In the homeland...

Wow, it's quite intimidating to be posting something when we've got such word smiths on the team... I'm a scientist!

Thank you all for having an interest, heart and concern for the short-term mission work we will be going on.. VERY SOON! I am humbly amazed at the body of Christ. I pray that God will continue to work in your hearts in being able to support us on this exciting venture to bring the good news of Jesus.

Well, why did I decide to join this mission trip? Well, my heritage is the biggest driver for my desire to be a part of this team. I guess by observing my family and my family friends and how even though they're in a culture that "encourages" Jesus to be proclaimed they still don't know the absolute love of the Lord.

I feel there's a reason as to why I was born and raised here in Australia. There's a reason why my parents wanted me to keep my heritage alive by knowing Japanese. I'm still not sure if that's because I'm supposed to work in Japan to bring the gospel to those in Japan. Short-term mission is one way for me to get a taste of whether such a life is what God has called me to live.

A lot of people have told me that going on mission to a country such as Japan is pointless and that God does not work there... I want to find this out for myself. I want to follow my heart that God has brought salvation to all through Christ Jesus risen and that there is no height or depth, NOTHING that can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus.

Prayer points:
1. I have fallen ill from all my overtime I did in order to accrue time-in-lieu for the whole duration of the trip. I am getting better thank God, however I'm still not 100%. Please pray I get better.

2. On another note, I have accrued all my time-in-lieu! Thank God that He was able to give me the energy to get through it all. And praise God that I could get this time in the first place!

3. My language is a little rusty. I haven't been using it lately because I don't see my family much :(. I hope I can be a help to the team!

4. Praise God that finances are slowly on the rise.. help us to rely on God and to provide us with funds.

5. Pray give me the energy to prepare myself mentally, literally and physically for this trip!


love, prayers and (for the girls) hugs
masaki