tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17749749243450436602023-11-16T05:38:08.573-08:00I SURRENDER...posts highlighting adventures while serving God in Hawaii and Tokyo, Japan with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) 2010- present, as well as summers 2008 and 2009.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-24253632396612531242015-01-11T16:14:00.003-08:002015-01-11T16:14:32.312-08:00Dreams and Goals for 2015I know.<br />
It's 11 days into 2015.<br />
And I'm just now posting my Dreams and Goals.<br />
But note, number 2 goal of 2015 is to not procrastinate...starting...now.<br />
<br />
A few of these are the same as last year, but it just means they still apply to this year. I keep them because they are just as important as they were a year ago, and I want to keep them in 2015 as well.<br />
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<br />
Mind:<br />
1. Finish all the books I've started<br />
2. Not procrastinate, stay more organized<br />
3. Take 4 IBS seminary classes this summer<br />
4. Do something creative at least once a month - painting, drawing, dancing, etc.<br />
5. Waste less time on social media and spend more time with real people<br />
<br />
Body:<br />
6. Exercise: Run or bike at least 30 minutes 6 days a week<br />
7. Diet: Eat more fruits and veggies and less sugar/processed foods, drink less coffee<br />
8. Surf more<br />
9. 15 hikes in 2015<br />
10. Paddle in the Na Wahine O Ke Kai 2015 (outrigger race from Molokai to Oahu)<br />
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Spirit:<br />
11. Maintain better relationships with friends and family<br />
12. Read the Bible in a year and memorize one Scripture verse a week<br />
13. Get more involved in my Oahu church<br />
14. Spend at least 30 minutes a day with the Lord, journal every day, keep my Sabbath<br />
15. Pray more for others and be more intentional in asking how I can pray for people<br />
<br />
"Do not dare not to dare," says Aslan in The Horse and His Boy.<br />
I want to dare more in 2015. I want to risk more, because life is about taking risks, taking chances, taking opportunities and making the most of them. I want to make the most of 2015.<br />
<br />
"Home is now behind you, the world is ahead," says Gandalf to Bilbo Baggins.<br />
<br />
The world is ahead.<br />
<br />
Let's go and live it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-77681047150364280292015-01-04T22:13:00.000-08:002015-01-04T22:21:42.813-08:002014 in Pictures...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fall 2013- Spring 2014 Hawaii Cru Staff Team</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyETjfqTlIDdD06oZOF7VEpI1tAB6YI-s7OTU9_JKHKIxnF2e5RvZ1LQwEdypkZDOvE68xNbz8P7u_KZit4WJoUmlsrdTIwYC4Li26GUv4c24-rpHODF-n3qfA2HyPOXLQWRcemiImRY/s1600/IMG_1048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyETjfqTlIDdD06oZOF7VEpI1tAB6YI-s7OTU9_JKHKIxnF2e5RvZ1LQwEdypkZDOvE68xNbz8P7u_KZit4WJoUmlsrdTIwYC4Li26GUv4c24-rpHODF-n3qfA2HyPOXLQWRcemiImRY/s1600/IMG_1048.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBju3M70gM22cAQZJpocjNd5i99evWLHQ-JSjo21pjqI8qiyAsQMy7tx2zGc1E18o4R0fW8vw-clph4ngROLgmTv2NvbJ2f252DAjlmew74TuSbXG6M7_TcVDtAxtt1WmjsDZhShjoK3Q/s1600/IMG_1164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBju3M70gM22cAQZJpocjNd5i99evWLHQ-JSjo21pjqI8qiyAsQMy7tx2zGc1E18o4R0fW8vw-clph4ngROLgmTv2NvbJ2f252DAjlmew74TuSbXG6M7_TcVDtAxtt1WmjsDZhShjoK3Q/s1600/IMG_1164.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBju3M70gM22cAQZJpocjNd5i99evWLHQ-JSjo21pjqI8qiyAsQMy7tx2zGc1E18o4R0fW8vw-clph4ngROLgmTv2NvbJ2f252DAjlmew74TuSbXG6M7_TcVDtAxtt1WmjsDZhShjoK3Q/s1600/IMG_1164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a> </div>
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Photos from Hawaii Cru Spring Retreat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7BjUXAarsLYVu7j7yVfVBnB4-lqh77zgj8bDth1ENkvOTWyBW1OqIUvtZB-Kn9ziPA0CZZF3FJaS7pJY4w1B64IpStAoyDsZlzkGwubqUbhtDsGRqJKpLmD_pcXUfySdkID8bRbaOOU/s1600/10153097_836104843070284_431426133_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7BjUXAarsLYVu7j7yVfVBnB4-lqh77zgj8bDth1ENkvOTWyBW1OqIUvtZB-Kn9ziPA0CZZF3FJaS7pJY4w1B64IpStAoyDsZlzkGwubqUbhtDsGRqJKpLmD_pcXUfySdkID8bRbaOOU/s1600/10153097_836104843070284_431426133_n.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7BjUXAarsLYVu7j7yVfVBnB4-lqh77zgj8bDth1ENkvOTWyBW1OqIUvtZB-Kn9ziPA0CZZF3FJaS7pJY4w1B64IpStAoyDsZlzkGwubqUbhtDsGRqJKpLmD_pcXUfySdkID8bRbaOOU/s1600/10153097_836104843070284_431426133_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a> Upperclassmen Womens Bible Study<br />
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Sunset from my favorite spot on Oahu<br />
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Hawaii Cru brings The Maze to UH<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"> First time to hike Pillboxes </span></div>
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So many surprise visits from old friends in 2014<br />
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Freshmen Bible study </div>
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A theme of 2014... </div>
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My 2013-2014 disciplees </div>
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A new adventure- IMUA ONE BLADE: Joining a Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Team</div>
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Novice B's first race</div>
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First medal</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd_JY3ig_UQW5DzF9GhcaJWOp51G8lwBuaGnkOaYKJtcaqHb0jvGvkn4ktDMnaZr9552j45I4cvZE7HJbxTRNECfZ6DuI9U7VI4uMQTp_FGy2o92Klkg9dHmIhNFUd27O-nqHst8fVCI/s1600/IMG_2331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd_JY3ig_UQW5DzF9GhcaJWOp51G8lwBuaGnkOaYKJtcaqHb0jvGvkn4ktDMnaZr9552j45I4cvZE7HJbxTRNECfZ6DuI9U7VI4uMQTp_FGy2o92Klkg9dHmIhNFUd27O-nqHst8fVCI/s1600/IMG_2331.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a> First gold medal - and becoming the first team to defeat the Waikiki Beach Girls in over 10 years<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0XO8ADYHV0sTrnk8kGoA6V7XLR-SSEwclFgRZ3WhIJJNnWsLXCb9x-lb8PihSY90VremVGNCDf6Rrwhcb33EvU8VPmN_ys3YwFrknpogXF-oYb7TedOVPa61Ih6mMI0cDtZ7z1y2Tkw/s1600/IMG_2324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0XO8ADYHV0sTrnk8kGoA6V7XLR-SSEwclFgRZ3WhIJJNnWsLXCb9x-lb8PihSY90VremVGNCDf6Rrwhcb33EvU8VPmN_ys3YwFrknpogXF-oYb7TedOVPa61Ih6mMI0cDtZ7z1y2Tkw/s1600/IMG_2324.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHhVbv36XlNqwwAVB5cS3qtxubnVM86-W7yNm__Vj8Drxg9hHwvQJ8yg0fpExdeY3GZYvMXDFrr21_yiCiFFxQQfdlV4KsCiJOXcAsQ7AHFgO33rw0NBgX76RXyKfXsRG5wLmgxGwwfg/s1600/14094463717_f8ec1f51aa_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHhVbv36XlNqwwAVB5cS3qtxubnVM86-W7yNm__Vj8Drxg9hHwvQJ8yg0fpExdeY3GZYvMXDFrr21_yiCiFFxQQfdlV4KsCiJOXcAsQ7AHFgO33rw0NBgX76RXyKfXsRG5wLmgxGwwfg/s1600/14094463717_f8ec1f51aa_z.jpg" height="136" width="320" /></a><br />
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Novice B's, aka "Killah Bees" </div>
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EPIC JAPAN SUMMER PROJECT 2014</div>
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FALL 2014...A NEW YEAR, A NEW STAFF TEAM</div>
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First Hawaii Cru weekly meeting of Fall 2014<br />
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Crossroads 2014<br />
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Hawaii Cru Fall Getaway </div>
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Aoi, new sister in Christ</div>
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Hawaii Cru Christmas Party</div>
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AND.........THIS GUY. God put him in my life at the end of 2013, </div>
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and he pursued me all through 2014. </div>
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To everyone who stood by me, encouraged me, and lifted me up in 2014...Thank you for teaching me what it looks like to love, and be loved. </div>
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Here's to 2015, to a year of love, joy and adventure!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-60891111196132264142015-01-02T23:06:00.001-08:002015-01-02T23:12:18.813-08:00GrampaIt's taken me five months to write this blog post.<br />
<br />
I still probably haven't fully processed everything, and maybe that will take more time than I would like. But it has to start somewhere.<br />
<br />
July 26, 2014, my Grampa died peacefully in his sleep.<br />
As hard as I tried to get home to see him to say goodbye, I know he didn't want me to see him that way. I found out he only had about a month to live while I was in Japan leading the Epic Japan Summer Project. Every day I prayed that I would make it home in time to see him one last time. I had even changed my flight from Japan so I would come back a week early, but he passed away during our debrief in Tokyo. I told him to wait for me...but my mom said he didn't want me to see him so sick. Momma was with him only about an hour before he passed away...he didn't even want her to be in the room. Sneaky Grampa to the last.<br />
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Being home was hard in August, and it's had it's moments this Christmas as well. I was reminded of him any time I walked past his room and he wasn't there, any time I walked outside to the back yard and saw his bench, where he spent so many hours sitting in the sun, any time I saw his empty shelf in the bathroom that used to have the sign "Grampa's Shelf" so he would remember not to use my things...it was hard not seeing presents under the Christmas tree for him, not hearing his laughter or seeing him put Christmas ribbons on his head like headbands, not finding acorn sculptures around the house...<br />
<br />
Robert "Rube" Ritsuro Hosokawa, September 15, 1918 ~ July 26, 2014.<br />
The man who survived the Japanese internment camps, who was a great journalist, Phi Beta Kappa...the man who was kicked out of Japanese school at age 10, who taught me how to be sassy, how to play poker and hunt for golf balls, who taught me songs about the Bearded Lady and how to cuss in Japanese: You will always be remembered as a leader in the Japanese-American community, Whitman grad, a wise professor of journalism, a devoted husband, loving father, and amazing Grampa.<br />
<br />
I love you forever, tell Grandma I say hi and please try not to cause too much mischief and havoc in Heaven.<br />
<br />
“In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien<br />
<br />
An article from Whitman College: <a href="http://www.whitman.edu/magazine/july2000/profile.html">http://www.whitman.edu/magazine/july2000/profile.html</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-27519702374404802822015-01-02T22:26:00.000-08:002015-01-02T23:14:37.449-08:00#EJSP2014It's been several months now since Jared, Amanda and I led Epic Japan Summer Project 2014, or #EJSP2014.<br />
<br />
It's 2015 now, in fact. And I found myself realizing that after such a whirlwind of summer and this past semester, I never finished blogging about Japan. And it's worth writing about, at least in my opinion, even if it IS midnight.<br />
<br />
The first day on campus, we asked our students to each write letters to themselves about their fears and expectations for project. Looking back, I showed a surprising amount of foresight when I wrote:<br />
<br />
"Mistakes are ok. Maybe that's part of what God wants you to learn this summer. Maybe it's also to help your students learn it too. Maybe a lot of what God is having you learn is so you can help show it to others. You don't have to be the perfect leader; you won't be...Dare to dream, but also dare to fail."<br />
<br />
And I did. And I wasn't. I made so many mistakes and failed so many times. But I think through all of it, I began to learn that mistakes are not the end of the world. That God is bigger than our fears and failures. That He is Sovereign. I learned the freedom to fail, that mistakes actually help people relate to you, and that it IS ok to not be ok, and to let others into that. That God can and will use us, not just in spite of our weaknesses but sometimes even because of them.<br />
<br />
In terms of ministry, we saw SIX Japanese students accept Christ (in fact, one accepted Christ our first day on campus - the same day I led my team to the wrong campus... #GodUsingMyMistakes). We got to see the Lord raise up student leaders and grow the Kyoto ministry. And God grew each of our students and developed their hearts for Japan, so much that a few of them are even thinking about STINTing in Japan! All in all, while it was by far the most growing, stretching, challenging, exhausting summer of my life...it was also one of the most rewarding and blessed times.<br />
