Santa came to Nagano to celebrate Jesus' Birthday!!!

Yes! That Jolly Ol' Elf made his way to Nagano and was seen all around our area helping to spread the joy and message of the Reason we celebrate CHRISTmas!!!!











He was spotted many times near Nagano Station...
 Meeting folks as they walked along the roads making  their way to the next stop.










Passing out gifts of God's Message and praying that lives will be changed for Him








Getting warm hugs from some...










Often being gazed at with looks of joy by passersby that normally notice very little as they make their way through the crowds








Santa visited area schools and greeted hundreds of children!

Some of their expressions were priceless!









Many of the teachers were just as - or some, perhaps more! - excited to get a big Santa hug.









The smiles and laughter and the questions about what Christmas really is were great.


Santa Claus was even seen in the hallways spreading Christmas joy!














Sometimes the older students were more excited than the younger ones... 











The Jolly man also showed up at Nagano Bible Church's Kid Christmas to help celebrate Jesus' birthday!










...and he was spotted as the Nagano area church members were out in front of the station singing Christmas carols


Then we heard the sounds of Santa and the joyful squeals of children in our neighborhood...


as he went from house to house...















Finally we got a peek of Santa Claus as he passed by our humble abode...









as he wished all a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year before he disappeared until next Christmas!



*This Christmas season Santa (with a little help from an 'elf' and a lot from a couple of dear contributors) was able to hand out 450 Gideon New Testament English/Japanese Bibles! God is Great!!!!!!