day 4 : more work

here is our day 4 was like.

では、第四日目です。

We went to Arahama area, Sendai and shore Ishinomaki.

Roy and Rick gave us some explanation about Tsunami and earthquakes.

It was very hard to believe that it has been almost one year since the disaster took place. 

Yes, we've seen much progress and changes but there are so much more to be done. "What can I do??" I asked myself. I felt helpless. I was reminded later at night that all I can do is to be hands and feet of Jesus, going wherever He sends us.

So here we are now, standing in the place that is still in the process of restoration physically and desperately needs spiritual one. We continued sharing the love and hope of God today.

仙台の荒浜地区と石巻の海岸沿いにまずは行きました。

ロイさんとリックさんが津波と地震の被害などにかんして、色々と説明をしてくれました。

ほぼ一年も経ってしまったと信じがたい気持ちになりました。

確かに、多くが変わり、進展もありました。ですが、あまりにも多くが手付かずな状況だと感じたのです。「自分に何ができるのだとう」と自問しました。とても無力に感じたのです。しかし、その後に私たちができることは、イエスの手足となって、遣わされるところに行くことなのだと思い起こさせられました。

そして、今この、復興の途中にある場に立っています。そして、この地は霊的な復興／回復がとても必要なのだと感じました。そして、今日もキリストの愛と希望を分かち合いました。

Arahama area

Praying

From coast of Ishinomaki

We went back to cafe today as well. We worked one 2nd floor and did some cleaning and bouilt bikes. These guys were amazing. We didn't have much time to work but they did so much during the limited time!!!

今日もカフェへと戻りました。そして、二階部分でも作業と、清掃、そして自転車の組立をしました。彼らの仕事っぷりはものすごいものでした。時間は限られていたのですが、とても多くの仕事を片付けていました。

At night, we had mini concert again. We were able to meet some new people and also people from previous concert and last night as well.  It was again blessed night of music and worship. We talked a lot and got to know the people more. 

夜には、ミニコンサートをまたひらきました。新しい人にも、前のコンサートや昨晩にも来られた人にも会うことができました。とても祝福された夜でした。たくさん話し、彼らを知ることができました。

Please keep the team and people in Ishinomaki in your prayer

どうか、チームと石巻の方々を祈りに覚えてください。

mini concerts

As I posted last time, we had plan of mini-miniconcert at cafe in Ishinomaki.
前回に書いたように、石巻のカフェでミニコンサートを本日行いました。

It was scheduled in evening, but we had billboard bus for Hope of Celebration afternoon. So we went to a few places to advertise the crusade and night's concert.
We tried one place but got turned off. But God had His way, other door was opened up. So we ended up doing in two convenience stores and near the station.
しかし、それは夕方に計画されていたので、それまでの間希望の祭典の宣伝バスとともに、その夜の宣伝と伝道会の宣伝をしました。
そのために、場所の許可を取ろうとしていたのですが、期待していたところが上手くいかないという事態になりました。しかし、神は他のドアを開いてくださいました。コンビニでの交渉がとてもうまくいき、そこで宣伝をすることが出来ました。

これはセブンイレブンの前です。

ミニストップの前でも行いました。

Then, we came back to cafe and had mini-concert. At 6:30 that is the time to start, no one was there. I was worried, but one couple came and more people came in.
I was just blown away to see people coming. Moreover they came by seeing flyers we passed out here and there.
そして、カフェに戻りミニコンサートをしました。しかし、開始の時間になっても誰もいなかったので、不安になりました。そのとき、一組の夫婦が入ってきました。そして、次々に人々がやってきたのです。そして、もっと驚いたことに、多くの人がトラクトを見てきてくれたのです。

Matt and Mike played nice music and others talked and serve people.
マットとマイクが音楽を奏で、他の皆はみなに話しかけたり、お茶を出したりしていました。

So, it was just another blessed day.
To God alone be the glory.
本当に祝福された日でした。
主の御名をたたえます。

Sunday Service

今日は日曜日、、、、、、ということは、礼拝じゃないですか！！
Today is Sunday...........    So.... that means Sunday Service!!!!

石巻にあるJ'sカフェで（JはJesusの「J」です）は、約一ヶ月ほど日曜礼拝を持っているそうです。そして、今日はマットさんが使徒９章からシェアしてくれました。
At J's Cafe ("J" stands for Jesus), they have been holding Sunday Service for a month. Today, Matt shared from Acts9.

