Seiya~crew chief

We have been given another chance to serve the ski resort through building a snowboard park!  Wow, it started so good.  We went to the first meeting with the employees and at the end I got to talk with the CEO.  During that time, we talked about the young boy who died in the ski resort, how I was able to support the ski resort through this tragedy… and then he said to me, in essence “it was the spirit of Christ working through you” during that time!  I was blown away!  I never ever expected that!  So I was expectant of seeing God work in the local area.  AND THEN …  slowly things started to sour.  We don’t know what happened, whether it was seeds of discontentment or words of discouragement but we ALL sensed we were being attacked.    How it will turn out, I don’t know but we will serve, humbly serve!  I ask you to pray especially for Seiya (22 year old Christian staff from Japan) who needs to deal with this daily.  Will you pray that he will seek Jesus daily and that he will be renewed?  Will you pray that God will protect ALL of us (families included) as we are involved in the ski resort?  Will you pray that God will soften and open hearts so that HIS name will be made known?  We need your prayers!

I want to thank you so much for your prayers and kindness.  We are so dependent on your prayers!  In this country, where the battles are so intense yet unseen~ your prayers and kindness is vital to our existence.  Over the past 20 years, Tina and I have been “tent-making” missionaries and our finances has come through the local board of education.  As we teach English classes, it allows Northstar not to support us.  Even if we are under GBIM (Grace Brethren International Missions) up to today, we have not received support (it will start in April).  Then we received HUGE NEWS, sad news but somewhat expected, that we are taking a 50% cut in salary with the city.  Ouch!  Yet, we know that God will provide and has started to provide!  Will you pray that God will open churches and individuals hearts to support us?  Truly, without your backing we will not be at Northstar and in Japan.

Too often we live life as if it doesn’t matter, as if things “just happen.”  We had a freak accident happen to a young staff, Toby ~ from YWAM.  Yes it was a freak accident!  He was snowboarding, just riding … nothing special, he fell and impacted his spleen and ruptured it!   Yikes!  After going to the hospital and his situation becoming stable he was moved to a new room …. and the bed across from him was an old friend of mine!  Tetchan!  On 12/24, Christmas eve, he received news that he had cancer and was going through his first round of treatment.  As I saw him … we hugged, cried, and prayed.  No, he doesn’t know the Lord and so a couple of days later, I gave him a Bible and some literature but …  I found out after talking with his son, that he has up to a year to live.  Techan does not know how short his life is!  It all started with Toby’s accident … otherwise, I would have never known!  Will you pray that I can share our precious faith to him?  That he will open his heart to Jesus?

I am in Hawaii with my family and I have been able to surf with my boys a couple of times.  We are pretty much just beginners but having fun.  Wow, even the smallest wave feels “big.”  Tomorrow a huge winter front is coming in and the waves will be 15-20 feet!  Wow!

I wrote about a “goliath mindset” and I have been struggling with this recently.  I am wondering what I am doing in Japan.  I am wondering why more aren’t saved.  I am wondering why God doesn’t reveal himself to the Japanese.  Why?  I have to be honest … and this may surprise you but at times I am angry, angry at God.

I was reminded that God can handle my anger and that he is more than big enough!   I am thankful that God DOES care for the Japanese.  That he does love them. THAT HE WILL SOMEDAY SOON do an amazing work in Japan for HIS glory.  Please pray for Japan!  It is so needy!  When that massive wave hits Japan, I hope that I have been found faithful and able to ride that wave.

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.