Here and There, Part 2

Two years ago we had our first baptism at Komyo Christian Church.  You can read about it here.

She and I have spent many hours together over the past few years delving into God's word and learning how it applies to our every day life.  I have truly appreciated our study times together, her questions, and the sweet fellowship we enjoyed.  I have grown from our times together, and I have seen amazing growth in her faith as well.

The last Sunday of July we had a farewell party for our friend as she moves from Japan to the U.S. where she will begin her new life as a Mrs.!

We miss her already!  However, it is also exciting to hear about how God is working in her life and how she is relying on Him for strength and wisdom each day.

God bless you!

Haven't Forgotten

I haven't forgotten about my blog, I just haven't written.

It's not that I don't have anything to write about, it's just that I haven't taken time to write.

I am preparing for another transition.  They are never-ending in life, aren't they?

Sometimes I like them and look forward to them.  Sometimes I have no desire to go through them.

Some transitions take more preparation than others.  Some transitions are painful.  Some are joyful.  Some are both.

I have been memorizing Scripture this year.  Last month I memorized Psalm 23 in Japanese.  It has helped me remain calm during this transition.  When I feel the panic coming, the worry, the wonder, the sadness, I recite Psalm 23 again.  Sometimes I don't even have to think about it, it just naturally comes to mind.

Transitions are inevitable.  God is never-changing.  God is always with me.  I am thankful for this peace.

主は私の羊飼い。
私は乏しいことがありません。
主は私を緑の牧場に伏させ、
憩の水のほとりで伴われます。
主は私のたましいを生き返らせ、
御名のために、義の道に導かれます。
たとい、死の陰の谷を歩くことがあっても、
私はわざわいを恐れません。あなたが私とともにおられますから。
私の敵の前で、あなたが私のために食事をととのえ、
私の頭に油を注いでくださいます。
私の杯はあふれています。
まことに、私の日のかぎり、いつくしみと恵みとが、
私を追って来るでしょう。
私は、いつまでも、主の家に住まいましょう。

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In Japanese there is a word, senpai, which is translated as senior, superior, upperclassman, elder. It is hard to define in one English word. Yes, we have people at work who have been on the job longer than us, who are more experienced than us, people at school who are a grade or more ahead of us.

One of the meanings I think should be part of senpai is mentor. Although, in Japan, that is not always part of the definition, it can be. My middle school English student who just started tennis club talks about her senpais who are teaching her about tennis and being part of the group. Those who live in Japan and understand the culture even better than I do know that this word is used often and has a wide range of meanings.

Today, though, I am using it to describe a couple who have been an incredible help to me as a missionary, especially after I moved to Osaka. Doug and Sharon Woyke arrived in Japan the same week I was born. Yep, they have been here that long! They have had a wide variety of ministry experiences which adds to their wisdom.

I had the opportunity to work with them at the Kongo Bible Church for a year. Then they went on home assignment for a year and entrusted the ministry to Paul Ewing and myself. During that year, though, I got to observe their ways of interacting with the church people and the community, their ways of interacting with the mission family, and even got to travel with them.

(Here we are on the Great Wall of China!)


Today they returned to the U.S. The portion of their journey that includes ministering directly in Japan has concluded. They are now moving on to the next step. As I reflected on the past few years we have been working directly together here in southern Osaka, I found they have impacted my life more than I even realized-and I will probably continue to discover more areas of impact as time goes by!

A large group of people took time out of the middle of their day in the middle of the week to go to the airport to see them off. We had a lovely time of chatting, prayer and lots of hugs and tears. God has been glorified through the ministry of this senpai couple. They will be greatly missed! We are so thankful to have had the privilege of serving God together with them. I look forward to how God will use them in the next phase of ministry.

Thank you, Doug and Sharon!

Home Safely

I arrived safely back in Japan on April 2nd. My flights and transfers all went smoothly. I got to sit on the aisle in every plane and stretch my legs out into everyone's path. The only problem was listening to my movie and my neighbor's movie at the same time. Four of my friends from choir came to pick me up and one even made curry rice for me-which lasted until today!

We had a great day celebrating the resurrection on Sunday. In the morning I got to celebrate with the Kongo Bible Church where everyone warmly welcomed me with hugs and handshakes and lots of smiles. In the afternoon we celebrated at Komyo Christian Church where a new couple came because of a flier they had received!

I had a pleasant surprise on my first morning when I went for a run. The running path by the river has been much improved and they are building a new bridge-can't wait to find out where it leads to! Of course, with the cherry blossoms in full bloom, it was a beautiful run.

The number of unpacked boxes in my condo is slowly decreasing, well, the full ones. Now I just have a a pile of empty, broken down boxes. It has been fun to open up boxes and remember my things and the people who gave them to me and then decide where to put them.

Friday will be the first gospel choir rehearsal of the new year. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Lots of lasts

This past weekend was filled with goodbyes, see you next year type gatherings. It was also filled with packing, packing, and more packing. I was trying to get my suitcases packed at the same time I am packing boxes. It was going well and looked liked I was actually going to get everything into two suitcases. Then Woykes came to get my shoe closet and I realized that I had not packed any shoes to take on home assignment! So, I will have to repack once I get moved so the weight can be distributed evenly in the suitcases. I may still be able to have two suitcases, but that means my carry on will be super heavy-nothing new there, though.

So here are a few highlights of the weekend in pictures..
Pre-choir singing time

Sharing at Kongo Church

One more potluck at Kongo-always really good food!

Paul took a group picture at Komyo so when I get that from him I will post it, too, if I remember!

And, here is a little glimpse into the state of my apartment...


Last night at a very late hour I realized that the guy was coming to take out the air conditioner units and all the boxes were stacked under the units, in both the office and the dining room! So, I had to move them all to the other side of the room giving the worker a whole 3 feet of work space!