It was cool to pick up the New Issue of "Christian Style" magazine and see the article on Pastor Tim and Rythym Unity 2008. Check out the pictures better by double clicking on them. I like the picture of the "Soap Box Poets" live action on stage. Praise the Lord for RU2008, the whole event glorified the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was a blessing to have Stomer visiting w2 tonight and help lead in worship with Pastor Tim. He did an excellent job and it is great to see and hear him growing in his musical talent. Daniel was totally suprised when he saw him tonight. He asked me "who is that guy" and I said "it's Stomer", he was blown away. Maybe it was the cool hairstyle and the new contacts. God bless you Yasutomo, it was great seeing you tonight.
David Barrios reinlisted into the Airforce and had to swear into the service by retaking his oaths. He asked Officer Paul if he would help with the ceremony. So after the Sunday service while we were all fellowshipping, we took a few minutes to be a part of this event with the Barrios'. It was a real blessing. If you notice in the background we had to have an American Flag present during the ceremony. Afterwards David had a few words to share with us and Ichino translated for us into Japanese. Congratulations David, we are blessed and proud of you!
It is a blessing to have the internet up at our house. The Dean's were able to call their family and friends in California as well as take care of some necessities online. The Lord has blessed them in their short time here on island. It is really a miracle in that their visas went through so quickly and they were able to register at the city office as well as sign up for health insurance. This week Josh will be meeting with a doctor to discuss his health needs which is a total blessing. They have experienced a bump in the road. They have been trying to sign up for cell phone service and are experiencing difficulties because the rules have recently changed for foreigners. Please pray that they will be able to get cell phones soon. Thank you for all of your prayers for the Dean's. God bless you, Pastor Tommy
Hannah baked Rob a special birthday cake, baseball cake that is. For those of you who do not know. Rob got signed with a new team. He no longer plays for the Samurai but he now plays for "Aniya Baseball". The cake says "Rob has Aniya heart", that means that he is committed to his new team. The commissioner of Okinawa Baseball is in the process of releasing Rob from his former team. Happy Birthday Bro, may this be a blessed number 26. Please leave Rob a birthday greeting below.
It has been difficult lately. Our internet went down in the Ruiz house, and with the changing of the Koinonia Cafe the new line won't get in until the 9th of September. The girls in the D house have wireless internet and the guys have limited access at their home. But the Ruiz' and the Dean's have had a difficult time. But again the good news is that Yahoo BB sent us our new modem and it is working! Praise the Lord!
Friday night Sosimo started a new Bible Study teaching the Marines on Camp Futenma. We have live worship, the teaching of God's Word and afterwards a fellowship, food and coffee drink night. Sosi blended up his own concoction using coffee, ice cream, ice, chocolate powder, whip cream and oreo cookies. It tasted pretty good, in fact it was delicious. Everyone had a blessed night.
Friday afternoon some of the students took Rob out for his Lunch Birthday. He wanted to go out to Pizza in, an "all you can eat" pizza place in Okinawa. All of us guys and gals chowed down. It was a real blessing. Happy Birthday Rob, but you at too much!
Friday mornings is our class "lectures in Ministry". It is a one unit class where the students listen to different guest speakers or watch DVD's on Calvary Chapel Pastor's teaching on some aspect of ministry. Today we were able to watch Pastor Mike Macintosh from Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego California, it was a real blessing.
On Thursday nights Rob teaches at the Bible College the class; Joshua, Judges, Ruth. The class is taught in English with Japanese translation. It is a blessing being able to develop the Japanese side of the Bible College. Rob and Andrew are doing a great job in their classes. We are blessed with the Bible College translators Tokito and pictured above next to Rob, Jiai. God bless you all, and all the Bible College Students.
Today begins the studies for the students in Japanese. It is a big class with enthusiastic students. Pastor Tim is a great teacher. The students are going to learn a lot........fast!
Andrew led in worship this morning and Daniel gave the devotion. It is always a blessing to gather for a time in the Word. We cannot take for granted this special time the Bible College Students have with the Lord.
Gershon is Married! Praise the Lord buddy, we are so blessed for you. Gershon got married last weekend, check out the beautiful church. Thank you for coming and being a part of the campus here in Okinawa for one semester. I still remember you calling her through email and seeing her on Skype. We are so blessed for you bro. Congratulations! May the Lord bless your marriage and give you fruitful time in the ministry. For the rest of us, please leave him a Marriage greeting below.
This week we celebrate Rob's 3rd Anniversary in Okinawa Japan. I can hardly believe it, 3 years. Time sure flies by when you are having fun. It is such a blessing having Rob with us here, he is a true example of a servant and what it is like to be a patient man. Happy Anniversary buddy, may the Lord continue to lead and guide your paths.
There visa approval came through! In record time! Some visa's take longer than others, I was totally surprised and blessed when I received the phone call from immigration. The went today and finalized the paperwork. But there is still a lot to do. They already registered in the city office, tomorrow they apply for medical insurance, get a bank account and purchase cell phones. They are on their way!
We are trying to move the meals over to the Koinonia Cafe now, and this morning Joel cooked up a mean pot of miso soup. Miso soup and rice, it does not get any better than this, also, add in the cup of coffee. After breakfast, orientation for the Bible College began.
Thank you all of you who made it possible for Melinda to be here in Okinawa to study the Word of God with us this semester. She arrived right on time, through China Airlines. Number one we want to give God all the glory for bringing our sister here to us, safe and sound.
The Lord blessed w2 (Worship/Word) last night. Trevor and Tom did a great job in the message. The afterglow was sweet! It was such a blessing to gather together, worshipping the Lord in Japanese and English. God is good!
We were looking at the old building, locking up the doors and just thinking back at the work that God did in the building. Then Tom Cotton blurted out "that ends that chapter". It took us by surprise, but he was totally right. This ends the chapter in the old buildings and now on to the new one. We are so blessed.
We had our first service this Sunday Morning in the new building. It was such a blessing! More parking and more room. Everyone was so excited. We took the tables out and set up everything church style.
She looks great! Praise the Lord! Pastor Tim let his wife cut her hair. Just kidding, Tim is a wonderful husband. Well, we are counting the weeks before this bundle of joy will arrive.
Saturday was Joel's 22nd Birthday. This is his second time celebrating in Okinawa. The call him "turtle" that is why Hannah baked a turtle cake. Happy Birthday Joel, please leave him a birthday greeting below.
Let me introduce to you on the far right, Jiai (pronounced; GI). She will be studying with us at the Bible College this semester. She is real blessing, she is full Japanese but is also fluent in English. We are blessed to have her with us.
