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Friday, October 12, 2007

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:30:01 GMT

It’s good to be with the kids…

Once we get to a school, the kids typically greet us and ready to listen. Here we are at another Elementary School.

Most of the time then we’re teaching them about basketball through drills and individual instruction if needed.

My name is Ronnie desu.

Sometimes they wan to play more than just basketball with us. At this Elementary School we even played nation ball with them.

Then of course we have to take a picture with everyone!

Sometimes it hasn’t been all about teaching or playing basketball, but about spending some free time at other places.
Here we’re at a children’s shelter. This out of any place so far has really touched out hearts. Pray that the Lord may do a might work at this place and people would be raised up to boldly serve these children.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 04:21:27 GMT

Ephesians 3:16-19, "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, rooted and so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

We've been blessed to not only play and teach basketball but also share our faith in Christ in other ways. Below Brandon is sharing his testimony at Hi-BA camp (High School Born Againers) with the help of Daisuke from Misaki Church translating. Through our contacts at Misaki Church we also got to meet Tomo who asked the night of this picture for his first Bible! Pray that Tomo would be tranformed by the Gospel. We've also been able to attend many open gyms, like this one at Chosei gym that we went to every Wednesday night. It's been a blessing to meet so many people through the connections of Mrs.Tonoike and our frinds from Misaki Church. Continue to pray that the work that has been done and and will be done in Japan be all for God's glory!

Our trip is nearing the end. Tonight we'll be playing at Budo University with their "B" team whom we've developed great friendships with. Then we're off tomorrow morning to visit JEMS missionary Kevin West in the Kanegawa prefecture. Finally, Monday morning we'll be leaving for LAX! Please continue to pray for our health and safety. Thank you for all of your support in so many ways during this trip! We thank God for His grace during this trip and providing you all as our supporters! Praise God!

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 07:47:17 GMT

Since our last update, much work has been done to further the Lord's Kingdom. Please pray that we would serve the Lord diligently in every way on this trip. We also ask for your pray support for the health of our team. Some of us are feeling sick and sore from playing a lot of basketball.

Most of our days have been filled with teaching basketball and scrimmaging with the school's teams from morning until the late afternoon with playing basketball against young adults in the night and not returning home until late at night. Many of the school's children and staff have been extremely helpful and kind to us. From allowing us to have lunch with them to letting us teach them basketball, it has been a blessing from God to allow us to open up new contacts for the permanent missionaries in the Chiba area.

One Elementary School stood out for us. Their principal was extremjely open to our team being there. They even prepared a welcoming ceremony for us with, "When the Saints Comin Marcging in" played by their school band. As you can see by the photos, we even got to participate with the kids in their "athletics day." This one game though where kids were walking on each other's back to eventually climb up a huge bamboo pole...well, let's justs ay we passed on this one! A highlight only that the Lord could provide was that we were able to hand out the Gospel bracelets to the children. Everywhere we went they asked for the bracelets they saw on our wrists. Thankfully the Lord allowed the principal and school to be open to accepting this even while knowing it had a Christian meaning behind it. Please pray that the children would eventually be taught the Word correctly and be transformed by the Gospel.

More updates soon!

It's time to eat!!!

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 06:27:28 GMT

READY TO SHARE

Last Thursday morning for our quiet time we examined selected verses to see specific themes. One verse we read was 1 Thessalonians 2:8. “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” The previous verses describe that Paul’s mission to the Thessalonians was about not seeking glory from people, but boldness to declare the Gospel.
Throughout our trip we pray that we too may be ready to share the Gospel and ourselves. We pray also that in our visit to to one High School, the school staff and the students were able to see the Gospel proclaimed through our actions with them. Here are some pictures from that day.

Please continue to pray for our team that we too may seek to boldly declare the Gospel. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

Here's our team picture in front of one High School

Some pictures from the event...

Ladies and gentlemen… Jyakku Nikoruson (Jack Nicholson) kouchou sensei

Our friend Takuya, aka "funny guy"

Finally, here we are with the winning team

Keep us in your prayers!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 05:03:25 GMT

WE’VE ARRIVED

Hello tomodachis! Monday morning our team left from LAX airport for Chiba, Japan. We were blessed to have been prayed for as we got sent off to do His work.

We were excited to land and get started with our trip.

Our first stop was our apartment/chateau.

After getting some food, we headed to the English café at Misaki church, our church for the next couple of weeks, and watched a concert from Braddigan. There we talked with 2 students, Hiro and Yoshiki, who run track for a local University. We invited them to come to church this Sunday and to more of the English café nights. Pray that these boys come and moreover come to know the Lord.

So after 11 hours on an airplane, settling in our chateau, and meeting our church, Daichi was and is still really hungry and we are all excited for what the Lord has in store for us.

And then...

Yesterday (Wednesday) morning we headed off to a Preschool. There we were able to serve the students through teaching them about animals and the sounds they make, sing songs, play outdoor games, read books, and fellowship with them during their lunch time. In the end the principal said he was very happy with our efforts and looked like we were very organized. Please pray that more Christians would be able to volunteer there so that eventually they may come to know the Gospel. Also pray for the friendships with those we played basketball with at Chosei gymnasium against other adults. Pray also that these friendships can lead to them opening their hearts to the Lord.

