Where to lay my treasures 宝を積むこところ

well, in previous post, I mentioned that I believe I'll return to Okinawa in the future.

In fact, it seems to be much earlier than I thought.
以前の投稿で沖縄へいつかは帰るだろうという思いを書きました。
でも、それよりも早くなりそうです^^/

Last two visits to Okinawa, it tried to keep them this secret 'cause they wanted me to do, were actually for job interview.

They wanted me to have them at their headquarters, so I was basically flown to Okinawa (free tickets!! Yey!!)
話が前後しますが、最近２回の帰省は（企業から内密にということだったのであまり公にはしてませんが）面接のためでした。
会社が本社で面接を実施したいということだったので、チケットをくれて沖縄へ飛ばしてくれました。

One side-story from this job interview trip is that because they gave me tickets, I was able to go to my good friend, Robert' wedding!!! I really wanted to go, but I couldn't afford it!! God provides everything at His perfect timing!!
すこし脱線しますが、これに呼ばれたおかげで友人のロバートの結婚式に行くことができました！！本当に、神は素晴らしいタイミングを持っておられます！！プレイズ・ザ・ロードです！

Back to main subject,

So on my way back to Tokyo from Tohoku,
本題に戻りまして、
東北から東京への帰り道の途中で・・・・・

(it was day time though ;P)

I received a phone call.

It was from that company and they pre-officially (well, it is official but informal offer) offered me the job.

一つの電話を受けました。
それは、以前に面接を受けた会社からの内々定を知らせる電話でした！！

*in case if you are wondering what kind of job it is. Job hunting in Japan is much different that of states. We apply to the company, not to particular job (foreign capital companies are exception though). Yet, we can make requests regarding what kind of job we want. But it is company that decides in the end. Besides, I'll be working there after the graduation.*

And they wanted to know whether I accept the offer or not within a week!!!
I had applied to other companies too and some of them still haven't started their recruiting process yet. So I only had two choices; accept this offer and back-off from all the other recruiting process, or turn down the offer and go for other companies.
そして、一週間以内にその答えが知りたいということでした。
もちろん、他の企業にもESなどを提出して選考プロセスに乗っていたのですが、もし受けてもらう場合はそれら全てを辞退して欲しいとうことも同時に告げられました。
So, it was very very cho- difficult decision to make!! Had I had other companies' results, the only thing I'd have to do is to chose one from the candies on table. But in this case, the other choices are still "possibilities" and there is a big chance that I won't get any other offer.
そして、この選択はとても難しいものでした。もしも他の企業からの内定や選考結果がでていたら、テーブルの上にあるチョイスの一つを選べば良いのですが、他の企業は「可能性」でしかないので、もしそちらに進むにしてもある意味「賭け」と同じ行為でした。

Well, in substance, the deep question for myself was "Whether I stay in Tokyo or go back to Okinawa??".
本質的な深いところのクエスチョンは「沖縄に戻るか、東京に残るか」というものでした。

The answer I came to, after all, is "Okinawa".
答えを初めに言うと「沖縄」です！

So, here is how it came down.
以下が、その結論に至った過程です。

In the van, when I received call, guys saw me troubling and PRAYED for me!! (I can't thank enough for these godly men.)
And I came back to my room and PRAYED.
Next day, I had two job-interviews but I cancelled one of them and PRAYED.
Then Saturday was "all day free"( first time in past half year or more!!), so I was able to spend much time in PRAYER!! My mom called me that night. She wanted to make sure if I am spending much time in devotion, prayer and personal time with God. well, as any kids do, I said "sure~". (well, I really did. I prayed and read Bible hours in those few days!)
その電話を受けたときはバンのなかにいたのですが、それを見た同じ車に乗っていた人たちが祈ってくれました！（ホントに、祈ってくれた男の人たちには感謝しきれません。）
そして、自分の部屋に帰って祈りました。
次の日、二つの面接の予定が入っていたのですが、朝の方をキャンセルして祈りました！
また、土曜日（その次の日）は久しぶりの「一日フリー」だったので、多くの時間を祈りに割くことができました。私の母からその夜に電話があり、私がしっかり主との時間を過ごしているか確認して、励ましてくれました！

Finally, the moment came.
On Sunday morning, I read Hebrews 5 which I've been reading thru for my daily devotion. So, I opened up the Word, I was like "Ok, Lord, speak to me!!" Then nothing happened. (the text itself was by all means good.)
そして、その時が来ました。
日曜の朝、ヘブルの５章（ヘブルをディヴォーションで読んでいたので）を読みましたが、あまり感じるところは有りませんでした。どうしても語らいたかったので、ランダムにマタイ６を開きました。どうしても、主からの声を語って欲しかったのです！！
But I desperately wanted to hear from the Lord, so randomly opened Matthew 6:20-21 in which Jesus is talking about laying up our treasures in heaven.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

”自分の宝は、天にたくわえなさい。そこでは、虫もさびもつかず、盗人が穴をあけて盗むこともありません。

I've heard this like hundred times and thought I completely understood this.
But, Jon Courson' Application Commentary was at my hand, so I opened it.
Pastor Jon described
この箇所は何度も繰り返し聞いているところです。そのため、私は完全に理解した気になっていました。しかし、何故かその時ジョン・コーソン師の注解書が手元にあり、私は引き寄せられるように、その箇所を開きました。そこで、彼はこう述べていました

"If I have treasures in heaven, guess where my heart will be? ......

