December 30, 2012 Dear Antioch Presbyterian Church! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The city of Nagoya is decorated so beautifully for Christmas, but it’s sad how offices are open on Christmas Day. Christmas in Japan is seen more as Valentine’s Day. It’s a day when couples go on a date and everyone eats Kentucky Fried Chicken. I took this photo at an upscale department store, Midland Square: I would like to thank you for your prayers! I feel like I am settled in now and am getting used to the team and living in Japan. I hosted a team Christmas party and had almost 20 people in my one-bedroom apartment. Here’s a photo! And here’s an update regarding my church situation. I talked with my supervisor about attending a different church. So after six months, I started going to Nagoya English Fellowship Church (NEF) in November and the church situation has been much better. It’s been great attending a church, where I feel like I’m being shepherded. It’s a nice change from serving at CBI and helping me not feel overburdened by the current work/life boundary question and imbalance. When I last wrote you, I shared about the team’s weekly bible study on Hebrews. It’s been challenging and surprisingly life-transforming as I was taught to recognize the roots of bitterness in myself. As a result, I talked to the team about Galatians 6:9-10, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” I also talked to a particular individual on the team about my sin issues and asking for forgiveness. It feels like a weight’s been lifted from me and God has really blessed my obedience, my steps of faith. I feel like my attitude has really changed and that I’ve gained a really good sister from my opening up with the team. I also learned that instead of looking for care and direction from the leaders here, that I, too have an equal responsibility to care for others and for myself. The leader had talked about being a family. In that vein, I realized that the parents aren’t the only ones who should be caring for everyone. Children should also care for their parents and their siblings. Only seven months have passed in Japan and yet, God is showing me so much and has really been growing me through the difficult stretching and vulnerable times. I’ve always struggled with anger and bitterness, but for the first time, I really feel like God is growing me in these areas. Usually when I’ve been wronged, I retaliate, but I’m beginning to really understand how completely wrong and devastating that is and how it can be just as hurtful to me as it is to the other person. As for the ministry here, there has been some much-needed restructuring. Since some workers were in the wrong roles, important and crucial tasks were being overlooked. I agreed to accept the office manager position as a temporary long-termer until someone with Japanese fluency and the right skills can take over. This means more responsibilities as I’ll now be managing the Japanese side of tasks and daily duties, handling building maintenance, supervising two Japanese workers, and being the point person for all the ministries under CBI. During the short time that I’ve been here, I already see how much each ministry is growing. Thank God we have more cafe volunteers and an additional paid cafe staffperson. We have more potential students who want to learn English, but not enough teachers to lead the classes. More students are enrolling in the seminary. A second campus for the church will begin on Easter Sunday. One person, a psychology grad student in his mid-20’s, accepted Christ! Our events are growing more popular, so that attendance has been the highest ever. Here’s one picture that I took from our Christmas-themed English Cafe Night: Again, thank you for your prayers in sending me here to Japan! Until next time! Susanna Chung