Shirley-NBF Day 3 of VBS

Today was Costco pizza day, hurray! We had our largest turnout today of both children and people in general. We had 25 children in attendance and a total of 47 people at lunch this afternoon. Several new mothers joined us which was just wonderful. We were able to pull the moms out of the lunch group around 1pm and had a special time to listen to Karen's testimony with Mrs. Funo as translator while the kids did crafts and recreation time.

The ladies had their second bible study in the morning, and the kids heard Joanne's testimony. It was the last day for some kids, but the first day for others who joined us today. We passed out our beautiful tie-dyed T-shirts and there was one for everyone since we made some extras just in case and for those whom we knew could not attend until today.

Although our afternoons never seem to go exactly quite as planned, the children and mothers all seem to be happy to be there and there is a lot of meaningful conversation going on all around all the time. They just like to stay and hang out; we did not leave the center until 4pm today! Several new moms thanked us for lunch and our time together and said, "yoroshiku onegaishimasu" for next year, meaning they would like to attend next year's VBS also! This is the beginning of the "Obon" season, so many people are leaving on vacation and/or going to visit grandparents/parents who may be out of town starting tomorrow, Thursday.

Things seem to start to wind down after Wednesday, which is a bit of a let down, but we pray that we all would have the energy to see everything and everyone through to Friday. We are inviting people to our closing ceremony on Sunday when we will see our slide-show for the week. The NBF team goes to share at the nursing home tomorrow afternoon at 2pm, so they will meet Mr. Onoe at the nursing home at 1:30pm. We pray that would be a blessed time for everyone.

I think I need to turn in early tonight to make sure I have enough energy left for the last 2 days. It goes by all too quickly, but I pray for focus and openness to God's Word and His leading. Please continue to pray for the VBS team members, each and every one of them, that they would feel ready to boldly share the gospel these last couple of days, and that they would find a way to share God's love with the kids and parents in a special way that is particularly special and meaningful to them.

Thank you and good night!

BJ - Last day of VBS

I'm very tired... But God's strength, wisdom, and energy sustains me :)

I also miss Matt, he attracts all the mosquitoes to him and away from me :\ I wasn't bit until Matt left our team. So I miss our mosquito scarecrow... for me.

Today will be an intense day for me. I just finished the TMK slideshow and it took some time and energy to get it done last night, but PRAISE God for it working out. The program crashed once on me, but luckily I could save during the crash... which I know is weird, but a blessing is a blessing.

On top of that, I'm sharing my testimony and its gonna be from my childhood experience. I pray I don't get too emotion since I get pretty teary eyed when sharing about my personal life. Over the years I realized how hurt and broken I've been and not fully understanding what was going on around me helped. But as I got older it became bigger than what I thought it was. Thanks be to God for saving me and rescuing me from dark moments in life.

It's been really great talking with Jon and Chieko Reasoner and even chatting with their two youngest kids. Elliot and Liz (Elizabeth) have been working with us and hanging out and it's been great. I hope and pray that the team is able to encourage and help in whatever way we can and that God's WILL will be done in Japan.

Another blessing is being able to serve with Paul's family. His wife Carol and daughter Jessi(spell check?) have also been helping and it's been great having their help. Such a huge blessing to talk and serve with them. Especially since the Suzuki family have done and influenced my faith in so many ways.

The kids are having way too much fun and I was glad the game yesterday was a blast... LITERALLY! We played Sharks and Minnows and the Sharks were the leaders with water guns and the kids were the minnows trying to run past us without getting wet. BUT the kids who survived got the awesome privileged to get a water balloon and pop them on us. Some missed, bounced, popped, or exploded on them (and myself). I'll post pictures later or try to upload the video. But regardless, GOD IS AMAZING! The kids are connecting with the message and the people. The moms are enjoying us and TRUSTING us so much. Praise God for His provisions and His loves for us.

Thank you for your prayers and support and I'm so excited to see what God does today. I'll end on this note:

Philippians 4:4-10

Final Exhortations
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.

