Hope in ひめゆり [Himeyuri}

Earlier today we went on another one of our adventure Mondays on the island. We went to the Himeyuri museum which honors the high school girls who were made nurses for the Japanese soldiers who were hiding in the caves. They were thrust into a very dangerous environment to say the least. Over half of the 222 school girls who were made nurses Himeyuri died. The devastation that took place in Okinawa amongst the people was because of the propaganda that the Imperialistic Japanese Military enforced upon the people. That is why the Okinawans are so ardently opposed to wars.
But near the memorial stone near the cave (first picture) there were thousands of paper cranes set up.
It is said that to string a thousand cranes stands for healing and hope.
The whole idea of the war and such young girls dying for a cause that they did not ever really sign up for does cause a sobering affect to fall on one.
But in all of this there can be no real assurance of hope apart from Jesus Christ.
Continue to pray for the island of Okinawa and the country of Japan as a whole as the people need to be shown their need for Christ's saving grace and the hope that we have in Him for this life and the next.

Game Night: Fear Factor

Friday night we had a game night for the kids. Christina sets something up for the kids once every month. Next month will be movie night. There were games and in the middle of the game Christina would preach the gospel. As you see she is using the object lesson of how sin weighs you down from walking the narrow path and that only Jesus takes that burden from you. But we had blindfolded fear factor which was probably good because poor Kiki started crying on her last leg of food because it was not so tasty but she won because she downed more than the boys girl power! represent! woot woot! Then me and Megan battled to the last. It was pretty good actually...I ended up with the victory though. Twas a good fight twas twas... But on behalf of Christina and me as a helper too a thank you to Tokito, Iza, and Megan. ^_^

Girls Chill Out

We had the opportunity to get out of the cafe setting and just the school surrounding and have our class at the park this past Wednesday for women's discipleship class that day honto samui desu　ほんとさむいでした.we actually went back into the van and shared there It was a good time of fun, fellowship, and worship with the sum of snacks tha we did bring. We got to each share what the Lord has been showing us in the recentdays and in this first half of the semester. These girls are amazing it is astounding how fast this semester has gone.MAy we continue to press on to be diligent in our studies and everything else we do.

Shabbat

Yesterday (Sunday) was another day of ministry at CCOkinawa for me Tamiko [dorsteward/CCO shingaksei leader/awesome Okinawan friend], Melissa [the mermaid and "urban outfitters model"], and Megan [amazing techy who-i-go-to-for-comp-help woman].
Every month we alternate attending and helping at churches and chapels around the area. For the students here there is the Chapels on base

I have actually been helping with the four and five year old Sunday school class with Ms. Daisey. They are so adorable when they pray and when they give prayer requests but they certainly are a handful. Ms. Daisy said today that it keeps you humble as they test your patience because they get pretty riled up sometimes.
But this month has been great helping out at "Calorie" Chapel.

In the Morning When I Rise

This is the walkway that us girls take every morning to get to school. It is a bout a good 25 to 40 minute walk.

But it has always been a great opportunity for us to spend time in prayer and meditation on the Lord. For me I have used this sweet time to spend in supplication and memorizing. Because Kelsi, another student here, and I have been hoping to memorize a chapter in Romans and keep each other accountable for it every week before the semester is over.
Thank the Lord for the early mornings that He wakes me up to because otherwise i would not ever be able to get up, you could even ask my roomates for the proof. ^_^

Two out of Six

My mom shared her testimony with the school today and my brother did yesterday morning for devotions.
They were good. i especially enjoyed hearing my mom's because i finally got a good summary of her life. I always find that i don't know enough about my parents. So that was good. Praise the Lord that my family is saved and that my parents encourage my continual trust in the Lord. I certainly have the abundance of life in Christ.

Invited to View

Today was another adventure Monday. We basically spent all day around the beach. This guy here lived in a house that Tamiko's dad, Murakami-San, made. Murakami-san is an architect. The thing about this house is that it is in a beautiful location right off the beach. It is used for Japanese commercials and movies because of the amazing view and location.This is Tamiko's favorite house that her dad designed. i don't blame her. He actually showed us his front lawn and invited us to see inside his house. It was neat to be sure.

Just as Kelsi and i were talking we wondered if he ever got lonely. But just as everyone finds those times of loneliness we as children of GOd can know that we are always in God's presence no matter if we live in the clouds, in the depths of the sea, or in a beautiful ocean view house.

Hannah's Birthday Bash

We just had an awesome party for Hannah's sweeto sixteenth birthday. Hannah is an a amazing girl and young woman of God.not only that but she also is an amazing cook, baker, worship leader, and comedian. My sibs (iza and izak)and I had the opportunity to sing a song for her that we half composed because we wrote our own lyrics to John Mayer's Daughter's song. don't be baggin' on our "uncreativeness" or look at me with those judgment eyes and call it "thievery" she enjoyed it and that's all that matters. Here's a link to a video of the song--- http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1571657&id=763643877#/video/video.php?v=1061099413348&subj=1072064647

Here on the Streets

There are these impressions made on the sidewalk that run everywhere. there purpose is to keep the blind on track. it was only today that i actually saw this tool in action, It had to be documented. it was Hannah's sixteenth b-day party today twas amazing. and twill be documented asap. for now, be encouraged to know that we once were blind but now He has made us to see.

These dolls were used by the people in order to put all their bad spirits on them. There is a certain doll that was made out of paper that they would use for this same purpose and send it away on the water that all their "badness" might float away.

Even in a culture that emphasizes respect for the fellow man, the Japanese and man throughout the ages still have that issue with sin. It is only by the blood of the lamb that we are saved and can sin be removed from us entirely.

A Nomad in a New Land

I initially wrote this down on the 18th of February:

Moving to a land not your own does require a mindset of non-permanency. This I understood. Yet I did not fully understand this until I ended up sleeping where I sleep now in my sleeping bag on a couch in the girls Dorm after previously staying in one of the bunks and previous to that my sister and I stayed at the Ruiz house and previous to that we were sleeping in my dad’s barracks room. Yet the comical part of the whole bit is that i had almost spoken prophecy on my facebook status of all places on which I wrote that I was “enjoying the romantic notion of being a nomad.” Change is one very attractive thing about Calvary Chapel Ginowan though not the change of something entirely different though that does take place in many people lives here but it this constant change for better, on to newer advancements.

Getting There

Well to begin with I was not sure where I was going to be this semester. Being at the Bible college gave me a sample of independence which then became conducive to trusting in the Lord on my own. With that the Lord brought into my life the prospect of going to Okinawa Japan for next semester because of my dad’s occupation in the military and his order to come out and help at a clinic on base in Okinawa. As you could believe I wanted to go where the lord would lead me and not just go because my family was to do. So through much prayer and just a continual trusting in the Lord, He confirmed within my heart that I too was called to go to Japan with the rest of my family not only because my family was leaving but also because He had a plan for me to go as well. This might not seem to be a big step of faith on a relative scale but I take comfort in knowing that God wants us to be faithful in the little things.