Spring Events Part 1

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June 13, 2013

We had so many exciting events this spring!  Spring was such a busy season but it was filled with great memories.  God truly blessed us.  This is just a quick summary of these events.

Trip to South Korea:  We went to South Korea to visit our friends who helped us while we were there in 2011 and also to attend our friends’ wedding.  It was so good to see every one of them!  Ever since we left South Korea in 2011, many of them prayed for us and gave us financial help as we worked on the disaster relief.  We wanted to thank them in person and we are thankful God gave us this opportunity to do so!  We just love our South Korean friends and their heart for God!

Can you tell Luke was excited to see them again?

At our friends’ wedding.  Can you tell Luke was excited to see them again?

These friends came to Japan to help us in 2011. They are coming back this summer!

These friends came to Japan to help us in 2011. They are coming back this summer!

We visited Dr. Billy Kim at FEBC (Korean Christian Broadcasting Company). Dr. Kim donated so much money for the disaster relief work in Japan and we can't thank him enough!

We visited Dr. Billy Kim at FEBC (Korean Christian Broadcasting Company) and shared what God is doing in Japan.  Dr. Kim donated for the disaster relief work in Japan and we can’t thank him enough!

We visited our friend's church and were reunited with the young adults who had prayed for us faithfully.

We spoke at our friend’s church and were reunited with the young adults who prayed for us faithfully.

We had dinner wiith Yu's former assistant at DBU and her mom.

We had dinner with Yu’s former assistant at DBU and her mom.

Luke’s Playgroup at Church: We go to the playgroup that meets at our church every Tuesday morning.  Most of the moms and kids that come are from non-Christian homes and it’s a great way to invite them to the church and to share the gospel.  It’s one of Luke’s favorite times of the week.  Yu has enjoyed getting to know other moms and many of them have come to our house for play dates.

Story time!

Story time!

End of the school year party (the school year ends in March in Japan)

End of the school year party (the school year ends in March in Japan)

Visiting Sakata: Sakata is where our mission church is located and we go there several times a year to help them with their English class, children’s ministry, and worship service.   We had a great time with Pastor Fujii, his family, and all the church members.

Helping their Sunday School class.

Helping their Sunday School class.

They always encourage us when we visit.

They always encourage us when we visit.

Kids English Club: We lead the Kids English Club every Wednesday.  We have about 20 children every week and most of them come from non-Christian homes that live in the community around our church.  We teach English, sing Christian songs, and have a short worship service.  Many of them have told us that their favorite time is the Bible story time.  One of the cool things is that many of their moms stay during our class and worship, and they get to hear the gospel as well.  Many of the children and their moms have showed their interest in knowing more about Him.  We can’t wait to see where He leads us next!

Playing "Simon Says"

Playing “Simon Says”

Love these kids!

Love these kids!

Ministers Retreat: Every spring, all the ministers and their families from the Baptist churches Tohoku (northern Japan) area get together for a retreat.  This year, we went to Iwate prefecture for this retreat and it was so much fun!  Not only it was fun, it was great to hear what God is doing at each church.  Even thought some churches are going through a hard time, all the pastors seemed to be encouraged as we prayed for each other.   Of course, Luke enjoyed playing with the other pastors’ children.

Opening Worship Service

Opening Worship Service

Luke and another pastor's son giving a shoulder massage to the pastor's wife. Everyone got to enjoy a special massage therapy!

Luke and another pastor’s son giving a shoulder massage to the pastor’s wife. Everyone got to enjoy a special massage therapy!

Please pray for these pastors and their families!

Please pray for these pastors and their families!

Thanks for reading, but we are not done yet!  Please stay tuned for more photos and exciting stories…

Categories: Hope for Japan News, Prayer Needs.

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Update

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June 20, 2012

This is a quick update to let you all know that the team from Texas has arrived here safely.  After such a LONG trip, they got here around 2 AM this morning!  We know they were tired but they were up early and ready to start a new day!

It has been fun getting to know them and serving with them!  We hosted a Texas themed party for the children this afternoon and so many kids and their moms came!

We have a lot more to share, but will end this post with one photo so that we can get ready for our trip to Iwate.  We are leaving early in the morning to visit the disaster areas in the north.  Please pray for our safe trip and fellowship with those in the temporary housings.  Thank you for your prayers!  We will post more when we come back!

