Life in Okinawa

Hallelujah!

2008-10-07T21:53:00.010+09:00

Today, my brother accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord!!!

Romans 10:9-11

...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

もしあなたの口でイエスを主と告白し、

あなたの心で神はイエスを死者の中からよみがえらせてくださったと信じるなら、

あなたは救われるからです。

人は心に信じて義と認められ、口で告白して救われるのです。

聖書はこう言っています。「彼に信頼する者は、失望させられることがない。」

1Timothy2:4

God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

神は、すべての人が救われて、真理を知るようになるのを望んでおられます。

Acts16:31

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

主イエスを信じなさい。そうすれば、あなたもあなたの家族も救われます。

Thank you so much everyone for your prayer. Our God sure hears our prayers!

Amazing Work

2008-10-02T20:26:00.004+09:00

God's amaing work taking place in my family in this past 2 months or so. It started with my brother facing a depression. Many things are happning for the first time in all of our lives. I have had the most chances to share with them, opportunities to be a light in such a time, to give my brother Scriputures, to pray with him and my mom besides myself praying alone. (my dad is rather being hard hearted) Such things I never imagined I would do especially with my family are really happening. God is definitely growing my faith and showing me what it is to really BELIEVE His promises. I so desire to see all my family coming to know the Lord as their Savior.

We, Christians, do have the Answer. Jesus is the Answer. I do not have anything according to the world's standard. But, we have EVERYTHING that the world doesn't know which they are missing out.

I want to see His miracle. Lord, SAVE MY FAMILY.

Will you all join me in prayer? Thank you so much everyone.
みんなの祈りを心からありがとう。It means so much.

最近の沖縄,　と私

2008-08-15T11:05:00.004+09:00

家から。

　

beachで。

神様の　愛と　癒しと　励ましと　休息も、

神様の　臨在と　偉大さと　やさしさ...

His Love, comfort, encouragement, and rest,

His presence, His greatness, His gentle kindness...　

I am thankful for such a privilege to know and have all that I need because of Him.

イエスさまがいてくれるからこそ　感じることができる特権を　心から感謝したい。

今日のみことば

2008-05-22T07:56:00.004+09:00

Luke 12:33
...provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail...

Luke 9:23
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

朽ちることのない宝を天に積み上げなさい。
だれでもわたしについて来たいと思うなら、
自分を捨て、日々自分の十字架を負い、そしてわたしについて来なさい。
喜びなさい。喜びおどりなさい。天ではあなたがたの報いは大きいから。

普段からよく耳にするみことばだけど、
実際にそのみことばを実行する時が今なのかも知れない。
Thank you Father for this opportunity once again to learn what it is to walk by Your Word って素直に心から祈れるように。。。

Blessing

2008-05-10T22:00:00.003+09:00

Happy Birthday おばあちゃん。今年88歳になった my sweet grandma. Looking back at the year of 2006, I cannot help but see the miracle of God, can't thank enough to those who faithfully prayed for her with us. I am so thankful for the time I still get to have with her. 神さまありがとう。

April - 新生活

2008-04-19T10:06:00.006+09:00

Sunset in Spring in Okinawa, and where I now work at. Well, sort of.

What does God have in store for me I wonder, this year in this place.

今日のみことば：

as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 1Peter 2:16

Easter Weekend

2008-03-23T20:09:00.014+09:00

イザヤ53章

…彼は私たちの病を負い、私たちの痛みをになった。

…私たちのそむきの罪のために刺し通され、私たちの咎のために砕かれた。

彼への懲らしめが私たちに平安をもたらし、彼の打ち傷によって、私たちはいやされた。

…彼は、自分のいのちの激しい苦しみのあとを見て、満足する。

…彼らの咎を彼がになう。

彼は多くのひとの罪を負い、そむいた人たちのためにとりなしをする。　

night of Worship

Christina and Melissa

Have a safe trip going home, Melissa.

May God continue to bless all your service unto Him!

6 more days

2008-03-23T19:50:00.008+09:00

I have been blessed at work this past 2 months. I hate to leave, but it is soon time to move on.
毎日の lunch on the 9th floor balcony. から。⇒⇒
Only 6 more days...
光となれますように。

グラタンish

2008-03-15T21:08:00.011+09:00

Great dinner tonight.

& 最近の私 from mixi.

