We had the pleasure of getting to see Erika Sekiguchi and Noel Tokutake perform with the Karuizawa Junior Chorus at Ohga Hall during their Christmas concert. They are daughters of our language helpers and avid singers offstage as well. Please enjoy this collection of 6 videos including favorites such as Gloria and Jingle Bells. [link to YouTube playlist]
Our good friend Keiko invited us to join her and her friend from Tokyo, Kaoru, as they sang in the living Christmas tree on display at Karuizawa's famous Megumi Chalet Christian retreat center. Our language helper Midori had given us a copy of the Japanese songs ahead of time which include Gloria, Joy To The World, and Silent Night. It's one thing to practice recitals in front of a small classroom. It's an entirely different thing when you're standing in front of a hundred people who've come to be entertained by your singing in their native language. In spite of the fact that the size of the words was small and I had to skip most of the unfamiliar kanji characters, Weiling and I managed to make it through to the end (though one of my pages was out of order, so you may notice me looking at my neighbor's hymnal to find out what song we're on). I would definitely do it again now that we can practice to the recording. As a special bonus, see if you can find Aaron in the Christmas tree. He doesn't sing, but like a whack-a-mole game, his head can be seen popping up from time to time. Oh, and to be fair, I was asked to read aloud the English words to Silent Night as the choir was practicing singing it in English. So we all got to share in the "pleasure" of singing in different tongues. Watch these videos fullscreen in HD to get the full flavor. [YouTube playlist link]
We had the honor of being a part of this year's VBS at First Christian Church in Margate, Florida featuring SonRock Camp. They had a great turnout of children and adults for this 6-night celebration of Jesus. The kids are raising money to help us afford a vehicle in Japan. Their goal is 125,000 Yen and we pray they have a fun time trying to set a new record. Shouts to the Kegg clan for hosting us as well as Ro, Phil, John and the rest of the dedicated workers who made this VBS a success.
It is exciting just being able to present the flag of Japan to a supporting church like Poinciana Christian Church, but it is altogether wonderful to be able to do it alongside our team leaders Phil and Kim Kornegay who were in town on furlough. Being a missionary in training is not without its challenges though as you can see from this video. Children are wonderful creations aren't they?
One of the highlights of our world tour this summer was getting to visit our friends and prayer warriors at First Christian Church of Newton. They were very gracious in hosting us for a spaghetti dinner and time of sharing. We're honored to be able to present their mission committee with the flag of Japan in recognition of their support of our mission efforts. Special thanks for Eddie and Sandi Wilson for opening up their house for us to stay! They used to attend church in Ocala, Florida.
Today's mission minute talks about how to serve Jesus. This was part of our presentation to First Christian Church of Kissimmee for their vacation bible school.
Today's mission minute talks about how to serve our community. This was part of our presentation to First Christian Church of Kissimmee for their vacation bible school. More to follow.
Today's mission minute talks about how to serve our neighbors. This was part of our presentation to First Christian Church of Kissimmee for their vacation bible school. More to follow.
South Haven Christian Church invited us to help kick off their week-long vacation Bible school. They set and surpassed their goal of raising $1,000 to help us get to Japan! We had a daily video mission minute Thanks to Stacey and all the hard workers who helped enrich everyone's lives at the Crocodile Dock.
\The first day is always hard to get everyone into the songs, but they did pretty good on this one.
Today's mission minute talks about how to serve our friends. This was part of our presentation to First Christian Church of Kissimmee for their vacation bible school. More to follow.
The first night of VBS at South Haven Christian, the kids brought in over $100 towards our Japan mission which translates into one Joey Sita being the recipient of the slime. Poor Joey!
We were invited to share our mission story with during the Men's breakfast at First UMC of Clermont. Not only was it a great meal, but a great time of sharing stories about Japan and how the gospel is bringing everlasting hope. Thanks Jeremy for having us!
Oak Road Christian invited us to their final day of vacation Bible school. We presented the children and congregation with the flag of Japan in recognition of their monthly support of our mission work in Japan. Though they are small in size, they are strong in the Word. Please continue to pray for them as they seek to find a strong man of God to lead their church.
