We have a great supporter and sister

Cortney, I have been always blessed by you since i met you for the first time. Even though you are in LA, you are on your mission and you are in our prayers all the time.
On behalf of the J-team, thank you so much for your encouragement. hope see you at our send-off party.

Thank you so much, James ( Hannah's friend?), that you always check our website

God is good. Last year,I really learned it does not matter who is a goer and who is a sender. We are bonded in Him and care about non-believers all over the world.

I love you all
Hiro

Only in Japan #5392

Designer rice paddies. Woaw.

23 days to go!!

All Caught Up

Lately i've been very bad in reading the material that my team has been assigned to read. I kept telling myself that i'd read a certain chapter or pgs by a certain time a date, only to find myself hanging out with my friends and missing yet another weeks worth of reading... I know... Bad JUstin! =P Gomenosai... BUt Gomenosai no More! i've finally caught up! i Spent the whole day read our In Pursuit of God book as well as our other hand outs because i felt convicted that my procrastination these past few weeks has kept me from really being "in-step" with my other team members... especially those in whom have kept up with the reading this whole time. So ya, i'm all caught up!...mostly that is... haha i've still a bit more to read... but ya anyhow... i've learned a lot from the readings... especially about the chungryun community that we'll be reaching out to on our missions trip. So ya... im really happy that i read most of everything and im excited to read more as my excitement for our missions trip is really starting to stir up again! woo hoO!!!
i love this picture!

Kitakyushu city- my second hometown

When i heard we were going to this city ( i didn't know it until very recently), I was speechless because so many memories came back to me. The old good one. Yes, I had lived in this city for five years.

I feel a little bit weird ( in a good way) because i am going to this city, in which i had lived for five years, as a short term missionary with the team. God will bring me back to the city and the nation for His purpose, not for my sightseeing.

I am pretty sure when i land this city ( we will take a ferry), i would cry. It would be a good crying. How do you feel you are going to your second hometown as a missionary ( even ST missionary)? I used to see the fireworks from this blick-made building in every summer. I love driving to this city ( it took for 20 min by car from my apartment) sunday afternoon. God is wonder.. He brought me here, the states, to get to know Him and He will send me back to my memorable second hometown. Not only can i speak the standard japanese, i also can speak "their dilect". I love this city because people are so passionate and nice. I remember so many people's faces. My friend's dad was working at the station ( in above pic).

I will invite my friends to the church we visit. I will introduce my team and Jesus Christ to them

FOCUS

Was reminded of this verse when taking care of some Japan stuff this evening...

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."
[Psalm 127.1]

LORD, without You, it's just a vacation.

an encouragement from up north

hey team,
this is actually an encouragement from my cousin to our team:

Isaiah 58;11 -- And the Lord will be your guide at all times; in dry places he will give you water in full measure, and will make strong your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like an ever-flowing spring.

i hope you're as encouraged as i was. the Word always has a tendency to do that. ;)

I've come to realize how important we update our blog to express our thoughts or write our prayer requests. I met several sisters and brothers i don't see so often and found out they keep reading my blog. "Hiro, i am so encouraged by your blog" or " I am so excited about your japan mission!" That is so encouraging to me. These days I got caught by my "busyness" so i don't update so often. From now on, i will keep updating regularly.

Last night, we were at LAX to send off Oxaca team. I really like being at LAX to send off/welcome mission teams. I learned to be a good sender because i ended up not going on any mission last year. I also like seeing people who are just about to leave. I see their excitement and appreciation to God. He make the missions happen. These missions are His, not ours.
When i gave hug each members in Oxaca team, it really hit me that we will leave in 4 weeks. Yes, we are leaving for Japan. Wow... it will finally happen.. I feel a little bit weird about it because i am going to the nation, which i was born and raise, with my good fellow, hannah, Jean, Teresa, TJ, Paul, and Justin.

