Month: August 2009

I’ve been thinking a lot about my purpose lately. Not my purpose in life, I already know that (to Glorify God and to enjoy Him forever), but more specifically, my purpose in being where I am right now, which is to say, still in America. Keeping in mind the purpose of my life, it’s simple to say that God’s purpose in putting me here in America is to glorify and enjoy Him, however the question remains… why? Why here and why now? Well, that’s actually pretty straightforward too.

 Tomo and I are here in America (I believe by God’s design) to prepare for a lifetime of service to Him on the mission field. A number of things need to happen before we leave. Chief among these is that Tomo still needs to join SEND. She’s sent in her application already, and Lord willing she will be appointed in January. Second, we need to raise a lot more support. Third, we both have some school loans that SEND would like us to pay off prior to leaving, so we’re working hard to do that. Finally, I believe God is using this time to prepare Tomo and I spiritually for the rigors of missionary life ahead. These are all things that I have begun to pray for in earnest, and I am confident that once God has answered all these prayers we will be ready to go to Japan and participate in the work of spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth, in order that more worshippers may add their voices to ours in praising our Great God.

Lord willing, we will be ready to leave by the end of next year. While I am certain God will be using us to minister here in America during that time, everything is heading in the direction of Japan. And as each day goes by I am more excited about getting over there. For the first time in my life I decided to start a prayer journal, so that I can remember to pray daily for Japan, for more supporters, for friends and family. I can’t wait to see and record how God answers prayers. If there’s anything I can be praying for you, just let me know, I’ve got a lot of pages to fill!

 Reading: Jeremiah and Exodus for morning devotions, Let the Nations be Glad for further edification.

Hey everyone, it’s been a little while since my last post, good thing Tomo’s been picking up the slack for me. For today’s post, enjoy a series of brief, unrelated updates from our life.

Tomo’s immigration to the US is still coming along smoothly. Today we went to Santa Anna so the USCIS could take Tomo’s fingerprints, which is part of the green card process. Also, Tomo has succesfully gotten a Social Security card, which means she can be added to my bank account. She got her own ATM card in the mail today, and was very excited about it. Next we’re going to be working on a drivers license. I’m a little nervous about her being able to drive wherever she wants and buy things whenever she wants, but I hear that marriage requires lots of trust.

We had a talk with our support coach this week, first time since we got married, and discussed our plans for the next five months, until Tomo joins SEND in January. At SEND’s suggestion we’re going to continue raising support, albeit it at a slower pace in order to give both of us a little time to adjust to married life, and Tomo a chance to get used to living in the US, and then jump back into more active support raising once Tomo is officially appointed. Our goal remains to have all our support raised by the end of 2010.

Lately God’s been reminding me of the importance of spending time in the Word and in prayer, so I’ve decided to start getting up earlier each morning to do that. Tomo is also joining me, and although we’re still getting into the habbit, so far I’m really enjoying it. I also want to spend more time reading good Christian books, so I picked up John Piper’s Let the Nations be Glad. I think I’m the only person I know that hasn’t read it yet.

I’ve been reading Jeremiah in my devotions recently, and have been struck by Jeremiah’s love for Israel, and sorrow at seeing them turn their back on God. Despite their wickedness he, like God, had a great desire to see them repent, though tragically God fortold they would not. Sometimes I think I am lacking in my own love for the world around me, and all the Americans that have also turned their backs on God. Too often I think of them as enemies when I should view them as kinsmen, and long to see them repent.

Though it’s still not official, it looks as though Jesus Film will keep me on part time. I’m planning on starting a little computer repair business in hopes that God will provide enough work to pay the bills, and perhaps even enough to pay off some school loans too. Please be praying for wisdom, and God’s provision in this area. And if any of you need some computer repair work done, check out my website and give me a call!

www.davesupport.com

Hi friends,

Another late blog update… (supposed to be every Monday). Sorry about that. We’ve been kind of busy having fun with our little Japanese friend who’s visiting. Thanks Jon for great ideas! We did go to the beach… and got sunburn. Pretty bad too. I was a little worried that my little Japanese friend would be deadly scared of getting tan like a lot of Japanese girls are, but this one turned out to be a rebellious one. She said getting tan was what she was here for, (well, and shopping). She is studying piano at a music college in Tokyo where it is a norm for girls to wear fancy dresses to school and use an umbrella to keep their skin nice and fair. Apparently she is not afraid of being different from everybody else. That’s the spirit we need as Japanese Christians, not afriad of being different from everybody else, so I guess it’s good that my Japanese friend is getting tan over here in California. But sunburn is not.

Anyways, we did go to Ross as Jon suggested. It’s a clothes store. She couldn’t believe how cheap things were. Also, we went to one of the art fairs in Laguna Beach, the mall, Hollywood, UCLA, Santa Monica, Orange County fair, etc. She enjoyed shopping at American clothes stores like Old Navy and American Eagle. She’s had some Del Taco and McDonalds, and been to Walmart. Still gotta take her to In-N-Out. We’ve been doing a lot of High School Musical watching too. We have all three movies right now thanks to JoAnna and Netflix. Today we’re going to hit the beach again. A little sunburn will not stop her from going back. She has another week in California.

Please continue praying for our job situations. We still don’t know if Jesus Film will keep David for 20 hours/week or let him go after August. Tomo is still waiting for her work permit to come in mail. Praise God for being good and faithful!