うーん多分８年くらい。

固まってた、変わるはずないと思ってた、自分の中の、

～ある一面の変化～に最近気づきはじめている真っ最中。不思議な気持ち。

I never thought this part of me would ever change ever since 8 years ago,

but I've been seeing lately that it's been different and somehow changed.

I wonder if my Creator wants to do something new in me.

My Creator が何かしようとしているのかしら。

in His hand, by His hand, で変わっていく自分、

knowing that it's all for His glory, He is doing His work in me.

楽しみで幸せな人生 in His plan, only when you are in His hand.

Life is exciting when in the hands of Almighty.

かわいい

2008-03-03T21:05:00.001+09:00

Andrew ありがとう。

1st Sunday of March

2008-03-02T21:32:00.017+09:00

Such a beautiful day, clear sky with 降水確率 0%

All of a sudden, it got a little chilly and very cloudy,

but we still made it to the beach,

which I saw from the Church window earlier today.

何だか雲が今にも動きそうじゃない？

Unity in the family of Christ.

And we still are praying for Mana.

朝の散歩

2008-03-01T17:58:00.018+09:00

Exodus 34:2

So be ready in the morning,

and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai,

and present yourself to Me there on the top of the mountain.

朝までに準備をし、朝シナイ山に登って、その山の頂でわたしの前に立て。

Psalm 88:13

But to You I have cried out, O LORD,

and in the morning my prayer comes before You.

しかし、主よ。

この私は、あなたに叫んでいます。

朝明けに、私の祈りはあなたのところに届きます。

Lamentation 3:22-23

Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,

because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.

私たちが滅びうせなかったのは、主の恵みによる。

主のあわれみは尽きないからだ。

それは朝ごとに新しい。「あなたの真実は力強い。」

Genesis 1:5

God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.

So the evening and the morning were the first day.

神は光を昼と名づけ、やみを夜と名づけられた。

夕があり、朝があった。第一日。

Not that it was super early morning. But yet, I felt like God still showed me a glimpse of what He has in the morning. There are things you can only enjoy at certain moments, that is how I feel. And there are definitely ones like it specifically in the morning, 多分. And the thing which I feel in the morning, which I can't express in words; the joy, the sweetness, the spirit lifted feeling, etc. is maybe, I thought, maybe in someway somewhat has a bit closeness with when one day we see Jesus our Morning Star, face to face.

朝の空気の中で感じる不思議な気持ちは、

もしかすると、いつか Jesus に会う時の感覚を、少し神さまが、見せてくれてるのかな。

だから、言葉では表せない不思議な素敵な感じなのかも知れない。と思った。

Revelation 22

There shall be no night there:

They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.

Behold, I am coming quickly.

I, Jesus, am the Bright and Morning Star.

February '08

2008-02-28T21:33:00.006+09:00

Beautiful Sunday,

and another Sunday a couple weeks ago

with beloved sisters.

なるほど。

2008-02-22T10:41:00.013+09:00

Same with men's heart,　かな。

お互いを思う気持ちって、

本当に honor を持って、

お互いが、神様にすごく愛されてる大切な存在であって、

私にとって、兄弟・姉妹なんだ。

大切に care する責任がある、って意識持たなきゃね。

Respect each other as brothers and sisters in Christ with such an honor knowing and understanding that's God's precious beloved. We are responsible to care for one anothre with HIS LOVE. No one belongs to us. Even we ourselves.

Forgive me, this is my BEST to express my feelings in English...

めでたい話

2008-02-04T15:06:00.000+09:00

This girl in the middle, Yuka san from Tokyo,

now going to law school in Okinawa,
Has accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior!!!!!

Party in Heaven. Please join us in prayer for those girls in our fellowship who are now new in their faith.

for their growth in the grace and knowledge

of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Happy Anniversary

2008-02-02T23:43:00.000+09:00

Today was my parents' 27th Wedding Anniversary. I believe how everything is now for our family is all because of their happy marriage for the past 27 years.

I am very grateful for the great parents.

It truly is a gift from above.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights... James 1:17

I want to thank them for being such wonderful parents to both my brother and I, and for all their hard work. Without them, there wouldn't have been the same today. I pray for their continual happy marriage with each other. And I PRAY that very soon, I will be able to post the great news about them coming to know their Savior and Lord. Until then, Lord increase my faith in you!

Yoshi

2008-01-23T23:05:00.000+09:00

We love and miss you very much.
たくさんの愛と思い出をありがとうね。
May the hand of God lead you in every step of your life.

