Time Flys

It is Friday morning as I write this (about 8:30 pm Thursday to you). Since I last wrote, I took the Stewarts and Sally Dangler out to a local Yakiniku restaurant Wednesday evening. You order the main course food uncooked and thin sliced meat and raw vegetables are brought to the table (along with cooked rice and miso soup) and the waitress lights the grill in the center of the table. You cook and eat as you go; it is delicious. Too bad we don't have this in America (people would burn themselves and then sue the restaurant for the dangerous conditions, I guess).

On Thursday, I left early to go the Chiba University and met with Professor Uchida, a Christian associate professor and gave my talk to his class of about 25 students (6 or 7 were Westerners, Canadian, Russian, German and ???). He teaches the course in English (and his English is perfect). In order to get my topic to be relevant to this economics class, he positioned the lecture about how culture (including religion) can have an impact on the economic and cultural worldviews with a focus on how "survival of the fittest" and other evolutionary concepts play out. I wish he had given me more time to prepare for that specific subject (I had about 15 minutes before class to think about it), because it is a huge part of the criticism of the non-biological impact of Darwinism (Social Darwinism, etc.). I think it went well and I was able to share some about my Christian faith in a more direct way. A few people did stay to talk after the class, so there was some interest. [Or, they were being polite.]

It is really exciting to watch people as they hear about intelligent design and have someone tell them that Darwinism doesn't answer the 'big' questions after all (How did we get here? And What is the purpose to life?). One student told me that just the day before another professor had mentioned 'intelligent design' in a class and that was the first time she had ever heard about it. She said she was grateful that I could explain about what it is and I gave her some web information and DVDs which would help fill in the information. I was thrilled. What a confirmation for me!

I then boarded a train to go to Tokyo and visit my brother-in-law, Robert (Sally's brother), who just moved to Tokyo from New York City 5 weeks ago. He treated me to Nobu's which is a fantastic 5 star restauant. The food was "Wow." He is in downtown Tokyo (Roppongi area) and lives and works in the same neighborhood (his commute is 2 elevator rides and a walk to the building next door). It beats the 90 minutes it took me to get back out to Chiba (standing up the whole way). Robert loves Japan and is having a great time.

Well, I am off to a Women's luncheon to give my presentation again and will then go back to Chiba University tonight for "Impact" which is a student ministry outreach. I can't believe it is Friday already!!! Just two more days here!

Well, as they say in Japan: "Gambaremasu!" [Be ever diligent in your efforts], so I am heading out (ever diligent in my efforts).

Keep praying for this mission please!!

Taylor