*** *** *** 9 JAN 2002 PRAISE & PRAY from the Hills of Japan Computer Functional --- VISAs IN HAND!!! Yes the computer is functional and we thank God for that. But despite the so called declaration that we are virus free, something still lurks unseen & undeletable. I have been able to isolate it to the "waste basket" (I actually do not now what the English Windows term is, I use Japanese Windows... it's the file where your deleted stuff goes to give you one more chance...). But now I cannot access the waste basket? I can throw stuff away but I can't get into it to delete or retrieve from it. It gives me an eternal hourglass and I have to "ctrl-alt-del" my way out of it. If I just don't go there, everything else works fine. So I'll just ignore it until I have some time and a computer genius at my side. YES, YES, YES!!!! We have our visas in hand. Documents from Japan came last Friday. We submitted everything on Monday and we picked them up on Tuesday (yesterday). Praise God Almighty! We also have our tickets in hand for our return to Japan, and approval from the Home Office. Our return trip is set for the 13th of March, arrive Japan 14th. COMING SCHEDULE --- PLEASE PRAY!!! We are putting all our efforts into packing and other needed preparations. Not just for our return to Japan. But, we will locate for the remainder of our Home Assignment time in Albuquerque, nearer Leon's parents. So we are packing it all up here in South Holland, IL and renting a Uhaul trailer. *** PRAY for Cheryl as she heads up packing detail as I (Leon) care for much office / bookkeeping work that must be done. SUNDAY 13th Go to Niles, MI (Cheryl's parents) for one last visit there. TUESDAY 15th - 17th Depart as early as possible for Albuquerque. The 5 of us and a rented trailer behind our 89 Red Dodge Caravan. (Do I need to say it?) PLEASE PRAY for safety, alertness, pacing, good decision making and mechanical integrity. THURSDAY 17th or FRIDAY 18th Arrive in Albuquerque and unpack. SATURDAY 19th - SUNDAY 20th Settle in, fellowship and worship with family, friends and supporters in Albuquerque. MONDAY 21st Travel to Salida, CO where my brother George and his family live. Jeffrey, Abigail & Tomoko will stay with them while we attend the Renewal Conference for CBInternational missionaries on Home Assignment. 23rd - 28th CBInternational Renewal Conference in Denver. 29th Back to Salida, CO Mar 31st - Feb 6th Travel to Ogden, UT to fellowship with Japanese college students and help with orientation for a summer team coming to Japan. Also we will be planning for some future summer teams made up of Japanese and American Christians for possible summer ministry in Guatemala, Cambodia, and other locations. Exciting stuff!!! PRAY FOR THESE IMPORTANT DAYS. Details of these will eventually follow. Feb 7th - 9th Travel to Portland, OR with stops in Bozeman, MT and Boise, ID. Feb 10th - 18th In region of Portland, OR. Not all the details are yet scheduled. PRAY for these details please. Must get to Western Mennonite High School near Salem, OR as we have two Japanese students there. So far, we are scheduled at Faith Baptist Church for the 10th, and the 17th has another possibility. 18th Head back to Albuquerque where we will hunker down for a bit of "no travel" time. You all are welcome to come and visit us there. Of course details can change, but this will get you on the "Prayer Express" for us and our next few weeks. Thanks so much for your prayers. Our Power Source! And remember the truth of 1Corinthians 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger then men." (NASV) Together With You For Christ's Kingdom, Abigail, Jeffrey, Cheryl, & Leon