Hello 2017! I can't believe we are coming up on our two year anniversary here in Japan. I remember, when I was younger, adults telling me that time speeds up as you get older and now I believe them!

These past two years living as a missionary in a foreign country has been such a mix of experiences and emotions. The sheer amount of details and stories that make up our new expat life make it hard to communicate the experience without simply experiencing it yourself.  At least, its hard to relay it all in one small newsletter! If you want a little picture, take a look at this blog. Save for a few details, this woman's story was uncannily like reading my own. I was blown away by her opening line, "In 1999, armed with 5 suitcases and a child in my belly, we traipsed halfway around the world to begin our overseas adventure." Replace the 1999 with 2015, and that is us!

Much has happened in these last two years. Travis and I have grown together in our marriage, we've become a family of three, we've begun acquiring a new language, (still in the works for sure!). We've made new friends, explored new places, and started to find a rhythm of life and ministry here in Japan. Life now is a strange mixture of familiar and unknown. So much of our host country is still quite mysterious, in no small part due to the language barrier. As we learn language and culture, we understand more and more about Japan and the people we came here to share the gospel with.  

We have big plans for this coming year, which we are excited to share with you below. Would you be in prayer for our family and our ministry? Pray for us to dream big about God's things, that we would follow His leading in faith. Pray for our family, that our needs would be met and we would be diligent stewards with what we have been graciously given.  Please pray about supporting our family and ministry financially as we look toward the rest of 2017 and all we hope to accomplish.

Glory be to our God who graciously gives to us all,

Becky