When I first arrived in Japan, I was completely fascinated and totally intimidated by the infamous “bento.”

Recently, Akio, a new Japanese friend from my church in Sapporo, invited me to a cafe to practice his English.

Packing up your life is a stressful and emotional task that missionaries are all too familiar with.

After serving in Japan for four years, my wife and I returned with mixed feelings to our home country for our first home assignment.

Home assignment doesn’t begin as soon as the missionary steps on the plane.

After months of planning, packing, and saying goodbye, missionaries finally arrive for home assignment in their passport country.

“Reading the air” is a Japanese phrase which is similar to the English phrase “reading between the lines.”