Grand Opening

Saturday, August 20th was the big day. We worked down to the wire. The mortar in the parking area wasn't completely dry when people showed up, but what a time it was. About one hundred people came, most from New Hope Tokyo, some from New Hope Yokohama and Shiki Christian Church, and a few other folks.

We started with worship. The future Narimasu worship team led, and did a wonderful job of it. Pastor Talo introduced and thanked various people, and gave a brief message about our three-fold vision for the Narimasu project (preschool, culture center, and worship service). We watched a slide presentation that showed the renovation from beginning to end (even though we still aren't quite done). Pastor Toru dedicated the project in prayer. All this was followed by refreshments on the first floor provided by NHT's hospitality team.

Personally, I was touched by how many people came and the excitement they have for the project. A few expressed interest in being teachers or staff. Also, before Toru prayed, he talked about God's faithfulness in bringing vision to pass and related how glad he was that I hadn't decided to move back to America a couple years ago when I was going through a dry time. I had forgotten all about that time, but it's true that I was inches from a decision to pack it all up and head home. If I had done so, I am sure that God would have worked his purposes through others, but I would have been watching from afar.

Just getting to the Grand Opening was arduous but the real work has yet to begin. We now need to furnish the school, recruit and train teachers and staff, and begin gathering students. We are working on a flier and have a web domain, www.newhopeclc.jp, but if you click the link, you will see that, as of today, there is no content yet.

When I get some photos of the opening, I will post them here. Until then . . .