Final Post

The Last two days of our trip in Japan was filled with sight-seeing, a Ministry Party, Flying, and a Birthday.

On Monday the June 13th we slept in longer than usual and I made pancakes. I like cooking for other people. It is always enjoyable. After briefing we went out sight-seeing. First we went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and went to one of the higher floors and looked over the city. After lunch, we went to Shinjuku Central Park where we walked around prayed and enjoyed each other's company. We also saw many homes for the homeless, which were just blue tarps. We then went to Takeshita-dori at Harajuku to shop and buy souvenirs for our supporters and families. While we were doing that Robert and Sabin were with one of Robert's friends presenting the Gospel to him. We split up into teams and went for it.



The last place we went that day was to Todai (Tokyo University) for a going away party where we got to minister to believers, unbelievers and the backslidden. We said bye to some of the people we met over the trip. It was an enjoyable time of ministry, fellowship, and laughter.




Now for our last day in Japan (aka KAY'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ). First we briefed and Lucas left because he had a different flight. We then cleaned the Student Center. After we cleaned, we went to Ueno zoo and saw the great Ueno Panda. After the zoo, we went back to Harajuku to the Takeshita-dori for lunch and more shopping. The last thing we did was go to Mejji Shrine and we saw how the Japanese worshipped. Another thing we did before beginning our trip home was go back to Harajuku to the Takeshita-dori for lunch and more shopping.





Then we headed back to The Student Center and began our trip back to Kansas City. The trip was filled with random problems, but we all made it back alive.

Then the last part of the trip was on June 15th in Kansas City Missouri at my house for last debrief. We encouraged each other and talked about the trip.

Yokohama team

Saturday, June 11: Yokohama team
The Yokohama team (Kenneth, Robert, Tyler, Sabin, Amos, Kay) went to a thriving church called "City Vision Glory Church." When we arrived, we joined in for their lively prayer meeting. Then we held a service for youth/young adults by doing worship, a skit, a testimony, and a message (Robert). There were several unbelievers there for the first time and some wanted to come back again! That night they held a bbq for us and took us to the bath house where the boys voluntarily subjected themselves to being electrocuted.

Sunday, June 12: Yokohama team
Sabin, Tyler, and Kay helped out at the kids' Sunday school. Sabin gave an insightful and fun message on hearing the Lord's voice. Meanwhile, Robert, Amos, and Kenneth did an awesome workshop on worship where they talked about the "why" behind worship, singing in tongues, etc. Then we all attended their Sunday service where we did a skit, gave a testimony (Tyler), and did a special song at the end. You can watch the service on their website here. After the service we fellowshipped with the church for a few hours over lunch. This Spirit-led church has a lifestyle of prayer and we were so blessed by them.

We then met up with the rest of our team at Sweets Paradise where there were over 30 different kinds of Japanese cakes. Some were better than others and I enjoyed them.

On Saturday June 11th Tim, Sharon, David, Lucas, and Andy (myself) went to Megumi church but I don't remember where the location was. This church service was the first international church service and it would be spoken in English. We began with a song and then Sharon gave her testimony of how the Lord has given her His Spirit and protected her throughout her life. Afterwards, Joyce gave the message. We spent some time in ministry, praying for people. Overall, it was an excellent service. This might have been the day where the 5 of us went to a sushi bar and Lucas ended up eating a TON of sushi.
"Sharon eats anything; Lucas eats everything."

On Sunday June 12th, my team began our day at Sayama church in Sayamashi which was over an hour away. We sang a couple songs and did a skit that Kenneth, Liz, and myself made up a few days before. Tim gave a clear message on walking out life with the Spirit and what it looks like to lean on Him. Then we had a time of ministry and we asked the Holy Spirit to fill some of His people with a new language and fire on the inside. I never heard the exact number, but there were at least a few who were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Afterwards, one elderly woman shared her testimony of being in a car accident and went up to heaven 3 times. What she described was actually the building structure/decorations of the City of God, the New Jerusalem. We ended up praying for the healing for her knee. After some time of prayer, with David leading us, she was able to put strength on her broken leg, whereas, she normally would not have been able to walk on it at all. Praise God!

