Summer Ministry

Summer has kicked off here in Okinawa: the beaches are open!!!

The Ruiz family is back, and the day after Tommy took us all out to Tropical beach to swim. It was nice, the water was a lot warmer than i expected it to be.

Then, we went up to Nago on Monday (it was Ayu's birthday!) and swam. the water is so beautiful out there...

S.O.S. (summer of service) starts soon, next month in the teens somewhere. We already have a couple applications from people, but usually we won't know until they show up here.

Already, we are preparing and starting some of our summer outreaches and ministries this week. This past Tuesday, i started teaching childrens ministry for a women's Bible study on the Kadena base. There were a lot of kids (35 in the older kids, and 18 babys and toddlers!). I am getting really excited for it, looking over the things i want to be able to do and teach them. The first time was winged (someone with the information had to leave the island suddenly), but it was good. The kids are really cool, i already like them.

We have 2 Kid VBS outreaches planned for this summer, which we are helping out at. The first one starts this Friday, with the New Life school. A group of us are heading over there are friday for the whole summer to help with the games and the skits. Then we have one with CC Okinawa. There might be one more, but i'm not sure.

Other ministries involve just helping at the church, and some extra childcare things, and anything else that comes up during the summer.

It is hot...i am sweating as i'm writing this. But it's really blessed, the sky is so beautiful (Okinawa clouds are my favorite), and the beaches are so beautiful. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that i live on this island.

God's really been teaching me how to (slowly) be busy in ministry, be busy about His business, but at the same time, take those moments, set them aside and cherish them; to spend time with Him, meditating and thinking upon His love and grace, His awesomeness and just to look at this beautiful creation all around me. It's really so peaceful, if the Lord wills, you really should visit this beautifl island, it's very wonderful. The sights, and the people too.

It's a good time, it's a blessing to live here.

My sister is getting to do a lot of fun things, and i get to see her grow in the Lord everyday.

Maybe, if your not already, take the time this day, to look around you and thank the Lord for the good things you can see. Sometimes, because the world we live in is so dark, we can't see good but only the bad in our lives. But, if you look, there is always good. There is always something God is doing. Thank Him for that, no matter how small it is. ^_^

God bless you,

-'manda

Arrival!

So, this past Wednesday night, my sister flew into Okinawa!!!! She made it!

we all knew she could make it if I could make it alone (i tend not to have the best sense of direction...).

So she is here and settling in, today it has been a week she has been here! She has gotten to help with children's ministry, cooking (lots of cooking, and she loves it!), and starting to practice some music for worship.

I don't have a lot of pics yet, but tonight we go to Nago to spend the night and then have a day of sightseeing, so i am sure some photos will come out of that :)

Here is what i have at the moment though:

I tried taking a picture of us all in the van...


I tried again...failed.


And the third time! dark, but everyone is in!


we headed down to the Peace Memorial Park (also Hime Yuri museum)

The Suicide Cliffs, where the generals, doctors, and others took their lives during the war.


It rained a lot that day.


me and allie


This is what the museum looks like from the outside. it's a pretty cool looking building.

It is pretty new, at first it was really just a monument for peace, with different things built around the area dedicated for peace and such. It's a very beautiful area, hopefully the next trip will be sunny and we can take a stroll around outside.

Well, we have church tonight, then Nago sightseeing tomorrow. The rest of the week is pretty normal. Thursday Tokito comes back from California! We are happy and excited to have him back with us here :)

On the 16th Eder comes back from the states, and the Neely's leave for the states. And the 18th the Ruiz family returns. Yay! we miss them all! It will be good to have a full house again (that is a good show too).

God bless you all, read your Word.

-'manda

SUMMER TIME~!!!!

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lack of updating, I've really just been lazy, and also a bit busy adjusting to a new schedual.

So semester ended, the students headed home, and the Ruiz family (head pastor here) headed off to california for a little over a month. So the few interns that are left here are adjusting to taking over duties and making sure things run well while they are gone.

It's been a lot more "Chill", but also some more responsabilities. I've gotten to take over some english classes, and also taken up more times to lead in worship here at the church. It was a bit nerve wracking at first, and a little overwhelming (i want to be diligent!), but God settled my heart and show me once again just how completely faithful He is and i really just have to keep on following His Spirit and i'm good.

He leads me every day, and guides me in things i don't even think to ask for it in. God is truely amazing.

My sister is coming out here this Wednesday, やった～！！！Please pray for her to have a safe flight, and to not be nervouse - God is leading her the whole time, and is right there with her :]

After that, there isn't too much out of the norm until SOS starts!!!! (Summer of Service)

We will be having some guys from Korea heading over, and maybe a couple other people (not sure yet who all is coming), so it will be exciting once they all start arriving. This summer is going to be great. It might not be easy, and there will always be challenges, but with God it is blessed, and we will grow. Please, if it comes into your heart and mind, pray for us all here and for those coming. We really want God to just move in us, and let Him change us.

Here are some pictures from the past couple weeks. Enjoy ^_^

Going to Kinser for youth group



cute cafe behind the Union store



The Ruiz family leaving for california

Buying a mouse-trap for our "friend"

Mihama, on top of Justco parking lot



Michal and Tokito, relaxing on their "Cruise" (we had a photo scavenger hunt for Michal's birthday)



Graduation night

M.E.L.T class, the outside addition



M.E.L.T again.

God bless you all.

-'manda

Okinawa~semester closing

Here in Okinawa, the weather has started to warm up, and the skies have cleared into beautiful paintings of the good o'l Okinawan clouds.




