Keeping up!

    It's been a little over a week since my last blog, better than before. I spoke at my church last week. I was so nervous but it went well and afterwards I was asked questions. I also prepared lunch, tteopoki-which is a korean dish- and we ate together and just talked and hung out. As I cooked, one of the church members, who is korean, watched me and it made me wonder if I was doing something wrong. Then my friend, who is also korean, told me that he was a bit of  professional cook and liked to watch. Wah pressure! Well, not really. I pulled  the, "I'm white so if it doesn't turn out right it's because I'm not korean" card. To my surprise, several people including him got up to get seconds! Yay! A job well done!
 
      This week in lectures the theme is freedom! It's been an amazing week so far and it's a great addition to the previous weeks and an intense prequel to next week! I am super excited for next week's speaker, Amy Sollars! She is teaching on the holy spirit, but she doesn't just teach, she deals. Last year was amazing and I expect this year to be even more so! God has been doing amazing things on our lives and the lives of the students and it's so much fun to watch Him move in them.
   
     God has been giving me a lot of peace about things I have been wrestling with and it's so good. Even as more things seem to try to weigh me down I know He's got me in His hands and He is keeping me up. He is taking my burden as I lay it at His feet and sharing His with mine! I want more of Him, more of His presence, and more of His revelation and His heart. I know He is fulfilling all these desires and will do so until I leave this world.

    Not much else to report so until the next blog, which will hopefully be closer in release to this one than this one was to the last, matta ne!

Where in the world....did I go?

      Wow! It's been almost two months since my last blog update....and that's right after I posted that I would try to be more regular about it! Well, let me give you the summary of the last two months.
     March: I went on my retreat and had an amazing and fun time! After I returned we gained several new staff and began staff training for the DTS (Discipleship Training School) that would be arriving in April. Before that, we had a staff conference near Mt.Fuji where all the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) staff in Japan met to discuss our ministries, what we see God doing, and what specifically He wants us as a whole to pray for and help with. I really enjoyed the staff conference immensely! It was great to meet all the other staff and to be able to hang out, worship, pray, and play together. I felt so at home and at peace there and I know (not that I ever thought otherwise) that they were all amazingly gifted people and I'm excited for next year's conference and what that will bring!
     April: The start of April brought our DTS students in! It was also a start for many new things for me. I began helping my friend, who is a university professor, with a TOEIC class she's teaching at my church. I've also finally selected a church and have been going there consistently. It's interesting because it's a japanese church and the only one who can speak English fluently in my church is me and my friend and she usually has to translate for me! However, I felt that God was calling me to attend there and as my feeling of newness and shyness wears off I've really begun to enjoy them and their fellowship. A bible study I am helping with in a university has also started up again and the first meeting was full! It's triple what it was towards the end of the last semester! I'm amazed and I thank God for the people He's bringing in and for the wonderful things He is and will be doing through this bible study and the people who attend. The turn of the months, from March to April, brought also a wedding and a move. One of our staff was married on March 31st to beautiful japanese woman who loves God more than she loves him and they looked so great together! We, meaning all of the YWAM Tokyo staff moved closer to Ikebukuro, and closer to where we feel God wants us to be, in Ikebukuro. We are still hoping to move into Ikebukuro and are praying for the housing to do so.
     As for other news, I will be speaking at my church next week as our pastor and assistant pastor and a few other members are going to Korea on a mission trip. I will be sharing my testimony on God's faithfulness and persistence in my life! There will be many more adventures to share in more detail, and pray that I remember and am persistent myself in keeping up this blog!

Getting Back on Track

So, I noticed how lacking I am in blog updates. I have a bit of a confession...I'm not a journal type of person. It's actually pretty hard for me to keep up with journals. I was looking at my personal journal the other day and I noticed there will be about three or less consecutive days and then a jump of about three to four months before the next entry. For those who read my blog, sorry. I have set a new goal, to blog every 2-3 days! Even if I don't have a whole lot to blog about it's good to "show my face" and whatnot. Currently I am on a prayer retreat but I've been given permission by God to work after a certain time. It's a short window in which I can work mind you so I do what I can in that time. This is part of today's work! I'm excited for what God has for me during this time and hopefully, if God says I can, I can share some of what happened! Sorry this blog is so short, I'm tired and my attention span is...fading. Look forward to an epic and awesome blog in a couple of days! (Probably Monday to be exact as that is when this ends)

