Japan 2008

Coming soon...    

Reality check

Here is an article that was sent to me about the state of welfare in Kitakyushu. Tragic...

My Testimonial: Justin

<- the team w/some our favorite ppl


Missions Testimonial: Japan 2007

Hello Everyone,

Praise the Lord! Amen? What an incredible summer it's been! And with this Fall season approaching, or already here, i felt a need to write this letter now rather than wait another day or two in which could very well turn into another month! So as this is a Testimonial, i just wanted to thank you all for being such incredible supporters in my trip to Japan. This being my second year going to Japan, I felt even more so that God's presence and leading upon me was to an even greater degree! I believe that this was because of your prayers and so i thank you once again, and again i will do so over and over because i've been so blessed by everyone who has supported me. So to start, since coming back from Japan, i've had several opportunities to share what God has been speaking to me about and im just so excited to see that every time i've done so, those who have heard the word are blessed by it. I've also started my second quarter at The King's Seminary in which i am taking on a full load and already trying not to let the overwhelming amount of work overcome me! So with that said, excuse me for being a little brief as i talk about my trip Japan.

At the end of last year, i really felt like God was telling me to go back the next year, which really wasn't what i had hoped to hear after having prayed all pretrip before for God to tell me what He wanted me to do in Japan. And so this year, I as i headed back to Japan, my mind was filled with even a little bit of confusion. Though i knew that God wanted me to go back, i really had no idea why. I knew only that by going, i was doing God's will. Not that i didn't have a passion for the people, it's just that I really didn't know what God was going to speak to me about through this trip. I think i was just hoping he would tell me a little more about my actually calling in Japan and so forth. I think three main experiences really really spoke to me, and are the experiences in which have really solidified what i believe is God's calling for me, at least in part. The first experience was that in Tokyo. While in Tokyo, my team visited two churches, one called the "Jesus Life House church", founded by Hillsongs in Australia, and the second called "New Hope Life church" founded by "New Hope Life" church in Hawaii. What was amazing to me is that after both services, which were both very amazing, the pastors actually spent time afterwards to speak with the team. We we're all very blessed by how willing and eager they were in encouraging us to continue on in our efforts to reach Japan. What spoke to the most about what each pastor was telling us was that ten churches in the area were united in their endeavors to reach Tokyo. Some of those churches even met in this one building! Sharing facilities and everything! One pastor even told us that if we were ever to plant a church in Tokyo, they'd be willing to support us! Amazing right?... first that ten churches in Tokyo are so willing to work with one another, and secondly that they're so willing to help out others. I think in the Valley alone there are like 30 churches, yet not even two of them are truly united as these churches in Japan are. Amazing right?

The second experience i had was simply just seeing those people in whom met the year before. People like my half Japanese, half Scottish friend Stephen, who serves as a youth coordinator at the main church that we work with. I was just so filled with joy seeing all of the little kids and parents that I so eagerly wanted to see again. Especially so, Stephen represents to me my first real friend in Japan, someone in whom i can relate with since we're the same age and he's able to speak perfect English since he was raised partially in Scotland. There was something about this trip though, that unlike last year, felt very much like being "at home". And this is just one of those experiences that have shaped what I believe God is using to speak to me.

Thirdly, During my last night in Japan, i was treated to this amazing dinner in which about 20 or so people had come too. At the end of the meal however, the host asked me to speak a short message. I was so caught off guard because I had nothing planned or written out to say, but I knew that God was telling me speak about something that has been on my mind since February, that being Christs reliance upon the Holy Spirit. I was nervous partially because I had a little over twenty people staring at me, and also because I was about to speak a message that normally takes about forty minutes to speak into ten minutes! As my translator spoke after me, my mind raced to get out what i'd be saying next, all the while looking to see if the Japanese people were getting what i was trying to say. I was a little discouraged at first, because if you know Japanese people, they kind of just stare at you with little expression. So there were no, "Amens" or "Hallelujahs", just maybe crickets in the background. After the message, and I had gone back to my home stay, i sat on my bed a little bummed about the message i gave, second guessing the order and content in which I chose to present my message. But this changed the morning after as i met up with my team, i was told that after I had left, a non-Christian mother and son had gone up to the translator and told her all about how the message i gave really encouraged her and made her feel closer to accepting Jesus as her Saviour! Hiro, my translator and fellow team member told me that they even spent an hour so talking about her faith and how the message really applied to her. Praise God!... So in this God used me to speak to me them in a powerful way.

So out of these three experiences this is what I feel God has spoken to me. I felt God's leading for me to plant a church in Japan, His peace in being there, and in His wanting to use me in speak to His people in Japan. Amazing right?

I wish I could have spent a lot more time preparing and then writing out this testimonial, but I hope that at least some of my joy and excitement for what God is calling me to do in Japan has rubbed off on you. My plans for next year does include going to Japan again, but eventually if not this next year I actually hope to lead the team. So ya, again i know this letter is not written very well, but because of the work load I'm under I really needed to write this quickly without much editing. Thank you so much once again!

