my own house

I’ve been bouncing around from place to place, spending a nite here, 3 nites there etc. etc., but yesterday a former English student in Katano let me come to an unused house next to her place. It is small, but very nice for me with a kitchen and bath and s.i.l.e.n.c.e. That is what i’ve needed – no TV or other distractions. Also, while i appreciate my former homeless friend letting me stay with him, it is very uncomfortable, with mold and mildew everywhere, and the scum of 3 years hanging around in the bathroom, and with his bottle of urine and tobacco smell and sake and numerous grumblings about how i inconvenience him……. So very glad to be away from there. In going to the new place yesterday tho, i carried about 6kg in my backpack, and another 5 or 6 in a backpack hanging in front of me, and walked around 1:30. My neck became seriously painful, and still not quite recovered as i type this today.

Sure am glad my former English student took me in. Actually, i did take it as a sign from God. A different student told me about this lady being willing to take me in, but i kept looking for something else, especially hoping to find a place where the people are interested in studying the Bible and Great Controversy book. But…..no leads. Then last Friday while walking the 2 hours from one friend’s place to another in Osaka, i hear “Danny!” coming from a car. Huh? What? I go closer and sure enough, it is this lady i was told who had an empty house who could take me in. She seemed even more surprised than me, and we both took this as a sign from God. Why would she be driving about 20km from her house, on just the street at just time i was walking there, when actually i wasn’t even planning to be on that street at all? And Osaka is a big, big city. Quite amazing 🙂

On Sabbath in went to Settsu-Tonda SDA meeting place. About 10 people showed up. Two ladies greeted me at the door, and when one said she was the “pastor”, i said that the Bible says that women should not be pastors. But no one got angry, and if fact, we had a very very good talk over lunch. We could talk deeply about the apostasy in the SDA church, and what needs to be done, and i could even read a bit to them from the Japanese Great Controversy book. The “pastor” lady was quite humble which was a surprise to me, and said she knew that the SOP books have been changed and massaged. The lone man at the place told me that they had offered me to stay at that little meeting room, but he told them i didn’t need it. I thanked him for telling me, as that was true, but was surprised he refused their offer before even asking me….. He did give me 4 nice apples tho!

Well, i still hope i can find someone who wishes to study the Bible and 1858gc. Otherwise, i wonder what i’m doing in Japan. On the 31st i’m supposed to give a study at Himeji church, to which i’m looking forward to very much. I hope to have the Japanese study guide for the book ready by then – maybe my friend in Thailand can get it printed and sent here by then. To print 30 copies here in Japan is outrageously expensive – 300usd or so, and i will not spend that kind of money.