今日の空 part 2

2008-01-09T17:42:00.000+09:00

I love our apartment. God is good.

The Year 2008

2008-01-01T21:01:00.000+09:00

みんなで年越し game night at the Koinonia Cafe.

～あけおめ２００８～

I have so many people I can call "family" and I know they will only increase as God continues to do His work in and through us.

I wish you all have another wonderful year in the Lord.

Thank you Jesus for the new year.

どんな新しい一年が待ってるんだろう。

Psalm 84:11

主は恵みと栄光を授け、正しく歩む者たちに、良いものを拒まれません。

The Lord will give grace and glory,

no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Happy New Year everyone!

Last blog of 2007

2007-12-31T12:20:00.000+09:00

Senaga Jima -

I don't know which one is real anymore.

Fun night with Naoko-san at the D.

I don't know what happened with the lights in the back...

I had a fun day with the cookies and the burnt bread sticks.

"laugh is good for the soul" by Joe

The year of 2008 is already here.

みんなの2007年はどんな一年でしたか？

Christmas Night

2007-12-26T00:02:00.000+09:00

How sad I forgot to take pictures tonight....

Thank you for the fun night GIRLS!!!

すきやき

2007-12-24T21:37:00.000+09:00

Japanese style Christmas dinner

クリスマス

2007-12-23T23:50:00.000+09:00

冬の海もすてきだね。

Merry Christmas to you all from the Koinonia Cafe!

おばあちゃん

2007-12-22T22:43:00.000+09:00

I was feeling alittle down this past few days. But, I felt loved again. She put smiles on my face by just her presence. How easily I forget of all the blessings God has already given me.

My grandma gave me nice warm green tea, home-made Okinawan donuts さーたーあんだぎー that she just made tonight, and みかん.

That was an enough reminder.

Blessings are everywhere.

I am the LORD your God,

who brought you out of the land of Egypt:

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

-Psalm 82:10-

He is able and He is the source of everything and He is love.

3rd Semester is over

2007-12-18T19:58:00.000+09:00

New season awaits for all of us.

more people we were privileged to have met

2007-12-12T22:54:00.000+09:00

Thank you for coming to Okinawa.

God bless you, as you continue to walk with Him.

You all will be in my prayer.

People come and go and we don't even know who will be around here next year. I myself might not even be here. Only God knows... And this is all great, because this means that God's work is being spread and His work never stops. We are chosen not to live for ourselves but for the Lord's purpose. May we be always open and willing to be led by the Spirit however He desires to lead and guide us. Jesus' love for people is amazing, and we need to share this with the world.

banquet

2007-12-11T00:05:00.000+09:00

I have to take pictures of other students too before they leave. They are all special and precious.

I just wish I could get to know them better.

December 9th '07

2007-12-10T09:39:00.000+09:00

↑赤い夕日
What's next?

in Chatan

2007-12-07T14:51:00.000+09:00

やっぱり I love beaches.

Ping san's Chinese food (Thank you Ping san), first time playing Chess (actually Andrew playing), Yoshi's delicious dessert, 2 hours of silence (←) etc. at Eric san's.

Unexpected Conversation

2007-12-04T13:16:00.000+09:00

My dad started asking me random questions last night. It started with a question about the spirits of the dead. But then, before I knew it, I was sharing with him about Satan and demons, the Rapture, the tribulation, Heaven and Hell and so on. It was an amazing night. This never happened before. I don't know why he all of a sudden asked me questions like these, but I felt the Hand of God leading. He ended the conversation with "Okay, so that's how Christians view things, but there are many others." Satan is such a deceiver. People are so blind. I was convicted of not praying enough, and not acting out my faith.

"Be doers of the Word, and not hearing only." James 1:22

『つまずきを与えるこの世はわざわいだ。』 Matthew 18:7

Matthew 19:25-26
"Who then can be saved?"
"with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

I pray for my family's salvation. Lord, please save them.

Saturday Afternoon

2007-12-01T18:38:00.000+09:00

Beach in Naha は、こんな感じで…まぁしょうがないね。

People in Okinawa (tourists) were swimming today.

It is December.

Yoshi's

2007-11-26T12:53:00.001+09:00

Sweet fellowship!

families in Christ

2007-11-24T00:23:00.000+09:00

Thanksgivng

　

and 勤労感謝の日

　　
　　
　　

I am blessed.

