God is good :)

Got up in the morning and packed.  Came down for a rushed breakfast and ate and surprise discussion.  I loved the time I spent with this family and church! As usual, wanted to stay longer J

Then went to meet my next friend.  At the last minute I realized a better location for us to meet so I could activate my jr pass and praise God it was more convenient for her.  So got it activated before she came.  Being phoneless is horrible, but since she is usually late, I just waited and she came.  We found a place to talk and settled in.  At first it was all superficial, but then in the last hour God changed the conversation and so by the time I left, she had tears in her eyes L It’s so cool to have such good relationships with people. I met her at a conference 4 years ago and came to Tokyo to talk to her after it. Her daughter was one of the most intelligent girls back them.  She listened to what I had to say about the baptism of the holy spirit and just accepted and started speaking in tongues.  Then she asked for help on how to talk to her friends about it and wrote down everything I say.  It was great!  She is graduating today.  When I first met my friend she was someone with a desire for a deeper relationship with God, but didn’t know how to get it.  But every time I have seen her I have seen her grow and last year she almost made it to Cambodia on a mission trip and this year , 2 days after I leave she is going on her first mission trip to the Philippines! J She might go to India too!  She is bringing her young kids along too because she feels it will really help them grow as people.  I know that the trips to india as a child helped shape us into who we are today! Couldn’t have so easily been a missionary without them and realizing how much of a hurting world there is out there and how momentary comforts are secondary when people are involved.

I used my friend’s phone to let my next friend know I was coming.  But when I arrived she wasn’t there L  And I couldn’t find a pay phone, so I waited.  And just when I started to wait, a lady came and asked if I was in trouble. I said yes, and I asked if I could use her phone! Was able to send a message and then she left.  She was so kind, she said her work would be done in 15-30 minutes and she would come back and I could call her if she wasn’t there by then J  I love japan!!! How God always provides help!

We chatted and then off to the next place.  Getting super tired by now and when it came time to message time, now much to say, but enjoyed worship and my friend’s father was moved.  He knows God wants him to do something about prostitution.  Just doesn’t know what.  So we talked for a bit.

Came home and Isaac was there as well. So we all chatted for a bit but we were all so tired. J I was going to leave as soon as I got up, but he wanted me to stay in the morning so we could all talk more.  I of course was up bright and early and now am typing up the last day. I hate being without internet, but God is in control! J

Off to Osaka today. Changed plans from Hiroshima because of the distance J Nice to be flexible J

So I complained earlier about my internet situation and felt a little bad writing about it, but hehe! Guess what! When I went upstairs after breakfast I was told there was internet!  So I got to take care of logistics of stopping at Osaka and who will pick me up!  This morning I woke up and really wanted to go.  I was up bright and early and  and so if I left I could sight see and get to Osaka early J But praise God! I waited for my friends to get up and had breakfast with them.  Their daughter is soooo cute! And although she I guess doesn’t get along with everyone, we got along really well! Good old doctor tricks of playing it cool till they come to you J  Had a great breakfast and found out Melissa had time in the morning and so I asked if she wanted to go sightseeing, found out there was internet and off we went.  Going with her I ended up seeing a lot more and eating a lot more cause we noticed more things to eat! J Had sakura/cherry blossom ice-cream, followed by a chocolate banana and last but not least, a candied umeboshi (sour plum).  Got to see a beautiful temple, an old set of streets and a beautiful park with cherry blossoms.  It’s not the season yet, but! J I am blessed that the trees are in bloom.  It’s a big thing here and people go to the park and have picnics and look at the blossoms. 