Categories: Hope for Japan News, Prayer Needs.

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Urgent Prayer Request

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June 19, 2012

Hello everyone. We would like to take a moment and ask for your prayers.  As many of you know we have been planning and anticipating a team from Texas.  We are thankful to say that they arrived to Japan safely.  However, they are now caught in a typhoon.  They began their trip on the Shinkansen (Rapid Train) but were forced to stop due to power outages.  We praise the Lord for their safety.  Please pray for their continued safety and strength as they wait for the power to be restored.  At the moment there is not a lot that can be done other than to wait and pray as the storm passes.  Also please keep in mind those forced to evacuate their homes due to high winds and flash floods.  We thank you so much for your commitment to prayer and to the work being done here in Japan.

Categories: Prayer Needs.

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We are back!

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June 17, 2012

Hello!!! We are sorry we haven’t been able to update our blog for a while. We just came back from our trip to Hawaii. We visited our friends who were on the mission teams to Sendai and spoke at their churches. We had a wonderful time meeting people and sharing about Japan. We will write more soon! Please pray for us as we get ready to host the mission team from Texas that will arrive tomorrow!

Categories: Hope for Japan News, Prayer Needs.

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English Classes and Worship

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April 21, 2012

We have a very special prayer request to be lifted up.  We have been approached by one of the local pastors to help begin a new ministry for his church.  The church is working to start English classes and English worship for their church.  The ministry would be teaching English to its members and the local students.  Then after English class, we will have a time of worship.  The worship service would be in Japanese and English.

Many church members are willing to help (which is an answer to our prayers!) and some of them are the ones we had met at the youth retreat last month.  We are very excited as this is an opportunity to meet many of the college and high school students in the area.  There are a lot of logistics to smooth out as we work to hammer out the details.  Please pray for unity within the team as we help coordinate this new task and also pray for the people who will be attending the English classes and worship worship as many of them may be unbelievers.  Thank you all for your prayers and support.  We could not be here serving if not for your help and God’s grace.

Categories: Hope for Japan News, Prayer Needs.

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Youth Retreat

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April 20, 2012

This has been an exciting year.  This year’s youth retreat included.  Last year the youth retreat was canceled for obvious reasons.  It was a real let down for Michael because of the chance to meet the youth in our area.  This year we had 25 attending the retreat.  Many of the youth participated in the worship services by playing instruments.  I was a good time of fellowship and for many a breath of fresh air.  This being spring break, many of the students were exhausted from the winter semester.  It doesn’t matter where you are, students studying to be doctors and engineers have a lot on their plate.  We are thankful they were able to unwind and share their hearts with us.  Many have a sincere heart for their fellow youth.  Thank you to everyone that continues to pray for our ministry.  We are glad that many of those who attended are no believers but are eager to get to know the Jesus Way.  As we continue our efforts please pray for them while we reach out to them.

Worship:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing Time:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Friends:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We look forward to keeping in touch with everyone.  Thank you for your continued prayers for these precious young people in Japan!

Categories: Hope for Japan News, Prayer Needs.

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One Year and Counting…

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March 18, 2012

Last weekend marked the one year anniversary of the March 11, 2011 earthquake.  Many of you have seen our tribute video.  Thank you for your emails of encouragement and support.  It was a long year but your prayers made our work a lot easier.  Last Saturday we made a trip to the temporary housings to hand out food.  This time we gave a small bouquet of flowers with a word of encouragement attached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like all the other times we have visited, everyone was so kind and thankful.  But this time there was a lot of emotion.  Some of the people just smiled and said thank you. However many just bowed in thanks and had tears running down their face.  An outward display of emotion is hardly ever seen here.  Understandably this was hard for many.

I would like to share about one of the young boys we met during one of our visits.  He is two years old and living with his grandparents.  His father works full time so is not around during the day.  After the earthquake the family fled from the tsunami together but a few days later his mother fled never to be heard or seen since.  The boy’s father has made attempts to contact her family but they deny she has ever contacted them.  It’s been especially hard on the child.  He misses his mother but is hurt even more by the fact that his mom abandoned him.  Luke got to play with him during our visit.  He was such a sweet boy and had a lot of joy in his heart.  Please remember to pray for him and his family.  Also, pray for his mother to return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most importantly please pray that people we have been ministering to will continue to heal and learn about the God we serve.

