7th Year Anniversary

Well, it has officially been 7 years living here in Okinawa and time has just flown by. We are so blessed to be able to serve the Lord for these past years on the island. Hannah is now away in California starting CCBC in Murrieta and Zachariah is now living in Tokyo starting the Bible College. It is hard but amazing to see what the Lord has been doing in our lives and the beautiful people that He has brought to be a part of our lives. Thank you Jesus for allowing us to serve You here in Okinawa.

Huge Typhoon

This one came out of nowhere! It is a category 5 right now and it is supposed to be a category 4 when it hits Okinawa. Please join in prayer with us that it changes direction. It is also slow moving, so we want this one to pass fast. We don't want to take anything for granted, please join us in prayer.

A Dear Friend Gone

Today I found out that a good friend of mine, Brad Cooley, passed away. It is hard to write in words how I feel right now. Time passes by so fast, at one point you are talking and hanging out together laughing and fellowshipping. Then years pass by and you loose contact, you hear tid bits every now and then but things are not like they used to be. Life goes on, new people, new contacts, even different continents separate you. You remember when your kids were the same age, but then they too grow up and start new lives on their own. But you still remember the person. You remember hanging out, lunches, vacations, dumb stuff. When you are young you don't think about death that much, but as you get older you think of it more often; you realize that you are getting older and when you hear of acquaintances who die, it shocks you, but when a friend dies that is close to you, a part of you feels like it is gone too. Even though Brad and I were not that close in the last few years, you are going to still miss his tender heart, his funny laugh and his spontaneous actions. I love you Brad and I look forward to seeing you in Heaven. I know that you love Jesus and you are there with Him in His presence. I don't write this for you but really for me, to help me deal with the emptiness inside.

Prayer meeting at CCFuchu

After their prayer meeting they break for some evening snacks. That's the way to go, feed the spirit then the tummy. It looks like they are having a great time. Get some rest team, tomorrow morning starts early as you drive up the Sendai.

Logan in Tokyo

Logan has arrived safely in Tokyo and met up with the group. They are staying the night at CCFuchu and then they will meet up later at Higashimatsushima. The outreach is going to be a total blessing, Hawaiian style in Japan. Please continue to pray for Logan that the Holy Spirit will be leading and guiding him while here is here with us in Japan.

The Tohoku Team Take Off

They had an early flight out of Okinawa but everyone made it right on time. Please pray for the group who will be ministering in the Sendai area. God has great things in store for them and we are looking forward to the great reports. God bless you team, be blessed in Jesus!

Nikuman Party

Mei-Lee blessed us at the cafe and showed us how to make "Nikumans" they are bread rolls with different types of meats inside. Everyone had a great time making and even eating them. As you can see everyone is working away. I got in on the best part, the eating part, and they were delicious!

Happy Birthday Jon!

Jon turned 24 years young today so we celebrated with a cake after Friday night prayer. It is a blessing having him here with us. Please continue to pray for our brother Jonathan Piper.

Dinner at Mei-Lee'

Mei-Lee invited the Neeley', Natsuki, Megumi and the Ruiz' to enjoy her Mom's wonderful cooking. She used to have a Chinese Restaurant here on the island but now she lives in Hong Kong. This was a delicious dinner!

The Pallman' New Apartment

They are located right down the street from OCSI (Okinawa Christian School International). Their apartment has a beautiful view of the ocean. We are totally blessed for them, God is so good!

Packed House!

Wednesday night 242 (Acts 2:42) we gather for the Word, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. It is such a blessing to gather in His Name.

CCOki VBS

This is a picture that Tamiko took at the VBS at CCOkinawa. The College interns as well as the SOS crew are able to be a part of this group. They are having a wonderful time but they come back pretty tired. It is not easy running around with kids all morning. Just ask Keegan. Hey, he looks pretty good in that hat! They have two more days left, and then comes the weekend. Hang in there gang, you awards await you in Heaven!

Takoyaki Party Ginowan Style

It was such a blessing just to fellowship and get to know each other as we make takoyaki. The food was excellent as well as the games afterwards. Everyone had a blessed time.

Dinner in Nago

Pastor Tim knows the good places to eat in Nago City so he hooked us up with a good ramen place in the city. The price wad right and they also had "all you can eat" kimchi. Some good stuff!

