G.R.I.T.

Dean Graber

Wow! The lessons in leadership have been powerful. It is perfect for what God is doing with this group. We went rappelling and rock climbing Wednesday and Thursday. The forecast was rain but instead it was perfect weather! We camped along the ocean in a very primitive sight. I saw a long black snake just as we arrive. With no bathroom facilities it make night trips from the tent interesting. But we all rappelled on Wednesday and everyone did fine. From the cliff you overlooked down 2000 feet to the ocean. It was awesome! When the group first say the cliff they swallowed hard a couple of times, but had trained well and went right over the 140 foot edge. The next day we climbed in the same area. Dan went first to put in some anchors and he did super. It was a tough climb and he figured it out. About a fourth of the team made the climb. Yes I did make it. We talked at the camp site and back at the church the spiritual lesson learned. The one that stood out was that we climb by faith not by sight. Success is not in getting to the top but be willing to reach. So our walk with Christ. Every one was safe and praise God the rain held off two days, because now it is raining and is supposed to for the next 6 days. We have with us three Japanese youth as they can work it around their school. Pray for Uyua that he would make a public profession of true salvation. He is a great kid who is a senior this year. He has expressed a lot of interest but not yet committed publicly to Christ. Dan and I went with Norman to Kagoshima on the bullet train to get some climbing protection. The trip which would take an hour and 1/2 by car took 14 minutes on the bullet train. It goes 300 km and hour! It has its own special set of tracks and goes straight through mountains and over rivers. You look out side and can tell you are really moving, but then suddenly you are in a tunnel. I would say that at least have the trip was in a tunnel to Kagoshima. While in Kagoshima we met a Japanese man who is a retired English teacher at the University. The city is 500,000 plus population. He was very friendly and we were getting ready to find something to eat and he led us to a little place that he said was good food and cheap. He was right on both accounts! I do not know what we ate (which rarely you do) but whatever it was it was delicious and only 190 yen or $1.70. It reminded me a lot of Jerry”s main lunch. I was right at home. We have been going hard ever since we arrive. Every day we get up at 6 or before because we all need to have breakfast and cleaned up ready to run at 7. The exercise routine is gear to push us to the max. For some that comes sooner than others :) I think I have lost 13 lbs if I am reading the Kilograms correctly. My clothes are loose so something is happening. One final thought. It is important for right hearts to do the right thing. Unfortunately it is very easy for wrong people doing the right thing or right people stop doing the right thing. When both are present, God blesses. Love you all. Dean Graber

posted by Norman @ 4:27 PM