Peter
July 22, 2006
Hello Everyone,
The Lord is awesome and continues to grow me while I am in Japan. It has been said by several of us ``Gritties`` that this has been the best 2 months of our lives for our spiritual growth and it is true. A large portion of the group has already determined that they will be returning to Japan and I am one of them though my return will probably look very different than most of the returns (more about that when I return to New York). My near future plans are starting to become more clear and more definite and within the next week much of it should solidify.
Since my last blog we have done a lot. The leadership class is in its final stretch. This has been boosted a lot since Uncle Lee Abuhl has arrived in Japan. The reason being that he has a hearts passion for the training of leadership and is familiar with the books we have been using.
Right after we picked Uncle Lee and his daughter, Melinda, up we went to Miyakonajo and worked on Chris Sadowitz`s house. This was an enjoyable time of ministry. Though it did rain most of the time or at least seemed like it did. But that wasn`t a real problem since I love the rain.
Recently we have started doing airsoft and other teamwork/leadership training things.
Peter J. McGarvey
Luke here.
I`m really enjoying my time here in Japan. It`s hard to believe, even after a long summer, that in two weeks we`ll already be flying home. I`m starting to realize how much I miss everyone, and I`m getting excited about starting school at Faith in less than a month. In our last couple weeks here, we are really trying to bring together the teamwork and leadership skills we`ve learned this summer and really apply it in the close group that we`ve become. We`ve experienced the most unity this last week especially. Looking back, it`s evident how much everyone has grown. It`s exciting to see the difference this summer has made on our lives. I`m gonna miss everyone from our team. Dan is the first to leave, and he`s got less than a week already. We are especially committing to prayer our return to America as we wrap up this program. Our team is on fire; it would be sad to see people return and be stopped dead in the momentum that we`ve gained here. We want to return and make a difference in America, at our colleges, in our churches... anywhere we go is a place to influence others. The God who created the world by the sound of His voice can most certainly change people`s hearts and empower us to help others. Pray that the joy we`ve found in living the Lord`s will will carry on in our hearts and keep us alive in spirit to strive in our ministry. Missin` you all, and look forward to homecoming.
And it rained...
and it rained...and it rained......
Today we were going to run a 10K, but we woke up to flooding streets and rainy madness. Nothing life threatening, but we don`t want to swin a 10K, so Norman decide to pass. Later we found out that Susan had to evacuate the house in Izumi because of possible flooding. Please pray for her. She still hasn`t had the baby. Her due date was the 21st.
Things have been going relatively smoothly. We`ve been doing a lot of team building stuff, and not too much ministry, which is fine, I guess. I`m not complaining. God has brought a great group of guys and gals here, and it`s always a blessing to spend time with them, no matter what we do.
Phillipians 2:4-8
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count eequality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
God has been showing me a lot lately how selfish I am, and how often I put myself above others, including Christ. Hopefully I can have the good sense to continue to pray and work on this. I can`t think of much else to say now, so that`s all. God loves you.
God`s ronin in Japan,
Hey! Its Misti...
I haven‘t written on this in forever. Ok, maybe not forever, but since my first week in Japan. I got here almost 2 months ago. Crazy! Time really does fly when you`re having fun (and working really hard). So much has happened in the last two months that there is no way I could type it all up for this blog...so I`ll tell you about the last week or so. Since leaving Miyakonojo after working on the Sadowitz house, the pace here at Nagashima Grace Baptist Church has supposedly "slowed down." I don`t see it. Before Pastor Dean left we were doing a lot of rock climbing training and devo./sermon prep training. Now that Lee is here we have replaced that training with team building initiatives. We were supposed to run a 10K this morning (7/22) but the roads are flooded in some areas. It has been raining constantly and consistently since last night. It actually isn`t raining right now...interesting. Anyway, last week was our first week handing out tracts. The rain yesterday kept us from handing out tracts. Kishimoto-Sensei has a goal of handing out tracts to every home on the island every three years. I believe I heard he has been doing this for fourteen years. Amazing! I taught my last English class this past Tuesday. For those of you who didn`t know, I`ve been teaching the English class this summer to give Susan a break. I don`t think I really teach anything-I set it up and lead everyone through it. Everyone in the group pairs up with a Japanese person and teaches them the conversation and anything they don`t understand and then I`m around to answer questions and help where needed. Tuesday evening Peter will be teaching and then next Tuesday, Joel will be teaching. Oooo! This Tuesday (25th @2:30 pm) we will be singing at a nursing home in Nagashima. Yay! Please pray that we will be bright lights for Jesus and that His love would shine through us. Please pray for continued growth and love for everyone on the team. It has been a blessing to see people, myself included, grow in all of Norman`s goal areas, but also emotionally and as a team. Thank you so much for supporting us. Your prayers and interest are much appreciated. Have a wonderful day living in the love of our Lord!
