March: Japan Here We Come!

Now, Japan is one of those events in our lives that we can look back to and testify without a doubt how God is our sole Provider. He is so faithful to us and continues to guide us despite our lack of understanding. In previous posts, I have mentioned the possibility of going to Japan for Spring Break - yet what about the money? the passports? the faculty member that's required to be a part of our group? the contacts in Japan? the lodging and transportation? the cost of food? What will we do each day? How should we prepare? What about he language barrier? And so the questions went on in each of our minds as Satan threw at us the reasons why this trip was simply impossible for us college students.

Yet, as we prayed and met together week after week during January and February. Our faith grew stronger. And more so, God began to answer our prayers. A LeTourneau faculty member agreed to join our group; passports came in for all members that needed one; support money began to arrive from family and friends and anonymous people; plans began to form of what we could do while in Japan and who we could stay with; we had time for a brief lesson in the language, culture, and religion as well as instruction on how to present LeTourneau University to the schools we would be visiting.....the praises just continued on and on! God raised over $20,000!!!! We even had $ to give donations to both of the missionaries who housed us. God even blessed us with some money for some souveniors. I'm telling you....God is SO GOOD and SO ABLE TO PROVIDE for HIS PEOPLE!

I think this trip resulted because there was a great need in Japan, God's people were willing to go, God's people were trusting and believing in God, and God's people used the power of prayer and fasting....and God is faithful to answer and provide for His people and is so ready to reach those in need.

The first picture is of Josh on the plane in Dallas. We got to bring a drum to use for worship which is in his hands. This would be his first international flight! A very long flight!

Here we are in Japan. Just a little tired as we make our 2 hour trip by train to the missionary's home near Tokyo.

Look at this two-way street! Yup! We walked from the house to the train station everyday for the first half of the trip. Considering we had to walk back as well, we walked that distance (40min) 2-4 times. So we got our exercise in!

This last picture is overlooking part of Tokyo city from a skyscraper - like on the 50th floor. This is just a view of one sliver of the city - it just goes on and on as far as you can see, which ever way you look. I'm impressed with how well the Japanese use space - no yards around the homes/apartments, just gardens; the top of buildings are sometimes used for helicopter landing pads or even golf courses; some play grounds were located under bridges. They are pretty creative and innovative people.