Ev: Please pray for the last day of VBS

Thanks for all your prayers. The 2nd day of VBS was great. We had 18 kids. The songs in Japanese as well as in English have gone well. Kids seem to sing the Japanese songs louder, probably because they can understand them but they still enjoy the English ones with the motions. Mrs. Honda was the story teller and the kids were spellbound. She is also an artist and made a beautiful picture of creation with Japanese touches to add to the decorations of the room. The memory verses were all done in Japanese and did they learn them fast. They recited the verses so loud and even got louder as we pulled word cards away. One thing we decided to do was to go to the way they learn in school which was repetition together for the verses and it went so much better. Hopefully they will remember the verses longer and God can use them to draw them to Himself. We also did shepherding in Japanese with some translation. This year our team did not take the lead but became the support team for the Reasoners and it went soooo well. The only thing that was totally translated was our testimonies and the opening.

The kids didn't leave until 3 PM and two of them who walk to the SEND always stay until we physically walk them out. They love hanging onto Tim or Andrew. Chieko and I were talking and the one thing we agreed on was the importance of the interaction of Tim, Andrew and BJ in VBS in Japan. It looks like horsing around but it is that physical play, the hugs, tickles, allowing kids to throw water balloons at them and still keep smiling, the laughter, the sense of safety, and pure joy and love that draws those kids here. They don't want to leave not because of food, good stories or crafts but because they know they can be loved. We have an opportunity to share about God's love but the boys (oops, young men), physically show that love every day to them ... and it can be painfully. Some of the guys have expressed that they have back aches and muscle aches! Thank you for scarificing your bodies for the Lord so Al and I don't have to!

There is also a lot of "behind the scene" work that has to be done like, set up all the crafts, run slide shows, getting the water ready, figuring the best way to organize the kids, setup, trains and making the right connections, clean up, etc. so that the rest of us can build relationships with the kids and the mothers. Al is our go-to person who is always there and who we all can depend on to get the details done so we get to focus on the big picture. I really thank God for putting our team together and I can't tell you how many mothers have asked me if some of these guys were my sons!!

Today is the last day of VBS, and it will be an important one. Pray for BJ as he will be sharing his testimony today. We will also be giving an invitation to both the kids and the mothers who have been attending. Cards will be given to the kids to check off during shepherding time. We will have tea and dessert for the mothers where we will be talking and sharing. I will share my testimony and give an invitation to accept Jesus as their Savior. This is the first time we have tried to formally engage the mothers at TMK as a group so please pray up a storm that God would open hearts to Him. BJ, Tim, Al and Andrew will spend time with the kids in the park so the mothers can have this time. It would not be possible to do this, if the guys weren't there to be with the kids.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Please continue to pray for TMK and NBF that we will begin that pulling down of strongholds in Japan in His strength and power. Also pray for energy and strength because tomorrow we head off to Okutama Bible Chalet to serve the youth campers there. This camp is only 1 acre in size but is hosting 69 campers. This will be unknown territory for us as this is not an English speaking camp. Jon said the staff is excited about having us. Hopefully we can meet their needs in whatever areas they require.

Blessings, Ev

Matt: It's Hot

We are so busy--I've never had so much trouble finding time to blog!  Yike.

Monday: The night before, the adults (Randy, Karen, Joanne, and...well you don't have to count me but) and I stayed up past midnight preparing for VBS. 
They're in charge, they've got the power... Don't mess.
 I slept like a rock for five hours and then was awaken by a happy go lucky Joanne tapping me on the knee, asking me if I wanted to shower... We chowed down on our breakfast and rushed out to catch the train.  Walking up the infamous Nokendai hill, I saw that really old dog from three years ago.  I was sad.

Picture from 2008

As we were setting up for the day, the kids started to sprinkle in...and they were about an hour early... We started at 9:15 and played the classic duck, duck, goose, which again sounds really funny with a thick Japanese accent.  Shortly after, Katherine and I taught them "Only A God Like You," which Rachel and the junior high girl (and Brennan) band recorded for the mission.  It never ceases to amaze me how excited these kids are to sing and dance to these songs.  It's a real blessing to see.  I explained that only our God was a redeemer, restorer, rebuilder, and rewarder.  Only our God could do these things.  Then I realized that sounded borderline polytheist (oops, almost wrote polygamist but that's another can of rice) so I said...oh yeah, by the way, our god is also the only God... Just thought it was necessary to clear that up.

This year my job is to lead music, help with recreation, something else I can't remember right now, and shepherd.  Katherine and I lead the youngest group: ages 5-8...so cute, but don't be deceived...it's like if five little Aragorns were the group, really jumpy, happy, and strong.  Why did I just write that?

