Indonesia and Japan

Altotonga, Mexico -- The difference a day can make: apparently 2000 bucks.

Well, I am planning a trip to Japan, as most of you know or have read a bit about. But there's also a conference going on in January in Indonesia that I am planning on attending for m's all over Asia. There, I will get to know them and what they do in their countries and encourage them. And attend the conference, which I always like WIM conferences (woo-hoo!)

And since I'll be in the "neighborhood," it'll be a good opportunity to hop on over to Japan to do some on-field research. I'm making up a list of questions (practical, spiritual, etc) that I'll need to ask missionaries there and investigate and get a feel for the country myself. I currently have one contact in Tokyo who will be putting me and my travelling partner (a lady from WIM) up and showing us their ropes. Interesting enough, there is a Brazillian couple there who is working with the Latin American population in Japan. How cool is that!

Other than that, I'm trying to make some other contacts in Japan.I got the dates for the conference-- the 21st-24th of January-- so I'm planning on spending roughly 2 weeks in Japan after that-- the 24th through the 9th of February.

Talking to Chris about it, he was talking about the need to get to Indonesia a few days early because of time schedule changes. Arriving the day of the conference after some 20 hours (flying time alone, not counting layovers) and then sitting through the conference would not be a good idea. So, looking at this (I'm sorry I'm babbling, but this is my new hobby-- checking prices online)-- tickets for flying everywhere-- leaving on a Saturday, which would put me there Monday afternoon, 2 days before the conference-- $4200. Yikes.

On Sunday-- to get there the afternoon before the conference-- $3600However, leaving on Friday, which gets me there significantly early-- $2150. Hmm... I may be willing to pay the low hotel fee if it'll save me $2000. Still, though, I'm looking at needing about $4000 in total (counting that God will give me an amazing deal on tickets-- why not? I'm His kid). I have no idea where this money would come from. It kinda freaks me out in one sense-- I've had extra expenses. In one way, I think-- God must really want this to be a miracle. On the other hand, I think-- this extra expense (going to the eye doc, for example) is not very convenient for me when I'm trying to save!

It's ironic that I'm reading Brother Andrew's story-- and how God miraculously provided for him-- and how one time he was struggling too. Anyhow, I've seen God miraculously provide for me. I'm just interested to see where exactly this $4000 is going come from. I'm still incredibly excited about the trip. I can't wait to purchase tickets. And then to actually land in Tokyo. Imagine. Wow.

Coming back to this continent-- I took the youth out to dinner tonight-- at least the ones who help out and serve on the worship team or do power point and the leaders. We talked a little bit about future plans, and how they're feeling and what's going on. It was a good time. One of those bonding things-- which is good-- you need that in a group of leaders.

I'm peeling my lobster skin now-- my arms and shoulders itch like crazy and I also managed to come down with 5 (yes, ma, the count went up) fever blisters, 2 of them, doozies. Yikes. I've never had it that bad. It's an interesting look.

And my family comes on Tuesday. Which is nice-- woo-hoo! Well, I really need to get to bed now... So, I'll write later!

The Joys of Planning

Altotonga, Mexico -- We're in the rainy season now. It's fun times. Actually, it's not too bad right now. Last week we did the beach thing, and this week we're on a normal schedule and next week too, though next week my fam will be here with me. Currently, I've been doing a lot of thinking and planning for the fall stuff-- more so with the team of youth I have. In the summer, they all go on vacations and stuff, and they're "off" their regular way of doing things. Anywho, I want to do a few courses, and really focus them on evangelism and then on how to make disciples. The final point will be that they should be the ones reaching out and this vision I want to plant in their hearts.Anyhow, I need to get to working on that right now... So, until later!

Beachside Fun

Altotonga, Mexico -- I'm back to being up and around-- though I'm still taking it slow. I still won't carry anything heavy or walk fast, but it doesn't hurt to walk down to the club anymore. Everyone down here has been so kind and actively helpful-- I'm very grateful for such an amazing team of youth that I have who were wonderful during the week I was down and Chris and fam were gone-- and for Chris and his family who have been very supportive and for Nathan, who the last couple of days has helped me out too. All you people are amazing!

Today we went to the beach. It was my first time taking kids on a trip where I was pretty much in charge... all the money and contacts with parents and counting heads while waves rushed up to the sand. Of course, Chris and Vonda were there too to help.

It was a good trip. I felt like a soccer mom-- last night I was packing my bags with first aid stuff for any possible disaster that could occur. I had 2 pair of clothes packed-- you know, if the youth decided to throw me in the water with my dry clothes on. And then today when I was very consciencious of how far everyone was out there.

Fortunately, I only needed to use the first aid stuff with myself-- nothing big... don't worry. But the youth had a blast-- so much so that it was a fairly quiet ride home-- that's saying something!! Of course, we had to be careful, there was a camcorder going around preparing for a video next Saturday night-- of us all sleeping.

Oh, and I won the lobster contest. That is, the contest to see who can possibly look like the cutest lobster at the end of the day. Yup, I won. I'm the cutest lobster. Well, I'm going to get to bed. I've had my salt intake for the day. My eyes are really tired, and I still feel like the waves are crashing into me (kinda like feeling like you're on an airplane after a 10 hour flight).

Oh, 2 pieces of news. #1-- My family comes in 10 days. #2-- hold your breath. Chili's is coming to Xalapa.

To Do

May 16, 2008Altotonga, Mexico -- About a half an hour ago, I stepped out of my front door and enjoyed my beautiful 7 minutes of freedom. Truly, it was beautiful. I'd been looking forward to this for the last 24 hours.

