finding a smile in unexpected places

We are still in November.

But it is not very clear now whether we are still in autumn or have stepped into winter.

The number of Christmas trees and illumination one can see has gone up.
Snow has been falling on a daily basis in several parts of Japan.
Some places have gone below zero degree C.

The cold Siberia wind has brought on the winter front.

But even now, as one of my mixi friend wrote, you can see some plants preparing for Spring.

Summer, with its too hot temperature, ice-shaving desserts & sound of tingling wind chime, seems in the distant past....But!

In our freezer still sit several little pots of ice-cream that sudden realization of the spare around the waistline put a stop to eating.

Just before the winter front came visiting from the North, we tried to finish a little more of those pots.

Vanilla ice-cream with spots of strawberry (sauce?)...
Sounds delicious, but nothing spectacular, no.

But as one digs in and digs on....

A smiley appears.
In the ordinary pot of vanilla ice.
An ice-cream smile...brought a smile to our faces too.
Cold ice, warmed hearts.
Happy.

God blessed us through our smiley ice-cream.

mixi - maxi facebook???

"mixi"
is a huge Japanese internet society.

When I try to explain what mixi is about, I was told several times that the English equivalent is the "facebook".

However, having tried out facebook for a few weeks, the difference is enormous.

Mixi is a lot more work and a much more serious affair.
It doesn't have most of facebook's gadgets and is shockingly simple.

But,
it is an amazing place.
There, firm friendships are formed and mixi friends support one another warmly.

My mixi friends sent me constant encouragement and comfort while I was spending time with my parents in Singapore.

When Stanley was ill, many expressed deep concern and love, saying they are praying for us.

Another friend offered to lend me her precious video tapes and offered to send them to me by post.

We may never have met most of these mixi members, but the love that are exchanged over this internet community is astoundingly real.

And here too, we hope to pass on the love and sense of wonder for our Lord Jesus.

Nowadays almost everyone I speak to would either be part of mixi or at least have heard about it.
In the 21st century, the internet offers a place to meet people that we would never have met in our otherwise limited context.

Praise God for mixi.

And I believe that the success and popularity of mixi is because in a shy and reserve society, mixi becomes a platform to meet people, exchange ideas, air frustrations and express opinions. It offers depth of thoughts and communication, yet the security of being able to withdraw anytime from nuisance relationships. It is ideally suited to the Japanese personality.

It is therefore also an ideal place to offer the love, salvation, freedom and joy of Christ.

See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixi
for more details.