Iwa Kuni 2 more pictures

Well we went to the Kentai bridge and saw the famous wood bridge. We also had a Sushi party where Mihoko's dad Kenzo Hori stepped up to the plate and made a feast of California and Rainbow rolls to bless Mike and others that came. It was fun to watch our kids just hit it off with their kids. They didn't want to say goodbye. It is so amazing that so many of us over here all have kids in the same age bracket. It really makes for great fellowship when the kids are happy and loving being there. Needless to say we had a sweeeeet time of fellowship in the Lord and may God continue to bless the Silva Family.

Iwa Kuni

well we went from Nagano two hours north of Tokyo to 5 hours south to Iwa Kuni in Yamaguchi Ken. Wow that was one long train ride but it was well worth it. We had such a blast with the Silva family. Mike Silva is the Pastor with is lovely wife Sonja who are a church plant from CC Okinawa believe it or not. Mike finished his military service in Okinawa and was employed back into the military as a civilian employee. When he was transferred to Iwa Kuni he began a Bible Study in his home. The rest is history and after a few years in the home God divinely led them through a process of building hoping to land in a beautiful place on the main road. They were able to lease a restaurant and it is working perfectly for them but as I saw on Sunday not for long. The can knock out one more wall and get 20 more chairs but God is blessing and I believe it won't be long before they will have those Calvary growing pains again. Pray for the Silva family as they are needing wisdom for the challenges that lie ahead. There is a division called the CAG division that will be redeployed from Atsugi base down to Iwa Kuni. So pray for the continued out reach and for a permanent translator to come on board. Also pray for a sound system for them. Pray for Sonja Mike's wife as she home schools and does many busy things loving on the sheep. She is one of those dynamo wives that arrive everywhere with flames smoldering off her. She does a lot and very well I might add. Mike is one blessed dude. Amazingly he is very humble and he loves sushi so much. I find it funny at how God just wires us all for those places he calls us to.

Nagano Japan visiting family

Hey guys we have been away for a few days in Nagano Japan. It was a blast to ride a shin kan sen train to Nagano from Tokyo. We went to a ninja village and played a little then we went and visited Mihoko Uncle Takemichi Hori. He had an accident a year ago where his leg was crushed in a freak accident and had to have it amputated. He is bouncing back and enjoying life. We had fun at his home and ate some real home grown Nagano Veggies. I haven't had corn that sweet in a long time. Nagano is know for Fuji apples and Kyoho grapes. Which is enjoyed. We stayed at a hotel called a ryokan (bed and breakfast) although they serve you dinner here as well and it is a hot springs. The Hotel is usually build over the hot springs and they just have the tubs in the basement of the hotel. We relaxed and enjoyed visiting family.

Crispy Cream is Alive and kicken in Japan

Hello everyone,

We were blessed by our downstairs neighbors the Kato family. Pray for Mrs Kato who has lung cancer and has been through a lot of chemo. She is very sickly and we feel bad because we are very noisy neighbors. We have taken the family peace offerings of fruit and other goodies and the other day they returned a favor by giving us a box of Krispy Kreams. We were totally blessed and the sugar rush made us even noisier than before so I am not sure if they'll do that again. But God is good we offered to pray for Mrs Kato and they were uncomfortable with the idea. So we are hoping for more opportunities. The Daughter had moved out only to have to move back to help mom and dad. She is stressed and worried. Pray for the peace of Jesus to bless the family. Pray that we can love them into the kingdom. The picture of the kids are just some neighborhood kids who came over to our place to see how the strange foreigners live. It is fun to see their curious eyes check us out. Pray for Masato, Sakura, and Hinako as our kids have befriended them. These are some of the wild kids whose parents don't know where they are or what they are doing most of the time.

Tonjiru Yummy....NOT!!!!!

Nathan and Rachel had their first lunch at school yesterday. They were served a dish called tonjiru (tone-jee-ru). It is a pork and cabbage soup with carrots and daikon veggies. Mihoko told them that Japanese schools were strict and would make them sit and eat all of their meal or they couldn't leave. It may have been that way in the past but things have changed. Rachel's teacher saw her gagging after taking a bite of the tonjiru soup. So she was instructed that she didn't have to eat it. Nathan wasn't so lucky and he with convulsing and gagging he forced the soup down and came home very sick. He actually ran a fever last night and today most of the morning he still felt sick and had a low grade fever. Now he is better but he has sworn he will never eat another bite of tonjiru soup. I know some Japanese are shocked because it was their favorite dish and they just love it. They are probably nostalgic over the dish and will have some for lunch tomorrow. There are though some dishes that make one gag for me it is cream corn. That my friends is a hurl alert dish. On the Japanese side it is natto that chokes me up the smell is rancid. Anyway, Mihoko is in Hong Kong with our camera and I am here teaching two kids home schooling, and taking them to school events like the Undo Kai practice for the big event this Saturday. Undo Kai is a sports festival. Nathan is participating in a tug-o-war and Rachel is dancing while shooting baskets or something. I am not sure yet what they are doing. Anyway, it is a great way to meet neighbors as they will sit us in the section with people who live in the same area. So we are toughing it out until Mihoko gets back on Saturday. Pray for her safe return and also for her dad Kenzo who was saved back in March is coming this week. Pray we will have a great time hanging out. We are going to visit family in Nagano together. Later.

