One Shot

Love love love... Happy Valentines Day to you!

Well, nothing particularly super special has happened on this day of love... I overslept, but still made it on time to school, went to work, and walked home in the heavily falling snow.  Exciting, right?

Yesterday was a pretty cool day though!  Sunday is FUSE day, and a lot of cool things took place.  First, we had the last time that Lizzie led worship.  She is moving back to the states in March with her family, and we are really sad to see her go!  Beside being an awesome girl, she is a very talented worship leader.  The music was pretty awesome yesterday... not just that the quality of the music was awesome, but God was really moving during the music. 

Afterward, I gave the message at FUSE about... of course-- love.  But instead of a Valentines Day message, I gave a message about living a life of love.  We looked at the media's messages of love and what God, who is love, has to say about it.  I thought it went pretty ok, but there was a good response to the message.  I remembered Mark saying that some of the messages that he was not happy about were some of them that he got some of the best responses about people being touched by it... I guess it's the same.

Also awesome yesterday was that two girls that we met a couple of weeks ago at McDonalds came to FUSE!  We were having a meeting and Yuiko gave the 2 girls flyers as we were leaving and we all said bye.  None of us recognized them by face on Sunday, but Yuiko said that when she saw them coming up, she felt like God said that those were the two girls from McDonalds.  So, she asked them, "Are you from McDonalds?"  They were surprised and answered yeah. 

Afterward, they joined Yuiko's lifegroup and one of them really seemed like she wanted to come back.  She said that she was really happy to have received the flyer and the opportunity to come to a group meeting like ours.  She said that if she hadn't received it, she didn't know if she'd ever have another opportunity for the rest of her life to attend a meeting.

It was really cool to hear that.  We really see God moving in people's lives.  And we never know when the opportunity will present itself-- out on the streets, at McDonalds or wherever you may be-- God can use you to be the unique opportunity in that person's life to lead them to Jesus.

So, awesome! (Here with my the new trainee from WIM... she's doing great!!  Looking forward to seeing what God's going to do with her in the next few months!)

Kimono Day!

Wow, what times.  How it flies! (We did kimono day at school!  Wow, those things are tight around you and take time to put on!  But they are so pretty!)

Even though I had two days off school last week, it's Monday and I feel as if I need a day off.  :)  So, this last week has involved everything from signing papers and paying for my new apartment, welcoming in 2 new girls from America and helping them get settled in and see the area, preparing for a message, practicing bass and doing an extra large lifegroup last night!

So, usually we don't do this but, last night my lifegroup was 11 girls.  I know. We like to keep it to about 6 maximum, but I have about 3 or 4 regulars and then another 4 or so girls who come once or twice a month.  Well, last night, one of my girls invited 3 friends, and then the 2 American girls and another English speaker and a straggler came as well. 

But, it actually came out to be a good idea.  At one table, we ended up splitting into 2 groups-- English speakers and Japanese speakers... and of course, I led the English group and then Saki led the Japanese group.  It was a good opportunity for training, since she will lead the group while I am in America next month.  It turned out really well!

Apart from that, things seem to be going pretty well!  I'm busy getting things set up for the move in 3 weeks weeks (wow!) and set up in America for my visit home to do some visiting and support raising and then also just in general, I feel like God is blessing many areas. 

Well, I have homework and stuff to get to before another long day of tomorrow!

Catch ya'll later!!

And.... POST!

Dear wonderful friends, please forgive me for my lack of posting lately.  There is a lot going on in my little world here on this island of Japan.  Let me give you the a la carte version:

-It is ridiculously exciting to watch Manami as she is learning about Jesus.  She is SO excited about know Him more, growing and participating in worship!  Though she participates in the band, she also worships while in the crowd.  When she first came to FUSE, and even in December, she still just kinda stood there during worship time... but now, she is singing and I saw herself really expressing herself during the songs with her hands.  It was really cool... People are all around noticing she is just a changed girl!

-We had an awesome lifegroup this last Sunday.  We have been talking about faith lately, and so I decided that we were going to journal Hebrews 11 and then share together what we got out of it.  So, as we we're sitting there in the restaurant, it was too long to do then, so we divided it up randomly.  We all got so much out of it, and so much of what each of us needed to hear.  We learned from God, and then also from each other.  It was a great evening.

-I went to Fuji-san today!  Mt. Fuji, the highest spot in Japan (we didn't climb it-- you can only climb it 2 months of the year), is one of the symbols of Japan.  It was a really chilly day, but we had a good time.  It was a school trip.

-I sat down last night to do what I always have to do this time of the year: figured out numbers for last year.  There was some concern from WIM about my not getting what I budgetted that I needed.  And after many, many hours of figuring out things and going over papers and deposits... You know... I don't know how I made it last year.  But thank God I did.  He is always faithful.  Please do pray for me though for this coming year.  And please pray as I am getting ready to doing some support raising States-side in March.  I am praying for many opportunities to share the vision, and people to be on-board and supporting the vision to reach Japan with the Gospel.

-One last thing:  I'm moving!  CRAZY.  I know.  But, it's something we've been talking about for a while, and I found a great deal on a really nice apartment (and people when they hear here are like: really? that's so cheap!)... and all the furnishings (from fridge to curtains) given to me.  It's kinda crazy how it's all working out.  I admit, it's all a little intimidating for me.  But I feel like God has opened doors that don't get opened like this.  But I am going to trust God in this.

