Hello!
Thank you to everyone who prayed for me on my recent trip to visit Wansik and Cosmo Bang (the Korean-Japanese couple introduced to me by a member of my church) in Kanagawa, Japan! I was able to get a seat on both flights easily, thanks to so many people lifting me up. I got to see and do so much in a short time, so I’m really glad I was able to take this trip. God made it clear during this time that it was where He wants me to serve.
I landed on Thursday Evening and went straight to a hotel (after the obligatory stop in a 7-11 for delicious snacks) and slept off the jet lag before meeting up with the Bangs on Friday and settling into their home. On Saturday, I helped with a children’s English class, and afterward we all ate a curry lunch provided by the generosity of the church and neighborhood.
This provided meal happens once a month, for low-income families who sometimes cannot feed their children more than one meal on the weekend. You might never realize it, but there are many such families and areas across the country. I am glad to see this community caring for their poor, and was honored to take part in it.
That evening, we went out to Odawara to take part in their evening Bible study. It was attended by people of all ages, from junior and senior high school students, to college students and young adults, and even several grandmas! The topic that evening was the importance of every life, and they brought in a midwife to share about her job and how she gets to experience how special each life is every day.
On Sunday, I attended both Samukawa Christ Church (left above) in the morning and Shonan Community Church (right above) in the afternoon. The members of Samukawa CC are older and their service is more traditional, but they are very kind and welcoming, and I knew all the old hymns we sang, though I don’t know the lyrics in Japanese so had to read fast! After the service, the church grandmas made delicious udon for everyone! Shonan CC members have a few older members and a few younger members, so the worship is more contemporary. As their regular worship leader couldn’t be there this week, Pastor Bang led on guitar and I volunteered to play keyboard along with him. It was fun to be part of leading worship even though I still can’t sing much in Japanese yet! I happened to be there on the week both churches held communion, so it was special to take part in that with both churches.
On Monday, Cosmo took me sightseeing in Kamakura and Enoshima. I got to see a locally famous shopping street and temple, then we stopped in Inamuragasaki for lunch, and from there, you can see not only Enoshima, but… Mt. Fuji!!! I had seen it from a bullet train and from a plane before, but this was my first time seeing it so well and standing still. I never understood the hype of seeing it
in person until that moment. Its grandeur couldn’t be captured by my phone camera. I am reminded of the second verse of How Great Thou Art, “when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur…Then sings my soul, my Saviour, God, to Thee, how great Thou art!”
Tuesday was a schedule-free day, so I scheduled a “headspa” or scalp-cleaning massage (a belated birthday present), which was lovely and relaxing, then enjoyed wandering around the shopping area, before meeting their daughter for an evening of dinner and karaoke! What a special bonding time. I was reminded of how difficult it is to sing along to an accompaniment track you've never heard before! I also realized the importance of taking a proper Sabbath, a day of rest, even if it isn’t on Sunday.
On Wednesday morning, Pastor Wansik
and I took the train out to Odawara Christian Center (OCC, not to be confused with Operation Christmas Child) for their English Bible Study. It was small but the discussion was great, even with their varying levels of English! Afterward, the leader of OCC took me to lunch and to sightsee, including Odawara Castle, then I made my way back to the Bang's home to rest and repack my things for my departure the next day. With Thanksgiving travel rush approaching, we decided it was a better idea to fly home on Thursday than risk not getting a seat on Friday’s flight. Thursday morning I bid the Bang family goodbye and set off for the airport. I made it there with plenty of time and enjoyed areas of the airport I didn't explore as much before, before going through security and waiting for my name to be called at the gate. I was tired enough from my travels that I actually slept for several hours on that flight!
It has been so wonderful getting to spend time with many of you while I've been home! Since Japan doesn't really celebrate Christmas, it was extra special getting to do all the Christmas things I love with my family and friends.
I especially wanted to let you know that I have been accepted as the missionary to Samukawa Christian Church in Kanagawa, Japan! I will be returning in January, moving my things down from Ishinomaki, and setting up my new home in the house provided by the church!
