My Life in a Suitcase

Thanksgiving

2011-12-06T20:47:00.000-08:00

I got to go back to Temecula for 3 days over Thanksgiving break. A trip I was not expecting which was a pleasant surprise to have been able to enjoy such a luxury.

It was a blessing to see my family and be crazy with my beloved cousins. It is in theses instances when you are glad that somethings don't change.

Now looking forward to the end of the semester where most of my break will be time spent again with direct family and more family. I am specifically excited for Iza and Christopher Clark's visit here in St. George and our family trip back to California until New Years.

Currently: quit my job at Benja's (next semester's time won't allow for it). at one and a half weeks before the semester is officially over (woohoo!). co-conducting children's choir for our Christmas eve service. serving the Lord at the CC St. George.

Praises: Jesus loves and is sanctifying me. i will be able to join the youth on the Thailand 2012 mission trip. Iza and Chris are coming for Christmas. so far I know I have an A in my Physiology Lab class. that is pretty sweet. the semester is almost over. etc... etc...

Prayer Requests: growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. finals for this semester. grace with my grade for next semester. life decisions for schooling specifically whether or not I want to be a nurse or a doctor (big difference, i know).

It has been awhile since I've updated but I just want to be reminded of God's goodness and the many things I have been given.

God is faithful: one reason why we should encourage one another

"Let us hold fast the confession of [our] hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works" Hebrews 10:23,24

"walk circumspectly"/ take care

-ina

Memoirs of Faithfulness

2011-07-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

It has been a busy few weeks: interning, going to school full time, and working. God is faithful to give His kids the grace to carry the responsibilities that are placed upon us. Between being a student and going to work, life still goes on and living space and eating time has to be squeezed in there somehow.

During the first week when the summer semester started I highly doubted whether or not I could handle the schedule I was about to begin. Having been given the opportunity to really dive into the Word of God for 4 semesters of Bible College and being surrounded by solid biblical teaching in high school and just being brought up by parents who encouraged having a tight relationship with God, God brought to remembrance the promises in His Word that His Spirit will need to remind me of the rest of my earthly life like: “Be anxious for nothing but by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

And the awesome thing was that He totally gave me a crazy kind of peace. All throughout this summer semester I didn’t have any anxiety about homework or tests or studying, granted I had to do all those things but it was more of an enjoyable experience. In my own personal opinion, when you realize school is for your learning benefit and take advantage of it rather than try to find all the loopholes and cause yourself last minute stress is a waste.

The verse that I included at the beginning of this entry specifically came alive to me concerning my housing condition. I have been living with two awesome girls who love the Lord, Tara and Kara ( they are in the picture above next to me and yes, their names rhyme and I love it).

Recently I had made a mistake in what I was going to do for next semester that seemed irrevocable based on the circumstances of that time and it was right before young adults group when it was brought to my attention and I was just about to lead worship. I panicked for a minute did all that I was capable of doing at that moment to try to correct my mistake then after doing all that, I did what I should have done in the first place, I turned to the Lord and prayed and surrendered the situation to Him and then lead worship. His presence was my comfort.

About a week after that the Lord answered my prayer like Ephesians 3:20 states

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or thing according to the power that works in us.” The Lord blessed us with a re modeled and refurnished 3 bedroom house to rent (opposed to renting out the apartment we have been living in). Despite my faithlessness He is faithful.

I’m enjoying the time off of school now and am thankful for these moments that I get to update and speak of the great things God has done for me.

If you spent the time to read this, I hope you were encouraged to put your trust in and delight in the Lord (Psalms 37:3-4). Because it is so worth it to do so. ^-^

Spring 2011: in the George

2011-03-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

It's about time for me to update. :)
It has been a few months since I moved out to Saint George Utah. Although there were some rough spots in the beginning of my acclimation to the life here, it has been a good for me.
I've had a lot of time to hang out with Ivan and Shannon (my new sister ^_^) and friends that I've met and known and have gotten to know better since I've been here. Praise the Lord for the fellowship of believers (Acts 2:42). I've also had many opportunities to enjoy the scenery in and around St. George it is quite lovely.

I'm astounded at how often I forget about the power of the One true God I serve, the one who wants to do a new thing in the lives of those who are His (Isaiah 43-46).

There is a definite difference in culture here. Warfare for the hearts and minds of man here seems so pronounced to me since coming from California. (2 Cor 10:3-5)
To you reader, prayer that the Lord will mightily use me and all His new creations out here to share the Word of God in love would be most desired.
I'm so happy and thankful through all of my life He is with me (Hebrews 13).
It is awesome that the Lord desires for us to rejoice, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks (1 Thes 5:16-18).

It certainly is easy to be downcast about the state of the world, yet all the more why the Truth of the gospel is so needed. We should be moved with compassion and motivated by His Spirit to be witnesses, living epistles (2 Cor. 3:3). To go therefore and make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20).

He is coming back quickly. Revelation 3:11; 22:7,12,20
The signs of the times are evident. Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11.

The heart of the Father is for all to come to and accept Him as He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save the world. (Jn 3:16)

The Bible is filled with so much good truth.

This is a sweet song (an oldie but a good one):

There is joy in the Lord, there is love in His Spirit, there is hope in the knowledge of Him.
There is a fountain I know every time I am near, is abounding in love to my soul.
All blessing and honor are His all glory and power are His!

Family of God.

2011-01-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

I am so encouraged by the love that has been shown to me from my church family in Temecula and Murrieta. God has been so faithful. During the last Sunday that I attended Calvary Chapel Hot Springs Church in Murrieta Dave Shirley and the body prayed for me. The fellowship there has been a blessing to me. With all the opportunities to play worship for the Spanish ministry and just be apart of the church for the few months there it was a blessed time. Then later that day I had the chance to see a few of my friends from high school. Then that night I was blessed to be prayed for again by a few dear families from CC Bible Fellowship of whom will all be sorely missed, yet the Lord sends out His laborers to the harvest and in that I am glad.

Two Down, Two to Go

2010-12-23T16:22:00.000-08:00

My sister, for nineteen years of my life (so far) ;) , is now married to Christopher Clark. It has been 1 day short of their 20 days as a married couple. It was a beautiful wedding. The Lord blessed it and has blessed Iza and Christopher with a new life together. Their story of the Lord bringing them together has been a testimony and example for many. They waited upon and acted on seeking and serving the Lord and keeping their relationship before the Lord pure, holy, and acceptable to God and that is what was exemplary (Romans 12:1-2). How exciting is it to see God's plan for both of their lives to meet and be planned out to go forward together still seeking and following Him. The Lord has been faithful. What God has brought together let no man put asunder!
Love you guys d^_^b

Gathered to be Scattered (for God's glory)

2010-11-22T21:11:00.001-08:00

This past week I have been reminded of a saying that my dad would always used to say after every Campfires for Christ camp trip that we had, that is the Lord "gathers us to scatter us."
He calls us to be edified together and have our gifts stirred up and to encourage the body then sends us out to our mission field, whether that be our school, work, home or the more obvious far away countries to spread the truth of His gospel.

