Happy Birthday! Happy Thanksgiving! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! I wanted to give all major greetings as updates seem fewer and fewer these weeks. Barrett came home and we hit the ground running. We had about 5 Marines over for Thanksgiving and one of their Japanese girlfriends. While most of the guys went outside for cigars, she and her boyfriend sat at the table to talk. She had never heard the name of Jesus! What a privilege to tell her the history of the Bible to explain why Jesus needed to come to earth to live as a sinless man so he could take the sin of the world on himself, die on the cross, and rise again to give believers his perfection. The best part was, after about a 45-minute discussion with the Japanese translation app open on her phone, I asked her if she had any more questions. “Yes…why the bunny?” Um….what? “Why is there a bunny on Easter?” We all laughed out loud. The couple came up to us again a few weeks later at the Marine Corp Ball to say hi and thank us once again for the time we spent together on Thanksgiving.
After Thanksgiving, Barrett switched Units from CLB-31 to Supply Battalion…from 300 Marines to eventually 1000. It has been a hard transition…to leave what has become a close family whose dysfunction and jokes forged life long friendships to one where knowing everyone’s name is the first hurdle, let alone becoming a trusted advisor and counselor. Pray for us on this new endeavor, for wisdom in how to serve during this last year on Okinawa.
We have been going from party to party, ornament exchanges, lunches, and other various meetings. I have been baking dozens of cookies for single Marines, saying goodbye to more friends, and forging new ones. We have helped with our churches ministry to handicapped children on island. I found out that the Japanese culture would rather disown a down syndrome baby than have that “stain” in their blood line. So many handicapped children get sent to orphanages or special needs centers. We gave them school supplies, played games, had a show, and sang songs with them. Some of Barrett’s new Marines came to help and it was heart warming to see these young hardened men and women dance, smile, and care for these children who don’t even know their language. It was a sweet time.
I have started counseling again and it seems like the spiritual attacks started up at the same time. From marriage bickering to bouts of depression. The Lord is so kind to use us in our weakness. Please pray for wisdom and strength for me as I try to help these women see what they are putting their hope and trust in, rather than Christ. This in turn, makes me see the same in my own life, how I put my trust in things other than the Lord. I hate that. =0)
Annabelle is growing like a weed! She is understanding more than we realize. She is gaining new dance moves daily, eating with silver wear, saluting, humming, stacking everything in site, using cooking utensils as wands, and throwing fits. We are trying to figure out how to mold her strong and stubborn spirit rather than break it. That will probably take a life time! She is a joy to our family and all who meet her. We thank the Lord for her.
LASTLY, we sent in our registration packet for our adoption. That means that we will be waiting for a referral in the up and coming months. Exciting and scary at the same time! We just found out that there are political tensions between Russia and the US which may shut down all international adoptions. Crazy, huh? We trust our sovereign Lord as we wait to hear what will happen.
Thank you for sharing life with us. Thank you for your prayers. We love you all and hope that Christmas will be a sweet time for all of you!