As I move and set up a new house by myself, I ask that you prayerfully consider remembering me in your year-end giving, either as a one-time gift to help with moving and set-up costs, or monthly support to fund my ongoing ministry to the second-largest unreached people group in the world. As always, your prayers for me and for the hearts of the Japanese are of highest value.
Thank you again for all your prayers and support for me and my ministry this past year! God is doing things in Japan and I get to be a part of it because I have you on my team! If you would like to meet with me or have me speak in your Bible Study or Sunday School before I go back, please let me know!
I landed on Thursday Evening and went straight to a hotel (after the obligatory stop in a 7-11 for delicious snacks) and slept off the jet lag before meeting up with the Bangs on Friday and settling into their home. On Saturday, I helped with a children’s English class, and afterward we all ate a curry lunch provided by the generosity of the church and neighborhood.
This provided meal happens once a month, for low-income families who sometimes cannot feed their children more than one meal on the weekend. You might never realize it, but there are many such families and areas across the country. I am glad to see this community caring for their poor, and was honored to take part in it. That evening, we went out to Odawara to take part in their evening Bible study. It was attended by people of all ages, from junior and senior high school students, to college students and young adults, and even several grandmas! The topic that evening was the importance of every life, and they brought in a midwife to share about her job and how she gets to experience how special each life is every day.
On Sunday, I attended both Samukawa Christ Church (left above) in the morning and Shonan Community Church (right above) in the afternoon. The members of Samukawa CC are older and their service is more traditional, but they are very kind and welcoming, and I knew all the old hymns we sang, though I don’t know the lyrics in Japanese so had to read fast! After the service, the church grandmas made delicious udon for everyone! Shonan CC members have a few older members and a few younger members, so the worship is more contemporary. As their regular worship leader couldn’t be there this week, Pastor Bang led on guitar and I volunteered to play keyboard along with him. It was fun to be part of leading worship even though I still can’t sing much in Japanese yet! I happened to be there on the week both churches held communion, so it was special to take part in that with both churches.
On Monday, Cosmo took me sightseeing in Kamakura and Enoshima. I got to see a locally famous shopping street and temple, then we stopped in Inamuragasaki for lunch, and from there, you can see not only Enoshima, but… Mt. Fuji!!! I had seen it from a bullet train and from a plane before, but this was my first time seeing it so well and standing still. I never understood the hype of seeing it
in person until that moment. Its grandeur couldn’t be captured by my phone camera. I am reminded of the second verse of How Great Thou Art, “when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur…Then sings my soul, my Saviour, God, to Thee, how great Thou art!”Tuesday was a schedule-free day, so I scheduled a “headspa” or scalp-cleaning massage (a belated birthday present), which was lovely and relaxing, then enjoyed wandering around the shopping area, before meeting their daughter for an evening of dinner and karaoke! What a special bonding time. I was reminded of how difficult it is to sing along to an accompaniment track you've never heard before! I also realized the importance of taking a proper Sabbath, a day of rest, even if it isn’t on Sunday.
On Wednesday morning, Pastor Wansik
and I took the train out to Odawara Christian Center (OCC, not to be confused with Operation Christmas Child) for their English Bible Study. It was small but the discussion was great, even with their varying levels of English! Afterward, the leader of OCC took me to lunch and to sightsee, including Odawara Castle, then I made my way back to the Bang's home to rest and repack my things for my departure the next day. With Thanksgiving travel rush approaching, we decided it was a better idea to fly home on Thursday than risk not getting a seat on Friday’s flight. Thursday morning I bid the Bang family goodbye and set off for the airport. I made it there with plenty of time and enjoyed areas of the airport I didn't explore as much before, before going through security and waiting for my name to be called at the gate. I was tired enough from my travels that I actually slept for several hours on that flight! It has been so wonderful getting to spend time with many of you while I've been home! Since Japan doesn't really celebrate Christmas, it was extra special getting to do all the Christmas things I love with my family and friends.
