Routine Hospital visit

Hey just some picts to show the Hospital we are going to for check ups. It is near a city named Omiya. We had to take a train early in the morning to Ikebukuro and then transfer to Tabata and then take a bus and then get out and huff a walk into the middle of this obscure neighborhood where the Hospital was. It is crazy how they design stuff. I think of boy scout camp outs where we just found a good spot with no ants and plop went the tents. Some were small and some were the adventurer mondo delux mansion tents. That is exactly what we had with samll houses and then in the middle of the block there she is the Tokyo Women's medical University Hospital. It's blue and funny in design. We had a great time and the HTX folks are all like family. After the Doctor visit we went back to Ikebukuro which is a busy station in Japan. Shinjuku is the busiest with more than 1 million commuters passing through its station everyday. Someone said they thought it was two million people. Anyway, Ikebukuro has to be in the top 5 for busy. The people are like water flowing everywhere. We went to a place in Ikebukuro called Sunshine city it was grand that will be my next report. We stopped at a park on the way to let the kids burn off some energy.

More Picts from the CCT VBS

Hey yall, I just received some picts from a family that went with us to the VBS. So I just want you to know it was really hot and I was tired. I laid down on a bench with an ice-cream in one hand then Rachel had to go to the restroom so I held her icecream until she got back. Of course I couldn't let it drip all down my arm. I probably shouldn't post this picture because it looks bad. Anyway you can see we had fun. We went to a zoo in Kichijoji for kids and the first pict is from a kids museum in Shibuya. The last photo is me with Kenta Yokota he was just baptized in July and his wife in August so pray for the yokota's to grow well in the Lord. We have started home school and it is fun. It is taking us a while to prepare being green in the material. We almost needed to plan two weeks out for the whole semester. Anyway the kids are loving the special attention they get from their parents.

Not a traditional West Coast living experience

Hey again, I wanted to upload some picts of our building outside and also show you the sleeping deal with the kids. It is cool as they have these tatami rooms with straw type mats that have a good homey smell and then you put a mattress pad down and then a futon on top of that and then you have a sheet on that and you sleep with a cover over you. Summer it is usually nothing because of the heat but in winter the covers and get big and fluffy down stuff that traps you because they are so warm you don't want to leave it. Anyway, My kids are sleeping in one room together they don't mind so far and the other day Rachel was playing hide and seek in the closet and she fell asleep while hiding. This closet is where the bedding is all stored each day. You put it away in the morning and take it out at night. Well, I was thinking this would be a great bunk bed. Mihoko already said no way.

A little bit of home in Japan

Hey everyone we had a great dinner as Mihoko has been feverishly working to find the stores that have the best and freshest ingredients that are also cheap. Most stores have the first two but the cheap is very challenging unless you have a COOP store built into your apartment building Travis. You can go to a cheap store but if there is train fair or bus fair you have defeated the purpose of going there in the first place. Anyway, Mihoko is the warrior extrodinare who has found us great food and if on a personal mission to keep the meals below $2 a person. It is hard to do but it can be done. I may loose weight yet but today I discovered $2 Big Macs at the Maruhino department store. We ate well. Anyway, Mihoko made these timely California rolls for us and the Kids were so happy. Nothing was said during the feeding frenzy and then they were stuft. Thank you Miho the greatest wife in the world. We love you.

Evan Takamiya

Hey here are a couple of picts of the VBS where we are on a train going somewhere and Evan Takamiya who is a great kid full of life and can rock your world is getting tickled tortured by me. The other pict shows Erika Takamiya, Jane my daughter, Rinka, and Rich Rose. We had a lot of fun together.

VBS, Outreach, and Rock floping

Hello again, here are some pictures from Travis of the VBS. I was very serious that our Noah's Ark would win the race. And as we did finally work together our boat did win. Yea but we were almost beat out by Peter from CC Windward and his floating lounge chair. The little boy is Tsubasa and I am helping him decorate a VBS shirt. The photo of Travis playing guitar and me on the Cajon is in front of the Tokorozawa Train Station having an outreach. We passed out tracks and sang worship song and just had a great time meeting folks. The last pict is one of me in an amazing flying position on my way to the greatest belly flop in my entire life. It hurt but I am okay and will not do that again.

