Up, Up, and Away!

It's difficult to post about the last week or so.  Not because nothing has happened but because i don't now that i can qualify the things that have happened over the past several days.  This past week i've actually had to work while in Japan.  And it's kind of the most boring part of working because all i did was attend meetings, however, with all of the people in VYM the meetings themselves weren't that bad.  As a group we litened to the things happening in Japan and the ways in which we can help, along with a shortened version of how to work with students in an EFL setting.  Beyond that we struggled together to learn about what Satan is doing here in Japan.  There were tears and stories of pain and suffering that left most if not all of our team emotionally drained.  It wasn't one of those situations you just feel bad about but the sort of thing that pulls the life out of you until you're not quite sure how anyone survived.  This is the part where i try to reinforce the need for prayer in Japan.  There is so much evil seated just beneath the surface and presented in such a polite way that it's hard for people to see, unless you're looking for it.  And in VYM we're desperately searching to bring those things into light.  The light of Christ which reveals all the brokenness an hurting so that Christ's love can destroy the lack of love and fill the people of Japan to overflowing.

Amidst all this despair there is life and it is found within each member of VYM.  This past week has brought me closer to more members than i would have thought possible.  Even with the small interactions i've had until this point this weekend gave me new friends and allies in this ongoing battle for the world.  Each day was filled with praise and love like Japan is seldom to see.  We worshiped in various ways that helped us to see Christ in ways some of us never would have thought of, and in other more well knows styles. There were great opportunities for prayer, which the Lord has used to refresh and strengthen my relationships with the other Vers.  And the sheer amount of hugs makes finding a family here in Japan a needless venture.  

In continuing on with my extensive writings about Japan i will now tell you what we did.  Pictures will be soon to follow but for now you get only words:

The beginning of the week, as i said, was full of business meetings and some extra-curricular activities, including, a movie night, karaoke, and general hang-outage.    The weekend was awesome too!  We went to a retreat center near Mt. Fuji.

The retreat place was so great, if felt like being home.  And then during the week we worshipped, talked, and just had a great time.  This weekend also brought along two firsts for me one which was great, was chopping wood.  I love the hard work and sweat involved in physically helping some one where you can see the results.  And two the not so great one was sitting in baths with other naked men. Now, now, now...let me explain.  A part of Japanese culture is something called an onsen or sento.  Basically this means baths to relax in while in your birthday suits.  Now as several members of VYM can attest to i was not so thrilled to go, but being the adventurous type that i am i went, alone mind you.  Even my roommate ditched me!!!  But i went and stayed in the onsen for over an hour.  It was nice but soooo boring, nice i was the only one in there who didn't know Japanese.  But i did it and can now say that more than likely i would probably do it again but under the same amount of creeped-outness.  There's so much that happened this weekend it's hard to pick out the specific moments to write on here but the other one, two...ok just more that come to mind are the bon-fire, gifts test, and apples to apples game.  For the bon-fire we had to make it from a lot of wet wood.  It was difficult at first but eventually we got it going.  this was the first time i had chopped wood.  i even taught one of the other members how to do it. And i think she's better at it than i am.  :(   Anyways moving on...At this bon-fire i had to instill a tradition.  When i was in Y-Min we would always make banana boats.  Feeling like this was pretty much the same things i instilled that practice here as well.  Everyone who had one seemed to really like it and so the banana boats were born.  Skipping to the apples to apples game, we had so much fun. At one point we had 15 people playing apples to apples the bible edition.  I don't think i have laughed so hard in a long time.  These people are so respectful yet, funny with their card playing.  Shockingly enough i won!  I wasn't sure i could because nearly every argument i made was shot down. It seemed like only when i wasn't talking did i get the cards....you think they're trying to tell me something?!?!?   Finally, the gifts test.  It's hard to explain exactly what this test is meant for, at least for me to explain, but as it seems i am mostly an exhorter, with servant as a follow-up an mercy closing out the top three.  The Nigata women find this fascinating!  The exhorter side of me means that i like to tell people about Christ in a way that makes sense to them.  Along with many other things.  the servant side says i like to help people out, at least i hope that's what it means, and the mercy side shows that i feel for people when they are hurting of happy.  Overall i'm really happy with how this looks.  Cindy has apparently made predictions about my life and future and i'm curious to see how correct she is when all my future comes into view.  But so far this combination of qualities is something everyone seems to like and have a much better understanding of that even i do.  

But for now that's my week.  One of the, if not the greatest, weeks of my life.  the women and BOTH Matts here are amazing servants of God.  And in serving him have continued to uplift and encourage me. I could not ask for better friends, and yet friends seems to shallow to describe what i feel towards them.  These people have become my family.  Thank you God for your blessings that are new everyday!

p.s. My roommate Matt and i have taken up the task of praying together every night and would love to pray for you.  Please if you have any prayer requests comment on this blog or e-mail them to me at hope_on_fire@hotmail.com