Introducing: my (Mrs) Mai Meyer (my, my, my)

Mai and her dad entering the chapel...

Enid & I on a beautiful wedding day...

It couldn't have been a more perfect day in Tokyo... after two days of rain the sun took control. Friends and family of Daniel Meyer and Mai Asamizu flowed through Shibuya station from all over Japan (and Samoa and New Zealand and the USA) and journeyed through busy streets down the 5th Avenue of Tokyo to celebrate a special wedding. Mai and Daniel were married on 26 April 2009! They met in 2004 in New Zealand when Daniel was here serving us thru the Nav's for a couple of years. After he finished his mission he returned to Tokyo in 2006 to begin his career in Japan - and began his long-distance courtship with Mai (skype-ship) during her final two years of study in New Zealand.

Enid, Mai & I the Friday before the wedding...

It was a whirlwind trip for me, but a joy. Thank you to those who supported me and helped me make it happen. God really blessed me to be able to afford the airfare, and accomodation & food & transport in Japan were covered too. It was a true fish & loaves testimony. I arrived on Thursday evening into Tokyo, had a fun evening with Mai's family (mom, dad, grammas, grampa and sisters) and Enid. Friday Enid and I had a great day with Mai, and then met up with Nozomi and stayed at Japan Bible College where her brother-in-law is studying. Had dinner with the students then onto Yoshimi and Nozomu's place for more fellowship. Saturday was super rainy and after a bit of a long train ride Enid and I ended up in Shinjuku station (the busiest train station in the WORLD! it's a fact)... we've gotten to know it quite well now. It was a neat time hanging out with Enid. She's doing well in Samoa and is still debating the next stage of her life - master's degree in Auckland and a short term mission serving in Japan. Pray that God will give Enid wisdom and that she will continue to yield to His guidance.

Meeting at the station (Nodoka, Rino, and Nozomi)

The beautiful cake made by Mana; me with Mai's gramma, mum & dad
Mana, Maki-chan & Ryohei Cardiff Street spirit - Kaori on the right...

So, finally the wedding day arrived and several of us congregated at exit A5 of Omote-sando subway station... graduates Nodoka, Nozomi, Rino, and Yousuke, along with Taka (now lives in NZ), Rahel (stayed at Cardiff when in NZ), Yvonne (Kiwi friend who attends same church in Palmy as J2 members)... and walked together to the venue (posh place)... and met up with Mana, Ryohei (with Maki-chan), Natsuko (with Mei-chan), Risa, Kaori, Yoshie, Mariko, Hirohito, Bobby, Yukiko, and I know I'm forgetting names because I'm in that stage of life.

Taka (left) surprised Daniel by flying in from NZ... (rt) Cardiff girls with Mei-chan.

(left) Risa and Mariko (rt) ... with Nodoka

After a tearful reading by one of Mai's elementary school friends of 1 Corinthians 13, Daniel's dad (Wayne Meyer, Japan Navigators) did the marriage service. I was beyond humbled to be asked to pray for the couple after the vows, along with a friend of Daniel's. The reception was a great time to talk with lots of folks. Mai's family buzzed about the room without ceasing and made sure everyone felt welcomed and loved. Pray for them - they are an amazing family. We concluded the day with an afterparty reunion in a private club a few blocks away.

After the party we migrated back to Shinjuku station to be on our way. What a vibrant place! Still thousands of folks rushing around at 10.30pm on a SUNDAY night. Electrifying! Of course, all the while the top news stories in Japan included the Pig Flu epidimic and the indescretion of a famous J-pop icon from the band SMAP (who was caught drunkenly in the streets naked).

I am still as passionate about these Japanese returnees as ever. Please pray for the returnees as they face the struggles that come with remaining strong in their faith and integrated into the Christian community there. It was a blessing especially to have some sharing time with Kaori, one of the Cardiff street alums. Her work is demanding and her time is so limited - she is weary. Pray that God will give Kaori a female co-worker to meet with to have devotion and prayer with. She teaches in a Christian school, but the work is still rediculously demanding and draining. And pray for Daniel and Mai as they begin their new life as one! Pray that Mai would find a warm group of women to study the Bible with and some girls to disciple, so she can continue shining in her gifts and calling, and be encouraged in the Spirit.

In our final day, after a morning farewell call from Mai (at the airport heading to their honeymoon) - Nozomi, Enid and I met up with my dear friend Shelley (who I went to uni with & now lives in Tokyo) at Shinjuku station. After seeing Nozomi off to her Osaka train, we did a little shopping before heading to the airport. I thank God for His blessing to allow me this trip.