I needed to go to the corner to get some cheese, fresh parsley and a few other things. And then I came back. The lady who works in the shoe shop underneath my apt. stopped me talk to her. And then I decided to take a quick rest before I actually make lunch.

Ok, so right now I'm on bedrest. Apparently I overworked myself on the Mother's Day thing. From the pain, I thought I had broken the tailbone again. Yikes. Thank God I didn't. It's only something muscular. So, anyhow, I'm on meds right now and bed rest. Until Tuesday, when I can get up again.

Actually, I'm behaving and doing what the doctor said. Tomorrow, I'm going to try to go down to the Club for about an hour. I promise I won't do anything else tomorrow. And Sunday and Monday I'll continue to rest. But after that, it better be better.

Ok, so in the meantime, I've done studying for Japanese. I wish I had a book that I have on order here with me. Unfortunately, it's in St. Louis waiting to come down with my ma and bros. But I've been doing research online on grammatical stuff and slowly but surely filling up my Japanese notebook.

And then I've been writing up stuff for the website we're putting up down here. That always takes an hour or two for each thing I write. I have 2 more projects to work on while I'm on this bed rest thing. And I've been taking time to read and study the Biblia. I also want to work on the calendar for June and July, and August for when I'm up north. That's always a project in itself.

So, I am getting stuff done. It'd be nicer if it weren't so quiet. But I guess that's what iTunes is for.

Ok, so I don't really have much else to say. I could just keep blabbing on, but I'm going to get on with it.Hope you guys have a fabulous weekend!

Non-titled

Altotonga, Mexico -- Ok, so I'm at home and it's 6pm on a Saturday. What's going on?? It's Mother's Day here and since we have our big thing that we're combining efforts from the local church and the youth center-- anyway, that's tomorrow. So, since we weren't going to do anything special tonight with the moms, I told the kids-- we're not meeting! Spend time with you moms. But come on Sunday!

So, because it's Mom's Day, and everyone is with their families (or are supposed to be) I've taken advantage of getting stuff around here done... I have several lessons and video projects for the Club, and Japanese, and discipleship stuff to review, I really needed a day to get it done.I went out for about 45 minutes for a prayer walk this afternoon. That was good. While out and walking, I was thinking about something Chris told me this week. About 5 years ago, the youth went out during the parade and passed out tracts. Supposedly hundreds of them were torn up in front of them while handing them out. Well, last week after the meeting on Saturday, we went to the park and handed out like 400 or so of them in less than 15 minutes. And on Monday, the 5th, after the second parade, we went down to the park where there were thousands of people-- about 4 or 5. And we handed out about another 1000 more or so. I'm not really sure how many there were. But people were reading them and those who didn't receive would come up to us and ask for one. I was excited, but after Chris told me what had happened the last time, I was really just astonished. In 5 years, that has been the difference in the spiritual climate of Altotonga. One can only hope and pray out for what the next 5 years will bring.

I remember when I came back in the fall, I really felt like God was getting ready to spark a change. I had believed it would be within this next year. So, I was thinking about that as I was out on the prayer walk. I was praying for the change and praying that God would use me as His instrument to bring change. I think it was phrased better in my prayer. But anywho, it made me think about other missionaries who work hard for years and years, maybe their whole lives and never see the fruit of their labors. Of course, every missionary goes to the field expectint that they will be the catalyst that changes everything. That's where the thinking is incorrect-- we are not the catalyst. God is the catalyst. We are merely instruments.

But I thought about the fact that I have to be willing to pour out my work for the time that God calls me here, even if I don't see any fruits of amazing proportions.Think about Jim Elliot-- he died. He poured so much sacrifice into the work and did not see the fruit he was expecting. But, on the other hand, his death did do amazing things and produced fruit. Consider him unsuccessful? No. I don't, anyhow.

Anywho, I'm not going to live with the mentality of "poor missionary". Whatever. No, I believe and hope and pray for things to happen here. Can they happen? Of course. But maybe it was just God challenging me-- we have to do things all for God's glory and to work in faith, knowing that He is the catalyst. I should claim nothing for myself-- a servant never claims their work for themselves. A servant works their best for their master, no matter what the circumstances-- even if they don't understand.

Ok, off my disertation. So, let me tell you about this thing tomorrow. We're inviting all the moms and their fams from church-- and the church people are all supposed to invite other moms and their fams too. The youth band is playing, and because Aaron and Jessie are gone, they needed another person. So, I said I'd play bass with them. It's been kinda fun, jumping in there with them. It's not something I'm planning on doing all the time-- not at all. But for this occassion, because the church asked us to, I said I'd help out.

We're doing 2 mime pieces-- the same ones from Oaxaca-- though I had to find 2 other people, again since Aaron and Jessie aren't around. The pastor's sister- from another city and a leader of the women in an Amistad church there- is doing the talk, particularly for the mothers. And then I asked if I could present the Gospel afterward.So, I'm still thinking about what exactly I want to say. I have a few leadings and it's something I've been thinking about for the past few weeks. I normally am very planned out. I'm gonna sit down and try to write it out tonight-- and see if God doesn't change it on me tomorrow morning. And afterward, we're having a convivio. A convivio is like a potluck, or a get-together kinda thing. Obviously, the church people are providing all. I'm in charge of taking 5 kilos of tortillas (that's like 10 or 12 pounds).

And that's that, I think. Oh, I am starting discipleship with that one girl. I talked with her this week, and she seemed very excited to start that.