Doug Foster and Sue Wironen Foster are ELCA missionaries in Kumamoto, Japan, where they are ESL teachers.  To support them, or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

Sue Wironen Foster and Doug Foster

It does not seem possible that so much time has gone by since we moved to Japan and now we are planning the reverse move back to the United States.

The second week of January was the start of our last term as teachers at KyuGak. Doug started on his own as Sue developed this mysterious skin infection that required a few visits to the doctors and a few weeks worth of medication. Thanks to fellow missionaries Nathan and Sharonette Bowman the doctor visits were not stressful and Sue is fully recovered.

January is also the start of the Missoula Children’s Theater. This English language play is sponsored by KyuGak every year. Children from the Junior High School at KyuGak and children from various elementary schools try out for the parts. We work with the youngest children and are teaching them their lines and their songs. They are so much fun.

We are also back doing our English Bible study at Murozono Church. We have had as many as 13 students at the class but average eight students each week. What pleases us the most is that we have one gentleman who has been with us since the first day. He is not a Christian and is the most faithful attendee at the class. We hope that someone will continue with this English Bible study class. We have become a very close group and would like to see it continue.

January is also entrance exam month in Japan. We had to stay late with all of the teachers to correct the entrance exams. Students from all over the city come to take the exam to see if they qualify for entry into KyuGak.

Time is going by quickly. We have friends from school and church planning “enkais” (parties) for us to wish us goodbye. I think that is when reality will really hit. There are only eight weeks of school left and then we will be heading home.