We're on the map! :)

We have wonderful news! The property for our church plant in the Asaminami area has been found and an official contract signed! After carefully considering more than 20 properties during the past 2-3 years, God finally lead the committee to a property that meets practically everything that was on their wish list for the new church plant location.

During announcement time on Sunday, Pastor Kitano and Ogawa-san held up a map of the area to show the congregation where the new property is located. Each label had the name and full address of each location. Pastor Kitano started at the top, the location of Kabe Greenhill Chapel (or just Kabe Chapel for short), which is where we were attending service that particular Sunday. The next location was that of Koyo Chapel, the church that Pastor Haitaka leads. The one below that was - our house! :) Everyone laughed when Pastor Kitano said "... and this is the Oh family's house." =D Then Pastor Kitano looked at the Murrays, smiled and said "And the Murrays' house is over here", waving his hand above the map and everyone laughed again. :) The one below our house is the location of the Asaminami church plant. The furthest from our house is Kabe Chapel and it's only about 15 minutes away so we're in a prime location - PTL! :)

We were able to get a significant discount on the property as it's right next to an elementary school and preschool so no one wanted to buy it because of the noise level. It was also perfect of us in that this property has lots of parking nearby, within walking distance, a rarity here in Hiroshima! They'll be demolishing the building and rebuilding a two-story building from April with the hopes of being able to move in sometime early next year.

We, as in our family home, but also we as in our church plant, are now both on the map. A huge milestone, exciting times!!! :)