A Good Day Paddleboarding

It was raining all day in Ginowan City but the weather was clearer in Nago City. At least until the early evening, but then it really poured down. But all in all it was a blessed afternoon.

Two Typhoon's Abrewin

They are both still tropical storms but Typhoon Eleven should become a typhoon in a couple of days. The good thing is that both of them are saying away from Okinawa. We like the rain and the cool weather, but the strong winds we can do without.

Japanese Breakfast

I was able to take Joanna out to breakfast this morning, we don't take enough time like this often. Well, this is what a Japanese Denny's looks like. We don't have Denny's here in Okinawa but this is the next best thing, it is called "Skylark Gusto". You see the sausage, egg, etc, but check out the little salad, and the big toast. You can either order toast or rice. I like the rice! Also, there is a drink bar, so you get "all you can eat" soup, coffee, juice, tea or soda. Pretty good price, pretty good breakfast.

Pastor Tim Raps it Up

Pastor Tim literally "wrapped it up". He helped MC the reception and put on a good show for us at the end. He has some good rap juice and we love to hear it in Japanese. Eder and Amanda are up in Nago now with the Newell's, the Diaz' Japanese is taking off! Sunday morning Eder taught the kids all in Japanese! Great job bro!

The Gushiken Family Performs

The Gushiken family are the most famous Christian dance group in Okinawa. Their whole family sings and dances traditional style Okinawan. The girls are a blessing and they performed for Eder and Amanda's reception at the Church. It was awesome! Check out Eder and the traditional garb. I am sorry I did not get a good picture, but you can check out Facebook, also if anyone has some good pictures give us the hook up in the comment section below.

Typhoon Ten

There is a Typhoon abrewin but it will not hit Okinawa or Mainland Japan. It will hit the Northern part of the Philippines and then will hit Taiwan and Mainland China. It won't be a powerful one, but it should bring a lot of rain.

Amazing Cake!

I have never just wanted to dive into a cake until I saw this one! Julie designed this cake for the Diaz' reception. It is chocolate frosting with white cake with Raspberry filling. It reminds me of a giant See's Truffle! Julie put in a little Mexican touch, can you see it................The Flag of Mexico!

Beautiful Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is prepared for Eder and Amanda's reception. Amanda loves sunflowers so we worked with that theme. It will be a blessed evening.

Jymbe Boyz

Live at the Matsuri; chillin hard. The guys are one core, not hardcore. Unity at the Urasoe Matsuri!

Our Newest Okinawan Girls

Don't they look beautiful in their Yukata's? They will never forget this night. Loud music, lights and don't forget the fireworks. Exciting!

Matsuri Gang

We are at one of the many fun Matsuri' here in Okinawa. This is Tatsuhiko, Jamie and Tara' first Okinawan Matsuri. There are Okinawan Dancers, music and fun. A total blast!

Visa Application Submitted

Please join with us in prayer for our brother Jon Piper. We submitted his Missionary Visa Application Friday and we will pray and wait for his approval. It is a blessing having Jon here serving with us.

August Tohoku Outreach

Please join us in prayer for the outreach in Tohoku. Pastor Travis is putting this together with the rest of the Calvary's in Japan. We are blessed to be a part of this important outreach.

Ocean Day! Japanese Holiday

Today is a Japanese National Holiday, Ocean Day! Only one problem; because of the typhoon we have an East/West caution and the water is labeled Dangerous. I have seem the water labeled "red" which means "don't enter the water" but never "Dangerous". So that was our clue not to go to the beach today. So we took some of the group to Memorial Peace Park. They learned a lot of Okinawan history.

It's loosing Strength!

The typhoon has blown by us with little effect and now it is heading to Mainland Japan. Thank you for your prayers because the typhoon is quickly loosing strength. By the time it hits the mainland it will only be a category 1 maybe 2. Now that can still cause damage, but not as much as if it was a category 4 like they thought that it would be. The power of prayer, do not take it for granted.

Saturday Outreach at CCNago

It is a total blessing to see the kids at the outreach that Pastor Tim is doing there in Nago. Great to have Eder and Amanda there to help in the new works that the Lord is doing. Please take time to pray for CCNago and the work of God up North. Jesus loves the Nagonians and their heart is to reach out with the Love of Jesus in that area. Please pray for the Diaz's that God finds them the right apartment that He wants them to have in the best area to minister. They are also in need of a car, so pray for those open doors too.

