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.

When I get letter’s like this, I am reminded of why we do what we do!  Investing in lives, being an agent of change and remembering that “humanly it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Here is a letter from a staff who spent the winter with Northstar and this reminds us all of what we are investing in …   Please enjoy!

Anni before a snowboard lesson

Anni acting crazy behind Seth

Anni and Michie

“…coming back to Northstar has been in my mind ever since I left there, the three months there last season was one of the best times in my life for sure. I also want to thank you for that, because I learned so much in those three months, about life, about myself and especially about God. It’s been so good to live here in Finland too with all those things I learned in mind, and learning more and more about how to serve God in everyday life all the time. The Bible you gave me has been in lots of use too, so thanks again!:)  ….”

Your investment in Northstar allows us to touch people all over the world.  We can’t do it alone … your prayers and love allow us to serve many and penetrate into the darkness Satan has brought about.  THANK YOU!

I sent an email about a potential staff by the name of Seiya …  Seiya is a young man who really represents who Northstar is trying to reach… youth, un-churched, at risk, and snowboarder.  Well, he has given himself fully to the Lord and had been seriously considering going into full time ministry.  Since Seiya had been on seasonal-winter staff we wanted him to be part of our team but then the economy just hit us hard … and this is a letter he wrote.

…. snowboarding

and the boys

Seiya

“Well this is first time to write some thing like this on e-mail so I dont really know how to start off but when I heard from Yamaken about the fact that NS is going through really hard times,  I didnt really surprised …. 

I know that all of my friends are making tons of money, have sick cars and cool stuff and it might be easier for me to live here and make tons of money to have a “GOOD LIFE”.  BUT working at NS to me is some thing that I really love to do. I know its really hard to work there like crazy hard!!! and struggle a lot but its a place for me to grow up a lot in God and I can actually see God’s work through NS.. and its some thing that I cant really see and feel here in okayama or some where else..?

And as I told you before that I’ve seen NS for really long time maybe not that long time like 5 or 6 years. that makes me feel I’m a part of NS a lot.  And even much stronger when Iworked with the mountain last season. I’ve seen so many changes in NS and local community. and now I really wanna know how God is gonna work to this community through NS. really wanna make NS better with you guys and better snow park every year bring more shredder to get to know God. cos thats some thing that I really wanted to do since when I became a christian. and NS is the only place that i can do it… ?

Maybe I wont be make good money, buy cool stuff to be a steezy japanesy , and not be able to go finland that often to see my girl friend hehe (Anni)…. but I really think its much better than doing some work that I dont even like to do. and not working for God.. and i know its gonna be super hard to trust in God 100% all the time for me. but i think i can do it cos of you guys are there too, to be around of good Christians makes every thing super easy you know?”

And so went Seiya’s letter … isn’t it amazing that a young man is willing to give his life for the Lord, to serve, to pay the price.  I say this over and over, how blessed I am to have SUPER STAFF who a passion for Christ, youth and adventure.

I am so blessed to have a family that transcends cultures, a country’s boundary, and bodies of water!  To realize that we are not alone!  Please enjoy this short email from a former staff …

 

Justin from Singapore ... on this mountain bike

 

 

“I have been true to what I said before about saving some funds aside in support of mission work in Japan and Northstar. My heart is very much with all of you at Northstar.

Please let me know as I should be able to help and would gladly like to do so. How can I not help people that are like my second family eh, old-man?

Warmest Hugs for the old-man, Jus.

One of our biggest challenges as Christians and “outsiders” is the question “How do we share our faith?”  Friendships occur and relationships deepen but often it is “hard” to share.  I remember going to my friend ~ Ryoichi’s house to spend time but to also share with him out HIS love.  Even though I tried, the conversation didn’t progress.  

Tonight,  my family and I  will be having dinner with a long, lost friend.  A friend who used to study the Bible with me.  YUJI SAN and I used to be great friends but something happened to dampen our friendship.  We are so stoked to be having dinner with him and his family.  Pray that God will work in a special way, that the relationship will be restored.

Yamaken and Anne

Pizza Party

Little Anne

Mama Yoriko

Yamaken Family

What a story!  Yamaken (Yamaguchi, Ken) and his family have become such a key part of Northstar.  Just to think of how God brought him to Northstar blows me away.  The journey~ being an avid skier, working in the ski/sports industry, going to Bible college in New York, being a youth pastor, visiting Northstar as a youth leader with church kids and NOW … in his 3rd year with us.  

Yes, the journey is huge!  We often don’t understand why and where and … maybe even what we are doing or going yet, HE has guided us all along.

Well due to financial struggles at Northstar, our parent company has decided to cut Yoriko’s salary (Yamaken’s wife) as she was not working full-time… From a family point of view that meant the salary for their family was cut 1/3 or 500USD.  I totally understand where the parent company comes from but I also struggle when it impacts families.   WE ARE GOING TO SEE GOD PROVIDE and will wait expectantly!  To be specific, we will be striving to raise the balance lost but we will need your help.  BUT EVEN MORE, we want to create a team of prayer support around the family…. would you pray?

Seiya and Pizza

Seiya with staff

Seiya with locals

Thanks for praying for me!

Seiya, wild Seiya, first came to Northstar as a 15 or 16 year old to one of our snowboard camps.  He was your typical crazy youth who would do crazy things.  He would make you laugh … make you shake your head and ask “Did he just do that?”    Yes, that is Seiya … and has he grown!  He has helped at Northstar during the winter for the past 2-3 years, he went to YWAM DTS, and has been a key to sharing the vision of Northstar all over the world through snowboarding.  That right!  He is the kind of young person Northstar wants to reach and to become part of our team.

He has now come to the point in his life to somewhat “settling down” (if that is possible for a young man like him).  Yet as you know … finances are super tight (check the Yamaken article).  That’s right, he wants to come to Northstar as an intern.  Originally we thought we could make an offer but now it does not seem wise.  Will you pray for him?  I hope to reconfirm with him whether or not he should be part of the team and then we hope to raise support for him.  During his internship, his “pay” will be 500USD plus housing/utilities and then after a test period we will re-evaluate his situation.  

Maybe a youth group would like to take him on?  YOUR PRAYER IS NEEDED!