Italian, jazz, kimonos and line dancing!!

I know I have been posting a lot of stuff on the blog lately, but a lot has happened.

Last night we were invited to double date with Mike and Becky Winters.  We had Italian food and then went to a concert hosted by one of the men running for mayor in Nakagawa.  Of course I brought my camera along to get some pictures.  I was not planning on videoing anything so I didn't bring the Flip camera (small, portable and perfect for making a video on the go).  My camera does have a video setting but as you will see it's not as good as my Flip. 

We were able to hear a Japanese folk songs, modern pop music, see a kimono fashion show (I have decided I want a kimono), hear some jazz, and the best part - hear some country music!!  I was surprised when a country band came on stage.  Ok surprised is an under statement.  Tears filled my eyes, I got excited and almost jumped to my feet and yelled "Yeehaw!"  I refrained from the "Yeehaw", mostly because Mike was giving me the "Don't you dare!" stare.  You know the one when one eyebrow is raised a little higher and he does not even look like he wants to smile.  That's the one.  

I hope you enjoy the video. 

A day in Karatsu

On Friday, June 22, my Japanese friend invited me and the kids over to her house for a birthday party.  You see June is a busy month of birthdays for us.  The birthdays are as follows - Noah - May 29 {not June but close enough}, Eli - June 16, Junko - June 18, Aiko - June 23 and me - June 24. 

Birthday cake

While the kids played, I asked Junko about the town of Karatsu.  How long by train to get there?  What kind of town?  What about the growth of the town?  I told her we would like to visit the city sometime soon.  She began to help me plan our trip.  What trains we should take.  When was the best time to leave.  When to come back home.  And then she said, "I want to come with you.  My family would like to go too."  I was excited that she would want to take a day trip with us.  That our families would get to know each other better.  That Mike would have a chance to get to know her husband.  So we made plans and set a date.

Karatsu Castle

::This is the rainy season.  The day of our trip we got over 10 inches of rain. 

Sorry for the gray, cloudy skys::

Our day was

train ~ subway ~ trian ~ lunch ~ walking ~ rain ~ more rain ~  walking ~ 258 stairs {Rachal counted} ~  Castle ~ down the stairs ~ bus ride ~ train ~ subway ~ Mister Donut ~ shopping ~ trian ~ home sweet home at 6:45 pm!!

The train had a place for the kids to pretend to drive the train. 
They all loved it!!

Jonah and Eli
Eli loves the trains.

Inside Hakata Station. 
It is huge and very busy.

Mike is buying our train tickets.

The Wyatt's ready to board the subway!

On the train ....

having a good time talking.

Lunch - fried shrimp, rice, soup and salad.

The salad had octopus, shripm and fish eggs.

I finished my salad - yummy!

Junko's lunch - Fish, rice, soup and salad.
(yep, the fish still has his eyes)

The kids having fun playing while the adults talk.

On the way home Junko told me that someday she would like to go to America to study the Bible.  I told her she didn't have to go to America, we can study the Bible here in Japan, together.  Next Friday, July 6 at 10:00 am, Junko is going to start a Bible study with me.  We plan to meet once a week and learn about the Bible and who God is.  She has so many questions.  I know Jesus is the answer.  Please, pray with me for Junko and her family.

Junko, Tsuyoshi, Sakarako (1), Godai (5), Aiko (3)
Jonah was asked to be in the picture too!

 Please pray for us as we are trying to reach out to the country of Japan. 

 I want to make a difference in this country. 

 I want to shine my light for Jesus in this dark world.






Rachal (12), Mike, Cristy, Noah (14), Jonah (10), Eli (8)

Lovest thou me?

Over the last month Mike and I have been praying about the next step in our ministry.  Where will we go after language school?  Where will we start a church?  What town will we move to?  What's next?

The city we live in now.

I know, I know.  We just started language school.  We have at least two years of a language school left.  We have only been in Japan for 6 months.  Why would we be thinking of moving and starting over when really we have only just begun?  I guess you could say we have such a strong burden, a strong love for the Japanese people.  My heart breaks to think about the many people in Japan who have never heard, not even once, that Jesus loves them.  My heart breaks to know there are many towns, cities and villages that have no church, no gospel witness at all.  I want to do something, we want to do something now. 

Nakagawa, Japan

I have plans to start a park minitry in September.  I am working on the language and am praying that by September I am able to read a simple Bible story in the park.  I am planning to have some snacks and some games.  The kids and I know "Jesus loves me" in Japanese.  I plan to start simple. 

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 

John 4:35-36

Farmer planting rice in a field behind our apartment.

As we have been praying about our next step,Mike and I have been doing some research on other cities.  I sat at the computer a few weeks ago and looked up several cities and towns.  I was looking for a few things 1) population 2) grocery stores and 3) the nearest airport.  (just in case my family ever came for a visit)  As I made my notes about each city, I began to get very sad.  I started to tear up and get a lump in my throat.  I felt like I was saying, "This city is more worthy to hear the gospel, and this city is not." 

