Well, it's February already! (And by the way, try explaining the how and why of pronouncing that name to a speaker of another language and you will begin to appreciate our job)
Life's been pretty routine for the last month and a half, and yet a lot has happened. We've been busy with our classes at Funechu and Wakakusa. Students are getting ready for graduation. The big tests are finally over. The special English S.T.E.P. test tutoring is behind us, as well. We've been trying to keep all those New Years resolutions (exercise, language studies, etc.). The latest thing is that Adam got a new keyboard and he's been playing/recording some original music. You can check it out in the player on the right.
For our team...well, there are some big changes are on the horizon. The typical transition time for teachers in our program is in August, but this year, for various reasons (all joyful and good, by the way) five of our teammates will be leaving around March 30th and new teachers will be arriving the week after to take their places. We're both very excited for our teammates (Mike, Jen, Randy, Trish, and Jeni) and their "next steps" but we're also sad to see them go. It feels like we've only just met them, and at the same time like we're losing a part of our family.
We're really going to miss them, but we're also excited about the teachers who will be coming in April (Adam C., Adam M., Sebastian H., Amy S., Bethany, Jimmy, and Kayla J.). Yes, there will be three "Adam's" in the same small town in Japan!!! We're already working on a plan to avoid name confusion...(Hint: it involves fun titles like "alpha," "bravo," & "slim.") We're very excited to see the first family come to Japan to teach English. This is a ground-breaker, and we're really excited to see the new team come together.
Furthermore, with the end of the Japanese school year we expect to see some changes with the teachers at our schools. It is typical in Japan for teachers to be shuffled around from school to school every few years. This model, though relationally and practically challenging in some ways, helps schools and teachers both to keep up with the times and do their best. Still, I (Adam) personally am a little sad to see some of my coworkers moving on to a new location.
"Change is the only constant," right? Oddly, that doesn't make it any easier to adjust to or cease worrying about. And so we remind ourselves that we are taken care of, and well provided for. Truly, "the boundary lines have fallen for (us) in pleasant places; surely (we) have a delightful inheritance."
In short, please pray for us to find peace in the midst of all the change. We're in a less busy time, and it's easier to become restless. Pray that we are free from worry and a well of peace.
