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!!!!!