Thank you for your love, prayers and support that got me through this past summer!<br />
<br />
And now, a look back at some of the highlights...<br />
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Goodbye Party with all our Japanese friends</div>
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Team Karaoke - this picture showed the intensity of karaoke night</div>
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American Sports Day Outreach Event</div>
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Team Adventure Day to Toei Studio Park</div>
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Ninja Staff Team - by far still one of my favorite pictures </div>
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While in Tokyo, I took my team to a small restaurant I used to go to on occasion when I was on STINT. The owner was still there and still remembered me after 2 years! </div>
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A look back on EJSP2014 - memories and how we saw the Lord work</div>
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Each a piece of the puzzle that makes up Epic Japan Summer Project 2014</div>
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Team Fabulous</div>
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Epic Japan Summer Project 2014. I love you all forever.<br />
<br />
The Road goes ever on and on,<br />
Down from the door where it began.<br />
Now far ahead the Road has gone,<br />
And I must follow, if I can,<br />
Pursuing it with eager feet,<br />
Until it joins some larger way<br />
Where many paths and errands meet.<br />
And whither then? I cannot say... ~J.R.R. Tolkien<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-41796636516627486062015-01-02T21:13:00.000-08:002015-01-02T21:31:41.023-08:00Putting God First in the Midst of Storms<i>Written early June, 2014. Published January 2, 2015.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"Can a fearful heart still find courage, when there's no more faith to be found?" ~ Tim Be Told</i><br />
<br />
2 weeks ago, I received an email from my mom informing me that my grandpa, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago, has severely declined health-wise over the past month.<br />
<br />
That he only has about one more month to live. That Grampa is dying.<br />
<br />
My brain immediately went into hyperdrive, and started trying to figure out what to do, how to get home to see him, how to fix him....and I broke down crying, because in that moment, I realized that there was absolutely nothing I could do to change the situation. To fix it. To fix him.<br />
<br />
And I realized that I don't know how to be ok with not knowing what to do.<br />
I don't even know what I'm doing anymore, and I don't know what to do to move forward.<br />
And I don't know how to be ok with not being ok.<br />
I don't know how to handle my own internal/personal crises when I'm supposed to be directing 12 students in a foreign country on a mission trip.<br />
When my job is to care for others, I don't know how to care for myself.<br />
How to deal, how to process, how to be there for my family while still being fully present and fully engaged and invested into my students, and a good director and leader.<br />
I don't know how to balance not hiding my emotions, but not burdening anyone with them either.<br />
<br />
I don't know how to go through crises I can't change. I like to think I have control, that I can do things that will fix situations or people...but it's times like this that I am reminded of just how small I really am in the grand scheme of things. It's as Gandalf says to Bilbo Baggins at the end of The Hobbit, after all his adventures and things he learned... "You don't really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!" To which Bilbo replies... "Thank goodness!"<br />
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If only I could respond like that so quickly. Unfortunately my initial response to everything is "What can <b><i>I</i></b> do/ what should <b><i>I</i></b> do/ how can <b><i>I</i></b> fix the situation?" instead of "How is God working in the midst of this?" or simply "God, help me," when I really just want to yell at Him and say "WHY??? Why now?!<br />
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God, help me to trust you in all this, in not just the light, but in the midst of storms. Help me to still put you first and keep my focus on you even when I cannot see the way out.<br />
<br />
You call me out upon the waters<br />
The great unknown where feet may fail<br />
And there I find You in the mystery<br />
In oceans deep<br />
My faith will stand<br />
<br />
And I will call upon Your name<br />
And keep my eyes above the waves<br />
When oceans rise<br />
My soul will rest in Your embrace<br />
For I am Yours and You are mine<br />
<br />
Your grace abounds in deepest waters<br />
Your sovereign hand<br />
Will be my guide<br />
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me<br />
You've never failed and You won't start now<br />
<br />
So I will call upon Your name<br />
And keep my eyes above the waves<br />
When oceans rise<br />
My soul will rest in Your embrace<br />
For I am Yours and You are mine<br />
- <i>Oceans</i>, Hillsong United<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-34094735653746261102014-07-12T04:20:00.001-07:002014-07-12T04:20:38.291-07:00Freedom to FailWe're now almost done with Week 3 of Epic Japan Summer Project 2014.<br />
<br />
I can't believe Project is going by so quickly! It seems as if the days are long but the weeks are short. I get to the end of the week thinking "How did that happen?" I'm learning a lot about what it means to be a Project director and a leader. My focus and priority is so different as a director - everything I do, my students and staff team are my focus. Even in evangelism, my focus is to empower my students, not for me to have conversations with Japanese students necessarily.<br />
<br />
I came into Project thinking that as a director, I had to have it all together. That as a leader, my students were looking to me for answers, for guidance, for encouragement. But I'm learning that part of being a leader is also allowing others to see your mistakes, your faults and your failures. I had a breakthrough moment when one of my students told me, "At first I was really intimidated by you because I thought you had it all together and I was afraid I was going to disappoint you. After seeing you make mistakes, I respect you so much more." It was so counter-intuitive, but it's a very much needed lesson for me.<br />
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And even as I make mistakes and fail, I am quickly learning that God is bigger than our mistakes, and uses even our failures for his glory. The first week, I led my team on a few wrong busses, and even a wrong campus. Our first day going to campus, we were supposed to go to Doshisha University. I accidentally led the students on to Doshisha Women's College. Because we had several guys on our team, we immediately were approached by guards and told to leave. We did eventually find the other university, but I felt so foolish and embarrassed. But right after we arrived at the right campus, two of our guys immediately met two Japanese students, Jo and Natsuki, in the cafeteria. Since Doshisha University was founded by a Christian, they began to talk about Christianity with them and shared how relationship with God has affected their lives. They asked Natsuki if a relationship with God was something he wanted, and he immediately said yes! Since then, Eric and Keith have been meeting up with Natsuki and teaching him more about God. Praise the Lord for our new brother, whom we never would have met except that we got to campus late because we first went to the wrong one. The Lord uses all things!<br />
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As I said before, I'm learning that being a director means I must focus more on empowering and caring for my team through training and discipleship; however, I've still been blessed with some opportunities for evangelism with my students. Our first week at Kyoto University, my student Aimee and I met two Japanese girls, Yuko and Sachiho. While their English was not great, they were very sweet and wanted to meet us again. We had lunch with them this past Wednesday, and were able to share the whole Gospel with them. They were both excited and intrigued about it, especially that a God exists who actively loves and cares for them. After we shared, Yuko said in an awed voice, “Before, I just thought of God as an idea, now I believe in God.” As they left, we told them "Anata wo Kamisama wa aishiteiru," or, "God loves you!" We plan to meet up with her and Sachiho again next week, and are so excited to share more with them!<br />
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Thank you so much for all your prayers for me and my team! Please continue to pray for spiritual protection, for energy, strength, love, patience and perseverance in our last few weeks in Kyoto!<br />
<br />
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Waiting for busses is a daily part of life in Kyoto</div>
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English Lunchtime games at Doshisha University</div>
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Adventure Day to Kiyomizu Temple</div>
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Team pic in front of Kiyomizu</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-88695765747143232792014-07-07T07:15:00.002-07:002014-07-07T07:15:26.278-07:00A Birthday in JapanBirthdays in Japan are always a bit strange, especially now that I'm 19 hours ahead of Hawaii, where a good portion of my friends are located. On the plus side, I get birthday wishes for 2 days straight, and I can kind of justify celebrating both days, on Japan time and one America time.<br />
<br />
26 feels very similar to 25, just older. It honestly doesn't even quite feel real. Maybe it's because I'm in Japan. Maybe it's because this year, I'm directing a Summer Project, so I'm more focused on my students and making sure they don't get lost in Kyoto. Maybe I'm just getting old, so birthdays aren't as exciting? That's kind of a sad thought - I like birthdays, and I like celebrating. Maybe it just starts to look different now.<br />
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It was a good birthday, regardless. Skyped with my parents, then went to church with my Summer Project team, then got some lunch and took a much needed nap. Then I went to Starbucks for some journalling and quiet time (accompanied by some tiramisu cake and coffee). Then went over to the guys' house, where they had cooked dinner for us and had a cake and a handmade Happy Birthday banner for me. They also presented me with a book filled with birthday notes from each person on our team. My heart was so full, and I was so blessed to be able to share my birthday with my team.<br />
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I always set goals on my birthday, but I think this year is pretty open-ended.<br />
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I want to make every moment count.<br />
I want to waste less time online or doing useless things, and spend more time on adventures and investing in people.<br />
I want to learn something new.<br />
I want to make more time for reading, drawing and dancing.<br />
I want to stay in touch better with old friends, and make many new ones.<br />
I want to stay more in touch with my family.<br />
I want to eat healthy and exercise daily.<br />
I want to delve more fully into what it looks like to truly find my identity in Christ and experience the love of God.<br />
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Here's to a year of love, laughter and adventure!<br />
Here's to Year 26!<br />
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Surprise Starbucks latte and note from my girls </div>
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Handmade Birthday sign at the guys' house</div>
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Handmade book of notes from all my teammates!</div>
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Cake!</div>
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Such a blessed day with my teammates! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-23112828478304950632014-06-28T08:49:00.001-07:002014-06-28T08:49:04.516-07:00Tadaima! (ただいま!)I know it's been several months since I last updated this blog.<br />
<br />
However, I will definitely be keeping a better record of this summer, because, for the first time in 2 years...I'M BACK IN JAPAN! Tadaima means "I'm home!"<br />
<br />
