Tamiko's Birthday !

Thursday evening we celebrated Tamiko's Birthday by heading out to Kadena Airforce base and bowled the night away. It was a real blessing. We also invited the Japanese group, and they had a blast. Please click the comment button below and leave Tamiko an encouraging Birthday greeting. God bless you, Pastor Tommy

Sunday morning in Ginowan

We were so blessed this Sunday morning. We held our first service in Ginowan city and the Lord brought some people. As many of you well know, our heart is to minister to the Japanese people in our area, and some people came. Kayo translated for us that morning and Rob, Hannah and I led worship. On Sunday mornings we will be teaching out of the book of John. After the message I gave an invitation for those who would like to recieve Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I felt the Spirit of God leading me to give the invitation, the message just went in that direction. To my knowledge no one at that time reponded openly to Jesus. But later that evening the Lord did a wonderful work. One of the gals who came is Kumiko. She has been studying English with us for the last 8 months. She attended that morning service. Later that evening she went out with Yumi, to the sea wall, and Yumi led her to Jesus Christ. It was the first time that Kumiko has ever asked Jesus into her heart. The Lord began speaking to her Sunday morning and the seed was planted in her heart. Later that night, Yumi was blessed by leading her to Jesus. Praise the Lord! Please continue to pray for Kumiko, as she has been emailing Yumi stating that she wants to continue to grow in Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for us, that God will continue to use us in this area of the city. Pastor Tommy

This weeks prayer requests

God bless everyone! Last night we held out first Wednesday night Biblestudy here in Ginowan. It was a blessing that Mana was here and later her mother and brother arrived. Please keep us in your prayers, as we begin this new venture of faith. Please click the audio button below to hear this weeks prayer requests.

Olga Robertson and Frank Drowns

These are some cool pictures that we took at the CCMissions conference. In the picture above is Olga Robertson in the middle. Olga has been a missionary in the Philippines for over 39 years. She lives in the hardest prison in Manila, ministering to the inmates on death row. She is featured in the book "Heros" written by Harold Sala. Incredible testamony too long to write at this time.
On the bottom picture is Mr. and Mrs. Frank Drowns. He was the guest speaker this year at the conference. Mr. Drowns was a missionary in South America for over 37 years ministering to the different tribes. He was one of the friends of Jim Elliot, and in fact, he was the one sent in to recover the bodies of the missionaries who were killed. Frank, is featured in the movie "beyond the gates of Splendor", an incredible movie about the life of Jim Elliot and those who were killed in South America. Mr. Drowns was a great speaker, challenging us to go into the farthest parts of the world spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. He also challenged us as parents to send our children out and not to be concerned about money and education, but putting the Great Commission first and formost in the front of our lives. When you get a chance, click onto http://www.calvarychapel.com and listen to the conference sessions online, you will be totally blessed.

Zachariah's 16th Birthday!

Today we celebrated Zach's birthday with an all day event. We started the afternoon by taking him out to "King Kong Yakiniku". As you can see in the bottom right of the pictures there is a life size statue of King Kong himself. On the upper right hand side you see Zach eating at the table. It is really good food. You get together with friends and there is a grill in the middle of the table where everyone cooks their own food. The best part about it, is that it is "all you can eat". Well, later on in the evening we gathered at our house, and some people came over and Joanna baked Zach a cake. Pictured above to the left is Kodai, Kayo, Mana, Kumiko, and Joanna. We had a wonderful night. When you get a chance, click the comment button below and leave Zach a birthday greeting.

Audio blog "Back in Okinawa"

Hi everyone! We are now back in Okinawa, and we have recorded this short audioblog. So when you get a chance, please click the button below.

Bloggin in Taipai

Waiting for our last leg of the trip Hannah and I jumped on the computers. We have enough airline miles that allows us to use China Airlines computers. So, we started emailing, and I started bloggin. Again, we are in Taipai, Taiwan now, and we will be back in Okinawa soon. We love you all. Thank you so much, family and Church family, back in California for all of your love and support. Thank you!, all of you who joined with me in ministry while were were back in the States. Keep your eyes on Jesus, occupy until He comes, and let's joyfully continue to share the Love of Jesus with the rest of the world. Love, Pastor Tommy

Flying back from California

The plane trip back to Okinawa went well. We flew over 15 hours. We left LAX and headed to Alaska, which took 4.5 hours. Then after a brief 1.5 hour layover, we headed from there to Taiwan, a 10.5 hour flight. Suprisingly Asa did well, Itsuki slept most of the way, and the rest of the kids did great.

Ministry at CCLaHabra's Singles Biblestudy

Friday night the 6th of January, we had the opportunity to lead worship and teach at CCLaHabra. Mike the Single's Pastor invited us out to come and minister. We had such a blast being with the group there in LaHabra. We also brought a group from CCLivingwater to help in Ministry. Pictured in the center starting from left to right is; Pastor Tommy, Eli Jennings, Monique Salazar on gymbe, Melisa Joyce, and Itsuki Kudaka. This was our last ministry outreach before we headed home to Okinawa.