今日の空

2007-11-22T00:39:00.000+09:00

ひさしぶり

2007-11-17T21:00:00.000+09:00

みんなでディナー

new camera

2007-11-15T22:43:00.000+09:00

new camera is exciting and I love my mom.

can't sleep!!?

2007-10-30T05:36:00.000+09:00

An hour and a half long of a drunk lady yelling and screaming at 4 in the morning in our neighborhood was crazy and also scary. Finally, the police took her.
LORD, COME QUICKLY って本当に思ったよ.
This world is a mess.

Beautiful Island

2007-10-15T21:55:00.000+09:00

What an amazing island we live on.

I've been wanting to go to a beach to see the sunset.

It was beautiful.

This summer, I did not go swimming even once. It was pretty much the last chance to do so today, but it was too cold.

Oh well, I still had a great time.

A short time after this picture, my camera broke. So sad...

Hopefully they will be able to fix it cheap.

While watching the sunset, I was thinking, although I can't think of myself leaving this island ever again, can that actually happen again?

もしかしたら、ってこともありえるかな？って。

And if so, where would it be? Just a thought.

"confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" Heb.11:13

Long but Great Day

2007-10-14T22:26:00.000+09:00

People I love.

かよとなるみ。at Josh-san's. ごめんね、逆光だったね＞＜

Josh-san, thank you so much for your hospitality!

Once a year, the tug-of-war in Naha.

It was reported that there were approximately 205,000 people there today.

ウォーリーを探せっぽい☆

salvation #2

2007-10-05T21:08:00.000+09:00

3 high school girls (and possibly more) got saved!!!!!
at the Hakugaijin outreach Friday night.
The message of God's love was shared, and people responded.
All of us REJOICED. (like you did Daniel! hehe (^-^)b
It is awesome to be a part of this joyful moment while there is a big celebration in Heaven.

Romans 10:9
"that if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord',
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved."

もし、あなたの口でイエスを主と告白し、
あなたの心で神はイエスを死者の中からよみがえらせてくださったと信じるなら、
あなたは救われます。

Thank you Father.

Yu-chan

2007-10-04T00:15:00.001+09:00

It was so great to see her again!

Please continue to pray for her salvation...

She is such a sweet friend.

Food Again!

2007-10-04T00:10:00.000+09:00

Ayu, Kayo, I decided to use none of those pictures...

Aren't those cakes so beautiful? This made my day.

かよ、ありがとう

Noah turns 14 today

2007-09-27T21:57:00.000+09:00

My cousin Noah, I remember taking him everywhere when he was a baby.

He is now 14!! Time sure flies...

Now he is older, he does not know the Lord, alot of times I don't even know how to treat him, yet God reminds me that I can always LOVE him.

And as I've heard this before, it's not "the only thing I can do is to pray...", but the BEST I can do is to pray. (was it Trevor sharing at W2?)

He still is and always will be my dear little Noah.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Prov. 22:6

"Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth" Eccl. 12:1

How I desire to see him come to know the Lord as his Savior. ><

I need to share with him and tell him about Jesus who loves him so much. がんばるぞー！

I love my cousin Noah.

...nothing is greater than preaching the Gospel to love somebody.

(from #13 Church History DVD) aha I am still working on it...

Japanese Holiday

2007-09-27T16:00:00.000+09:00

It was soooo great to see Kumiko again! after a long time...

I was blessed hanging out with her all day on Monday.

People tell me I've been talking about food all the time lately. I don't know what's up....
But, we started our day with YAKINIKU! That was a great lunch.

All MEAT you can eat!!!

We were (or I was) eating all the meat Yo-shi- was cooking.

Gomen ne, Yo-shi-. ><

And then bowling on base. Freezing as always!!?
Wonderful day with beautiful people! ^^

かぼ天 - kaboten

2007-09-21T22:33:00.000+09:00

We found our new favorite ZENZAI / tempura place in Chatan.

Great size for only 200 yen!!

Praise God for my sisters!

また行こうね☆

Another Week

2007-09-14T10:49:00.000+09:00

This past week, God's been showing me so much of His goodness through so much of my ugliness. When I can't do it, the hand of rescue comes not from within me, but from the outside "Him". From where really I have nothing to do with, but which is so much of His grace alone.