I have been able to see many Christian brothers and sisters who are subsequently going out to be scattered in the fields that God is setting before them. I myself will be moving, Lord willing, to another field by the end of and beginning of next year and am thankful for the recent gatherings that I have been able to participate and be encouraged in. The Lord is faithful to help prepare us for whatever work He has laid before us. For this I am thankful, for this I know that I don't need to worry, for this in part of the whole is why I love my God. Jeremiah 29:11.

I encourage you brother or sister to live in surrender to the Lord because He is worth living for.
It won't always seem the easiest but it is the best.

Reflections.

2010-10-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful for this verse: Philippians 2:13
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

I fail. But He does not.
He wants to have me do that which pleases Him and even provides for the motivation to do so.
How awesome is that, all we have to do is believe in Him to do what He promises.

Psalms 61:2
"From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

I have recently found myself overwhelmed.
Though it is quite humbling to say, growing up is tough.
But with my Lord who is my rock who is higher than I He will uphold me.

I thank the Lord pretty much daily for His unmerited favor towards me.
That concept seems so far from so many people's minds considering that
we are "supposed" to earn another person's love.
But who loves someone who hasn't "earned" their love in any way at all possible?
My God that is who.

I want my life to exude Christ. I want those springs of living water to overflow.
I want to be as perfect of a reflection of Christ as is earthly possible.

"A heart may be divided and not broken, and it may be broken but not divided; and yet again it may be broken and be whole, yet it never can be whole until it is broken."- C. H. Spurgeon

Sometimes I think public humiliation is good because it is just making the apparent position we should always have before God more apparent, just a thought. ( you probably could not tell that i embarrass myself a lot ^_^)

Well I praise the Father who has given us His Son to restore us to a relationship with Him then give us the Holy Spirit who helps us walk in the way we should.

What a good Father we have. Rejoice! We have been rescued forgiven and pulled from the grave!

Holy Matrimony:An Addition to the Amargo Clan

2010-10-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

Ivan and Shannon got married this past Saturday, October 9, 2010. We are so blessed to have another Amargo in the family ;)

It's been amazing growing up with my siblings and seeing each of us draw closer to the Lord in our own lives. The Lord certainly has magnificent plans for those who trust in Him. Jer. 29:11

Everyone had an amazing time. I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the ceremony went, not to mention how fun ceremony and reception were. They definitely put their personalities in their wedding. From the Darth Vader Groom's entrance and the light saber first dance to their pictures which they took themselves as favors and every little detail in between.

It was a blessing.

May the Lord continue to, lead, guide, and direct them in the path He has set before them as one flesh serving, loving, and glorifying the Lord.

Worship Night August 21, 2010

2010-08-26T12:25:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday we had our first Worship night with the youth groups of Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship. We are hoping that it will happen at least once a month. I had the opportunity to help lead worship alongside my cousins, Gaddiel
(taller vocalist) , Luke (vocalist with glasses), and my brother Izak (not pictured, on the drums in the back) as well as the bassist Jessie and our lead guitarist Luke Richardson. The exciting thing about singing worship together to the Lord and is that not only are you singing with family your singing to the Eternal God with your eternal family. Pretty awesome to say the least.

There were actually four of us different teams that lead in succession with different teams Ed, Ernie, Art, and myself. It was a wonderful time. It was amazing how God pulled it all together.

I pray that we always worship the Lord in spirit and in truth John 4. Photo Credits: Top two: taken by Tanner Yates; bottom: taken by Micaela Hildebrand

The Name of Jesus 2010

2010-08-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to go up to Green Valley Calvary Chapel Camp Ground a second time this summer. Yet, this time it was with my home church in Temecula: CC Bible Fellowship. I went as a counselor. It was a blessing the Lord was showing me a different or rather revealing to me a wider spectrum of what He is doing especially in the area of growth in and in walking with Him. Another sweet blessing was that there were 5 of us cousins at this camp. It is sweet to know that your blood relatives seeks the Lord. It makes the family bonds ground much deeper because they are rooted in Christ. The title of the camp was "The Name of Jesus." We had wonderful men of God guest speak during our morning and evening sessions yet I believe that many would agree with me that not much else besides the Word of God can do justice to the person and name of Jesus.

Summer Camp 2010 with St. George +

2010-06-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

Izak and I went to camp with my brother's youth group and other youth groups from Arizona. I was mostly apart of helping out in whatever ways I could, like cleaning up to helping lead worship and also being leader/counselor.

The main focus or theme of the camp was entitled Organic: Rooted and Grounded in Love. The camp verse was Ephesians 3:17. The difference that I saw in this camp, that made it the best summer camp that I have ever been to, was that there was a realness to it. because often times as i have seen it become and I'm sure a few can vouch for the same that camp can be come a bit of a show. The name of the camp was appropriate in that we should as believers understand that the church is not something mechanic it is very much organic. Along with the fact that as Christians there is the elements of simplicity, sincerity, rawness, and realness that we should have. The worship and the devos were great and the teachings were awesome and refreshing. The Lord was doing a real work in the kids' lives because of the real Christ centered fellowship most of them got to see. There is so much more to say but all there is left to do is give glory to the Lord for changing and transforming lives and giving us such a beautiful hope in Christ Jesus.

CCBC Graduation: Murrieta Version

2010-06-20T17:03:00.001-07:00

It has been about a month since the actual event but it is worth blogging. Faith and I graduated from the Bible college with our Associates in Theology along with my siblings, Ivan and Iza, who received their B.A. and walked with us. In the list of students two filipino familys (the Abads and Amargos) all walked to begin with and sitting right next to us was Sosimo. It was a good ceremony. s.God has been good to keep us walking with Him seeing that He is truly faithful in every generation with saving my parents, with bringing us up in the Word and giving us the desire to know more about Him through His Word that we might be thoroughly equipped for every good work. photo credit: 1st pic my self, 2nd & 3rd Ray Abad

Departure and Arrival

2010-06-04T18:39:00.001-07:00

The trip back home was an interesting adventure in itself. I got

dropped off by John Bonner at the airport along with another student. Samuel, who headed home for the break in between semesters. Maggie as well dropped by to say good bye she had been a great sister during my stay in Peru. All I can say is how faithful the Lord has been to assure me that He has a plan set out for my life and that as long as I am yielded to Him He will take care of me and direct me. I was so grateful to be used of God and had the opportunities to share the love of God with some of the lost.

<[pic with the dude with glasses] This is Marco he is Italian I got to share the gospel with him during my wait for my connecting flight in Houston, it was a testimony of the Lord because I was able to talk to Him about the gospel in Spanish. He was very interested though he shared that he was a materialist and believed that he wouldn't go to heaven. I suggested that he read his Bible that he had back in Italy (he was going back home from Honduras). Pray that he seeks and finds the Lord.