I still have to raise fund for this mission. I am not worried about it because i know He will provide us whatever we need for the mission. If God wants us to go, He will make a way. I trust Him.
I saw one miraculous thing... I heard that all members in a mission team at another church lost passports. The person who told me this story and i prayed for them this saturday. When i sent off our oxaca team, i saw the team, in which all members lost their passports. I saw them leaving for their mission, too. God is amazing!!!

I wonder wonder wonder..

In the living breathing cosmos there is a mysterious Something, too wonderful, too awful [i.e. `awesome'] for any mind to understand. The believing man does not claim to understand. He falls to his knees and whispers, `God.' The man of earth kneels also, but not to worship. He kneels to examine, to search, to find the cause and the how of things. Just now we happen to be living in a secular age. Our thought habits are those of the scientist, not those of the worshipper. We are more likely to explain than to adore. `It thundered,' we exclaim, and go our earthly way. But still the Voice sounds and searches. The order and life of the world depend upon that Voice, but men are mostly too busy or too stubborn to give attention.
I WISH i wrote this. It's actually a para from Tozer- the Pursuit of God, ch 6. So profound. READ IT.
Today as I was watching some Planet Earth like program on insects, I was wondering how people could refute God- I dont want to explain how one caused me to think of the other, you'll think Im weird. My friend once said "religion was just made up by man so that we could feel at peace about what happens when we die." I could see why that would be reason for people to get to know God, but what about everything else? Why do people believe in karma or coincidence or luck only? Why can't they accept the fact that there is a purpose for everything and that God is behind it all? The Earth works in wondrous ways- some things are too perfect to be considered just science. And what's up with this "mother earth" business.. insects just don't evolve on their own.. the food chain wasn't made on its own... It's kinda like the chicken and egg dilemma, how can people possibly explain everything. How did the dung beetle come to like dung? How come the mayfly lives for less than an hour and has no mouth? It's human nature to be curious about life and purpose and value and supernatural beings but sometimes things can't be explained unless God is in the picture. You know what's crazy, people are trying to play God now.. controlling the weather n whatnot. PISHPOSH. God is going to break down their Babel.
I feel like one day it's all going to come together. There will be this era where everybody goes AHHH! or I get it! or That makes sense! light bulbs will go off and people will realize that God is the only answer. I mean God, the Bible, Jesus, Christianity is all around us and finally when non-believers get over that little hump of whatever keeps them away, there will be revival. Goosebumpy!
I don't doubt that God is mysterious, and sometimes unexplainable, but isn't that part of what makes Him so amazing and GOD? Man I love Him.
Can't wait for Japan.

Surprises?

Ya Surprises... I feel like God has been surprising me a whole lot lately... first with starting me off in a relationship!! Yayer... But also in some smaller things like, receiving a check from school because of an advance i gave them a while back (That was totally awesome, and i guess kind of like Tj's story), really becoming closer to some of my managers at work (Praying for them and telling them that im praying for them), Losing 7 lbs in the past almost three weeks!, and and.... well it's just going to keep on going but ya, i think you all get the point... just so many amazing things have been going on, and im just so privileged to be a part of it =)

TJ Holding Hannah... lol! (Inside joke)

A small miracle

Just wanted to share a quick testimony...not like a life-changing miracle per se, but definitely evidence of God's mighty hand. I've been praying a lot recently about battling my flesh and living by the Spirit first. It's been humbling and relentless to say the least, but my eyes have really been opened to see how fiercely the flesh fights back. With that said, one area that I have been battling the flesh is in the area of provision. It's the whole conflict of trusting in my own (in)ability to save vs. God's provision in all circumstances. So I've been continually surrendering that to Him, asking Him to teach me to trust Him, even when my bank account is anemic and this $2200 trip is looming.

Well last night, I was going through a giant, 2 month old stack of mail and saw a random letter from my car insurance folk. Thinking it was a change of policy or something boring like that, I opened it and lo and behold, there was a check! Not a crazy amount, but there it was! I then thought it was one of those tricks where you cash the check and they sign you up for some service, but as far as I can tell, it was just free money. Who gets money from their insurance company saying "because of a good financial year and blah blah blah, we wanted to give you a refund on your premium"?! Obviously, I can trust that He will provide for me through my friends, but through a selfish insurance company? Nonsense! More than the money itself, I immediately saw God's hand at work. There it was, a gentle reminder than He is in control and that I can trust Him.

