So we had kids come over to stay the night. I don't know what it is....quite a bit of trust I guess. These japanese parents want so badly to send their kids into an american home that they pay 2500 yen ($25) per child to spend the night at an americans' home on the american navy base. They come over at 5pm and leave at 12pm the next day. They speak very little english, but the kids don't need to speak the same language to have fun. These three are 8/9 years old. Last night we had 4 of them. We don't even seek these out, they just fall in our lap. And, the strange thing is, the parents have never met us. They have never seen our house or how we live. But, we take good care of them. We took them to the pool last night and they loved that.

Things are going well here. We have been going on short, several hour, hikes to get us ready for the Mt. Fuji climb on the 27 August. We go hike at the Nagasaki Prefectural Forest. It is kind of like a National Forest. Very nice, a lot of paths, waterfalls, swimming holes, shade and snakes! The kids have really loved that. We are going to be driving up to Camp Fuji (a US Marine base) at the base of Mt. Fuji. We will stay there in the lodge. We are taking a babysitter with us who will stay with Taylor, Parker and Morgan while Adina, Isaac and I hike the mountain. It is a long drive up there though. Luckily, when you rent a van from MWR, they pay for all the tolls (which would likely be $600-800). The driving trip will take 14-16 hrs each way. Which is crazy when you think that it is about the distance from San Diego to Sacramento! And Mike, we will be driving through Nagoya on the way. Should be fun!

Jane, I know you have a birthday coming up. Happy Birthday! We have something on the way for you. Isaac is having a birthday party here next week for his 9th birthday. It is going to be a magic birthday and I am supposed to do some magic. I guess I better start practicing again! 9 years old....can't believe driving is only 7 years away.

So, the plan for us in the coming year. Adina's brother, Ray Jr., is getting home from his mission in Ecuador this week. Then on 08 September-22 September, he will be coming to visit us for 2 weeks before he has to get down an dirty with school, etc.. In the end of November, I go to Seoul, Korea for 1 week for the 38th Parallel Dental Conference. In the end of January (not sure on the exact dates yet), we will be flying space-a again as a family back to the states. We will be there for several weeks. The primary purpose of the visit is to find a place to work when we come back for good in July/August 2005. We will go visit the Archuletas for part of that time. Then Mom/Dad will come out here to visit us in the April/May timeframe. And hopefully whoever else wants to come. There is some great Japanese food, culture and sights to see! Just think, this is your only chance to come and see it with free lodging and minimal food costs! All you have to pay for is your plane ticket, and that is usually not as much as you think. Hope to see some more of you!

Then we will be leaving Japan in July/August, coming back to the Vancouver area. I know the next few years will be 'establishing' years and will involve a lot of hard work, but I am extremely excited and pumped up to take on the challenge.

I am going to get on with our Saturday here. We love you all and miss you! Keep the posts coming!

Dave (and family)