A New Country, A New Dynamic

LAX --> KIX: eta 20 hours

Friends and family, brothers and sisters in Christ, good evening!

For those of you who have supported this journey my family and I are on, I’d like to say, thank you for taking the time to sit back and read an update. 

Since we arrived on the 3rd of April, we’ve been doing a lot of adjusting, and in hindsight, I believe this may be the main reason we’re here earlier than the Trans. I’d like to say it has been nothing but smooth sailing, but the winds of change are felt both mentally and physically. It has not been easy dealing with jet lag, sleeping in the same room with both kids, teaching a 6 year old how to respect different cultures and curbing Heidi’s separation anxiety. However, though difficult, this was expected. Traveling let alone doing ministry as a young family, is not a straight forward equation. It isn’t easy to foresee the different challenges that lay ahead.

Heid and Milo... the best of companions (when they want to be)

The most important constant is that we stay committed to one another.

I’m glad to say that a week and a half in, we are figuring out our dynamic. 

Though we haven’t traveled much outside the Takatsuki area over the past 12 days, we have been keeping ourselves busy here at the YWAM campus. I’m pleased to say, we’ve been in our element as we cook for staff members who are busy getting ready for two schools that will be running here in a couple weeks. We’ve also had the opportunity to reorganize and restructure the kitchen as well as tackle a few maintenance projects around the campus. 

The work isn’t glamorous or necessarily awe-inspiring, yet, these small tasks play a huge role in the bigger picture. Working in the background, taking off some of the load from people who already have a heavy load to bear, allows the body of Christ to function more cohesively.

Cookin' up some homemade "Bolognese" for the Takatsuki staff

Much in the same way the human body functions, we are like the ligaments and tendons, our main objective being to support the movement of the main structure. Without these, the body would be completely immobile. In the same way, staff members would have to stop their important tasks for hours, causing delay, confusion and distraction. Having two people man the kitchen and tackle overlooked projects, mitigates potential chaos. This is a job we are honored to fill because we know that, in this way, we are a part of the schools who will go sow and reap souls the Spirit has been preparing. 

Aside from YWAM Takatsuki, we have made it a point to enjoy Saturdays as a family, and as some of you’ve already seen, we were able to make it to the Sakura Festival in Ibaraki last week. It was an incredible opportunity to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom and enjoy the spring flowers before they give way to lush green leaves. 

The beauty of Japan is mesmerizing, rain or shine. God is here, and He is moving. The nature around us in this place indeed echoes and cries out His greatness. The landscape shows His creative mastery and genius. The people display His characteristic, they desire peace and embody a synergistic mindset, though in lew of a Savior's forgiveness, lack the purpose and fulfillment only God can provide that works in tandem with such qualities. 

God… what a land, what a people!

What new adventures lie ahead Lord?

We are ready!