For His glory in Japan

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:29:14 GMT

Dear friends,

As you may know, God willing from September 24^th to October 15 ^th, six young adult males will be working with JEMS and partnering with Sports Outreach Japan to share the love of Christ through teaching basketball and conversational English to students and adults of Chiba, Japan. Daichi Tsuruta (West LA Holiness Church) our accountant at JEMS, Aja George (West L.A. Holiness Church), Brandon Gee (San Diego Japanese Holiness Church), Aki Kawamata (San Fernando Holiness Church), Ronnie Gee (Mission Valley Free Methodist Church), and me (Wintersburg Presbyterian Church) will be that team serving for God's glory.

We pray that you, the body of believers, will partner with us in sharing the Gospel of truth and grace to the people of Japan in prayer. Below is a daily prayer fuel to give you an idea of what we will be doing and how you can specifically pray for us each day we'll be serving.

To God be the glory,
Kevin

SCHEDULE/PRAYER REQUESTS

*Some days our schedule will also be filled in with playing pickup basketball at a local gym. We hope to encourage people to come to the English café, church, and be touched by the Gospel.

*A large prayer request is that we will have opportunities and the courage to share the Gospel with the students we'll be serving. The Gospel sharing will need to be done through interpersonal contact and not in a large group setting because we'll be working with public schools. The schools at least know we're a Christian group coming and have had other missionaries come and serve them before. Please pray for open hearts and minds from the students to hear the Gospel.

September 24 -Meet at LAX at 8:30 am at Korean Airlines for 11:40am flight to Narita Airport

PRAYER- Good health, safe travel, clear vision, and be prepared for our call

September 25 – Arrive at 3:05pm at Narita Airport

- Watching a Christian concert and attending English café at Misaki Church if time permitting to talk conversational English.

PRAYER - Team strength & protection, have prepared hearts to serve, and prepared to boldly share the Gospel at Misaki church.

September 26 – (10:30am – 11:30am) Mutsuzawa preschool (84 students)

- (4pm – 5pm) Coaching a Jr. High basketball team that is training for an upcoming tournament.

o Myself/Daichi will be teaching.

- English Café in the evening

PRAYER – Opportunities to share the Gospel with these young students and those at the English café.

September 27 – Athletics Festival at Ichinomiya High school (if it doesn't rain)

- We will participate in an obstacle course with high school aged students.

PRAYER - Team strength & protection especially during the obstacle course and opportunities to boldly share the Gospel

September 28 – Day off (or unless it rained the day before).

PRAYER – Good rest and preparing our hearts and minds to share the Gospel.

September 29 – (9am – 3pm) Aki meets us. We'll travel to Ichinomiya High School (70 students)

- Ronnie/Aki teach basketball clinic from 9am – 12pm

- After the clinic then we'll play in a basketball scrimmage against them.

- (4pm – 9pm) Fellowship with Young Life Fellowship. We'll try to schedule an athletic event with them.

PRAYER - Team strength & protection especially during the scrimmage and opportunities to boldly share the Gospel

September 30 – Worship at Misaki Church at their evening service where usually 10-20 people are usually in attendance.

- Daichi and Aja will lead worship. I will give the message on the Gospel in English and have it translated into Japanese.

PRAYER – Bold proclamation of the Gospel being shared and for open hearts and minds to receive it.

October 1 - JEMS vs. Budo University

PRAYER – Free from injuries during the game and opportunities to boldly share the Gospel with this team.

October 2 – Still planning morning activities.

- Night time at Misaki church for English café

PRAYER – That people who are coming for the English café would be open to hearing about the Gospel as well

October 3 and 4 - (10am – 4:45pm) Taito elementary School

(1^st – 6^th graders)

- 1^st grade – Brandon/Daichi 4^th grade – Brandon/Aja

- 2^nd grade – Kevin/Aja 5^th grade – Kevin/Daichi

- 3^rd grade – Ronnie/Daichi 6^th grade – Ronnie/Aja

- We'll be sharing about ourselves for about 20 minutes. Part of the time Aja will dance.

- Each class will be for 45 minutes. We'll be teaching them about basketball

- After school we'll scrimmage with them.

PRAYER – Sound teaching of basketball from the team and opportunities to boldly share the Gospel.

October 5 – Katsuura elementary school

- Same teaching schedule as above

PRAYER - Team strength & protection especially during the scrimmage and opportunities to boldly share the Gospel

October 6 – Still planning activities

PRAYER – To boldly share the Gospel in word and deed.

October 7 – Worship at Misaki Church

- Daichi and Aja will be leading worship. I will be giving the message on what biblical love is in English and have translated into Japanese.

PRAYER – Bold proclamation of the Gospel being shared and for open hearts and minds to receive it.