On this same Sunday, we went to GAP church to meet with Bill and Carol and their congregation. I had been here about one and a half years ago, so it was wonderful to see them again. Our team lead most of the church service with 4 songs and 1 skit. Bill gave the message that night and then we had another time of prayer ministry. Later that night, the whole team joined together and we went to "Sweets Paradise." Personally, I think it was a deceiving name. Let me explain:

Sweets Paradise is a restaurant where you pay a flat fee and then you can eat all that you want. They have full entree meals, cheesecake, salad, and ice cream. The meal was awesome and I had 2 or 3 courses of that. HOWEVER, I tried all of their chocolate cakes and... well... they just weren't that delicious =(
So I just spent the rest of the night on ice cream =)

That is all for now. We had a busy couple days and we missed the rest of the team, and we were glad to have them back. Currently, everyone is back in the States so here are a couple prayer points:

1) Continued grace and strength to love Jesus wholeheartedly now that we're back in normal life
2) Keep us safe from the enemy's plans

Amen and amen. Let's stand.

putting 3 in 1

So the last three days where pretty amazing and the Lord showed himself strong.

On Wednesday the team separated one group went to Dokkyo University and the other went to Waseda. The Dokkyo group consisting of Robert, Kay, Sabin, Tyler, Sharon, and I. We played games with the Dokkyo students. After the games we had a Bible study. Where Sabin gave the word through his testimony.

The next day we spent the whole day at Sunrise church, with Mikami Sensei. In the morning we played with the preschool kids and then Sharon and Amos told the Creation story and the story of Noah. Sharon and Amos did amazing at engaging the kids with the Word of God. After that we had lunch and then ministered to some of the mothers of kids. We did worship and then Kay gave the word via her testimony. Then we began to talk to the moms and many moms where touched through our ministry. The last thing we did that day was a youth meeting, which turned out to be some of the moms coming back with the kids and some youth. So the turn out was alittle different then what we expected. But after the message that Tim and Robert gave together. Many different one where touched and ministered too.

Now yesterday was another good day we went to Central Bible college and ministered at their chapel, where Robert spoke. Then later that day one team went to Meiji university while the rest of the team stayed back and prepared for the Evangelistic Party we were having that night at the student center.

The Party went amazingly well. It was a bigger turnout than we expected many students from the different universities we ministered to the weeks before came. We played games and ate Pancakes that Sharon and I made. We were able to build relationship with a lot students.

Today a team is leaving this morning for Yokohama while the rest of the team stays here and ministers in Tokyo.

pics of the trip

day 13: the team reunites

Greetings from Tokyo!
Yesterday was a good day, the Tokyo team went to Central Bible Church and ministered at their morning chapel. We sang a few worship songs and then Tim Templeton gave a message about working with Jesus rather than merely for Him. After the service we made relationships with the students and they were encouraged to continue to reach for more of the Lord. After that we went to Tokyo University to a bible study. We sang Amazing love and it was soooo goood! All of the team members sang with confidence and a spirit of worship filled the room. Robert Monson preached on how to sustain the Christian life in the midst of hardship and mundane activities.
After we ate lunch the Shimada team arrived in Tokyo, and we were so happy to be together again. We enjoyed each other at J.S. Burger and talked about our last week of ministry. Each person shared a moment that they most enjoyed and something that was a hard for them. During the meeting Robert called us to ask the Lord how He feels about the people of Japan. It is important that we know how the Lord sees them so that we can give everything in ministry.
Today half of the team is going to Dokkyo University, and the other half is going to Wasada University. We will be ministering at bible studies, handing out flyers, prayer walking, and doing some prophetic and conversational evangelism in the on campus.
Prayer requests:
-that our team would press in for the fullness of what God has on this trip
-the evangelism parties that we are having this weekend
-creativity to preach the gospel in conversations with unbelievers

Thanks for listening
Over and out
Lucas Whitten

Yesterday, our team went to Christ Revival Church. We had a wonderful time there. We started with lunch which was very Oishii (delicious). Afterwards, we had our first Sunday service upstairs. The way the Japanese people worship is just awesome and totally unexpected. The team ended up singing one of our songs to the church and after that Tim gave his testimony which was powerful.

