Japan Prayer Requests

I can't believe briefing is next week! So excited for Japan! Briefing starts on the 24th and we leave for Tokyo on the 27th! Please pray for:

--Breakthrough in Japan!!! (yes!) - With 127 million people in Japan, and 0.7 percent of those being Christian, Japan is the largest un-reached people group in the world. That will change as laborers are raised up to share with this dying nation. Many have never even heard the Gospel.

--For wisdom and guidance for our project leaders: Darrin and Vivian Mabuni, Tricia Kavle, Joshua Morey, Brittany Wong, Steph Cheng, Nich Beebee, and Wayne Katayama.

--For all of our final support to come in.

--For our team to be united and to represent Christ's love in our body - There are a total of 40 of us from all different schools in the U.S. Most of us are meeting each other for the first time next week. We'll be split into two teams: one going to Tokyo and Nagoya. I'll be on the Tokyo team.

--For boldness and compassion for us as we share the Gospel of Christ.

--For many Japanese souls who will meet Christ through us, that God would prepare their hearts now to hear the great news of His grace and that the Holy Spirit would illumine their hearts to know how great His love is for them.

--For Japanese staff as they prepare to host us in Japan, that we would be a blessing to them.

Thank you for your partnership with me in the Gospel for the glory of God!

Help Build a Well.

Time hit me...

It hit me today that I graduated. I cried tears of sadness mixed with joy and gratitude. What an amazing season of growth. God is so faithful!

UCLA Alum...

I can't believe that I graduated yesterday. It feels strange when I tell people that I'm a college graduate. It's like I'm a real grown-up now or something. That's strange. I haven't really processed all of it yet in the midst of all the craziness of the past few days. Time flies by so fast. Maybe one of these days the reality of it will hit me in the face.

The News.

It's where beauty and death are one.
The sun rises.
They fall
From the jagged edge
Of sunset.
He talked, I listened:
Hope for my wife and children.
Flowers sat on the road.
Letters from the government haunt him
Forever.

It's where innocence and death collide.
Where children once laughed,
Parents shout
From the anger that replaces grief.
They fall
From the unstable walls.
Dust and ashes.
It's all rubble.

I watched the news today.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/06/10/lah.japan.suicide.cliff.cnn

Why Can't You Just Be Real?

Why can't you just be real?
I don't want to see a mask
Or a painted face full of securities.
Why can't you just peel
Off your made up skins?
I only see one dimension.
Let me see what's deeper
What's inside
What hurts.
You're afraid of me.
I'm sorry.
Onions make me cry.

Words of Wisdom from Bach.

So as I was lying down on the floor due to back problems, I noticed this quote on my wall which I have ignored for years:

"The aim and final end of all music should none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul."

~Johann Sebastian Bach

I think when I bought this poster in 7th grade, I bought it because of the pretty picture of the piano, not even realizing the gravity of this statement. And 8 years later, it has hit me.

God works in funny ways. He understands us so well - how forgetful we are.