Hey! I hardly ever get around to writing updates anymore... I guess newsletters are maybe a little out of date, but I can't seem to keep up with my blog. But I still have a few random people who tell me they pray for me and appreciate hearing what's going on in my life. So here you go! :)
Well, we had our graduation last week... one day after the 10 year "anniversary" of my own graduation! Speaking of which, next week is the ten year anniversary of my arrival in Japan. I was thinking of writing a look-back email/blog "Ten thing I've learned in ten years". But I couldn't come up with ten important enough points! I shall suffice to say one thing I've learned: God is faithful! I don't deserve His unfailing love, but yet He has never failed me. There have been so many good times, hard times, exciting times, miserable times, but He has been there every single minute! Ten years on the "mission field" has taught me that there really is no "on" or "off" the mission field for a Christian... missions is serving God in the place He has you, listening to His voice and walking with Him. It's that simple. So what will the next ten years hold? I have NO IDEA! But I know that here and where ever God opens the door to go, He is FAITHFUL!
Tomorrow I'll be heading up north to Tohoku (area affected by the tsunami in March 2011) for a week. We'll be serving again in a fishing village, helping to harvest seaweed! We had a group of about 32 but the flu has been going around here and several have had to cancel already. I'd appreciate your prayers for the trip. This may be our last trip. The area that we are working in has had a lot of influence by Christians since the tsunami and is very open to the gospel. On Sunday we're hoping to invite the people to a church service. Please pray for God to work in the hearts of all that we meet! 
My plans for the summer have also started to come together. I'll be going along to Malawi, Africa again with my Dad and sister. We leave on the 26th of May and will be there for about 3 weeks. So I head to the states on May 22nd. It's right in the middle of the school semester, but somehow God has given me favor with the school and church here. They are sending me off as a Japanese missionary to Africa! :) After Africa I'll actually be home for most of the summer, almost two months, from June 18th to August 11th.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support! God bless!
Martha