So remember that He is able and that He is GENEROUS. He is not stingy so that He can save up for a plasma or something, but He is "stingy" in our eyes to teach us whatever He wants to teach us. And I am so thankful He is smarter than me. *sigh* It's like honey. MmmmmMMmmmmMM...

P.S. Only four more weeks!!

P.P.S. Justin kinda looks like Fez. HAHAHA!

Earthquake in Japan... Let's Pray

Here is a link to a video I found - although we cannot understand what they are saying (except for Hiro) it shows the damage that was caused by yesterday's earthquake. Please join us in praying for the people who have been affected by this incident.

Hey you people out there!

Just a few miscellaneous things to all our supporters out there...

- Save the date!: Our send-off/thank-you party will be Sunday, August 12th at 5p-8p. It will be held at The Garden Christian Fellowship, 20745 Nordhoff St., 91311. Please join us for some authentic Japanese food, fun, and prizes as we get ready to go. We just want to thank and bless all of our supporters through this night.

- Email list: If you would like the latest and greatest from the team before, during, and after the trip, please send an email to gardening.in.japan [at] gmail [dot] com. We promise not to mail bomb you!

- Comment!: If you're out there and reading this, drop us a comment so we know that we're not just posting for our teammates!

We can't go without your support and love, so we thank you for partnering with us in this endeavor from the Lord. Hopefully, this little blog will allow you to get a glimpse of what's going on through your prayers and support. May you be RICHLY blessed as we are by YOU.

The movie/novel which represents me is..

Shusaku Endo's novel, "Silence".http://www.amazon.com/Silence-Shusaku-Endo/dp/0800871863/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-8718575-6196169?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184565731&sr=8-2 The story is about the tragic confession of European Christian missionaries who came to Japan in the 16th century. Some of them were persecuted by Shogun/samurai. When I got persecutions/rejections from the Japanese people, that reminds me of this novel. When I met Tku's dad, he mentioned about Endo and he was interested in how Endo's novels have influenced the Japanese people. Now, my memory came back! I read this book when i was 17 and afterwards, i started looking for churches. Thanks, Arigato- Endo san!

Today's training really made me realize we really will go on the j-mission soon! Arigato- TJ, Jean, Paul, Justin, Hannah, and Teresa. I also appreciate Perry/Jean's CG people. They just stormed in our meeting room and bombed so many snack/cute boxes for everyone with their love. Arigato-!!

i second that!

i'm raising my hand high to getting a beatdown by the fat old humility stick! not necessarily because i want it, but because God wants it for me. another teammate reminded me that God's pruning us and preparing us and building our characters, not only for our lives, but looking short-term, for this mission. so team:

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.~1 Timothy 6:12

Helloo!!!

Hellooo!!! as miss Doubtfire would say. i'm doing pretty good. Since coming back from Iowa last thursday, i've been privileged enough to spend a lot of good time in fellowship with my friends and J-team. I love my friends so much.... I say this without reserve that i have the best friends a person could ever desire. They encourage me when im down, lift me up when others try to take me down, help me when i need help, and even rebuke me when i am in need of rebuking. I thank God for helping me remember what joy there is in having such great friends... It's my friends that God has used to do great things in me, and it's through my friends that God will do even greater things! In my car yesturday...or the day before....i forget when, but as i was pondering the many things that i like to ponder.... haha..... i came up with a conclusion after having pondered Ecclesiastes, that "Meaning found me".... everything is meaningless... a righteous man will die as any wicked man, and sometimes a righteous man receives what a wicked man deserves and visa versa. But God brings meaning... And it was not i who found Him, it was He who found me... that's why i say, it was Meaning who found me. Praise God! amen?? anyhow... Peace out yo!