God bless!
Justin Huang

Role Call

My name is Hannah
I like bananas
I don't eat breakfast
I heart Japan

Role call shibuya sha-sha-shibuya x2

My name is Paul
I like the fall
I wear nice jeans
So gimme a call

Role call shibuya sha-sha-shibuya x2

My name is Jean
Don't like red bean
I'll take yo pictcha
My eye is keen

Role call shibuya sha-sha-shibuya x2

***

That's how far we got as we traveled through Tokyo. We then went to Osaka, took the Love Boat to Kyushu, and now we are back in the Osaka area [near Kobe] for our last stretch of ministry. Today is a day of just preparing and shopping. Tomorrow, we have a woman's tea time where we are sharing our testimonies and fellowshipping with Christians and non-Christians alike. We will then have a Kid's English Bible camp for a few hours where we will teach them songs, crazy American games, and a craft. And then, we're back to the States. Brrrr.

It is difficult to think of something to blog about as we have been having such a wide variety of experiences the past few days. Please continue to pray for us, and more so, for the Japanese and the Japanese church. In particular, for the Kita [North] Kyushu Chapel, the word of "remnant" kept coming up. Like the Israelites, though they are surrounded on all sides by opposing forces, and though they are a minority, they have remained steadfast and faithful to the Lord. The Word was shared this past Sunday by the outgoing pastor of Isaiah 42:3-4. And while it was in reference to his own experiences, I saw it as a Word for that whole church as well. God will not snuff out their smoldering wick, and yes, the islands of Japan WILL put their hope in His law. So please join us in praying for that chapel, all of the other Christ Community Church chapels, the ZK community members, and the nation of Japan.

"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope." - Isaiah 42:3-4

Us with some of the members of the Kita Kyushu Chapel


***

And in case you were not at the Garden on Sunday, here is the video that we sent over...

His glory is falling down on this nation

Hi, our supporters.
In a past few days, we have felt His presence in every place in Tokyo. Now, i really feel finally, finally, Japan is open to the Gospel. It is very crucial timing for us to be in this nation although we will stay for only two weeks.
I still remember when i was teenager, i was looking for churches in Tokyo. However, i could not find any church there. I was sad. I needed to know His unfailing love. I felt i was walking in a desert.
God is so faithful. We visited one church last sunday and i didn't know which church we would visit until a day before. Do you know what kind of miraculous thing God has made happened? The church is in the same town i was looking for churches 24 years ago and the building the church was in used to be a bookstore back then. 24 years ago, i was sad because i could not find any churches in the town and stopped by one bookstore to get my first Bible in my life. 24 years later, God built the building on the same place and put the awesome church in the building.

While we were at the service, i could not stop crying. A lot of people were worshipping at the church. Some of them even danced over joy. I felt He was talking to me, " Look at the people, Hiro" He knew I was sad when i could not find a church in the town. He knew exactly how i felt. 24 years later, He brought me back to the exactly the same place and showed to me what He has done.

He is so faithful.

PS: WE arrived in Osaka safely this afternoon. Thank you for keeping us in your prayer.

First Blog form Japan!!

It's been only 2 1/2 days and we've seen so much. I've included a few pics to show. Small cars, lots of trains, tall buildings, driving on the wrong side of the street. We are 16 hours ahead, so it's been interesting waking at 4am and crashing hard at 9pm. We're in Tokyo till Wed (in Japan). We've visited (2) churches here and it was really great to join them worship our God. It's hard to write in words what is seen and felt. It really is amazing to be in a country different than what we're used to. People here are so courteous. I think we make up most of the noise wherever we go. Americans. We had a chance to meet with our very own Hiro's mom. She's such a sweet person and we had a chance to just spend time with her. Our touching Japan begins here, and our hearts are so excited to see the Lord opening closed hearts. And there will be a praise report in this story. The city is beautiful. Unbelievable really, how so many people live here with a respect for each other. I wish we had this in the States. But then I wish there was more grace here. It's coming, cuz He's coming. We are doing great! it's hot and humid, but it's Japan! So bring it on! Thank you for the prayers. This is the first! See you soon again soon.

Send off at LAX


Tokyo


Dinner with Hiro's mom (Jean's taking the pic)

Where's my change?!

The Final Countdown

For those of you who watch "Arrested Development," that's the Gob song. I think it's fitting for our last few days in the US. As I've been running around doing last minute things, it struck me today how I have this feeling that I need to say goodbye to everyone. Not that I'm never coming back or anything, but I can't explain it.

Perhaps the convergence of my birthday, my unemployment, and this trip is going to cause something crazy to happen in my life.
Perhaps I'll be so inherently changed through this trip that I will come back a different person.
Perhaps I'm standing on the brink of something grand, peering over the edge, knowing that something is going to happen if I jump.
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...

Bring it, Lord. I want ALL that You have for me and for all of us.