searching

After a 2 hour delay at the airport, I made it to Nashville, TN for Christmas with the parents. They have moved again, which means I came "home" to a new house that I've never been to before. Fortunately, one of my brothers (Joe) lives right down the road so it doesn't feel like I'm in a completely foreign land. In all honesty, it feels more natural to be here than the last place. Joe has been working on book shelves that will be Christmas presents for my mom and his wife. He came over the first day I was here to see if I was bored and take me on a ride around the country side to drop off presents for his customers. I loved that he wanted to show me the work he's done on the houses (he has his own lawn service business), and I "ohhed" and "awed" with sincere pride. I love that guy!

It's been this search for home and belonging that I've been on the last couple of months. Being up in the air with plans for Japan for over a year has been really unsettling. I really can't stand the question, "so, when do you leave for Japan?" because I have no idea how to answer it. I really can't be angry with people for asking--it's a natural question for those who know about my calling to Japan. But, I'm feeling so much pressure and demands on myself that this question is at times too overwhelming.

I found some video footage from my trip to Japan in 2004 tonight. Watching myself and my students that I taught in Japan really helped me to remember how much I still want to be there. I still can't explain it very well. It's more of this nostalgia of a land that is both so foreign and familiar that I'm wowed by it. The mystery of the anticipated adventure... I hear a lot of people are let down by their expectations, but still, I can't let go of a hope for finding a new world. Maybe I have some unhealthy motivations? Who knows... But I do know this: If I waited to have a pure motive for everything I did, I would never do anything.

Going to Urbana

Well, hello strangers!

Thought you might want to know that I'll be attending Urbana this year on December 27th-Jan 1st. This is a major missions conference that happens only every 3 years where thousands of people come to worship and attend workshops/seminars about what's going on around the world. I'll be respresenting Asian Access with a group of young adults who are currently serving in Japan or have been in the recent past. I'm super excited to have a chance to "bond" a bit more with my Asian Access family. I really need a boost of morale at this point in the support raising journey.

I'm praying in a couple of directions for this conference:

1. That I would have good bonding time (as already mentioned)

2. Megan and Chris are good friends of mine from Wheaton. They will also be there to scope out mission's agencies to get an idea of where and with whom God might send them. They are only 2 out of a possible 25,000 that are asking similar questions. Pray for these people.

3. Pray for those individuals who have hearts for Japan. Asian Access is praying that at least 10 individuals will be moved to come to Japan as Church Planting Associates. This is the program I am doing. We're also praying that some may come on EnVision Tours (2-week long interest trips) and Summer Teams (short-term outreach trips).

Thanks for your continued support in prayer!

Reiko's Story

This is a cool story from the field in Japan about a fellow Asian Access missionary. I thought I'd pass it along as an encouragement to you all! Keep posted for more short biographical stories about other Asian Access missionaries serving in Japan.


A year ago, Reiko Tarui came to Japan on a short-term vision trip with Asian Access to see if God was calling her to serve here. Reiko was born and raised in Japan until she was 16, then her family moved to the States. There she married and had a family of her own, and through her husband, came to know Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. Since the passing of her husband, God has been using Reiko to minister to many in the States, but she felt a tug to return to Japan to share her joy in knowing Jesus. While Reiko was preparing to return to Japan, we [Asian Access staff in Japan] were working on the details of a mission conference. We chose Etajima, an island off Hiroshima, for the conference site because of its central and inexpensive location. Only when Reiko arrived in Japan to minister with Asian Access did we find out that Etajima is Reiko’s birthplace! During the conference, Reiko had the opportunity to meet with some cousins who still live on the island, who asked her “Is Jesus real?” God is amazing! We know that God uses us wherever He places us, but sometimes He brings us full circle to demonstrate His faithfulness 360 degrees!

