Japan ERT BLOG (Page 4)

Lt. to rt.: Jim Haney, Jeff Muis, Bob Ameche were greeted by Lori Ameche at LAX as the guys returned to the USA. Mark Thompson caught another flight home and Mark Smyth is now in his homeland of Northern Ireland.

FINAL UPDATES

Mark Thompson shared with us this morning. We looked at a number of scriptures all showing us to trust in the Lord.  He is the One who is trustworthy and He never forsakes us. Lean not on our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge Him.  

We said “Goodbye", which was very difficult to do to our friends at Global Mission Chapel as CRASH arrived to drive us to Hitachi. God brought us to this place where friendships in Christ were formed.  We witnessed worship and prayer in different languages all at the same time and God knew exactly what everyone was saying.  An amazing God we serve. The group was standing in a heavy downpour of rain as they waved goodbye.  

Lt to rt: Jim Haney and Jeff Muis prayed with this 81-year-old man as he asked Jesus into his heart. Earlier in the mission the guys moved his large Buddha shrine. Afterwards he promised to read a Gospel tract.

We all wanted to share about our trip:

Mark Smyth:
What a trip I have been on with a group of mighty men who walk and talk to God everywhere and all the time! What has been amazing about this trip? All of it! I have been moved by so many things that there isn’t enough space or time here to get it all down. From meeting Angels and Pastors on the trip here to Fish Mongers and 88yr old Dancers and a Muslim lady translating prayer for us! WOW!! What stands out for me was Yogee. For a few days we moved his fish for him. He became a very close friend. (Now adopted as my new father and I am his son.) We spent a lot of time together and it would be my prayer that one day he would see the need of Christ in his life. I hope that the little time we spent with him has been a process of seed planting and that one day someone will lead him to the Lord when the Spirit calls!

Mark Smyth (son) and his new dad (Yogee).

Mark Thompson:
Two weeks ago God sent a team of ten men on a path to Japan with a mission in mind to help the people in the coastal areas hit by the tsunami and earth quakes.  We stepped on the tip of the spear and I was changed forever more. We prayed for guidance and God showed us the path over and over again. From the first day to the last, God has been with us showing us His mission.

Jeff Muis:
As I have been on many mission trips, it never ceases to amaze me how the local church volunteers/staff are so caring and serving to the multitudes rotating through their church.  Even though they lacked “one” person in charge, they diligently worked to one common goal, and that was to meet the needs of all the volunteers.  They loved on us and made sure that we were comfortable, fed (both physically and spiritually), and accomplished our purpose for coming.  As always, goodbyes were difficult.  Hugs and tears were in abundance. My prayers are this will be the first of many return trips.  God speed to “Global Mission Church”, Iwaki, Japan.

 Hideo now has Jesus into his heart.

Jim Haney:
Once again God has showed Himself faithful to His word.  We have seen daily answers to prayer, sometimes nearly immediately, as God has directed us through various situations that arose. He has stretched each team member, caused us to grow in faith, love for the people we have come in contact with, and humility to do all for God’s glory.  Simple things like sorting through mounds of debris for hours to enable us to gain the opportunity to pray for God’s blessings on the people we helped.  He bound 10 firefighters together in unity of faith and purpose causing us to function as one heart for His purposes.  All praise and glory be to God!!

Bob Ameche:
Like the other guys, there is so much to tell you on how God used a group of Firefighters For Christ to impact one small community of Japanese people. “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…” The one point I want to share is how God opened many doors for us, so we could pray with the Japanese people.  We worked for many people and we always tried to pray with them prior to moving on.  This isn’t the way it’s done in the Japanese culture, so we were told.  God had a different plan for these people.  We prayed blessings and hope for each person or family we worked with.  We saw people deeply moved by God’s compassion and love. For 10 days we worked and prayed as our volunteers from the church translated.  As we were leaving today, Sheme (one of the main volunteers) thanked us for showing them that it’s OK to pray with the people.  They didn’t feel the freedom in praying with the people in the community, but now they will.  It’s not about us; it’s all about God.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

We are traveling home today Wednesday 4-20.  We had our last devotional this morning and everyone shared. Many Psalms and a portion of Romans were read and discussed.  God has touched each one of us in a deep and personal way.  He has revealed more of Himself to us in different areas in our lives.  Our prayer is that we never go back to old ways, but moving forward for Him daily.

