David writes: 'Today is an important day for our neighbours the Mori family. It’s a bright autumn morning in 2023 and a car pulls up outside the remains of their house. For the last few weeks, the old house opposite us has been torn down and cleared away. Thankfully though, this situation is not the result of an earthquake. No, the Mori family are building a new home and today the first worker appears on the construction site. But this worker doesn’t wear a hardhat or a fluorescent jacket, instead he has a briefcase and is wearing a long robe. This person is a priest from the local Shinto shrine. A representative of Japan’s traditional religion and he’s there to purify the land and invoke blessings for the new house that will be built there. Standing in the middle of the empty building site the priest sets up a small, temporary shrine and begins his work. As he recites the blessing liturgy, he scatters salt on the ground. The priest is there for only a few minutes before he leaves but for the average Japanese person, he has done something very important. For the Mori family he has blessed the ground that they will build their house, and their home, on. A few months later the house is complete, the construction equipment has been removed and the family moves in. And the family starts this new chapter of their life built on the prayers, and salt, of a Shinto priest.'

David and his family are in Japan building relationships and sharing the good news that Jesus is the only true foundation for our lives.