In the summer of 2008, on a hot, humid day in June, I stepped off the plane and onto Japan soil for the first time. I had never flown internationally, never shared the Gospel, never spoken Japanese. Little did I know that my time in Japan on that Summer Project would change my life forever. Almost six years later, I have been to Japan five times, twice on Summer Projects and three times while STINTing with Cru. Now for the first time, I have been given the opportunity to co-direct Epic Movement's Japan Summer Project! I am extremely honored and humbled to see how the Lord has grown me these past several years, and to have the privilege of leading a group of 12 college students from all over the US to Kyoto, Japan this summer.<br />
<br />
It's amazing to see how my experiences in Japan have come full circle, from my first reluctance to even apply for the project to now directing my own. The several months leading up to Project were an adventure in themselves, going through Summer Project Directors training, processing applications, forming our team, making phone calls, raising financial support (and helping our students), and of course, planning all the details of 6 weeks in Japan.<br />
<br />
And now, after 6 months of planning, preparing and praying, we're finally in Japan! In fact, we've actually just finished out first week, complete with all the fun challenges of traveling with 16 Americans, in an unfamiliar city, with unreliable forms of communication. But God is sovereign, and even after sitting in the wrong train car on the way to Kyoto and having to migrate with all our luggage 5 cars up, being unable to find our Kyoto staff who was meeting us at the station, the taxis getting lost to our houses, having money complications with the banks, getting on wrong busses, and leading the team onto the wrong university and getting kicked off...we are all still alive, our team is wonderful and gracious and loving, and we've already seen one Japanese student accept Christ! I have much to tell, but for now, enjoy a few pictures of our past week...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the International Epic Summer Projects at briefing in LA</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Epic Japan Summer Project 2014 with our coaches</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adventure Day to Arashiyama!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touring the universities in Kyoto! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Student Impact Kyoto meeting- so encouraged by how much it's grown!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praying over Kyoto on top of Arashiyama</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreEAOQwE8VOkiXNSik_V9UyAdkpIwQnVMnwxFndjCqRzsY7TywR1D8BGmT1xdyySoY2X4vIwtzLa0XBldHMSAbkHBKbtUxn9sJNkMlgH_31xSv06ABcYtTwk6aYH-5MzW6CkXipn-nPM/s1600/IMG_2155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreEAOQwE8VOkiXNSik_V9UyAdkpIwQnVMnwxFndjCqRzsY7TywR1D8BGmT1xdyySoY2X4vIwtzLa0XBldHMSAbkHBKbtUxn9sJNkMlgH_31xSv06ABcYtTwk6aYH-5MzW6CkXipn-nPM/s1600/IMG_2155.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making friends with macaque monkeys?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEPRNHX63h0angxInFmM2o4OyQc9kc1zj6DxHcoHxRVf-a-hZkpLJ2cAc-I_lMIIQs52tol0n4ZhhEofYbUU4LhNRPgoc72qZrsPM1-RVScz0-vLSCY3-Y9O8HphFRYLPOWKVUCF79dU/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEPRNHX63h0angxInFmM2o4OyQc9kc1zj6DxHcoHxRVf-a-hZkpLJ2cAc-I_lMIIQs52tol0n4ZhhEofYbUU4LhNRPgoc72qZrsPM1-RVScz0-vLSCY3-Y9O8HphFRYLPOWKVUCF79dU/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The monkey didn't really like me...oh well.<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More adventures to come! Stay tuned....<br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-74026685800040330282014-01-02T09:53:00.001-08:002014-01-02T09:53:34.970-08:00Dreams for 2014Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote that "A dream is more powerful than a thousand realities." Resolutions, commitments, goals...they fail me every year because as soon as I call it one of those titles, they become a responsibility. An obligation. Like a candle flame snuffed out, all imagination, anticipation, and excitement are suddenly vanquished from the idea because of the simple but not, by any rate, inconsequential act of bestowing upon it the title of "Resolution" or "Commitment."<br />
<br />
Therefore, 2014 is instead not going to be a year of resolutions, commitments, or goals...but dreams. Dreams inspire. Dreams create. Dreams instill passion and desire and the pursuit of something beyond ourselves. So here's to 2014 and dreaming big!<br />
<br />
14 Dreams for 2014:<br />
<br />
Mind:<br />
1. Read one book a month..and finish it<br />
2. Practice Japanese more<br />
3. Learn something new<br />
4. Do something creative at least once a month - painting, drawing, dancing, etc.<br />
5. Waste less time online and spend more time with people, hobbies, etc.<br />
<br />
Body:<br />
6. Exercise: Run or bike at least 30 minutes 6 days a week<br />
7. Diet: Eat more fruits and veggies and less sugar/processed foods, drink less coffee<br />
8. Surf more<br />
9. Go hiking at least once a month - hike Stairway, Koko Head and Makapuu<br />
<br />
Spirit:<br />
10. Maintain better relationships with friends and family<br />
11. Read the Bible in a year and memorize one Scripture verse a week<br />
12. Decide on a church<br />
13. Spend at least 30 minutes a day with the Lord, journal every day, keep my Sabbath<br />
<br />
14. Dream big, pray more and live life the way God intended- with an eternal perspective that this is not all there is, that we have been created for far bigger and better purposes, but even though we are not yet Home, we can live in the freedom that we have been given through Christ our Savior, who came to give us life, and life to the fullest not just in Heaven, but here on Earth.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-50093928107899643172013-12-30T17:31:00.000-08:002014-01-03T19:48:22.814-08:002013 in Pictures... These be my pictures. Please don't steal them. Pretty prease.<br />
<br />
JANUARY:<br />
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12 am, January 1, 2013</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklnFYQSeIoXs6PYbdGKCuz82I01sBLkMrntT0FbzubtQlcfJGv-9zwtEKIOV08C7KPDpLHOAokrgbuhl5GELuLYv_09tRkArZlpduaQQqDIRe4g89GePaAN7zfNR_0V2uMCRRpU395dU/s1600/IMG_1508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklnFYQSeIoXs6PYbdGKCuz82I01sBLkMrntT0FbzubtQlcfJGv-9zwtEKIOV08C7KPDpLHOAokrgbuhl5GELuLYv_09tRkArZlpduaQQqDIRe4g89GePaAN7zfNR_0V2uMCRRpU395dU/s320/IMG_1508.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Matt getting shot in the neck with a laser beam</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7_DkRArva4vLYntRdyrInqUBsnD-nYD44wwx_6vwbqmB-gBmTe1NSC5-sxEN8NblRuLneSHUZU6xENC1Cib76ZHP404y4FrdVQ10m_Tvwx621lXtWODVGzpb8RGGI3EFuOB030DzRzo/s1600/IMG_1512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7_DkRArva4vLYntRdyrInqUBsnD-nYD44wwx_6vwbqmB-gBmTe1NSC5-sxEN8NblRuLneSHUZU6xENC1Cib76ZHP404y4FrdVQ10m_Tvwx621lXtWODVGzpb8RGGI3EFuOB030DzRzo/s320/IMG_1512.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cru New Staff Training January 2013</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkE8BbMKS51e6H_WoYh2ZnFjv-8Oo4LFppqMPSv4DhxNavOb83F5kuj_ZJmEvnoZxyFPEK6LAW9NdK0oeYnGJBEuzC6fUfnNVun8IrMjUF1sQG2H_DDvyMNkSh-Wd3iHyOb4y1SIRW2Q/s1600/2013-01-11_20-59-38.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcZkikvFDK6PDhjxDEEnxqO92jJoMf_OQq5l58aVfMpb84mxyzLZEpXcacupH4AscZ-QMSltGk3xtZFwvgLxJM2YyT9hrJ8MXT-v7qQOCVlEKPTo8M6POgEngVuvj9XoxtKhNjs-Z05k/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcZkikvFDK6PDhjxDEEnxqO92jJoMf_OQq5l58aVfMpb84mxyzLZEpXcacupH4AscZ-QMSltGk3xtZFwvgLxJM2YyT9hrJ8MXT-v7qQOCVlEKPTo8M6POgEngVuvj9XoxtKhNjs-Z05k/s320/IMG_1831.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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NSTW 13</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L2Fkig2fN2nfS8l77SmvGUxrw38Y5qQ8fJY3_uTMmmJi7vs9Ju368B7DXXUzg-KDeKQ8whPKBy57JB1Rjjezijz7ZVbTMP3RVFmpzAgD3W0wjRsORc9yDvbDieCi7Ojd_yT5Bg6rSDc/s1600/IMG_1998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L2Fkig2fN2nfS8l77SmvGUxrw38Y5qQ8fJY3_uTMmmJi7vs9Ju368B7DXXUzg-KDeKQ8whPKBy57JB1Rjjezijz7ZVbTMP3RVFmpzAgD3W0wjRsORc9yDvbDieCi7Ojd_yT5Bg6rSDc/s320/IMG_1998.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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With Vonette Bright</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkE8BbMKS51e6H_WoYh2ZnFjv-8Oo4LFppqMPSv4DhxNavOb83F5kuj_ZJmEvnoZxyFPEK6LAW9NdK0oeYnGJBEuzC6fUfnNVun8IrMjUF1sQG2H_DDvyMNkSh-Wd3iHyOb4y1SIRW2Q/s1600/2013-01-11_20-59-38.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkE8BbMKS51e6H_WoYh2ZnFjv-8Oo4LFppqMPSv4DhxNavOb83F5kuj_ZJmEvnoZxyFPEK6LAW9NdK0oeYnGJBEuzC6fUfnNVun8IrMjUF1sQG2H_DDvyMNkSh-Wd3iHyOb4y1SIRW2Q/s320/2013-01-11_20-59-38.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sunset over Daytona</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lkeUx6HVDWO521cRNxztS1ZWKPY72ybW-660SiBlyIwy0ystld-s9Rui1hnJgg8-FKxhZQNeeoKgDHv2EqONBUutqfQTDwYnTTzCKZFwZdLStjwPQM-jheEUtYMTNJcqr4NH7lyIHY8/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lkeUx6HVDWO521cRNxztS1ZWKPY72ybW-660SiBlyIwy0ystld-s9Rui1hnJgg8-FKxhZQNeeoKgDHv2EqONBUutqfQTDwYnTTzCKZFwZdLStjwPQM-jheEUtYMTNJcqr4NH7lyIHY8/s320/IMG_1839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Studying. Really hard. I swear. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwTSXgl2sKZcelHb3FD0l8MW7VD_2I0kdRH6GLPHS8lyjjuDMXSShBPFLjIzcyNna2tM9I8YctURMPMbSTKLMYpaKUmxPHibC-95t0cWWIkGlBiMV0liUPHMumbxnyLckPgcJhlpjvjk/s1600/IMG_1849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwTSXgl2sKZcelHb3FD0l8MW7VD_2I0kdRH6GLPHS8lyjjuDMXSShBPFLjIzcyNna2tM9I8YctURMPMbSTKLMYpaKUmxPHibC-95t0cWWIkGlBiMV0liUPHMumbxnyLckPgcJhlpjvjk/s320/IMG_1849.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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My view for almost all of January</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eQjQzHDRLE6lPHCv-MO6MZ31Y0n5DmRx6lCliEnLyv9dIQ22V_CpORv0Ecj_Mt_DAkiVOuTKJ8HjmThVePwH1aUxC5uN2OlJD5jdaWFiU307RlHD4GiILDwqxaWOR35PQ2KaN4J3du0/s1600/IMG_2197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eQjQzHDRLE6lPHCv-MO6MZ31Y0n5DmRx6lCliEnLyv9dIQ22V_CpORv0Ecj_Mt_DAkiVOuTKJ8HjmThVePwH1aUxC5uN2OlJD5jdaWFiU307RlHD4GiILDwqxaWOR35PQ2KaN4J3du0/s320/IMG_2197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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FEBRUARY: </div>
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Valentine's Day Masquerade</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34nzZmfrvll9DHRbtLsFIzLsWvLMbhyMX3gG8WrfhYTAmkIfggCkF1qnOcvI3ESs-WvlEuE-oOGaG2deT2Z9sBzp-HnvHyOHc5Bkf9CqiQGqa8AAMW-pHBWisMlwWPGrafndU-E7zWdE/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34nzZmfrvll9DHRbtLsFIzLsWvLMbhyMX3gG8WrfhYTAmkIfggCkF1qnOcvI3ESs-WvlEuE-oOGaG2deT2Z9sBzp-HnvHyOHc5Bkf9CqiQGqa8AAMW-pHBWisMlwWPGrafndU-E7zWdE/s320/IMG_2458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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HPPC Polar Bear Retreat 2013</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVd_HaMIen24keCaaoqCVyCSzibI6JkhHhyOQDK08g69iF-5KSI8MDPAJuoGgexIPKsVmac5ufkcPY6RJMVfw5Qn8_wyTSApJhNxbqgVQxPdFoLmS9hAkkE-Zjxe1KudUC0ixj9bnBsi8/s1600/IMG_2538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVd_HaMIen24keCaaoqCVyCSzibI6JkhHhyOQDK08g69iF-5KSI8MDPAJuoGgexIPKsVmac5ufkcPY6RJMVfw5Qn8_wyTSApJhNxbqgVQxPdFoLmS9hAkkE-Zjxe1KudUC0ixj9bnBsi8/s320/IMG_2538.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My 8th grade ninjas </div>
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Hanging with HPPC 7th grade girls </div>
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MARCH:<br />
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Shannon's Visit to Texas</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgm2cQp3OGKIAZPapItVeinTejxvI85p2AYWbMux09_6FoPHicuz0i7_QkKOEfTEdavLo9F8XUutbyJN98sxOrAJeneqWDFyn2PyNjtDolafZmMSUH9uNfVfuWvX_ONK0JRYEAOqEzsc/s1600/IMG_1891_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgm2cQp3OGKIAZPapItVeinTejxvI85p2AYWbMux09_6FoPHicuz0i7_QkKOEfTEdavLo9F8XUutbyJN98sxOrAJeneqWDFyn2PyNjtDolafZmMSUH9uNfVfuWvX_ONK0JRYEAOqEzsc/s320/IMG_1891_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Deep Ellum</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h_xItS4_6yvIl__w7RYHuhw77FXlre66wnkQjAw_QpFvza5Lr2D1LnA4Niqh79oZrMbTE9da6yKJtB8WWQdL-YponDQc-9AcqJ1Poa9sNQ8PmnmVowdllSrjqe2DlHzW1dksWiDxjgk/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h_xItS4_6yvIl__w7RYHuhw77FXlre66wnkQjAw_QpFvza5Lr2D1LnA4Niqh79oZrMbTE9da6yKJtB8WWQdL-YponDQc-9AcqJ1Poa9sNQ8PmnmVowdllSrjqe2DlHzW1dksWiDxjgk/s320/IMG_2401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My new friend</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOPF4KTDlcDdyv-dFp1y-rx5yZsgIhtUUH4IUnKRQZLQYBXj-2e2z6OWNl69Wc4yZcXIocqxjh_056tDe38w00Nf2smyvKZTDJjdKscVXN1O0bylqntjDRG-oA_SBndno2tT3vGCBDvU/s1600/IMG_2744_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOPF4KTDlcDdyv-dFp1y-rx5yZsgIhtUUH4IUnKRQZLQYBXj-2e2z6OWNl69Wc4yZcXIocqxjh_056tDe38w00Nf2smyvKZTDJjdKscVXN1O0bylqntjDRG-oA_SBndno2tT3vGCBDvU/s320/IMG_2744_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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First Crawfish Broil </div>