We have all left Japan and traveling home now. Your prayers during this time have meant more than you know.  We felt God’s hand over every aspect of our time in Japan.  Thank you.

Mark Smyth prayed with this 88-year-old dancer through a Muslim translator.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy to God our Savior…” Jude 1:24

DAY 11 UPDATE

Bob shared the devotional from Colossians 3:1-19   Daily put to death the old nature and live as the new creation in Christ we are.  This is a daily, hourly, and by the minute desire to place our Lord and Savior first in our lives.   Focus on Him constantly throughout the day by praise, prayer, song and adoration. Remembering the only thing that matters on this earth is what we do for Christ.

Today is our last work day and after the briefing, off we went to city of Hisanohama to move trash and debris.  Our friend Yogee, showed up at the church this morning and stayed with us all day.  God is at work and doing something in that man.  We had a large group and we moved through large piles of trash, cleaned drains, broke up and removed a number of fallen block walls.  We prayed with one family when we finished and the older ladies were crying.  When you look at these huge debris piles on their property and in their house, it must seem like a job that is too big to finish.  Then, we come in as a team and move mountains for them.  It's a good feeling helping people in need and then having the opportunity to pray blessings over them.  

Now for the best part of the day.  You remember Hideo, our big quiet man that is always taking good care of us.  We invited him up to our sleeping area and shared the love of Christ Jesus with him. We told him how Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave to conquer death on our behalf.  Salvation is the free gift from Christ that we can't earn or work for, but only freely accept it.  He was a buddhist until last night. Hideo's name is now written in the book of life, he accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. What a glorious time.  
God brought a team of Firefighters from the US and Ireland to sit down and share the gospel with a Japanese man in the third story upper room in the city Iwaki.

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will..." Ephesians 1:11

Bob

Sunday Morning April 17, 2011

The Sunday morning church services at Global Mission Chapel are held in an upper room because the sanctuary is filled with relief supplies. It truly lives up to its name because there were representatives from Switzerland, Brazil, Vietnam, Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Moldova, Peru, United States, Philippines, and even Japan. Worship is unique in this international environment, and maybe a glimpse of what it will be like in heaven. Please pray for Pastor Mori, pictured on the right, as he and his wife minister to wall to wall people from around the world, who are living with them at their church. Ephesians 3:20-21

DAY 10 UPDATE

That Lord shook us awake this morning at 6:00 with a series of three gentile earthquakes to make sure we were awake.  It seems He rocks us to sleep at night and shakes us awake in the mornings.   He is so kind. 

Jeff led us in our morning devotions and took us through Psalm 33 focusing our hearts and minds on the Lord, how fitting it is to praise Him with singing and music, His faithfulness, His mighty acts in creation, and how blessed we are as His people. 

After a time of prayer, we discussed people we have seen in the last couple of days that we feel the Lord is laying before us to minister to. 

Today is a day of rest at the church.  After breakfast we helped with setting up the living/dining area to a church.  Church service is held in 2 languages, Japanese and English, for us.  

We found ourselves catching up on well-needed sleep and recovering from our colds.  In the afternoon we went for a walk around the neighborhood and through the blooming cherry trees. Beautiful trees when they’re in bloom.  We stopped in at the concert theater to visit with our 88-year-old friend.  We didn’t have a translator with us to talk with our friend.  We ran into a woman who spoke Japanese and English and asked her to assist us with translating.  We found ourselves sharing God’s love for this woman thru a female muslim translator.  I’m not sure if all we were trying to tell our 88 yr old friend was being relayed accurately or not, we’ll trust God for that. 

Mark Smyth had the opportunity to go to sushi with Yogee and Seemee.  We have our plans and God has His.  It didn’t go like we thought it would, Yogee accepting Christ as his Savior, but seeds were planted.  Yogee opened up with Mark on a personal and intimate level of his life.  Yogee came back to the church and sat through a prayer session. 

The night’s prayer session was great.  Listening to all of the different languages praising and praying to our Lord and Him understanding each and every word. Awesome.