Randy with the bible verse balloons

The bible story was the six days of creation (and seventh day of rest).  Now, let's not get into a huge discussion of whether the earth is 6,000 years old or billions...we told the story and they got it.  Along the way, Yurimi (the interpeter) asked comprehension questions to make sure the kids were getting it.  Thankfully, they were.  Following, I did my best in broken Japanese to ask them my own questions: what did God make?  How many days did he create?  What happened on the seventh day?  Why did he create us?  (One boy said because God was lonely...I said no...)  For the most part, they got it.  And I think this is the first time they have ever heard this account of creation.  And I don't know what Buddhism teaches...

The bible verse was from Ephesians: "For we are God's handiwork..."  The verse was shortened because my kids are so young.  I again, in broken Japanese, tried to explain it.  In Japanese, "God made us.  We are his most special creation.  We are very important to God.  God loves us very much."

Post VBS games we played streets and alleys where everyone lines up in rows and they switch from horizontal to vertical when the leader shouts streets or alleys.  Well...I was the mouse first and Mrs. Pognota was the cat... Such a nice woman...when she's not playing the game.  She transformed into this ferocious and belligerent person!  It was...kinda scary!

Duck, duck, goose!

Little Kokoro

We're tie-dyeing!--well, I'm not...

--

Tuesday: Joanne once again woke me up with a tap on the knee asking if I wanted to shower...I don't know why that keeps happening every morning!  We'll see if it happens again tomorrow...I wonder if I could set some sort of trap like in Parent Trap...sorry really tired.

We were running a little late...It was 7:44...Seven minutes to get to the train station...I think we set the record.  Let's jump ahead cuz I need to get to bed.  Today's song was "God Gave" which had chorus lyrics of John 3:16.

The bible story was the fall of man...and I mean I pounded that into them because I really wanted them to get it.  I mean, it was in this story that we were defining sin for the first time; and from what I understand, sin doesn't really exist as a concept here in Japan, or at least not in the same way that it does in America.  The kids were so interactive during the story that I almost considered giving an invitation right there because I felt like they really got it!  And one of our daily prayers is that God would speak to their hearts and help them to understand.  To these kids, this may just be a fun summer camp.  To us, this is a mission to fight for the souls of people here in Japan.

I could write more but I'm losing consciousness so I will stop.  Love you all, thanks for reading.  Please keep praying!

Matt

Havin fun

Ayah! (Oh wait...that's Chinese)

Thursday: After a few mosquito bites, Chieko's amazing Japanese driving got us to the SEND Center early in the morning for orientation.
We ate awesome food, of course, and heard from both Jon Reasoner and Paul Suzuki, the new Director of SEND Japan. For lunch, I ate my 9th katsudon of the trip and got to see Nozomi in his element: speaking Japanese with other people who can actually speak Japanese...unlike me...かわいそう...The Nokendai team left for TEAM Center in Tokyo shortly after. I said goodbye to these people I just saw for the first time in months. The rest of the day included napping, eating more good food, and getting a professional back and head massage from Chieko (yeah, dad, I know you're like, "dude...yo, that's like not right...I want a head massage."...cuz...you totally talk like that...haha jk).

Going to pass out tracts

Friday: Because of everyone's intense jetlag, I was woken up around 6 AM by a happy and chatty Al and Ev cooking in the kitchen and hungry children Tim, B.J., and Andrew. B.J and Tim left early (haha) to go help Paul Suzuki move into a new house or something and the rest of us left at 9...haha. The first task (not Harry Potter) was to stuff handouts that we would put in Tokorozawa mailboxes. Al, Ev, and I were a group and we wandered around for a while...what was cool to see was how Al systematically approached this job; he had a map and crossed out the places we had been...which is actually not as easy as it sounds--especially since neighborhoods are not nice and straight boxes. After people like Ev took a nap, we prepped for our Junior High program for that night. Three junior high boys showed up; one of them I had seen two years ago at VBS. Unfortunately, they had to leave early because of their English tutoring school to follow, but we got to spend time with them playing ping pong, eating pizza, and just simple speech in both of our native tongues.

