While I have some free time...

Dear Everyone,


I hope all is well with you and I'm excited to update you very briefly. I only have about 40 minutes until the next English class. They have been incredible. I have had many opportunities to share my testimony and really discuss my faith with non-believers. Many are searching and want to believe in Jesus and just want to learn more about Him and what the Bible says. Yesterday I went to a campus slightly outside of Kyoto and had a time of prayer walking and fellowship. The most important part of ministry here in Japan is patience. The Japanese don't like pressure and want time to deeply consider an issue before they decide on it. So even though no one came to one of the Bible studies at the University, they will continue to go out there and be patient and minister. After the University time, I came back and had a small English Bible class with one guy about my age named Taku. He has so much energy and just loves life. I had a chance to share my testimony and got to just talk about my Savior. He told me he was deeply moved and that he could tell that I was serious about what I believed. He said there was something different in my eyes and said I had the "believer's eye". I was leveled. God not only was using me to share Him with Taku but also to encourage me to keep going strong in the faith and follow His leading. Taku isn't a believer but he wants to learn more about Jesus and spend more time studying the Bible. Wow. After that class, I came back up to the house for the night and just enjoyed a delicious supper of Okonomiyaki. Today is my last day at this church and there are 4 total classes. I have already been to two and have the last ones at 2 and 7pm. I will be sad to leave this church and the ministry here but it will be good to see the Korean YWAM team again. I have missed them! I really wish I could express how amazing this trip has been so far. God has really been encouraging me and speaking to my heart. I am starting to believe that God is calling me to come and live in Japan and do ministry. Through various people, experiences, and personal devotions I have come to the following conclusion. I could serve God in many different areas but wouldn't feel as though I was giving Him everything and He deserves and demands our everything. Read Luke 14:25-33. It's obvious that God has given me a special love for Japan and it's also obvious that I enjoy the ministry here. In order to do serve Him fully here I would have to literally give up everything and trust Him. To leave the only life I have ever known, the people I love, and come to a place where less than 1% of the people know Jesus personally, and live in an environment that I am completely foreign to would be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. But the beauty of it is, God will always be with me. He would provide for my every need, sustain me, and guide me by His Spirit. I have already experienced God's perfect provision for this trip and have met some amazing people who can testify to God's faithful over and over and over again. There is a DESPERATE need for the Gospel here and for Christians to be willing to share life with the Japanese and minister. As Jesus said, "the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few." My true treasure and hope is in the promise of the next life and so why not give Jesus everything in this one and be used for His glory? The Bible says "Set your mind on things above and not on earthly things." Eternal perspective is key in this life. Please pray for me as I continue to seek after God in all of this. There is a lot for me to think about and pray about as I approach the end of my trip. Continue to pray for me as I go back to do ministry with the Korean YWAM team and as I prepare to leave for America on Tuesday. There will probably be at least one or two more posts, so don't stop following just yet! Last but not least are the shout outs for the day. The first shout out goes to... Ginger. Miss you pal and I know you are having a blast in Peru. I can't wait to see you again and look forward to chatting about God's work all over the world. I'll be praying for you! The second shout out of the day goes to... HelenTeam. I hope yall have had an awesome time ministering and have been moved by God. I'm sure there are some crazy stories and I can't wait to hear them. Thank you everyone for your support and I look forward to updating you soon...

Only By Grace,
CP