Safe Arrival in Sanda!!!!

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to drop a quick line saying that I've arrived safely in the city of Sanda in the Hyogo Prefecture.  The flights were fine and "comfortable" enough, I made the connections with the perfect amount of time to spare, they let me in the country, my bags made it in one piece and not as a pile of stuff in a plastic bag, and I survived the nearly 20 hr hop across the bigger pond.

Thanks everyone for your prayers and everything!!!!

PS...for those who tend to freak out just a "little" in airports while traveling, those who like to take their time, who move at a slower pace, and who usually bring up the rear...I would not recommend 1.5 layovers for international flights (you'll make the connection, just not as comfortably as you'd like).  Also, if rolling luggage carts are available for moving about the airport....use them!!!  You are not as strong as you think you are after an 11 hr flight ;)

Adventures in Packing

To get this post started off right, we have to get into the right frame of mind.  This is what I think of packing in general, like for a vacation or something.....

So you can only guess how I feel when it comes to packing for a 2-3 year move to a place that could either be quite tropical or quite cold.  To spare all of you, we won't get into the details of that........

Now to the fun(ner) stuff.  Here's the process of getting my bags together and saddling up in a "neat and orderly fashion"....

 Step 1:  The big backpacking backpack (checked bag #1)

 Step 2:  The smaller backpacking backpack (carry-on #1)

 Step 3:  The messenger bag (carry-on #2)

Step 4:  The big suitcase (checked bag #2)

Step 5:  I've fallen.....

Step 6:  ....and I can't get up

After this somewhat exhausting process, engineering hats were put on in order to make this less exhausting and more "pleasant" for me.   Dad decided to be the smart one and suggest a rolling duffel that the big backpacking pack could fit in, so I wouldn't look like such a target for muggings...ergo...

Step 7:  We're "good" to go........

The "Plan"

Up to this point in time, I've been hesitant to share "plans" of my ministry in Japan.  And even now, as I write this, there is a significant amount of hesitancy and uncertainty in these "plans" (...and yes, "hesitancy" is a real word...I looked it up).

So, here are the "plans" for the next couple months (and beyond)...most likely...I think...maybe.......



Upon arriving on May 10^th, I'll be living with a missionary family in Sanda (between Osaka and Kyoto).  During the month of May, I'll do what I can to "acclimate" to Japan, including trying to figure out why their "normal" speaking speed is so fast and why they drive on the "wrong" side of the road.

At the end of May, I'll make my way up north to spend 6 weeks helping to organize and support summer teams helping with relief work.  We'll be based in Sendai, but aren't sure exactly where yet.  The focus of the relief efforts will be visiting shelters, distributing goods, and helping with some clean up.

After the 6 weeks in Sendai with the summer teams, I'll be traveling back to Sanda.  At this point in time, the missionary family is due back in the US for their home assignment, so details are being arranged for me to live in their home until my church assignment in September.  While in Sanda, I'll be focusing on language learning, while also trying to help teach an English class.

When mid-September rolls around, it will be about time to report for ministry at the church I get placed in.  At this point in time, that church is most likely going to be in Okinawa, but it's definitely not set in stone.

It doesn't seem like much of a "plan" at this point in time, but it's His plan and His timing, so I guess it's just going to have to be good enough for this particular point in time :P

*disclaimer:  words used above indicating finality, certainty, definiteness, etc... can (and probably should) be replaced with words that suggest a level of uncertainty, hesitation, doubt, etc...

T-Minus 17 Days.......

It's official...my departure date is set for May 9th!!!  (yea, I know that's coming up real soon, but thanks for the reminder...)

It's been a pretty hectic and uncertain past couple weeks, but now this week, God's been putting things into motion in a big hurry.  I received my Certificate of Eligibility (the precursor to the visa) from Japan, finalized the May 9th departure date, purchased my airfare, and submitted my visa application to the Japanese Consulate in Denver (I should have the visa in about a week).

May 9th is not very far away, and there's still quite a bit to get done.  With this, my head seems to be spinning a bit more than usual, as I'm trying to stay on top of things and get them in order.  I know He's still in control and that 17 days is plenty for Him to get everything...but it's still 17 days, and "reality" seems to kick in a bit more each passing day.

Please pray that I can stay focused on Him, that I will trust in His provisions (not mine) to make it through these next 2+ weeks, and please pray for the ministry awaiting me in Japan.