Once the service was done, we went back downstairs where the kids had a contest. The kids had to recite Isaiah 43:19 in English. Everybody enjoyed the contest. I especially love seeing Japanese people speaking English no matter how broken it is. I think it's adorable to see that they try. One of the kids, Satoshi, won the contest and I got to speak with him for a bit afterwards. It is quite clear he will grow up to be helpful pastor for the Japanese people.

After that, we had another service where we sang some more songs, improvised our "Signs" skit, and then Robert and Sabin gave their testimonies. Overall, we had a wonderful day.

Today, we will be going to University to an English class to help the students with their English as well finding ways to communicate the good news found in Jesus. Later in the afternoon, we will be having an Evangelistic service. We could use lots of your prayers:

1) Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us when speaking with the University students.
2) Pray that the service later today goes well and that Jesus would be known by the Japanese people.
3) Continued prayer for unity and love in our team. Before we can love the world, we have to love one another.

From Japan with love,
Andy

Team D.K.K.A.T. coming at you again

We are coming to an end of our Sunday here in Shimada. We are about to go to the Onsen, which is the high quality public bath with water from natural Springs. So before that let me give you a quick synopsis of our day.

We did the service this morning I lead worship with the team. Then Tyler came up and gave his testimony about the work of the Holy Spirit. Then I came up and Preached on the Holy Spirit. When I first felt that the Lord wanted me to preach on this I didn`t know that pentacost was next week, but the Lord knew. I preached on the Holy Spirit and then prophesied over the church. Also during ministry time the team prayed for the different members of the church.　

After the service, we helped with the kids festival where the kids played some games then Amos led the meeting. We sang a song and then Amos told the story of creation in a simple fun kid friendly way. After that we did a skit and then Amos, with Kay ttanslating explained the Gospel message to the kids.

It was a fun and powerful day. The Holy Spirit touched many hearts.

Well thats all from the shimada team. (David. Kenneth. Kay. Amos. Tyler)

Grace and Peace to all who read this
Kenneth　Moore (Shimada team leader)


Now off to the onsen. I'm about to relax.

Ｔｅａｍ Ｄ．Ｋ．Ｋ．Ａ．Ｔ ｃｏｍｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｙｏｕ ｆｒｏｍ Ｓｈｉｍａｄａ

Ａｆｔｅｒ　ａ　ｆｏｕｒ　ｈｏｕｒ　ｂｕｓ　ｒｉｄｅ，ｉｎ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗｅ　ｄｒｏｖｅ　
ｐａｓｔ　Ｍｏｕｎｔ　Ｆｕｊｉ　（ＷＯＷ　ＩＴ　ＷＡＳ　ＢＩＧ）　ｏｕｒ　ｔｅａｍ　
ａｒｒｉｖｅｄ　ｓａｆｅｌｙ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｏｗｎ　ｏｆ　Ｓｈｉｍａｄａ．Ｔｈｉｓ　ｔｏｗｎ　ｉｓ　ｃｏｍｐｌｅｔｅｌｙ　ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ，　ｍｕｃｈ　ｍｏｒｅ　
ｐｅａｃｅｆｕｌ，　ｃａｌｍ，　ａｎｄ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｌｅｓｓ　ｂｕｓｙ　ａｌｌ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ．
Ｉｔ‘ｓ　ａ　ｆａｒｍｉｎｇ　ｔｏｗｎ，　ｍａｎｙ　ｒｉｃｅ　ｐａｔｔｉｅｓ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　
ｈｅｒｅ．　Ｄｅｆｉｎｉｆｅｌｙ　ａ　ｎｅｗ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　
ｕｓ，　ｂｕｔ　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ａｗｅｓｏｍｅ．