A Rain of Faithfulness

     I just really wanted to share how faithful God has been to me and what a faith booster it has been.  So, financially the past two months have been a bit of a struggle and for a while it was really disheartening. I would receive money for babysitting or from supporters back home and it would be enough to get me to the next point of income. It caused me to be extra cautious on what I would get food wise or where I would go. The initial amount would first be used towards bills, or, if none, food for the week and travel for ministries I am involved with. There were several times where I would run out and hours or even minuted before I needed money again I would receive again enough to last within a week's time.
     At first, my reaction was, "God, why is it always so little? Why is it that it only gets me to the next point? Why aren't you providing for me?" Then, one morning, I rethought it through. When I would receive income, it was always just what I need for that period of time and, every time I was without, I was constantly praying and confessing my worries to God and peace would come as would the finance, whether the next day or within minutes of the prayer. As I've heard people say, the situation had me on my knees more. What I finally realized that God was and is teaching me was that He is faithful, and, that He hears each prayer that I bring to Him.
     My favorite testimony so far is this(it's actually two in one):
     For a while now I have been praying for supporters not only back home in the states but more specifically for people here in Japan to support me. I didn't know who they would be or how I would meet them, but I felt that God was wanting me to pray and believe for them.  This past Saturday I was meeting with a friend for a session in English to help her practice. I had just enough money to get me to the station where I was to meet her and I was unsure what I was going to do about getting to one of the ministries I work with after our meeting much less how I was going to get home after that. I prayed while I was on the train and told God that I trusted Him, that I knew He would provide, and I thanked Him for all the provision He had already supplied.  I met with my friend and we sat down to chat. While we were talking she told me that she wanted to be a support to me and just spend time with me. In my head, I registered the support as being an encouragement for me and to be there for me to talk to. I was thankful and we continued to talk for a while. During one of the pauses in-between topics the following conversation took place:
Silence.
   "So how do you want me to do that?" Confused I looked at her with my brows together and head tilted.
   "Do what?" She smiled also looking a bit confused and then she replied.
   "Support you." I stared at her for a moment, what she said not quite clicking in my head. I ran through our conversation again and then it hit me. She means support me financially! My mouth hung a bit open as I tried to think of a response. She smiled again, waiting.
    After figuring out the best method she gave me her support for this month and I thanked her. I was amazed at God's faithfulness and a bit overwhelmed by it too and managed to just barely keep myself from crying. I had enough again to last me through the week-testimony one- and I had gained a supporter here in Japan-testimony two-.
     There are times when I doubt or my worries seem so great that I think, "What do I do? How can I do this by myself?" But it's testimonies like this, whether my own or other peoples', that restore my faith and remind me to submit all things to Him, no matter how big or small.
Philippians 4:6-7
     "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Getting Started

     When taking the first step onto a path, instinctively you look ahead to see what trials it may contain and where it will ultimately come to an end. Not knowing where a path will lead tends to cause uncertainty, fear, hesitation, and sometimes a choice to not take the unknown path and, instead, settle for one with a known destination. However, once choosing to begin a life of complete surrender to God's will and what He has planned for you, your path will be one whose full journey will be completely unknown to you. Though you don't know, God does, and He doesn't let you go it alone but walks with you through it all. The final destination is an eternal reward in heaven with He who is the king of kings, heavenly father, and a dear friend.

     I have begun my journey on this path and have taken the first step out by obeying His call on my life and coming to Japan as a full time Missionary. Although I do get anxious at times because I don't know completely what all lies ahead, it all disappears when I remember that He is by my side and taking me through it.
     It all sounds so serious, and it is, partially, but it's also fun! God isn't a God only of fire and righteous fury, but also a God of  fun, games, and love. He is delighted when we are delighted, heart broken when we are heart broken, cracks a joke or two when we are feeling down or even just for the fun of it. I absolutely love all that He does and am so thrilled to have chosen a path with such a dependable God as my everlasting companion!

     I love Japan and the heart God has given  me for this country. I'm glad to be able to share all that happens here! Join me as I begin my journey!