Pumpkin Carving Time

We loved carving pumpkins in California but Jamie and her family was always missing so this year we enjoyed having all the kids carve pumpkin. Jamie, Shayna, Sherri & Josh did Dinsey themed and Michael did his own creation by carving his two kids names. 

Maicah just thought the lighted pumpkins was cool in the dark. In fact, this morning his ran to the sliding door to point to the pumpkins. We love family times like these. 

Back to the Norm

Unpacking is the part I DREAD when coming home from a trip. Normally I unpack immediately but this time, I am taking my sweet 'ole time.  I want  to savor the memories. I realized this was the first time I wasn't homesick. 

We missed the kids and grandkids no doubt. In fact our favorite part is giving them their gift from our travel. This trip we weren't able to really do shopping but thank God the Narita airport had many shops. This is where we did most of our shopping. 

We are home for 2 weeks then we're off to the Big Island of Hawaii for a Foursquare conference. I guess I have to keep the suitcase out.  

Conference Thank You to Volunteers

Pastor Talo & Nori did an excellent job to thank the many volunteers. The restaurant was filled with laughter and loud conversations. Their spirits were high and joy was on their faces. 

At the end, Nori shared the ribbon crosses made by the New Hope Hawaii Tutu's (grandmas) to bless the people of Japan. The volunteers were so touched that the grandmas in Hawaii was thinking of them. 

My soon to be 85 year old Grandma is one of the tutus and she initiated the making of the ribbon crosses.

Guitars & more guitars!

Right across the street from where New Hope Tokyo meets is guitar shops galore. We were in a rush to get into service on time so Guy just drooled on the way. 

New Hope Tokyo Service

After the train ride we made it to New Hope Tokyo just in time as the worship was starting. The service was packed and we spent a lot of time after service talking with members one on one. 

On woman in particular shared that she feels called to attend Pac Rim in Hawaii. We spoke in depth and I told her I would pray for her. I encouraged her if she could, visit Hawaii for DCAT conference in Hawaii then she can tour Pac Rim and sit in a class. She said it would take a miracle because of circumstances but she would pray. I need moments like this to remind that the world is bigger than my mind can conceive. 

After church all the conference volunteers went to a restaurant where Pastor Talo & his wife Nori thanked everyone with a delicious meal and a time for fellowship. By the end of the evening the woman I had spoken to told Guy that she will be coming to DCAT in Hawaii.  Wow - God is so good!

Our train experience ... Chiba to Tokyo

After Sunday service in Chiba (around 1pm) we walked to the train station to make the journey to Tokyo. It was about an hour train ride with three train transfers. 

We were journeying to New Hope Tokyo for their 2pm service. 

Amazing to see the oodles of people riding the train. It's the main mode of transportation. Hawaii needs a rail system. 

Sunday @ New Hope Chiba Church

On Sunday, the 3 New Hope Hawaii pastors (Elwin, Aaron & Guy) we're sent to speak to the different New Hope Japan churches. Guy & I was blessed to be with New Hope Chiba. It took about an hour and a half to get there by car. We were picked up at 8:15am. One of the young leaders on staff asked his parents to pick us up if not we'd have to take the train which would take us 2 hours and many transfers. 

The church is about a 100 people in the city of Chiba. Sumiya sensei considers Chiba to be the entry way into Japan since it's the first city from the Narita airport. We arrived a little early than expected so Pastor Sumiya spent some time with us at the coffee shop. There we were able to hear his heart and his testimony. Sumiya sensei was studying to be a lawyer when he was invited to Dr. Younggi Cho revival crusade. There he got saved then had to tell his parents of his decision to change career. His parents, more his mother, was so disappointed that she told him, she wants to kill him for this decision and that he is not her son anymore. So he got kicked out of his home. One of the Japan pastors took him in and allow him to sleep at the church. There he learned under Inafuku sensei (also a New Hope Japan pastor) about ministry. It was a very touching time of sharing. As Guy was able to share who his was and his ancestral history being from Japan Sumiya sensei encouraged Guy to share that with the people. 

Guy began his message by saying "domo arigato" (thank you very much) for welcoming us. We we arrived at the airport and I was so impressed that everywhere the Japanese people put signs up to welcome me... "Higashi", "Higashi", "Higashi" was all over on the highway and on the roadside. Everyone laughed since "higashi" means "east" that is why our last name is everywhere. Through the grace of God .... everyone was touched by the message. Even the translator Yuya had to stop because he began sobbing. Everyone had tears ... the pastor and leaders too. 