How can we be more heavenly-hearted? By sending our treasure ahead." 

”もしも宝が天にあるなら、あなたの心はどこにあるでしょうか？

「どうしたら天に心を置くことができるか」って？

宝をそこに送ることでですよ。” 

If I want my heart in heaven, I need to start sending treasures to heaven now!!
もしも心が天にあることを願うなら、今宝を天に積みはじめなければならないのです！
I had always thought the opposite way; if my heart is in heaven, I'd naturally lay up my treasures in heaven. But, Pastor Jon' teaching was different and it shook my heart.
私はこの箇所を反対の意味で捉えていました。「もしも私の心が天にあるなら、自然と宝を天に積むはずだ」と。しかし、ジョン・コーソン師の教えはこれとは逆のことでした。

This past one month, I was feeling God will eventually call me back to Okinawa but didn't know when. I was thinking after I reach 30 years old. (in addition, I was feeling that God is calling me to ministry in Okinawa.)
この一ヶ月、私は「神はいずれは自分を沖縄へと呼ばれるだろう」と感じていました。ただ、「いつ」かは分かりません。おそらく、３０歳辺りだろうという安易な推測はありましたが。
But, God started speaking, "Do you want your hear in heaven? Then start sending your treasure now!!"
I was like "Now? Seriously??". (what a rude.....)
God again said to me, "Yes, this is the time!"
God's given vision to me to go back to Okinawa and work. At the same time, God gave me tremendous peace I hadn't experienced since I took the phone call.
そんな私に神は語り始めました。「あなたは心を天におきたいのか？そうなら、何故今から宝を天に積まないのか？」と。
私は「『今』ですか？」と。
主は「そうだ、このタイミングだ。」とお答えになりました。
そして、神は私に沖縄に帰るというビジョンと、それに対する超自然な平安を与えてくださいました。この平安は、私が電話を受けてから感じることのなかったものです。

So, God truly answered to my prayers. I think I had never prayed like this before. Completely at loss, not knowing what is right choice, struggle between my flesh and spirit, every possibility was appealing to me......
そうです、神は私の祈りに応えてくださったのです。これほど熱心に祈ったことはこれまでなかったと思います。全くの迷子、何をして良いのか分からず、どの道にも自信を持てず、肉と霊との狭間で戦っていました。
But all I needed was one voice from God.
God experientially taught me how faithful He is when I honestly seek Him!!
Prayer was the key to the answer!!!
Thank you all who have been praying for me!!
しかし、私に必要だったのは一つの声、神からの答えでした。
神は体験的に私にご自身が、私の求めに対してどれだけ誠実な方かを示してくれました。
そして、祈りがその答えへの鍵だったのです！
私のために祈ってくれたみんな、本当にありがとう！！

So, I will be back in Okinawa after my senior year.
I will truly miss my friends and fellowship here in Tokyo.
But I am looking forward to serving God, His people, my dearest Okinawans at Calvary Chapel Okinawa.
I am so stoked to see what God has for me in the future.
私は、この四年目を終えたら沖縄へと帰ります。
ここ、東京の友人、交わりから離れることはとても寂しいことです。
しかし、それと同時に神に仕えること、主の民に仕えること、私の愛するウチナーンチュに、沖縄（カルバリーチャペル沖縄）で仕えることをとても楽しみにしています。
もちろん、仕事という新しい挑戦もです。

Please continue to pray for me that God will show me what to do in my senior year and next step of my life.
神が私のような者に、もっともっとビジョンを、この一年でなにをすべきかを示してくれるようにお祈り下さい。

In Love and Grace.

Yasutomo
愛と恵みのうちに
康智

Tohoku Trip Part1

Ok, here is my real report about Tohoku.

I joined the work of Calvary Tohoku Relief (you should check out their blog !!)
Several Calvary churches got together and has been working in Miyagi pre-facture.
Since you can check out what we/I did in the blog, I'd like to write my thoughts and what God spoke to me here in this blog.

But one practical thing I can share is that THEY ARE STILL IN NEED!!
After a month, I thought there will be many volunteers and supplies, but the fact was different. Especially they need man-power who can clean up the houses that have been affected or damaged by earth-quake and tsunami.
So if any of you are still concerned and praying about going there, KEEP PRAYING and if God opens the door, I'd say, "JUMP IN!!".