We had a great time being a part of Journey Christian Church's annual missions conference. Twenty nine new recruits have enlisted with us on our prayer team and several showed interest in being host families and being involved in mission work in Japan. This is a blessing as there are more missionaries retiring from the field today than are entering it. We were encouraged by the believers here at Journey. Shouts to Albyn and Tonya, Steve and Leslie, Holly, Justin, Nancy, Alexis and Miguel, and many many more! Here's a snippet from the guest speaker Gus Davies.
We met with Tom Schmitt, professor at Florida Christian College, many moons ago and have been praying about presenting to the Havendale Christian Church in Winter Haven. They gave us a warm reception and Garry spoke during the Bible Study hour and shared the platform during the worship hour. Afterwards they took up a love offering that exceeded ours and their expectations. Praise God! We especially enjoyed visiting with the many children who had many great questions about the Japanese culture such as, "How do you say 'Girls rule, boys drool?'" It took me a while to find the translation as it would be an uncommon phrase in the Japanese language, but it works out to onna wa shihaisuru, otoko wa yodare o tarasu. Thanks also to the two pages of new prayer warrior recruits, we have over 570 faithful partners in ministry. Shouts to Tom, Eric and Bobbi Jo, Martha, Riekki, Natasha and everyone who asked questions visiting with us.
We were invited to share our mission to Japan with the congregation at Starratt Road Christian Church in Jacksonville over Mother's Day weekend. And what a treat it was. Not only did we get to go a special Mother's Day banquet the night before, but we were hosted by retired pastor Allan and Violet McMillan that evening. Below is a video from one of the entertaining skits performed Saturday evening in which Ellissa plays the role of an all purpose prop. Thanks to the great interest in Japan, our prayer warrior team has grown to more than 550 people. Shouts to Troy, Mike, Tory (who wants to be a missionary in Japan), Josh, Paul, Tim, and so many others who visited and shared their passion for this work!
The only thing that would make a record breaking faith promise better is to have a profession of faith by a new believer during the invitation. That's just what happened this weekend, so we celebrate with Caitlyn on her decision for Christ. An unofficial $23,000+ was raised, so we will wait to hear back what percentage will go to support the work in Japan, but we are definitely close to 80% of our budget now! Can I get an Amen from ya? How about an Alleluia? This is definitely exciting and our prayer is that we keep the momentum up as we come in for a landing. We'll be visiting South Haven again at the end of June for their Vacation Bible School. Shouts to the Sizemore family for hosting us, the Sitas for inviting us to the small group, the Smith's for a wonderful lunch with Weikeen and Joice (Weiling's brother and sister-in-law who live nearby). Shouts also to Erika and Erin and Amos for fun at the beach!
We were blown away by the outpouring of love and interest in our mission work in Japan while we shared at Tomoka Christian Church in Ormond Beach. As one of the largest Christian churches in Florida, Tomoka Christian is known for being a very strong supporter of missions. It was an honor to be invited to speak. We are fast approaching 500 active prayer warriors in this mission to Japan! We even ran into Craig and Natalie Leslie from Lake Eustis Christian who were vacationing. Shouts to Pat Bolles who made our stay an absolute blessing, Ralph Gossman, Doug in the Holy Ground cafe, Ed Townsend, James, Yolanda, M.J., Ed and Barbara, Don and Joyce, Erika, Sam and Karen Kohler (missionaries in Japan for nearly 30 years!), Barbara Shoner and 2 dozen other folks who visited with us. Tomoka is already planning a short-term mission trip to Japan in May of 2010. We continue to pray for the harvest and the workers.
We were prayed for during each of the five weekend services.
It was an early, rainy morning to drive up to Ocala, but we were welcomed by warm believers at Southwest Christian Church. This is a relatively new congregation that has been worshiping together for the last six years or so. They have a wonderful building and plans to expand to reach the younger generation in the near future. We presented during the Sunday school hour to a good crowd and then shared the 'Sword Story' with the children during their study time. That was a special blessing for us. They were excited to see a real sword and learn about the full armor of God. One boy even gave us 50 cents to help us get to Japan and we didn't even ask! There are many folks here who have a connection to Japan and we look forward to taking them in Spirit with us on the journey. After church we enjoyed a potluck luncheon that was most tasty. Shouts to Doug, Pastor Anthony and family, Dale and so many more that visited with us.