Well, it's going to be a really busy next few months, but please stay tuned~  I'll still be here.  :)

New Lessons for a New Year

Well, soooo much has been going on in the last few weeks... As I look at this coming year though, I think it will get even crazier.  Also, with returning to school and a regular schedule with FUSE things and work, it's been a bit of working at getting back into the groove. (Kaori and Maki, after the first FUSE of 2011... this last FUSE, they invited me out for dinner at a Japanese restaurant!  It was fun to spend time with them!!)

For one thing, I am looking at now moving in this next month.  There are many different factors that I am trying to balance all at the same time and make a decision that will be where I live for the next two years.  So, it's kinda big.  :)

But one really encouraging thing has been to watch Manami this week as recently she is posting so many things-- like Bible verses, and how she wants to praise Jesus more and read the Bible more and grow more.  How exciting is that?!?!  For real.  How privileged I feel to be a part of the work God is doing in her life!!  She played bass this week for FUSE on the band, and she did an awesome job. (At dinner the other night (mentioned in the caption above... this is okonomiyaki, and it's on a grill at our table, with noodles and all kinds of stuff in there... a bunch of deliciousness... Yoshi and Ty also came along for the ride... by the way, this is all cut into pieces and shared between us).

Oh, it just reminded me hearing this.... I am hearing the "clanking" of 2 pieces of wood together (kinda a higher pitch).  Here in Japan, a tradition started a long time ago, every night in winter they walk around banging this pieces of wood together.  The sound helps remind you to check your fires (of course, I don't have any)-- but rather to be careful of fire.  Winter time here is pretty dry, and many times in the past Tokyo has had great fires.  So, it's a warning to be careful.  Kinda like Smokey the Bear, but with a more eastern/mystical feel. 

But yes, it DOES get cold.  When I checked the temp the other morning, at 7am, it was 25°F and I had not used heat the night before (I sleep under a million blankets and don't feel it- but yes, getting up- it's painful, ha!).  Since I sleep by the window (which comes down to face level, since I sleep like 10 inches off the floor), and thus keep my alarm (ipod) by the window sill by my face, I awoke to a start the other morning... My ipod got so cold it turned off and the battery died. 

Moral of the story: if not for yourself- for your electronics, use a bit of heat at night.  :)

Oops! Wrong Blog

So, I was writing the FUSE blog (because that's something I do every week), and I didn't realize that I was signed into my own blog, since I opened the FUSE page... Anyway, the post below was meant to show up on another page and not this one... Well, you can read what I was going to write for that, and then check out the FUSE blog if you want... :)

FUSE Jesus Community's Blog  <-- Click there

Ha, I still find that amusing.  Well, I'm going to head on over there and post!

Happy New Year FJC***

Happy New Year!!  Welcome to the first blog of 2011!! We are super excited about this year at FUSE Jesus Community, and are looking forward to amazing things happening all throughout this year!! Be there, so you don't miss out!!
On this first FUSE Jesus Community of 2011, we had a great time with the FUSE band, hearing awesome music about Jesus.  Also, the last message of 2010 suggested, we looked back at the story of FJC until now.  What a journey it's been!  And in many ways, so unexpected!  However, we are looking forward and pushing on to a future with BIG vision!  Check out the awesome story and learn to be sure to build a great 2011 on vimeo! 

This next Sunday, voting will begin for the design for the FUSE tshirt contest!! The designer of the winning shirt will get a free one.... which means, if you design one, YOU could have a free tshirt.  I know you want that, right?!?  So, send that design in to thefuse09@gmail.com , and then be there to vote!  Voting will happen for 2 weeks, and then we'll announce the winning design! 

Be there on Sunday!! We meet every week at the new CLOUD 9 Studio in Machida! Every Sunday at 3pm! Come join a great Community and meet lots of new friends at this International Church!! We look forward to meeting you!!　



毎週日曜午後3時から町田クラウド９スタジオにてフューズ・ジーザス・コミュニティはみんなを待っているよ！最高の人生を、最高の仲間と一緒に築いていこう！みんなに会えるのを楽しみにしているよ！！

For real kickin' off a New Year!!

My computer is alive again!!  A huge thanks to Ty, who spent a good while trying to fix it, and then eventually uninstalling and reinstalling windows and putting my file back on it!  I am super happy to be able to communicate once again with my family, to listen to music when at home, and to be back on my blog.

Score!

Super happy. Oh, by the way, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!  The picture to the left at midnight on 2011... we were freezing on the rooftop...! It's going to be a great 2011!

And I'll tell you why.  Today was our first FJC service of 2011... Two weeks ago was our last FUSE (New Years is a big family here, so most people went to their hometowns or spent the weekend with their families, so we had a week break)... and I had the opportunity to share.  I talked about Building a New Year-- building your life on the Word of God, and evaluating the year before so that you can set goals and build up the next year.  The video is on vimeo.com.... http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F18264206&h=ef393

Anyway, so this FUSE, we talked about the story of FUSE up til this point and where we're heading, etc.  It was really cool.  Of my life group, one had a school commitment and couldn't make it and another was sick.  So, that left me and Manami for lifegroup (Manami is on my right hand side in the above pic, giving the peace sign).  Even so, I was really happy to meet with her, and we did a evangelistic Bible study on Zaccheus... I told her that she could meet Jesus now.  She was excited and said that she wanted to meet Jesus... So, I explained the Gospel to her and she understood-- and she prayed on her own to meet Jesus... Praise God!!  I'm believing for many, many more salvations this year... it's only the beginning, and we're already starting a party in heaven!!