More food!

Our nightly question from Pastor Talo, "where do you want to eat?" It's usually after a long day and we're starving. We were kind of craving ramen and gyoza. So here the men are eating again - a huge course of dishes. 

"Doing Church As A Team" Conference

We have just ended our time at the DCAT conference. It's 11pm in Japan (4 am in Hawaii) and we've just arrived at our hotel. The past two days have been overwhelming to witness God's work in Japan. In a populated place of 48 million people and a small percentage (4%) of Christians, we witnessed our mighty God at work. There were over 650 people in attendance from 90+ churches some traveling as far as Okinawa (outside of Japan) and many hours by train. 

We have been astounded by the excellence of the team coordinating the conference. We are proud of the young Japanese leaders who once interned and studied in Hawaii during the early days of New Hope, who are now pastors of New Hope churches all over Asia. We have been so blessed by the hospitality of the people. 

Christians in Japan are hungry to learn and be encouraged in our faith. Their servant heart is admirable. Personally it was a great reminder of how much I have ... resources, access to materials, the fellowship of a great church and most importantly free access to the King. I can often forget and take for granted my relationship with Jesus. I need venues like this to remind me of who I am in Christ and what we are a part of at New Hope and Pacific Rim Bible College. 

Thank you good Lord for all that you say, all that you do and all that you are!

Fried Shoyu Musubi

Oh yummy! As we had an hour to spare, walked around our hotel and found a musubi (rice ball) stand. They had different types of musubi and it was delicious. 

The longest journey to the best maguro sushi

One of the places we were recommended to visit was the Tsukiji fish market. It's where the fish auction is held lined with restaurants that serve this fresh catch. Normally from Urawa it would be a 45 minute (at the most) drive. For some reason with traffic, rain and who knows why, the journey took 3 hours. Pastor Talo and his wife Nori used the GPS to find alternate routes which led us through the smallest streets that looked like walking alleys. How in the world did the minivan we were in fit in those narrow roads - I have no clue. We were almost going to give up when Pastor Talo said it's only 5 kilometers away - we can make it. What was worse what the fact we needed to be at the conference by 12 noon. In the van were all the conference speakers. It was 11 am when we finally reached our destination. God was so good to lead us to a restaurant with western toilets (we had to go really badly) and the best maguro sushi we've ever tasted. It was different grades of fish and it was literally the best ... even compared to Hawaii. No comparison. By the grace of God we made it to the conference at exactly 12 noon. 

Ramen, Akihabara and more food!

One of our must do's in Japan is to eat ramen. Pastor Talo took us to a place that's his favorite. And if you see Pastor Talo - you believe him. He's a huge samoan married to a Japanese national. He could pass for a sumo wrestler. 

The ramen was ono (delicious). It was cool to have to go to the vending machine and buy the ticket for your ramen selection.  Pretty efficient huh?

We then traveled to the "electronics district" in Akihabara. It was overwhelming to say the least. It was computers, cell phones, gadgets galore. We saw the coolest mini computers that was only about 6" wide for $99 US dollars but the catch was you have to buy 2 years of internet service. Guy was so tempted to find a mini-computer that would be US compatible.

Then we ended our evening at the local mall in Urawa where we ate (again) at a healthy, all natural, locally grown restaurant. It was a great buffet with many of the dishes we enjoy. Are you getting full yet?

Clean and Efficient

One observations is how clean Japan is and how many folks ride a bicycle. Young & old, men & women, babies and small kids in tow - bike are everywhere! In fact, I admired their agility and skill riding their bikes. Several times we almost got run over by them. 

Pictured is folks in red picking up trash on the streets. Then the other picture is outside a business with the workers bicycles all parked outside. We past one place (and was too slow to get out our camera) that reminded us of Amazing Race when teams had to find the secret bicycle in the midst of hundreds of them. 

Seeing all the bicycles reminded Guy & I of riding our bikes in Pasadena. Oh how we miss that!