Had a great turnout for our first ever Karaoke Night with students from Florida Christian College. Ellissa and Weiling made authentic Japanese-style maki (rice rolls with crab, cucumber, orange peppers, avocado, and carrots), onigiri (rice balls), and cheesecake for dessert while watching the How to Eat Sushi video we featured here before. We did a few karaoke songs, played a round of the Bible Game on the Playstation, then retired to the media room to watch the first part of Love and Honor (too slow for most of us to finish), then Akihabara Geeks, and wrapped up with Train Man : Densha Otoko which met with much fanfare and cheering. Shouts to Samuel (for inviting everyone), David, Dane, Wes, Natascha, Draper, Chris, and Katie(hiding from the camera)
Japan Night at the Kline's included a selection of karaoke songs. You guys would be a hit in Japan.
Our visit to South Haven Christian Church has been a long time in coming, six months I believe, but they say patience makes everything taste better. Psalm 34:8 says Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. After we shared "The Calling" during the worship hour, they held a missions gala banquet with food from around the world - and it tasted Good! Perhaps the best part of the whole weekend was an impromptu family reunion of sorts. Before we got to the church, we had lunch with Weiling's brother Weikeen and his wife Joice at the ever-popular Chick-fil-a and Joice mentioned that she thought her cousin attended South Haven. I learned that her cousin's name is Becky Sita, so you'll never guess who the first person I met wearing a nametag at South Haven was. Long story short, Joice was reconnected with her cousin Becky and her brother Scott who also attends church here, so we all 're-joiced'. The extra bonus was our kids finding out that they now have several cousins who they got to play with! Many people were prayerfully involved in making this weekend come together and we're so thankful for you. Shouts to Jedi Pastor Mike, Sara, and Lydia, Joe and Becky, Chico and Karen, Michael, and so many more who shared with us and have joined the ranks of our growing prayer warrior legion!
I've only ever had to preach maybe three times up to this point, so it was a blessing to be able to do it again, and among so many strong Christians. Not only did Oceanside Christian Church welcome us with open arms (literally), they also know how to entertain guests. The music at this church is very "classy". They also took up a great love offering on our behalf and further blessed us with a wonderful seafood lunch with new friends. Shouts to Tom and Debbie for making arrangements for us to visit, to Pastor Michael and Lynn for words of encouragement, Rueben, Elena, Brad, Joseph, and to a whole host of new recruits for God's prayer warrior battalion. What an amazing weekend to lift our spirits!
Nestled around the lakes between Orlando and Eustis lies Mid-lakes Christian Church, a captivating building overlooking the scenic surroundings of Central Florida. Twelve of their passionate mission team members allowed us to share the work we'll be doing in Japan. It was fun to share our enthusiasm for mission with them and they with us. Shouts to Regina, Phil & Gerri, Rich & Jackie, Bill & Janet, Lois & Jerry, Dan & Donna, Lydia, and Wyburn and Deanna for inviting us. We hope to be an active part of your outreach to the Far East.
There's nothing like a potluck missions meeting to get things cooking. The good folks at Journey Christian Church in Apopka were kind enough to invite us to share the work we'll be doing in Japan to a crowd of about 40 people actively involved in outreach. What was a bonus for us was running into none other than Eddie Hubble the third, a Christian co-worker from Darden who is a beacon of inspiration. He and his wife Myhia were both there and we got to visit with them after our 20 minutes presentation. Journey is blessed to have them and Todd, John, Kristin, Jack, Bill, Warren and so many more including Joshua Kaminsky who has teamed up with New Mission Systems in a full time mission capacity.
Nate Graham invited us to present to the missions committee at Christian Church in the Wildwood. It was neat hearing about their recent trip to Haiti and how this church is actively involved in building benches for a growing number of churches there. Hands-on churches are needed all around the world. We look forward to working with them in the not-so-distant future as a potential base for our homestay ministry to Japan as well as a financial supporter of our overseas work in Japan. Shouts to Mike, Heather, Russ and Mary, Nate, Ray and Jerry. May the God of Israel continue to increase your faith and outreach in ministry.
