You Know Me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVVlMQved8k
Check this video out...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3

From the beginning, Jesus was.  Through Him all things were created...
And with Him,  a Perfect God who knows me better than I know myself, I get to have a relationship...

Todo...

So, after a very busy week and some sad goodbyes (even though it's just for a few months, there were sad faces), I boarded a bus to Narita Airport and then travelled to Seoul and to Cebu, Philippines.

Within my first hour or so of arrival, I had many thoughts... the first of which being:

Todo, we're not in Japan anymore...

The night before I left Japan, it was snowing.  When I arrived in Cebu at 11:30pm, it was 75.

That morning, I digitally controlled the water temperature for my shower.  When I arrived, I took a bucket bath.

I was used to the sound of trains, here there is the sound of roosters.

But, it's good to see many old friends... I'm sure it will be an awesome conference!

Lasts

Waaa!  Lots of stuff has been accomplished in this week!  Including: paying my taxes... which only took going to 3 locations to accomplish.

It was a really good week though.  It started off on Sunday-- I gave the message at my last Fuse for this year.  I shared about what God was teaching me shortly before meeting Vicente and the process that He brought me through.  It was Valentines Day (and my last Sunday, which I already mentioned), so it made sense to kinda talk about my next steps. 

Anyway, I got a lot of really good feedback from people and Mark said it was probably one of the best messages that I've ever done.  I was like, wow!  But, hey, the Word of God that He puts into our life is powerful.

At Fuse they gave me flowers and prayed for blessings over Vicente and I.  I didn't even cry.

What else... oh yeah, did taxes.  Finished up work for this week (including leaving work and semi-lesson plans for people).  My students gave me lots of notes, some of them rather hilarious.  But yeah, it was really nice.

This will be a very bittersweet weekend.  I'm looking forward to the conference and later to seeing my fiance, but it is sad to leave my friends and Japanese family. I've learned a lot-- grown a lot in these 2 years.  I think it's been the biggest period of growth in faith and leadership in my life. 

Looking forward to married life.  The best is yet to come... and we will be excited to be back home in Japan.  :)

PS: Enjoy this:

PS- Pictures (apart from this one right here) are courtesy of Abigail Lafleur-Shaffer.

10

Blog update coming soon. 
I promise.

Just so you know what's on my to-do list for tomorrow (my day off):

-File taxes in Japan (last year, there was the big earthquake on the day I did this)
-Buy bus ticket
-Finish Sunday's message
-Talk with my handsome, amazing, wonderful fiance
-Do laundry
-Write on blog
-Pack

I think that about takes care of the day.

Coming soon.  (PS if it [the blog] doesn't make it on Thursday, it will be finished on Friday!)

Functionality

Well well... One month since I've written.  I will have you know that it is on my official list of resolutions to be a better blogger this year.  I'd like to think I'm setting the standard high... ministry is busy.  Life in Japan is fast-forward speed.  Planning a wedding is insane.

But... I do love ya all.  (here's the point where I wonder if anyone is listening to me...?)

This month.. Well, the last 6-8 weeks seem to have been one meeting after another.  A lot of informal outreach (which has been awesome)... and a lot of meetings with people I'm training to take over roles that I've played in Fuse... as well as my regular responsibilities/meetings/work schedule, arranging everything to be organized for myself when I head back to the States, a move to the church/mission base (not our church; another couple will be staying in my apartment for the time I'm gone-- I let them move in early so they can settle in)... sharing a room with another missionary girl... (OH... and the wedding!)

I'm trying to make the most of my time that I have here before I head back to become a "we". 

But, I definitely feel that God has set this all up.  Interesting that last month, there were 5 people who came.  3 people are gifted in the areas that I've been working in: life group leader, admin overseer and in design (the 3rd person- Andy, is a graphic designer.  He's professional... so I don't have to teach him anything-- rather he can teach me!)...

It's been cool to work in the area of trainer-- teaching "how to", being a mentor, handing over responsibilities... and overall-- as the missionary who has been here the longest so far (apart from our leaders)-- I've had the opportunity in informal settings to share vision, how to, practical ministry in the Japanese context, etc.  It's been cool to be in that function.

But anyhow... I want to write a quick report on a conversation I had last week with a guy we've known for maybe over a year-- but we are still waiting to see God "take the blinder off"...

I'm going to copy and paste from an email-- because I'm too tired to write it all out again... :X 

"...this evening we had an awesome dinner outreach, with around 10-12 non-Christian new friends who joined. I personally got the opportunity to share the Gospel in a way that really connected with a friend who came. Though he seems to have been staunchly against the Gospel, I think it struck a chord tonight... His demeanor definitely changed. We'll see what the coming weeks bring! :D I'm pretty excited about that."

One of the first things he said in a conversation I was standing in on was, "I don't need Jesus."  We talked for it awhile; Christine, the mission head here, sharing why she did.  She got called away... and he turned around and looked at me with the most sincere look-- "Why did you become a Christian?"  Like the email said, what I shared (about going to church and not understanding for a good 6 months what people were talking about) really connected with him.  But I said that God had changed my heart and made me understand.  He could experience that too with God. 

I think he is really opening up to the Gospel!  THAT is exciting!  After everyone left, Tim (Christine's husband, the mission head also) said that he noticed that the young guy looked a lot lighter as he left-- different.

So, be praying!  And I'ma head to bed!  :)

Christmas... and then Japan

First, Merry Christmas... I was working on some last minute things for tomorrow's service and saw this posted by one of our team members.  It's not a message or anything... just a picture of the people of Japan, and I guess-- what it's like to live in Japan... Hope you enjoy!

**Some kind of problem and the video won't load.  Here's the link! Just click right below...

The People... Oh the People...

News and that...

Please check out this letter I just sent out! Also, I just posted about our Christmas outreach just below, so check that out too!

Btw, you can click on this "picture" below and make it bigger to read it.  (Sorry, I can't attach a pdf here!)... if you have a hard time reading it, leave a comment on this post with your email-- comments have to be approved by me, so no one will see your email address beside me-- and I will email you the pdf!)

Merry Christmas everyone!