GRIT 2008 is on the horizon!
Well, it has been two years since GRIT began in 2008. With furlough in 2007 we are now approaching the start of the second GRIT program. We are really excited about the possibilities and potential for the group this year. Pastor Lee Abuhl is coming again and will be joined this time by his wife, Violet and youngest daughter, Larissa. At the moment we have 14 probable participants. We have an international group this time with a FBBC student from Mexico and and ISU student from Indonesia among the participants.
We have some major changes from 2006 with the biggest being a change in our "home base". In 2006 we were based in Nagashima and stayed at the church most of the summer. This year we will be based at the ABWE camp in Okuchi, Camp Shalom. It provides us with a little more flexibility for meals and is in a more central location for our ministry to churches in South Kyushu.
This year everyone will begin arriving on May 15th for the official start on May 18th. We will have 8 weeks of intensive leadership training and ministry ending on July 13th. Thanks for your prayers during this busy time. We are praying that God will move in a great way in the lives of the participants and in the churches in which we minister.
Grandparents have returned to USA..
And we are in the pre-Christmas rush with a new choir at church and Pastor Kishimoto out of town for the next week. I will be preaching in the afternoon service this week, continuing a two parter on the family. I meant to finish preparing today but was up until 1am calling churches in the US to schedule furlough meetings so I have been sluggish all day.
We are forming a small choir to sing at nursing homes the week after Christmas. I asked how many people could sing parts and only two of the 10 members gave a definite maybe. We will be struggling to have some variety in out singing I think! the plan is to have the women sing a song or two, everyone sing 2-3, Mrs. Kishimoto sing a solo, and the men sing 1 or two. We will see how it goes at practice on Sunday!
The choir offers the church a chance to help the community and reach out to those in teh nursing homes. We had a choir from Campus Baptist in IA visit and sing last year for Christmas and the GRIT team did a mini concert this summer. It opened some doors and now the church can take a choir (all of whom speak Japanese) and continue to work where God opens hearts.
I have developed an interest in darts after playing with my father-in-law while they were here and watching some of the World Championship of Darts. I am practicing hard when I take a break from study. I think I can take the big boys....NOT!
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.
Dan Graber
mmmm… that was some good rock climbing..
anyways, we ended up getting away early from Nagashima on Wednesday to head down to southern Japan for some high quality repelling. While I had helped train the group in the proper techniques of repelling, I failed to mention that I myself had only done it twice before and the last time I had done it was 2 yrs ago… I tried to maintain composure as best I could anyway but I did end up waiting and repelling last, he he… ah, but the next day we got to rock climb which I love so well. God held back the rain for us the whole time we were climbing that day and I know we were all thankful. I found myself first in line to climb and even though I had done it before, no one around me for miles that I knew had attempted this climb. Once I got started I realized that it would be a fun and challenging climb. Despite this I found myself stopping often and enjoying the beautiful scenery. And then there was the exhilarating feeling of reaching the top at last. I hope you enjoyed my chopped up sentences and poor grammar. And if you did you have my love for you, unless of course you did something previously or presently to become undeserving of my love…see ya in the states! -Dan Graber
Merilee
Hello Everyone! I have really enjoyed my first few weeks of GRIT. I have done so many things that I never thought I could do before! I finished a 5K! I have been up early and EXERCISING! I have been a blayer for people who are repelling and even for those that were climbing up a mountain. I have also made some wonderful friends. Japan is not as scary as I thought it would be. I was nervous about the bugs…there are bugs! But….they do not really bug me! I sleep with a bug net…but even so, I am amazed that they do not bother me as much as I worried about them doing! God is truly teaching me some life lessons over here. I miss my family but it is a super blessing having Susan and Norman and Chloe and Cameron here. Japan is beautiful and my desire is to be beautiful for God. I want to glorify Him in all that I do. Thank you for your prayers. Love, Merilee\-b b-n
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
Anonynmous
As of today, I've been in Japan for three weeks. It seems like it has been much longer. This week the G.R.I.T. group went rock climbing. It was pretty scary, but enjoyable and fun. On Sunday, half of us went to an average Japanese church a couple hours away. There were about 11 people there, including the pastor, and we met in a room that looked like it was a single car garage before it was converted into a church. I honestly can't think of much to say now. It has been a challenging program, but the most challenging part has not been the activities we have done, but what God is doing with my heart. Sometimes I can only muster the strength to say, "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul" (Psalm 25:1) If anyone thinks of it, pray for Yuya, an unsaved Japanese high schooler who hangs out with us a lot.