Left to Right, Top to Bottom: manger scene at Main Street Bethlehem in Burnet, Texas (First Baptist Burnet welcomes >25,000 guests from around the world to an immersive experience of what it may have been like in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born), playing for my neighbor's Sunday School's Christmas luncheon, the entrance sign to Main Street Bethlehem, the German Christmas Pyramid at the Dallas Arboretum, the church choir and orchestra Christmas party (before anyone got there), eating at the Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls (a Texas road trip must-visit), seeing a Christmas concert with family
I especially wanted to let you know that I have been accepted as the missionary to Samukawa Christian Church in Kanagawa, Japan! I will be returning in January, moving my things down from Ishinomaki, and setting up my new home in the house provided by the church!
As I move and set up a new house by myself, I ask that you prayerfully consider remembering me in your year-end giving, either as a one-time gift to help with moving and set-up costs, or monthly support to fund my ongoing ministry to the second-largest unreached people group in the world. As always, your prayers for me and for the hearts of the Japanese are of highest value.
Thank you again for all your prayers and support for me and my ministry this past year! God is doing things in Japan and I get to be a part of it because I have you on my team! If you would like to meet with me or have me speak in your Bible Study or Sunday School before I go back, please let me know!
Praises:
- The trip in November went well, and I was easily able to get a seat on both flights!
- I have been accepted by the church in Japan and will be moving to serve with them in January!
- God is good in His timing and faithful in His promises!
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for peace and clear thinking as I close my time in the states and prepare to move to a new area of Japan. Pray for smoothness in all the logistics of moving.
- Pray that God would provide additional monthly and one-time support gifts to help cover any moving and setup costs and the increase in cost of living.
- Continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as we were instructed to do in Psalm 122. Pray that many would come to know Jesus as Messiah through these horrific times, as we look to His return and the end of the age of mercy.
- Pray for each other. Pray for the person who reads this next, only God knows who that is, that they will thank Him for sending Jesus to be Emmanuel, God with us, and that He is still with us today.
At the beginning of October, I flew to Pennsylvania to attend an event hosted by the Association of Baptist for World Evangelism (ABWE) to learn about who they are as an organization, and consider if their team in Japan is with whom I should serve. This is one of two main options I'm considering right now. The other option is a couple, the Bangs, in Kanagawa (just West of Tokyo) to whom I was introduced by Durene White, a member of my church. Durene spent time in Japan and shares my heart for seeing its people come to Christ! The Bangs have two churches and a Christian community center, with a variety of ministries and opportunities to serve their members and their community! Since I could join them while continuing under CTEN, I would be able to return to Japan much sooner than other options. Before committing to serving under them, I felt it would be worth it to visit them in person, since borders are open and a supporter is again generously allowing me to fly on his buddy pass to make the trip more affordable! I will be visiting them in Kanagawa from November 7th though 17th, to see in person if it is a good fit. (Pray I can make it back before the Thanksgiving travel rush!). If all goes well and God confirms that I am supposed to serve with the Bangs, I will be home through the end of the year, and, Lord willing, go back to Japan to start my new ministry in January!
about the perfection of his timing. My original plan was to return to Japan with a new team at the beginning of September, but God saw fit to keep me here. I am grateful He did, as I was able to visit with my grandfather the day before he passed away, and attended and participated in his funeral. I knew God had a reason for delaying my return, and though it was hard at moments, I am so glad I can trust in the sovereign timing of the One Who holds my future.
It snowed more in February, and IKG (Gospel choir) started rehearsing after the holiday break. We are learning a new song called Revelation 19:1, and the director took his time when introducing it to explain the story behind it, starting in the Garden, through the prophecies, the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the Church Age, and looking forward to His return, as seen in Revelation. For many of the members, it was the first time they had heard the story of the Bible so succinctly, from start to finish, in a way they could understand. Pray for their hearts to be receptive to the message of the One to Whom we sing.
One of the schoolroom families gave their daughter a new piano for Christmas, and gifted me with their old keyboard! It is such a huge and wonderful blessing! It is able to plug into my computer so I can use it for creating and composing songs or writing sheet music more easily, so I have been flexing my creative muscles a lot more over this past month.