"A study in Japan finds that social networks are an important predictor of mortality risk for middle-aged and elderly Japanese men and women. Lack of social participation for men, and being single and lack of meeting close relatives for women, were described as independent risk factors for mortality. Mortality rates showed a dose-response pattern: women with small social networks showing more than twice the death rate. Simply being single was associated with a higher risk of mortality, a prospective cohort study of 94,000 Japanese people found, and it concluded that merely being unmarried constitutes a potentially adverse health effect."
What will this mean to our evangelism efforts? [source:Biologist PDF]
We were honored to share our mission presentation with the good folks of First Christian Church of Seminole just West of Tampa. Steve Bolin invited us to bring our vision for Japan to their mission committee and they in turn shared their vision of global missions. They just completed their faith promise for the year, so please join with us in prayer as they consider supporting our efforts in the near future. Shouts to Cole, Kumcha, Robert and Ramona, Steve, and Sadee. May God continue to richly reward your faithful stewardship and thank you for your desire to see the Gospel shared around the globe.
Hiroyuki Suzuki probably wouldn't be your first pick in putting together a team of people to share the Gospel in Japan. Missing the tip from each pinky finger, and branded with permanent tattoos from time spent as a Yakuza member, Suzuki-san nowadays serves our Heavenly Father at Siloam Christ Church in Chiba prefecture. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." This is clearly visible in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit at work in Suzuki-san's lie and ministry. Pray that His light would shine bright in Chiba and beyond. [read more]
We are flat excited about the prospects of working closely with First Christian Church of Margate. Not only do they already have a diverse group of young and mature Christians with a passion for the things of God, but they have an amazingly talented church leader in Jesse Kegg who recently took the helm. We want to be a part of where they are heading for the Kingdom and were honored to have their leaders lay hands on us and pray for our ministry in Japan. And what could be better than following service with a pig roast? Shouts to Ro and Phil, Tess, David, John, all the folks we visited with during lunch and who enlisted as prayer warriors. Special thanks to Jesse and Hope who opened up their home to us Saturday night. The entire trip was truly a blessing.
Of all of my senses, my sense of smell is my bionic super power. Even today, the faintest of smells can trigger a walk down memory lane as a recall places I've been that smell the same. It comes as no surprise that in cross-cultural ministry, missionaries should be aware of things that can hinder their message (clothing, speech, and facial expression). But did you know there is research that suggests even smells can indirectly affect people's opinion of us? Just like you don't like waitresses that have too much perfume on while serving your meal, subtle smells, unconsciously registered by most, can leave a lasting impression. Japanese people say we Westerners smell like beef. Is that good or bad? Depends on whether they like beef I guess. There's even a Japanese web site where you can locate certain stinks on a map of Tokyo and beyond. [source: nioibu.com via ABC News]
Having shared our mission work with Florida Christian College earlier in the week, we wanted to get together with those that have an interest in missions. Seven students joined us for an evening of fun, food, and fellowship. Psalm 126:2 says: Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The originally scheduled movie we had planned for didn't arrive from Netflix =(, so we watched an outstanding Japanese movie called Ping Pong. Here's the opening clip showing the main character facing his life's greatest challenge. Believe it or not, this is actually an action comedy.
We shared this video during our presentation to the student body of Florida Christian College. How interesting that the challenge to do what God has called us to do can be reinforced by someone who doesn't believe God exists. If you care...share.
We had the privilege of being invited by President Armstrong to share our mission calling with the students and faculty of Florida Christian College. This is a God honoring institution that is near and dear to my heart. I'm thankful that we had an infantry of 300+ prayer warriors who supported us in such an uplifting way. We could not have done it without their support because I know these students represent the future church. We are happy to report that we have 7 new recruits who are interested in being a part of this mission operation to ensure that the Gospel reaches the lost in Japan. We constantly remind ourselves that we want to be the church of Acts in Japan, and you're helping make that a reality! The college also asked me to shoot another panoramic photo during chapel. Click and drag around in this picture.