私は通訳をする機会が与えられました。彼は本当によいティーチングをしてくれました。
サウロの回心から私たちの「悔い改め」がどうあるべきなのか。180度生きる方向を変えるということ。１７０度じゃだめなんだと。とても、強いメッセージでした。
I was privileged to be a interpretor for Matt. He gave really good message and it spoke a lot to me. He shared how we can learn from Saul's conversion/repentance. Turning our lives 180degree, and 170 is not enough!

この日は、これまでの日曜日の中でも一番多くの方がきてくださいました！１０人ほどの地元の方々が、ともにイエス・キリストを礼拝しました。本当にすごいことです！
Today we had many local people more than any other Sundays. About 10 people worshipped Jesus with us!! This was such a God's miracle!

この後は、東北希望の祭典のPRコンサートに行きました。
After that, we went to PR concert for Celebration of Hope that is taking place this next weekend.

そして、またカフェに戻り、明日の夜に予定しているカフェでのミニコンサートのチラシ配りを近所の家々にしました。
We went back to cafe again and passed out flyers for tomorrow's mini-concert at cafe in neighbors.

明日・明後日のミニコンサートを覚えて、お祈り下さい。

Please keep our concert in your prayer.

Thank you!

So the venture begins...

So the team from Virginia and NewJersey arrived today.
I met them at Narita airport, then took train and shinkansen to Sendai.
Roy and Nancy Toma picked us up at Sendai station.

We have service at J's Cafe tomorrow. Matt is teaching, I'm interpreting.
So, I'm working on the notes now.......
Please keep us in your prayer that God's glory will be revealed.

ヴァージニアとニュージャージーからのチームが到着し、成田空港で落ちあい、そこから電車と新幹線で仙台へと向かいました。
仙台では、ナンシーとロイさんが私たちを迎えてくれました。

明日はJ’ｓカフェで礼拝をする予定です。マットさんが教えることになっていて、私は通訳をする予定になっています。どうか、神様の栄光が現れるようにお祈り下さい。

 今、やっとノートの見直しが終わりました。。。。。眠い

Hanging out with CCWT boys

Yesterday, I was finally able to hang out Yoshiya and Tatsuhiko from CC WestTokyo.
I have known them long but hadn't gotten a chance to hang out.
昨日は「ついに」カルバリー西東京のよしやと達彦と遊んできました。
彼らとは長い付き合いになるのですが、東京にきてからは中々会う機会がなかったので、ついに実現したって感じでした。

Tatsuhiko just came back the day before from Okinawa after studying one year at local college, and moreover it was his birthday!! So it was very cool that it all worked out.
達彦は前日に沖縄から帰ってきたばかりだったので、タイミング良くセッティングができました。また、彼の誕生日でもあったので、スペシャルな時になりました。

We had lunch and played bowling and grabbed a couple of coffee talking many things.
It was so good to hear what God is doing in their lives. They love Jesus and have great hearts to serve Him.
昼食を食べ、ボーリングで遊び、ミスドで話しました。彼らは、心からキリストを愛していて、仕える心をもっているので、とても祝福されました。

It was so refreshing and encouraging time. I am so excited to see how God will use these guys. Thank you so much for this friendship!!
これから、神が彼らを通し何をなさるのかがとても楽しみです。
本当にありがとう！！

Language Part2

I guess my English level was very high, especially in conversational level and in comparison with other students at school. I was starting to get a good grades and actually made it top five.

But my desire to develop and improve my linguistic skill did not cease.

I think it was because of my competitiveness.

I was given a chance to go to California, U.S. when I was in ninth grade.

I was very excited to use my English there. But I have to say it ended up in dismay relatively.

I was with people who go to international school who were bilingual.

It was very hard time because I was the only non-fluent man in the group, and people we met assumed that I too can speak fluently.

Moreover, I had hard time doing ordinary things such as ordering meals and shopping.

But, all those hard experiences motivated me to learn more diligently.

Because I did not want the experience like that anymore!!

Along the line, I also realized that it is not all about speaking English.

Some people today I see, they have good passion to learn English but it does not go farther than that.

Time in states taught me that English is merely a language for me to carry my thoughts to others and to communicate.

