So we board our plane for Taiwan in 3 hours! We have seen God do so many amazing things while we have been in Japan. The time in Hiroshima was really fun and refreshing to be among our friends in the Brazilian church. I was able to stay again with the Noguchi family. It was a real blessing to be with them again. They are such a caring and kind family. I had delicious meals, a wonderful time playing with their children (Gabriella-4, Linda-3, and David-1yr4mo), and trying to communicate through Spanish. Though it was difficult sometimes, I had a lot of good conversations with Yuri and learned about her family both in Japan and in Peru. She was so patient with me as I tried to communicate through my broken Spanish. Ronaldo was also so kind in driving me to and from the meetings and sharing with me his past life in Brazil and how he came to know Jesus.
It was so good also to see Marcio and his wife Saiyumi. They were such a blessing to us as they drove us to rehearsals, church, performances, shopping, laundry, and much more! It was a lot of fun spending time with their two kids, Isabella and Gustavo. Saying goodbye to this family was hard because we have grown to love them so much! Their were so many wonderful families we got to see again; they are all dear to our hearts!
Fun praise report: when we were leaving Hiroshima, Jenna accidentally left her iPhone on the local train due to being so early in the morning. We prayed that God would use this situation for his glory and knew that it was in his hands. We called Marcio and he was able to alert the lost and found. Turns out, they found the iPhone and Marcio is able to send it to us! Our God cares even about the little things! ;)
We traveled to Shin-Osaka and met with the Tomata family. They had been to the states and to IHOP-KC and had met with the Kawases so it was really fun to catch up with them over lunch. Then we traveled to Tokyo (Shina-gawa) and met with another Kawase friend (Keith Pratt) who is an international student studying in Tokyo. It was good to be able to hear his heart and pray over him. God has given him such a heart for Japan!
Then we traveled Narita to sleep and go to the airport today. It's been busy but it's been good! I can't believe that time has gone by this quickly. We have seen God move in powerful ways in the people of Japan and are continually amazed by his goodness. He is such a good God! Next post will be from Taiwan!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Japan travels
So far so good!!!! We have been to many places so far this past week in Japan. Our first stop brought us to Zushi where we stayed with the Hatanakas, Dr Kawases cousin. It was very refreshing to see them and spend time with them. Next we went to see the Nakadairas, Grandma Nobuko's sister's family. We had a very nice lunch and enjoyed spending the afternoon talking about issues of justice and even dancing for them in their living room.
Next we went to the Tokyo house of prayer and hosted a dance workshop. The Holy Spirit was very present and God was able to move freely through us and through the members of the church! Pour out more, Holy Spirit! I had an extremely bad headache and wasn't able to complete the whole workshop, but the Kawases were very helpful and the Holy Spirit moved powerfully. I'm doing a lot better!
After that we went to Kakegawa to see the Bostrom family. After seeing the Ohtas, close family friends, we were able to minister to the Bostrom family and help give them a little rest and peace through many transitions as their children get older. On Saturday we hosted a dance camp, a student performance, and performed our first full length performance. Jesus was do gracious to us, working through our exhausted bodies. Thankfully, no one was injured and the audience was very touched by the power of God. It was very good to connect with the Bostrom family as well as Chrissy Hiyashi (Dacias good friend) and their uncle sean and their grandma.
Sunday we had church at the Bostroms and we were able to honor all the fathers for Father's day. Then we traveled up the coast to Ishinomaki near Sendai where the terrible earthquake happened a year ago in March. We actually woke up on Monday morning at 5:30 to a 6.4 earthquake. Can you say welcome to Japan? Thankfully no one was hurt and it was just a memory to take with us. We danced in a parking lot for the families that were affected from the tsunami. Our whole performance was improv worship pieces (not having been planned beforehand). We finished with our gospel section of our performance. It was a powerful time for many families. Again the holy spirit showed up in powerful ways. Then we were able to give them a warm pot of stew for lunch.
On Tuesday we traveled to Gotsu to visit Aishin Christian High School. We spent two days with them hanging out, teaching English, going to the beach with them, performing for them, and doing a workshop. Please pray for the students! Many of them are searching for truth and have not yet made a commitment to Jesus. Pray that the seeds we planted will grow and they will accept Jesus as Lord of their life. The performance and workshop were very difficult for us due to many variables. A few being us fighting and plowing through the spirit of perfectionism that is so prevalent in Japan, us being the first time they have seen this type of dance(worship dance), and a spiritual stronghold over the area. It was really good to spend time with them and it gave us a heart for that age group in Japan. Holy Spirit move in their hearts! We also had very traditional meals, one breakfast including fish with the eyes still looking at us! It was all really yummy!!! Japanese noodles, Japanese stir fry, and much more! Yum!!! I also was able to avoid public showers for 3 days! Thank you Jesus! Not quite used to that part of Asian culture yet!