I think I learned two big lessons this time.

here I share one of them.

it is......

 "UNITY OF THE CHURCH"

This team was consisted of people from different churches (but all Calvary related though. I Love Calvary Church!!).
So, you can say that we have different backgrounds and cultures and it can be said that it'd take little bit of time to perform good team work.

But, here is cool thing though,
We gathered in one Name, Jesus Christ, and one purpose, His Glory!!!
This was so enough to bring us together and strengthen our ties.

It didn't take even a day to perform good team work.
We got there at night and our work started rolling like a Mercedes or Ferrari.
It was just B-E-A-U-tiful !!!!

Every night we'd pray for one another, almost every site we visited we prayed for and sometimes with the locals!! ( so cool to see people' hearts are being opened! )
Prayer was a big factor that enabled us to keep our focus right. Without prayers, we'd have been just "laboring", not actually ministering to people!!!

I had had a mind/desire to share my faith with people there. But most of what I did was physical labor, cleaning houses and shoveling mud and didn't get to talk a lot.
But my heart was filled with joy every night. Because I'd share every night what each member did during the day with everyone, I knew some one was sharing with and loving on people and it became my joy!!

I felt God was saying "you did your part and others did their part, but in the end, it's all for Me right?".
I was like "YES LORD!!!"
I was reminded of the song "All to us" by Chris Tomlin

Let the glory of Your name be the passion of the Church 

Let the righteousness of God be a holy flame that burns 

Let the saving love of Christ be the measure of our lives 

We believe You're all to us 

"from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."

Ephesians 4:16

Okinawa is Okinawa やっぱり沖縄

well, last post really sums up my two Okinawa bounds.
but here I'd like to share my thoughts (especially concerning Okinawa).
一応、この前の投稿が沖縄帰省をまとめてるのですが、今回は自分の思いを分かち合いたいと思います。

It is always great to be back home.
I really like Tokyo and people and friends there.
but as many say, "there is nothing like home" right??
「家」に帰るということはいつでも素晴らしいものです。
東京ももちろん好きですが、「故郷に勝るものはない」ですよね？

It is really strange feeling because I usually come home once a 6 months or at least 3 months. (one reason is that Okinawa feeds me too much and I gain too much weight)
この一ヶ月は少し変わっていました。なぜなら、帰省はこれまでも半年や4ヶ月くらいのスパンでやっていたので、一ヶ月に３回も帰るということは初めてでした。（もちろん、沖縄に帰り過ぎると太るので気を付けなくてはいけませんが）

Every single time I am back on island, I try to look for opportunity to serve and minister. My home church Calvary Chapel Okinawa always kindly opens the doors for me to do that.
I can't thank enough for Pastor Rick and his staff Glenn, Kevin, Roy and other guys who are in leadership. They are always gracious and kind to give me opportunity to serve there. It is so grace, I think, that even though I no longer attend the church regularly, I am being able to be part of their work.
私は帰省している間は、何か仕える機会がないかつねにさがすようにしています。私の”母教会”（あんまりなれない言葉ですが）、カルバリー・チャペル・沖縄はいつもドアを開いて、私に機会を与えてくれます。
パスター・リック、そして彼のスタッフであるグレン、ケビン、ロイには感謝しきれません。彼らはいつも私に奉仕の機会を恵んでくれます。私はもう定期的に教会に来ていないのにも関わらず、働きに加えてくれるということは恵みの他なにものでもないと思います。

on my first trip, Kevin blessed me with a chance to share the Word with his youth group. It was very unique experience because I was once one of them now I am standing in front of them almost "teaching". But I want to give back to youth what I had received from God so that they can be prepared to go into the world. Without the youth group, I am not sure if I am at where I am today.
最初の帰省ではケビンがみことばをユースと分かち合う機会を与えてくれました。かつて自分がいたグループに、こんどは自分が前にたって話すというのは少しくすぐったいというか、変な感じがしました。しかし、私が神から受けたものを少しでも彼らに流せることができればと思っています。このユースグループなしには、今の私はいなかったことでしょう。それだけ、彼らには特別な思いがあります。

CCO Youth (High school)

カルバリー・沖縄のユース

and this month (April) Roy Toma blessed me with opportunity to lead worship at Japanese Lunch Fellowship. Also I did interpreter for Rick as he gave some reports about his relief work in Tohoku area.
I have a heart for Japanese. It is so much joy for me to see the fellowship is growing and strengthened!!! God is surely doing great works there.
今月（４月）にはロイ・藤間が日本人ランチ・フェローシップで賛美をリードする機会を与えてくれました。また、その後のリックの東北リリーフのレポートの通訳もさせて頂きました。
日本人ミニストリーは常に私の心に有ります。それは、もちろん私が日本人だということもあります。しかし、神が私の中においてくださっている情熱をこのように生かすことができ本当に祝福でした。日本人ミニストリーが成長し、強められていることも見ることができとても心が励まされました。

this is from "Cross Road" class.

