OMF Japan Days

The gang at OMF!!

Yeah, i know, it's nat... AGAIN! You're probably sick of reading the stuff I write, and I am sorry, but I happen to be the only one with slightly more time!

so bear with me dudes.

Onto the REAL story

Arriving safely to Ichikawa last night, today was our first day of orientation at the OMF in Japan. Meet the Jap short term mission co-ordinator Alison, who guided us in alot of useful information ! We also met the old Jap co-ordinator Bryan. He also happened to be someone who Pete knew from his last mission in Japan in Sapporo so that was heaps fun.

We also met the Brisbane team that is heading to a church in Hatazawa. They are all really awesome! It's so encouraging to see both teams crave the gospel to be reached to the people of Japan! It,s really interesting, because their team leader, Josh, happens to know alot of the Gracepointers that are from Brissy! "It's a small world AFTER ALL" ( found out Roy hates that song)

Like Hudson Taylor, we are suppose to blend into the Japanese culture to show the Japanese how Jesus is the light to our dark lives. So, as a result we had to learn over the etiquette of the Japanese. Our team discovered we broke nearly 15 out of the 40 etiquettes! Really pray that God will guide us so that we don't end up offending anyone as we evangelise!

We then did a cultural scavenger hunt at Ishikawa, where we had to put all the stuff we learnt into practice! That was fun. Heaps of funny photos and alot of great moments!

Great dinner! thnks to Gareth and ruth!!!

Count down to Aomori: 2 days!!!

for your reassurance....

the whole team has arrived to 日本 safely!

practically all together.... besides me....

PRAISE GOD!!!

for the glory of the kingdom!

one awesome epiphany

as I waited for my flight to narita, I had approximately, let's say, 3 hours to spend at HK airport. Being Nat, of course my first instinct was to go and get food. To my demise, I was sadly greeted with a ham, egg and macaroni soup instead of my beloved wonton noodle soup. Yes. Indeed, sorrow and a deep sense of despair drowned me and I sincerely thought my life was about to shatter into tiny little pieces (well, not really).

by the way, that was not my epiphany

my revelation occured to me as I was doing my QT as I sipped my COT (cold lemon tea, the o looks like a lemon ey ;) LOL). Reading and slowly making my way through Ephesians, I came across Eph 3: 14-17a. it reads:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

It was constantly told to me, but this passage strongly reminded me the power and the meaning of prayer. Prayer is one of the greatest gifts given to us by God. It can break down walls and protect us against the enemies. But i think more importantly, this passage reminded me WHY we pray. We pray to not only ASK God for things but it is that His glorious riches may flow onto earth. By gifting you with the Holy Spirit, all is possible!

Also praying with humility really challenged me. I definitely took God and this gift of prayer for granted. Paul KNEELED before the Father as he prayed. I wonder why is it, in this current friction in time, that we fail to do so. Is it a matter of pride? Is it because we don't like to be vulnerable? I'm deeply challeneged as to HOW in this "post-modern society" (vomit please) can we pray to our God with humility....

And as I reached to these people "bounded by the chains of sin", I really need to remember that the only way any of things we as a team do, will only suceed in prayer and full faith in our God.

Nat

P.S. "bounded by the chains of sin": It sounds so awesome! thought of it as i was writing up my prayer =)

all for love.

If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

The countdown begins...

Okay so it's now 10pm, Friday night, less than 36 hours before the plane sets sail for Nippon.

I'd say right about now, I'm experiencing 70% excitement and joy, 20% nervousness, and 10% total freakout from the clock ticking down - partly due to the fact that I've yet to pack, have photos to print, winter clothes/footwear to buy, and I seem to have misplaced one of my power adapters >< night ="">

The past 3 weeks has been a huge blessing, and it's been awesome to spend quality time with my brothers and sisters in Christ, Cross.Transmission, my family, my high school friends, and my work colleagues before I leave. Thank you all for the wonderful support and encouragement, and bearing with my occasional panic outbursts at my lack of preparation for this mission trip ;). It's been a wonderful time of reflection and thanksgiving to God for all the people He has placed in my life.

As I'm ever so slowly making further steps at prepping, fittingly, this song is playing on my iTunes: Words That Your Say by Something Like Silas.