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Night on the town with my sister</div>
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APRIL: </div>
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Easter 2013 with my parentals</div>
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Vision Trip to Hawaii </div>
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WHALES!!!!!!! </div>
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Makawili Falls</div>
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Trip to LA- SC besties</div>
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Sammy </div>
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MAY:<br />
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Redoing my childhood room. It was a big deal.</div>
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The Dallas Gang</div>
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Memorial Day in Austin </div>
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JUNE: </div>
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HPPC Youth Colorado Trip 2013</div>
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Turning 25</div>
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Childhood friends at Dave & Busters</div>
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JULY:</div>
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Epic Staff Conference 2013</div>
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CSU 13, or Cru US Staff Conference 2013</div>
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With 5,000 other Cru staff...no big deal</div>
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Tenth Avenue North Concert</div>
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NeedToBreathe Concert</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7CdVBFPY0cE2TePZJbFXicbtGuTgxBRnuK5nde-Ip4dLGjswYoS0pB1PygKAf3wULfdfrz-TB6BzhxgBbrcnsREmGACEdpxlhFJsFJtd8J3J9WHVoJNCpwDbkMtG8eWcI6sTMfluTaE/s1600/IMG_5283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7CdVBFPY0cE2TePZJbFXicbtGuTgxBRnuK5nde-Ip4dLGjswYoS0pB1PygKAf3wULfdfrz-TB6BzhxgBbrcnsREmGACEdpxlhFJsFJtd8J3J9WHVoJNCpwDbkMtG8eWcI6sTMfluTaE/s320/IMG_5283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hiking the Rockies </div>
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AUGUST:</div>
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Moving to Hawaii...</div>
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Sunset over Hawaii Kai</div>
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My new baby </div>
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First Hawaii Cru Weekly meeting of Fall 2013</div>
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SEPTEMBER:</div>
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Kaori visiting Hawaii - Makapuu Beach</div>
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Hawaii Cru Fall Getaway 2013<br />
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Lini's Baptism at Fall Getaway</div>
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Charleen after accepting Christ</div>
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OCTOBER: </div>
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Cru weekly meeting: CRUcial </div>
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Henry's Wedding/ Tokyo STINT 2010 Reunion</div>
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Chicago - where it all began 3 years ago with these crazies</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8VDoRu-Mc9vzUUQ3hkipJBruOVd3BaXWKfAFF522LWqEcLYLsaAd1nLzuRekivJoD7xYoHHDSAn7tgBeGPDuIw2PgqQkFJmCenBqrchS77Yb-d9LZkd4f8E5Lgy_OVRIR5viWr1IdYA/s1600/IMG_6719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8VDoRu-Mc9vzUUQ3hkipJBruOVd3BaXWKfAFF522LWqEcLYLsaAd1nLzuRekivJoD7xYoHHDSAn7tgBeGPDuIw2PgqQkFJmCenBqrchS77Yb-d9LZkd4f8E5Lgy_OVRIR5viWr1IdYA/s320/IMG_6719.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Halloween 2013 - Asian tourists</div>
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NOVEMBER: </div>
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Upperclassmen Women's Small Group </div>
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Crossroads Conference 2013</div>
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Double rainbow - I live here. It's kind of awesome.</div>
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Beach camping at Waimanalo Bay/Sherwoods</div>
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Hiking Mariner's Ridge</div>
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Thanksgiving 2013 with friends/students</div>
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DECEMBER:</div>
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Green Walls in Kailua</div>
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My staff team Christmas picture</div>
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Honolulu City Lights</div>
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Home for Christmas with my fam</div>
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Thank you God for so many amazing memories in 2013, and the incredible people you've put in my life. Stoked to see what 2014 has in store! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-51273788067446674432013-12-29T14:21:00.001-08:002013-12-29T14:21:08.021-08:00Looking Back...2013 in Review I feel like my life as a Cru Staff has a different timeline than most...since I'm still on a college schedule, my brain thinks of years not as January 1- December 31st, but as August 1 - July 31st.<br />
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2013 was a strange year, in that January through July I was home in Texas raising support to join staff with Cru, then I moved to Hawaii in August and survived my first semester as a Cru staff, then came home for Christmas December 17th until present. So my year was really divided into two halves - preparing for Hawaii and then my first semester in Hawaii, but with one overarching theme: trusting the Lord. Trusting the Lord when things seem impossible. Trusting the Lord when situations make no sense. Trusting the Lord when I have to raise $5,800 in monthly support. Trusting the Lord when I feel like giving up, when I'm angry and frustrated and sick of it all. Trusting the Lord when I don't know what I'm doing. Trusting the Lord when I feel inadequate, when I feel ill-equipped, when I feel broken. Trusting the Lord through Jennie's death. Trusting the Lord with ministry. Trusting the Lord with my future. Trusting the Lord in my relationships. And ultimately, trusting that the Lord is who He says He is- that He is a loving, patient, faithful, powerful, all-knowing God worthy of my trust, a God who never changes and never stops loving me no matter what I do or don't do. No matter how many times I feel like a failure, no matter how many times I ignore Him or break my promises to Him, He never ever breaks his promises to me- that when I am tired and weary, my strength will be renewed through Him and He will lift me up on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:30-31), that He will never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:8), that He has plans to prosper me (Jeremiah 29:11) and that His grace is sufficient for me and His power is made perfect in my weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9).<br />
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2013 was a year of transition, which is never comfortable for anyone. I transitioned from living overseas in Japan to back in my childhood home and community. I transitioned to becoming an "adult" at 25, and learning not only how to act like an adult, but how to get others to see me as an adult (which is difficult in your hometown and home church, not to mention when you're under 5 ft tall). I transitioned out of college ministry into volunteering with middle school ministry, then back to college ministry. I transitioned from STINTing with Cru to joining full-time staff. And I transitioned from home to an entirely new culture living in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. But in all of it, God was there, going before me, holding out His hand and saying, "Trust me. Come with me. We'll do this together."<br />
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I always have at least a couple theme songs for any particular year. This year I had four:<br />
1. God is Able by Hillsong (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2exW2cUdC4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2exW2cUdC4</a>)<br />
2. Everlasting God (We Set Our Hope) by New Hope Oahu (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfvKVNJP5kU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfvKVNJP5kU</a>)<br />
3. Oceans by Hillsong (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLqTZ07ja7g">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLqTZ07ja7g</a>)<br />
4. Broken Hallelujah by The Afters (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo3DudOzV4k">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo3DudOzV4k</a>).<br />
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They were reminders that no matter what situation, God is bigger and His plans are bigger, that when my feet fail, my soul can rest in His embrace, and that I can trust Him in every circumstance.<br />
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2 Corinthians 12:9-10 were my theme verses for the year.<br />
“He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."<br />
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My entire life I've prided myself on being strong- physically and emotionally. As a gymnast coached by remnants of the USSR, I learned by the age of 5 that if I cried, I would be kicked out of the gym. I learned to never cry if I was in pain. I learned that to show pain was a sign of weakness, and that weakness had no place in gymnastics (aka life). I was taught that physical and emotional strength was good. Which it can be. But I found my identity in that strength. These past few years, God has slowly been breaking me of that, but no more so than in 2013. Not only has He decided that He's going to break me of this pride, but He's said, "Kimi, I know you have strengths, but I'm not going to use you for your strengths this year- I'm going to use you for your weaknesses, so that others can see 2 Corinthians 12:9 manifested." Not only has 2013 been a continuation of physical weakness after knee surgery, but the Lord has put me in situations where I've had no choice but to be weak, broken and vulnerable- emotionally, physically and spiritually- and no choice but to allow others to see it. I think I've cried more this year than I have in my entire life. But I've also begun to learn, as Gandalf the wizard puts it so well, "Not all tears are an evil." For in a place like Hawaii where trust is built agonizingly slowly and vulnerability is pretty much nonexistent, I've already begun to see that through sharing my vulnerability with students, they have begun to trust me more and open up. I used to think weakness was a horrible thing, but I'm learning that God not only can use my weaknesses, but sometimes He prefers it. I thought being on staff with Cru meant I had to have it all together, that I had to be strong and wise and knowledgable, but this year God's shown me that sometimes it means allowing others to see your weaknesses and allowing them to be a part of that, it means showing students that it's ok not to have it all together, because struggles are a part of life, and to be honest, we never really know what we're doing- and when we think we do, that's when we don't depend on God, and that's usually when we fall on our faces. But if we can acknowledge our weaknesses and rely on God's strength, we can never fail. For God is Able, and He will never fail.<br />
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"Even though I don't know what your plan is, I know You're making beauty from these ashes." ~ The Afters, Broken Hallelujah<br />
