mike introduced me to a Chris Rice song this spring that I can't get out of my mind. We usually listen to it while we're driving (granted, usually 55) -- but it captures the craziness that we're about to embrace in the soon-coming future. "Come on Becky let's go for...