Simon Leaving Okinawa

It hits you really hard when you think about an old friend who was with you right from the beginning, Simon was one of the first guys to begin the program here at Teen Challenge. Temote started Teen Challenge around the same time as we began our ministry here in Ginowan City. In fact Temote brought the first guy who joined Teen Challenge to the cafe for our Sunday night w2 service. Shortly after the first guy came Simon, I thought to myself after meeting him, "I don't know if this guy is going to make it". But Simon continued to grow, even to the point of becoming a leader for the rest of the guys. As the Lord grew Simon it was quite evident that the Lord had a special calling upon his life. The Lord opened the doors for him to become involved with the Tohoku/Sendai relief up in Mainland Japan. The guys from Teen Challenge Okinawa began working closely with Samaritan Purse. Simon quickly began to be a leader and served well with them up North. Well, today Simon made the commitment to become full time with the Billy Graham Evangelical Association. He will be leaving Okinawa this Wednesday to begin full time making preparation for the BGEA outreach in Sendai next year.

One message can change your life, it did for me, it was one message that started the whole process of moving to Okinawa; On Wednesday nights we have been teaching through the book of Joshua. We were told that when the priest's put their feet firmly in the Jordan that is when the Jordan parted. It is when we put our feet firmly down in the work that God has called us to do, then we will see the waters part. We are going to miss Simon here in Okinawa, he is a special friend, but we know that God has great things in store for this brother. We love you Simon, God is good and He will do great things in your life.

Thank you for your Prayers

Prayer definitely works as the typhoon is going to miss us. But please pray for the mainland in that they will he hit in the next few days. It should loose strength but we cannot take anything for granted but bathe everything in prayer.

Haku rocks it Out!

They did a great job at the outreach this afternoon. Everyone was blessed! As you can see Rob was missing because he is up in Ehime. Tom did a good job of filling in.

Jon Piper is here!

He just arrived from Taipei. It is a blessing to have him back. God has great things in store for this brother.

Hakugaijin Concert at Uruma City

A bunch of bands gathered together put on by Mr. V at the Baptist Church. This place should be Rockin for Jesus!

Ustream live from Calvary Ginowan

We want to invite you to start seeing our services live on ustream. We will start tomorrow morning streaming our two Sunday morning services. The first service is English only, while the second service is English with Japanese translation. Remember, we are experimenting with this new technology so it will be raw before we set up our new sound booth, but it should be fun. This is our account http://www.ustream.tv/user/CalvaryChapelGinowan so please check us out. Our first service is at 8:30am and our second service is at 10:00am. Remember for those of you who are in the USA, we are 17 hours ahead of you. God bless you, Pastor Tommy

Witnessing at Mihama

Sharing the Gospel in the midst of the people. For Jamie this is her first time sharing on the streets of Okinawa. Jesus is real and can change your life.

Hannah doing good in Cali

It is a blessing to be able to talk to Hannah with FaceTime. She has been sick but getting over it. She is real busy serving at CCLivingwater and helping with Children's ministry. Please keep her in your prayers.

Chillin at the Beach

It is a beautiful day today (it usually is before the typhoon hits), so the SOS crew headed out to Araha beach to soak in the sun. They will return back to the cafe for lunch, and then their Japanese lesson. Tonight, we will split into 3 groups; one will stay back at the cafe for youth group, the other will head out to Mihama for witnessing and the last group will gather at the Ruiz's for a prayer meeting. A good Friday night ahead.

Thank You for Your Prayers

But please keep praying. The typhoon is changing its course away from Okinawa and heading up North, it will become a category 4 (5 is the highest) but it will loose steam as it heads up to Mainland Japan. We should get some rain, but hopefully not the high winds. The weather is beautiful today, and it should be like this tomorrow.

Wunderlich's in Ehime

Rika's family is from a small fishing village up in Mainland Japan. They are is also known for their beautiful black pearls. This is Rika's cousin eating at a local restaurant. They are also with two of her cousins but they are not in the picture. Have a blessed time Rob and Rika, we miss you both.