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So here's to 2014. To a year of weakness, a year of growth, a year of the Lord using me for His will and not my own. To a year of not just accepting weaknesses, but boasting and delighting in it. A year of not knowing plans... a year of beauty from ashes.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-56372587722390501532013-12-03T16:21:00.004-08:002013-12-03T16:21:33.281-08:00Strength in Weakness<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 22px;">"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9 </span><br />
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<br />These past several weeks have been some of the hardest I've had since coming to Hawaii. As our movement has been growing, so has the need to pray for spiritual protection. Several of our students have been approached by a cult on campus affiliated with the International Church of Christ. Many of our student leaders, and even our staff team, have been attacked with exhaustion, personal struggles and lies of the Enemy. But in it all, I'm beginning to learn not only how to accept my own weakness, but even embrace it and boast in it. I was sharing with my staff team that I'd been struggling with feeling not good enough, not strong enough, not equipped enough, and Andy encouraged me with saying, "I just got this image of Satan saying all these things to you- that you're not good enough, not strong enough...and you saying 'Well, so what? My God IS.'"<br /><br />It was such a good reminder that no matter what inadequacies I'm feeling, God is infinitely bigger than all of them. That when we are weak, He is strong because we are actually allowing God to work through us.<br /><br />A couple weeks ago I flew to Colorado for my friend Jennie's memorial service, and while it was hard and many tears were shed, it was very much a celebration of her life, and the hope, joy and love she brought to so many people. And I believe she was able to do that because she understood that in her weakness, God was triumphant.<br /><br />In the last page of Jennie's book she wrote before she passed away, she wrote "Life is hard. This world is broken. Most, if not all people, in their lifetime, will have trials that are so horrible that they are left in despair, crying out to God. I have had several of them. But the reason why I'm able to get up every morning and at least try to stay positive is because God promised us that we could do all things through Him, who gives us strength. He just asks us to run with perseverance the race marked out for us...He will be our strength and never abandon us, no matter how tough life gets. I don't know about you, but I don't think I can think of anything more encouraging than that, or anything we could be more thankful for." ~ Jennie Yang </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-89563750792470804242013-10-25T04:36:00.001-07:002013-10-25T04:39:55.796-07:00Fight On Forever, Jennie <div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" </span><br />
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It is with tears still in my eyes and a heavy heart that I write this. Yesterday morning, my dear friend and AΔΧ sister Jennie 'excalibur' Yang went to be with our Father. She passed away in her sleep, which is what she wanted. </div>
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As another sorority sister wrote, "<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Jennie did not lose this battle with cancer. She fought until King Jesus swept her up into His arms, and there, she is made new." While my heart aches, at the same time, I cannot help but also but be reminded in joy that Jennie is dancing up a storm in Heaven right now, with her new, pure and cancer-free body, unhindered by the pain and cares of this world (and her cool sword-cane). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">She was the epitome of what it means to "Fight On." </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">She had Li Fraumeni syndrome, a genetic disease that made her susceptible to getting multiple types of cancer throughout her life. Jennie's first cancer, malignant fibrous histeocytoma, was diagnosed in June of 1989. Her second cancer, osteosarcoma, was diagnosed in November of 2004. Jennie had tumors in both her left and right hips, and her resulting surgeries caused her to walk with a cane. Her third cancer, glioblastoma, her sophomore year of college at USC, Halloween night. I still remember we were going to be Mulan and Mushu for Halloween until she was admitted into the hospital. About a month later, her osteosarcoma returned. About two years later, her osteosarcoma spread to her lungs. At the end of 2012, her glioblastoma also relapsed in the right frontal lobe. She was later also diagnosed with breast cancer. This past year she was on chemo and radiation, and also endured and overcame a severe bout of meningitis. About a month ago her brain cancer was found to have spread to most of the top part of her brain, and was pronounced untreatable. Even while her body began to lose its functions, her mom still wrote that Jennie would be smiling even as she slept. She endured more than anyone should ever have to endure, but in it and through it all, she never lost her joy, her faith, and her fighting spirit. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">I was extremely blessed to have the opportunity to visit her in Colorado in July, when she was still able to walk and hang out. We enjoyed my mother's homemade cookies and Mauna Loa chocolate macadamia nuts from Hawaii, reminisced on good times from SC, and laughed at our inability to take good "selfie" pics together. At SC, I was blessed with the opportunity to be in her accountability group in </span>AΔΧ (where we mostly spent our time watching "Kittens Inspired by Kittens" and other silly Youtube videos with Theresa Lee) and to live with her in the AΔΧ house. She loved hugs, laughter, dancing and being ridiculous. She loved life, her friends, and most of all her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. </div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">She will forever live on as an inspiration to every person she ever met. More than anyone I've ever known, she "fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith." The Lord blessed this world with her presence many more years than any of us expected. She is a reminder to all of us to make the most of every day and every moment, to fill our lives with laughter and whimsy and love, and to take every opportunity to tell those we care about how much we love them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">So I want to tell each of you how much you and your prayers have meant to me, Jennie and her family. </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Thank you so much for all your love, prayers and support. There are no words to describe how blessed I am to have you in my life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warm up the dance floor for me in Heaven, my dear sister. I cannot wait to party with you again someday. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">AΔΧ Invite 2008</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; text-align: start;"> AΔΧ Halloween Party 2008, after winning the pie-eating contest</span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd8QYmwVHBz8bu5IizuTN3rRGxNuCw4NeClmEk3r5yEZCL0Ly4gE_LNkAXYXvYyGRmhFdS6F7ayGI1TaYauhw7HRTaruvxo1_odFOZSNiIIxjsGPfqDNrG70j_mok1K6qNxFjlmo5nLo/s1600/1927_1118607014991_3070_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd8QYmwVHBz8bu5IizuTN3rRGxNuCw4NeClmEk3r5yEZCL0Ly4gE_LNkAXYXvYyGRmhFdS6F7ayGI1TaYauhw7HRTaruvxo1_odFOZSNiIIxjsGPfqDNrG70j_mok1K6qNxFjlmo5nLo/s320/1927_1118607014991_3070_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> Hanging out at the AΔΧ house</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxmfCEbVD02HyHPHTtTmDsQpGhTOOTGA37YK_GT2Swg_VtYVu0yKrG44fnGprkyr58_26astARvqQPQ-weqK_HGBBL_7csR_S8D_-2KkKVzew9iiz_DGWHClqcVw1n2KVCjjLPC0Ns-k/s1600/1927_1118607375000_5222_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxmfCEbVD02HyHPHTtTmDsQpGhTOOTGA37YK_GT2Swg_VtYVu0yKrG44fnGprkyr58_26astARvqQPQ-weqK_HGBBL_7csR_S8D_-2KkKVzew9iiz_DGWHClqcVw1n2KVCjjLPC0Ns-k/s320/1927_1118607375000_5222_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> AΔΧ Beach Day </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF4YfkLMtYoookqY7PLo6US3pZwb7xeM4Sl8OmeXnNP2Xt4TI2zPrBMYmIP-spugTmxZJ9YWNnMlqIQ6XTz2-E8qDp0V-pMBYPPsSrILtaZ1NXkfsn_oi_1GrGLQBe-eAYQ3WYUruirE/s1600/6174_1229781234277_1125547_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF4YfkLMtYoookqY7PLo6US3pZwb7xeM4Sl8OmeXnNP2Xt4TI2zPrBMYmIP-spugTmxZJ9YWNnMlqIQ6XTz2-E8qDp0V-pMBYPPsSrILtaZ1NXkfsn_oi_1GrGLQBe-eAYQ3WYUruirE/s320/6174_1229781234277_1125547_n.jpg" width="312" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> AΔΧ Spring Invite </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocyWjj6b8uVoo9b3v_xozBN21ZljOR4RfB8Oj2cwZ6VGU-QKpidPFKsbESXw0B4pYxdJrocVJWreaenLC160VlI0y6oFoUU44tAiyDh0LPQ7I3PcWooC4XiY0vNPTJloLvnreRNBTSVc/s1600/IMG_6498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocyWjj6b8uVoo9b3v_xozBN21ZljOR4RfB8Oj2cwZ6VGU-QKpidPFKsbESXw0B4pYxdJrocVJWreaenLC160VlI0y6oFoUU44tAiyDh0LPQ7I3PcWooC4XiY0vNPTJloLvnreRNBTSVc/s320/IMG_6498.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> My last time with Jennie, July 2013</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fight On Forever, Jennie. A hui hou. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-75366613197680550192013-10-14T02:54:00.001-07:002013-10-14T02:54:22.676-07:00Reaping the Harvest <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
God is moving in these islands,
stirring up the hearts of students and revealing to them their need
and desire for Him!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just in this past week, 3 students-
THREE- have accepted Christ into their hearts.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
While maybe this number does not seem
significant compared to countries like China where thousands of
people are actually becoming Christians daily, in a place like
Hawaii, 3 students in one week is unheard of.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tuesday morning we began the day with a
time of prayer on campus at the UH Ampitheatre. We felt the
conviction that “we do not have because we do not ask,” so we
asked God for the faith to pray big prayers. We dreamed of the day
when the entire ampitheatre would be filled to capacity with students
desiring to pray and worship God. We prayed for God's Spirit to
overwhelm the campus like lava overflowing from a volcano. We prayed
for miracles.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
That evening at our Cru weekly meeting,
CRUcial, we got one.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Julian, one of our freshman guys made
a decision to follow Christ.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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He has attended our Monday freshman
small group every week, but we were never really sure why. He had no
interest in Christianity, would come late, text on his phone
throughout the study, eat some snacks, then leave. But he kept coming
back. And we took that as a sign of something good, though we
couldn't tell what. Tuesday night at CRUcial, during the time of
worship, I noticed Julian standing up and singing. The Lord squeezed
my heart and I felt that we needed to be praying for him, so I asked
a couple of our freshmen small group student leaders to pray for him
with me. Later during worship, one of our student leaders went over
to Julian and began talking with him. I found out later that he,
noticing that Julian seemed very moved by the worship, had basically
asked what he was feeling and what he believed. A couple minutes
later I hear my name called and see the student beckoning me over.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Julian would like to receive Christ
into his heart,” he said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Excuse me WHAT?” I said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Julian would like to accept Christ
into his heart,” he repeated.
</div>
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“Are you sure?” I asked Julian.
This was the kid whom, after I'd gone through the Gospel with him,
had told me straight up “Yeah I understand but it doesn't apply to
my life,” so I admit that I was a bit incredulous.
</div>
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But Julian looked me straight in the
eyes and said “Yes!”
</div>
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“Oh! Um...ok then!” I exclaimed.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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After explaining to him what exactly it
meant and that all he had to do was pray with us, we prayed and
Julian accepted Christ. Afterward we asked him how he felt.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />“I feel all tingly,” he said.
