Hey everyone! Remember the Reedy's? It was such a blessing to be able to swing by and fellowship with them for a bit. They live really close to the bible college. The kids are getting so big and they are as cute as ever. Ralph & Debbie send their love to you all. They were such a wonderful blessing in our lives and ministry here in the "early days" and will always be "family" to us!
Pictured on top are pastors, Tom Hallman (CC Williamsburg), Mike Ramsey (CC IloIlo), who is coming to visit Okinawa this week, and Francis Kamahele (Horizon Christian Fellowship Honolulu).
At the conference, I got the honor to hang out with these two awesome men of God that serve the Lord in Africa. The one closest is Francis. He is a pastor in Rwanda. The other guy is Jean Pierre. He is a pastor in Burundi. They are so full of the joy of the Lord. It was such a tremendous blessing for me to hang with them and the other pastors from Japan. Please pray for these guys!
For one of the lunches at the conference, we were treated to an outdoor BBQ. It was a great time of fellowship with the guys. Notice in the center picture, Dion (pastor-CCHaggerman Valley) accidently dropped part of his potato salad- poor guy.
Of course! When we were in California, we made a late-night stop to Cold Stone Creamery. Santo (pastor, Calvary Chapel West Tokyo) is enjoying his very first Cold Stone! They say he looks like Jackie Chan! He is telling Mike Stangel (pictured below - pastor, North Shore Christian Fellowship, Hawaii) what toppings to get. And Dan (CCNaha) and Chizuo (pastor- CC Kokubunji, Tokyo) are eagerly waiting for theirs. We need a Cold Stone in Okinawa!
These are a few of the guys that I roomed with. Pictured above is Charlie Owens. He is a Navy Chaplain stationed on Okinawa with us. He was sent out of Horizon. He is one of a handful of Calvary Chapel sponsored military chaplains- "Charlie the Chaplain" :)
It was blue skies and California sunshine at the recent Calvary Pastor's conference held at the very beautiful Bible College and Conference Center in Murrieta, CA. While Okinawa experienced 25 days of straight rain, we were suffering for the Lord here. These are pictures from the first day of the conference on our way up to study.
Check out these logo's... man, the brother who designed them is super gifted... (I'm not telling you who, cuz then my secret designer will be out). Praise God as He continues to bless the Silva Family in Iwakuni. Thank you for your prayers. God opened the door for them to use the house for a church even after they move. Continue to pray, Mike reports they are running out of room for all the folks that God has brought! God is good. www.calvaryiwakuni.com
Pictured on the bottom is Chihiro Kinoshita. Chihiro came to us from Calvary Kokubunji (Pastor Chizuo Sakurai in Tokyo), and has been with us this past year. It has been a real blessing for many of us and we will miss him dearly. Chihiro is moving back to Tokyo and will be joining the "Bridges for Peace" Japanese ministry outreach to Israel. Chihiro lived in Israel for 3 years and speaks Hebrew. On Friday night, he shared his testimony at the Awase Baptist Church and Yoko, Yumi, Chihiro and myself enjoyed a time of fellowship afterwards with the body there. Please pray for him and this new venture of faith that God has provided.
On Saturday, the worship team got together for a family BBQ and devotional meeting. We had a great time of fellowship, even in the rain. :) I am so blessed by the dedication, heart, and service of our worship team folks. God is good.
Please pray for Mike Silva and his family. About 9 months ago, God sent them out from CCOki to start a work in Iwakuni. Since then, God has been doing a neat work there as Mike and his family hold bible study service in their home. There might be an opportunity for them to move on base and continue to use their house for services and outreach to the Japanese community. They will start mid-week meetings in June! Pray for that too!
Tonight, after our Wednesday evening service, we had a dessert potluck in our fellowship building (aka "Pre-fabernacle" as some like to call it). Tamiko opted for fruit:) It is always a great time when the body of Christ gets together for fellowship. Truly it was a sweet time.
It was a great day blessed by God! This past Saturday, we held a huge rummage sale for the Velarde Family. We had so much stuff! - everyone at the church was great to donate many, many things. We wanted to bless the Velarde's as they prepare to move to Italy as missionaries. It is exciting to see what God is doing in and through the lives of His people. As we stepped out in faith to have the sale here at church- God showed up BIG TIME! It was suppose to rain with thunder storms- but God reigns! It was a beautiful sunny day with so many folks that came by. We not only got to sell stuff cheap to bless the community but we had opportunity to minister as well. One family even purchased stuff with cucumbers! God is good!
Please pray for Aaron and his wife, Kaori. Kaori is in the hospital due to some pregnancy complications. The baby is doing well. Please pray for this wonderful growing family.
We were blessed to be able to join with various Calvary Chapel pastors and missionaries on mainland Japan this past week. A small group of us traveled up for the 2 day conference. Yumi & Tamiko are pictured practicing for worship with Travis (CC Tokorozawa) and Jeremiah (CC Modesto missionary). Jason Stead from La Habra gave a great word! (top picture) Please continue to pray for the people of Japan, the work of God and for us here in Okinawa!
Every Thursday morning at 9am, the ladies gather for a great time of prayer, bible study and fun fellowship! This past Thursday, after study, a group of gals blessed Melissa with a baby shower. Please pray for Melissa and Ricardo!
Franklin Graham is coming to Okinawa in November 2006. In preparation for this wonderful, evangelistic event, a group of pastors and military chaplains are helping to get things organized. Please pray for us. We have been asked to head up the Youth Committee to help mobilize the International Youth of Okinawa! We covet your prayers!