In spite of having a missions budget that is maxed out, Richard Geringswald and the missions committee at Legacy Christian Church in Lakeland, FL welcomed us to share our calling and passion for Japan. Their congregation is unique in that it went through a church split some 40 years ago, but recently came back together and are stronger than ever in their faith and walk with Christ. 22 prayer warriors have enlisted with us to pray for Japan! Shouts to Cassandra and the ladies who put together an awesome lunch, Marvin and Faye pictured above (who know Bob Higgins at First Christian Kissimmee), 95 year old Gussie who is likely the most active woman I've met, Morty who knows the Turners in Japan, and everyone who visited with us Sunday afternoon. Thanks for your generosity in helping us purchase airfare to get to the field! Legacy also donated 30 Japanese flags to our ministry to share with our supporting churches which will be given out at our ordination Feb 4th in Kissimmee.
Our family was invited to help kick off Lake Eustis Christian's faith promise event. This church is special in that it was the home church for Harold Simms, missionary extraordinaire to Japan for over 50 years! He has since retired to Ohio, but the legacy continues and we were blessed to have heard several stories about their ministry. It was an honor to speak to this faithful congregation and walk in the footsteps of intrepid followers of Christ who've shared the Gospel around the world. Shouts to Luanne, Don and Jo, Bob and Jane, Jim, Doc, and everyone who visited with us and the delicious lunch. 25 people became a part of our prayer warrior team. Praise God!
Getting to visit the faithful folks at Oak Road Christian Church in Silver Springs was a real treat. Not only did they present us with a wonderful faith promise offering, but we were also blessed to see two people immersed into Christ, one of which was Pastor Jesse's son. Shouts go out to Celesta (daughter of a longtime missionary to Japan), Jesse and Bobbi, Helen, Andrea, Eric and Carrie, Teri, and especially Pat and Jim for inviting us. Thank you for helping us get one step closer to reaching Japan!
Pastor Bob Miller invited us to speak during evening worship at First Christian Church of Homosassa. Following a medley of Christmas carols, we talked about bringing salvation to the land of the rising sun. Thirteen families will be remembering our mission in prayer. We're so thankful for the love offering they took up on our behalf and we look forward to sharing the blessings of this ministry with them long into the future. Praises to Bob and Lynn, Carol, Elvin, Levi and Mary, and the Church family for their strong faith in our LORD!
We shared our call to serve overseas with the good people of Brooksville Christian Church. Not only did they welcome us with warm embraces, but they've committed to supporting God's work in Japan financially and prayerfully. Because of their faithfulness in sharing Christ around the globe, we're 1% closer to departure! Shouts go out to Ray, Corine, Pastor Mike, Earl, Marcie, Gary, and Justin and many others who visited with us after service. Over 24 families have enlisted as prayer warriors on our behalf. Praise the LORD!
When the [first Protestant] missionaries in Kanagawa succeeded in securing a teacher to help them in the study of the language, they found that he was a government spy. To avoid complications with foreign 'governments, the authorities appointed guards to protect the "foreigners," and warned them not to go about the streets without escorts, lest harm befall them from armed samurai they might meet. There were two things the missionaries in the early years had to do in order to secure any progress in their work, namely, to win the confidence of the people, and to gain a knowledge of the language. Neither task was easy, but with patience, perseverance and uniform kindness, they won out. source: Fruits of Christian Mission in Japan
Richard Geringswald heads up the mission efforts at Legacy Christian in Lakeland, FL in addition to the Jamaica Bible Seminary. He believes, as do we, that God made water come out of a rock at Moses command, and as such was able to procure for our mission 30 Japan flags when his mission budget read EMPTY. Yet another testament to creative support efforts we've been blessed to be recipients of. We're elated that each of our partner churches who've pledged monthly support will receive one of these fine gifts as a token of our appreciation to remind them that God's love is as far reaching as the East is from the West. See if you can spot Aaron in that photo.
Southeast Christian Church in Orlando will soon be reborn as The Bridge, and part of their new makeup is a slogan Crash the Future with a rhino that serves as their visual reminder. A group of rhinos is called a crash. We had the opportunity to share the SWORD STORY with the congregation and afterward I presented Pastor Steve Malone with our crash offering - an 18 pound solid aluminum rhinoceros that's been a talking point of our house since we've been married. Our prayer is that The Bridge would connect people to Jesus Christ and His purpose for their lives in Orlando and beyond. Will you join us in that prayer as they seek to follow the LORD's will in 2009?