“I feel like I'm about to cry- it's like there's this huge weight
that got taken off me.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two days later, a Japanese student,
Yuki, also decided to accept Christ's love and freedom.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A day later, one of our interns and
another student had the opportunity to lead another guy to the Lord.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
After Julian accepted Christ, I was
thinking how amazing it was when God spoke to me and said, “Kimi,
why are you so surprised? Why are you so surprised when I answer your
prayers?”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Valid question. If I believe what the Bible says, that if we ask, we shall receive, that we may ask anything in Jesus' name and it will be granted to us, that we are promised to do even greater things than Jesus himself in the power of the Holy Spirit...why am I surprised when a student decides to accept Christ? Why am I surprised at stories of redemption when I know that our God is the Redeemer? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
May we have the faith to pray big
prayers every day! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWRIltYFXNWjfZ7UicSLjDa7C2Auw8C-IYyhBOh5pKeZW6le9jZ7hN0dpM8jlm1w2NIPYgCqRp9BA1dSYk1F5mcC32RG0QbW48CnBIGofhXUAV7lZNMfBXDf3gFcGhv9yQkgjY_0voQI/s1600/1376462_10202128995772249_1791048336_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWRIltYFXNWjfZ7UicSLjDa7C2Auw8C-IYyhBOh5pKeZW6le9jZ7hN0dpM8jlm1w2NIPYgCqRp9BA1dSYk1F5mcC32RG0QbW48CnBIGofhXUAV7lZNMfBXDf3gFcGhv9yQkgjY_0voQI/s320/1376462_10202128995772249_1791048336_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Over 100 students attended our weekly meeting last Tuesday</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-67830071875031678092013-10-01T17:41:00.001-07:002013-10-01T17:41:06.632-07:00"Accidental" Providence The second day of school, Charleen and her friend were wandering around campus when they stumbled upon a gathering of a big group of people. They were welcomed in by a friendly, energetic guy and so they decided to see what the gathering was all about. When Charleen realized it was a Christian group, she wasn't sure if she was allowed to stay because she did not have any religion, but she found it interesting and enjoyed herself, so she continued to come back every week. She also joined in the first week activities, including the UH vs. USC football game and an all-day beach BBQ, where she made friends and began to develop community. But midterms got in the way and no one heard from her for a couple weeks.<br />
<br />
Flash forward to Friday evening, when Ashley, one of the girls I'm discipling, and I, were hanging out at Starbucks. Ashley and I had just finished a conversation about how she wanted to get more experience sharing her faith with others, when I received a text from Charleen asking if she could come to church with me sometime.<br />
<br />
"But is it ok if I don't really have a religion? Am I still allowed to go?"<br />
"Of course!" I replied<br />
"Ok! By the way, you're a Christian right? How do I declare a religion?"<br />
<br />
"Ashley," I said. "You're about to get your chance to get more experience sharing your faith."<br />
<br />
We picked up Charleen and took her to dinner, where we had the opportunity to walk her through the Gospel and what it means to be a Christian. At the end, we asked her if it was something that she wanted for her life and she adamantly exclaimed, "Yes!"<br />
<br />
We could hardly believe how easy and natural it was for her to want to believe. Obviously God's been working on her heart for awhile, we just happened to be available for that last step of showing her how. I explained to her that all she had to do was pray to God and acknowledge that she was a sinner, that God exists, that she believed Jesus is the Son of God, died on a cross and took away all her sins, and that she wanted to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior and make Him the center of her life. She prayed and afterward when we asked her she felt, she said "I'm so excited! I feel wonderful!"<br />
<br />
The next day I took her to Logos to buy her a Bible, and she got herself a journal for quiet times. We then went to lunch and a coffee shop where I walked her through the Bible and explained some ways to read the Bible. "I am so excited to have a Bible!" she exclaimed. "I cannot wait to get home and start reading it!"<br />
<br />
Her enthusiasm, along with Lini's, is such a breath of fresh air, and also a conviction for my own heart- how many times do I think to myself, "I cannot wait to get home and read the Bible!"?<br />
<br />
Lord, make us hungry and thirsty for your Word just like Charleen and Lini!<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfMss5juTWMRdfmD-VslSpY4TDmqYrgj8IrZJL7O-OUniv0O15LKaa4ebfkJJw9iPn54fd0en3QQV217baDoQlOrvdo6gXBYgq6Mp5X-_u7gPWgqtG8bn51DtBu_SaQZqDxiIAJUNnwE/s1600/IMG_6525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfMss5juTWMRdfmD-VslSpY4TDmqYrgj8IrZJL7O-OUniv0O15LKaa4ebfkJJw9iPn54fd0en3QQV217baDoQlOrvdo6gXBYgq6Mp5X-_u7gPWgqtG8bn51DtBu_SaQZqDxiIAJUNnwE/s320/IMG_6525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ashley (left) and Charlene (right) after Charleen prayed to receive Christ</div>
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(Something about me wearing my hat...the past two times I've worn it, girls have decided to accept Christ into their hearts...coincidence?) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaB0V142yLlivofN3ZaKaLJT-ekoyBFKfCZyOnGKWSmel8XETYsKWABMT0TgyJY_Bqw34_QEhYQ_G7eUMxVQu_qaOS4aaOxgnogE2kX0mww7zIYEopZ6jTgjDC541gbH-T5-cTDilTnfs/s1600/IMG_6532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaB0V142yLlivofN3ZaKaLJT-ekoyBFKfCZyOnGKWSmel8XETYsKWABMT0TgyJY_Bqw34_QEhYQ_G7eUMxVQu_qaOS4aaOxgnogE2kX0mww7zIYEopZ6jTgjDC541gbH-T5-cTDilTnfs/s320/IMG_6532.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Charlene and her new Bible! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-13404820738119025862013-09-29T23:54:00.002-07:002013-09-29T23:54:27.207-07:00New Life, New Family, New Start <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Last weekend we took 65 students to the west side of the island for our Fall Getaway 2013, our annual retreat to give students the opportunity to "getaway" from school and enjoy community, fellowship and God. We had a ton of new students, including Lini, a girl who stopped by our table the first week of school to ask for directions to a class- I didn't know where her class was, but I invited her to Cru instead and she ended up coming to my small group even though she wasn't a Christian. Saturday night of Fall Getaway, we had a really awesome time of worship where the Lord strongly put on my heart to pray for her, so strongly that my heart physically hurt. I prayed that the Lord would reach out and grab her heart and reveal Himself to her in a tangible way. One of the girls I'm discipling, Ashley, also felt a strong urge to pray for Lini, and sat next to her and prayed for her- during that time, Lini started crying. Later I also came to sit by Lini and prayed for her, and then we both stood up to worship. During worship, I noticed Lini was really into it and had her hands clutched in front of her. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">After the session, she came up to me and said that during worship, she was holding up her hands and felt Someone's hands on hers- "They were warm," she said. "And I felt that there was a Presence in front of me holding me and I just felt so loved in that moment." "Dude," I said to her. "That was GOD." I then asked her if anyone had ever told her how to have a relationship with God. "No," she replied. "Well...do you want to know?" I asked. "Yes, please!" she exclaimed. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">An hour later, Lini prayed to receive Christ into her heart and said that she felt like she was in a dream. I asked her if she had any questions, and the first thing she said was "When can I get baptized?" "Uhhh..." I stuttered. "What about tomorrow???" she asked. "Uhhh...sure?" I responded. After she'd gone to bed, I called one of my pastors from my home church (about 3 am my time) "Hey so uhh this girl just accepted Christ and wants to be baptized so apparently I'm baptizing her tomorrow WHAT DO I DO??!?!" Thankfully, Jay is used to me freaking out because he's known me since I was little, and he walked me through how to baptize someone. He also affirmed that I was capable and equipped to baptize someone, which I appreciated because not gonna lie I was kind of doubting myself after growing up in a Presbyterian church where only pastors do that sort of thing. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The next day after we'd packed up the camp, we all piled into cars and drove down to the beach, where in the bright blue ocean of Waialae, I performed my first baptism. As Lini was sharing her story with everyone who came to watch, she said, "I am so ready to get baptized. This is a new start, this is my new family, this is my new life." </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The next day I took her to Logos, a Christian bookstore, and bought her first Bible and a devotional for her to begin her new walk with Christ. Since then, she's been texting me every day to hang out and read the Bible. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Praise God for Lini for her new passion for God! May it never fade away! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgkSctB9e0HnwJp8jyjqOKwT-U4UhI3laMLviAQPF8WZxyVN3tc9TH6eO5uNlbtZao9bWk2o_1tMVrGMX67Hm9NyHYe_1FFtjWADifg-lLQu6eFgtcEagkfcYG9UDEYxNcB1qMLrtk8I/s1600/IMG_6487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgkSctB9e0HnwJp8jyjqOKwT-U4UhI3laMLviAQPF8WZxyVN3tc9TH6eO5uNlbtZao9bWk2o_1tMVrGMX67Hm9NyHYe_1FFtjWADifg-lLQu6eFgtcEagkfcYG9UDEYxNcB1qMLrtk8I/s320/IMG_6487.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-4055249219627673232013-09-16T17:47:00.002-07:002013-09-16T17:47:32.614-07:00Kaori. So if you've been keeping up with my blog for awhile, or just my life, you might remember my friend Kaori. We met "randomly" at Waseda back in 2011 when we were both checking out the dance group Tokyo Hanabi, one of the yosakoi circles. Neither of us actually ended up joining the group (I joined Odori Samurai and Kaori went on to do ballet) but we remained friends and met up frequently over the next two years when I was in and out of Tokyo.<br />
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Last year she studied abroad at Columbia University (because she's crazy smart) and spent Thanksgiving with me and my family, where she came to church for the first time and we spent 3 hours talking about the Bible, God and Christianity. While she was not ready to become a Christian, she understood what I was saying.<br />
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Last week I received a Facebook message from Kaori- "Kimiyo! I am coming to Hawaii!" "WHEN???!?!" I replied. "In two days!!!"<br />
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SO crazy. She arrived Monday, and I invited her to our Cru weekly meeting on Tuesday. She came and after I gave the message on God's community, she said to me "That was wonderful! I am so proud of you!" Later in the evening during worship, our director Jamie challenged us to turn to the people around us and pray for one another for a couple minutes. Kaori turned to me and said "Kimiyo, I want to pray for you, but I do not know how." I then explained to her that prayer is really just talking to God, it doesn't have to be formal and you can do it anywhere and He hears you. I prayed for her to show her, and then she prayed for me. I want to share with you her prayer:<br />
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"Hello God, this is my very first time praying, and I want to pray for my very best friend Kimiyo."<br />
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I almost melted. It was such a wonderful, wonderful moment that words just can't fully express.<br />
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Please continue to pray for Kaori, that the Lord would reveal Himself in a real and powerful way in her life so that she has no choice but to believe.<br />
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Japan reunion! Such a wonderful surpise! </div>
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Sunset from Spitting Cave, my favorite place on Oahu and where we took Kaori after a day at the beach on Saturday </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-56546596359251614962013-09-08T15:47:00.002-07:002013-09-08T15:47:55.048-07:00First Month in Hawaii Wow. I've been in Hawaii for exactly one month now.<br />
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That's crazy.<br />
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I've had several "Wow I live in Hawaii" moments lately. Driving through the Pali tunnel and coming out to a breathtaking view of the cliffs and ocean and mountains. Hanging out with students at the beach all day for an outreach event. Going to a small hotel in Waikiki on Monday with my hanai family and enjoying a bunch of old local guys jamming on ukeleles and guitars and other people dancing hula, just for the fun of it. Watching the sunset over the ocean.<br />
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I'm truly blessed.<br />
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I'm still adjusting though. I'm not local yet, even though I did have some Australian tourists tell me I was beautiful and asked to take a picture with me because they "wanted to take a picture with a Hawaiian girl." Didn't have the heart to tell them I'm from Texas. But it made me feel good. I still don't speak like a local though- need to work on that.<br />
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I also need to practice my surfing. Uncle Steve has been humbling me a lot lately- I like to think of myself as a quick learner, but Uncle Steve apparently thinks I still need a lot of work. A student invited me to go surfing with them at a couple different locations, but when I asked Uncle, his exact words were, "Mmmmm I think you need to go to Waikiki." For anyone who's been surfing in Hawaii, that's not exactly a slap in the face, but it's close. Waikiki is for the beginners, the groms, the tourists. While there are locals that surf Queens or Canoes in Waikiki, the goal is to graduate from there to other breaks. So I said "Oh ok, so you think I should go there a few more times and then do you think I can try these places?" His exact words: "Mmmm I think you should go to Waikiki for awhile."<br />
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......ouch.<br />
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But I have to remember that this is good. I have this ridiculous expectation that I should be good at everything, immediately, or at least expert-status after a few times. But that is so unrealistic. No one becomes good at anything after a few times. It takes major perseverance, dedication, time, energy, effort. It takes falling off the board and getting back on. It takes getting tossed around by waves of adversity (see what I did there?) but continuing to paddle out again and again til you're able to consistently stand up and ride the waves. And sometimes that takes years. Uncle isn't telling me not to go to these more difficult surf spots to make me feel bad, he knows that I'll get cut up on the reefs and I'll get pummeled by waves and it won't be fun- it will just make me discouraged. And he wants me to love surfing. But he knows I will only learn to love it by taking baby steps. I don't like baby steps- I'm impatient. But how often do we do that with other things in life, and with God even? We think we're ready for the challenges, the difficult tasks, we think way more of our abilities than we're actually capable of, and we get frustrated and impatient when we're not given responsibilities "worthy of our talents." But God knows what we can handle and what we can't. He's not going to give us more than we can handle. And in reality, that's a comforting though. God looks at our faithfulness, not at our abilities.<br />