Categories: Aid for Japan, Prayer Needs.

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Helping Hands

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March 18, 2012

The past year has brought a lot of people into our lives.  We were surrounded by many Christians who took great care of us in South Korea.  We were also blessed by those who came to Japan to help with the cleaning, rebuilding, and rehabilitation of this country.  We are truly thankful for each and every person that God has placed along our path during this long and often difficult process.  One particular courageous soul is Naomi who helped us last weekend.  Naomi lives in Hawaii whose grandparents were originally from Japan. We first met her last December when we were in Hawaii to share with Olivet Baptist Church about our work.  Prior to this trip, she had taken several trips to Japan to learn the culture and get to know people here.  This trip was very special for her because this was her first time to help with the disaster relief work in the tsunami-hit areas.

Saturday morning we set out to Oshika Peninsula to visit about 80 temporary housing units that would be receiving food, flowers, and time with us and church members from Sendai.  Naomi had been planing on this trip for a few months.  She prepared gifts for every household and homemade cookies.  We had a great time sharing with each other about our lives as we made the two hour trip to the peninsula.

Thank you for coming all the way to Sendai to love and encourage those in need.  We enjoyed our time together!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hope many of you will pray about coming to Japan.  There are many ways to serve- visiting the temporary housings to meet people, delivering food, playing with children, teaching English, encouraging Japanese Christians, sharing your testimonies, and spending time with us! We love having guests!  Even though we love this country and people, we do get homesick and miss our family and friends in the US.  So having our friends here means so much to us.  Thank you in advance for praying about coming here in the future.  We understand some of you may not be able to come physically.  There are other ways to help with the ministries here.  Just contact us and we will find a way for you to be involved.  We LOVE getting e-mails, letters, phone calls, and packages!!!

Categories: Aid for Japan, Hope for Japan News, Prayer Needs.

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March 11, 2011 Memorial

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March 9, 2012

Sunday marks the one year anniversary of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. The event began with a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in which most of the the buildings and homes survived.  They were made for such events.  The following tsunami however was certainly not anticipated nor forgiving.  This video is a tribute to the people in the disaster areas and the continuing work to rebuild physically and emotionally.  We hope you know how much they appreciate your prayers and support.  Please continue to pray for the victims’ families and for the Christians who are working with them.  We send a huge “THANK YOU” to everyone who has supported us the past year and has unceasingly prayed.  You have encouraged us so much.  We are so thankful for the friendships built over the past year and pray more to understand and walk the “Jesus Way”.

Categories: Aid for Japan, Hope for Japan News, Prayer Needs.

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Prayer Request

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August 2, 2011

We would like to ask you to pray for our family as we grieve over the loss of Yu’s grandmother.  She went to be with the Lord on Monday.  Even though we will miss her so much, we know it was God’s timing and she is in a better place.  God has blessed our time with her and we thank God for her wonderful life.

Our prayer is that people who are coming to the memorial service will feel God’s peace and love.  Most of her relatives and friends do not know Christ.  We know it will be a wonderful opportunity to share about God’s promise.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!

Categories: Prayer Needs.

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Please pray for these precious kids…

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June 30, 2011

 