10 Course Dinner

Dinner was literally a huge treat! We had a 10-course dinner. We started with a 1) meatball & sweet potato appetizer then, 2) an ikura (salmon eggs) and raw salmon green salad, then 3) chicken karage, 4)  freesh veggies (mushrooms, sweet potato, etc) on a hot stone, 5) deep fried flounder fish, 6)  jumbo prawns tempura (it was ... I swear 12" long - huge - the biggest prawns I ever saw), 7) nato rice & bacon, 8) shoyu pork, 9) salmon eggs spaghetti and 10) cabonara spaghetti. Plus we drank ume soda. Everything was so delicious. It may sound gross but it was good! 

Here in the picture is Pastor Aaron Cordeiro & his wife Uilani and Pastor Elwin Ahu eating the jumbo prawns.

We were so stuffed - it was painfully hard to stay awake. Pastor Talo recommended that we stay up at least to 10 pm (Japan time) which was 3 am Hawaii time in order to minimize jet lag. If not we'd wake up at 2am.  We crashed out at 9:30 pm - no way were we going to make it to 10pm and sure enought we got up at 2am and every hour until 6pm when we got out of bed.

We made it to Japan

We arrived at the Narita airport about 1/2 an hour earlier. The flight was smooth (thank God) and pretty empty. Some people were able to lay across the middle row. The 7+ hours went by quickly and we were kept fed and hydrated. Customs was a breeze and no long lines.  It was an efficient system. As we exited the airport, we were greeted by a familiar face. The other New Hope team members arrived an hour earlier on JAL than we did. The picture to the left is a view from our hotel room. This is a picture from our hotel room view.

Pastor Talo rented a bus to pick us all up. The weather was overcast and cool. We made our first stop at a rest station. We were in awe of the vending machines. 

Then we stopped by the New Hope office where the volunteers were busying packing up the boxes of supplies. It was nice to be reunited with Shintaru from the earlier days of when New Hope started. Here I am pictured with Shintaru Sensei and his wife. 

Getting ready to visit Japan

In 3 days Guy & I will be off to Japan. It's one of those places we've always wanted to visit. We'll be visiting New Hope Tokyo a church plant from our home church. It'll be for a conference that Guy and others from our church will speak at. We are there for only a week of which 2 days are for the conference. We're excited but a little nervous with navigating in a place where we don't speak the language. It'll be an experience all right. Heard for the restrooms, women "squat". Shayna and Sherri teased me saying I need to practicing squatting so I don't fall in the hole.

Hopefully I can blog while on our trip ...

Pray for us ... if you know me, I don't travel well. I get motion sickness and home sickness. And yet, I love seeing new places. What's up with that!

Guy Upfront & Personal

Guy delivering this weekend message, "All God's Chillun Got Gifts" at church.
Bless the heart of James a faithful professional photographer that has knows us since the beginning of our time at New Hope.

Guy's 3-points in the message:
1. Look at your strengths and not your weakness.
2. Don't devalue the gift God has given you by wanting someone else's gift.
3. Tell yourself and others you are a special piece of the puzzle.

To listen to the message, go to www.enewhope.org.

Bluegrass music in Hawaii

Yesterday Guy & I went to a baby's 1st birthday party. You may have heard me share before but 1st birthdays are a big thing in Hawaii. Josh's own 1st birthday party had close to a 1,000 people.

This 1st birthday though is blessed with musical families on both sides (mom & dad). Here the guest were treated to "bluegrass" music ... in Hawaii! Oh the sounds made me think of Jon West who used to work in the Fuller Housing office with me.

Paddling Canoe on Waikiki Beach

My sister Monica and her son David "Hoku" came for a visit. They live on the neighbor island and since Hoku was on fall break like Josh they decided to spend a few days with us.

We enjoyed a day at Waikiki Beach with my dad. Here are the kids in the canoe coming back from catching waves. My dad is a canoe captain and loves taking his grandkids out. If you're here for a visit you'll have the chance to give canoeing a try.

Here is Pohai sleeping in the wagon under the coconut tree at Waikiki Beach. ... Just another day in paradise!

Video Games

Josh loves having his brother-in-law Michael around. Here they are challenging one another in a video game. Isn't Josh's expression, so Josh?

Maicah has his own "pretend" controller and thinks he's playing with them.

Sherri taking a walk in the neighborhood

Here is Sherri taking Maicah for a wagon ride. Maicah got this wagon for his 2nd birthday from my sister Tracie.