Today we traveled to Hiroshima. We will be ministering to a Brazilian church for about 5 days. Then we will head to Tokyo to meet with another couple before we travel to Taiwan. I will be staying by myself in an all Portuguese/Spanish home for 5 days. (the same home I stayed in last time, but I had Kimberly who is fluent in Spanish) Please pray that my high school Spanish comes quickly and that the Holy Spirit guides my tongue. :) it's totally possible!!!!
It has been so refreshing for my heart to be in Asia once again. The food, the people, the culture, the language.....my heart feels at home. So many memories coming back, language is returning, feeling spiritual powers whether good or bad(being sensitive to the holy spirit as it is so easy to get used to it in America), realizing the power of prayer, and much more! My heart gets excited knowing that one day very soon, I will be living among the Asian people! God, pour out your spirit and send revival to this part of the world!!!!
If you want to see pictures, several have been uploaded by kawases and I have been tagged in them on facebook. Also Mrs Kawase has been blogging. If you would like to get these updates, email Sue Kawase at lskawase@gmail.com. (L-not 1)
I will try to update ya'll again soon. Please pray for anything and everything!!! :) Thank you!!!!!
Next we went to the Tokyo house of prayer and hosted a dance workshop. The Holy Spirit was very present and God was able to move freely through us and through the members of the church! Pour out more, Holy Spirit! I had an extremely bad headache and wasn't able to complete the whole workshop, but the Kawases were very helpful and the Holy Spirit moved powerfully. I'm doing a lot better!
After that we went to Kakegawa to see the Bostrom family. After seeing the Ohtas, close family friends, we were able to minister to the Bostrom family and help give them a little rest and peace through many transitions as their children get older. On Saturday we hosted a dance camp, a student performance, and performed our first full length performance. Jesus was do gracious to us, working through our exhausted bodies. Thankfully, no one was injured and the audience was very touched by the power of God. It was very good to connect with the Bostrom family as well as Chrissy Hiyashi (Dacias good friend) and their uncle sean and their grandma.
Sunday we had church at the Bostroms and we were able to honor all the fathers for Father's day. Then we traveled up the coast to Ishinomaki near Sendai where the terrible earthquake happened a year ago in March. We actually woke up on Monday morning at 5:30 to a 6.4 earthquake. Can you say welcome to Japan? Thankfully no one was hurt and it was just a memory to take with us. We danced in a parking lot for the families that were affected from the tsunami. Our whole performance was improv worship pieces (not having been planned beforehand). We finished with our gospel section of our performance. It was a powerful time for many families. Again the holy spirit showed up in powerful ways. Then we were able to give them a warm pot of stew for lunch.
On Tuesday we traveled to Gotsu to visit Aishin Christian High School. We spent two days with them hanging out, teaching English, going to the beach with them, performing for them, and doing a workshop. Please pray for the students! Many of them are searching for truth and have not yet made a commitment to Jesus. Pray that the seeds we planted will grow and they will accept Jesus as Lord of their life. The performance and workshop were very difficult for us due to many variables. A few being us fighting and plowing through the spirit of perfectionism that is so prevalent in Japan, us being the first time they have seen this type of dance(worship dance), and a spiritual stronghold over the area. It was really good to spend time with them and it gave us a heart for that age group in Japan. Holy Spirit move in their hearts! We also had very traditional meals, one breakfast including fish with the eyes still looking at us! It was all really yummy!!! Japanese noodles, Japanese stir fry, and much more! Yum!!! I also was able to avoid public showers for 3 days! Thank you Jesus! Not quite used to that part of Asian culture yet!
Today we traveled to Hiroshima. We will be ministering to a Brazilian church for about 5 days. Then we will head to Tokyo to meet with another couple before we travel to Taiwan. I will be staying by myself in an all Portuguese/Spanish home for 5 days. (the same home I stayed in last time, but I had Kimberly who is fluent in Spanish) Please pray that my high school Spanish comes quickly and that the Holy Spirit guides my tongue. :) it's totally possible!!!!
