Flight info

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to inform those who are interested in when we are leaving:

Send off flights:
Nozomi Suzuki - Tuesday 8/2/11 1:32pm
Japan Mission Team using Delta Air Lines - Tuesday 8/2/11 2:10pm

We are planning on praying around 11:30am.

Everyone who wants to say hi or pray with us is welcome to come.

Praise God for his provisions and sending this team!

Excited for God

I'm encouraged by my brothers and sisters in Christ as Matt is already in Japan and the Kenya mission team is doing God's work. I'm also just blown away in God's support for the team and myself. The out pour of love from the community is just a huge blessing. I know for sure that God really wants me to be at Japan for these two weeks to be used for him.

I'm just excited to to be used by God and be able to just serve him in Japan. Pray for me as teams decide on games and icebreaker to be used to open the door for the students and families to feel at ease. That even though it sounds weird and childish that we play games, that God uses them to create community.

But the best thing I can remind myself is this.

Philipians 4:4-9

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I'm excited but calm at the same time. Because I know my God will do great things. Even if I'm not the one doing it, I know great things will happen in Japan. I'm not looking for big changes, but I'm looking for people's personal mountains being moved by God. Because they'll have faith like a mustard seed because I know God loves them dearly. Even if there is one person, heaven will rejoice because each and everyone is loved by God :)

This song is the only thing I can think of because it makes me excited.

Al: Two Teams, One Mission

Our Japan mission team will actually serve two churches in Japan. Randy, Karen, Katherine, Garrett, Nozomi, Jo Ann, and Matt will help the Nokendai Bible Fellowship run their VBS. In addition to the VBS program, the team will also support a women's minsitry program. The Nokendai Bible Fellowship meets at the Nokendai Community Center. Nokendai is on the outskirts of Yokohoma, between Yokohama and Yokosuka.

Tim, Andrew, B.J., Ev and Al will help the Tokorowzawa Megumi Kyokai run their VBS. This team will also help with evening programs for middle school and high school students. They will also serve at the Okutama Bible Chalet for a few days. The Tokorozawa Megumi Kyokai meets at the SEND center in Higashitokorozawa which is located a little west of Tokyo.

It is about a 2 hour train ride from the SEND center to the Nokendai Community center. So we are essentually working as two separate teams. But for the past 4 months we have been working together as one mission team to prepare to serve God in Japan.

Matt: Yike!

It's amazing how I've already been in Japan for a month--half my trip! I can't wait until the team arrives...it can get kinda lonely!

Matt

Nokendai Bible Fellowship VBS 2011 Postcard

Here it is! Our postcard is ready to send out today. We look forward to seeing all of you in a couple short weeks!

-Shirley