Visiting grade schools is one of Dan's favorite activities. You can't go without an invitation, but in Hiroshima we were fortunate to have a lot of invitations! Schools, especially grade schools, are often looking for people from various countries to share a little bit about life in their home country as a supplement to Social Studies and geography teaching. Sometimes they are also looking for an introductory English class or two (serious English classes start in Junior High). Except for Christmas season, you are usually not allowed to introduce any "religious" material, but you are allowed to answer questions. Since the students always ask, "Why are you in Japan?" and "What kind of work do you do?" there are some opportunities to share with the children about the love of Jesus. We also think that visits like this, over time, could result in many new members for Rainbow Club, since kids who know you are much more likely to come to events when invited.  Short-term workers who came while school is in session often got to go with us for school visits as well.

We are praying that we will soon develop good relations with people in the Osaka school system, and be able to begin such school visits here.