Behind Closed Doors

Hello again!

It feels like it’s been so long since I’ve written on this blog, but it has only been a week. Many things happened that has drained me quite a bit, but I guess this was a way for me to see how I would act in this kind of condition. From each encounter to each responsibility I had to do I felt like I just wanted to “close the door” in my heart, physically, and in my mind. I felt like I was shutting doors whenever someone tried to knock or come near me. I’m usually not like this, but some reason this week I have been like this and I don’t like it.  I have been thinking about the reasons why I am like this, but I really can’t think of anything. So, I am trying to “open my doors” both internally and literally. I realized something that has been bothering me, “what do I do behind closed doors?” Am I hiding? Am I closing myself off from the others? Maybe I am just over thinking, but I certainly want to share about my life and experiences with people in a deeper way, or am afraid that when I open up, it won’t happen the other way around?

HMMMMM…..

Anyway, enough of that. This weekend we had an event: Hawaiian Night! It went really well and a LOT of people came out! Not everything went as planned, but nonetheless, people had a good time (I hope). Here are some pictures from it.

(Jesus Soldiers + Tomoko-san!)

That’s all I could really squeeze out of my tired brain, today is my rest day, so I would like to just rest today. Have a nice day!

P.S. I went to Costco :D I felt like I was in America, but then I realized that there were only Japanese people everywhere. Hahaha 

Refreshed

父の日おめでとう！　Happy Fathers’ Day!

I just want to say that my dad is awesome; I am not just saying this because it is Fathers’ Day, but he really is. He is so talented, smart, has a heart of giving (even when he cannot give), and best of all, he is a follower of Christ. When my dad finally started coming to church about what…7-8 years now? I simply couldn’t believe such transformation and could only believe that it was God’s doing. I am very proud of you 아빠! I wish I could do so much more for you, but I am certainly trying my best. I love you!

This week was my first week back in Japan. I got my Visa!! Now I am back and ready to serve the people here in Japan and J-House! This week has been quite refreshing. I have experienced and seen things (that I always did before I went back to Cali) in a new perspective and a fresh heart. To not worry about what it was like before, but to keep being positive and to not be discouraged by what the enemy throws in my way. And as I was doing this, things just seem a lot lighter on my shoulders. I didn’t care if someone didn’t want to accept a flyer that I offered them, or if someone totally just ignores me when I ask if they spoke English. I feel like I can do much more when I don’t let things discourage me. So far, it has been working refreshingly well!

This week also, Sam Song from Cali came and it has also been refreshing for us Jesus Soldiers. He is here to kind of check out J-House and see if he wants to come back as a Jesus Soldier in September. He has a few very good options and opportunities back home as well, so the Jesus Soldiers and I are all keeping him in our prayers. He indeed brings a very refreshing attitude to J-House that we desperately need. It is also fun to have another guy in this lonely 2^nd floor. Haha :D

God has certainly been working, and I know that it is not only here in Japan. I am praying for my youth group and P. JP and Rebekah for their Cambodia mission outreach! I hope that all goes smoothly and even the preparation time will be fruitful and that their hearts will grow more and more for the people of Cambodia!

I am really hungry now, so I am going to out with Sam and Kyle!　またね〜

Perfect Timing

God, You have been so gracious to me. I don’t want to think of this time as “cheating” from my one-year commitment to Japan, but I want to think of this time as You showing favor towards me. My short time here in California has made me realize how special this place and the people are (not that they weren’t already special). Oh, how much did I take for granted, but I know that this time is not only just a time for rest, but a time for me to gather myself and refocus my heart and mind for the next 6 months to come. During these past two weeks, I had asked myself questions that I asked myself before I left to Japan the first time:

“What do I want to accomplish in Japan?” and “What is God trying/going to teach me during the rest of my time there?”

I guess my answer (I think) to that is to just have an open heart/mind as well as a spirit of awareness. Through doing that, I can accomplish what God has in store for the people of Japan and for me. I don’t want to think for a minute that everything I do there is by my own ability, because if it weren’t for God, I wouldn’t even have had an opportunity to go to Japan or have the gifts that I have for that matter, in the first place!

“Jonathan’s focus was not, ‘What is God’s will for my life?’ but ‘How can I give my life to fulfill God’s will?’ He had no certainty concerning his personal well-being, that he was moving in line with God’s purpose was the only certainty he needed. He didn't presume upon the fact that God can be trusted by trusting Him for things He never promised. He understood that to move with God is to accept a life full of uncertainties.” –Erwin McManus, Chasing Daylight

I certainly don't know what is ahead of me, but I am not going to just sit here and wait for something to happen. This journey, this time was God allowing me to go to Japan, but as for what I do there, that adventure is up to me to make it either very memorable and awesome, or it could be a very long 6 months. 