I knew that what I want to do is not to be linguist nor professional translator or interpreter. 

So, I started putting efforts in other classes.

The result was that I was able to raise my grades and passed the one of the most difficult entrance exam in Japan. 

Today, I still study English. But, it is merely a mean to convey my thoughts and understand others, ultimately all for God's Glory. 

It was definitely God Who led me to where I am now. 

It was only God Who could enabled me to enter and graduate this university.

It was totally God Who provided me with new job in Okinawa.

It should always be God Whom I need to seek future direction.

To God Alone Be the Glory 

ps: Because of such experience, I have a great respect to missionaries who diligently learn Japanese, or local languages. I feel very especially to see people like that.

    

Language Part1

It's already "de facto" that I can use both language, Japanese and English. (Though I recognize that I still need improve in both.)

How I became so-called bilingual is good testimony of God's work in my life. So I thought it be nice to share here.

It traces back to my first year in Middle School. 

The year, my mom started going to Calvary Chapel, which was totally new in Okinawa. We used to go to international church prior to that too, but as baseball kid I wasn't really connected to the church.

Upon entering middle school, I joined Tennis club. I wanted some thing new in my sports life. 

But much to my surprise, due to the courts construction, the activities were suspended for the whole year!!! So, we couldn't have much club activity which usually involves much of weekend. 

Then, I started going to church with my family, of course, reluctantly.

Unlike, former church, that Calvary Chapel had many American attendance. Well, I didn't lik church and that really increased my dislikes. 

I had all grumpy looks and not good youth kid who didn't bring his bible on Sundays. (On the contrary, my sister would bring every week.)

So, it would've been very reasonable that leaders gave up on me.

But they did not.

There was a guy named Tim, who is from California and was helping te church. He was in charge of small youth group, probably of 5 or 6 kiks when I first started going.

He wasn't able to speak Japanese, but there were a few kids who could speak both. So, I was listening the messages through their interpretation.

Although, Tim couldn't speak much Japanese, he and other missionaries would try to talk to me which I, at the time, thought very annoying.

Yet, he didn't stop talking to me week after week. And little by little my wall was being brought down. 

I was getting interested in him and people there who are so kind to me.

And I thought "if I want to understand them, I need to know English !!"

By the way, my English level at the time was literally horrible. I was around 150th of 180 students on tests. This says it all.

But, I started putting much effort in studying English. I think now I was thinking I can be cool if I could talk to Americans too. haha, funny.

Tim also had very strong desire to learn Japanese. He would sit in Japanese Bible study, and take notes of the words. It was very impressive to me.

Tim and I would hang out a lot. We would play tennis and talked about Bible, teaching language each other.

It was very fruitful time. I was getting solid discipleship.

It wasn't something like using text, or taking 12 steps of course. But it was more like, fellowship based discipleship. We hung out, I observed how he acts and speaks. He shared scriptures and encouraged me to read Bible everyday.

As I grew in the Word, I grew as a Christian. 

I was Christian for long time, but I wasn't serious about God and His church. But He took hold of my life. Now I was starting to grow and walk in Him.

My English was improved much. I was able to have minimum conversation in English. The more I practice my English, the more confidence I gained and I wasn't afraid of speaking in English.

continues........ 

Bible Study at dorm

Last two weeks, I was able to hold Bible Study at dorm.
I named it "The Essence of the Gospel". This is from 1Corinthians 15:3-6.

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 

It is really evangelistic Bible study, since I am focusing on my non-believing friends at dorm.
So, first we looked at our "nature of sin", then second time I shared about "Jesus's cross and death".
この2週間、寮でバイブルスタディを開くことができました。
それを「福音のエッセンス」と名づけました。これは、１コリント１５：３−６から来てます。

「私があなたがたに最も大切な事として伝えたのは、私も受けたことであって、次のことです。キリストは、聖書の示すとおりに、私たちの罪のために死なれたこと、また、葬られたこと、また、聖書の示すとおりに、三日目によみがえられたこと、また、ケパに現れ、それから十二弟子に現れたことです。」

これは、本当に伝道的なバイブルスタディです。というのも、焦点をまだキリストを知らない寮の友人に当てているからです。
そこで、初めは「人の罪」について、そして二回目には「キリストの十字架と死」について学びました。

