Church and Kiwis

There is a church that my friends Jo and William ride their bikes to. I have joined them a few times. They sing hymns written to our familiar tunes but in hiragana, one of their forms of written language. The pastor knows English very well but only preaches in Japanese. After the message we take communion and then go upstairs and have what they call "the upper room". Basically, we all sit down for a meal together and share what's on our hearts. We talk about the message, get to know each other, give prayer requests, and tell how God has been active in our lives. At the last meeting I went to the Pastor's wife gave me leave to pick some of the kiwis from her kiwi plant out front of their church. So now I know that after you pick kiwis you must put them in the dark with...an apple for two weeks. It's true. You can keep this church and churches in Japan in prayer. Christians are often outcast by their circle of friends and even their families. To choose Christ is to choose little connection and much loneliness.