Andrew
Ahh... I always feel relaxed after a journey to the onsen (public bath house). We've been busy but we're learning all kinds of great things. I have especially enjoyed Pastor Graber's classes on preparing a lesson for a sermon, Bible study, or devotional. I know everyone had a good time at the English class the other day too. For most of the class I talked to Pastor Kishimoto about school, hobbies, and life in general. Although the 5K run was... fun? It really wasn't that bad. Yesterday Norm, Chris, and I went to Kagoshima and picked up Peter. We had a great time discussing the Japanese language and culture, as well as our small town and redneck childhoods. I've just about gotten over the jetlag but still find myself yawning in the afternoons. This first week has been a little long but I think we'll start to get used to things as time progresses. I think the biggest thing is that it's such a big change from when I was home and constantly waiting for the trip so I would have something to do. At least we're not bored.
Andrew
Later
Luke Scallon
It`s been about a week since we arrived in Japan now. What a beautiful place! Down in the valley on the island of Nagashima, it`s amazing. I`m praising God for a good trip here, too... After spending at least 20 minutes at the Des Moines Airport thinking I left my passport at home 2 hours away... only to find it in my back pocket after all the panicking and such. It`s been an awesome experience getting to know my teammates here, as well as meeting many Japanese people at our church and another church. Pastor Kishimoto is such a joyful man. And the people here are such nice people. I`ve been chewing on something that I challenged myself with for awhile. How can we effectively portray the love of Christ in a way unique to the people here, since they are such an ethical and friendly people? I`ve spent time in prayer, and spent time with the people, and I`ve done my best to represent Christ. This place feels like home already. I`ve been having a blast growing with each of the GRITters. God has blessed us in many ways with many unique people... nobody`s here by accident. I`m looking forward to experiencing God in a new way this summer, and how it will affect my life and decisions from here on out. We`ve also had fun spending time with the MKs, who have endless tanks of energy, straining ourselves with physical exercise, watching Jay sleepwalk, and trying new delicious foods. I think everyone is starting to learn how much I really eat. I love my family here. Pastor Kishimoto shared a couple verses with us that were very encouraging. John 15:16a says, "You did not choose me, but I chose and appointed you." God has a reason for each of us to be here in Japan this summer. And Romans 1:12 says, "that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." This verse was especially a blessing, because we have a mutual faith with the people of the church here, and we can be an encouragement to one another this summer. Thanks for praying for us... and pray for the lost and Gospel-needing people here. Good-bye now.
Dean GraberWhat a day! We hiked about 6 miles and prayed together as we walked. We walked in pairs and shared different burdens with each other. It
What a day! We hiked about 6 miles and prayed together as we walked. We walked in pairs and shared different burdens with each other. It was a great time. Yesterday we spent in a church up north about 4 hours. I preached in the morning and went throught a translator named Isu. She did a wonderful job. She is Japanese who also went to Word of Life and Practical Bible College. Sent she knew Biblical terms it went well. It is really different using a translator. You have to stay focused on everything you say. Once you get started it can actually help you think about each phrase you use. I also today taught a devotion on prayer and later on how to study your Bible. It was interesting to take Proverbs as our lesson. Well I am soon headed to bed. Still waking up at 3:00 a.m. but now able to go back to sleep.