It has been so refreshing for my heart to be in Asia once again. The food, the people, the culture, the language.....my heart feels at home. So many memories coming back, language is returning, feeling spiritual powers whether good or bad(being sensitive to the holy spirit as it is so easy to get used to it in America), realizing the power of prayer, and much more! My heart gets excited knowing that one day very soon, I will be living among the Asian people! God, pour out your spirit and send revival to this part of the world!!!!
If you want to see pictures, several have been uploaded by kawases and I have been tagged in them on facebook. Also Mrs Kawase has been blogging. If you would like to get these updates, email Sue Kawase at lskawase@gmail.com. (L-not 1)
I will try to update ya'll again soon. Please pray for anything and everything!!! :) Thank you!!!!!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Leaving tomorrow!
I can't believe that I leave tomorrow!!! God has been so faithful to me in this journey!
First a couple of praise reports. I am excited to say that I am 100% funded! =) God has once again proved that he is faithful to provide for what he has called us to and that he cares about the little things. Thank you again for being obedient to his voice and following his lead whether that was to pray, provide financially, or both! Thank you!!!!
I am also happy to report that I'm back in Kansas City with all my luggage! =) That may seem like a strange report but it is an important one. My grandparents took my family on vacation to San Francisco this past week and we flew back today. We had been praying that I would make it back with plenty of time and have all my luggage. When we landed in KC, I knew that I would be back to the airport in 14 hours!
I will try to post updates about the trip as often as possible, but I'm not sure when and where I'll be able to have wifi. So, you should hear from me in about a week!
I am so excited to be traveling with such amazing people and ministering once again to the Asian peoples (plus New Zealand!). God has given me such an incredible opportunity! Our schedule has continued to fill up with more performances, workshops, and ministering opportunities. Please continue to pray for safety, energy and strength, and grace to serve.
Ways you can pray:
(I'm really exhausted from not sleeping enough and traveling, so the next couple of days will be trying physically on my body. Please pray for supernatural energy, alertness, and strength)
1) Pray for the hearts of the people we will be ministering to and with so that they will receive what God has for them this summer.
2) Pray for Dr. Kawase and Mrs. Kawase as they lead our team and work through all the logistics so that we can minister through our dancing.
3) Pray for us dancers to remain strong and healthy.
4) Pray for our team to be led by the Holy Spirit and actively following what he wants us to do.
5) Pray for safety as we travel and that all pieces of our luggage make it to our destinations.
6) Pray for anything and everything you can think of! I want to be covered in prayer, as I know that it will make a HUGE difference on my trip. Who cares if I'm thousands of miles away?!? God sure doesn't!! He'll still answer those prayers.
Thank you so much for being such an integral part of my life and blessing me beyond what you can think or imagine! I am so blessed! Next post from Japan! =)
First a couple of praise reports. I am excited to say that I am 100% funded! =) God has once again proved that he is faithful to provide for what he has called us to and that he cares about the little things. Thank you again for being obedient to his voice and following his lead whether that was to pray, provide financially, or both! Thank you!!!!
I am also happy to report that I'm back in Kansas City with all my luggage! =) That may seem like a strange report but it is an important one. My grandparents took my family on vacation to San Francisco this past week and we flew back today. We had been praying that I would make it back with plenty of time and have all my luggage. When we landed in KC, I knew that I would be back to the airport in 14 hours!
I will try to post updates about the trip as often as possible, but I'm not sure when and where I'll be able to have wifi. So, you should hear from me in about a week!
I am so excited to be traveling with such amazing people and ministering once again to the Asian peoples (plus New Zealand!). God has given me such an incredible opportunity! Our schedule has continued to fill up with more performances, workshops, and ministering opportunities. Please continue to pray for safety, energy and strength, and grace to serve.
Ways you can pray:
(I'm really exhausted from not sleeping enough and traveling, so the next couple of days will be trying physically on my body. Please pray for supernatural energy, alertness, and strength)
1) Pray for the hearts of the people we will be ministering to and with so that they will receive what God has for them this summer.
2) Pray for Dr. Kawase and Mrs. Kawase as they lead our team and work through all the logistics so that we can minister through our dancing.
3) Pray for us dancers to remain strong and healthy.
4) Pray for our team to be led by the Holy Spirit and actively following what he wants us to do.
5) Pray for safety as we travel and that all pieces of our luggage make it to our destinations.
6) Pray for anything and everything you can think of! I want to be covered in prayer, as I know that it will make a HUGE difference on my trip. Who cares if I'm thousands of miles away?!? God sure doesn't!! He'll still answer those prayers.
Thank you so much for being such an integral part of my life and blessing me beyond what you can think or imagine! I am so blessed! Next post from Japan! =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)