Our First Day in Chino

Being greeted at the Chino train
station by members of Chino Christ
Church

Getting ready to leave the hotel for Chino and Sendai.
Pastor John, Koby, Shizuka, and Kaori from the Chino team,
and Kagiwada-sensei from the Sendai team.

     It's 10:50PM and there's eight of us still up and talking.  About 30 minutes ago it looked like everyone was going to fall over and go to sleep - but people have gotten their second wind and the conversation is going full speed.  After a great breakfast at the hotel's buffet, we traveled on to the Chino church this morning.  Everything went smoothly and we were met by Kawano-sensei and other members of the church.  After walking to the church, we were treated to slices of sweet and refreshing watermelon.  Kawano-sensei greeted me as I walked through the front doors of the church with "welcome home."  It really did feel like we were back home - not because we were walking into the church building, but because we were with very dear brothers and sisters.  It's not the building that makes the church - it's the gathering of brothers and sisters living together as God intended.  It's 11:20PM now, and most of the people have gone to bed.  I guess I need to do the same so that I have plenty of energy for tomorrow's activities.  I hope my body will keep adjusting to the time change and allow me to sleep later than 4AM tomorrow morning.   God be with you and bless you richly.  Love, Don