Got home right on time without rushing and collected my stuff.  Off to the station to catch the shinkansen (bullet train).  I got there early enough to get a reserved seat! And then went searching for food! J Found some nuts that looked good, but wasn’t sold on them.  But once I was comfortable in the seat I started to regret not getting the nuts.  Well, the food lady just went by and guess what, she had those same nuts J.  What I love about Japan is that everything tastes good.  You rarely find a bad piece of fruit even (I was told today that they toss 25% of the produce before it gets to the consumers – only the best is sold).  The nuts were incredible! Just the right amount of crunch, roasting and salt!  Wow! I sure have missed Japan!  I love how free everything is.  You never have to worry about anything being stolen or people taking advantage of you.   You don’t have to be on your guard, you can just be you and love everyone and everything! I love it! And everyone is so nice and accommodating to foreigners.  We accidentally went into the wrong track and didn’t want to pay again and despite not understanding us, they just let us through! J You can ask anyone for directions and they really try to help.  Everyone is so childlike! Life is so simple and good! J And I think most of all, I have so many friends here! I could move back easily, but also know this is not what God has for me right now.  J

So what does Japan have to do with save each one?  It was the birth place.  When I first came to Japan I didn’t know what I was supposed to do here.  Just that I was supposed to come.  I was originally at a church and just loved it.  I literally could have died for the people there and I had just met them, but God said to go elsewhere.  At the new church, I was afraid I was going to be asked to leave again by God and was afraid to get close to everyone and put my heart out.  So I prayed for a week and asked God for the plan and told him unless I knew, it would be too hard to put down roots (now of course I have realized, it’s good to put down roots wherever you go for however long, because the opportunity of investing in others never comes back and you miss out).  So towards the end of the week, I got an answer – I was to go to 5 different places in Japan and share about 5 different things.  After making sure it was God and not me, I just simply believed it would happen.  How I didn’t know, but that it would, this I did.  I didn’t even have the money to make it happen, but God had said it and I was going to do it!  One by one in those 3 months I ended up at every place.  The 2nd to last being Okinawa Japan.  Through a misunderstanding I ended up staying with a family that I didn’t know despite someone else wanting to have me stay with them.  But this family ended up opening up the door to Cambodia.  The first night they found me in a crowd of people, how is beyond me.  They brought me home and we started chatting. I shared about how God brought us to him and they shared about their life.  They reminded me of my family.  We always had guests growing up and it was that same welcoming, make yourself at home feeling.  I loved it! The next morning they said their church did medical missions in third world countries and were always looking for doctors. Would I be interested in going. I was hesitant and they could see that. I had just quit my job and moved to Japan. I was going to be a missionary for the Japanese people, but to be polite I said I would watch their short dvd’s on the countries.  First up was Cambodia.  Now 1 month earlier I had met a missionary who had said she wanted to move to Cambodia and spend the rest of her life there because she loved the Cambodians. I remember thinking, good, I am glad someone has a heart for them (cause I certainly don’t).  What I love about God is that He isn’t harsh, but he shows us when we are wrong.  So as I watched the dvd God showed me so clearly that I had to go.  Tears welled up as I saw patient after patient with congenital malformations that only God could heal.  I knew I had to go.  The next dvd didn’t do anything.  So I said, I was going to Cambodia.  But they said the trip had been cancelled that year due to the pastor’s health.  So I said I would wait and go the next time they went.  The next time I went to Okinawa (about 3 months later) the pastor said they were going and he wanted me to come along!

I arrived a day before everyone else. I had to come from india because my cousin’s son was getting married.  The locals met me and took me to the hotel. I got to hang out with them and rest and watch tv (a true delight when you live without television).  At night I met the team.  And the next day everything started.  I already had friends because of the day before and everyday was a delight.  One day we had our clinic in a church and so there were instruments around.  One doctor grabbed the guitar, I made drum sticks out of the tongue depressors and soon we were worshipping away.  Clinic was filled with miracles everyday.

The first night I heard we would be seeing 500 patients a day.  5 doctors, 500 patients, that means 100 patients and since they are with translation, that is the equivalent to the time of 200 patients.  In Seattle I used to max out at 30ish and that was over 8 hour days. Here we would have 6 hours.  So obviously that meant, no praying and or talking about God, only doctoring J  I was disappointed but knew I was supposed to be a doctor on this team and so I would be a good one.

I am glad God’s ways are not our ways and if we only just submit, he does it all. 

