We want to thank everyone for their amazing response!  The whole process of Tina’s dad being sick, sudden heart attack, and passing away.  It has been so hard for us all.  Tina’s mom strongly believes that as she shared the gospel one more time with Masaji (Tina’s dad) that he clearly responded through his eye movement (though he could not talk).  How I wish he had responded years ago but ultimately salvation IS in God’s hand.  Whether it is the convict on the cross or the last hour “worker”.  It is in God’s hands.  Hear are some heart provoking pictures that show a little of our journey.

The soldier remembered

Tina in mourning

Affecting the whole family

What a response!  Thank you.  Your kind words and prayers are appreciated.

Shibata family

Hirano San

Hanging with kids

A play on words and some creative mathematics.  Here is your Japanese lesson for the day!  1 plus 1 = Nippon.  1 (or Ippon) plus 1 (Ippon)= 2 (ni-hon or nippon).  A little confusing yet logical?  Isn’t 1+1=2?  How can we reach Japan ONE PERSON (1) reaching ONE PERSON (1) thus REACHING JAPAN (Nippon).  It ONLY takes one person at a time living deliberately, depending on God, refusing to give up in this desperate nation.  YOUR prayers for us allow us to be a place of hope.  Pray for Shibata san whose wife’s name is Ruth (her father or grandfather was a Christian).  Pray for Hirano San who helps us as a mountain bike guide.  Pray for staff like Seth who invest in the lives of those love adventure.

1+1 = Nippon.  Please remember that.  Please pray for Japan!

AJ Jamming

MJ Jamming

We do not become culturally relevant when we become like the culture, but rather when we model what the culture hungers to become. – Bill Johnson in Dreaming With God

When I read it, I immediately thought of Northstar and the vision you have for this place!  Betsy

Just recently, I took little Zeke (Seth and Hannah’s boy) on the bus with me.  He pretty much equates the bus to me.  You know how boys are with buses, bulldozers, and cars.

Zeke … all smiles

Loading MTB bikes

Hannah (mom) sending Zeke off

One of my favorite things is being an “uncle” to the little kids of Northstar’s staff ~Lyon, Ann, Zeke … they are the ones that keep our priorities straight.  We get so busy and sometimes just full of ourselves.  Life is important but we have a way of not seeing the beauty in the moment, in the smile, in the simple things of life.  Little ones are the future and Christ says that we are to come as children ~ simple, smiling, depending.

Staff with SFC

This winter we will be having staff come from …. Switzerland, Finland, Australia, America and …  Staff coming from Grace College, YWAM Davos.  What a privalege and a challenge to train, disciple, encourage…  Northstar is a VERY HARD JOB but meaningful.  Will you pray for …  Ben Pulsha, Tom Sellwood, Tyler Boyd, Tim Hille, Grace Bader, Michael McQuarrie, Daniel Taipele, Brittany Taekama, Christine Ellis, Roman Naef, Tanner Taef, Anni,and many more (the YWAM team we don’t know yet).  *Click the picture … a picture speaks volumes!

Tired!

Who will step out?

Culture says NO!

Isn’t it easy to just say … it is too big!  I am afraid!  I can’t do it!  I am too small!  Who am I?  It is too easy to listen to the voice of “logic” that is “goliath dominated” versus listen to a “God dominated imagination.”  1)  We are trying to penetrate a culture that has not been responsive.  2)  We are starting a new season and a new year, many fears.  3)Churches deciding their budgets and we are askingyou pray for us as we send bold emails to churches we visited  We are asking them to consider us during this difficult time, we are asking them to share this massive vision that is way beyond Dan Junker.  Thanks for praying.

Wow, it has been one year!  It was a year ago when I went to the doctor, found out I had cancer, was told I had as short as 6 months to live.  It was a year ago when I looked at my family and realized that I would possibly not be with them in the near future.  It was a year ago, when we as staff gathered together and shed many tears.

How I want to thank you for being with us during this year!  Your prayers were and are huge!  Life is short but our Lord is eternal.  To celebrate life, we have tied up with LIVESTRONG which is Lance Armstrongs NPO that raise funds and awareness for cancer and this past week we had our first LIVESTRONG~Norikura Century.  The cycling event covering 100 miles/160 kilometers of epic terrain was challenged by about 20 cyclists who experience many trails, great terrain, and simple pleasures of riding a bike.

Dans Hammering It

With Uchiyama San

LIVESTRONG

This celebration of life is so needed in Japan where we are taught to say “nothing can be done.”  We need to be beacons of light, hope, joy … of full life.  In this event I was able to ride with cyclists, encourage them, challenge them, push them.  Uchiyama san (pictured) and I road for a couple of hours and I eventually found out that he used to go do Sunday School.  We got talk about God, hope, and challenge …  Cycling is a great tool to “chill with the guests.”  Thanks for praying for me and my family.  We know it isn’t over yet but we have our hope in HIM.

Michael

Zeke, the dog

Anthony chilling

It isn’t often that I get family time … Northstar is so busy and then you add in the economy!  Yikes!  My staff and I are working so hard to make ends meet and time is hard to find.  But I was able to spend 5 days with my family near a cool little mountain lake called NOJIRI.

We had good meals together, swam together, and even “tried” to play golf.  Now golf is NOT my game but as we tried we did accomplish one thing!  We laughed and laughed.  We laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes.  Swing. Miss.  Swing.  Lost ball.  Swing again.  You get the story.  Well, we will never be the next Tiger Woods but I pray that we will have an intact family in the future!  That is better than being the next TIGER, Amen?  Amen!

Yah, there has been quite a bit of stress about this.  I have sensed tension between Tina and I … especially Tina is feeling the brunt.  We are working super hard to save and that means no flex but what else can you do?  Yes, we are forecasting a famine!  That right.  As far as we know, we will possibly be having not contract with the local government to teach classes.  This outside source of income has been our primary source of funds and … well, cuts just happen.

We have only 1/10 of our support raised but God will provide!  Will you pray?  Would you even support us a little?  We know that funds are so tight but through your prayers and kindness it can happen.  Our contract will be over in March and then we will have some flex saved but after that we don’t know ….  Thanks for praying and giving!

Did you see the article in the newsletter for GBIM (Grace Brethren International Missions)?  There was Anthony and Northstar’s ministry as a key article!  Sick!  (By the way, “sick” in this case means super cool … it is not a bad thing)

Anthony is still progressing in snowboarding and will be going to Colorado this December to train!  As he grow up, may he strive to become a man of God ~ a man of principles.   Thanks for praying for my family.