I want to ask you all to pray for these precious kids who have been affected by the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation treat in Japan.  As a mother, my heart hurts so much to know what they are going through.  Even though they are having such a difficult time, they always smile when I take pictures of them.  Their beautiful smiles make me happy but at the same time, I know each of them has so many unspoken feelings/concerns.  Please pray the day will come soon when they can all laugh, smile, and have tons of fun without being worried about the aftershocks, nightmare of the tsunami, radiation, destroyed homes, and all the other traumas that they may have.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the pastors’ kids got together for the special meeting.  Playing cards while the adults had a meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of these kids are from Fukushima where the nuclear plant exploded.  They hadn’t been able to play outside because of the radiation threat.  They were so happy to come to Sendai where they could play outside.  They were so thankful to receive rain jackets that your generous donation helped us buy.  THANK YOU!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guess what they are making?  Their OWN movie theater!  These kids live in a tsunami-hit town and almost everything was destroyed.  They decided to “make” a movie theater so that they could watch movies (DVDs) together.  What a brilliant idea!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aren’t they precious?  We were able to give them lots of cookies for their opening day.  Hope they enjoyed them!   As these kids painted the cardboard boxes, one of the moms told her daughter to be careful since she was wearing one of a few shirts she had left.  It broke my heart.  Since many of these kids lost everything, we are going to deliver clothes that have been donated by our FBCA family (our sending church).  If you want to know how to donate, please e-mail us (michaelandyu@gmail.com).  Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hosted a special event for kids at our church.  A volunteer team from Colorado joined us and we all had such a great time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Singing praise songs!  Our friend, Yuta, did a great job! Michael did a wonderful job sharing a children’s message.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They all got a gift that was bought with the Aid for Japan donation money.  As you can imagine, they were SO excited!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playing games!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having lots of fun together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What an awesome fellowship we had!  In this picture, there is a girl who lost her grandparents in the tsunami.  They have yet to found her grandmother’s body.  Please pray for her and her family.  Also, some of these kids’ (they are siblings) dad works for the Japanese army and he has been super busy since March 11th.  They don’t have much time to see their dad.  Pray for them as they miss their daddy!

Thank you for keeping these children in your prayers.  We know your prayers will make a difference!

Categories: Prayer Needs.

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Update on April 11th

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April 11, 2011

It has been a month since the massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan.  Since that day, so many lives have been taken and changed forever.  For the past month, we have heard and read so much about the damages and losses from the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation.  We may never understand why things like this happened, but we can rest in God who is in control.  We just had prayer as a family and asked our Father to give everyone in Japan peace and hope.

Praises:

-Thank you for praying for the Kimura family.  Yu talked to Mrs. Kimura today. Thankfully, school and kindergarten started again today.  The kids go there only in the morning.  Mrs. Kimura prays getting back to their daily routine will help them release some stress and they will be able to have fun with their friends without being worried all the time.  The kids’ rashes are better.  Please continue to pray for physical and emotional healing.

-We received an e-mail from Mr. Yamaki (chief of a coastal fire department).  His team is working so hard and everyone is encouraging each other.  He said they are finding many bodies under collapsed buildings.  It is sad that many people have died, but ever since the tsunami hit this area, people have been praying to see their loved ones’ bodies once again even though they are no longer alive.  This is a very important mission for his team, and he knows he can rely on God who gives them strength.   Praise God for such a godly leader.

-Yu’s dad and the disaster relief team from the local churches have visited Ishinomaki again.  Praise God for the relationships that have been built.  Tokyo Baptist Church (one of the big churches in Japan) has also sent a team there to cook for people who lost homes.  So many people have been blessed by the supplies and food that have been given to them.  It has been encouraging to see so many Japanese people hearing about Jesus for the first time.  Keep praying for their salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Before the tsunami- this picture was taken at the park by Yu’s grandparents’ house)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(After the tsunami- the white building in the middle of this photo was the city hospital.  Water came to the second floor.)

-All the pastors and leaders from the local Baptist churches met with the team from Japan Baptist Convention (JBC).  JBC is planning to send personnel who can move to Sendai to lead the disaster relief effort.  It is an answer to our prayers.  We will partner with JBC and the local churches to meet the needs of those who are waiting for help (JBC’s disaster relief information- http://baptist2.exblog.jp/).

Prayers:

-We received an official request from Miyagi Gakuin.  Please read this letter (http://www.mgu.ac.jp/01news/2010/2011-0318-1220-39.html).   As we receive more donations, a part of the money will be donated to help these students.  We appreciate your continued financial support.

 

 

 

 

(Chapel at Miyagi Gakuin- this school really blessed Yu while she was in high school.)

-Mrs. Yonezawa’s (our church member) father-in-law was found dead.  They have not found her mother-in-law.  Please pray for their family as they grieve.  Mrs. Yonezawa and her three children are members of our church, and they have been praying for Mr. Yonezawa’s salvation for a very long time.  Please pray he will find God’s peace during this difficult time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(The lady in the middle is Mrs. Yonezawa)

-We are working with our churches in Sendai and Arlington to have a clothes drive to help the children who lost everything.  We think it will be a great opportunities for both churches to work together to share His love.  Please pray for guidance and wisdom as we lead this special project.