I was nervous. I hadn’t practiced medicine in 1 ½ years.  Things weren’t automatic and this was a third world country.  So that meant that I would need to remember about TB, Malaria and other diseases I had learned about nearly 10 years before in medical school! But again, God is good.  The first patient had heart burn.  YAY! I can treat that. Said a quick prayer and off she went.  The next patient though was sick..  Based on all her symptoms I thought she had either metastatic cancer or TB in her bones.  As I was examining her I was talking to God and saying, “God, I became a doctor to help people, not to see them die.  If this (2 week) trip is going to be like this, I can’t handle it (emotionally). “  Here I was complaining and frustrated and sad.  But God already had an answer.  My interpreter interrupted me and said, “what your patient is saying is that as soon as your touched her, all her pain disappeared.”

God healed her and showed me that I may be a doctor on this trip, but really it was all about reaching this patients for God.  The next patient was a little 7 year old girl.  The nurse came in asking if I needed to see her.  She had a congenital (born with it) problem and so he thought it would waste my time. I of course was super excited after the last patient and so said to send her to me.  She came. I examined her.  She could only see shapes out of one of her eyes. We prayed, she could count my fingers. She was hungry. I told her to get lunch J  The next day there was a 15 year old who came and she couldn’t see anything.  She had lost all feeling on her face and I guessed she had a brain tumor, probably near her brain stem and so didn’t really think there was anything that could be done for her.  I said, “I’m sorry there is nothing we can do for you, but Jesus can heal you, can we pray for you?”  We prayed and first she could see my eyes. Then she could see me smiling, then she could count fingers and see that I was writing things.  I saw the long line of patients and knew I had to see more patients and so asked the 12 and 15 year old with me to take her into the private room and pray until she was healed.  5 minutes later there was screaming and they all ran out.  The girl was healed and obviously believing in God! I could share story after story.  But as you can see, God really helped me fall in love with the people.  I was forming lots of American and Cambodian friends and it was great! 

It was that trip I met Michael.   more on that next time!

I arrived in Japan last night.  The trip over was great.  I was sitting next to an english speaking person.  :) we said hello and started talking right away.  Ended up having an interesting conversation about God.  He doesn't believe because he can't believe people's interpretation of the bible.  Like many of the religious people he meets  insist the world was created in 6000 years.  He doesn't believe that given the scientific evidence.  So I got to agree with him and share how I when I was in Japan often taught on the possible error of this firm belief that maybe isn't even biblically justified.  That lead to me getting to share about how I started believing in Jesus and some of the amazing things He has done.  I failed to get his contact info, but trust God will do that job! At least he knows there is a christian who believes that the big bang and God can co-exist! :)

The flight got in late and so wasn't able to get my sim :( I am phone less but at least there is internet :) We got home near midnight and I was wide awake.  But this morning was ready to share.  I had planned a different sermon than came out, but that is normal and good! :) At breakfast a church member had come and so shared and talked there too.

He shared how he was a drug addict and read  book about a mafia guy who came to God and his life changed.  He wanted to meet the author and so went to the church he had started.  There he was changed on the first day! He went through ups and downs but is on an upward slope and is bringing others to church.  One time at church and his whole life changed.  Another member of the church told me a similar story.  He came to church and was a member of a buddhist cult that is very popular in japan.  I don't know why he went to church.  When he got there he prayed to accept Jesus and his life changed.  He brought two of his fellow former cult members and co-workers and they too believe.

I was really impressed with the church and the pastor there.  They have grown so much since the last time I was there! So much more mature.  He was telling me of missionary friends and acquaintances who during the post tsunami period showed so much love to a town that the government of the town is asking them to determine how it is rebuilt.  They are putting a church in the center of the town - the pillar of the community since God's love really touched those people.  When no one else was there to help these two guys were.

The service was great and then we all ate together and sat around and chatted for a long time. I had forgotten how good it is to be in japan.  I feel so at home here, more so than when I am at home.  So much love to give and people to help but with no pressure. It just comes.  I sat for an hour deciphering things a deaf member of the congregation was trying to sign to me.   I wasn't bothered but just impressed by he love the guy who was signing for other guy who actually wanted to talk had.  I didn't always catch on easily but he kept at it.  While I was doing that, the pastor and others were talking to the new people in church and sharing God.  Others were having fellowship and still others were making lunch so we could all eat together. 

nearly 6 hours after I got to church we left only to return an hour later for the next service and a preservice meeting.  It was supposed to be a youth service and no one showed, so it was the cook, the pastor and me.  So i changed my sermon on the spot and just spoke as I thought of things.  Theme - ask and you will receive and for the first time while giving the sermon I understood what the verse you don't have because you ask of your selfish desire means.  it doesn't mean you can't ask for selfish stuff but based on everything else I see in the bible and what I have experienced, it means God won't give you something that hurts someone else.  :) I knew i could ask for stuff but i didn't know how to explain it to others and now I do! :) thanks to God!

