Just 4 months!

October is the goal we've set to leave for Japan!

When you think about it, 4 months really isn't very much time and we still need to raise about $3500 more per month. Or, to put it another way, we need 35 more partners to pledge $100/month (70 at $50, 140 at $25, etc.). It seems like a large amount of money, but it's a small thing to God and we're trusting that He will provide as He always does.

If you have been planning on sending in a pledge card, now would be a very good time to do it :-)

If you have been considering partnering with us, we'd be happy to answer any questions (Triston 704-441-3011, Kim 704-288-9323).

On the homefront, we just returned from a work/vacation trip to the beach. Last week was our denominations General Assembly in Virginia Beach and Triston had the opportunity to help man the MTW Booth in the Exhibit Hall. We had the opportunity to attend a Japan Partnership Meeting/Dinner where we had the privilege of meeting Pastor Makato from Grace City Church Tokyo. He shared with us about all the open doors right now, how God is using believers in Japan and the great need for more helpers because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. MTW's Country Director for Japan, Dan Iverson, was also there and talked about the great need for theological training in Japan. On Thursday we hosted a table at the MTW Luncheon where we met some nice folks from South Carolina and Monterrey, Mexico and also got to spend some time with our former pastor (and friend:-) Patrick Womack. On Friday we drove down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for some family time (and our 16th Anniversary:-) before heading home late Saturday night.

And now it's "moving" time! We have been living in the manse (parsonage) at our church for the past year while the church has been searching for a new pastor. Praise God, He has brought us the man of His choosing and we are so excited! This, however, means we need to move and a very nice family in our church has offered us a home on their property in Mint Hill (only about 20 minutes away from where we're living now). We are quite accustomed to moving (this will be our 9th move in the past 6 and one half years :-) and this will help us "purge" before our move to Japan. The house we are moving to is slightly smaller, so that will also help us to prepare for our quaint little Japanese home (emphasis on little!). We are starting to think about what kinds of things we need/want to take to Japan, what we currently need, what to put in storage, and what to get rid of (hopefully this will be the biggest group!).

It is challenging at times to always be living in such a transitional state, but at the same time it is a good reminder that this is not our "home". The Steven Curtis Chapman song, "Not Home Yet", sums it up well.

"I know there'll be a moment

I know there'll be a place

Where we will see our Savior

And fall in His embrace

So let us not grow weary

Or too content to stay

'Cause we are not home yet"

In Christ,

Triston & Kim Craven