As the song hits the bridge, I'm once again reminded of God's sovereignty and love. That amongst all my preparation (or lack there of), my nervousness, my lack of Japanese language proficiency... He is still in control, and I'm merely to trust in Him. I'm reminded of the joy I have in knowing God, and this spurs me on to share with others, particularly as I head on this short-term mission in Japan, so they may find this joy too.

So Heavenly Father...

Can I be an instrument of praise

And here pursue your heart

So my life will tell of who you are

Can I be a channel of your love

A reflection of your light

And live to bring you praise and serve you, Lord

So I await the words that you say

I open my life

I am longing just to hear these words

That you say, that you say

In Jesus' name

Amen

- Roywu

Ghents sighted AGAIN!

As I waited for the big hand ton the clock to strike 5 pm today, as per usual, I sat around church catching up with my brothers and sisters when I saw Sharon come with Martin and Ruth! Talk about a surprise! It was so exciting seeing them again. I seriously can't wait until I go now, even though I still can't get into the groove of everything.

Not to say the Ghents were not in my good books, but they have recently just ranked themselves pretty high on the-Ranks-in-Nat-Wan's-Good-Book!

They gave me a HI-5 today! I felt so loved

Another really exciting thing regarding the mission occured today. The whole church community at GracePoint prayed for us! It was so encouraging to see everyone pray for this common goal! It really struck a chord with me as Mark prayed for unity, having heard it consistently, I think it really hit me this time. The people in our team are so different in character, its going to be fun/hard/challenging/interesting, to see how we all get along.

Will keep you guys posted Nat Wan

Meet the Ghents 2.0

The whole team got to meet Martin and Ruth Ghent...and as a surprise we also go to Skype Naomi and Micah Ghent (two of their four children) too!

here's the photographic evidence:

cheeeezu!

We had a good ol' fashioned Aussie Barbie with Kangaroo sausages and then got to know each other. Then we went outside and took photos with the Jacarandas in my street (trying not to get run over!)

Skillfully shot by Ruth Ghent=)

that's a keeper!

Meet the Ghents

Judy and my trip to Koorong today was met with an unexpected surprise. Martin and Ruth Ghent (the missionaries we will be serving in Japan) were shopping around with Sharon (a church friend who has been to Japan on mission before)!  So random lol. Our team is meeting up with the Ghents for lunch this coming Saturday after a prayer meeting at the OMF office in Epping. Really looking forward to it!

Things I learnt about them:

• Ruth is from America and Martin is from Canada
• It is better to hit a deer than a moose (in a car)
• They went down to Kiama to see the blow-hole and the rainforest, where they saw a kangaroo
• They try to read the bible cover to cover each year and to keep it from becoming too boring, they choose a different translation each year
• They're both really friendly and down to earth people!

random video for your enjoyment (=

みんあさん、こにちは！(Hello everyone!)

So in preparation before we leave for Japan we have been sharing at our churches (Gracepoint and CCC) a little about why we are going as well as the need over in Japan for the gospel. I made a short video to show last Sunday at my church (CCC) just as a bit of fun to communicate a few different takes on Christianity, God and Sin in Japanese Anime. I thought I'd just share it in case you missed it or were at church but couldn't read the subtitles. Enjoy! =)

dave

P.S. I do not own any of the material in this video:

Anime used (in order of appearance):
Angel Beats!
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Death Note
Appleseed (movie)
Mai-HiMe
Pokemon

Song: Starfield - The Saving One

the beginnings of aomori20ten.

welcome to aomori20ten :)

if you didn't know, we're a team of six sent by OMF and heading to Aomori, North Japan for ~3weeks. we'll be settling at Tsugaru Church from 30th Nov to 21st Dec to help the local missionaries to reach out to their community with the gospel.

L to R: Nat, Judy, Pete, Dave, Danny & Roy

Note: Pete is our team leader

we will mostly be providing manpower to help the local missionaries in whatever they need to do, e.g. cooking, cleaning, holding christmas outreach events...and also to be a source of encouragement to them :)

there is just twelve days before we leave!

it doesn't really feel that close as a few of us are still in the midst of work and exams. and for me i'm still writing and editing my thesis :(

but do come back here to find updates on what we're doing, how we're going and how you can be praying for us whilst we are on mission!

we look forward to partnering with you in the gospel :)

judy & the aomori20ten team.