We had a couple of good size earthquakes last night reminding us that we serve a mighty and powerful God.

Prayer needs:
Our last day of work and sharing with Hildeo, salvation
Trash man, an opportunity to share with him
Yogee, our last meeting with him this morning, salvation
Church leadership

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" Ephesians 6:19
Bob

DAY 9 UPDATE

Mark Smyth led us during our morning devotional from the Book of Daniel, chapters 1, 3 and 6. I'll share the beginning of our devotion; An earthquake shakes the foundation of our security, a tornado blows away a lifetime of treasures, an assassin's bullet changes national history, a drunk driver claims an innocent victim, a divorce shatters a home.  "Where is God?" we cry, engulfed by sorrow and despair. Twenty-five centuries ago, Daniel could have despaired. he and thousands of his countrymen had been deported to a foreign land after Judah was conquered. Daniel found himself facing an egocentric despot and surrounded by idolaters. Instead of giving in or giving up, this courageous young man held fast to his faith in God. Daniel knew that despite the circumstances, God was sovereign and was working out His plan for nations and individuals. The book of Daniel centers around this profound truth—the sovereignty of God. Despite news reports of personal stress, we can be confident that God is in control. Our security is in his sovereignty.   

Today we were teamed up with a group about 30 believers who arrived on 2 buses.  The work force was strong and moved through the debris and concrete at lightning speed (actually the lightning came a little  later).  One worker stepped on broken glass and cut his foot.  He was wearing a tee shirt that said, "praying for Japan" with a person's arms spread out to the heavens. While being treated at the local hospital, one of locals was overwhelmed with his tee shirt knowing that outsiders are here to help and pray.  Glory to God.  
We cleared many yards and homes, including a Japanese Tea House.  We cleaned rocks, moved dirt, broke block walls that had fallen down, sifted through trash and sorted it and we touched a number of lives for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  God's favor is with us as we share, talk and pray with people.

We had MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat or for some Meals Rejected by Everyone) for lunch and we gave our second lesson on how the eat them. It was very entertaining. During our lunch, we watched the sky turn dark and it rained, hailed, lightning and thundered on us. This ended our outside work.

We returned to the church and met with Yukie. She seems to run the facility and the key people we work with.  We tried to suggest some ideas on how to divide up some of the daily duties to the volunteer groups instead of carrying the burden herself. I'm not sure if our meeting was fruitful, but we tried.

Our team walked to a concert theater close to us.  The theater is used as a shelter for displaced families, about 150 people.  Another church group drove up to serve the food.  While en-route, another aftershock hit and the highway was closed. The trip normally takes a couple of hours. Today it took the group 2 additional hours. We helped with the serving and talking with the people who live in the shelter.  We meet an 88 year old woman who was a treat.  Mark Smyth was talking with her and she said she was a dancer. So Mark, asked her to dance.  Mark was on his knees while he was talking with her and she stood up and Mark was still taller than her.  She grabbed Mark's hand and held it the entire time Mark sat with her. She won our hearts. We plan on seeing her tomorrow again.  

Mark S. has been invited out by Yogi (pronounced Yogee, is our fish  man) to go to a sushi place for dinner tonight.  Yogi came to the church two nights ago for dinner and stayed a couple of hours.  He has taken a liking to Mark.  Our driver/translator Yuko, will accompany them.  Pray with us that this will be a time that may provide an open door for Mark to present the gospel.

Our team has developed a burden for Hideo.   Hido is big quiet man who came to help at the church. He sleeps downstairs in the supply warehouse (the sanctuary). We were told he's not a believer, but he is a servant.  We have found favor with him and he takes really good care of us throughout the day and night.  His servant's heart puts mine to shame.  He is a wonderful example of how I should serve.  Pray with us for an opportunity to lead him to Christ.

There are also a couple of teenage girls who are not Christians that have been participating in the activities at the church and going to the shelters. We felt led to pray for them and look for an opportunity to present the gospel to them personally.

Prayer needs:
Mitesko, the 88 year old woman's salvation
Rest for the Church leadership
Hidio salvation
the High School girls, I'm sorry I don't know their names
Yogi's salvation

The Japan Team

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