I didn't know whom to expect to come. But God is good, few people actually came and heard the gospel!!
誰が来るのか分かりませんでしたが、神は良い方です、実際には数人の人が来てくれました！

I really liked Part2, "death of Christ" because it seemed that the it got them think much deeper about their life and death.
I shared that because of what Christ went through and Who He is, I can be free. Free from endless endeavor to be someone, strong and achieve something big. But in Christ, we can be weak, no-body and  build one's esteem.
特に、第二回目のキリストの死についての部分で、とても良い感触を得られました。
私はキリストの苦しみと死、そしてキリストがどのような方であるかという故に、私たちが自由になれるのだと分かち合いました。何者かになるという果てしない努力、そして大事をなすという観念からの自由です。そして、キリスト故に、弱く、何人もでもなくいれるのだと。

Please keep us in your prayer!! Our last study will be on Resurrection and good friend of mine, Zach is going to come and share. So stoked!!
どうか祈りに覚えていください。最後の学びは「復活」についてです。私の親友である、ザックがきて分かち合ってくれます。

Final assignment

This is my bachelor thesis. (yes, my university requires for bachelors...)

これが、私の学士論文です！（そう、うちの大学は学士でも必要とされているんです）

Yes, this project is finished!!
But one of the comments on FB reminded me of very important thing.
My journey goes on and it's only one chapter of my life.
確かに、この課題は終わりましたが。
でも、Facebookでの一つのコメントが大事なことを思い起こさせてくれました。それは、この人生の旅はまだmだ続いているということです。そして、これはその中の一章でしかないということ。

Am I stretched? Oh, big time!!
Am I excited for new chapter? OH, big time!!
Bring it on!!

Ramen Lover

One of the things that I'll miss after leaving Tokyo is Good Ramen places!!
As much as I love Okinawa Soba, I do love ramen. So now with such thought, I'm trying to get full advantage of the time left here.
If you have any suggestions, please le t me know!!

Israel and Iran and Politics.......

So, being a political nerd, I try to follow international affairs as closely as possible by reading news and magazine and online sites.
It was introduced to this very interesting and intriguing article on New York Times Magazine, "Will Israel attack Iran?" Strangely you don't see it in Japan, but in global politics, the tension between Israel and Iran is very intense past some years.
Of course, when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and Ahmadinezhad  came into  power, Iran's goal has been to wipe out Israel from the world map.
Now, it is said that Iran is very close to obtain nuclear weapon. IAEA's investigating team has entered the country to do inspections. But not many count it to bring significant result.

The writer predicts that Israel will most likely to attack Iran this year of 2012.
I was talking with my professer today about this, and he said "Having such report on public, now they have to bring the fact into consideration. History is learning the past and find it very little that future can be predicted."

Well, still, upon learning such information, I cannot start thinking that the crisis is at hand, and I am about to witness it.

I don't know if you reading this and think "Politics are for geeks".
Well, maybe it is. But when it comes to Israel, Christians need to know that we need to pray for them and bless them.
So, we shouldn't be utterly ignorant about it.

I encourage you to take time and read the article.
Very profound and well evidenced, I think.

God's on the move in Tokyo!!!

The other day, one of my dearest friend, Zach invited me to CCBC(calvary chapel bible college) Tokyo building dedication.
It was such a blessing to be part of the witness for God's work.
先日、僕の親友であるザックの招待で、CCBC（カルバリーチャペル・バイブルカレッジ）東京の献堂式に行ってきました。
本当に、その場で、神の働きの証人となれたことは祝福でした。

They were able to rent a very nice building which I thought perfect for Bible College ministries. I know that God has great things in store for this.
They now offer two classes weekly basis, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
They also work with Okinawa campus closely.
So now it is almost Calvary Chapel Bible College "Japan". How cool is that!!
その建物は本当に大学のミニストリーのためには、完璧だと思えるようなものでした。神は明らかに何かすばらしいものをもっているなと確信しました。
そこでは、週に２つのクラスが提供されています。火曜日と木曜日です。
また、沖縄キャンパスとも密接な協力関係にあり、それはほとんど「バイブルカレッジ・日本」という感じです。


Please keep them in your prayer: that God will speak to the attendees as well as to teachers.
I'd also like to ask for local Japanese will come and be part of this.
是非、このミニストリーのためにお祈り下さい。
そして、特に、多くの日本人がこの働きに参加できるように。