Hey there peoples, They grow Berry's big up here in the Washington land. As you can see our girls have a great time playing no matter how cold it is outside. Here it is above freezing, but it is called the snowman festival in Puyallup. They shipped in snow from the mountains and people built the snow people. The girls are in an air jump place for little people, as long as they are not made of snow.

We have a request for prayer. There may be an opportunity for us to adopt a child in the near future from someone I know through my line of work... Ok she is a patient and her great grand-daughter needs a family to take care of her. Then also her mother (age 16) is pregnant again and does not know what she is going to do with that baby either, so If it is the Grace and will of God, we may be in the running for not one but 2 children here in the near future. This would be wonderful! Please pray that God's will will be willed out for our family.

Love butchi and Erin aka Emmy

Faces of Japan

Allow me to introduce you to three Christian friends from here in Japan. The girl on the left is Chihiro (actually, I don't know her). Next is Judith Alexander. She's a missionary in Hitachi-taga. We especially work with Judith doing youth ministry events with the middle school/high schoolers in the Ibaraki area. Anna McLain, next to Judith, is one of those students. She's 13 years old and has a precious heart for the Lord.

Love you guys! Say a quick prayer for these three, okay?

Ben

What Did God Have Against Lobsters?

That was once a sermon title by Phillip Yancey. Isn't it great?

Have you guys read any good books lately?

Love you!
Ben

Here are some pics of the family from Christmas time, we had a blast both at home and in Iowa. And Hannah expresses how we all felt by the time it was all over... wiped out! Thank you all for your marvelous gifts, but most of all thank you for your love! We are blessed and look forward to all the blessings the Lord has in store for us in the coming year.

Christmas time