Andrew Murray
So we're in Japan with everyone else now. We landed on Tuesday... or was it Wednesday by then... so hard to remember. Anyway, we got in rather late and then drove the rest of the way back tot he church. No bullet train but at least we didn't have any troubles with the layovers. On Wednesday we woke up early (thanks to our jetlag) and ate some breakfast before going to the morning prayer meeting. I'm not sure if I speak for all of us when I say this but I, for one, felt (and probably smelled) like I had been flying and sitting in a car for an entire day... still can't figure out why... If you have ever seen any of my blogs from my last trip here or talked to me about Japan then you know that the onsen is quite possibly my favorite part of visiting Japan. We relaxed all afternoon while waiting for Norm to get back with the rest of the group but when he did we all went and finally got cleaned up at the onsen. Then it was back to the church for a quick supper before the evening service. That went well and we had a great time chatting with the people who were around afterwords. At least untill we heard about the centipede... they had found one in the kitchen and we all rushed to see it but Pastor Kishimoto had killed it by the time most of us got there. We were able to see it afterword though because he put it in a plastic bag to get rid of it. Norm has a post about a centipede he found in his house but this one wasn't as big... only about 5 or 6 inches long. It was an adventure. That was yesterday. Today we got up and ate breakfast before going on a walk around town. We got to meet the local police officer and introduce ourselves to him. He sounded very interested to meet us (from what Norm tells us) though he doesn't speak English. After our walk we went to the onsen again (yay) and then went back to the church for a planning meeting that went up to lunch and then we had some free time before supper. Supper is now complete and I am currently tired. I think I'll leave you now and get some sleep. Tomorrow will no doubt be busier than today as we are leaving for the weekend. But I'm sure you'll hear more about that later.
Later
Greetings and salutations (from Misti Nichols)!!
I decided to not start off with ohayo-gozaimas, konnichiwa, or
konbanwa cause I figure others will! So, greetings and salutations it is!
I am currently at Bill and Becky Petite`s home in Aira. My flight
from Chicago left at 8:15 Thurs. morning; I flew to Dallas, in Dallas
met Joel and flew to Osaka. After a little more than thirteen hours of
smooth flying we reached the Osaka-Kansai Airport. I thought the flight
seemed really short. Joel thought it was really long...interesting,
huh. Anyway, we called our contacts in Osaka (Paul and Melissa Ewing)
and then boarded a bus for the forty-five minute ride to where we were
being picked up. We spent the night with the Ewing family. They have
three beautiful boys!! It was so much fun playing with them and asking
Paul and Melissa lots of questions!Yakisoba was dinnner. Oishii
oishii. We played the game Aggravation and I started falling asleep.
It was 9:00 pm. Yay jet lag. The next morning I woke up at 1:30, 2:30,
and 4 (when I stayed awake). Paul took us to the bus and we bid him
(and he us) a fare adieu. Our flight to Kagoshima went well. I slept
for most of it! When we got to Kagoshima I wasn`t sure if Bill and
Becky would remember to pick us up, so I was so incredibly thankful when
I looked out the glass sliding doors separating the luggage claim from
the world and saw two tall white women (aka Becky and Danielle Petite).
They (and Bill) remembered us!! They took us to lunch at a popular
sushi restaurant. Oh man! I don`t even know what kind of sushi I had,
but it was good. I also tried fried squid legs, yummy!!
After we ate we went to their home and began to get ready for the
evening. They had Voice of Hope practice that night and time of
fellowship, so us girls made potato salad and cookies and the guys went
to the church and moved a container of wood! It was a lot of fun trying
to communicate with the women at the church using what very very little
Japanese I know and what little English they know. It was a learning
experience!
Sunday, Joel and I went to English class with Becky and practiced
conversations with the students. In church we sat with her in the office
while she translated the sermon. After church was a potluck. Wow. I
had some salad that was amazing! Since I don't know Japanese I played a
lot of games with the kids and teens. A bunch of us went outside and
started playing volleyball and then soccer. It is hard to trap and/or
kick a ball in a skirt. Anyway, later that night Bill and Becky had a
staff meeting so Danielle, Miyuki, Takuyo, Musafami, Joel and I went to
the onsen. Folks, I have had my first experience with a public bath and
let me tell you, it is wonderful. It really is quite relaxing.
Today was the Petite's day off so they took us to a variety of
places. We spent a far amount of time in the car and during that time I
was able to ask a lot of questions. We rode bikes, visited Bonotsu,
then went for a drive down a rode the Petite's had never been on before
and ended up finding a Phillipino memorial for Japanese soldiers. The
memorial was extremely interesting. We then went to a doctor's office.
