Joe here!
I just wanted to take a moment to update everyone on how God has been moving to make this trip happen.
Through your generosity Hawi, Preston, Felicia, Kai, and I have raised $10,388. That was enough to cover airfare, hotel, train fares, and a good portion of food. God's provision and financial blessing of this trip is absolutely amazing. As Felicia and I initially considered serving this year, we weren't sure if we should prioritize missions in Japan or saving for a down payment on our first home. After spending some time in prayer we decided we would keep planning on going to Japan, but ultimately prioritize the home if we struggled with fundraising. Shortly after that decision a close friend reached out to us and told us that after prayer, he felt convicted to give $4000.00 towards our trip. This completely covered our airfare giving us the confidence to move forward with planning, (which included incorporating Hawi and Preston in our trip). Additionally Hawi and Preston we're fully funded in just 4 weeks, helping us secure great tickets.
Honestly this trip is already a miracle, and I know that God is going to move in a big way the next three weeks.
For those of you covering us in prayer, here's some dates and activities you can pray for, and remember Japan is 13 hours in the future so start early =).
7/22-7/27 We will be finishing our sermons, games, English lessons, and worship preparation. Additionally we'll be packing, and I'll be trying to finish all my work at J&J to cushion my volunteer leave.
7/28 We will fly out of O'hare boarding at 1:05 pm Japan Airlines Flight 7009 (incase you want to track the flight).
7/29 We land in Tokyo. Pastor Kishio from Niiza church will be picking us up at Narita airport and bring us to Tamagawa church. Felicia, Kai, and myself will be staying at Tamagawa church. Hawi will be doing a home stay with Tajika's family. Preston will be doing a home stay with Sasaki's family.
7/30 We will attend service at Tamagawa church, and Hawi and Preston will be sharing their testimony. Felicia, Kai, and I may attend service at Machida church. Then we will have a meeting for the summer program for tamayurishiki kid's camp.
7/31 we will begin our Tokyo ministry by supporting Niiza church. I will be doing a special presentation on the future of robotic surgery for Kishio's Cancer Cafe (where pastor Kishio ministers to people fighting through cancer). I'm excited to share how I see God using innovation in technology to bring real world healing to millions. This will be a great way to get the Niiza community into Kishio's church which currently has three members.
8/1 We will be doing sightseeing in the tokyo area (Asakusa shrine, meiji shrine, and the Edo museum).
8/2 We will get to reconnect with Machida church and pastor Kano, by leading budonokodomo (literally "the grape children") which is an after school homework club at a small house church. We will sing songs, do a short bible study, and help kids with their homework. Then we will attend a tamagawa prayer meeting.
8/3-8/5 Tamayurishiki kid's camp. We will be playing English and Bible games, preaching four times, and leading worship. There is also an alter call at the end of this.
8/6 We will be sharing about our first week of ministry at Tamagawa chuch service. then we'll drive to Haneda Airport and fly to Nanki-Shirahama airport and take a 3 hour train the rest of the way to Shingu. Woot! Pray that Kai has a nice day of travel.
8/7-8/9 Kid's English Club, playing english games at Ido preschool, connecting with Shingu High School Basketball team, two cooking class (jambalaya, chicken tenders, and biscuits and gravy), and adult english cafe.
8/10-8/12 Kid's church english camp. A big three day came with worship, skits, bible study, cooking, games, and preaching.
8/13 Preaching at Shingu church, and a farewell lunch. Then a 4.5 hour train ride to Osaka and some tourist things like Osaka castle, and dontonbori. We will also try to meet Koki a friend from college.
8/14 Fly from Osaka Airport (KIX) to NRT 2:05-3:30 Japan Airlines Flight 6104. Then from NRT (tokyo) to Chicago 5:55pm to 4:00pm Japan Airlines Flight 7010.
8/15-9/6 Tadashi will be in Cincinnati do ministry at People's church to develop his spiritual gifting and to bring insights to the church of Japan.
9/7-9-19 Tadash will be in Mosinee doing ministry at Gary Harrison's church.
9/20-9/23 Tadashi will be in Chicago doing ministry at Ray Swatkowski's church and then fly out to Japan.
So yay! We'll keep you guys posted and we'll share lots of pictures!
~
Joe, Felicia, Kai, Hawi, and Preston
There's Tokyo and Shingu below.