^ [pic on the plane] (man right of me) Jehovah's Witness Joel. i talked with him and

basically talked about the deity of Christ. they don't believe in the trinity at all so we disagreed; (guy left of me): filipino Christian Aaron: did't really know that me and Joel were arguing or what we were discussing exactly because he said that he agreed with what Joel was saying ( he didn't realize Joel was JW until the end of the flight) .

^ [the last pic, off the plane] both of these men sat behind me during the flight, they are creation evangelists: Man in the suit: Kevan who sat directly behind me apparently was listening to my conversation with Joel because at the end of the flight he gave me a booklet entitled, Be Prepared how to win your Jehovah's Witness etc friends to Jesus, he said, "I was trying to find the most inconspicuous way to hand it to you" he gave me his card for his ministry and wrote a bit of encouragement on the back of it to the affect of encouraging me to continue to stand fo rhte name of Jesus; Man in the white shirt: Eric Hovind, Kent Hovind's son check out the website http://www.drdino.com/ , he had come out to California to teach at various SoCal churches his new series entitled Beginnings of which he gave me a free dvd of the series, after learning that I had just graduated from Bible college, he said it was a Graduation present.

God is good to have allowed me to have such an adventure by no means could i have seen what i had seen without putting my trust in the Lord. He really does reward those who put their trust in Him. I just was witness to all the things the Lord orchestrated from me missing my connecting flight to sitting down in the right spot in starbucks to perchance talk to a Spanish speaking person about the gospel after being in a Spanish speaking country studying the Bible for a few months. Talk about God's sovereign hand

Chau, Peru. Hola, el Proximo Paso.

2010-05-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

It's been exactly a week to the day that I left Peru. To sum up my whole semester Peru because to try to explain it would not do the whole experience justice. The Lord had me there for good reasons though it was hard in certain circumstances I truly believe He did a work in a through me. Not only was this semester special because being in Peru but also because it was my last semester. I doubt I will have the chance ever again to sit under the teaching of the word every day of the week as I had had the opportunity to do so in the past four semesters of Bible college. I have learned so much, yet know that I have so much to learn. I am so thankful for the provision that the Lord has given to me to be able to study the Word so freely. Now continues life and life that I must learn to be more disciplined to make time for the Lord being that the pressures of urgent worries of this world might try to crowd out. Our growth and walk with the Lord should never stop even after two years of intense study in the Word. We should all continue to seek our Lord Jesus Christ as that precious jewel because to give up we would certainly be fools

Graduates in Peru 2010

2010-05-22T00:51:00.000-07:00

It has actually been a whole week and a half since the actual event, but it was great. The Lord has definitely blessed the campus and church in Lima, Peru. This semester was the first semester that the Peruvian intern full-time students (they are funded by churches in the states to go through the Bible college in order that they might be better equipped to minister in their ministries in different areas in Peru) graduated in the accelerated Bible college program. We all had an awesome time. We helped the with leading worship. It truly was an honor for me to spend a whole semester with some awesome brothers and sisters in the Lord this past semester. The Lord has been good.

Almuerzo Con Mi Amiga

2010-05-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

This is Pamela she has been helping out with leading worship for the woman's Bible studies on Tuesday mornings and the young adults group on Saturday evenings. I have been recently teaching her a few things on the guitar every Friday since the beginning of April and she recently has invited me over last Wednesday and this Wednesday to her house for lunch (last Wednesday we had arroz con pollo). We have had awesome conversations though the language barrier is there. I do my best with what I can understand in Spanish and try to respond in Spanish all the time. It has been really helpful for me in practicing my Spanish. Parents are lovely people who are trusting in the Lord. They have seen hard times in that their son two years ago died in a car accident. They have been faithfully coming the CC Lima for awhile. It is good to see the strength of the Lord in them.

Jesus Loves the Little Children

2010-05-05T17:56:00.000-07:00

The children's ministry in CC Lima had a celebration for the kids who had their birthdays in March and April and May this year so we had a teaching and then had cake and Inca Cola. It was good.

John and Pilar Bonner's 25th Wedding Anniversary

2010-04-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

John and Pilar Bonner have been following and serving the Lord in Lima, Peru for approximately ten years bringing their 3 children who are all out of the house growing up, studying, and getting married in different parts of the world now. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with the CC Lima, Peru church family Sunday night on the 18th of April. It was a beautiful thing. They had slideshows of them through the years together and their kids all made vids for them to see. It was a blessing for all to see the faithfulness of the Lord in their marriage and their lives together and it was a blessing even for the simple fact that a lot of us girls got to dress up. We had a great time. The Calvary Chapel Pastors from all around Lima and Peru came and prayed over them near the end of the service. And they even actually had a mariachi band come up and play a few songs (Pilar is originally from Mexico) so it was in total a real fun and awesome night.

"Veintiséis" Dorm Steward[ing] Spring 2010

2010-04-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

The semester is winding down with few days more than 2 weeks left. The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to be a dorm steward this last semester. One thing that is true is that part of filling this role is learning to die to yourself and know that the Lord is in control of everything and as long as we are faithful to the task and good stewards with for example, even enforcing the rules even though it might not be something you like doing or comfortable with, He will give you peace.

Our room 26 will forever be in memory as an awesome room in which I met and grew along side some sweet sisters in Christ. We had much to learn from one another. I was "lucky" because both of them, are probably the neatest and most organized girls on campus which proves well during dorm cleaning days ;). It has definitely been a beautiful season this semester thanks to the Lord who put these girls in my life. Go"Veintiséis"!

March in Recap

2010-04-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

Classes as usual convened the past few weeks in March. The way they do classes here is by a block schedule where they have a class that instead of running throughout the whole semester as a weekly class they concentrate the course into two to three week increments.

I joined my only class that I would take with the student body this semester in March, Systematic Theology (I had 2 other Audio classes: Ephesians and Psalms that I basically had to revert to home schooling mode with both of them took two weeks worth of my time to do).

I have been thankful for all this time that I have been here. The Lord has been growing me and showing me many different things that are important in my relationship to Him and it has been awesome.

For the last week of March to Easter Sunday, I went with 7 other students from the Bible college as a team to a city called Huanuco for our mission trip. It was definitely a trip that was ordained by the Lord because of the fact of the provision personally for me that He showed me and for the provision for the finances for the trip itself because we were short but the Lord provided the difference with money that one morning showed up in our leaders Bible. The Loes definitely had to show us how to depend on Him fully and rely upon the Spirit's leading and hold fast to the truth of His Word and being able really resting in His presence.

We did gospel dramas, sang worship songs, fellowshipped with the believers there, and really had great opportunities to evangelize.

Here is a link to see more pictures of what we got to do http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=49462&id=1072064647

Church Anniversary at the Park and Baptism

2010-03-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

This was, I believe, the 8th Anniversary of CC Lima and we all went to a Park outside of Lima to have an all day picnic event and baptism.