Changes in Ministry & Answers to Prayer

As we continue to hear gut-wrenching stories and learn the extent of the damage from last week's quake and tsunami in Japan, God has begun to reveal His plan and goals for my ministry (at least for the summer :P).  For a while, the placement team in Japan struggled with my church placement, with no apparent "perfect" fit.  As we prayed for God to lead, it's now become clear that the lack of church placement was His plan all along, as I now have the freedom and flexibility to help with relief efforts for the summer.

As Asian Access shifts its summer focus to organizing and helping relief efforts (http://asianaccess.org/A2-Japan-Tsunami-Relief-Fund.html), I'll have the opportunity to take part in this.  Specific details are still being arranged, but the goal is to depart for Japan on May 9th (pending visa paperwork and support raising).  I'll probably start out in the the Kansai region, where I will be working with coordinators to help organize summer teams going to help with relief.  After a month or so, I'm hoping to be a part of relief efforts in areas badly affected to do whatever is needed.  I have Skype calls next week to meet those coordinating the summer teams, to start discussing plans for the summer, and to start receiving "relief training."

It's been a hard week+ not really knowing how the disasters were going to affect my ministry in Japan, but it's obvious that His timing and plans are perfect...and that I still need a lot of work in letting go and just TRUSTING in them.  As uncertainties turn into realities and goals into plans, these next 8 weeks or so could get a little crazy...  Please PRAY that I'll be able to follow His lead and that the work and preparations stateside would go smoothly, but more so, PRAY that God would prepare hearts in Japan.  The resolve of the Japanese people is very strong (and very commendable), but pray that there would be room for God to work and for His presence to be felt in their lives.

Pray for Japan

As you've undoubtedly seen and heard already, Japan has suffered a massive earthquake, unsettling aftershocks, and crushing tsunamis over the past few days.  Although the Pacific Northeast coast has seen the most damage, the entire nation is in shock and has been affected in some way or another.

The images and videos in the news are hard to watch and hard to comprehend, but even amidst the current  devastation, the continuous aftershocks, and the feared potential threats, God is still in control and at work in Japan.  As hard as it is to take in all that has happened (and all that's still happening), we can take comfort in knowing that this suffering will not be in vain, but that it will be used for His Glory.  As difficult (and seemingly insensible) as this attitude may appear, it is a reminder to us of where our hope lies, and of how big our God is.

Asian Access' annual Spring Retreat occurred this past weekend, and all the missionaries in the field gathered at a retreat center in Karuizawa (northeast of Nagano).  Aside from the initial news saying that they were all ok, there hasn't been much news.  I can only assume that being together at the retreat was encouraging during this extremely difficult time and a blessing for those out there.

Let us continue to pray for Japan...for those still lost...for those who have lost...for those who still don't know...but let us pray for hearts to be changed and for His will to be done.

Being Served Some Humble Pie

Overall, things have been going well.  Support raising has been encouraging and affirming as God continues to do amazing things (approaching 85%!!!).  Language training is going well as I've already incorporated some of the tools and techniques from PILAT.  I've been consistent in my spiritual preparations too, recently completing a 40 day fast and reaching half-way in reading through the Bible in 90 days.  I've even enjoyed some vaca time, spending the last two weekends playing in Utah and Portland.

Seeing how nicely things have been going "according to plan," I was feeling confident in "my plan" and in "my abilities."  This week, however, God decided to remind me how much (or little) confidence and comfort I can have in "my plans."  Things started sliding a bit...inconsistencies in my daily quiet times, "perfectly planned" days weren't so perfect, and some of the excitement for missions in Japan turned into anxieties.

Nothing "bad" happened this week, but questions, concerns, and even doubts came up.  As things started slipping, I realized how little control I really have, which is a scary place for me.  I like being in control, knowing what's next, and having a plan for it.  And as I continue to run into this pitfall mindset, God continues to serve me up nice slices of humble pie to keep me in check (the last time this happened, He had us sweat out contemplating being stranded in the Lima, Peru airport for a couple hours...).

The point is, I know that God's going to use these next couple months to "work on some issues," "straighten me out," and do some "good old-fashioned sharpening."  It's gonna hurt and it's gonna be very uncomfortable...but in the end, it's gonna be good, and it's the preparation I need for ministry in Japan.

I'd like to think I'm a fast learner, but I also know that I'm stubborn...(an interesting combination, we'll see which one wins out).

Please pray for me that I'd be able to take in these lessons, to stay focused and lean on Him and His plan, to not lose it when I lose control, and to continue to press on, persevere, and look to the positive outcomes and not the trials.

(Wow, this was a long post...I need to stop doing them this late...)