Roy, his wife Nancy and James are teaching English 

with the portion fo Bible from which Rick is preaching.

これはランチフェローシップではありませんが、

ロイ、ナンシー、ジェームズが教えている「クロス・ロード」という

聖書を使って英語を教えるクラスの写真です。

another blessing I see is that Bible College students coming to serve at the church.
They are students at Calvary Chapel Bible College Okinawa Campus of which Tommy Ruiz is the director. They send teams to different churches to serve.
I love their heart for ministry. The team that comes to CCO is led by Tamiko whom I've known yearS! LOL well, I always enjoy seeing her and new students.
I sometimes get jealous of them because I have always wanted to go to CCBC!! but well well, God has His plan...
また、他の祝福の一つはバイブルカレッジの生徒です。
彼らは、トム・ルイスがディレクターを務める、カルバリー・チャペル・バイブル・カレッジ、沖縄キャンパスの生徒でして、幾つかのチームに別れ日曜は様々な教会で奉仕をしています。CC沖縄にくるチームは彩子がリーダーです。彼女とは「何年」もの仲ですが、会うたびに励まされますし、楽しい時間を過ごします。また、新しい生徒との出会いも新鮮なものがあります。彼らのことが時々羨ましくなりますが、（私もずっとバイブルカレッジにいきたいので）、神様の時があると信じるだけです。。。。。。

(from left to right)左から右へ

Brandon, Moses, Tamiko, Aya and Ally

ブランドン、モーセ、たみこ、あや、アリー

There are so many things that I received from God during my three trips!
I believe God is calling me to Okinawa but don't know yet when it is.
I was thinking maybe after reaching 30 but it seems that it can be much earlier......
沖縄にいる間には、ここで分かち合ってないもっと多くの祝福がったのですが、今回はここまで！
私は、神は自分を沖縄に呼んでいると思います。しかし、それがいつかはまだ分かりません。これまでは３０歳を超えたらかなと思っていましたが、もしかしたら早まるかもしれないですね。

I am still praying that God will show me what He wants to do in my life.
ただ、神の御心を求めて祈るだけです！！

the answered prayer

I was so blessed with the great opportunity to join the Calvary Tohoku Relief work.

Ever since the M9.0 Earth Quake and Tsunami happened, I have desired to go to Tohoku and do something. My heart was being shaken ......

I think one of the reasons is that earth quake I felt in Tokyo was still scaring and seeing Tsunami sweeping the towns and cities on TV live was so shocking.

I felt the fragility of man's life and sensed the need of God's mercy on this nation of Japan ever before.

Though I wanted to go Tohoku, it seemed impossible to go.

One was that my school was supposed to start on 4th of April. Even after it had been delayed, I had to go Okinawa for a job-interview. 

Even there was one week that was open between my Okinawa trip and school semester, there was big possibility that another job hunting schedule will come in.

But, the desire did not disappear nor fade. So I kept praying and praying.

I emailed my Pastor to tell my desire to go and he graciously gave me a "Go" sign for the very week I had!

But there was one big barrier/problem I needed to deal with. It was my dorm.

There is a rule/protocol that if I want to be absent from weekly dorm Bible study and meeting, I need to have permission from every single student at dorm (that is 15 students).

So, I sent email to core member of the dorm to let them know my thoughts ahead. But the reply was very difficult one with many questions.

I prayed and asked God to opened the door.

I sat down with the core members and talked about an hour, try to help them understand the importance of the relief work.

well, God is Big!!!!! They agreed on me going and at the meeting next day, I was able to received permission from everyone.

This is how I joined this trip.

God is simply amazing....

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? "

my March part1

Ok, it's time that I did my blog updating.......

This past few weeks has been really busy going back and forth between Okinawa and Tokyo.

Now as I write this, I am in Okinawa for Job interview. 

I've already had the interview on Wednesday and now for relaxing time.

I hope to make my blog catch up with my life.

so here is part 1 of that work.

I went to Okinawa twice in March.

One for my family business and the other for job hunting.

I was able to go Rob and Rika' wedding!!!

I have known Robert for about 5 years. He has been real good friend of mine. 

I never had thought I'd make it!! 

 and here is my family pic.

It has been really long time since the last time we got together like this.

I was given a opportunity to share the Word with youth at CCOkinawa.

I grew up in this youth group so it was really special moment for me.

and of course, there is tons of food in Okinawa.....

Thank you Rick!!

well, time is running out, so I have to stop right here.

But I will hope more pics and what God has been doing in and thru my life tomorrow !!

Keep coming back here ;)