Lunch with Some Awesome Sisters

2010-03-05T09:31:00.001-08:00

Yesterday during lunchtime myself and a few of the girls who are going to the Bible College( mostly at night since the American/"gringo" students have their classes in the morning). It was a beautiful day "Estaba una hermoso dia" and we took lunch together and got to share our testimonies and talk about the many things the Lord did to get us where we are now in our lives. It was just a real awesome time of fellowship and real fun. These girls are really creative we did all kinds of poses, as you can see. :)

Concierto

2010-03-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday night was the Surf Camp Concert that ended the Week. The American students were not able to join the Surf Camp this year but we were able to at least attend the concert it was really well done. These guys are really good at what they do and they do it as unto the Lord and that's awesome. The surf camp is usually geared for evangelism and there actually were many who became saved this year. The group from CC San Diego came and it was awesome to see them because my family and i used to go to CC San Diego when we lived there so it was good to catch up with some of these awesome servants of the Lord. Sammy Sandino taught during the whole Camp and shared from the Word for the concert. It was a really awesome time :)

Earthqukes in a Neighboring Country

2010-02-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning Chile had an 8.8 earthquake yesterday morning about 3 am which caused there to be tsunami warnings all around the world from affecting South American countries including Peru to Japan and they are currently rescuing the quake victims in Chile and the death toll seems somewhat minimal but is climbing.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587616,00.html

Women's Retreat: Retido para las Mujeres

2010-02-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

This past weekend (19th-20th) we had a woman's retreat for the girl students here at the Bible College. It took a winding road and a few nauseated girls to get there but it was good. We had a total of three sessions together in which Ivy taught most of them out of the book of Ruth while I would help lead worship for the sessions. It was a real refreshing time for all of us girls being that we had all finished a block class and were in need of sitting at Jesus' feet for awhile. We really had that opportunity to take in the beauty of God's creation and spending time in fellowship with the Lord and one another. We walk around from town to town and go horseback riding to a local waterfall. It was definitely a refreshing time in the Lord.

Students Shown

2010-02-18T15:40:00.001-08:00

This Sunday at the Calvary Chapel Lima Peru church for second service after the songs of worship. John Bonner presented all the American students who are attending the Bible college this semester. This is the view from the stage from my point of view I took the picture when they presented us. The rest of the students were lined up facing the same direction next to me most of them to my left hand side.

San Juan de Lurigancho: Saturday outreach

2010-02-18T15:07:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoons all the students at the Bible college go to their respective outreach ministry teams all around Lima there are about four different teams that go out during the weekend. The outreach that I am in about an hour bus ride away to a community at the foot of a hill or more like a mountain.
In the afternoons by the time we get there there is children's ministry for the kids up the mountain and the kids who live near the facility that Calvary Chapel San Juan de Lurigancho has been using which does not have running water or its own electrical source (at night the neighbors have been lending their electricity to the building). So there are two groups one that stays at the facility and one that goes up the hill. I went with the group up the hill.
There were a lot of kids there. We played soccer and different games with them and then sang worship, had the lesson, and then colored.
After children's ministry, in the evening there is a youth group service taught by Javier (aka Javicho, the guy teaching in the front of the picture.) It was a blessing being there. Pray that all the ministers there effectively show the love of God and are filled with the Spirit as they serve the Lord and those around.

Unified in Chirst

2010-02-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

After breakfast throughout the weekdays this semester we sing worship together both the Peruvian students and the American as well as the staff at the church and Bible college. Then after worship we have announcements and then the Peruvians meet for their devotions in Spanish while we have our devotions with all the American students in English. It is beautiful to hear the praises of the saints early in the morning. Ephesians 4:1-6

Wednesday Night "en Numeros"

2010-02-15T15:44:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night service is held here at the Bible College it is taught by Pastor John Bonner in the book of Numbers. It is held mostly as a class. I was blessed to be in the right place at the right time to watch and help one of the woman's son Alejandro (the boy standing on the light) while she got to here the teaching of the Word. She later shared with me how that day the Lord protected Alejandro from being in a car accident that happened earlier that day those in the car are still recovering so pray for their healing and quick recovery. God is in control and He knows what is best.

"Booger Fruit"

2010-02-10T10:46:00.001-08:00

This fruit is called maracuya it is a native Peruvian fruit. It is very sour and tangy and has a very tropical type fruit taste to it. A few of the missionaries who came here and tried the fruit have called it booger fruit because of it's apparent similarity in texture. Lauren and I enjoyed it very much especially because of how cheap produce in Peru sells for.

Dorm Steward-esses

2010-02-09T16:27:00.001-08:00

We had a dorm stewards meeting at Ivy's ( Dean of Women at the Bible College) house This afternoon.There are four of us dorm stewards for the girl's dorms: Holly, Rachel, Rosalie, and myself. I'm so blessed to be serving alongside these awesome women of God and it is a privilege to be able to fellowship with them and just learn and draw closer to Jesus and lift one another up in prayer. They really are woman who are longing for and seeking our Lord Jesus' face.

Sunday Night Bilingual Service

2010-02-08T18:14:00.000-08:00

Pastor Dwayne Spearman (right side in the red shirt) is the campus pastor here at the Lima, Peru Bible college and teaches on Sunday nights for the bilingual service that is called Envoque (if not spelled Enfoque) . He has just recently been teaching on Sunday Nights while Pastor John Bonner (on the left in the blue) translates for him into Spanish. Pastor Spearman has been teaching from the Bible on topics that the congregation has asked about such as Marriage, Courting, divorce. He taught on what the Bible says about divorce last night. It has been a pleasure so far listening to and getting to know these two men of God teach the Word and share their faith in the Lord with us.

Sunday Morning at CC Lima

2010-02-08T17:50:00.001-08:00

Went to church at Calvary Chapel Lima on Sunday Morning and they have Spanish services that Pastor John Bonner teaches. This past Sunday morning he taught on the crucifixion of Christ. Then for second service I went with Rosalie (another student at the Bible college) to help downstairs with watching the children for second service. It was a blessing. Darcy (head of children's ministry) told us that it was perfect for us two to be helping that morning for that service because two of the helpers were sick. It just goes to show how the Lord is faithful to provide what we need when we need it :)

MiraBus: A Glance at Lima

2010-02-08T15:55:00.001-08:00

On Saturday we got to go on a field trip together and take what they call a Mirabus which is the Lima double decker tourist bus. It was nice to get a good overview of Lima.

Morning Devo: the 4th of Feb

2010-02-05T06:11:00.000-08:00

We had morning devotions with Dwane Spearman [Campus Pastor] and Ivy [dean of Women] and all the American students who have arrived so far. We went through Proverbs 4 together (as you could read a Proverb a day for a whole month, because there are 30 chapters in Proverbs). It was good. This day was a much more relaxed day.

Arrival

2010-02-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

Pastor John Bonner picked us up from the airport it was about 11:45 there were about five of us who arrived that night: Sam, Josh Richards, Jeremy Leu, Rachel Hicks, and myself.

