We've had many a blessings to celebrate these past couple of days!
First, we are basically FULLY FUNDED!!! WOO!! We're only really about 2 hundred dollars short but hey! WOW!!! You guys are amazing! Thank you so much for believing in Joe and I and supporting this mission trip. Did you guys know that your giving amounts to a little over $6,000! Your generosity does not go unnoticed. We could not have asked for a better support group than you!
Secondly, Joe and I are officially moved into Ohio. Over the past couple for days we've gotten new licenses, title transfers, license plates and bank name changes! The only thing we have left to do is hang pictures on the wall! ( ...which may never happen :D )
Next, God comes through in all the little things too. As some of you may know Joe and I are also planning on leading contemporary worship services while in Japan. This means Joe is learning how to play acoustic guitar and I'm learning how to keep rhythm (the best that I can anyway). Yesterday we were practicing singing in Japanese and 'playing' our instruments. We took a break to go walk around outside and GUESS WHAT WE FOUND?!?!?! An entire practice drum set! It was amazing. So naturally our walk ended about 500 feet from our apartment. We took the drum set back up to our apartment and started practice all over again and praising God all the way. I'm telling you, we have the best prayer team on the planet because God has just been abundant in his blessings lately.
Below you can click on the Youtube link to one of the songs we've been working on. It's Blessed Be Your Name in Japanese!! <3
First, we are basically FULLY FUNDED!!! WOO!! We're only really about 2 hundred dollars short but hey! WOW!!! You guys are amazing! Thank you so much for believing in Joe and I and supporting this mission trip. Did you guys know that your giving amounts to a little over $6,000! Your generosity does not go unnoticed. We could not have asked for a better support group than you!
Secondly, Joe and I are officially moved into Ohio. Over the past couple for days we've gotten new licenses, title transfers, license plates and bank name changes! The only thing we have left to do is hang pictures on the wall! ( ...which may never happen :D )
Next, God comes through in all the little things too. As some of you may know Joe and I are also planning on leading contemporary worship services while in Japan. This means Joe is learning how to play acoustic guitar and I'm learning how to keep rhythm (the best that I can anyway). Yesterday we were practicing singing in Japanese and 'playing' our instruments. We took a break to go walk around outside and GUESS WHAT WE FOUND?!?!?! An entire practice drum set! It was amazing. So naturally our walk ended about 500 feet from our apartment. We took the drum set back up to our apartment and started practice all over again and praising God all the way. I'm telling you, we have the best prayer team on the planet because God has just been abundant in his blessings lately.
Below you can click on the Youtube link to one of the songs we've been working on. It's Blessed Be Your Name in Japanese!! <3
And Lastly,
We have made contact with all of our pastors that we will be serving with throughout our time in Japan. WE have their expectations and are working diligently to not disappoint them! For those of you who may not be entirely clear as to what we are being asked to do I'll lay it out for you in a few sentences.
The first four weeks will be spent in the Tokyo area. We will assist 5 churches during this time. While we are there we will preach in Japanese and in English (pray for us in the matter please!), direct children's camps where we are responsible for short Bible messages, singing songs and playing games, lead contemporary worship services in English and in Japanese, participate in English Conversation groups where we will be responsible for games and conversation practice and lead Japanese Bible studies!
The second four weeks will be spent in Shingu which is a 7 hour bullet train ride south. Here we will be with Kinoshita Sensei's church. While there we will be responsible for similar things as mentioned above with more focus being on sports ministry and school outreach.
Please keep praying for us as we continue on our journey. There are plenty of things that Joe and I are doing for the first time and as a result are really seeking God's guidance. Fortunately he's given us an amazing sphere of people we can access if we need.
Stay tuned for more updates! We leave for Japan on Saturday the 14th!! More updates to come shortly!!
We have made contact with all of our pastors that we will be serving with throughout our time in Japan. WE have their expectations and are working diligently to not disappoint them! For those of you who may not be entirely clear as to what we are being asked to do I'll lay it out for you in a few sentences.
The first four weeks will be spent in the Tokyo area. We will assist 5 churches during this time. While we are there we will preach in Japanese and in English (pray for us in the matter please!), direct children's camps where we are responsible for short Bible messages, singing songs and playing games, lead contemporary worship services in English and in Japanese, participate in English Conversation groups where we will be responsible for games and conversation practice and lead Japanese Bible studies!
The second four weeks will be spent in Shingu which is a 7 hour bullet train ride south. Here we will be with Kinoshita Sensei's church. While there we will be responsible for similar things as mentioned above with more focus being on sports ministry and school outreach.
Please keep praying for us as we continue on our journey. There are plenty of things that Joe and I are doing for the first time and as a result are really seeking God's guidance. Fortunately he's given us an amazing sphere of people we can access if we need.
Stay tuned for more updates! We leave for Japan on Saturday the 14th!! More updates to come shortly!!