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself."
2Timothy 2:13

"You are the ONLY one I need"
"You have given me more than I could ever have wanted"

My prayer is to truly be able to say this from my heart.
And not merely in words, but that I will truly be content and satisfied always with Him alone.

salvation

2007-09-09T23:47:00.000+09:00

A girl name Rie accepted the Lord tonight after W2.
It was awesome.
Please keep her in prayer since we all know that the enemy doesn't like this happening.
Praise the Lord for another new member to God's big family. ^^

birthday

2007-08-23T21:39:00.000+09:00

And, I am now 26!!!!!??

God's been so good all my life.

2007-08-23T18:17:00.000+09:00

Psalm 139

...in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me,

when as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.

Acts 17:28

For in Him we live and move and have our being...

John 3:17

2007-08-17T23:19:00.001+09:00

I do not like being around my family when they drink.
Although they seem to think that when they drink they are happy and can talk about alot of things they don't usually feel comfortable talking about, something about it just bothers me very much.
(not the fact itself that they are drinking)
Being in the same house as they are drinking, I have to have my head phones with very loud music so I don't hear what they are talking about.
I just simply don't want to hear anything.
I love my family, but I now am starting to realize I belong to my Heavenly Father first.
Very hard to accept and face some reality sometimes.
I am very weak, Lord please help me.

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Joy God gives

2007-08-13T18:13:00.000+09:00

I can't believe she is gone.
This is truly a very strange feeling I have never experienced before.

I am fine most of the time,
but it still sometimes hits me the fact that she is not here anymore, and it is hard to believe.

To not have something you always had is surely strange.

Just a pet I know,
but I now see how much God really blessed us with her presence in the past 9 years. She was such a joy to all of us.

May I always see God in all things.

Acknowledge Him in all your ways.

Today

2007-08-11T21:41:00.001+09:00

Our dog Stacy died today. Very sad.
I am doing fine, but please pray for my family. They are not fine.
Please pray that God will use this time to speak to their heart, or even use me to shine in the family that they will see that my strength and comfort comes from the Lord alone.

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.

God gives and also takes away for His purpose.

Prayers

2007-08-09T23:33:00.000+09:00

Lately, God has put 2 people on my heart to pray for (seriously making that as my commitment) and seek how I can share with them.

① my cousin Noah who is 13
② Toki obachan who just had her birthday and she doesn't even know how old she is anymore. She is around 93 ~ 95, I am not so sure.

Having talked to some of my sisters in the Lord and after Christina prayed for them and myself this afternoon, I was encouraged and 勇気をもらった. Even just to ask Noah to come to the beach bash this Sunday with us was a step for me.

I wanted to write this to always remember to never give up, keep praying for them and wait enthusiastically and expect to see God work in their lives.
And when God tells me to speak, then I will be bold to do so.

I pray that the day of their salvation is near.
Please if you will, join me in prayer for them... ありがとうございます。

Our 9 years together

2007-07-30T23:58:00.000+09:00

With her eyes only half closed, cho ugly, but ukeru.↑

I used to hate dogs so much. Rather, I was scared of them.

I remember one time I was like 8, when I was on my way to a piano lesson, because I had an おにぎり onigiri in my hand that a dog was following me. I had to throw it to him so that I could run as fast as I could while he was eating.

Cho scary story for an eight-year-old all by herself.

But now, we have 2 dogs in our home.

They are the reason why I can now finally be near dogs.

When I came back from the States in June, I found out that one of them was sick. It's been so difficult for all of us to watch Stacy in pain.

We don't know how much time we have left with her.

Such an ordinary dog, nothing special about her, except that she is a part of our family.

I love her dearly. (and Fluffy too of course ^^)

God made them, and saw that it was good.

Hokkaidou 北海道

2007-07-27T18:47:00.000+09:00

Have you ever had crab? ちょうおいしい☆ Sooo good.

Thanks to my grandma and aunts for bringing them back from Hokkaidou.

I hope to go there myself someday. That'd be awesome.

One dream land for Okinawans.

View from the apt

2007-07-26T20:57:00.000+09:00

Thanks to all that helped us move in February.

Without your help, we wouldn't have made it... ありがとう^^

We love our apartment.

And sometimes it gives us the gorgeous view of the sunset.

First one was right after the typhoon.

And the other one from today.

How long is it gonna last....

2007-07-26T20:30:00.000+09:00

Probably not very long...

But, I guess if it's all pictures, then I don't have to worry about my English writing.

Don't take many pictures anymore either, but, I am going to try to post some.

Just to remember and appreciate the things God gives me.

I love being an Okinawan, I love living here on this island.

かみさま、ありがとう☆

And LOVE you all!

Natsuki