God is working

This week has been encouraging. First on Sunday when I met Misaki in the station and then Tuesday's women's class was encouraging too. Sumiko is the woman I mentioned before when we talked about religious things one class a few weeks ago. On Tuesday she brought a friend with her. That was so encouraging to me. Most of the people who invite friends along are already church members. They invite their friends to come to my English classes in hopes of hearing the gospel too. But Sumiko, not being a Christian, brought a friend herself and that class is growing without the help of other Christians but by the work of God, I believe. Please pray that I have a chance to share more about my testimony and that Sumiko would be ready to receive the word God wants to share with her. I think of anyone she is the most open to listening. I can tell by the way she is so attentive to the things I share. Oh how wonderful it would be to have her a sister in Christ! Ah! I just think she's a dear. And she is already in a way without even knowing it, bringing others to know Christ too because of how she invited her friend to class this week.

Also, during the one class I had today only Sayoko came. This is the second week she has been the only one, and I think it is a good thing. Although sometimes it's discouraging to see that a class is decreasing in numbers, I think God has designed it this is the way just for her. To have a more intimate and private time to get to know each other and for me to share even more about what I believe with her. Today as she came in and we started talking she told me how her electronic English-Japanese dictionary broke and she sent it to get fixed. The company called her back and told her that it would cost 7000 yen (roughly $700) to get it repaired. So she said she is trying to decide if she should get it repaired or if she should buy a new one. Either way it is expensive. But her said the dictionary is very useful so she'll end up doing one or the other. I was so delighted to get this information! Ha...I'm sure you are wondering why. Because I made a really silly mistake, oh but a good one I think. I love that God uses our "mistakes." Listen to my quick story:

Two years ago I studied abroad in Japan for one semester in the fall of my senior year. When I returned I felt like I would go back someday. I also wanted to learn more Japanese. So I decided to buy an English-Japanese dicstionary to keep learning. I remembered the kind my Japanese friends had used while I was studying there in Japan so I looked on ebay for one like it. These dictionaries are quite pricy. Since they are not cheap and I wasn't sure if I should spend the money, I also decided to use this as a kind of 'fleece' and asked God that if I was going back to Japan than I would win the bid for this electronic dictionary. And I did win the bid, which isn't anything spectacular I'm sure, but it is what it is and I bought it. I think I really just wanted it more than anything, but now I'm feeling like maybe it really was a God thing. Because the dictionary really is for a Japanese person learning English. It's not like it goes both ways and is just as easy for something who is learning Japanese. No, no. Not at all. So that is where my mistake lies. I had no clue what I was doing buying this expensive dictionary. But anyway I brought it along with me to Japan thinking I might find someone to give it to since I obviously can't use it.

Well, what do you know? Sayoko needs a dictionary. I have a dictionary. So I told her to wait on buying anything and I'd bring it next week to class and she can see it. I just hope that she doesn't turn down taking it because it is expensive. But I think it's a good chance for me to give and show God's love to her.