Leaving the Northern Hemisphere

2010-02-04T16:55:00.000-08:00

The Lord is faithful. I left Wednesday morning for Lima, Peru. Everything ran smoothly. Arrived in Houston and met up with two other students at the Bible college. They both attended the Bible college previous to this semester so they shared what they knew and it was comforting to be able to travel with them.

Fourth Semester

2010-02-01T20:06:00.001-08:00

The semester has started at the Bible college and it was really good to see all the students who were first semesters with me my first semester in fall of 2008 and to catch up with them and fellowship and share how God has brought us so far.

This is Elisa she was one of the students at the Bible college who was with me for first semester we played volley ball together along with a few other students. She also recently went to the Bible college campus in Peru where I will be attending my fourth semester. She told me all about the awesome time she had with the awesome people of God in Lima. It is exciting to see what the Lord is doing in the lives of us young people to spread His gospel.

bringing in 2010

2010-01-13T17:09:00.000-08:00

We had all of the family at our house for New years. It was good to be with everyone. We played Somewhere over the Rainbow as one of the activities for the night and then Ivan shared a Biblical devotion with everyone. The Lord has shown Himself faithful and strong to us on our behalf. May the Lord continue give us the grace to live this next year for Him. :)

post reception.

2010-01-08T23:16:00.000-08:00

On the 27th of December my cousin had a reception party. All of us cousins thought up a little musical (many of my cousins have been gifted musically) presentation to make the time special. We went to a restaurant and many Aunties and Uncles came. All of the family worked hard to make the day special for Kuya Ian and Ate Lou and their parents.

Marriage is definitely a commitment that lasts on the promises of God and in His love and grace and it is a decision for a commitment for life on this earth, till death does one part. How important it is to seek the Lord in making such life changing decisions.
Praise our Lord Jesus who loves His bride the church and is coming back for her!

Christmas Eve with the Family

2010-01-05T00:21:00.000-08:00

We had a good Christmas Eve this was at my Aunt's house on my mom's side though not all of the Family was there (Ivan came 3 days after Christmas day and Iza came back on the 31st, just in time for ) New Years.　I'm so blessed to have such a loving family by the grace of God.

CCBC Okinawa Reunion Western Hemisphere status

2009-12-23T00:50:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday my brother, mom, and I went to Pastor Tommy's home church in Corona to visit and fellowship with Pastor Tommy and the Living Water Church people we also had the opportunity to see some of the few missionaries whom we had met this past year in Okinawa who themselves came back from where ever country the Lord had called them to for a season. It was a good time of fellowship and theworship and the Word and prayer with one another. Truly we walk by faith and we must trust in God and the promises that He made and makes through His Word.

Back in Cali

2009-12-14T01:22:00.000-08:00

I wish i could post a picture but I don't have a working camera at hand for the time being. It most definitely has been good seeing old friends and family within these past few days. Being out of a good schedule of studying and ministry now, I know that i may slowly become comfortable and lazy and forget the need to be in an attitude of prayer in my daily life so i know that all the more there is a need for me to continue to hold fast to the Lord and continue in thanksgiving for all that He's given me and not to be sucked into the ideals that whatever culture i am in tries to conform me too but to rely on God and be obedient.

Philippians 4:6 This is such good instruction for the believer and applies to the child of God for almost every frantic moment in life.
It is so good to know the good and one true God who know all even the number of hairs on my head.

taipei layover

2009-12-13T00:57:00.000-08:00

God was good to provide for us during our (Anna, Joel, and my) 3 hour layover in the Taipei airport. We were looking fro outlets to plug into to charge computers (at least to charge mine) and we were blessed with this little niche. I think sometimes it's the small things that the Lord provides that is such a blessing because it is like the reassurance of His love that goes even to the details of our lives.

Leaving on a Jetplane [to Cali]

2009-12-12T06:30:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Okinawa. God has been so graciously good to me this whole year. I look back now on how much the Lord has grown me and matured me in so many ways and i thank Him for His leading and comforting hand all along the way. I will definitely miss my brothers and sisters that i have grown, prayed, and ministered with. See you later. As children of God we always have the comfort of knowing that we will always see each other later.

Friday Kinser- the last time

2009-12-12T06:23:00.000-08:00

my last night being at Kinser Chapel. It was my last time to sign anyone in on base too. The gaurd's name was Goya-san i thought it was pretty appropriate for my last time being in Okinawa being that Goya champuru is a popular Okinawan dish. We had ukulele worship last night because the guitar string broke when i was trying to tune it. but it was a blessed time. It is really our prayer that these kids grow up to love the Lord and learn to be separate from though in the world.

Kurisumasu Pa--ty

2009-12-10T20:16:00.000-08:00

This Thursday we had a Christmas party at CC Ginowan this past Thursday Chuck Robb organized the whole lot. It was fun we had a gift exchange and sang Christmas carols, and played groups games and watched a Charlie Brown Christmas dubbed in Japanese which makes the Peanuts gang so much more awesome (if you notice one of the pictures i captured Chuck watching Chuck Brown). It was a good time for everyone to relax and just enjoy the night.
We should remember that the true meaning of Christmas is Christ Himself because as followers of Christ we should find that our whole living is based upon His coming to earth to be born as a man and die for the world. Rejoice! we have been rescued.

dinner at the Robb's

2009-12-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

Chuck and Yumi Robb invited a few of us who were leaving Okinawa for awhile. THey made some awesome gioza and we just got to talk and fellowship.

guided tour of yomitan: tamiko murakami style

2009-12-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

Coming down from the Newell's Anna, Tamiko, and I were dropped off at Tamiko's house where we got to borrow her parent's car(that they had since Tamiko was 3yrs old). An we went all around Yomitan and Tamiko's favorite spots to visit like the bakery, the cool store, and the pottery neighborhood, and even some castle ruins.It is the best spot to live in Okinawa being that it is not too far away from the north or the sounth. It was a blessing also because Tamiko's parents had us for dinner a dish called "nabe" which is what most Japanese houses eat especially during the winter time. chou oishikata. it was really delicious.

Masaki's バースデイバースデイ

2009-12-09T17:58:00.000-08:00

Masaki is the son of Tim and Ayu Newell the couple that moved from Ginowan up north to Nago as missionaries and as a another step of faith as they've started CC Nago up there.
I'm going to miss them and lil Masaki he's the chubby boy everyone wants to hold. Keep the Newells in prayer as they serve the Lord in Nago.

"chillin' like villains": fall semester end

2009-12-08T20:46:00.000-08:00

The Saturday after this fall semester of Bible college ended we were invited by Abraham (dude with the Blue shirt in the first picture) to spend the afternoon and evening at his house to eat and just chill. We had an awesome time. Many of the students were grateful (including myself) for Abraham opening up his home to us students to come and relax and fellowship and just enjoy one another's presence in the last few hours that we would all be together. It was definitely a blessing. Pray for Abraham as he will be leaving Okinawa and heading out to the front lines soon (a part of the reason why he wanted to invite us all). It really was a fun time.