-Please pray for us as we prepare to speak at a local church on Sunday.  We have spoken at 3 different places already and we are grateful that God continues to use us here in South Korea.  We have been touched by the hearts and prayers of Korean people.  We will write about how God has used us and blessed us.

As we close this post, we want to ask you to take a few minutes to pray for Japan and the people of Japan.  Today, many Japanese Christians are getting together to pray.  As I type, they are having a special prayer meeting at Sendai Baptist Church.  This month has passed so quickly, but we know it can take years for many people to have their normal life back.  Please pray God will draw them closer to Him and they will find hope and peace.

“The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

Categories: Prayer Needs.

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Update on March 24th

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March 25, 2011

Sorry it has been a while since we gave you the last update on Japan.  Our internet access has been limited but now we are able to post from Korea.  Here are some updates:

Praises:

-The family that lost their home in Arahama was able to move to their relative’s house in Sendai.  Yu’s dad was able to deliver food.  The girls’ grandparents have been found.  Pray for the girls as they go to the new school in April.  Some of their friends are still missing.

-Kimura family that lives near our church received food that we had bought in Sakata.  Mrs. Kimura e-mailed us saying it made her cry to see her kids have enough food to eat after not having much to eat for a week.  Yu’s dad also delivered 70 litters of water.  Continue to pray for them as they miss their dad who is in the Japanese Army.  He has not come home for two weeks helping and rescuing people.   They have 4 kids who are so precious.

-All the church members were able to share food that we had bought for them in Sakata.  We talked to some of them on the phone and they said thank you to those who had donated money.  You have touched their lives in an amazing way!  We will continue to help them with your donations.

-Japan Baptist Convention has formed some teams to deliver food and supplies to the churches that were affected by the earthquake.  Each church will deliver food to those in need.  They also decided to evacuate the kids, mothers, and pregnant women in Fukushima (where the nuclear plant is located) to their office.

-Some Japanese people are visiting the local churches for the first time.  Some of them are there to ask for help, and others are there to ask for prayers.  Either way, we know God is bringing them to a church. Please pray their hearts will be opened to accept Christ.

-Yu’s grandparents were able to move from Ishinomaki (where half of the city was destroyed) to Sendai where her family lives.  Her grandfather is able to go to the hospital for dialysis without driving for 2 hours every time.  We talked to him before we left Japan and he was in tears.  Losing his friends and seeing his home city being washed away by tsunami was such a traumatic experience.  Pray he will understand God’s love through this difficult situation.

-Water and power are back in most cities. Lots of supplies are being delivered to the shelters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayers:

-Pray for the situation with the nuclear power plants.  Pray for the people and workers that have been affected by the damage.  Pray for the Japanese government as they decide what to do.

-Pray for the children who have been affected by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plants.  They are so vulnerable.  Some children still don’t have enough milk and diapers.  We are coordinating with our church to see how we can meet their needs.  We will be asking you all to help us with this important project.  More information to come…

-Pray for the local churches that are trying to minister to the people in need.  Our church in a suburb of Sendai is trying to serve as the lighthouse for the community.  Pray that they will be able to share His love with others by loving and caring for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Pray for the people who lost their homes.  Many cities and towns have started a “Host Family Program” that allows these people to stay with the families that have some extra space in their house.  Pray many people will be able to leave their temporary shelter and stay with a family that welcomes them warmly.  Also, pray for the government as they build new houses for these people.  Countless homes were destroyed and the need for housing is great.

-Pray for Yonezawa family that is a member of our church.  Mr. and Mrs. Yonezawa (our church members’ in-laws and grandparents) are still missing in Ishinomaki.

-Pray for the family of Taylor Anderson, an American English teacher who was found dead in Ishinomaki.  You can read more about her at http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/21/6313764-family-mourns-american-teachers-death-in-japan

-Pray for enough gasoline and food for everyone.  There are still long lines in front of gas stations and grocery stores.

-Pray for the students who have become orphans.  Miyagi Gakuin, a wonderful Christian school where Yu graduated from, has many students who have lost their parents.  There are others whose parents lost their homes and jobs and cannot pay tuition anymore.  The president of this school, Mr. Yoshizaki, is a faithful member of our church.  He has asked us for help.  Some of the money you donate through our website will be going to this school so that many students can pay their tuition.  If you want to know more about how to help, please e-mail us (michaelandyu@gmail.com).