Ouch

Is anyone else getting a major, continual beatdown with the humility stick? It sure does hurt, but I know that it's crucial in following Jesus. Today's word was John 3:30: "He must increase, but I must decrease." I want a reprieve, but I also want all the pride to be beaten outta me. Like the song says, "keep it comin', HUH!"

It just occurred to me today..

that we're going to share God's love through service and testimony.
This whole time, we've been training for missions, but it really hit me during today's training why we're going. It happened specifically when we prayed for the ZK [Ks living in Japan] community, which by the way, i really didn't know much about, so sorry if my prayer didn't make sense. My heart broke because these people don't know Jesus and His love. My heart broke because I was thinking about how El Norters don't have the privilege or freedom to praise God freely in El Norte (there are N. and S. Koreans in this community).
Today's message was awesome. Roy is like a comedian-pastor-cartoon character all in one. God really put a wonderful word on his heart today. It was about the 11th hour christian (Matthew 20:1-16). Even though we are at the bottom of the barrel, worthless, and sinful, God still rescued us and gave us grace, wave upon wave. *when Roy was giving that image of laying on the beach, having wave upon wave gently wash over you, I couldnt help but wince because all I could imagine was swallowing salt water, getting water up your nose, and having some jelly fish or seaweed all over you, but i got what he meant*
I am a sinner, and yet God still has use for me. He's gonna get some glory out of me. I truly felt that i was hand-picked by God to go to Japan. I felt a wave of grace upon me today during prayer, and it slowly grew. God has salvaged my life, and now I'm being prepared to share His love with others. It's a beautiful thing.
I pictured myself entering the ZK community. google it if you dont know who they are. I pictured myself talking to an old woman in my broken korean/japanese, but still we were able to communicate. I pictured myself hugging her, and silently praying for her, hoping that the encounter we had that day would have an impact on her and that later on she can see that God was speaking to her right then and there.
Gnite.

Yes, I have to admit i am worn out. The things really get hectic at my work and although i say to myself, " its okay. It should be because i have to get things done before i leave for our J-mission", my fatigue engulfs me and my energy level is really low these days. The physical tiredness leads me to be weak in many ways. I know satan loves using my fatigue to discourage me because i don't think he likes what we are/will be doing.

he also know my weakness is "my visa status" It has been always always the issue since i started going on missions. About a year ago, i talked to my lovely sister in Christ ( she is at another church)

JK: Hiro, what is your prayer request? i want to pray for you. so, your prayer request is about future boy friend/husband? career?
Me: My prayer request is my visa status.
JK: Excuse me? What did you say? Visa? so, you mean a Green card?
Me: Yes, i want to get a green card soon so i can go on missions!
JK: Oh, okay, i see your point. Oh, i have never heard these kind of prayer request. haha.. Okay, Hiro. I will pray for you.

I know not a lot of people know about visa issue. okay, when i was in Japan, I had never ever thought of it because i am citizen there. sometimes, it is difficult for me to explain to people about it not because of my language skill but because of something else. Last year, i ended up not going on missions mostly because of my visa status. One guy ( from another church and we barely know each other) kept asking me why i would not go. I kept explaining to him. and finally, he said, " Hiro, i am very disappointed in your decision. i thought you were mission-minded and cared about Japan, your country. i wish you could go on missions to be a great TRANSLATOR"

Since then, i just stopped explaining to people about my visa. I am really afraid if i sound making excuses not to go or something like that. I got hurt. I really got hurt. and i have no expectation that people would understand why i could not go on j-mission last year. I don't care if people think i am not faithful based on that i didn't go on mission last year, please do so. i am really tired of taking care of this issue.

I am thankful to the Lord that He has given me a H-1B visa. I know it is from Him. Not because what i have done. He is so faithful and almighty. Yes, two sisters already left for their countries because they did not get H-1B. I know how painful it would be.
God is so good because i have learned so many things from my visa experiences. If i had gone on missions last year, i would not have learned so many things i learned. I learned a lot.
But sometimes, especially, when i am physically worn out, satan always tries to use this issue. He does not use.. let's say.. boy friend/spouse issue because he knows i don't care much about it. In other words, I sometimes envy people who have a green card but never ever envied a friend who has a great boy friend/husband. I am just happy for them but never thought, " i wish i had a boyfriend/husband/kids...." maybe because i am not sure if i want to get married or not. I am just not sure if it ( that i will get married) is God's will or not.