MELT Christmas carols

2009-12-04T21:00:00.001-08:00

Melt is M English Lunch Time which is a ministry we do on the Japanese University where we have conversational English classes with the college students and present the gospel and just love on the students. the Lord has been using this ministry for the years that it has been started and He is continuing to do so.

Amanda and I had the opportunity to sing some Christmas carols. We hope and pray that each one of these students comes to know the Lord.
(Picture taken by Natsuki Kochi a Melt student who became a believer this past year and has been growing in the Lord as she has been fellowshipping with us at CCGinowan and the students at the Bible College Cafe) Please pray for the MELT students and for Natsuki who is now a light and is surrounded by darkness that she may continue to grow in the faith.

ccbc okinawa banquet fall 2009

2009-12-03T05:42:00.001-08:00

Twas another excuse to dress up and pig out. we had a good time of eating delicious Italian food and reminiscing about the semester passed and it was so cool to see what the Lord did and how much fun we had together. it may be a long time till be all see each other all together again but it has been cool being apart of each others' lives for this short fall season. onto greater things the Lord has planned for our lives as we grow more in love with Jesus.

holy matrimony: andrew and the blenders

2009-12-03T05:09:00.000-08:00

Ally and Jim got married Friday this past Thanksgiving weekend. Ally really did a great job in planning it with Lea it looked beautiful and though the picture really doesn't do justice to what Ally looked like she was gorgeous. Andrew and i were asked by her and had the privilege to be apart of the wedding ceremony in the procession where Neely played a Steven Curtis Chapman song and when Ally walked i played and sand Somewhere Over the Rainbow to Ally's walk down the aisle.

Then during the reception "Neely and the Blenders" (Cotton, Zach, and I being the 'blenders' as Tommy named us on the spot) we played a few songs that Ally requested and some other songs, Lean on Me, I'm yours and Jazz stuff with Cotton and Piano juice with Neely and a few worship songs. Twas a good night.

thanksgiving CC Ginowan style

2009-12-03T04:59:00.000-08:00

the following week after the single marine's thanksgiving party we had thanksgiving again at CC Ginowan. There was also a celebration lunch on Monday for the Japanese since that was their day off. We were piggin' out to say the least that whole week or should i say "turkeyin' " out.
That Thursday we had MELT (My English Lunch Time) before the actual dinner started and we invited some of the college students and about six students came with us.
It was really a blessing.
It was definitely a blessed week and days off for the students and the fellowship was great.

thanksgiving bashes

2009-12-03T04:53:00.000-08:00

it has been awhile since, but we helped out on Kinser chapel for a single marines thanksgiving lunch. us students served the food and played worship songs while they were eating. it was really a time to minister to the military people.

it is statistically said that the suicide rate on base rises around the holidays because the troops start thinking about how much they miss home. they say that almost have of the corps is under 19 years of age. so it is understandable why the suicide rate is at it is because they are just kids away from home.

so keep the troops in your prayers as they are struggling with things too.
(photos taken by Tamiko Murakami)

コクサイドリ Kokusai Dori

2009-11-20T17:48:00.000-08:00

we went there this past monday for our adventure mondays outing. it is in the caity of Naha and is known to be a more tourist attraction spot and is very mainland Japan-esque.

you could get some good deals if you really look. Dean, John Michael, and I had a luch consisting of carrots, percimens, and apple as we sat down and ate them there were about four different okinawan obaachans and ojiisans who passed by and commented on our carrots. (it was cheap though Dean spotted them they were five huge carrots, ninjen, for 100 yen the percimens, kaki, were a good deal too cause they are in season here). iwish i could show you the picture of us on my phone but i can't get it off my phone and i can't email it out T_T
it was a fun day.

okinawan village trip

2009-11-10T18:06:00.001-08:00

We went to Expo park where they have the world's second largest aquarium this past Monday for our day off and a few of us who have been through the aquarium went off to enjoy the other parts of the park including the dolphin area and the Okinawan village. they have a welcome house with host ladies dressed up in traditional okinawan garb who served any guests that come to the house tea, okinawan brown sugar, and okinawan donuts and they had on display and for use the traditional okinawan stringed instrument called the sanshin. i had th opportunity to learn and play one of the traditional okinawan songs called tein sagu no hana which is about a small okinawan flower. twas pretty cool. i find myself humming the tune now and then. really was a blessing to relax that day and just soak in the fresh air and sun and a little bit of the rain. praise the Lord because He held back the rain because right about the time we left it started to pour. until the next update.

mi hermana esta ...

2009-10-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

Iza's here in in Okinawa from Korea. she will be here for about five days. i was so excited that she was coming (as you can tell by the crazy expression on my face) i missed her a ton twill be a good time to catch up and fellowship.

this fall's semester girls

2009-10-08T21:14:00.001-07:00

These are all the girl students who are coming here this semester at CCBC Okinawa (excluding Tamiko who took the pic, she's an intern too btw)

(from top to bottom, left to right)
Anna Hebel: from Germany and it's her first semester and is my bunkmate at the d house. she has an awesome sense of humor "God bless Germans!" i just can't not smile when she starts to tell a story or joke because she just make it so animated and interactive.
Yours Truly: i've been blessed my socks off this whole year!
Christina Jones: Washington local (the state not the capital) it's her fourth and final semester and will be graduating and then will go back when she is finished here to the Murrieta campus to walk with the rest of her grad friends when she gets tired she gets crazy and she was actually aroomate with Shannon Powers one of my friends in St. George Utah
Emi-chan: is from mainland Japan it is her first semester and she has come to learn about the Bible and to become more proficient in her English she's so sweet and cute and she's been teaching a few of us cool kids kanji ^_^
Me-chan (Megan): it's her third semester and like me she went to murrieta her first came here her second semester went to mainland during the summer and came back here (after many other series of events) for her third semester with her brother. so we got two crazy Silvas hanging around town. But it has been a blessing to be apart of her life and just see just within this year how the Lord has been growing her more lovelier and lovelier.
Soft hands (aka Manda): is enjoying her fourth semester along with Christina she was here last semester as well and went to Korea for the summer to help at Mike Laudermilks church and for a portion served alongside my sister before she came back here to Okinawa she's amazingly random and one of the wisest girls in the Lord that i've ever met. it's always a pleasure to harmonize with this girl too.
Tamiko (photographer): has been an intern at the college since i first started at Okinawa. she graduated from the CCBC in Germany. she is a funy girl and it won't take you long to figure out that she loves chocolate and ice cream and that she especially loves chocolate ice cream. she's my okinawan sister.

well those are the cool catz at Okinawa. continue to pray, if it ever crosses your mind, that the Lord work in our hearts and uses us mightily in what ever ministry we do at this time and what each of us are going to do after this semester is over.

Ma and Izak leave

2009-10-03T00:13:00.000-07:00

They left and i recently called them and they are safely back in states. Everyone on the Island is going to miss them. twas a good run we collective Amargos had. now i journey alone onto the unknown.
^_^ well loves to you, fam.

