Here we are, back on the blog again!
We apologize for the long break in posts, we are aiming to keep this updated just as much as we update our other social media accounts from now on.
I will share some updates from the past year, and vision that we have in ministry and for our family.
Updates!
Some of the biggest changes for us have been moving out of the upstairs rooms at the dorm house, into our own apartment last summer. We haven't had our own apartment since we lived in Nago, and it this time the price was higher. It was a huge step of faith for us, and we definitely felt the strain of the financial burden. But, as always, God continues to provide wherever we go, and we are never in want for the things we need.
We have a second, although small, bedroom this time. So the kids get to enjoy having their own space together. We only moved a few minutes away, but it bumped us to a new city, Urasoe shi! We really like it, and its nice still being so near the church and Ginowan area. We had a smooth transition from city offices (transferring all your information can be stressful, but we have had great experiences with this city office).
Another big change, was replacing our little "mini-van". As much as we loved the car and the space it had, it was not reliable. We were able to get a Cube3 car (super Japanese car, in my opinion), that still fits 7 (although snug)! We have had a little trouble with it, randomly shutting off. But, it is still running and the AC is ICE COLD! we are enjoying that comfort this summer.
One of the biggest announcements that we have, is that we will be welcoming our 4th kid this summer! Actually waiting on him to come right now (already a week late!). We will be having our 3rd son, and though it was a surprise, it is a welcome one.
Just huge praises for God, we had just gotten rid of all our baby items when we moved last year, and we have gained back everything that we needed. Most of it for free or at great prices.
It fills my heart with so much joy to see how excited our kids are to welcome another sibling. Yes they all fight and get annoyed with each other, but they really are each others best friends. When one is gone for the day, the others are so sad until they return.
Eder's family will be making a trip out to visit this fall, bringing along some family members who have been wanting to see the island and ministry we do out here. We are very excited to visit with them, but also for them to experience what we do out here.
Some updates for the different ministries we are a part of here:
Eder is still leading the young adult/college age ministry. A lot of different people have jumped in to take turns teaching, and preparing events. It has really created deeper friendships for everyone at the church, and helped new people feel at home and more comfortable when they have come to a Sunday morning or Wednesday night study.
I have obviously stepped back a little bit from some of the ministry, in preperation for the baby coming. We are both still a big part of the worship ministry (Eder learned the bass and is currently working on learning the electric guitar), and the kids ministry, but i will be taking a break until the baby is more self sufficient.
God has grown a lot of the interns and students in their music abilities, and it is really blessing the body here.We are able to have leaders rotating for Sunday mornings/nights and Wednesdays.
We just finished our SOS (Summer of Service) program, and a lot of the students that came jumped in on the worship.
The kids ministry has been booming! Lots of kids bumping up from the toddler class into elementary, as more of the babies are able to join the toddler group. It is one of my favorite ministries, and i am so blessed our kids get to be a part of it here. They LOVE going to church, and i know its not just because they are getting to play. They are learning, they are growing, they are being taught and corrected in love as they all learn to play and do things together.
One of the leaders in kids ministry was sharing how she had been feeling down recently. Wondering if all the effort she put in was doing anything, feeling like she didn't measure up to other teachers.
But she was so encouraged by a text i had sent, and it really made me smile.
Our youngest son, David, is 2, and we were sitting on the couch. I told him "i love you!" and he shouted it back. Then i said "David, did you know JESUS loves you!" and he told me "yesss, (teachers name) told me Jesus loves me."
They remember what you tell them, and they remember what you show them with your actions.
Some new things we are looking forward too over here, are with the bible college.
Pastor Tommy always has the vision to disciple people, and raise them up to teach and to go out and do more ministry. This coming year, part of the bible college will be specifically a one year pastoral training program. At the end of it, those who complete it would be ordained and then able to go out and either sit on it and see how God leads or go and start a church plant.
Very exciting, and helpful. A lot of it would be practical, preparing for whatever needs might be there (like learning guitar, because you don't always have a worship leader right away). Hoping to see it grow and people attend and be trained up.
This fall, Eder will be teaching another college class. We already have students signed up and they will be flying in this coming week and starting the semester.
We were able to renovate and redo the upstairs kids ministry and college room/library. It looks great and was so needed. We were able to clear out what was unnecessary and make it more functional.
The nursery also got set up with a tv and can connect to watch a live stream for mom's that need to stay with their baby. We also hope to put a canopy over the stairs so when its raining parents can pick up their kids a little easier.
We also replaced the cafe kitchen's floor, new pipes and a drain in the middle to make cleaning easier. It looks like a restaurant kitchen now! Really fun for everyone at the church and college to see.
One of the church members has a sign-design business, and is really talented. They have painted some wall signs for the church that look great! I want to post photos of the updates in a coming post.
This year our daughter turns 6, and will be ready to enter elementary school this coming April (Japanese schools start in the spring instead of fall). We have been praying a lot, and feel like this is what will work well for her this year. Our hopes are that she could pick up the language (she is starting to notice how much she can't communicate with all her friends and people at church), and also have a good structure to her day and learning.
My original goal was to home school all the kids, and have them learn Spanish and Japanese alongside of English. But it has been difficult with all the kids being so young, so our hopes are that this will help and work for at least a few years, and then switch back to full time homeschooling.
Whatever way God leads, Elena is VERY excited to start school. She is so social and LOVES learning. She is excited to be a part of it, and to start learning Japanese.
Please be in prayer for her and for us, we want to always be diligent to make sure its aiding in her growth as a person and spiritually. We hope she gets a great teacher that invests in her and can make friends. We already know she wants to tell them all about Jesus, we just pray it would be a positive experience all around.
A lot of things are changing and growing, but a lot is the same. Just staying faithful and doing what God has asked us to do. We still pray that we can make it back stateside soon to see family and friends, and visit the churches.
God is always good, and we definitely see it every day. Things are not always easy, not always fun. But things are good. And every time we struggle or we wonder, God always shows us just how good He is, just how strong He is. We submit to Him, and know He has us in His hand.
Prayer Requests:
-our car (would continue running, we would be able to find out what causes it to shut off randomly)
-baby's birth and after (recovery, adjusting to four kids)
-Elena's school (she will be elementary age this coming spring-when Japanese school starts for the year)
-continued providence and guidance by Holy Spirit (ministry, family, location)
-upcoming semester/students: they would be ready to learn and grow and be stretched, the interns would have unity and look out for each other and the students.
-everyone's health
-that the Lord would afford Eder more time to spend at the church and cafe. he wants to be a bigger part of the ministry, but work takes up a lot of time.
-opportunities to minister and witness to our neighbors (Elena will attend 1st grade with our neighbors son)
-our growth in the language (especially for me, i foresee many mom to mom conversations in the future with the school)
We thank everyone who keeps up with us, prays for us, and supports us. You don't realize the impact and huge blessing that it is to us. You are a part of what God is doing out here, and it's not in vain.
We pray that everyone who supports us would have a chance to come out and visit this beautiful island filled with beautiful people.
God bless!