Misti
Andrew
Rain rain go away. I have good news and bad news for all of you out there in computer land. The bad news is that everything is flooding and we weren`t able to run our 10K. The good news is we still have food, electricity, and tons of water! In reality were not in any danger but it has been raining hard for the past few days. It seems that 2 fronts have collided right over us and until one of them decides to move we have rain. So, being unable to go out and do anything we have begun to resort to sitting around and lots of team building activities. These activities include (but are not limited to) seeing how many people can fit on a folded up blanket (I think we finally ended up with all 10 of us on an 8x24 in piece), crossing a river of molten peanut buter (the worst kind), trying to escape from pirates while still trying to rescue a team from a downed plane and no one knows where anyone is other than the starting points and messages on an open band radio (both harder and easier than it sounds), and putting a length of rope through a spider web of rope without them touching each other (here`s a hint: several people end up very well entangles in the rope.) We have also been working on videos for English classes to use. They have been going well but the moisture and other random factors have made shooting location far more difficult. Other than that it has been life as usual, although admitedly slower than last month. The slower pace is good as we have a test in Japanese language class coming up soon. With this in mind I will leave you so that someone else may regail you with interesting tales of life on the high seas... er large rushing pools here in Japan. Later
-Andrew
If you told me, six weeks ago, who I would be now, what things God has brought about in my life, I would been amazed. But that`s pretty much the story of my life, especially since I began to follow Christ thirteen months ago. Wow. Thirteen months. Six weeks. Each seem like such a short time when you say them, but looking back from here it seems otherwise. Let`s just say that God is awesome. I definetily wouldn`t say that I`ve become a stronger Christian, really, I`ve realized more and more of my weaknesses. But hey, God is strong through our weaknesses. And I suppose that`s what sanctification really is. God reveals little by little how truly powerless we are so that we can be more open to His strength.
Psalm 28:7 - The LORD is my strength and my shield, in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him
The past week was a relatively slack one; we didn`t go anywhere special, just hung out in Nagashima and did training stuff, passed out flyers, played airsoft. Oh wait, we went to Izumi on Tuesday so that Norm could see his family, we could see Merilee and have a fun afternoon. I really think the group still rubs against each other a bit too hard, and of course I have to include myself in that statement. Pray that God would give us love for each other. Keiko, Manna and Yuya are a blast. It`s so great to hang out with them. We`re still pretty sure Yuya isn`t saved. Please pray for him, and that God would use his time with us to draw him closer to God. That`s all I got for right now.
In Christ,
God`s Ronin in Japan
Peter
Hello all,
I hope this blog finds everyone joyful in the presence of our God. He has been doing so much work on my heart while I stay here in Japan. I hope that He will continue to work on me this summer.
The past week we went to Miyakonojo where we worked on the Sadowitzes` house. It was a fast week full of hard work. I hope that they finish the rest of the house soon.
The team is becoming more like a family and I can safely say I love them all and will miss them when the summer comes to an end. The same for Japan I will definetly miss being here.
Though I also miss all of you back in New York and cannot wait to share with you all what the Lord has been doing here and what could be done here in Japan.
Ever a Knight of the Cross
Peter J. McGarvey
Half Way!
Wow... the summer is half over already. Time is really moving. The group is really moving together in spiritual growth, looking back in the distance to the beginning of the summer. I`m thankful for so many great friends that God has blessed me with here.
We`ve done so much in the last weeks. Norman loves to keep us busy, go go go. Studying our leadership workbooks, preparing devotionals for the group each week, studying our Japanese... helping clean up at Camp Shalom, being a part of a team for 3 days that contributed to the construction of a missionary`s house... daily exercise and group prayer, and ministries to churches. But it`s been so rewarding to be a part of many Japanese lives, encouraging them and making a difference. Sometimes it`s hard to get up in the morning. But God gives us each day. I look forward to taking my growth beyond this summer and continuing to grow back at school. I`m looking forward to school this fall too. I do miss my family and church and my friends.