We first met Jack and Joan Stenson while attending Roundup at Florida Christian College and they invited us to share our mission calling at their church in Inverness. It was a quick 90 minute drive Northwest of Orlando and we had the pleasure of meeting many seasoned Christians including Sarah who, Lord willing, will be celebrating her 97th birthday in January. As spry as a teenager, she makes her rounds giving hugs to any and all. We know the LORD has great things in store for this congregation. Glenn Bourne, who had been filling in while they search for a new minister, fell ill recently, so we will all remember him in our thoughts and prayers. Pray also for Aaron who is testing his parent's patience when it comes to his behavior in church.
Preacher Jim Reed was very gracious to invite us to share our mission calling with the good people of Winter Haven Christian Church. They are definitely a mission-minded church faithfully supporting a number of workers around the globe. Like so many of the churches who've had us speak, this one is lovingly led by Christ's Spirit. Friendly faces and warm embraces from everyone we talked with. They held a faith promise collection on our behalf and raised enough money to cover my airline expenses out to California this January were I'll be doing a residency for my MA degree. If you ever happen to visit Cypress Gardens, be sure to stop by Winter Haven Christian. When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
With an increase in the number of people praying on our behalf, especially as we travel to churches around the state to raise support, we can definitely feel God's hand at work in our ministry. It was awesome to meet so many faithful Christians in Valrico where we presented during the Sunday school hour at Horizon Christian Church. Pastor Scott was kind enough to introduce us during the powerful worship hour, and we also got to visit with the very dedicated missions team. Clearly missions has a special place in the hearts of Christ's elect here and we're so blessed to enlisted 28 additional prayer warriors! Shouts to Frank and Christine and everyone in class that welcomed us.
Weiling and I shared our mission presentation with the mission committee at New Day Christian Church in Port Charlotte, FL. This area of Florida was devastated by a major hurricane season a few years back, but it hasn't dampened their spirit for serving the LORD. Located on a beautiful, spacious site in in the middle of a bustling neighborhood, they serve the local community in various outreaches in addition to a very active emphasis working in Haiti. It is a great honor to have such seasoned and passionate followers of Christ supporting our efforts overseas. Be sure to visit them if you're ever in Port Charlotte.
We had the pleasure of meeting many friendly people at Southeast Christian Church - soon to be renamed The Bridge in 2009. John Douglass, affiliated with the Jesus Film project, heads up the missions committee and invited us to share God's call to service in Japan. God's Spirit is working in the body of believers there and we look forward to having them play an important role in sharing Christ overseas with us. Grace to Hannah, John, Pastor Steve, Denny, Jimmy and Elizabeth, Charlene (Brittany's mom from First Christian in Kissimmee), Christine and all the faithful followers who are committed to CRASH THE FUTURE.
Today we visited the grand opening of New Hope Christian Church in Longwood, FL. We share a similar approach to church planting that's modeled after the church described in Acts 1:8. Clifford, Ruth, Kathleen, and everyone we met were very uplifting and interested in the work we'll be doing in Japan. Extra special thanks to Cindy and Regina for coordinating an awesome lunch at the Imperial Dynasty Chinese restaurant! We look forward to visiting again and being able to share in their growth in Christ. Best wishes to Don, James, and the rest of the crew for their faithful service to the Lord in Longwood.
Today we visited Osceola Christian Church in St.Cloud. Pastor Mike Smith greeted us with a warm smile. He preached a poignant sermon on supporting the church even in times of financial uncertainty. His wife Darlene taught Julina's Bible school class. We also got to meet Helen Hunt who's been a beacon of light in Osceola County for more than 30 years. She welcomed us with open arms and a friendly Christian hug. OCC has a huge vision for the future church fueled by a Christ-centered Spirit. Please be in prayer that their new building project be expedited so they can continue to grow to meet the community's need to know Jesus.
Today we visited friends at Southside Christian Church in Orlando, FL. Congrats are in order for Jim Byrd, grandfather for the third time! Jim and I work together to maintain the Florida Christian College web site. Also from FCC was Terry Allcorn and a gaggle of college students. We also met Rees and Patti Bryant who head up the mission program and Southside. We enjoyed Pastor Ron's message calling people to run the extra mile for Christ. They are a mission-minded church and our prayer is that they would see the vision God has given us for Japan and share in the Spirit to plant a Christian church in Higashikurume-shi, Tokyo.