Joel got sick. :( It was quite sad.
So it is Monday night. It seems like I have been in Japan for a
really long time but it has only been a couple of days. I've learned a
lot even in the short time I've been here-about Japan, her culture and
people, myself, and others...and I have so much more to learn.
Yesterday Becky and I were talking about some of the reasons the church
attendance has declined and she cited sports or school activities as one
of them because parents allow their children to be involved in them on
Sundays instead of going to church. Later that night I was reading in
Proverbs and saw this verse: "The way of the wicked is like darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble." Prov. 4:19 NAS I started
thinking that sports and the school activities become stumbling blocks
in people's lives blinding them to what they should be doing or how they
should be living. It goes beyond sports and stuff like that though, we
all have areas in our lives that we are stumbling over blindly. For
Japanese a big one is ancestor worship. It is so engrained into their
culture that when they become Christians they almost give up their
Japanese-ness(?). Becky told us a story about a girl. When she told
her mom she was a Christian and wanted to be baptized her mom asked,
"who will worship me?" How sad! Culture blinds them to the truth! It
makes me wonder what is blinding me to what God wants for my life.
Anyway, thanks for reading this and have a wonderful day living in
the love of our Lord!
Misti
Joel Diffenderfer
Something something greeting (I never know what to say)
I`ve only been in Japan for three and a half days, but it seems like so
much longer than that. So much has happened. Misti and I got into
Osaka on Friday afternoon, and my sense of time was shot. We spent the
rest of the day with the Ewings and their kids. My first Japanese meal
was yakisoba, these delicious fried noodles with meat and carrots and
other stuff in it.
The next day, we flew to Kagoshima. Man, the pilot was new or
something. The Petite`s picked us up at the airport, and we`ve been
with them ever since. Mrs. Petite grew up in Japan as a missionary kid,
and Mr. Petite is a studious man, so their Japanese is amazing. Same
goes for their daughter, Danielle (sometimes you envy those MKs). That
night we went to their church for Voice of Hope, a gospel choir/outreach
program. I met Masafumi and Takuya at that event. Those guys are
perhaps the awesomest teens I have ever met. And they love God so
much! Masafumi was saved first, and apparently he witnessed to Takuya
until one day Takuya came to the Petite`s church and said, `I believe
that Jesus died for me`. I`ve spent some time with them over the past
couple days. We even went to an onsen (public bath/hot springs)
together. Oh man, it puts hot tubs to shame! Kimochi! (Feeling good)
Haha.
Perhaps it is merely the Japanese personality (although I doubt it),
but the believers in Japan are so friendly and crazy (the good kind).
There is such a sense of community in the church. `Sunday Church` was
twice as long as english class (kinda cool, as an outreach and helping
members of the church, the Petites have an English class at the time we
would normally do Sunday school, and they use The Bible to teach English
and God`s word at the same time) and the sermon, as most of the members
stayed after for fellowship. Long fellowship. Misti, Danielle and I
hung out with Takuya, Masafumi and some other girl whose name I forgot
(I am having a horrid time with names, please pray for me about that).
Then later that night the six of us went to the onsen while the adults
had a staff meeting.
Today was the Petite`s day off, so we went driving around. Stopped at
the something somethign park and went biking. Japanese bikes are neat,
you don`t have to hunch over to ride (no, not because I`m tall compared
to sereval of them, that`s just how they are). Later, I got some
horrible, horrible stomach cramps (sugoi ittakatta nda yo (it hurt sooo
much)(you came blame that horrid Japanese on Tayuka and Masafumi. They
have...taught me `proper` Japanese. Haha.)) and got to go to a Japanese
clinic. Hooray. Just the experience I was looking for. They drugged
me up enough that I am well now.
I suppose that every missions field is tough, but from what the
Petite`s talk about Japan is extremely hard. So few saved, and only
part of those are good, fruit bearing seeds. Supposedly 85% of second
generation Christians (kids of saved parents) fall away from the church.
Well, no more thoughts come to mind, so I suppose it`s time to end
this. Mata ne.
