Wednesday, August 3rd - Our Last Day in Japan

Dear Friends and Loved Ones - It's Wednesday, August 3rd, 8:30AM.  Yesterday, after a day of sightseeing, we returned to the Sendai church to eat the bento we bought at the train station, went to the onsen for the last time, and went to sleep for the last time in Japan.  Today was a luxury as we don't have to be ready for breakfast until 9AM.  After breakfast we will take the Shinkansen into Tokyo for a final day of sightseeing and shopping.  Our flight leaves Haneda at about 12:05AM, Thursday morning.  As I've shared in the past, we'll arrive at LAX on Wednesday.  I should cross the International Date Line more often to gain time on my life.  The trouble is, I'd have to cross it a few thousand times for it to make a real difference.  There are only 5 of us left at the church from the mission team now, and I dearly miss the presence of the other team members.  We were blessed by God in the people He chose to come to Sendai this year.  So much has happened since we selected the team in March, conducted planning meetings, and finally made our way here in July.  As I've said before, we come here with all of you standing beside us.  You have given us your spiritual, emotional, financial, and especially your prayer support.  We could not be here without you.  I will have more to say after we get back to the states, and I will post photos to let you see some of the people we've met and interacted with, events we have participated, and places we have gone.  Until that time, may God be with you, protect you, and bless you as He has done for us.  Love, Don