More Birthday Pictures Janes 4th

Hey gang I just thought I'd upload some more picts from todays great Birthday party for Jane. The fellowship was great and we were able to bless the mom's and kids that came. See more below.

Jane's 4th Birthday Party

Hey guys kids on the mission field are the greatest ways to get to know your neighbors and hang out with them. For the last two weeks we have been going daily to a park in our complex area and just hanging out loving on the kids. We met some mom's and they are skeptical about us. We had originally invited them to come in to our apartment but that was a little frightening for some and they backed out. So we did it at the park and it was wonderful. As the party went on more kids and mom's came out of the wood work to just hang and have fun. This week we had brought some of the mom's food from Grace Christian Fellowships outreach to the community. They are receiving food from a big chain store and so we just passed it along to the mom's. They are really getting to know us and they are happy to see us. Pray we can build the relationships and offer them ESL classes but most of all tell them about Jesus. Travis guys came out and blessed us with some birthday cakes and fun things to do. I twisted some balloons and Travis had them doing pop streamers. He also did face painting. The balloons were a hit and we are sure that next time it will be a great time with many more coming out. We are praying now about renting out the club house and having a Christmas party in December. Pray along with us.

Blessed to share the Word

God is so good. Pastor Travis asked if I'd share a message to day of why we have come to Japan. It was a great time and we looked in the Bible at Jesus and how he gave up everything to gain so much. That was my theme as we have given up a lot but we are also gaining so much more. I shared about Caleb and Rachel and there were many who were touched and challenged today in their faith. Pray that seeds sown will grow into deeper faith in the Risen Savior Jesus.

More Birthday Pictures

Here are some more pictures of Erika Takamiya's party. The first one is my beautiful bride Mihoko. That was the smile that melted my heart from day one since I met her. She is all mine guys. The next picture is of Asako Yokota who recently became a Christian and was Baptized last month in the Okutama River. Standing next to Asako is Candice Rose. Rich Rose's bride. She is from Hawaii. Rich and Candice are the servant/leaders. They are so versatile and will assume any role to benefit the body. They have total selfless attitudes. Pray for the Rose family as they have just started a Bible Study in Fuchu. God is growing it. One family move to be near them and they are not saved. Pray that they will respond to the Gospel. The next flick is of yours truly playing a game. I wasn't drinking enough water and got dehydrated. I felt sick and had a head ache. Travis brought me a chunk of ice and I stuck it on my head. It really cooled me off quickly. I also drank some gateraide type dring and I felt better within 30 minutes. The next picture is of Travis' wife Dawn Takamiya. She is an Ohio native and was a Vollyball player in her college days. God has used this and she has joined a vollyball mama club where they play with other moms once a week. They stick her at right front and she just spikes the ball all the time. I feel sorry for the other team. Anyway, two or three of the moms and kids present at the party are from her vollyball club. The last picture is of a Japanese/Hawaiian Baryshnikov. Naw, this is just travis catching a grape that was thrown at him. But he looks like he is posing in a ballet move pirouette or how ever you spell it. And he looks so happy. Hmm I think he is liking the ministry.

Erika's Birthday party

We went Erika Takamiya's 7th birthday party. She is Pastor Travis' daughter. It was a blast as the school friends merged with the church friends and made a great segway to just love on many who don't know Jesus. We played games and ate goodies. They went to Costco and bought some Thompson grapes. Here all the Japanese grapes are hard skinned with seeds inside and it is not cool or seen as disgusting to eat the skin of a grape. So it makes for fun to watch them try to peel a grape. But we gross them out by grabbing a hand full and just shove them in our mouths. Rich and Travis were entertaining the kids by lobbing grapes into the sky and catching them with their mouths. Michael Pierces is a missionary here from CC Virginia. He is giving us his best side. I can't figure out what he is thinking but I was tempted to say something but since this is the first time introducing him to you I will be nice. He has been here for over a year now full time serving at CCT. He teaches ESL most of the time and has youth ministry on the weekends. He is single???? Anyway, it was a great day.