December Update!

Hello all!
 

Hope everyone is doing well, I wanted to send out this update before I forget. I hope everyone is having a good Christmas season so far, unfortunately though here in Japan Christmas isn't as big of a thing. Their most played Christmas songs here are "Last Christmas" and "All I want for Christmas is you", and their idea of Christmas food is cake and chicken (KFC is basically sold out here during this time). So I kind of miss being back west for the season. But it's all good, i'm happy and thankful to be where i am with the opportunity to share the real meaning of Christmas with many Japanese people who don't know.

Campus Ministry

This Month marks the end of the semester before winter break. Though i find the second school semester has us meeting less students, this semester on campus I found was very fruitful. My colleagues and I were able to bring many of the students that we meet with consistently to our events and to worship, and we've had one person confess to believe in Jesus and commit to him. As we close up the semester, we pray that we can be faithful even during their break time to share God's love with them and especially during this Christmas season to share with them Jesus and the reason for the season

Kobe/Kyoto

Both of the church plants have been doing very well! in at both plants, we have seen many consistent comers and at least 1 come to Christ and commit themselves to Jesus. This December is the first time also that we are planning a Christmas party worship for both church plants. pray that God will reveal himself to those who come.

Osaka responsibilities

Things have remained stable in my ministries at J-house Osaka. The team again has changed dramatically and will continue to change even next year. I am still in my positions as head Worship coach and Cell group leader. It has been challenging though dealing with a mix of personalities in both my responsibilities, but I thank God that we're all on the same side and part of the same body. Finding disciples are still one of my main focuses here, and though it is a difficult process, I have hope that I will continue to find and teach those seeking a relationship with God.

Personal Life:

Study study, still studying! Right now above all things, I'm trying to upgrade my Japanese. It's a difficult process because in order for me to learn it, I have to change the way I think about my words entirely! Also one thing I have been learning more recently of course is about being a good husband. it's very enlightening learning about marriage and it's purpose to parallel God's love for man, from the beginning of the courting process, to the actual marriage life and commitment. and in that, helps me understand what kind of husband I should be.

I've been engaged for about 2 1/2 months now and I have to say, things have been....rough lol, but a blessing! I guess for a little bit more information, my Fiancee's parents are not Christian, so we've been having a difficult time with them. Right now, it's a struggle to grasp that doing the right thing in God's eyes will not always go well with those who don't believe and understand. But I have to admit that with us in this position helps us hold onto God even tighter. And with 2 months left until the day, our faith is what we are holding onto the most. In terms of our planning, it's going really well in my opinion. Shes not really fickle about anything (which is good for me :D).

Prayer Requests:

- for the students that I have met and befriended this semester and the last, that God will continue to reveal Jesus to them. Pray that God will use his Spirit to lead them to Christ and Pray that God will Continue to use J-house and each member to do so.
- For My colleagues and I to continue to be faithful to our jobs as missionaries. and to grow with each other through the Spirit and grace and love of Christ
- For those members in J-house to grow spiritually, there are still a lot of baby Christians in J-house, pray for spiritual growth and maturity in the Gospel and for those to put the Gospel first over everything.
- For the church plants that we are going to do. Pray that God will lead us and help extend his church to other cities so that the Gospel will exponentially grow within Japan! We REALLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT! We need all the spiritual support we can get on this one, because we know we cannot do this on our own for sure! and if you are moved to want to support financially also, you make donations at the J-house website: J-House website. We want to be able to partner with all of you Spiritually and prayerfully through this!
- For a revolution in Japan! for spiritual eyes to be opened in Japan and that the 0.5% of christians will increase!
- For God's plan in my life, now that it has bee revealed that I'm planning to get married, pray that God will keep me patient and under control, to rely on him and not think negatively about my circumstances.

Again I just want to thank you all for the support you have been giving me! I have to say that without all of you I wouldn't be able to live here both spiritually and financially, seeing that Japan is very Spiritually dead and very expensive to live in. It would be very hard to live here without your prayers and financial support!  I would like to continue to ask for your support for the future i'm about to face especially financially. I do understand starting a marriage and life with someone else will mean some of my costs will go up. So I ask please continue to give and if you are compelled to give, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And before I end this update, Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year! wow My Goodness, its already the end of the year! Until next time!