God purposely gives us a challenge. I know my visa status is my trial to grow. He wants me to grow so he still gives me this issue.
Okay, i will pray for my financial status because i need $5000 to apply for my green card. Now, i can apply with my H-1B. I am ready to do that except money.
I know God will give me a green card in His timing, not mine. yes, i am frustrated but i have decided to surrender all to Him. He has everything in His hand.
To tell the truth, when i saw a demonstration about immigration law this afternoon, i saw my bitterness in my mind. They are illegal and have not paid tax. However, they automatically can get a green card. I am legal and have paid tax. I have to hire lawyer to apply for that. I still think it is very unfair but i will try to pray for the illegal one. It is still difficult but i will.

Thank you for being there with me, the Garden J-team!

.....

I just spent 20 minutes writing a post and it has disappeared. I am not too thrilled. Further proof that I am not at all computer savvy.

Maybe this is God's plan because to be honest I think I was rambling a bit too much anyway.

I do want to say to Teresa that Transformers will never be better than Harry Potter.

Now on a more serious note: I am really hoping that God will burden me more. That I would have an urgency and an intense desire to see the people of Japan come to know God's love. Of course if we didn't have that initial burden we wouldn't be going. But its different... I feel like there should be more from me. That my heart should really wrench when I think about Japan... for now it just makes me happy to go.. and that isn't bad but it doesnt feel right either. I need a new perspective and to come back to knowing His burden. To know what HE wants, what breaks HIS heart... I need to let go so that there is none of me and an abundance of Him. Like in the bible when people would tear their robes from despair or an intense longing for something. I always thougth that was weird but I think I understand it. When you really desire something so badly that you can't do anything but just clench your fists and cry out. I will not be tearing my robes... but I hope for that same passion for God to send a burden down that I can feel His urgency. I know that He desires so much and we are going into a dark place where darkness is real and that the battle is just ahead. Lord - prepare us!!

Another glimpse

I came across this article about Japanese hospitality, and was reminded of the ridiculous attention to detail that the Japanese are so very fond of. It feels so "Japanese" to me how they even take out a single match to make it easier for you! But this attention to detail, this inordinate desire to be hospitable is, oddly enough, a blockade that prevents God from coming in. They do not want to upset others, upset the group, stand out at all. I remember how we played line charades last year with some of the kids, and one of them absolutely refused to be the team leader and be singled out. In a land with such a small number of Christians, it is going to truly take a divine force to push against hundreds of years of culture and society. But if anyone can do it, it's God.

Pray for the nation... there are many who try to reach Him but keep failing... pray for the nation God shakes passionatelly to open to His words... pray for the nation people are suffering its high suicide rate... pray for the nation...

Transformers, robots in disguise!

Go watch it. I loved it. I even cheered when the robot did cool moves. I don't care what you think. It's good.
This has nothing to do with Japan.. or does it?
So I went with some friends to go see this movie. Earlier that day we were having a small lil bbq get together. Somehow the word "Christianity" came up and I couldnt help but eaves drop. I do that anyway, but this time i wasn't hiding it. One of my friends said to another friend: "Don't be bringing your christian-ness here." It sounded like he was kidding, but i wanted to inquire. So I jumped in and was like "What's wrong with being christian?" And he was like "Oh nothing, i just dont like it when they push their beliefs on me." He's Muslim.
So I was like ok, sure. Here's where Japan comes in. I wonder if that's how they all feel. Im sure some are more open, and some are actually looking for answers, but how can we get to those who dont even want to listen? The conversation kept going but the topic changed. I didn't say anything about his comment. Awhile back, a friend asked me, "Can a non religious person be considered moral?" and i was like "Of course." That is true, so everybody can show love through kind actions. So if they dont want to listen, and our kindness is not unique, then how do we share about Jesus? It sounds simple, but at the time, i was sorta stuck.
Lately, I've been surrounded by people who are opposed to Christianity, but they are my good friends. I don't compromise my beliefs around them. They respect my beliefs, but they def. dont share them, so how do I get to them?! How can I get to the Japanese people? How can I get to my brother? These thoughts are always around me. One thing I know: Pray. but what else?
This is what I need to be praying for. I've been telling everybody that Im going to Japan for missions, but at the same time, Im unable to tell them what Im going to be doing. I gotta let go of my inhibitions and let the Spirit lead. I'm only beginning to know what that means.
That's all.
Side note: I think it'd be awesome to have Japanese transformers in the next sequel. Not all rice-rockety, but more like samurai/ninja like. It'll be cooler than Harry Potter. Yep, I said it.

