Shanghai bound!!!!

I know I haven't done posting here for a while, this new semester has been driving me crazy. I haven't had enough time to update my blog.

Please keep me in your prayer that I will keep my priority right and be able to pray and listen to God and obey Him. 

So this is finale for my summer series.

I went to Shanghai in the end of Sept.. This was so amazing trip.

The travel fare was ridiculously cheap. It was because this trip was planned my OB (meaning "Old Boy", the graduated from) of my dorm and is chief of the board. 

He basically invited some students to accompany with them. And two students went  and one of the two happened to be ME!!!

We stayed at Johnson Howard Plaza in Shanghai for three days one of which we took a day trip to Suzhou. And last day we spent in Hangzhou and stayed at Hyatt Regency. 

I Love going oversea, taking airplanes and traveling!!!

I thank God for providing me opportunities and money that I need.

At Shanghai Expo 2010, Japan pavilion. 

The line was 5 hours waiting!!!

Night scenery was so beautiful.  

ramdom pic

I was able to hook up with my good friend, Keisuke. 

I have known him for years from Okinawa.

It was so encouraging to see him walking with the Lord!!( of course, playing Sanshin, as you can see :)

We saw temples too. 

Chinese people are so religious. but still worshipping false god and it grieves my heart......

down town

First hotel

second one (there were pianist and singer at lobby!!)

This is it!!
I am now back in school and having normal life which is spiced and turned into extraordinary  by God.

Keep in touch!

To God be the glory

MY Sweet home Okinawa Part3(last)

Last week in Okinawa, after seeing off my seminar group to Tokyo.

I was given opportunity to lead worship for Midweek Bible study.

Not having led worship for a while, I was quite a bit nervous. But, once I started worshiping, God totally fill me with His strength.

so, as you saw, my first week was filled with to-dos.

It's not bad, because I love doing ministries and serving!!!

Though I think I had needed real "vacation".

After the midweek study, I basically had nothing to do, but had chances to meet my old friends.

I met friends from High school. Though some stayed in Okinawa, many left the island, I feel the tie we build through Jr. and Senior High school is very strong. They are brilliant and so inspiring people.

I pray that I will be good witness to them and they will one day accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Then.... I will explain with pictures from here

I was able to hang out with my friends from CCGinowan.

Joel (whom I know since he came for his first semester in Okinawa) and Tom Cotton.

Zach Ruiz (whom I know for about 7 years?)

I took my grandparents and rest of the family out to dinner on the "elders' day".

left: last root beer at air port.
right: my most favorite starbucks in the word. went there almost every night.


Every single time I come home, God is so faithful to show me so many great things He is doing in Okinawa. And I am always blessed with good bros and sisters in Christ.

Special thanks to my family(grandparents and aunt and uncle), allowing me to stay their house for whole trip.
And Staff at CCOkinawa, the church I love and always call "home", Rick, Glenn, Kevin and Roy. I love you all and am praying for you.

Thanks every one who blessed me while I was there!!
Can't wait to see you again!

Love

MY Sweet home Okinawa Part2

I had my students of seminar coming for our annual camp in Okinawa!!

It was very nice time, giving them a tour and having lots of conversations with friends and my professar.

Giving them a tour had me realize that I still don't know about Okinawa much.

I need to learn more about my home so that I'll be able to tell how awesome the place is!!

I basically  took this chance to give myself a time to do sightseeing as well.

So we went to many famous sightseeing places and did photo shooting.

at Sunset Beach

My grandma told us her experience in Okinawa battle during WW2

at KingTaco

Please Pray for me as I keep minister those friends of mine that God will give me compassion towards them and my heart will be always on His mission.

MY Sweet home Okinawa Part1

So I was back in Okinawa, small island located in very south of Japan. 

Many of you might know, but I was born and grew up there until I moved to Tokyo for college.

But, I have to say my "home" still remains to be Okinawa. I look forward to going back home every time!!!

I usually stay there about a month during summer but this time, in regard with my work, study and other things, I was able to stay there for about two weeks.

I was little disappointed to know that at first. 

But God is always beyond my expectations.  He had blessed my stay so much. Maybe it was the best one in past two years.

I was blessed time with my family and friends and ministry opportunity at my old fellowship(though always new in many ways) Calvary Chapel Okinawa.

So there are so many things I want to share but it will take forever. So I decided to do introduce what I did and what God blessed me with with pictures and short explanation. Hope you'll like it.　

　I was first blessed with the opportunity to share a small devotion at Japanese Prayer Meeting which good friend of mine, Roy Toma leads. I remember last summer I was here he was praying about starting this meeting and I was so blessed to see it . I was praying that Japanese fellowship at CCO will grow strong. God is certainly at work!!!