I am so blessed to have so many people here at home who support me and love me. Words truly aren’t enough to express how much I am thankful to all of you. I know that when I feel tired or weak, that the prayers you all send to me will push me and pick me up to keep pressing on!

I really enjoyed my stay back home. God’s timing is so perfect and now I believe that when I return to Japan, it will also be a time for God to use me in His perfect timing. I know I didn’t get to see everyone I wanted to see, I didn’t get to eat everything that I wanted to eat, but those I was fortunate enough to meet up with, thank you for making my short time in Cali so special :D I am currently in San Francisco finishing this blog up, but there is no Internet connection here…(only t-mobile.. bleh) I am also very thankful to meet the leader of the KCM team that will come out in a couple weeks to J-House, also Edwin and Sarah (Last years KCM team).  I was also able to go to a Graduation Party and also our Church’s Grad Banquet, but I think especially being able to see and spend time with my whole family. None of this was planned, my older sister happen to make plans to come to Cali for four days, my little sister came home from Syracuse on summer break, and I happen to have a Visa problem and we all came back home. Truly amazing, it has been so long since we all were together with our parents. Thank you God for that time we had!

Maybe all these things wouldn't have been possible if I came a week earlier or left a week early? I guess it didn’t really make sense why I had to go back home just to pick up a Visa that literally took 5 minutes to get, but I can truly say that I am blessed and that God really really really loves me!~ I know even when the road ahead is unknown, I can trust that God will provide for me! It may not be in a way I expect, but God’s ways are far better. Hallelujah!

Now…

Gotta go strong for 6 more months! がんばります！Bring it!~

Bye Cali (though you can't see the ground)

Hello humid Japan

SURPRISE!!~

Haha, some of you might be wondering, “What surprise?” Well, I am actually in California right now.  Why? Well, here is the story…

So before I came to Japan, I didn’t have all of my documents sent in to J-House, but I still went anyway; so as I was waiting for my documents to come in, they couldn’t start my Religious Visa process until everything was turned in and translated into Japanese. So when it finally came, the process began and things were going well, but the Japanese government started to become a bit more strict about Visas after I came to Japan. So when J-House told the Immigration Bureau about my situation, they told them that I was the last person who will be able to change a Tourist Visa into some other type of Visa (J-House has been doing this for quite some time, and the Japanese government finally told them to stop doing it that way). You are supposed to get a Visa from your home country first before going to the country you want to stay at. Did I know that? Nope. So now that everything is “finally” settled, I can just wait for my certificate of eligibility to come in and finish my Visa process (this was around February). 

Now, in March, Jesus Soldiers have a week off for break, and coincidentally, my parents were going to Korea at the same time! What an opportunity! So we arranged to meet up in 3/15. So I go and come back, however, I didn't know that before I even left to Korea, my certificate of eligibility has been approved. No one called J-House or even me to tell us that the certificate of eligibility was approved.  We received this after I came back from Korea 3/20. This wouldn't be a problem, but it’s just that when you get the certificate of eligibility approved, you cannot leave the country until the Visa is completed and in my hands. … … … what?!

So now, because I left to Korea, the Japanese government pretty much told me that I have to go home and get my Visa and come back. So to avoid going so far away, the J-House Secretary and I have been trying to see if there were any alternative ways of doing this. Ways such as going to a country closer to Japan like Korea, Guam, or Philippines, but that didn’t work out either.

So what else could I do? Nothing, just go back. So…here I am, I have been here for a week now, but I leave on the 14^th. I believe my Visa is ready to be picked up and I will either do that today or Wednesday.

Whew…

Other than that craziness, it has been pretty nice to come back home! I feel like I’m cheating because I committed to 1 year in Japan, but I guess God has other plans. It is a bit めんどくさい (Mendoksai: Troublesome) but what can I do? I just want to know what God wants to teach me or show me during this time. Maybe it’s rest? Who knows, but I will just trust that God knows what He is doing. Because of this whole Visa thing, all the financial support that I received before I left Japan is now all gone because of my plane ticket here. I will also trust God with this also. He has always provided, so why not now?

It was sooooo hard not to tell anyone about me coming back. Haha, I wanted to surprise people and it worked for the most part. Their reactions were pretty priceless. :D

I’m glad that I can come back and help out and encourage people as much as possible before heading back out. I really love the people back home, I just wish I had time to hang out with all of you.

Anyway…

I am at Rebekah’s place just chillin’. It has definitely been a while since I’ve been here, yet I feel like as if I never left. Not just here, but California in general.

I think I can understand what the saying “home is where the heart is” means.

P.S. Sorry, no pictures this week :( maybe I'll put some up later.. it's just one long update.