let it burn

seeing the magnificent fireworks last night reminded me of the hanabis we lit in japan. these and a few other amazing ones were the ones we lit last year!

and somehow, remembering that, i was also reminded of the picture God showed me last year. it was a picture of a metropolitan city, with people scattered all about it. they were formless, pillers of ashes. but in a slight moment, what looked like sunlight started to beam across the city from the left horizon. the instant it touched the pillars, the ashes began to flutter away, giving color and shape and an identity to the beings. this time, the most striking part of the picture was the brilliance of the light. it clearly plays a dominant role in this motion picture, but just how much of it, i didn't realize before. last year, without even question, the light represented the believers touching out to this nation (as we should be the light of this world), but more and more it's becoming clear that Jesus, God, Holy Spirit is this light, that only by their love and grace and brilliance can they touch a nation as such. and with that, i'm humbled to pray more, t0 have more faith, to desperately depend on God for this mission.

Hey!!!

Hey hey! gomenosai!(sorry!) i forgot to post last week! doh!!! but here i go... Having come back from Iowa last night at 1am!! was uhh.... tiring? but mostly nice. Not saying that meeting all of my step relatives was bad... NOT AT ALL EVEN!!! it was actually really really cool getting to see them all and know them better. But ya, it wasn't bad, i just really missed you all! my Amigos! my brothers and sister from another mother! haha... Plus, seeing acres and acres of nothing but corn was being to drive me crazy. Though, i do have this strong craving for corn... =) anyhow, i really wish i could have gone to the j-team retreat, but alas... there's always next year i suppose.... =P Anyhow...how am i doing? Well IM GLAD YOU ASKED!~!!! gosh it's like reading my mind or something. I'm doing well! man, by not having been surrounded by the mass amounts of advertisements and media that we have here, i really felt a little rejuvenated. it's like there's something about mass media that bogs a person down without you(i mean me) realizing it. Also, since i didn't spend much time doing anything aside from just talking a whole lot about myself to my relatives, i really got to spend a lot of time in prayer while reading my bible. Spiritually i feel very rejuvenated, and so i'm thankful that though i wasn't able to be with the rest of my completely awesome team in San diego, God still did a similar work in me through this trip to Iowa. God bless everyone!!!

more of it!

THIS is how big the cup was!
















TJ & Hannah, gearing up for Japan!



















Tku, not so much...hehe
















need i say more??








mmm...California Burritos
(for those who don't know, there are actual french fries in them!!)















and while the fellas laid out,
the ladies played a little catch







































one of my favorite pictures!












we missed you, Justin! we'll have to photoshop you in! (that's been our team's theme)







aww...God picked a good group, a very good one.

Beautiful San Diego with beautiful people.

We begin with breakfast at Literati Cafe. Justin is missed. But Hiro and I drank the biggest cup of coffee in his honor.

Our hotel in downtown Sand Eggo, as shown by our very own, Jean-takki Mushroom!

Painting supposedly worth $10,000 each! there are 2 of these paintings in each room! i think someone got ripped off... it's nice work. but not $10,000 worth.



















Our fearless leader....and Hello Kitty. Hello Kitty.

It was a great trip just enjoying the beautiful avenues of His grace that each of us are to one another and to this team. What a team!

We played sequence! Lost both times.