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

John 3:16

I made my list of ten cities.  I folded up the paper and cried.  I cried for those who will never hear because there is no one to go and tell them.  I cried because I fought with God for several years about coming to Japan.  I cried because I love Japan.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:

and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

Matthew 28:19-20

A few days later, Mike and I compared our list of cities.  We had made our lists with different criteria.  He wanted to know 1) population 2) nearest missionary or established church 3) average age and 4) job market (growing or not).  We had only one city on our list that matched. Karatsu, Japan. 

Karatsu Castle

I am not saying that this is where we will move to, or this is where we will start a church but I am saying it is worth a look.  We are praying for God to show us where the next step is. 

Looking out over the city.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas,

lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him,

Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

 He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.

He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

 Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?

And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.

Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 

John 21:15-17

 

The growth

We have had a lot of rain these last few days.  At first I was happy.  Being from Texas we are raised to be happy when it rains.  We have many hot, dry summer days. 

Rain is refreshing. 

 I knew we were to get rain on Monday.  It was cloudy.  I checked the weather app on my kindle - "Rain after 10 am".  I got on my bike and headed to the store.  It was not even 9.  I would be fine.  About 5 minuets into my 12 minute ride, it begins to rain.  Not just a sprinkle, or even a mist.  But a good old, "Katy bar the door", bring in the pets, someone get the boat ready, rain!!  I was soaked when I got to the store.  At that moment I said, "The rainy season is not my favorite!"

Today the sun was shinning. 

As I hung the laundry outside I noticed our sunflower had opened. 

Rain brings growth.

Thank you Lord for the rainy season.  I know I am learning to trust you more, to lean on you more and to not trust the weather forecast!! 

Bring on the rain

It's June. 

I'm in Japan. 

This can only mean one thing ::it's the rainy season::

As I have sat in the house today with four kids who would love to go out and play.  I began to think about the rain.  Rain can be good or rain can be bad.

• Four kids in the house (3 of whom are boys) - rain bad
• FREE water for the plants - rain good
• Towels that will not dry - rain bad
• Good napping weather - rain good (confession - I took a nap today)

Matthew 7:25

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

I am so glad that no matter what comes into our life. 

Planned

Unplanned

 Happiness

Sadness

That we are founded UPON A ROCK.

So for the next few weeks I will tough out the humid, damp, muddy conditions and be thankful when riding my bike to the store. 

 For the rain brings growth!

Have you ever wondered WHY??

Have you ever stopped and asked yourself or maybe even God - Why?  Why now?  Why here? Why this?  Why not that?  WHY??

My Mimi with Jonah and Eli (at Aunt Marilyn's house)

Psalms 147:5 - Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

The summer of 2011 we had to move from our home in the Dallas area to my parents house in Merkel, TX.  We were finishing our deputation and could not stay in our house.  At the time, I was asking WHY?  I didn't want to move back in with my parents.  I didn't want to uproot the kids and move them less than a year from the time we would be uprooting them and moving them to Japan.  Why Lord?  Why now? 

Over the six months we lived there I had the privilege of helping with my 83 year old grandmother.  I had the chance to spend many days at my Aunt's house in Hawley, TX.  My kids had the chance to get to know some family they had heard of but never really knew them. 

Jonah and Eli got to play outside and build forts - Boy's Town was the name of their fort.  They were able to play with Dallas {my cousin David's oldest son}. 

 Jonah, Dallas, Eli

 Looking at all the loot they won playing games.

 "Best Cousin Friends"

Some really cool dudes!

Rachal and I were able to spend time with Aunt Marilyn at Hickory Street Potters.  Rachal even got to enter some of her stuff in the West Texas Fair. 

At the time I was thankful for being home and spending time with family.  But I didn't get the WHY? of it until March 2012.  God wanted to give us all some extra time to make some memories and renew the relationships that had been lost over the years. 

In March, my mom called to tell me Aunt Marilyn had cancer.  We were all very optimistic.  We were ready for this Joyful Journey God had placed her on.  We ready to be victorious.  As the months have passed, we have seen that God has other plans.  We have seen that God is calling her home sooner than we ever wanted.  I know that God has a plan, even though I don't understand it now.  I know I will someday.  Maybe here on earth or maybe in heaven, but I will understand someday.  But for now my comfort is in knowing that I will see her again one day.  I am glad that she will soon be dancing pain-free down the streets of gold.  She will be worshiping at Jesus' feet.  She will be whole again - healed {which is what I have prayed for, healing}

Please enjoy some of the pictures from our "Six Months in the County"

 Rachal playing "Amazing Grace"

on my Great-Grandmothers piano at Aunt Marilyn's house.

 Mimi, Rachal and I painted a chair fro Aunt Marilyn's porch.

 Mimi painting

{she would be so mad at me for putting this

 picture on the Internet for all the world to see - please don't tell her}

 The chair

 Mimi resting in her bed

 Lunch with Mimi at her favorite place to eat - Long John Silver

 Fudge Popsicle face

 Aunt Marilyn showing us how to set up a Christmas Village

{also she had to explain to my poor children that Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy were not in the real story of "A Christmas Carole by Charles Dickens" .  We had only seen the Muppet version up until this Christmas.}

 Unpacking the village

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

We may not know WHY but God does!