Saturday: It was hot. We went shopping. We went back out to pass out those Christian tracts again...we hit a lot of apartments...therefore, all the mailboxes in one place...yes! That night we did the high school program. Unlike the day before, quite a few people showed up! A few came in at first, and we tried to not "mob" them all at once cuz that can get a tad overwhelming... After some casual conversation, we began the curry party! I'm talkin like two types of curry over rice with CC Lemon...yes...can't beat that. I attempted to speak Japanese with some of the high schoolers, but they were pretty shy. I found it interesting that bonding usually comes from playing or having fun together, not necessarily eating together...though I enjoy eating a lot...(did that follow...?) And...we played this one game...you know? It's called telephone charades...one person acts out something, like "water skiing while being chased by a shark," and the person watching looks confused and acts it out to the next person...you can imagine how quickly it falls apart...really quickly...and it is SO funny to see how the last person acts it out...one of the prompts was "feeding a giraffe and then it licks you..." So...Al was the first to see someone's interpretation of that...and he taps me on the shoulder to turn me around...haha...so he starts by like...licking up? As if he's liking really tall ice cream cone or something? Then he takes a few steps and turns around, points to his hand, and licks up(?) again? I'm thinking, "man...what is going on here?" It was the most bizarre thing ever...and I've seen a lot of bizarre things in my life of 18 years. It was also one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Next we played the "name game," which means we divide into two groups and line up behind the two sides of a barrier. So...I didn't really memorize their names nor did I necessarily hear them when they told me because they speak really quietly!--and they all kind of look the same (I'm Asian so I can stereotype, I think...sorry, I probably shouldn't say stuff like that..). Anyway, after Tim and I played a few worship songs for the group (well, for God--you know what I mean) and then Andrew gave a very moving testimony. He shared straight from the heart--very deeply moving emotional parts of his life that portrayed to them that God loves and redeems us though we do not deserve it. Yesterday was a great opportunity to connect with these kids; things move slowly here in Japan. Typically, people don't jump at the chance to become a Christian here, so relationship building is absolutely essential.

Sunday: Church at the SEND Center. However, before we left, we prayed as a team for God's blessing on the TMK and Nokendai services. Before TMK began, the church core group prayed together--and God showed up. From worship music to Ev's testimony, God was working and speaking to these people. Unfortunately, Nozomi and I had to leave right as the service was ending, so goodbyes were cut short and we were rushed to the train station. So. Higashi-Tororozawa to Noukendai is not an easy task. Nozomi and I spend a lot of time just looking confused about what to do. We found that trains are really not as easy as we thought...well, I'm not sure I ever that they were easy, but changing trains AND stations is difficult for me. We had to ask for a lot of help, but we finally got to Noukendai Station and began the long treck up the infamous Noukendai hill. And it was hot. I hear Seattle's nice this time of year. Happy for you.

The Eng Kids

Kids

Parents and Parents

We actually got to church early--before the team even arrived! And it was so good to see everyone. I could feel a different energy in the room. Something was different from before. I felt that God had brought very different people from two very different cultures together in one room. God truly blessed the worship time. We sang a few older songs and then How Great Is Our God and Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). God poured out his spirit on those last two songs. I mean, the feeling reminded me of Lighthouse worship, when everyone feels like God is just moving through everyone and showering us with the blessing of his presence. It was amazing. We thank God for that. During the last two songs, we all thought it was great because they were sung in two different languages, yet we were worshiping the same God--and worshiping the same God together. Blessings.
Tomorrow VBS begins! Kind of nervous, yet excited at the same time...it's interesting that both of those things seems to work in tandem. Please pray for our team's unity and Christ, Nozomi's lingering sickness, and God's will to be done.

Love you all!

Nozomi and Kaoru

Matt

The Nokendai Team--My New Family

Second day at TMK - Tim

So... It's become very clear this year that the kids have opened up much more quickly than they have in the past here at TMK. I recall it taking until the middle of the week (usually Wednesdayish...) before they would be openly playing with us and volunteering to answer questions... but this year feels different. From the first day many of the kids were pretty playful... and then today the kids were volunteering answers and paying attention to the stories left and right! It was really encouraging to see... We haven't been following the schedule we laid out ahead of time, but the schedule we've been on has definitely been the one God has planned for us. The time never feels rushed or awkward... it always just feels right... and flows naturally...

Every morning we do our best to gather as a team and spend 15ish minutes in prayer after breakfast and before the day starts... and this morning I had something along the lines of... recognizing that the kids were opening up a lot and having fun playing and singing and stuff... but praying that that wouldn't be where it ends... that it would go deeper than that... and that they might recognize it's God's word they hear during story time... and it's God's love and embrace the feel when they play with us... and it's His majesty they encounter when we sing...