Shisa:conquered

2009-10-03T00:06:00.000-07:00

That Monday we went to Yomitan to see the suicide cliffs where many Okinawans during WWII went over because they were told by the Imperialistic Japanese Army that it was better to die than surrender to the Americans, which was a lie. In that area we saw the biggest Shisa lion that Okinawa has on the island the rest of the day was spent in the ocean and under the rain. Twas a nice day. Praise the Lord for keeping us safe.

izak's last gymn day with the dudes

2009-10-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

this past Monday was the last time (at least for this year) that Izak worked out with the Pastor Tommy and ther Okinawa CCBC dudes.
We also had an eventful morning meeting guys the guys know all around the island.
It's always an adventure when you hang out with the gym-inies.

Pa leaves the Island

2009-09-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

Pa left. He will be missed and by the account of many students here and church members has been a blessing, from sharing his cherished peanut m&ms to fixing broken toes ^_^

Back to the states he went.
Said his goodbyes these kind and that kind, last minute on the way to the airport ones to (last minute: that's how my Pa roles ^_-)

pa's last wednesday night in Oki

2009-09-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

He is leaving on this Sunday and my mom and Izak next week but the church family won't be able to send my dad off by then but they will be able to do so with my mom and Izak. So we had a bit of a party last night. he said he was sad and so was ma but it's all good. the Lord has a plan for them going back to the states and we'll see if they ever come back to Oki. Joanna made a m&m topping cake for my dad since he was famed throughout CC Ginowan for his M&Ms.

21st of september

2009-09-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

It was Megan's b-day so we went bowling that Monday night. Everyone had a blast.
A few new faces:

Anna: from Germany, first semester of Bible college and Emi: from mainland Japan from Tokorozawa, Saitama area (goes to a different church not CC Tokorozawa)

Back in Oki

2009-09-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

I've really been back since the semester started on the 1st of September. we've had many adventures since then. I just had not had the chance to update since my camera has been not working. But this batch of college students are pretty cool. A few old faces and come new ones.

last tokyo supper

2009-08-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

the Sato family who have their two kids (Mari and Yuichi) enrolled at Rich and Candice's English School (We Go Weigo Fuchu) invited us over to have a takoyaki party 8 ihad fun making the takoyaki)/my going away dinner with them. It was great they reall are a sweet family and loyal too they've been coming to the Bible studies on Friday that Rich teaches, but they have not confessed Jesus Christ as their Savior. Please pray for their salvation.

i certainly am going to miss the church family here in Tokorozawa and Fuchu. if you also are reminded of it, please pray for Rich and Candice Rose as they are going to start Sunday morning church service here in Fuchu this September. Praise the Lord for He is doing a mighty work.

Goodbye mainland, hello Oki.

tokorozawa matsuri

2009-08-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

this past Saturday CC Tokorozawa put up a booth for a matsuri for one of the neighborhoods in Tokorozawa. They sold burritos, Taco rice, nachos, and Hawaiian shaved ice. we also had games to play for prizes. it was busy all day from morning till night so time flew by really fast. This was just a practical way to shine the light of Jesus in the community. It was definitely good fun.

news unheard of- "Behind the scenes: A refugee camp for Pakistani Christians"

2009-08-16T01:22:00.000-07:00

Behind the scenes: A refugee camp for Pakistani Christians

copy and paste the link below

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/14/pakistan.christians/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

interesting to hear. this definitely didn't make front page news.

summer school: end of the first week

2009-08-10T02:56:00.000-07:00

Its been great this week has there is one more week of summer school. as you can see all the people lying down are the helpful helpers. hahaha but really they were a blessing to have and help us with the kids. praise the Lord. until the next late update....

vbs

2009-08-01T23:48:00.000-07:00

this past Thursday (zoo), Friday (pool with current round about), and Saturday (huge park) we just had vbs for the students who go to the Fuchu preschool and English conversational school. Rich taught everyday and presented the gospel to them. Most of them comprehended. lets see what the Lord does.
the two lovely ladies sitting next to me (Sayaka"ers" and Hitomi "kaido") are the two excellent helpers who came from the Church at Tokorozawa and stayed with us for the three vbs days. they were a blessing and it was soo fun to have them over.

birthday suprise

2009-08-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

Candice gave me the morning off for my birthday which i was so thankful for and so the plan was to join them for lunch. So when i arrived, unfortunately i was a bit late, they surprised me with all the bday deco. they were so cute in their hats. i've been so blessed it more than i could ask for. Praise the Lord

"Jesus Loves me"

2009-08-01T23:22:00.000-07:00

these a a few of the preschool kids that come in the mornings. hopefully this song rings deep in their hearts as long as they live so that they might repent and come to know the Father.

first day in tokorozawa

2009-07-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

had my first Sunday with the church family here in Saitama area.
Megan and I stay with Rich and Candice in Fuchu (Tokyo prefecture) which is about 10 miles south of Tokorozawa, though it takes about an hour's drive to get there. so we spent our entire day in Saitama from the morning Sunday service till the end of the Sunday night service. Travis, Mike Snyder, and Shyou(sp?) led us in worship that morning and Travis taught from Exodus 14 while Shyou translated. It was a good message.

gundam

2009-07-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

on Saturday we went to Odaiba and did a little bit of touristy things where they had the huge slightly animatronic Gundam statue that moved the head, which Ally (a student from UFlorida who has been living with a family and teaching English in Tokorozawa for the past five weeks) really wanted to see. There was a good size crowd out there. Travis and Rich were making fun and were asking when the horn was going to be blown for the people to congregate and bow down and bring their offerrings. Twas a fun day

field trip to the aquarium: mini version

2009-07-17T10:29:00.000-07:00

these kids go to the daycare at the school where Rich and Candice Rose teach English in Fuchu at the"We Go Eigo" Christian preschool and elementary conversational English school where Megan and i have been helping at.

They are so adorable. Continued prayer for them and their parent's salvation is a blessing, please pray.

meet up with megan

2009-07-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

Rich picked me up from the airport after i said bye to the fam then we headed straight to Fuchu where i was warmly greeted by some of the awesome students.

disneySea: the only one that exists

2009-07-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

well there were better pics that we took, i just dont have 'em so here's a short clip of proof.

fujisan

2009-07-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

this is proof of our ascent to the mouth of the Mount Fuji. their were many twists and turns along the whole way, metaphorically and literally, but you would have to ask one of us in person the great adventure that we had on that memorable mountain. stay tuned to hear more aboｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　amargo's amazing adventure: mainland/Tokyo version...

beginning of the mailand adventure

2009-07-17T09:56:00.001-07:00

we asa fam came to tokyo last friday. the events that took place the following five days will stick in out memory banks for the rest of our lives. this is a shot taken from the bus that we took fresh of the plane towards central Tokyo.

