Hello!
Welcome to everyone who signed up for my newsletter at the Missions Conference back in July! Thank you to all who stopped by to say hi!
Immediately after the conference, I joined a choir, consisting mostly of alumni from Dallas Baptist University, on a tour of England! We sang in residency at St. Alban's Cathedral, which meant singing three weekend evensongs and two Sunday morning services. I enjoyed learning to sing and lead a liturgy, compared to worship services back home. It was special to take time to be reverent and honor God in a more formal way, and I gained a better understanding of what it means that God is our King, something I think many Americans struggle with since we have no king for an earthly reference. 
Top to Bottom, Left to Right:
Singing in St. Albans Cathedral, Nave of St. Albans Cathedral, Christ Church in Oxford
Inside Christ Church, View from St. Albans Cathedral Tower, Inside Canterbury Cathedral
"Big Ben" Elizabeth Tower, Alley of stairs in Dover, Outside of the Guild Chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon
The White Cliffs of Dover, Inside Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle
Gravesite of J.R.R. Tolkien and his wife in Oxford, Afternoon Tea in Canterbury, Pulpit in Oxford where C.S. Lewis last lectured
Singing in Canterbury Cathedral, Ruins of St. Augustine's Abbey, Seeing "As You Like It" at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
I also enjoyed basking in all the history of Christianity there, and the country in general, seeing places I've heard about for years, learning so much from our wonderful tour guides, and getting to actually sing in both ancient and world-renowned cathedrals. Besides our residency at St. Albans, we sang a concert in the Guild Chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, and had the privilege of singing the evensong for Canterbury Cathedral! I have a new appreciation for the genius architects who created such wonderful acoustics!
After coming home from England, I have been helping take care of my nephew a few afternoons a week, and have had many meetings and much correspondence with potential teams and churches with whom I am interested in serving in Japan. (Most meetings happen in the evening for the benefit of those with whom I'm meeting in Japan. With the 14-hour time difference, no one wants to get up super early or stay up super late for such an important meeting!) Additionally, I have met with friends, supporters, family, and missions staff at church and from my sending agency. I am so blessed to have so many people praying for me, and be exposed to so much wisdom I can glean from other missionaries.
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!
God has taught me yet again 
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.
Food craft from women's conference, seeing Shohei Ohtani
playing against the Rangers, Playing harp in a fall concert,
going to the State Fair, Spending time with friends
While I am still home (between Thanksgiving and Christmas), I would love to continue meeting with you and sharing how God has used me in Japan over the last year and a half! Thank you to everyone whom I've gotten to meet and share with so far! When I return to Japan, where I will be living has a slightly higher cost of living than where I was living before, and as I become more established in Japan there will be certain extra or higher monthly costs, such as insurance and taxes. Join me in praying for God to provide the monthly financial support for monthly cost-of-living increases and for one-time gifts to cover miscellaneous costs involved in moving and getting set up in a new area and home.
Praises:
- I have met with many friends and supporters, both at the missions conference and individually.
- The missions conference was a sweet time of refreshment, learning, and connecting.
- The choir tour in England went well and was enjoyable and educational.
- I have connected with several organizations and groups of God's workers in Japan, and I have many wise people around me, praying with me through this period of discernment.
- God provides and guides in His perfect timing!
Prayer Requests:
- Continued good meetings with friends and supporters as I am stateside.
- Continued guidance as I seek God's will for my next steps, especially as I visit the Bangs next week. Pray that He would make it clear from my time with them and their churches whether this is my next ministry or not. Pray for ease of flying, especially approaching Thanksgiving weekend, that there will be a seat available on just the right flight.
- 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.
- 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 trust in His timing for their lives. Pray He is near to them in their trials and waiting.