2006 Calvary Chapel Missions Conference

The Missions Conference is sweet! We are so blessed to be here learning and getting fed the Word of God. Each speaker has been great. Wednesday night, Pastor Brian Broderson gave a wonderful message on taking the message out to a dying world, being fervent in the proclaimation of the Gospel. We are still in the middle of the conference. Pictured above is Scott Cunningham (Left) he led worship for much of the time. Pastor Chuck is pictured to the right. In the center is Zach, Israel, and Royce. They were able to come and join us for the night session. After Pastor Brian spoke, we had a sweet afterglow service. God bless you all, Pastor Tommy

New Year's Eve Celebration

There are so many pictues to load, I just put up a few. We had a wonderful New Year's Eve celebration at CCLivingwater. We had a Christian Talent show night, and afterwards many in the fellowship drove to Steve and Jeanine Kwon's house. Some of us headed home. The next day, a group of us went out to CC Los Alamitos and led worship for Pastor John Greenroyd. New Year's day was also a blast.

Last day at the Hacienda Del Rey

December 31st, 2005 ended the last day of work at the restaurant that my Father and Mother have owned for the past 35 years. I grew up around the restaurant all my life. My first job in the restaurant was washing dishes and interesting enough, my last job there was also washing dishes. Zach has been working at the restaurant for the last 3 weeks, and he needed a day off, so Hannah and I worked a Saturday morning for him. Another interesting fact for me, is that I began washing dishes there at the age of 15, and Zach at 15 began his first job at the same place, doing the same job. Amazing! God has blessed my family so much here at the restaurant. For many, you know that the church Livingwater first held Sunday morning services in the Banquet room upstairs. Through the years, my father has blessed the church in so many ways that I cannot keep track.
In the picture above, Joanna is serving the customers waitressing. To the bottom right is my favorite meal, and in the middle is Joanna and Michal's favoite meal. (Carneasada burrito enchilada style) To the upper right is Zach holding down the fort. I am so proud of how hard he worked helping out my dad all the way to the last day. In fact, I am so appreciative of Joanna, Hannah and Michal, they helped my mother and father in so many, many, ways. Please keep my Mom and Dad in your prayers. My prayer is that my mother will grow in the grace and knowlege of Jesus Christ and my Father would come to know Jesus as his Personal Lord and Savior. God bless you all, Pastor Tommy

Dinner and Worship

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Friday night, we had dinner at Eddie and Monique's house. Afterwards we sad around fellowshipping and worshipping the Lord. I recorded this song for you to hear. Pastor Tommy

Directions to new Biblestudy location

After Thursday night Biblestudy in Delano. Pastor Gil was writting directions to the new location where the Biblestudy will now be held. For the past few weeks they were using an extra room in a local Episcopalian Church. But now, someone in the body has opened their home. We were totally blessed that night. After the message an altar call was given and a young man accepted Jesus into his heart for the first time. Praise the Lord!

Livingwater Video

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Hey everyone! We recorded this at CCLivingwater after the Wednesday night service. The guys were practicing for the outreach that they will do at the Coffee Depot on Thursday night. We had a good time messing around.

Evening dinner at the Joyce's

After Wednesday night service, the Joyce's (Segmon's family) invited many of us over their house for an evening dinner. It was incredible, they had lumpia, and empanadas (Philippino food) we thought that this was the main course. We found out that it was just the appetizer. The main course was Turkey, pancit, pork, chicken, rice, you name it, it was there. We had a blast! In the center picture is Segmon's sister Melissa, Dad Ben, and Mom Guiua.

Wednesday night service a CCLivingwater

We had a great time at CCLivingwater. Pastor Jerry gave a great message Wednesday night. Anytime we bring out the camera, the hams all want to get in the picture. What is cool about Livingwater is that after service, the young people jump on the instruments and start jamin for Jesus.

Clown'in with Quint

Tuesday night, Quint and Yolie Betts invited all the missionaries over their house for dinner. Yolie cooked a wonderful meal. So, Tim, Ayu, Itsuki, the Ruiz's, David Downs and Mario Mendoza all went over. After a good meal, Quint took some of them for a ride on one of his many dirt bikes. As you can see in the top picture, Tim Newell was holding on for dear life, while Itsuki and Ayu were having a blast. On the bottom pict, Tim is loving helping his new bride strap on her helmet. He loves her so much, he does not want to take any chances on her getting hurt. (Click on the pictures to get a closer look on their expressions)

Fun Tuesday with Itsuki

Today we had the opportunity to take a drive down the Coast to CC Costa Mesa and Hunnington Beach. In the center picture, this was taken in front of the entrance to Calvary Costa Mesa. Pastor Chuck a few months ago had this fountain installed in the courtyard. After we took this shot, we headed over to the bookstore and purchased some CD's. The picture up top, was taken at the Pier in Hunnington Beach. It was a cold afternoon and the surf has been high. Surprisingly, there were only a few surfers out there. It was Itsuki's first visit to the Southern California beaches.