35.26%

Here are the latest numbers:

Monthly Support: 35.26%
$1,127.50 raised
$3,197.43 needed

Start-up Expenses: over 100%
$14,678.00 raised
$12,250.27 needed

After spending 2 hours crunching numbers, I'm discovering why I am not an accountant!
And, why I am thankful to have Jason in my Asian Access family!!! Thanks a ton, Jason! I could never do this without you!

remembering HRC

This is my favorite picture ever taken of me. I was hosting a great group of high school kids at HoneyRock for their winter reatreat. I've been remembering HRC with a warm fuzzy feeling lately, which is a huge blessing. After having such an intense year there with so many heart breaking changes happening, I'm happy to look back with a smile. This picture summarizes a lot for me. I miss the snow!!!!

pumpkin patch

Mom treats all the grandkiddos to a pumpkin

Mom always told me I had a pumpkin grin.

Am I angry? Exhilarated? in pain? What's going on here?!

This is a pully system rigged up so that people can send a handful of goat food up to the goat. This particular goat appears to have stayed up here all day eating!
fun times in Nashville

beautiful fall colors.
The hills are amazing! I love it!

Auntie Millie

Here's a picture of part of my Asian Access family serving in Japan right now. Look at all those babies that are waiting for me to come play! I can't wait to be Auntie Millie to those cuties!

Please, please, please be praying for the rest of the month of October. My next deadline for reaching 85% of my monthly support is on November 3rd. We worship The God of Impossibilities and I'm waiting on Him still. Currently I have 35% ($1,127.50 raised) ($3,197.43 needed) so, it's a big leap.

There's also a possibility that I may go to Japan for a shorter time initially (6 months-1year) with the funds God has provided so far.

If you feel lead to do so, please tell your friends, family, and fellow church members about me and my need. I would love to add more people to my team!

Japanese Dad's re-live childhood

Taken from an email I received from a ministry in Japan:

"Many young fathers in Japan are finding themselves wrapped up in the 80's nostalgia, spending time with their children, as they recall their own youth with reissued plastic models, board games and radio-controlled cars.

The toy companies are helping the dads enthusiastically to relive their childhood.

Twenty-plus and thirty-plus dads are happy they can finally buy the collectors' items they could not afford during their childhood, and toy manufacturers are jumping on the trend, quickly reproducing the toys and taking the opportunity to make new customers of both the fathers and their children.

It was rare even for Bandai, the country's largest toymaker, to reissue hit toys aimed at men who were boys in the 80's, but that age group has turned out to be a boon for the toy manufacturers.

Many other companies jumped on the bandwagon and produced an array of toys with young fathers in mind. Husbands said their wives stopped nagging them because the toys allowed them to spend more time playing with their children!"

Source - Yomiuri Newspaper, 2005-11-20

Pretty interesting!

along the path

I keep pulling parables out of my visit to the Japanese garden.

Here's one from last night, between the waking and dreaming:


I mentioned before the deliberate-ness of the construction of the garden. Everything has a purpose and a hidden meaning. The path at one point in the garden was uneven, cut into the side of a hill. As I slowly walked from stone to stone, the sound of the waterfall grew louder and more powerful. I knew I was getting ready to see something wonderful. Can you imagine walking a path similar to this one in traditional Japanese geta (wooden sandals traditionally worn with kimono)?!

In thinking about God's sovereignty, I wonder if maybe the "path of life" is more like this picture than the paved interstate that we all want. We don't want pot-holes and we definitely want mileage markers and good signage, don't we! I wonder if God has instead placed us on a path that is meant to be traveled slowly and deliberately, with eyes wide open. We can walk this path one stone at a time, taking a breather if we need it on the way up and even stop every once in a while to listen and anticipate what's ahead.

Living with purpose. Deliberately. Thoughtfully.

The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD.

He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will not fall,

for the LORD holds them by the hand.

Psalm 37:23-24, NLT

shejayemshe camp

Say it really fast and that's the way CJMC is pronounced by my Japanese friends. I'm posting pictures from our summer's family camp that I attended in July. This was a very significant outing for me because it helped me to get to know the church members a lot better. Please continue to pray for these relationships. My hope is that I will be able to share my vision and desire to go to Japan and that some would partner with me.

My favorite spot

Yummy Curry!!!

Many had never been horseback riding before. All faced the challenge head-on.

Mick leads worship with some assistance

The whole gang. See you next year!