Back in Japan

Wednesday, 20th May, 2009 in Camping

Hello Everyone! [Once again from Japan]

I know that much has passed since any last news, so here is my opportunity to give you a little replay of the things that have been going on since I finished the winter season and my first year at NORTHSTAR outdoor adventures. With much prayer, faith, and support, God enabled me to serve Him in Japan – sometimes in some unexpected ways. In both big and small, God has been working to expand His Kingdom, and here is a little about that work.

After we finished our Snowboarders/Skiers for Christ competition and camp, I was able to return to South Dakota. The camp was an incredible opportunity to share with our winter friends about a new life, an abundant life. I came back to the US excited having seen many unexpected winter friends willingly take Bibles home to begin reading for themselves. But I also came back sick to greet my family and be surprised by my cousins (thanks!) wearing a face mask like any good Japanese person would do. I’m sure everyone on the plane just thought I was being weird, but I thought I was just being Japanese.

A view of the Grand Tetons on my way to Idaho.

I got back to share with my home churches about the previous year in Japan, and meet with many people I had not connected with for a while. It felt good to see familiar faces and reconnect. Thank you all for what you shared with me while I was there!

As I was revisiting friends and family, I was also sharing about continuing work in Japan with NORTHSTAR and my missions partner GBIM. Though it felt good to see familiar life in America, I knew that God still had more for me in Japan. After the fall season, we had been discussing the upcoming 2009 summer. NORTHSTAR had asked me to consider leading the planned summer backpacking programs, and I was prayerfully willing to consider staying. God had already opened the door obtaining my visa, so we knew that there was more in store for me. My GBIM advisor Ralph has always encouraged me to see that God is going to use us if we are willing to be used by Him. By December I understood that God wanted to use me more here in Japan.

Together with GBIM, we worked out a new ministry contract to continue partnering with them as my sending agency to Japan. Fortunately, they were willing to allow me to continue as an intern only revising our previous years agreement to meet the upcoming needs and changes of the ministry at NORTHSTAR. What a huge blessing not to have to redo all of the foundation work to partner with GBIM and NORTHSTAR!

For the upcoming year, my work will become a little more focused. Like last year, I will continue to be an English-sensei in the same village elementary and junior high schools as well as teaching an adult focused conversational English class. The changes will come in my relationship to leading the summer backpacking trips called ALTITUDE [Adventure Leadership Training and Discipleship]. I am working on this together with my director Dan on how to best market, organize, and lead these summer excursions into the Japanese Alps this upcoming August. For the fall, I will as well continue to update and adapt our outdoor education based school programming. Over the year, I am also helping to grow and develop our staff care as an international youth adventure ministry. Those are some big projects, but God is changing us and growing us.

When I was in the US, I was very limited for time and unfortunately unable to communicate with everyone this new direction and my continuation of work in Japan. I know that it is through God’s blessings from friends like you that allow me to be Christ’s hands and feet in Japan. I don’t take that lightly because I know many of you make big sacrifices to support me, pray for our work here, and encourage me on this path. Thank you for blessing me to be able to be a blessing here in the community of Norikura, Japan to both the locals and those that stay with us here at NORTHSTAR.

Also, while I was in the US, I was able to have a couple other fun experiences. About half of my month in America was a road trip with my grandparents to Idaho for a wilderness first aid class I took as preparation for the summer backpacking trips. We had great conversation along the way, and we visited relatives I had not seen for some time. After the class, I travelled to Omaha, Nebraska to visit old friends and take part in a wedding. It felt so good to see many friends who had written and sent crazy gifts over the past year. Thanks for the encouraging letters!

Watch out! Snowshoes can really trip you up.

It’s now spring here as you see from the photos. We have snow another 500 meters above us, while here at the lodge we are unpacking the mountain bike park in our front yard while packing up the winter snow park rails and boxes until the fall. What a beautiful mix of colors, sounds, and smells this time of year is. It is the perfect season [unless you have allergies]!  There are some really neat things going on this time of year which I would like to share with you more a little later. God is doing some exciting things in this community.

Spring backcountry on Mt. Norikura

For the upcoming year, some important things to keep in mind and pray for would be:
• NORTHSTAR original camps which are part of our culture penetration ministry
• English classes which give us a foundation within this community
• Relationship building with local lodges/pensions
• Prayer and financial support raising for the full-time staff as well as short-term seasonal staff

These things are all part of the big picture of NORTHSTAR.
Some of my personal prayer requests include:
• ALTITUDE camp preparation
• Deepening of  relationships with several local friends who don’t know Real Life
• Prayer and financial team support building

I am praying that this upcoming year will truly be a life-changing season.
Brad

Financial support may be sent to:
Grace Brethren International Missions
PO Box 80065
City of Industry, CA 91716-8065