October 8 – (9am – 3pm) Furusawa Elementary School

- 1:30 – 2 – Team intros and warm up

- 2 – 3 – Basketball clinic – Brandon/Daichi

- 3 – 3:30 – Scrimmage game of kids vs. kids

- 3:30 – 4 – JEMS vs. other adults

- 4 – 4:30 – snack time

PRAYER – Sound teaching of basketball, safety in playing, and for Gospel sharing during snack time and after school

October 9 – Still planning morning activities

- English café at night

PRAYER – To boldly share the Gospel and open hearts and minds by those we share with.

October 10 – Ichinomiya Elementary school

- Teach 2 5^th grade classes basketball – Ronnie/Daichi; Brandon/Aja

PRAYER – Teach basketball well and for opportunities to boldly share the Gospel with the students.

October 11 – Torami elementary school teaching them basketball

- 1^st grade – Kevin/Daichi 4^th grade – Kevin/Aja

- 2^nd grade – Ronnie/Aja 5^th grade – Ronnie/Daichi

- 3^rd grade – Brandon/Daichi 6^th grade – Brandon/Aja

PRAYER – Teach basketball well and for opportunities to boldly share the Gospel with the students.

October 12 – Still planning

PRAYER – For the Lord's will to be done this day and that we may be faithful stewards of the time He provides us with.

October 13 – Move to Chigasaki to serve with Kevin and Nozomi West, JEMS missionary couple serving the college students in the area.

- Play pickup basketball

- Aja dances at a local train station

PRAYER – Safe travel by train to Chigasaki and for those that will go and watch Aja dance that we would have an opportunity to boldly share the Gospel with them.

October 14 – Church at Tokai University for a first time worship service there and then Aja gives dance lessons.

PRAYER – To deepen relationships with those from the previous day and an opportunity to share the Gospel with them, praise the Lord for the many good works He has done this trip, and that fruit may come from the work that was done during our mission trip.

October 15 – Leave from Narita Airport for LAX at 2:55pm on Korean Airlines

- Arrive 8:40am at LAX

PRAYER – Safe travel back

Monday, August 20, 2007

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:30:11 GMT

On Saturday, August 25^th at 7pm at West L.A. Holiness Church we will be having a sharing night about our mission trip to Chiba, Japan. We will be having a time of worship, sharing from the team, and an encouraging message on missions from Pastor Gavin Kajikawa of Lighthouse Community Church in Torrance.

Invite your friends. We hope to see you there!

NCAA Tournament pick 'em

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:44:57 GMT

Well friends. It's that time of year when one pick can cost some people dollars and even their hair. More on that in another post. Even people who are not that knowledgeable about basketball are making picks in the NCAA
tournament. But sometimes these people pick better than the experts.

Enter Boston Red Sox phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka. His pick today? Carolina baby!

But as Coach Roy Williams says, let's keep it all in persepctive about
this tournament, "Everybody pay attention. We've got kids getting killed in a foreign
country and people are worrying about me putting drinks in an
NCAA-sponsored cup." -Roy Williams

Go Heels!

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:55:15 GMT

Hey everyone – I was wondering if you could do me a favor to pray and inform others at your church and your friends about a sports ministry mission trip to Chiba, Japan with JEMS.

We’ll be going from September 24 – October 16. For 10 days we’ll be going to spend time teaching conversational English and basketball and playing basketball too. The rest of the time we’ll probably be spending time with one of the JEMS missionaries. We need four males whom the Lord has placed on their hearts a burden to serve during this mission trip. We are looking to send young adult males who can creatively teach young children conversational English, those with musical skills to play in the schools and/or churches, and those who can teach and play basketball. Individuals who can communicate in Japanese will be of help, but not required. Support raising will be necessary for each team member.

Application forms and more information are on the JEMS website –

http://jems.org/japan-sports.htm.

DEADLINE to apply is March, 2007.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks

In Him,

Kevin

“Mission is not for the well rested. It’s not for the elite. It’s not for those with time on their hands. It’s not for people with money. It’s not for people without money. It’s not for people with the gift of gab. It’s not for people with a theological education. It’s for anyone that says, “I belong to God” (Tim Keller).

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 19:44:47 GMT

So my brother called my last night to tell me that he and my niece are coming down to stay with me and visit Disneyland. Cool I thought.

Then....

Bri: Hey Kev. So Emi might wants to have "Tea with the Princesses."

Me: Say what?

Bri: Yeah so we may visit them as part of our trip.

Me: Oooooook.

So I did some research and here's what it actually is...

"Make your way to Ariel's Grotto and take your seat at this royal repast hosted by everybody's favorite Disney Mer-Princess, Ariel.

Delight in learning proper princess etiquette from Ariel's royal friends, like Snow White, Belle, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella! (I have no idea what "proper princess etiquette" is.)

It's an experience you will treasure forever. (Oh will I?)

Enjoy some quality time, for lunch or dinner, with each of the Princesses as they greet each table. (Oh great.)

Dine on delectable dishes fit for Disney Royalty.

Have your cameras and autograph books ready to capture every magical moment. (Will Belle sign my Jordans?)

It will be an experience.

Oh well. Do what I gotta do as an uncle.