Equipper Conference Eve of New Years Eve

Hey guys,
We are surrounded by about 300 or more Japanese students. They are full of energy and run constantly on caffine and laughter. We are exhausted but mostly because we are juggling workshops and counseling sessions and our Kids. The Director of MHS housing and his wife have watched our kids twice now. They are a real blessing to us. Anyway, the conference is based off of the 2 Corinthians passage of chapter 4 and the "Ministry of Reconciliation. It is an amazing passage and in the mornings we have an inductive Bible study class where we are dissecting the verses. The sad part is we are getting more out the the IBS than we are out of the preaching. Lots of stories and analogies but a depravation in the word. I am being challenged in my heart to be gracious and not judge. Anyway, there are some very dear Christians here serving the Lord and there has been much fruit in the Kingdom as many have given their heart to the Lord and renewed their commitments to Him. I was able to attend my old Pastor Itsuo Ueno Sensei's class and enjoy a brief fellowship with him. His daughter was here and it was great to see her walking in the Lord. We are constantly being reaffirmed by the Lord that going to Japan is the right thing and there is a great need to have couples teaching the whole counsel of God. We have had some precious times in small groups ministering to those the Lord is allowing us to minister to. Our kids are troupers they are bored but being very patient. It is good to have them along side us ministering. There is only 6 or 7 kids in the Child care so our kids are getting a lot of attention. For the New Year we are looking forward to the Missions Conference next week. On January 26th we are attending the RJC Conference. Then after January it is truly pressing forward onto leaving for Japan. I have already been invoicing my garage door customers under my buddy's company. We are so blessed how God has put things together. My head spins when I get overwhelmed by the complexity of all the details and issues we raise but The Lord is faithful to constantly show us that nothing is an issue or complex for him. I am excited to go to Japan. I have such a desire to teaching the word. Talk to you soon.

Figing leads to timing of travel to Japan

Hey,
I have been fascinated with the fig plant in the Bible. Used for healing of sores in the Old Testament and identifying with the leadership of Israel. In Mark 11:22 Jesus has just cursed a fig tree for showing signs of promise but failing to produce the fruit (just like the leadership). The tree died and the disciples are tripping. Jesus then says "Have Faith in God". Did you see that Faith In God is an acrostic of FIG? I have looked at this passage and even studied varieties of fig trees and plants. But as I am pondering moving to Japan I am asking God for the date. He gave me Matthew 24:32; Now learn the parable from the fig tree; when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;

I am now looking at the spring 08 for departure time. I pray that my wife and I will be in perfect agreement when to leave. Now to sell my truck, tools, bike, business, library, and rent out my house. It's all in God's hands.

I want to plant a church in Japan

My wife Mihoko and i have been married for 16 years. The first five years was going to school and then we had the first of 4 kids Caleb. Since dating Mihoko we have always had our eyes on Japan and an intense desire to tell the gospel to as many Japanese people as we can. We wanted to go to Japan for a few years early on. Caleb was diagnosed with a heart probem. At three years old he became really sick and we watched him go real fast and we were unable to receive a heart transplant. We waited for two months in the Hospital and we were blessed to spend that time with Caleb. He was a beautiful kid and he is now completely healed in Heaven with a new body. So 10 months after Caleb goes to be with the Lord we have our third kid Rachel. Nathan was our second born 14 months after Caleb. Rachel at 10 days old is diagnosed with the same heart disease as Caleb. We were very sad. At 4 years old Rachel received a heart transplant. She is now 6 years old. We were crazy and about killed our parents but we went ahead and had another girl Jane Elizabeth. Nathan and Jane is very healthy and have no problems. Today Nathan in 9 soon to be 10 in April and Jane is 3. Rachel is two years post-transplant and doing extremely well. So well we are now thinking back to our desire 16 years earlier. This wasn't something I had even on the Radar. God has a way of letting us know when he is ready to send you. There were things in the Bible that stired our hearts. Abraham, "get thee up to a country that I will show you". Wow, Just go and wait on God as you go. Moses and the burning bush where 7 times he denys the call of God on his life. Jesus saying in John, "As the Father has sent me so send I you."


So I am two years ago after Rachel's transplant felling pretty drained. I was spiritually and physically tired. I went to a men's retreat where I was touched by God in a mighty way. The Spirit came upon me very strongly. There was some prophetic utterance as to me being given a gift of a Pastor/teacher. I was hungry for God in a way that had been void during the stay in the hospital. 4 other men and I got together for prayer and started to seek the Lord. We have so much garbage in our lives that is distracting for the Lord. We spent almost a year cleaning house in our souls. We became legalistic in many areas and had as Pastor Brian calls it a holy club. Yet out of this time the Lord ministered and spoke and we all had the sense to step out in ministry. We could not contain the joy the Lord had put in our hearts. I decided to begin a Japanese Bible Study translated by my wife. We had started a translation ministry for Pastor Chuck before Rachel went into the Hospital. When we came back some did not want us there. Rather than to fight and contend with them we took some wise counsel and separated from them and went and did what God was calling us to. It has been such a blessing. We took a year and taught through the book of Genesis. We are now starting in Exodus. We have had fruit of two receiving Jesus and others being disciples.

Last year at the CCCM missions conference we were there ministering with Mihoko performing translation. It was a Wednesday afternoon and I was hearing the message after lunch in a fog state of being. I was in and out of consciousness. I started to see a vision of me standing in a field with one door there. I was transfixed by it because I am a door man by profession. The door was in working order but it was locked and I could not open it no matter what I tried. I was questioning the purpose of the locked door when a voice behind me said. "Turn around." When I did there were millions of Japanese people standing there in front of me. I blew the vision off and didn't say anything to anyone. That Saturday we were in prayer in our holy club and one of the brothers tells me he had a vision on Wednesday about me. I was intrigued to say the least. He went on to say that he saw a door thrust open and I was thrown out and skidding across the asphalt on my tushy and my shoes flew off. When I stood up in my socks there were millions of Japanese standing in front of me. Wow, I have never had that happen to me in my life. I go home and tell my wife and I don't get a hey were going to Japan excitement, no it was I am not going to Japan if that is what you think? I was blown away and remained in prayer. Mihoko did not and still to this day doesn't have a great desire to go to Japan. But she was also spoken too. She doesn't want to miss the blessings of God. So we began 6 months ago praying for God's will. She went from maybe going over for a summer to maybe 6 months. Okay she grew to a year and lately she has been praying about a two year stay. There are other confirmations and I will post those later but right now I am very tired to say the least. God bless you.