Things you should know about Japan today...

• The other day I jumped out of bed and ran to take the trash out. When I opened our front door, there were four Japanese standing in front of our house. They were staring at this Nativity Scene that my supervisor, Mr. Ron, put up at like 5 in the morning. We don't have any grass in front of our house, so Mr. Ron drilled the little people into a board. And the Christmas tree twinkles.

• This week is the International Mission Board's Week of Prayer for International Missions (Dec. 3-10). This year, the IMB is focusing on West Africa. The gospel has been carried to West Africa for 150 years, but still 22 percent of the people groups there don't have access to the gospel. Disease, such as Malaria and AIDS, and ethnic violence are a way of life there. 9.3% of the population is projected to have AIDS by 2010, and 3.3 million children will be orphaned by AIDS by 2010. There are 1,100 different languages in West Africa, and most are oral learners and cannot read. With a population of 287 million, 72 percent of the people of West Africa are under 30. Pray for missionaries and local believers in West Africa and that they will have unprecedented opportunities to share their faith with friends, family, and neighbors. Pray God will reign down on this part of the world. Go before God and lift up this parched region of the world.

• Me and Adele (she's my computer...she's a Dell) have not been getting along again. She is getting a little older, and this week, I decided to get my 1400 pictures off my computer and onto CDs. It is then I realized that Adele does not have a CD burner. I'm not sure which is more sad...that my laptop is not equipped with a basic feature or that it took me 3 and a half years to realize I didn't have a CD burner. If Adele is found with anymore deficiencies, she is going to be replaced by her nemesis, Apple, pretty soon.
• I never thought I had a food weakness before I came to Japan, but now I realize that Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are my total weakness. Liz's Mom sent me this package of Reese's...they were gone in 24 hours. I'm hoping I have better self-control when I get back to America.

• I officially have one suitcase completely packed. You cannot tell I moved anything in my room.