We found this YouTube video. This shows some pictures of the devastated areas. Please note that the death toll is outdated.  As of today, 10035 people died, 17443 people are missing, and more than 200000 people are staying at the temporary shelters.  The officials said they believe the death toll would increase dramatically.  Please continue to pray for the Hope for Japan.

Categories: Prayer Needs.

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A Life Well Lived

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March 14, 2011

Last Thursday, we received an e-mail from Cindy, our pastor’s wife and the director of GCPN, our sending organization.  She shared a shocking news.  The pastor of our mission church in Arlington, Clint Dobson, was murdered in his church.  His assistant was badly beaten.  We didn’t know him personally, but have heard so many great things about him. We have many good friends who were really close to him.  Since we could not fly back to comfort them, we have been praying every day for his family, friends, and our church families.   You can read more about his story at http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/03/09/2909796/slain-arlington-pastor-is-laid.html

In the e-mail, Cindy shared Romans 8:28 that says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

It reminded me of my mom who passed away last June.  God welcomed her to heaven after a year long battle with cancer.  Losing my mom was the hardest thing in my life.  She was the best mom to me and my brother, and the best wife to my dad.  I have asked “why” countless times and I still cry because I miss her so very much.

But God has taught me the meaning of Romans 8:28 repeatedly since we came to Japan.  So many people have told me that my mom’s life and passing had helped them to get closer to God.  Several believers that my mom was mentoring became more involved at church.  Some young moms that my mom was ministering to at the weekly mom’s time started to read Bible and visit church.  Her college friends who had never visited church came to the worship service for the first time.  Her father (my grandfather), who is a strong Buddhist, started to ask me questions about God and church.  Her niece (my cousin), whom my mom was always concerned about, decided to enroll her son in a Christian kindergarten and started to attend church regularly.  The list goes on and on.

I am not trying to brag what a great woman of God she was, but I want you to know what Romans 8:28 means.  Even though I don’t understand why God called my mom and Clint home so soon, I know He will use these situations for the good of all who love Him and who have been called according to His purposes.   I am so thankful for the lives well lived.

What about us?  What are we doing for His kingdom?  We are here to share the love and hope of Christ with Japanese people so that they have the same peace we have and the hope to see Jesus someday.

Categories: Prayer Needs.

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Going Back to School

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February 23, 2011

If someone told me I would be going back to school a year ago, I would have told them there was no way.  That is exactly what I did in January.  If you have had a chance to read our newsletter you are already familiar with my plait (if you want to receive our newsletter, please let us know).  We arrived in Sendai at the end of the regular semester.  The only class available for me was a review for last semester.  Yu must have felt sorry for me because she assured me that I don’t have to take the class if I didn’t want to.  Wow.  If only I had that option growing up.  Not really…  Of course, I jumped head first into class.  I admit it has been a bit hard to understand what is being said.  There is no English used.  Many of the students are from China and they do not speak any form of English.  And the homework is in Japanese too.  Imagine that?  However, Yu has been a huge help.  God has blessed me with a wonderful wife (and tutor when needed).

With the class winding down, I can say that it has been good to be around others wrestling with another language.  My prayers have gone out for them.  It has been fun to get to know them.  They are all from different religious backgrounds.  God gave me a chance to tell them why I came to Japan.  Many will move on to other parts of Japan.  Some to other parts of the world as they either go home or just move on to someplace else.  I gave my e-mail address to everyone and I have already heard from some of them.  I pray that the seeds that I was able to plant will grow and God will continue to use me for His kingdom.

Categories: Prayer Needs.

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Village House

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October 11, 2010

We found our house!

We found our house.  Well, not really.  We visited a village movie set.  Many of the houses were brought in from other area and were used as house at one time.  Several of the houses can be seen in TV shows and movies.  It was very educational because we were able to see what life might have been like just a 100 years ago.  The village set was housed with workers who dressed the part and acted the part as well.  They showed us how daily life was conducted, had tea ceremonies, and told stories of the “old days.”  While we won’t find a modern house like this it was definitely a good opportunity to learn about Japanese heritage.  Maybe some of you will get a chance to visit this place when you journey to Japan.

Categories: Prayer Needs.

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