Greetings, everybody! Wow! It's already four months into 2023, and things couldn't be more different or wonderful! In just one month, I'm in a new apartment in Sendai city, I have a wonderful girlfriend, and we already have four students applying for our DTS! Lemme tell you all more:
Yes! Joshua and I have moved out of the lazy countryside of Ayashi and moved into the bustling city of Sendai! Going from a tiny two-bedroom place to a four-room apartment with a full kitchen, dining room, and a real living room is strange, but absolutely wonderful! So much space! Not to mention grocery stores, laundromats, restaurants, cafes, and schools are all within 20 minutes of walking. Sure beats taking a 30 minute train ride whenever I need anything outside of McDonalds. Best of all, my church, Mustard Seed is within walking distance now, along with any and all city ministry. I pray our new apartment will not just be a house over our heads, but also a place to invite and minister the Japanese to. May it be used for the Lord's will. Amen.
Living daily-life in Japan is great, but with a wonderful woman like Misako by myside, everyday is like a holiday! Things are getting pretty serious now: we've been going to the same church every Sunday, I spend time with her on Saturdays, and I even got to meet her parents last Monday! I was pretty nervous at first, but I quickly bonded with her folks, thanks to our opinions on corn pizza and American sushi rolls. Everyday, our love for each other grows and grows. Everyday, I thank God for bringing such a loving, gentle, funny, and kind Christian girl into my life. In such a short time, I cannot imagine life without Misako. I pray our relationship will be pleasing to the Lord in all that we do, and that our future will be in His hands. Amen. Down below are some pics of us in Yamadera and Sendai!
We have four students applying to our DTS school in the fall, and two have already been accepted! Naturally, we're very excited to see our little DTS already becoming known around the world. However, we truly pray and hope to have more Japanese Christians join our school and receive training to become missionaries themselves. To do this, we need to be bilingual, and that is no easy task. Few of our staff are fully fluent, and many other Japan YWAMers are too busy this year to assist us for at least the lecture phase, which is at least three months. If you or someone you know is fluent in Japanese, and wants to do ministry in Japan, please let us know! Meanwhile, please pray for more workers to be called to our school. Thank you.
Here is a link to our website, if you wish to inqure further: here
As wonderful as it is to be living in a much bigger place, the apartment is more expensive than my old place, even with a roommate splitting everything. Adding to the taxes paid this year, and while I'm not in the red, I find my expenses are beginning to add up. I know the Lord provides for all my needs, and I've been so blessed by you all over the years, so I'm not going to give into fear. Please pray that I will use my resources wisely in this new season, and will not let worry take away my joy or focus. Thank you. If you feel led to support me, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation. Thank you.
As always, thank you all so much for the prayers and support over the years! This month has been filled with many changes, but we have a God who never changes His goodness or His promises. Let us all be thankful for his vast grace and never-ending love for His children. Amen.
Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
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