by Whitey | May 1, 2009 | Ministry News
Hi Everyone,
This Sunday the Immanuel Nagoya Church hosted our annual Kids Festival, featuring music, prizes and of course food! 21 kids came, and they all had a great time — and so did the grown-ups. Best of all, 12 of the kids who came were newcomers. Praise God for new connections with the community!
Other than that, the past month I’ve kept busy with Japanese studies, teaching English, and preparations for a short-term mission trip I’m hosting/leading just a few short days from now.
Please pray for my friends Mike and Nick, who are coming here from Canada to travel and do ministry with me for about a week. They’re scheduled to arrive on Tuesday afternoon (May 5), and flying out on Wednesday, May 13. Please pray for safe travel (both to and in Japan), fruitful ministry and for our physical and spiritual strength during this busy time.
Thanks as always for praying!
by Whitey | Apr 8, 2009 | Brain Dump
I’m becoming such a slogger (slacker+blogger=slogger; thanks, Brew) lately. Seems like all I post are photos and toons… and I even missed this week’s Photo of the Week. My bad. I’ll try to write more of my actual thoughts and experiences soon. In the meantime, another brain dump before I retire for the night…
1. I’ve had a headache all day. It’s not fun.
2. I’ve also been struggling with mornings all week. I think the 2 1/2 weeks without language classes threw my internal clock out of whack. Maybe by next week I’ll be back to normal.
3. My Sister is blogging again after like a year’s hiatus: Go HERE to read her new blog. (Note: Kelly may not actually be related to me.)
4. I’ve really been enjoying the warmer, spring weather this week. The sakura (cherry blossoms) are in full bloom now, too. Spring seems to have come late this year, but now it’s here in full force.
5. I had to write a short essay for Japanese class today, and decided to write about U2. It brought back memories of when I was in junior high school and had to do a speech in French class, and I talked about my then-favourite band Stryper. I posted this to my Twitter/Facebook feed, and my brother (note: he’s actually related to me) replied that Stryper is doing a 25th anniversary reunion tour. I feel old.
6. I showed up a half hour early for prayer meeting tonight because I thought it was at 7 when it’s actually at 7:30 every week. Hmm, maybe I really am getting old. Or this headache is worse than I thought.
7. Still thinking and praying about what’s next. Sometimes it feels like my heart is pulling me in multiple directions at the same time. There’s so much I could do, so much I would like to do, and so many question marks about what actual opportunities I’ll be able to pursue.
8. Imitation Frosted Flakes + banana + strawberries = a good, late supper. My bowl is now empty and my stomach is happy.
And with that, I bid you good night. おやすみなさい。
by Whitey | Apr 3, 2009 | Ministry News
Hi Everyone,
I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying Spring wherever you may be. The streets of Nagoya are lined with Sakura (cherry blossoms) now, which is a sure sign of Spring in Japan.
This month I had a 2 1/2 week break from language school for Spring Break. I wasn’t on vacation, however. Besides spending time reviewing my Japanese, I also continued teaching English, did some music ministry, and helped out with Sunday school here at the Nagoya Church. And last week, I was in Yokohama for a few days for the Immanuel Church’s national annual conference. It was a good opportunity to catch up with some friends and fellow missionaries, as well as to connect with the Japanese church on a larger level.
Thank you for your prayers over the past month. Here are some things you can be praying with me about in the weeks to come:
1. Language studies — I’m back to school for another 6-month term of learning Japanese.
2. English class — My weekly English lessons continue to be well-attended. This month we are making some changes and doing some promotion to hopefully attract some unchurched people to the class. Please
pray that God will use this to help us build bridges with the community.
3. The future — I’m well into my second year of my two-year internship with Global Partners. So it’s time to start praying and planning for what comes next. I definitely plan to continue living and ministering in Japan, but the details of where and in what capacity are yet to be figured out. Please pray that God will lead me to the right opportunities for next year and beyond.
Thanks again for praying!
by Whitey | Mar 29, 2009 | Brain Dump
I woke up at like 6 this morning, and couldn’t get back to sleep. Too much on my mind, too much light and noise outside. So it turns out I have time to blog before taking off for the morning. My lack of sleep is your gain… If you consider reading my brain dumpings a gain…. Hurm…
1. Thinking a lot about the future lately. I’m at that point in my 2-year term here where I have to start planning. So I’m dreaming, praying, talking to people… and needing direction. It’s exciting and scary at the same time.
2. Last week I was away at the Immanual Church’s national annual conference thing (Nenkai) up in Yokohama. It was good catching up with some friends and connections. Heard some preaching in English (in person) for a change. Had some good conversations with fellow missionaries. Went into Tokyo and hung out in Shibuya. Ate some really good Turkish food. It was good for the most part, but it was good to get back home to Nagoya. I was pretty tired from some long, all-Japanese “business” meetings, and glad to get out of my suit after 4 days straight.
3. I go back to school on Wednesday. I’ve been trying to do lots of review the past two weeks, and did OK the first week off, but being away last week kind through me out of the routine. I’ve told myself to pretend I have a test on Wednesday and study accordingly. I really want to do better this term.
4. I’m hosting a two-man mission “team” here in May. It’s gonna’ be a lot of fun, but I’ve got a pile of stuff to get ready before they get here, and their visit is going to through my study routine off again. Hopefully I can stay on top of everything; it’ll be worth it when they’re here.
5. I’m eating breakfast as I type this. It looks a lot like last night’s super late supper. Strawberries + banana slices + imitation Frosted Flakes = Yummy. And good for you, too.
Well, I need to get going, and on with my day. Consider my brain dumped.
by Whitey | Mar 21, 2009 | Brain Dump
1. I am officially on spring break from school. However, I decided not to take off somewhere and use up my vacation time. Instead, I’ve been using the time to do some much-need Japanese review. It’s great to have the extra time to study alone and to focus on the things that I have the most trouble with.
2. I’ve also been cleaning house, planning for a visiting short-term mission team (and by “team” I mean two people) and generally just getting caught up on stuff, while at the same time taking it slower than usual. It’s great when you can be productive but not feel rushed all the time, eh?
3. Tonight I’ve been pre-posting some stuff here on the blog. I’ve got weekly SkitZo MaN posts lined up from now ’till June. That’s right — June. Of course it helps that this is stuff I’m re-running…
4. This coming week I’m going to be in Yokohama for the church’s annual conference (nenkai). That means four days in a row wearing a suit. But it also means a good time of connecting with Believers from across Japan, as with some fellow-missionaries who will be there.
5. I’m getting sleepy…
Brain dumped. Good night.