I ask for prayer for God`s direction in the upcoming years, as I make ministry decisions in school, in the community, and for my future as to where and how I will be serving God. God is really opening me up this summer, and I`m learning to make myself completely available to Him. Thank God for leading me here this summer, for people and things He has placed in my life to direct me in this way. God is good, and He does great work.
A Note from Norman
We have been traveling for a little over a week so some of these blog entries go back before the trip. Everyone seems to be taking the lessons seriously and seeking God's direction for the future. We have been having fun together and encouraging one another as we grow. I couldn't ask for a better group of kids to spend the summer with, we are praying that many of them return to work alongside us in the future.
On Sunday, the church here at Nagashima had a welcome Sunday for us, as it was actually the first week that all of us were here at the church together on sunday. It was a great experience, which 6 chickens gave their lives for. We had yakisoba and various grilled meat and vegetables. It was a Japanese style barbecue. It was a great time for all, I think, in spite of the spot of rain that happened during it. It was wonderful fellowshiping with the people here; truly a taste of heaven.
It has been quite clear, in the last few weeks, that God is working in our lives through this program. We are also having an impact on the Japanese. This is a thing to praise God for. But whatever God does in our lives, or during our time here, Japan`s need for leaders will still remain. We have been encouraged to meet the smiling faces of our fellow believers at the churches here; we have been discouraged to know that if nothing changes, upwards of half the churches here will simply disappear for a lack of anyone to lead. We praise God for what he has done, even as we acknowledge that the church in Japan is still struggling just to exist.
Tuesday was a fun time with the English class in Hayato. We all met so many great people. Please pray that the unsaved members of the Hayato English class will come to know Christ. Also, please pray for leaders in Japan. Finally, pray for a woman named Kimiko Sesaki, Yuya`s mother, who is a believer and has been one of the hugest blessings of this trip.
Hello all its me jay,
I just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing fine. So far it has been a real blessing here. Norman was right about the rainy season and the centapides. But we are getting used to it. everyone here is getting along really well and we joke alot and have alot of laughs together. I thank God for bringing me here because it gives me an idea of what help is needed here in Japan. Pastor kishimoto and his wife are very good host and hostess they are very kind. Mrs.Kishimoto knows engish very well it is so much fun to here her talk.
we have done several english classes with japanes people and it has been a real blessing. I love the Japanes culture and its people.
Norman as he promised is running us ragged but it is really cool that he is doing so because I have lost weight!! yatta which is yahoo!
I hope everyone at home and at church is having fun and God is using you to your full potential God bless you all.
Peter
Hello Everyone,
I have been truly blessed by God in going to Japan. He has used this first two weeks to deeply impact me. He has been showing me what He wants from my life or at the very least what I need to set my eyes on. He has shown me that I should focus on world evangelism, church planting, and leadership training. I am setting this goal not just for America or Japan but rather anywhere and everywhere I can go in the world and speak the language.
As I continue in my personal studies I will be spending more time focusing on Paul and his methods for evangelism and church planting. He is our most dynamic example of missions work in the Scripture and that is why I will be looking more at him to cultivate the vision the Lord has laid upon my heart. I will tell you all more about it as I learn more and when I get back to the States.
I miss you all and have been praying for Emmanuel and its members and attendees daily. I hope everything is going well and I will see you soon. The summer is going by very quickly; it does not seem like two weeks has gone by already.
Ever a Knight of the Cross
Peter J. McGarvey
Chris Cox
This is my first blog entry....This is Chris Cox by the way. I am learning so much here in Japan. I think that this program is such an amazing ministry. Just yesterday I was talking with Norman about the need in Japan, and how there are so few Christians, and even less leaders. There is just nobody going. I was burdened for missions before I came to Japan, but now that I have seen it first hand I really know. I said to Norman, `I can think of a thousand of reasons to come to Japan, but only one reason why I really shouldn`t....and that is if it isn`t God`s will.` Norm made the point that God is a logical God, and he isn:t going to try and throw a curve ball that isn`t going to make any sense. So I thought about it and it did seem to add up with my desire to work with college students, and the need for that here in Japan. Also there is a need for summer camp help when college is not in session. Another passion that God has placed in my heart. So it makes sense but I was still not sure. I was sitting last night, and I thought how I could do these things back in the States, but then I saw the faces of the Japanese in my thoughts. I began to feel really sick. I realized that I can`t turn my back on these people, I love them too much. I love how God`s timing is just right, and almost to the point of tears I thanked God for allowing me to be part of His perfect will.