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And that applies to everything- to life, to our career, to ministry, to the Christian walk. If we're faithful in the small things, God will reward (and challenge) us with bigger things.<br />
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And on that note...it's time to surf. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-74010676387077212102013-09-01T22:43:00.002-07:002013-09-01T22:43:41.500-07:00Warrior Welcome, or Welcome, Warrior? <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The first week of school is officially pau, or done. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And I'm already exhausted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was an incredible week, but also super busy. I would leave the house at 8 am and get home at midnight. Even when I'd get home before that I'd still end up staying up til 2 am working on flyers, slides for our weekly meetings, etc. But it was totally worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">While this past week was by far the most intense week of ministry I've ever done in my life, it was also probably the most rewarding. Every day for four hours, we set up a tent and table on campus and passed out free Cru water bottles and asked students to take a one minute spiritual survey to gage their interest in Cru, God and spiritual topics. 800 students filled out a survey and received a water bottle, and we met even more just through our first week outreach events.</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">115 students attended o</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">ur first weekly "CRUcial" meeting, the most we've ever had! Many students came simply because they saw our table and wanted to check us out. We even met a freshman who grew up in Japan and has no spiritual background at all, but said she really enjoyed the meeting and even came to our other events later in the week!<br /><br />Our events included a coffee & cookies hangout in one of the dorm lounges, going to the UH vs. USC football game (in which we sat in the student section and I had to use all my willpower not to cheer for USC too loudly), and a huge game of Capture the Flag on campus. These events were a major test for me, as we were so uncertain as to how many people would show up and how exactly the events would go. The football game especially, which was given to me to spearhead last minute, forced me to surrender my control to God since I honestly had no idea how to plan for it- not only had I never even been to the stadium, we were unsure of how many students would come, how many cars we'd have to drive, where to park, where to sit, what to do after...basically, the whole event was up in the air, and I just had to be ok with it. But it was great! Because God's bigger than my inability to plan. Every event was really a testament to His sovereignty. God brought new students to every event, students from every spiritual background and from all over the world, including international students from Japan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Norway, even Iran! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Last year, Hawaii Cru's director Shawn had a vision, that "Out of UH the Islands will be reached." This year, our goal is to make that vision a reality. He saw the four freshmen dorm towers as lighthouses shining their light to the rest of the Islands and beyond. This year, we are praying for a huge freshman class to shine their light to their classmates and the university. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">I truly believe that out of UH, not only the Islands, but the WORLD, will be reached, as these students from other countries were but a fraction of the many nationalities represented at UH. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Now comes the process of following up with the hundreds of students who wrote down their contact info, and hopefully meeting with them and getting them plugged into Cru. This next week we also start up our small groups- once again, we really have no idea how many students will show up, or even the location for some of them, but we know that God will make it happen. It's HIS will after all. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br />Here are some pics from this past week! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">115 students came to our first CRUcial meeting of the year- an all time record!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Worship band at our first weekly meeting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Students filling out spiritual surveys at our table in the freshmen courtyard </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmz6iyJvqO4rEzL2Iwxq9_7VrT4e1axdmUl1CsIGyLPX5shaOPRonLJX4Vu1RByw8a7aVxia_lSteiBXOxzVnsbRrfD2gYvlFMSRmUCQ9hnkG8EAThvAnTl8Is1LP8Qd1B9yyOy8GeA0/s1600/IMG_5812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmz6iyJvqO4rEzL2Iwxq9_7VrT4e1axdmUl1CsIGyLPX5shaOPRonLJX4Vu1RByw8a7aVxia_lSteiBXOxzVnsbRrfD2gYvlFMSRmUCQ9hnkG8EAThvAnTl8Is1LP8Qd1B9yyOy8GeA0/s320/IMG_5812.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ran into Ruben, my old friend from UH Hilo while on campus! Definitely one of those "What are you doing here???" "Wait- what are YOU doing here???" moments - so great. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Andy being lazy and not wanting to walk...we didn't make it very far. Silly interns. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-34388101658321368612013-08-25T18:17:00.002-07:002013-08-25T18:17:44.793-07:00TRUCK!!!!!!! And other things...ATTENTION, WORLD: I now have my very own trucky truck!<br />
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It took driving all over the island and visiting a couple sketchy places/people before I could find my beautiful yellow submarine, but I finally found it. He is my Walker Texas Ranger, Jr. (or Junior for short), a 2001 Ford Ranger with a pretty legit sound system. I'm so blessed to finally have transportation- it was a bit of a challenge always asking for rides from people.<br />
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Repping the USC colors. Isn't he pretty???</div>
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Now I also have a way to start scoping out potential new housing locations. My potential roommate fell through but I have a couple other possibilities so please pray God would make my whole housing situation fall into place and that He would provide an awesome home for us to open up to students, etc. </div>
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Spent most of this week preparing for this upcoming week- the first week of classes, and our first week of CRU events. Every day we will be on campus tabling, and every night we will have an event to meet students. Please be praying for God's hand to be in everything- there are still so many details to be worked out! </div>
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<br />I also went surfing a few times, and ate hula pie, a coco puff, and a guava for the first time. Starting tomorrow- no more sweets. Everything is just so good here!!!</div>
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Duke's OceanFest 2013</div>
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Hula Pie. OMG. </div>
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I am so excited for everything God has in store for this week, but also a bit nervous. We are praying for a freshman class of 80 students, and that God would grow our movement to 300!!! Please pray with us!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-60031389867380199452013-08-18T20:03:00.003-07:002013-08-18T20:03:59.366-07:00In the Islands..."<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands." ~ Isaiah 42:12 </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">When I first saw this verse at a little church in Hilo, Hawaii, I knew it would have a major significance on me and on these islands. At the time, I had no idea that it would become my theme verse for my time in Hawaii, or carry with me as I begin my time as a Cru staff member on Oahu. But this is our goal and hope of this year- that truly every person in these islands would feel the presence of God, experience the saving power of Jesus Christ and proclaim his praise in the islands. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Last week my staff team and I spent 4 days of 9 to 5 intense planning for the school year. We established roles, we mapped out a schedule, and we began planning events such as our freshman welcome week and fall retreat. It was also the most time we'd ever spent with each other, so it was great to bond and get to know each other on a deeper level. I'm really looking forward to this year- every person is fully committed to the ministry and seeing God's plans become a reality, and every person is fully committed to the team and each other. We all agreed that unity, harmony, communication and healthy working relationships were imperative for our success as a ministry this year. I believe that we are all unified in our vision for the ministry, and I truly love my staff team already. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">This next week is going to be a busy time of preparation for the freshmen welcome week- we have an event every night of the week, but I'm really excited to jump back into ministry. I'm also excited to see how the Lord will grow the ministry this year- it was really sweet to hear Jamie talk about our present reality as a ministry and the goals last year's staff team dreamed of for this year. We are praying for big things- for example, we are praying that God would grow our ministry from 80 students to 250 students this year. We are also praying that our movement would be centered around prayer and discipleship, and that the Lord would raise up student leaders so our movement would become student-led instead of staff-led. Please be praying with us for our students, for the new freshmen class, and for our movement! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Some pictures from last week: </span><br />
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Sunset from our Staff Planning location</div>
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Some of my favorite moments from last week were simply standing on the balcony enjoying the beauty of God's creation </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRy7gbtFx2ezAyCIf139UioTIf8gnvjwlxUpFjtPay7mYK7mV8K_2E8yh-NbF8L1-6XvNCkC9-FbwICSknxPHrP9Qb8LZdzwJ-UlxuOe9OB0wC3Py2rAw-woOs4R5OPB2QLxdzQl-Duw/s1600/IMG_5670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRy7gbtFx2ezAyCIf139UioTIf8gnvjwlxUpFjtPay7mYK7mV8K_2E8yh-NbF8L1-6XvNCkC9-FbwICSknxPHrP9Qb8LZdzwJ-UlxuOe9OB0wC3Py2rAw-woOs4R5OPB2QLxdzQl-Duw/s320/IMG_5670.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The boys worn out from a long day of planning</div>
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Hawaii monk seal momma and her baby at a beach near our Staff Planning location</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-90160389811922375912013-08-12T00:54:00.000-07:002013-08-12T00:54:19.438-07:00Hoooo Brah. After a very long day of traveling starting at 4:30 am Texas time and almost missing my flight in LA, I finally arrived Wednesday afternoon at Honolulu International Airport. <div>
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One of the interns and part of my new staff team, Steven, picked me up and we got thai food, my first meal in Hawaii. My long time friend and Cru big brother, Gen, joined us. It was great to hang with them again- but for the first time, not as a visitor to Oahu, but a new resident. After we ate, Steven drove me to Aunty Kamilla's and Uncle Steve's house, my new home (for now until I find my own place). It's nestled between the mountains of Pololo Valley, and from their lanai I can see the sunset over the ocean. It's wonderful. I've got a room and bathroom annex on the bottom floor, spacious and comfy. They have two wonderful dogs, Hui and Hana, who have taken a liking to me. And Aunty and Uncle are some of the most hospitable people I've ever met. It's been the perfect place to adjust to Hawaii. They know everyone and are more than willing to help me with whatever I need. It couldn't be better. My first night after getting organized, Steven and Gen picked me up and we went to Bubbie's, the best ice cream and mochi on the island. There I reunited with some of the Cru students and met Andy, another one of the new interns. </div>
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Thursday I met a potential roommate over crepes, then Gen and I went to lunch/Starbucks to get work done and start looking on Craigslist for a truck and an apartment. Later that night we all went out again to Shokudo, a place famous for their honey toast. Oh I've missed honey toast. I'll have to be careful to not go there too often. Friday I spent most of the day on the lanai hanging out and getting work done, then Andy, Steven and I drove to Spitting Cave and watched the sunset and got dinner. Spitting Cave is by far my favorite place on the island for now. It's possible I'll find somewhere I like even more, but for now this is it. Saturday I woke up at 5 am to go surfing with Uncle Steve, who has gone surfing with the same gang for decades. Even though the waves were small, I was really proud of myself- it's the first time I've been since I blew out my knee over a year ago, and I was able to stand up and ride out every wave except the first two. Even Uncle said he was surprised how good I was, so that was exciting. Afterward we all went and ate breakfast at Rainbow Drive-In, a super famous local place, where I met the rest of the gang and the owners of Rainbow. After that, Uncle and I went to look at a couple trucks (no luck), then I had a mini-USC reunion with Gen and our mutual friend Justin and his wife over some acai bowls at Jewel or Juice- my first acai bowl ever. After that, Gen and I went to Walls in Waikiki for a Cru BBQ and I reunited with several of the UH students I'd met in April and met some new ones. After that, Uncle Steve picked me up and we went to Uncle Hubert's house, who owns the surf rental/lessons shop by Canoes in Waikiki. Basically spent the rest of the night getting to know Uncle's surfer gang and eating amazing amazing pupus, poke, sashimi, salmon, and everything else under the sun, not including the 5 or 6 desserts they had. </div>
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Even though it hasn't even been a week, I feel like I've already experienced more of true Hawaii than most people do in months or even years. It's been a really great week so far, and made me excited to explore more of the island and meet more people. It's almost easy to think I've lived here for awhile already, but I've already been told by several people I need to work on my Hawaiian pidgin, so that's been humbling. No matter how much I think I've learned, Steven will probably always make fun of the way I say "hooo brah." Oh well. One step at a time. </div>
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Tomorrow we start 4 days of staff planning for the new year. It's going to be a lot of work, but I'm super stoked to get started, and to just have some good bonding time with my new staff team. </div>