So there's one prayer request: That the seeds we plant in the kids would go deeper than just having fun...

More logistical stuff of what happened today:
Breakfast... prayer... setup at the SEND center...
Started off today with playing musical chairs which was a fairly effective way of keeping the kids occupied while we waited for the rest of the kids to show up... but it was also a blessing in disguise. In past years the kids have had a very competitive and selfish attitude in playing... but this year... at least three of the kids stopped and offered the last chair to some of the smaller kids participating. It seems like a little thing... but to me seeing something like that happen when they're so young is a huge encouragement.
Singing time went well... The idea of incorporating Japanese songs as well as the ones we do in the US has been a great idea. Again, it's really encouraging hearing the kids singing along loudly with us!... as someone who has led worship... there's just something about when the people I lead sing loud enough for me to feel their voices that makes my heart... smile a little bit...
Story time... Mrs. Honda (a woman who attends TMK and has a granddaughter and grandson come to VBS) was truly a blessing to have help us. Her gift in story telling was very evident by the way she captured the attention of the kids... and on such an important day too! Today the theme was the Fall of Man and introduced the concept of sin... which is a very difficult one for the culture of Japan to understand...
Crafts went well.... food... Water games in the park...
All in all today was a really great day... mostly thanks to the prayer and support from the states!

As TMK approaches it's last day of VBS... keep us in prayer... We'll be walking through response cards with the kids... (having the do with if they want to make a decision to follow Christ or not... so very important!)...

-Tim

PS I apologize for not posting any pictures... but I don't have my camera here... so hopefully one of the other team members will post some to see soon! ><...

A Prayer Letter From a Friend (Tim)

I'm not sure if this is exactly the right place for this... but here's a prayer letter I received from a dear friend of mine via email. Hopefully it's an encouragement to the rest of the team:

August 8th 2011
Hello Japan Mission Team!
I hope that all is going well for the group! My name is Dayna Chun and I recently graduated from UW with a degree in psychology. I first attended Lighthouse around this time, one year ago, and remember watching the team getting commissioned during the second service. I thought, “Huh. Why Japan?” It was obvious for me to see why there were other teams going to China or Kenya, but I was curious about a mission team being sent to one of the most affluent countries in the world.
I grew up thinking that Jesus only pursues the poor and needy. (I'm sure there's a bible verse about that...) I mean, who needs some guy who died for us thousands of years ago when we've got iPhones, Facebook, McDonalds, and heartburn medicine? Well, that was the problem; I kept looking at the world through my human, physical eyes, not with God-given, spiritual lenses. Like David said at the JEMS concert a few months ago, “although Japan is not in financial poverty, it is in spiritual poverty.” So I wondered, “Who am I to say that not every one needs Jesus as much as a country in a desert does? Weren't all nations created to one day confess that there is only one God?”
With that said, I want to thank every one of you for offering your time, money, and heart-driven convictions to serve God and His people; to bring His lost sheep in Japan back home. I pray that the Lord will:
+Use each person in mighty ways with an open mind and a joyous heart.
… because understandably, there are many reasons to fear, worry, and doubt--- the economic crisis and unsettling geographic conditions from the time of 3/11 have created a blanket of anxiety over the people of Japan. BUT. The God we know today is the same God of Moses, who has freed His people from slavery. He has not abandoned us, but has given us the gift of hope. With it, I believe He will free His people from being slaves of that anxiety. He offers you, just as He has offered me, these words of wisdom from Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”... for the Lord our God is always with us. So, I encourage everyone to keep Him in your heart, so that you may be sensitive to what the Spirit may be telling you (who knows what unexpected things will happen!) When it's too hot or too tiring to drink in enough energy, I pray that patience and gentleness will wash over you. May the Lord be the refreshing drink that gives you the strength of your life!
+And have fun :]
God loves His children. And I hope that everyone is having the time of their lives in Japan cuz I would do anything … er... legal... to try some of their food & play with the kids!! I pray that everyone will have a child-like faith so that God may fill your spirit with His love for the people. May all the work and fun you will be having be fruitful in the eyes of the Lord for it is our aim to please Him. And know that He is pleased with all of you!
Peace be with you all,
Dayna
PS: Don't forget to sleep too!! Take care! ^.^