(Gecko building)


The semester only has one more week, we have finals, the banquet this monday, and graduation on wednesday. Things fly by so fast here...

These are some great sisters i am really going to miss (i feel cheesy saying Christian lingo like "sisters in Christ", but that's what they really are.)











(Fat family rejoicing with their fat dog) - this was on the envelope i got in the mail.


I got my first piece of mail in Japan! (that wasn't from the states)



Summer has started - because we've been to the beach now. :]


The sunsets are the best things to watch here from the roof and the balcony on our three story building. God blessed us a ton here.

We have MELT again today, and english classes, upcoming events, last classes, different ministries. please keep us all in your prayers, we really appreciate and need them. Thank you.

-'manda (God bless you)

LUNCH TIME!

This past Thursday, we had our first class of MELT at Ryu-dai university!

For the first class, we had fun games and snacks, and just had a good time talking with the students and getting to know some new faces.

(Mai eating her lunch, part of the "deal" in the class: M.E.L.T. = my english LUNCH time)

Most of the people that came were new students we hadn't met before. There also were some familiar faces too (good to see them again).

Jun, Yuka (or Yuko..gomen i forgot)

Natsuki and Anna (natsuki didn't want her face in the photo ahaha)

God has really blessed this ministry so far, it's really neat that I can be a part of this every week. The people we get to meet and help to learn english are priceless, there is nothing to trade for the chance we get to meet them. Just being a part of their lives, no matter how big or small it is, is completely amazing. This is what amazes me most about being out here and getting to do what God is letting me do. Sometimes i forget it, and i don't appreciate it when i get too far into making sure i am perfect in all I do. I miss it. But God always reminds me what it is that is amazing, and it's the hearts of these people that He wants to save.

The Okinawan and Japanese people are really unique, and have such awesome hearts and minds. Just their whole characters are so neat to get close too. God really keeps growing this love and care for them in my heart, i really wish i could see all of God's heart for them, He loves them so much.

Remember to pray for them when you think about them. They need your prayers.

God bless, more updates soon,

-'manda

So! (i usually start all these posts with "so"....)

These past couple weeks have been crazy here at the Bible college. Not too crazy, but crazier than usual.

We had to extend the school day to Monday and Saturday to cover all the classes, because other exciting events took their place!

We had another wedding, and a mini conference here.

This past week ago, Justin's parents (one of the students here this semester) flew in to visit him and celebrate his 19th birthday. It's been a blessing to get to know them (he looks so much like his mom!). It's really neat to be able to see into some of the students lives, really see some of the things and people that have made them into the awesome people they are today.

Two weeks ago (i think two weeks) all the guys were gone on a men's retreat, so me and Tamiko (dorm-steward/intern) took the Ginowan youth group (the girl's in it) up to Yomitan (Tamiko's native land) for a Bible study and time of worship/fellowship. We brought a sweet dinner (snacks and sandwiches!) and after picking up some famous Creme Puffs at a local spot, we sat down to chub out and take some sweet pictures.

Infamous Creme Puff shop (Tamiko's favorite)



View from the yard.

After that, we headed down to the beach for some worship (Thanks Hannah!) and a Bible study.

God has been putting on my heart to really be loving to EVERY person. If we say we love God and hate a brother, then we are a liar. If we love Him who begot us (saved us), then we will love him who is begotten (him who is saved).

Mariko!



Hannah: full of the Joy of the Lord.



Tamiko is the best translator ^_^



(We stopped to visit Tamiko's family and see their sweet house her dad designed!)

It was cool to be reminded of God's great love, and also that this is not something that is impossible no matter how faulty a person we are. We can do all things through Christ.

We have some people from our church that left/will be leaving for the mainland soon, so we threw them a goodbye bash this past Sunday night (really a lets-eat-cake-and-say-goodbye).

It is really sad to see them go, we don't like having to miss our brothers and sisters. But at the same time, it's super exciting because we know they are going out for an amazing thing. God is using them, and God is with them. We are blessed that they are blessed going out.

We stand behind them and pray for them. ^_^

Abraham is heading out too mainland for a new Job (i don't know what his pose is hahaa)



Tomoyuki! Tomo is the coolest! he drives a sweet scooter, and he draws and does photography, he is a good brother. your missed dude! have fun in mainland with your family! (he finished college here)



and Mariko, my only tall asian friend. She is the coolest, i really miss her. She has the sweetest/coolest heart from Jesus, i really enjoyed getting to see it and to watch it grow. Be blessed and so filled with Jesus while your attending college in mainland. God is going to bless you, even though times will get hard, in this new step you've taken. Keep your eyes on Jesus, we are praying for you ^_^

This past sunday, was Easter! So in celibration of the day our Lord rose and gave us that shining hope we live in, we all headed up to Nago where Tim was hosting a Japanese BBQ in his home! (now that doesn't mean things cooked on a grill outside in Japan). We were going to have it on the beach, but the weather was a little stormy and rained a lot. So we kept it indoors (praise God, the house they live in is a perfect size!) and it was awesome. Lots of people came, and we ate, had some live music (Incoming Rush, and Hakugaijin played acoustic shows!) and then had an easter message speaking about the whole reason we were there celebrating. It was super cool, and we got to talk to some sweet Nagonians (the people that live in Nago).

A cornucopia of shoes.


Hakugaijin playing


I personalized everyone's cups so they wouldn't get mixed up.

Now we're settling back into a normal schedule, until FRIDAY! when the students leave for the Korea missions trip!!! So everyone is buckling down hard for the second half of the semester, to stay ahead on homework. Time flies...~

God bless

-'manda