Geography for Breakfast

One of the amazing things about missionary life is the international experience that you gain. Many times you don't even need to go to many places, people come to you!

Last night we hosted Daniel, a man from Mexico who works in Texas and is married to a Japanese lady. He is at CAJ today as part of a Christian College (Aussies speak - universities) Fair. He and nine others are here from the US to run information sessions, answer questions about their colleges and generally be available for those students and parents who are considering sending their children to these colleges in the US. Kind-of like a higher education expo that we've heard happen in capital cities in Australia (neither of us benefited from these at school because we were in rural towns). The whole college-choosing and application process is quite foreign to us Aussies who have the luxury of writing our preferences on a single piece of paper. Compared to the US experience, ours seems to be rather an anti-climax. Or perhaps mercifully kind.

But back to Geography for Breakfast. Our boys are curious chaps. They drive us crazy at times with their questions. I know I should be grateful that they are inquisitive. It is just inconvenient at times - especially at the breakfast table on a school morning. Last night our guest arrived at the boys' bed-time so no one got to question him. But, by the time breakfast had begun this morning the boys knew all sorts of things about Daniel. Including his age. During breakfast we also found out the age of his wife and brother. We found out where he was born, and where his brother and parents now live. He found out where we come from in Australia, where all of us were born, where we went during our home assignment last year! Eventually I had to put an end to it, and the older boys still only just got to school on time - by running all the way.

Last week we also had the atlas out as we had the OMF Japan medical advisor over for dinner. He's from England. He got a grilling too! Thankfully he's used to it, he has four inquisitive children of his own. Be warned, if you ever come to visit...you'll be questioned!

Some people think we've sacrificed a lot to come to Japan. But we've really gained a lot. We would never have met and worked with such a wide bunch of international people. Our boys are now privileged to say, I know people from Thailand, Romania, Hong Kong, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, India, China, Korea, Germany, Singapore, Philippines, US, England, Switzerland, Belgium etc. Our lives are enriched by these people. Our minds are stretched as we have to relate and work with these people. Our knowledge about the world has become more than just that, it now has names, faces and souls.

This morning I am about to publish our 10th anniversary prayer/news letter. It is 10 years this month since we left Australia for Japan. What an amazing decade that has been. Praise God He's led us here and sustained us. Praise Him for all the wonderful experiences we've had along the way.