I just wanted to take a moment to update everyone on how God has been moving to make this trip happen.
Through your generosity Hawi, Preston, Felicia, Kai, and I have raised $10,388. That was enough to cover airfare, hotel, train fares, and a good portion of food. God's provision and financial blessing of this trip is absolutely amazing. As Felicia and I initially considered serving this year, we weren't sure if we should prioritize missions in Japan or saving for a down payment on our first home. After spending some time in prayer we decided we would keep planning on going to Japan, but ultimately prioritize the home if we struggled with fundraising. Shortly after that decision a close friend reached out to us and told us that after prayer, he felt convicted to give $4000.00 towards our trip. This completely covered our airfare giving us the confidence to move forward with planning, (which included incorporating Hawi and Preston in our trip). Additionally Hawi and Preston we're fully funded in just 4 weeks, helping us secure great tickets.
Honestly this trip is already a miracle, and I know that God is going to move in a big way the next three weeks.
For those of you covering us in prayer, here's some dates and activities you can pray for, and remember Japan is 13 hours in the future so start early =).
7/22-7/27 We will be finishing our sermons, games, English lessons, and worship preparation. Additionally we'll be packing, and I'll be trying to finish all my work at J&J to cushion my volunteer leave.
7/28 We will fly out of O'hare boarding at 1:05 pm Japan Airlines Flight 7009 (incase you want to track the flight).
7/29 We land in Tokyo. Pastor Kishio from Niiza church will be picking us up at Narita airport and bring us to Tamagawa church. Felicia, Kai, and myself will be staying at Tamagawa church. Hawi will be doing a home stay with Tajika's family. Preston will be doing a home stay with Sasaki's family.
7/30 We will attend service at Tamagawa church, and Hawi and Preston will be sharing their testimony. Felicia, Kai, and I may attend service at Machida church. Then we will have a meeting for the summer program for tamayurishiki kid's camp.
7/31 we will begin our Tokyo ministry by supporting Niiza church. I will be doing a special presentation on the future of robotic surgery for Kishio's Cancer Cafe (where pastor Kishio ministers to people fighting through cancer). I'm excited to share how I see God using innovation in technology to bring real world healing to millions. This will be a great way to get the Niiza community into Kishio's church which currently has three members.
8/1 We will be doing sightseeing in the tokyo area (Asakusa shrine, meiji shrine, and the Edo museum).
8/2 We will get to reconnect with Machida church and pastor Kano, by leading budonokodomo (literally "the grape children") which is an after school homework club at a small house church. We will sing songs, do a short bible study, and help kids with their homework. Then we will attend a tamagawa prayer meeting.
8/3-8/5 Tamayurishiki kid's camp. We will be playing English and Bible games, preaching four times, and leading worship. There is also an alter call at the end of this.
8/6 We will be sharing about our first week of ministry at Tamagawa chuch service. then we'll drive to Haneda Airport and fly to Nanki-Shirahama airport and take a 3 hour train the rest of the way to Shingu. Woot! Pray that Kai has a nice day of travel.
8/7-8/9 Kid's English Club, playing english games at Ido preschool, connecting with Shingu High School Basketball team, two cooking class (jambalaya, chicken tenders, and biscuits and gravy), and adult english cafe.
8/10-8/12 Kid's church english camp. A big three day came with worship, skits, bible study, cooking, games, and preaching.
8/13 Preaching at Shingu church, and a farewell lunch. Then a 4.5 hour train ride to Osaka and some tourist things like Osaka castle, and dontonbori. We will also try to meet Koki a friend from college.
8/14 Fly from Osaka Airport (KIX) to NRT 2:05-3:30 Japan Airlines Flight 6104. Then from NRT (tokyo) to Chicago 5:55pm to 4:00pm Japan Airlines Flight 7010.
8/15-9/6 Tadashi will be in Cincinnati do ministry at People's church to develop his spiritual gifting and to bring insights to the church of Japan.
9/7-9-19 Tadash will be in Mosinee doing ministry at Gary Harrison's church.
9/20-9/23 Tadashi will be in Chicago doing ministry at Ray Swatkowski's church and then fly out to Japan.
So yay! We'll keep you guys posted and we'll share lots of pictures!
~
Joe, Felicia, Kai, Hawi, and Preston
There's Tokyo and Shingu below.