seventeen going on eighteen: Okinawa version

2009-07-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

this past Tuesday my parents threw me a birthday bash deal (though my actual birthday is at the end of the month) and everyone from church was invited to go bowling on base at Futenma and dealio. i was so blessed by everything, because it was last minute there were so many Okinawans to sign in but by God's grace everything worked out even down to the unplanned sunflower theme that was going on. also thanks to my parents who did an amzingly awesome job planning it all and to the futenma dudes who were are flexible and helpful. Everyone, at least i hope everyone :p, had an awesome time. i know i did even though throughout the whole night i probably bowled a grand total score of 40 :p. Jesus still loves me despite my failures. anyways, Praise the Lord for allowing me to live this long and ^_^

hula on the island

2009-07-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

Theresa from Ishigaki island came and taught some Hula dancing this Monday she taught us about 10 different steps. She comes once in awhile to teach and share the gospel as here ministry is gospel hula. It is interesting to note that Jesus Christ is very much incorporated in hula. Through Hawaiian culture, they believed in the first place that there is one God until neighboring islanders taught them that they were to worship many gods, then missionaries came and taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. So though many Hawaiians nowadays do not know that when they do the many moves that they are so accostumed to doing, that they were used with the intent of worship to God. This is Theresa's hope to point people to Christ in hula.

Kiki was sooo funny...

day 5: night celebration of the day of independence

2009-07-06T23:20:00.000-07:00

We went on Kadena where they had the America Fest and where they allowed Okinawans on base to watch the fireworks. As usual this is a long vid but you get a glimpse of the fire works and the crazy peoplethat i'm surrounded by. ^_^

friday fellowship

2009-07-04T23:53:00.000-07:00

One of our friends from the church, Laika (on the left hand side), has a prayer meeting at her house every Friday with her mom, aunt(Harue:, and uncle who are a few of the only believers in their family. Laika invited Iza and I to come and play some worship songs a join in prayer with them. It was a blessing for us to be there and be used by God. Laika's uncle had many questions about the Bible and ee were obliged to point to the answers with Scripture. Laika's mom later explained how in many churches that they's been to the people would tell them to "Just believe and don't ask questions" which instilled within their subconcious some sort of "guilt," as Laika's mom put it, in asking questions about their faith. But just as Paul commended the Bereans, Iza and I encouraged them to search the Scriptures and the answers. We were blessed to say the least and hope to continue to search the Scriptures more fully to answer brother Hiroaki's questions concerning life in Christ.

day 3: under the sea

2009-07-02T20:03:00.001-07:00

We went to the aquarium here in Okinawa. "twas the biggest aquarium until Australia made theirs." The fishes were subarashii.

day 2: on dish ( we went to the gymn first though of course...)

2009-06-30T23:45:00.000-07:00

We checked out the On Dish restaurant and had their all you can eat ice cream, soup and salad, and drink bar. You can be well assured we took advantage of this occasion and ate as much ice cream as it was possible.

day 1(of Ivan's visit): six out of six

2009-06-30T23:29:00.000-07:00

Ivan is finally here. We picked him up last night at 10:30 last night and took him to all the late night "must sees" such as, Union to get his first bento and Mister Donut to get those delish mochi donuts. :P heehee...

two in one deal

2009-06-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

a

This past Saturday was Ally's birthday (blowing out the candle) and Paul's (the one with the rice field worker's hat) going away party. Julie and Chris hosted the whole thing (in pic together). Check out those cakes because it was about a 4 day project for Julie. These ladies are amazing cooks. It was a night of food and fellowship. See ya Paul! and Have another great year in service to the Lord, Ally ^_^

celebrant : belated version

2009-06-25T22:26:00.001-07:00

Since the family was gone for Pastor Tommy's birthday this summer we celebrated it after church on Wednesday. You got to appreciate Japanese cake/pie for not being overwhelmingly sweet like most American desserts.

they're back ^_^

2009-06-25T22:22:00.001-07:00

The Ruiz family arrived back in Okinawa on Wednesday. It was good to see them back. Right away the ladies surrounded the growing chubman Masaki. I wouldn't blame them :D

women worship team

2009-06-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

After the study the ladies who for the majority are related (Reiko, Hiromi, and Kuniko are sisters and Ai and Naomi are Hiromi's daughters), they went up and played and sang as Kayo led with the guitar. an all out Okinawan girl worship team. They're very musically inclined. It was a blessing to watch. They're all so sweet.

women's study

2009-06-23T21:19:00.000-07:00

My mom taught the last Monday night while Yumi translated. We're going over 2 Thessalonians which relates to the end times and Paul relaying to that church certain foundational doctrines concerning the end times and living in Christ. It was a blessing to hear that one of the sisters was thankful that they have been teaching on the end times because it has been what she has been wanting to know about. It just goes to show how much the Lord know the desires of His children and is willing to give.

sisters hang

2009-06-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

My mom took us out to just chill well really to do laundry while Melissa was here visiting before she left back for the states. It was fun getting to see the sisters Christina and Melissa together. Don't judge we ate at Subway for lunch while we were waiting for our laundry because it was pouring all that week. Hahaha that was a bad pic that I took. Caught in the act. (Izak was with us to just fyi... so we had to get that much food). Melissa left this past Sunday Father's day night. It was a blessing to get to know her with the short time we did have :D

birthdays galore

2009-06-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

It was Trevor's, Rusty's, Paul's, Ayu's, and Joe's this weekend and last weekend.
They're all so great ^_^

change of Command ceremony

2009-06-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (Friday 12th) they had a changing of Command for the Naval hospital on the Foster base. It was a neat ceremony. There was a special surprise in the program which was the Commanding officer's (who was leaving) daughter, Zoe, who sang for everyone the Miley Cyrus song "It's a Climb" Later we "interviewed the star" and she told us that it's just a song about life. She is so cute.

with the folks.

2009-06-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

I moved into my parents apartment and this is what the view looks like from our front door in the morning.
As you could tell from the reflection our our car that we live on the third floor which makes broadens the availability of the breeze.
it is beautiful to see the creation of our Creator. I have just been reminded recently of the necessity to stand in wonder of the God we serve. Because we can never fully comprehend Him in this life . So I encourage you and to whomever this may concern, which should be every believer, to revert back to the child like awe of our awesome God.

Lakers vs. Orlando Magic

2009-06-08T01:36:00.000-07:00

Some of th guys went to Taco Bell to watch the the NBA finals Lakers vs Magic game. Even lil Masaki Taylor Newell was watching the game instead of taking a picture with me... he didn't even want to look at Kobe though... *sigh*
It was fun not to mention chubbing out at Taco Bell. We didn't watch all of it but apparently it was a good game:
overtime, tied 98 to 98 for a bit, Lakers prevailed.

A Lil Bit o' America

2009-06-08T01:32:00.000-07:00

We had Arizonas today and taco bell on base today after working out. We thought we'd treat ourselves... for exercising.

Edah's

2009-06-02T22:29:00.001-07:00

Eder is 23. Christina made a bear cake. Kuma-san ^_^ Happy Bday Eda!