Flying Traviese

Calvary Chapel Tokorozawa had a Baptism in Okutama on Saturday the 16th. We enjoyed the cool river to the humid climate of Japan. There was a rock that had a 3 foot step and a 6-7 foot one. We had the baptism where 4 people were baptized including my son Nathan. It was glorious as people were declaring before not only our church but there was a big crowd at the riverside. Many were partying and drinking. They were able to observe the Baptism witness of the inward change the Lord has done inside their soul. After the Baptism we had some good BBQ Burgers and Squid. Then we watched as Pastor Travis climbed up to the highest point and then with gymnastic grace flip his 4X Large Frame beautifully into the river. We were all surprised. I in my flesh tried to compete and well I am very bruised in my body and my pride. God is good we had a fun time. We were blessed with good sunny weather all day until the end when the clouds rolled in and it poured rain like a Florida Squall for 10 minutes and we all ran grabbing everything and laughed all the way. Praise God it was a great day for the CCT Family.

Apricot Pineapple Preserves

Things I am missing. One of those is items is the good ole Smuckers Apricot Pineapple Jam. I can't buy it in a local store here. They have a Strawberry jam that is double the price of a US bottle. It is good but expensive. Cheese is another thing. They don't sell American yellow cheese. At the VBS Mihoko made us Ham and Cheese sandwiches. The stores don't sell regular ham but a type of Canadian Bacon and the cheese is a white tasteless provolone. The sandwich was good but not the same flavor.

Pray for us as we are almost ready to begin a Bible study and ESL classes

Tall buildings lots of people sad hearts

Hello, We are doing great here. I have uploaded a picture of one of our apartment buildings. We live on a third level of 5 stories a smaller one than the 7 or 8 story buildings. Pastor Travis shared in the Service this morning that his mother witnessed the aftermath of a jumper. That is the third person in his complex that jumped this year. It's not pretty and his mother visiting from Hawaii saw all the police and emergency crews. The Japanese have no hope other than a deep conviction they are doing the right things by maintaining their traditions. But when they don't measure up or are seen as an outcast they loose all hope and purpose for living. May God allow us to spread the message of eternal hope. We found our downstairs neighbor's mother is in the hospital I don't know why but pray for Mrs Katou and her recovery. Today we had two strange happenings with weird people. Pray for our safety and eyes to be open to avoid odd situations. Later

Calavry Chapel Tokorozawa's VBS Day 2 Bowling

After lunch we went to the base bowling alley and had a fun time just hanging out and blessing the kids. Some of us adults did show glimmers of competitiveness. I didn't win.

Calavry Chapel Tokorozawa's VBS Day 2 Lunch

We had lunch at the fast food court of the Yokota Airbase. Yes! they had taco bell.

Calavry Chapel Tokorozawa's VBS Day 2 begin

We participated in the CCT VBS. Rich Rose taught the lesson in both English and Japanese. He is my hero. I will one day arise to the ranks of the bilingual. We did a craft creating a passport for the citizen of heaven. We studied Philippians 3:20 and memorized it. Then we did a craft of making an official VBS CCT t-shirt.

I'm an official alien

Hello again, Today I received my alien registration card. I don't know what happened but it inverted oh well. The other picture is in the train and then Jane is complaining it is too hot.

The Bible Says:
Eph 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, Eph 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner {stone,} Eph 2:21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, Eph 2:22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

First morning out at 5am

I was taking pictures of the town as I walked around my first morning out. The Engrish is funny to spot and try to figure out. Chocola is a night club by the train station with this sign out in front. They are very poetic to say the least. The other picture is of MOS burger. They are a chain of rice burgers here in Japan they do have beef but everything is soooo tiny. I call them biscuit burgers. Also they are expensive. No more dollar item menus here. Anyway they have the new item a taco. I think I'll wait to try that. I went to a mens breakfast on the Yokota airbase and it was fabulous. We went into a shopping area with a food court and believe it or not they have a Taco Bell. I know your saying this guy is talking about food so much. That is true. When coming to a new country part of the survival instinct is to go and survey where you can eat better yet afford to eat and not get sick. Japan is pretty good about he hygene by they like any place in the world have their share of toxin scares. They just have so many noodle shops. If a visitor from outer space saw all the noodle shops they'd think they worshipped noodles here. I have a hard time eating hot udon noodles when it is a hundred degrees outside; And they will drink hot green tea. I must adjust and as Paul says become all things to all men. I'll let you know when I try the Moss Taco.

We made to Japan Just fine

Hello Everyone, We are now living in Japan this is so cool. It is hot really hot and humid. The first few days we were here Pastor Travis's car had an outside temperature reading of 110. The humidity is in the 90% or higher. It has been a physical drain on us but but we are doing great. There is an unexpected weather pattern happening here just like Florida where in the afternoon evening time a thunder storm with light up with thunder and lightning and then disperse after a while. I will be updating more as we go.