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.

No Common Act

"It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it... Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act."
-AW Tozer Pursuit of God

If I "un-complicate" my life, life is pretty simple, huh? It seems simpler and clearer as the trip draws nearer.

6 days to go.

There is His will behind...

I appreciate God made my accident (i got a hit-and-run last week) happened. Oh, maybe you are concering like, "oh, Hiro hit the head? She is out of mind?" Not at all. I am physically fine! I appreciate even this hit-and-run because until then, i had been distracted by so many things... Yeah, this time, spiritual attacks have been so intense. I was knocked down ( almost ) and diescouraged in many ways. seems like Satan really does not want to see our mission happening. He hates what we are doing... so, until the accident, i was so weak that he kept attacking me ( especially, he kept trying to discourage me). After the accident, i verbalized that God has protected me. He protected me from the accident physically and spiritually. After the accident, i realized satan failed completely because He is always with me.

Thank you for the hit-and-run, Father!!

Hiro

Another prayer with 8 days left to go

Father, we thank you for our friends and family who are supporting us through finances, support, love, and prayer. Please help them see that they are not simply someone who writes a check, but as someone incredibly vital to this trip. We pray that they would be blessed immensely as they do not simply watch us go, but go with us.

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." [1Cor3:6+7]

We all have different roles, but have the same purpose. So we thank You for every member that is faithful to their part. As our family at home has been faithful to their role, may we, as the physical travelers, be faithful to ours as well. And above all, may Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in Japan.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Exciting!

I'm super excited that our Missions trip to Japan is coming up so soon. There's still a lot to do before we need to head off, but im so happy to be apart of something that i know God is going to use greatly for his kingdom. As i told the team yesterday, i dont feel fully ready to go yet. Not that i have any pressing matters to attend to first, its just that, i have this goal that i want to attain before i head off... This goal being to pray even more fervently for the Japanese people with each passing day until we leave. So ya, i really feel convicted to be in more prayer as i believe our faith in what God will do with the team will dictate what God is going to do by our prayers. lastly as our team is heading off in less than two weeks, i ask that you who read this be in prayer for our finances as for the most part, we are in need of more financial support. thanks!!!

Inspiring

These past two weeks have just been so amazing! starting with my friend's arrival back from Japan, i found myself just renewed and hungering for prayer! To pray with certainty without doubt that God is going to do mighty things in my own life but also in the lives of many others that God has put on my heart. I feel invigorated in the knowledge that my prayers have true impacting power! Not in it of myself, but by the Power of the Holy Spirit... God who is Lord over all things. And What better time for me to be going through this personal revival than now, when in just under two weeks i'll be heading to Japan! Sugoi!(awesome) ne?(Right?) Im just so pumped to be going for i know that God is going to be doing such incredible things through our missions trip =) God bless... And oh! thank you Thank you THANK YOU CG for being such an incredible encouragement to the whole team. What awesome brother and sisters we have. God Bless!!!!

Guard it jealously

"The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack." - My Utmost for His Highest

Our relationship.
It's the source.

Challenge Course Pics

July 28th: UCLA Challenge Course with our CG's

Everyone on this side to that side. and everyone on that side to this
side. Using those 2 planks. Arrrrg....


The zigzag. whew...


Our fearless leader and J.Crew model


it's pretty high. the telephone crews.


Thank you, Juna. And our CG's, you guys are the best!