到着の翌日の金曜の夜には、日本人の祈り会でデボーションを分かち合う機会がありました。この祈り会はロイ・トーマさんがリードしています。彼は、日本人へのミニストリーに熱い心をもって仕えています。去年の夏に、この祈り会を始めることを祈っていたのを覚えています。それが、実現して続いていることを見れたのは本当に祝福でした。

First Sunday there I was given the opportunity to teach Highschool group. I taught from story of Enoch. I think it was sharing my heart rather than teaching them. 

I once was in the group and some of the high school students there were ones I knew from my Jr.High ministry I was involved when I was in high school.  

I am so thankful for Kevin who is current Youth Leader, one of my dear friend. He is so awesome teacher and leader.  I am so excited to see them next time.

日曜は高校生のグループを教える機会がありました。エノクの話から「神とともに歩む」ことがテーマでした。

でも、今回は「教える」というよりも「分かち合う」に近かったかもしれません。このグループはもちろん、私がかつていたグループで、数人の子供は中学生のころから知っています。ですから、自分の失敗も交えて、キリストと本物の交わりをもつことの大切さを伝えました。この機会を与えてくれたケビンにはとても感謝しています。彼はとても賜物のある教師ですし、とてもキリストに対して熱い心を持っています。また今度このグループをみて神の働きを見ることを楽しみにしています。

Sunday afternoon we had monthly Japanese Fellowship Lunch. We had lunch together and had special time to talk about "Obon" which is Okinawan religious activity, worshipping ancestors. I was interpreting for Pastor Rick who led the discussion.  

日曜の午後は「日本人フェローシップ・ランチ」でした。「お盆」について皆で、分かち合う貴重な時間を過ごしました。パスター・リックの通訳を僕はしました。彼は、とても上手くディスカッションを導いていました。さすがですね。

その後は、バプテスマのために海へ行きました。沖繩はどこにいても海へ近いので、簡単にバプテスマを、美しい場所でできます。これは、すごい神様からの祝福だと思います。

We had baptism after the lunch fellowship. 

One of the benefit of living in small island is that you can get to beaches so easily. 

I'll stop here.
Look forward to next post!!!

so far.......

My school starts in Oct., so I have already spent more than half of my summer break.

It has been awesome, both in regarding with spiritually and leisurely.

One of the highlight is my trip to the west by trains.
I was long slow trip, but met so many friends.
I stayed at my friend's houses which is totally blessing.

 self shot at Kiyomizu temple, Kyoto

 on my lonely train ride

with Forbes in Osaka

What I really liked about the trip is that meeting good friends of mine whom I know for quite a long time.
The family in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, that I have known since I was in Jr.High school. I haven't seen them for long time. They have been ministring there for five years.
I have wanted to visit there for a while and finally the door was opened!!

The couple in Osaka who is one of my dear friend, is working for Franklin Graham Festival. The husband was one of the stuff of the church I used to go when I was in Okinawa.
Every time I see him, he blesses me and encourages me so much!!
Of course this time too.

The other couple whom I fellowshipped in Tokyo, now moved there and planing to plant a church. They opened their house to me to stay despite of my sudden call I made the day before I got there.

They are so awesome!!
I love them so much.

I love how God brings people into my life and keep our relationship.
Though we are far from each other, there are times God brings us together and encourages us!!

Thank you Lord for the brothers and sisters in Christ.

The normal does the unusual

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

So I finished the first book of the summer, "Big God".
If you graciously follow this blod, you've heard many times I quoted from this book or the author Britt Merrick.

In the book, I studied Hebrew 11 aka "The Hall of Faith".
I saw the life of.....
Adel - faith worshipping
Enoch - Faith walking
Noah - Faith Working
Abraham - Faith Willing
Sarah - Faith Waiting
Abraham with Isaac - Faith Well-Tried
Moses - Faith Winning
Rahab - Faith Welcoming
David and the Rest - Faith Warring

One big thing I found throughout this book is that there people are so normal but did great things.
I know Bible records that Noah was drunk, Abraham lied, Moses was afraid. Rahab was prostitute and David committed adultery.
Pastor Britt in epilogue writes
"When you look at the list, you really have no excuses. These are the examples given to us in God's Word. They weren't great people, but they had great faith in a great God. At the critical moments of their lives, they exercised great faith and made the right faith decisions."

What a challenge!!
I always put those people in "the hall of faith", seeing so different from myself.
They were so great, bold and courageous I would think. And I am an ordinary man who might be able to do little for God.
I thought that to be faithful to the "little" was what I need to do.

In the sense, I was wrong.
I can do so much more if I trust and love the Lord more!!
Because they didn't earn faith, faith is a gift from God!!
In Him, I can do any thing!!!

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

Ephesians 2:8-10

Glory to God