Let it snow, let it snow...wait! Quit snowing!

One of the things I love about this phase of ministry (pre-Tokyo preparation and support team development/fund-raising) is sharing the excitement. I get all of these opportunities to talk to people about what's going on in Japan, why I'm going, different things I will/might do, experiences from my brief trip this past summer, ways that they (you!) can be involved...I get excited just thinking about it.

One of the awesome ways I get to share is by speaking in chapel tomorrow to about 220 students at Westover Christian Academy, where I spent 13 years of my life. I'm so excited about getting them excited, and encouraging them to shine their light, and sharing practically what that means/looks like...should be really fun. Unfortunately, this lovely snow means school is canceled today, and if it keeps up will be canceled tomorrow as well. Which means no talk :(

So I'm praying the roads clear enough for school to meet tomorrow (and for other meetings I have over the next 2 weeks), and if they don't, that I have a good attitude about it :) Should I worry about the weather? Certainly not: I am confident it is firmly in God's control.
So I might as well enjoy it... :)

It's Christmas time, in the city...

The Christmas tree in the Ginza district of Tokyo (location of Grace City Church). Gorgeous. From what I hear, the western world has done a great job sharing Christmas with Japan. The commercialization, pretty decorations, lights, and presents, that is...kind of like Valentine's Day.




Fun thing to do on Christmas in Tokyo? One suggestion: "snap a shot of Colonel Sanders dressed up as Santa Claus outside a KFC. Apparently the chain takes advantage of their similar look into confusing people that KFC is some kind of Xmas tradition. The lines there on the day are around the block." Sad as I am about the lack of meaning in the celebration of Christmas in Tokyo (not to mention here, but that's another story), I cannot help but find this absolutely hysterical :) You know, old white guy, white hair, lots of red...heehee

Happy Advent

I know, I'm way off topic as this has no exciting updates about ministry in Tokyo, (and when I started this blog I swore to myself I wasn't going to give rambling sermonettes), but I promise there is a connection!

Yes, we are now in the first week of Advent- it's officially Christmas time! Let the Christmas music, pageants, and ridiculous amounts of cookies begin!

It's a season of expectation, looking back on the birth of Christ and forward to what He has planned next. It is a season of joy and peace, because Immanuel has come, and God is still with us. Unfortunately, I realized my mind has been far too mooshed up with thoughts of final projects, exams, planning for break, and when am I going to fit in fundraising?...basically too (unnecessarily) stressed to enjoy and rest in Him. What a heart-breaking realization!

Rest is an important part of shining the light of Christ: we must bask in His light so that we can in turn shine it out to others.

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long,
and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”
~Deuteronomy 33:12

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow- what a week. Woke up Saturday morning in pain and rushed to the hospital. In summary, kidney stones are not fun. But on a side note, morphine is delightful :)

Unfortunately, people tend to get kidney stones over and over, and life is yet young- lovely.

But, (prepare yourselves, this is going to be sap-tastic) I'm really thankful. Of all the times to happen, Saturday was perfect. I didn't miss much, Katie was awesome and spent the whole day in the hospital with me (and was able to get a sub for work at the last minute), Josh was following a doctor in the emergency room that morning anyway, and they were just a few of the many friends/family who have cared for me and checked up on me. Plus, I could spend this week recuperating (and hanging out with family and eating waaaay too much food).

People occasionally ask what scares me about going into missions overseas, and honestly I had been a little concerned that nothing really did. I mean, sure there are "scary" things, but nothing I was legitimately afraid of. Now I've found it: the thought of getting sick, of having these again, but even worse in a foreign country, totally freaks me out. But you know? It's ok. As crummy as it is to have kidney stones (and there are much worse problems to have), God orchestrated it in His timing. And no matter what other crummy things happen, they happen right when God plans them to, even though they usually don't feel like it at the time.

Thanks, God, for the reminder. And for awesome people in the tough times. And for never leaving me. No matter what.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a small world after all...

Aaaaaah! *that is a cry of frustration, because after typing the title, that annoying song is stuck in my head. I think my Mom is to blame.... ;)

But the point is, sometimes the world feels very small when God brings about amazing connections with incredible people. This week that amazing connection was a phone conversation with a delightful lady named Ora Reed. You know those people who just pour out sunshine? Not the fake "I'm-always-cheerful-see?" kind, but genuine love and light, and you can't help but instantly like them. Ora is one of those people.

You can read all about her on her website, but allow me to briefly introduce you: Ora is a jazz singer, 3-time cancer survivor, has traveled all over the globe, and currently spends most of her years singing in Japan. And Ora is a Christian. She shines the light of Christ, and gets to meet so many people wherever she goes. Amazing woman. And when she is in the states, she is here in Jackson, Mississippi! (Hence our connection.)

I invite you to pray with me: praising God for Christians like Ora Reed who are shining His light in Tokyo, and praying specifically for Ora this week, that God would bless her and shine through her in ways beyond our imaginations.

Ever notice how "vocation" is almost exactly like "vacation"? :)

Over the past weeks, well, months, I have had "vocation" on my mind quite a bit. There is the obvious: call to ministry in Japan, but also my current vocation(s) that I often don't value enough. I was reminded of this again last night as I was encouraged by a great friend to take advantage of the present. Only somehow, it sounded way less cheesy when he said it :)

In addition to preparing for ministry in Japan next year, I have a calling NOW to the awesome people all around me, and plenty of things to do and glorify God through. One of those fun things I get to glorify God through is my current calling as a music student, and my plan was to post a few songs to share a little bit of that with you. However, that is turning out to be harder than I anticipated, so stay tuned! I'll figure it out one of these days...

Ok, my post for the day is kind of cheating, as it lacks any creativity on my own part, but check out the Lowther's website! (There have some great articles and videos)

In fact, you'll probably hear a good deal about them in the months/years to come, so perhaps I should go ahead and "introduce" you.

Meet the Lowther Family: Roger, Abi, and their 3 sons, and you'll just have to trust me that they are truly awesome people :) You can see more about them on their site, but the basics are that Roger and Abi are professional musicians also working through Mission to the World, and I'll be serving with them in Tokyo next year! Roger is currently in the states for a few weeks, and I had the chance to meet with him last week, which was very exciting. Until I am in Tokyo myself, I am enjoying hearing about their past/current ministries, and starting my ministry by praying. For example, this weekend Roger is at the big Missions Conference: will you join me in praying for his time there, safe travels, and Abi and the boys in Tokyo?