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Dear Lord, give us wisdom, creativity, joy, patience, and love during this week of planning, and may your will be done here in these islands and the world! </div>
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Here are some pictures from the past week- enjoy!</div>
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My new room </div>
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Sunset from my new house</div>
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My first breakfast of delicious crepes</div>
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Sunset over Diamond Head</div>
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First acai bowl- delicious!</div>
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Cru BBQ on the beach</div>
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Some of the deliciousness from dinner at Uncle Hubert's </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-74713953764786501632013-08-01T16:03:00.001-07:002013-08-01T16:03:10.991-07:00Hawaii Here I Come For the past four years, this blog has been devoted to experiences in Japan as I've participated in Summer Projects and interned with Cru.<br />
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That changes in less than a week. Six days, actually. In six days, I move to Honolulu, Hawaii to be a missionary there with Cru.<br />
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When I decided to become a full-time staff member with Cru, the goal was to ideally be back in Japan as soon as possible; however, as anyone knows who has read my blog, or read about Japan in general, the country is an extremely difficult ministry location. People call it a "missionary graveyard." While my goal is to change that, I know that I am not yet fully equipped to do such a thing. I need training and experience as a new staff person before I just jump into ministry in a "hard soil" location. Cru asked me to consider spending my first two years on staff in the States first to prepare me for Japan ministry. And where better to equip me for Japanese ministry than the place with the highest Japanese population in the States? Hawaii.<br />
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Now I'm sure you are thinking, "Wow you're really going to be suffering for the Gospel in Hawaii." Or you're just confused and are wondering "Why would you go to Hawaii to do missions in the first place?"<br />
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First of all, Hawaii actually is only about 10-15% Christian, even though it's a part of America. It is still very much it's own culture and identity. And while it's known as one of the most beautiful places in the world, sometimes the places that look the most like paradise on the outside are in reality the darkest on the inside. Hawaii is saturated with drugs, alcohol, prostitution and suicide. Hawaii is in desperate need of the Gospel and the love of Christ.<br />
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While it may not be the most obvious place for missions, Hawaii is an extremely strategic ministry location. It is such a conglomeration of different people groups and ethnicities- almost 80% of the Hawaiian population is Asian or Asian-American. That is why we call Hawaii the Gateway to the Pacific, because we believe that if we can reach Hawaii, we can reach the rest of the Pacific and Asia. </div>
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I will be helping lead the CRU movement at the University of Hawaii, a campus of over 20,000 students. The CRU movement in Hawaii has tripled from 30 students to 90 just this past year, and so they desperately need more staff to meet the needs of the ministry. CRU's founder, Dr. Bill Bright, had a saying- "Win the campus today, win the world tomorrow." I believe if we can reach the University of Hawaii, we can truly reach the rest of the Pacific Islands and all of Asia. At the University of Hawaii, I will not only be sharing the Gospel with students, but training and equipping them to share their faith with their friends, communities, and the rest of the world. </div>
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Now i know that when we think living missionally, we usually think helping people in poorer places. But while doing humanitarian aid in third world countries definitely shows people God's love, we also need to be teaching this generation where that love comes from. In an age where drugs, alcohol, sex and everything else under the sun is a daily part of life, we need to be sharing with students the one thing that truly satisfies- the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And after we've shared it with them, we need to teach them how to share it with others. Because the Gospel is not meant to be kept for ourselves. </div>
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Jesus commands us to GO and make disciples of all nations - and I know that God is going to use Hawaii to do just that. </div>
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If you're interested in receiving my monthly prayer letter email updates, feel free to leave your email in the comments and I'll add you to the list! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-44127356586326756462013-07-31T12:15:00.000-07:002013-07-31T12:15:11.119-07:00Decision of a Lifetime Exactly one year ago today,<br />
I decided to surrender my future to God and join full-time staff with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ).<br />
I decided to become a "career missionary."<br />
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Exactly one year ago, I was at my last Cru weekly meeting in Tokyo before heading back to the States. All summer, God had been showing me hints of the brokenness of the Japanese people, the need in Japan, but also how open they were becoming to the Gospel. For example, Japan has the highest suicide rate in the world. While I lived in Japan, every day I would see train delays on the tv screens in the trains from "passenger injuries." Every day I'd see the delays for other trains. But last summer, it was almost every day that my own trains would be delayed. I'd be the one sitting on the train or on the platform for 1-2 hours, waiting. And I'd look around me and realize that no one cared that someone had just lost their life. To everyone else, it was just a daily inconvenience that their train was delayed because someone had jumped on the tracks. And I said, "God, this should never be normal. This should never be something we get used to, that's just a daily part of life- that someone was so devoid of hope or love or joy that they threw away their life in front of a train."<br />
<br />And God nudged me and said, "You're right. What are you going to do about it?"<br />
And I realized I have this message of love and hope and joy, and that I need to be sharing it with every person who God puts in my path.<br />
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But God was also working in the hearts of Japanese students. Students I'd almost given up on would ask ME to take them to church. Students would ask about Jesus and the Gospel. I was able to buy my friend her first Bible. And at the last Cru weekly meeting, God showed me very clearly that He was changing the spiritual atmosphere of Japan.<br />
<br />We were talking about the Holy Spirit, and I was sharing about how the Spirit had brought me to Japan 5 times, after originally never giving Japan much thought. And all the sudden I heard myself saying, "You know, I also used to say I'd never work for Cru, but now I've realized I have the best job in the world, and I just can't think of anything better." And then I started crying. In front of everyone. It was awkward. I sat down and my friend nudged me, "Were you expecting to say that?" he asked. "Heck no!" I replied. The Spirit was definitely moving in my heart.<br />
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Then a Japanese girl stood up. "Today was my first time to come here, and I want to become a Christian," she said. We all looked around in shock- that NEVER happens in Japan! It was so exciting, and God nudged me and said, "Hey look what I'm doing in this country."<br />
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Then we began worship in Japanese. My Japanese is not particularly good enough to understand the songs, but I sing along anyway. We sang this one song <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 15.453125px; white-space: pre-wrap;">called "Anata no mina wo hometataeru," and as I was singing, I started crying again. "Ok this is ridiculous," I thought. "I don't even know what I'm singing!" But since I was crying, I figured it was probably important, so I pulled a girl aside and said "Ok what am I singing?" She said, "Oh it says 'Lord, remake my heart, I want to be your hands and feet in the world, I want to shine your light..." </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 15.453125px; white-space: pre-wrap;">...........yeah. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 15.453125px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a sign like that, I knew that God was calling me to be His hands and feet and shine His light to the nations, and I decided to join full-time staff with Cru. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 15.453125px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I came home August 2nd, went to my first training in Orlando in September, then began the long year of raising financial support, with a month of training in January and 3 seminary classes in between. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 15.453125px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's been a long journey to get here, and I think my whole experience with Cru has been reluctant, but amazing. My friend Gen had to yell at me to get me to go on my first Summer Project to Japan. God had to slap me in the face with STINT. But last summer, it was like God was saying "Kimi, it's your choice, but this summer I'm going to show you all the reasons why YOU WANT to join staff." </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 15.453125px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And goodness knows He did. </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774974924345043660.post-56954750891430806922013-03-10T22:44:00.003-07:002013-03-10T22:44:53.632-07:00Remembering 3.11.11, Two Years LaterI honestly am not sure if I can write anything better than what I wrote one year ago, today, as I reflected on the Japan earthquake/tsunami of March 11, 2011.<br />
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It was the scariest five minutes of my life, crouched between my bed and my desk with my pillow over my head as if that might protect me somehow from any falling debris, desperately praying to God to make it stop and that I would live. God did protect me, but over 20,000 others died that day. As I sit here on my sofa in my cozy house in Dallas, TX, it hardly seems real that it was two years ago. Two years seems so long ago, and yet so recent. So much has changed in two years, and yet so little.<br />
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Japan needs our prayers no less than they did two years ago. "Pray For Japan" is not just a catch phrase or a hashtag or something to make into a cool artsy design. It's a promise, it's a call, it's a warning, it's a mission, it's a battle cry- for all of us. After the earthquake, I set an alarm on my phone to 2:46 pm, the time of the earthquake, so I could pray for Japan every day at that time. Some time ago I stopped doing that- I am shamed to admit that I honestly do not know why. But I am committing to start that again today, and for anyone else who wants to join me, I ask that you'd also set an alarm to remind yourself to pray a quick prayer every day for Japan and it's people. They are still so broken- physically, emotionally and spiritually, and need our prayers now more than ever.<br />
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Continue to #PrayForJapan.<br />
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Here is my blog post from a year ago- no less relevant, and perhaps even more so today:<br />
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"One year ago today, at 2:46 pm Japan Standard Time, a 9.0 earthquake struck of the coast of Japan, instigating a 130 ft tsunami that devastated the coast. Over 20,000 people lost their lives, and over 110,000 lost their homes. I will never forget the feeling of a 5 minute earthquake, and thinking I might not live. I will never forget desperately praying to God to make it stop. I will never forget seeing image after image of the tsunami destruction. I will never forget driving through Tohoku one month later and seeing the devastation without end. Mile after mile, hour after hour, never-ending debris, twisted cars and toppled ships. I will never forget staying at the evacuation center and playing with children who lost their families, and cleaning out homes filled with mud. And I will never forget standing alongside Japanese believers at church that Sunday, singing "Everlasting God," "How Great is Our God," and "You are God" and crying...Here is an excerpt from my blog after that church service:<br />
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"I looked around and saw and saw a room filled with Japanese Christians, singing of hope, love, and of a God greater than earthquakes, greater than tsunamis, and greater than our fears. Needless to say, it was a moving moment, and I cried all during worship. Our pastor reminded us that while we are such frail beings, the Truth tells us we have no need to fear, because we are held in the hands of the Almighty God of the Universe. Hebrews 12:25-29 reminds us that we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and to that hope and truth we must cling to during times such as this."<br />
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I want to thank you for all of your love and support during that time of fear and uncertainty immediately after the earthquake and during the nuclear crisis. Those were dark days, filled with huge aftershocks and fear that we may be sent home due to nuclear meltdowns. Your prayers and words of hope and encouragement were such blessings to all of us. While we may never understand why the disaster happened, I know that the Lord continues to work in Japan. Last week, Franklin Graham spoke to over 12,000 people in Tohoku, and over 400 people accepted Christ. Join with me in celebrating our new brothers and sisters, and continuing to pray for the millions of Japanese still without hope. I ask you to never forget the Tohoku Triple Disaster of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant. Please take some time to pray for Japan today as they remember all that was lost.<br />
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Here is some footage I took in Tohoku about a month after the earthquake. While thankfully it no longer looks so bad, it will take many, many years to rebuild. Please feel free to share this with others- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71jy-kTVzWQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71jy-kTVzWQ</a><br />
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May the Lord bless you today and remind you that He "is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling...The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." - Psalm 46:1-3, 7<br />
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がんばろう、日本。私たちはあなたの為に祈りを。"わすれないで、we fight together."<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047314603520400524noreply@blogger.com0