Got back after 8 and we ate.  Trying to schedule everything is a monster, but somehow it always falls together :) so while scheduling things and more people to talk to here before I leave tomorrow morning, the pastor and I had a talk.  He was sharing his views on male female roles in the bible and asking for my input.  So although my views differ greatly from his and I didn't want to get in an argument, I couldn't stay silent and said yes yes to everything he said and then said but I believe differently and said what I believed.  He countered, I countered. His wife added to my side and he countered and I said something and she said something and finally he agreed, a wife and husband are partners and a wife doesn't and shouldn't follow a husband's leading because he is a guy, but only when he right or else they both need to pray and follow God.  

Interesting days.  Only one day here and two controversial topics without prep done and I learned something! :)

Why am I writing all this in the save each one blog.  Because save each one started because I came to japan 7 years ago.  but that story will have to wait for another day. I have another busy day and need to get up early and jet lag needs to hit me so I can get over it! Have a blessed day!

We recently had our first medical camp since I have been gone. It was a huge success. Everyone was so happy and the students learned so much.  Our volunteer doctor enjoyed the experience and is excited to help them and the villagers of cambodia again. They are preparing for the next one now! :)  I'll post pictures soon, but am waiting for them to come.

God is good! I have been hearing so many good things from my friends and family all over the world.  One just wrote.  he used to go on mission trips with me and did everything I did for the last year I was in seattle before I left.  After I left I felt like he struggled a little.  But it was so good to recently hear from him and how wonderful he is doing.  He wanted to go to hawaii for a mission conference.  I told him since he didn't have the money it was a bad idea to go (unless of course God did His thing).  So hours later God did His thing.  He friend got him a standby ticket, another offered to pay for his entrance fee to the conference and so the next day he went! He missed his first flight by 5 minutes but the next one, someone was delayed on their connection and he got the seat.  He got there and friends were there to pick him up and he found out he had a place to stay for free! Then instead of 200 dollars for the entry fee, it was only 20! Also someone arranged for him to get his meals for free! He got to hear some of his favorite speakers and had a great time. The last day he wanted to go to the pool and swim at the 5 star there and it should have cost 20 dollars a head, but he and his friends got in for free! As he was leaving all his friends were sad and wanted him to stay a day extra. he did too, but he had to go.  Well, there was a malfunction in the flight and so he got put up in hotel by the airlines for 1 extra day and everyone was happy! :) God is soooo good!

Today I got up to a Facebook message from someone at my old workplace.  She told me she had recently gotten close to God and things are going so well for her.  She is sooo happy and it was just so obvious as I heard her share! God is amazingly good.

There is so much He does for us each and every day.  Down to even making things the right price.  I lost my warm woolen jacket somewhere in my travels this past year. I didn't even realize it was missing till i got to america and needed it.  I am going to japan in a couple of days and so needed one, as you have to walk a lot outside.  Well, once it was obvious I wasn't going to find it, i decided to buy one.   I went shopping with my niece and was wanting to buy a cheap but nice one.  Looked in one place and they had a price I was willing to pay but nothing fit just right.  Went to the next place and next and next and was getting tired and was going to give up after the next shop and just told God, "God I want one for 10 dollars. I know that is impossible and I will pay more, but that is what I want."  I went into the store and found one for less than 6 dollars! is that God or what! :) 

While I was in Seattle, i wanted tomatoes for a certain price and that is what I found! In my next location I have had prices in mind about fruit and household goods and its so great! God provides. I love how God is in the details.  

I don't know where your life is right now, but I just want to say, that God is there to help you! Nothing is impossible with Him! :)