This is a snapshot of where most of our prayer warriors and supporters live in the US. It is very encouraging to have so many faithful people helping make this a successful mission. Arigatou Gozaimasu minna (Thank you very much everyone)!
We got a chance to share our experience attending mission basic training at CIT with the 20's and 30's class Sunday morning at First Christian Church of Kissimmee. It's such a blessing to have so many people praying for us. Their class has a history of raising up mission families and it has been an honor to be a part of it. THANKS Adam for inviting us! Keep up the great ministry!!
We were invited to share our mission plans with the congregation of First Christian Church of Newton, NC by Pastor Gary Patterson. Our family visited Sunday School and worship and enjoyed meeting everyone and telling our desire to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with the people of Japan. I talked about Ephesians and putting on the armor of God and how we should sharpen our sword skills regularly so we can all be ready in our own mission fields. They treated us to lunch at a fine Italian restaurant where we got to talk more with their mission's committee. Eddie, missions chairman, knows several people from our home church including Gary Bordelon and Rick Philips, and is involved in the Polish Christian Ministries which our Sunday School class is actively supporting. We are blessed to have met them, enlisted several prayer warriors, and garnered another important partner to make this mission to Japan a reality. Please pray that First Christian Church of Newton would be blessed for their faithfulness, that the Holy Spirit would add new believers to their growing numbers, and keep them mission-minded (especially in their local community).
On our quest to find a Bank of America ATM to make a deposit, we happened upon a First Christian Church in the city of Marion north of Union Mills. We attended Sunday morning service and were excited with our experience. Everybody was friendly and the message was powerful. The end of the service concluded with an anointing with oil to bless our family and protect us on our mission. Pastor Don was gracious enough to take us out to lunch at a most excellent barbecue buffet. He also invited us back for their quarterly Western North Carolina Evangelizing Church meeting Monday night where dinner would be served and extended us an opportunity to share more about our mission. We graciously accepted and dinner was outstanding. You can't beat Southern cooking and hospitality. Weiling and I spoke for about 10 minutes and the board made the decision to send us a check to offset the preparation costs. What an unexpected blessing! God is good - ALL THE TIME.
Crystal, our friend from Florida, invited Weiling and me to the weekly Bible study she attends at the local Starbucks. Phil was kind enough to drop us at the train station where we rode one stop away from Tokyo to meet up. They use the Jesus Life House study guide, and Crystal got to lead the group. Each person took turns reading Bible verses and interacting during the discussion questions.
Something special happened during our gathering that none of us were really expecting. A girl who had been sitting in the booth a few feet from Crystal was reading her magazine and drinking her latte and seemed anxious. Before she went to the washroom, I noticed she didn't have the ubiquitous cell phone appendage to keep her occupied, so I mentioned to Crystal that she should invite the girl to join the study in the future. Crystal introduced herself and struck up a conversation. The girl didn't speak English, but thanked Crystal for the offer and quickly dismissed herself from the store. 10 minutes later, we finished up our study and began our prayer time at the end and, as I was praying aloud, the girl came back in and started talking to Crystal. She asked if this was about religion and Crystal gave the perfect answer. She said "It's not a religion, it's a relationship. And we get together each week to learn about God and our relationship with Him and each other." The girl was surprised. She asked, "What made you decide to talk to me?" Crystal said, "That crazy American over there made me." Okay, maybe she didn't say it that way, but I was fascinated to see the life come into this complete stranger's eyes as she was talking. She didn't seem as disconnected to reality this time, and she seemed genuinely interested as she probed for more info. Crystal invited her back for next Tuesday's study. Whether she'll come or not, I don't know, but I'll continue to pray that she would consider seeking God as the answer to what's missing in her life.
, and wrapped up with 
which met with much fanfare and cheering. Shouts to Samuel (for inviting everyone), David, Dane, Wes, Natascha, Draper, Chris, and Katie(hiding from the camera)
As spry as a teenager, she makes her rounds giving hugs to any and all. We know the LORD has great things in store for this congregation. Glenn Bourne, who had been filling in while they search for a new minister, fell ill recently, so we will all remember him in our thoughts and prayers. Pray also for Aaron who is testing his parent's patience when it comes to his behavior in church.