Ｗｅ　ａｒｒｉｖｅｄ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｈｕｒｃｈ　ａｎｄ　ｍｅｔ　Ｐａｓｔｅｒ　Ｋｉｙｏ，　
ｗｈｏ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｒｅｌａｔｉｖｅｌｙ　ｙｏｕｎｇ　ｐａｓｔｏｒ　ｃｏｍｐａｒｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅｒｅｓｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｈｕｒｃｈ．　Ｗｅ　ａｔｅ　ｈｏｍｅｍａｄｅ　ｃｕｒｒｙ　ｂｙ　ａ　
ｍｅｍｂｅｒ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｈｕｒｃｈ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ｂｏｍｂ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　
ｌｕｎｃｈ，　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｏｕｒ　ｍｅｅｔｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｏｕｒ　
ｓｃｈｅｄｕｌｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｆｅｗ　ｄａｙｓ，　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｏｕｔ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｏｗｎ　ｔｏ　ｐａｓｓ　ｏｕｒ　ｆｌｉｅｒｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｏｕｒ　ｎｅｘｔ　
ｃｏｍｉｎｇ　ｅｖｅｎｔｓ．　Ｗｅ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｌｅａｄｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｕｎｄａｙ　
ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅ，　ａ　ｋｉｄｓ　ｆｅｓｔｉｖａｌ，　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｆｕｔｓｏｌ　ｏｕｔｒｅａｃｈ　ｅｖｅｎｔ．

Ａｔ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ｗｅ　ａｒｒｉｖｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｃｅ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅ‘ｒｅ　
ｓｔａｙｉｎｇ，　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｎｉｃｅ　ａｎｄ　ｃｏｚｙ　ｈｏｕｓｅ．　Ｎｏｂｏｄｙ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｓｔａｙｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｕｓ　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ｗｅ‘ｒｅｔｈｅｒｅ，　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｈｏｌｅ　ｈｏｕｓｅ　ｔｏ　ｏｕｒｓｅｌｖｅｓ！！ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｍｅａｎｓ　ｓｈｏｕｔｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｔｏｎｇｕｅｓ　ａｔ　４　ａ．ｍ．　ｆｏｒ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　ｕｓ．　ｈａｈａ，　ｊｕｓｔ　ｋｉｄｄｉｎｇ．．．ｂｕｔ　ｓｅｒｉｏｕｓｌｙ．．．．

Ｐｒａｙｅｒ　Ｐｏｉｎｔｓ：
－ｔｈａｔ　Ｋｉｄｓ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｃｏｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｕｔｒｅａｃｈ，ａｎｄ　ｂｅ　
ｔｏｕｃｈｅｄ　ｂｙ　ｔｈｅ　Ｌｏｒｄ
－Ｆｏｒ　ｓｅｒｖａｎｔ－ｌｉｋｅ　ｈｅａｒｔｓ　ａｎｄ　ｈｕｍｉｌｉｔｙ
－Ｓｔｒｅｎｇｔｈ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｅａｄｅｒｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｈｕｒｃｈ
－Ｕｎｉｔｙ　ｉｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｔｅａｍ
－Ｈｅａｌｔｈ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｏｓｅ　ｗｈｏ　ａｒｅ　ｓｉｃｋ　（Ｋｅｎｎｅｔｈ，　Ａｍｏｓ）
－Ａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｓｔｏｐ　ｈｉｔｔｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｈｅａｄ　ｗａｌｋｉｎｇ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｄｏｏｒｓ

Ａｒｉｇａｔｏ！！

Ａｍｏｓ－ｋｕｎ