We're Here!

"I feel like I was holding the future of Japan and it brought tears to my eyes," Paul said to teh new Luna, the new mother of Nanami (meaning 7 Seas). It was exciting to start out our love adventure by praying for her the last time we visited and she had just found out she was pregnant. She came Sunday to the Sasaoka household with Josh, Saori, Yureka, Lingchan, Paul and I for their "congregation" service at the house. She said I believe this baby hasn't come yet so that we could see you again before she enters the world. Wow we were honored, (all through an interpreter, Josh or Saori) and asked to bless and pray such an amazing delivery. God shockingly did exceeding abundantly! 40 Minutes of labor and the whole staff was even surprised! BTW very lovely birthing center, they care for them for a whole week with food service! Paul and I are thrilled to be here, despite the natural appearance of success :) We've spent the past week playing with their grandchildren, walking around the farm lands, figuring out cell phone and sim card issues, grocery shopping (learning new foods), having and preparing meals with our host family, finding a place to move to in the city center (near trains and opportunities), buying shoes for our friends, visiting a church member after her cancer surgery, practicing speaking Japanese with anyone I see, worshipping, fellowshipping , trying to touch those around me, learning Japanese from even Raina who's 4, inspiring our host family, healing, visiting a church for a prophetic conference (meeting many people and had such building up of faith), teaching English with others, laughing at Google translate conversation, teaching Lingchan, slapjack, learning so much of their customs, culture, hoops to jump and yet seeing such smiles that bring hope! A few highlights... On the plane, (highly recommend Japanese Airlines, we flew All Nippon Airways) I tried to take the opportunity to just converse with the plasticy kind stewardesses, and this one I engaged as much as I could with our limited language. As I thought I had bored or bothered her, as she directed me to the bathroom (cutting our convo short), we were shocked to embrace her kindness as she came to Paul and I with a card at the end of the flight with some candy to appreciate us for our friendliness. I was blown away at her response and wrote her a note and gave her a Lara bar :) Truly amazing what a smile, a word, a touch, an effort of love will do! Today as we took our host mama Saori (Sally Mercy) to buy her new shoes with her daughter Momo and kids Raina and Ken, (she used to work at Sketchers to big discount :) and as they stopped at the GAP I saw a man outside with a stick crutch thing, and within seconds I was on the ground with Raina praying in the name of Jesus! He didn't speak english, but as I asked him to try it out, I saw this absolute shocked look, like a deer in headlights come over him! He was amazed and I was too to see such a fast response, but I claimed Iesu Sama! His wife came over and they thanked me and Paul saw the whole things played out as the man walked away carrying his crutch in the air, still amazed all the way to the parking lot! Helping as much as we can around the house: chopping down bamboo trees, dishes, cooking meals, watching children and grandchildren, cleaning, teaching one another both English and Japanese, praising the Lord, and laundry (not as easy as in America :) We experienced an earthquake this morning early, probably 4.0 that rocked us like babies. On our way to the prophetic conference on the train, I was eager to my hands on those hopeless looking people, and one limping old man I moved next to, I offered to pray as he motioned that yes his hip was in pain, but as Saori interpreted to bless him, he laughed and said I am getting off here. Laughing, they told me, is their form of showing their embarrassment. Another woman I engaged with who worked at a shrine, through Saori's help, I was able to pray for her, share the name of Jesus and both her and my desire of peace and hope that she looks for at the shrine; we hugged and sent her on her way believing Jesus has encountered her! So on our way to Tokyo and back I tried to show some love, offering elderly seats, a pregnant young girl (whom I prayed for her baby but I think she had no idea what I was really doing but smiled and thanked me), and a few others. I'm eager to speak more Japanese! The conference wasn't really our desire to learn more, however we really enjoyed Ben Armstrong form Bethel, as this church we visited 1st Century Christ Church (in a gorgeous building with prime real_estate in the heart of Tokyo), their connected with Bethel and therefore go back and forth to edify their members. Greater part was stretching these people who were mostly first timers to stepping out and hearing God for another. The activation was fun, but we were limited to English speakers, so a lot of their Bethel team and Paul and I teamed up. So we were thrilled to encourage one another! In meeting a few who were from other nations who currently had working visas, their testimony of how God worked it all out truly in a miraculous way for them to stay and work, ignited our hope in God's words! A few ways Ben said that that God speaks: 1) Scripture 2) Creation 3) Dreams/visions 4) 5 senses 5) Feelings and impressions 6) Media, movies, music 7) Signs and symbols I encourage you all, stretch yourself to hear from God, perhaps through a smell, or when you see someone and you hear a song you head, use that to speak a work of encouragement! This could be from the Lord to you or from Him to another through you :) I felt such a revelation the other night as I was going to bed of really believing God, that if I never had to think or worry about food or clothing, where to stay (such as when we are children) then what liberty I would have to think on good things as well as others! The Father would like us to let this sink in and activate this by not being fixed on our stay, the job and the questions of in needs that could arise (lol) what horrible thoughts to carry! All is already provided in Christ and all I'm to do is follow your words. Joshua Ch. 1 has really inspired us to really trust Father, be courageous, keep the words before us constantly meditating, take the land, and know that God is for us and will never forsake us! I enjoy the Sasaoka family Spontaneous worship sessions, practicing hearing from God, and even our Sunday service with 6 adults and 2 children, it was still somewhat orderly with Josh preparing the children's book reading, worship, prophesying practice, and even communion. Such a delight to see with the limited fellowship, what the presence and words of God do for these people. I thoroughly enjoyed the deep humily for Jesus in Josh and Saori. Her tears of gratitude during communion (which emotion doesn't come so earnestly here) and the sniffles between the rest of us! Josh asked us last night after visiting Luna in the hospital, what church we were a part of and if we could send missionaries to encourage and edify the church in their area, and I'm assuming throughout Japan. Amazed I think we both were thinking, we're here, and God is moving greatly already! However we were warmly welcomed at the idea that we said, we truly feel God has called us here to pave the way for many to come and many to go. In fact God reminded of His words, He said first come to Japan, than I will send. We're pioneering for many, many of our friends and others to come and make the entrance and connection so much easier. Simple things as getting a phone and wifi, you'd think would be easy but it wasn't. A year ago on Thanksgiving, God told Paul to open up the news and look about Japan. Until we really never did, and to his surprise 2 things stuck out that God had already spoken to us about through dreams. One was about changing the visas so that more people could come to Japan to help the aging and depopulation. The second had to do with Russia opening talks with Japan after like 40 years without communation. Just a few days ago we read an article that showed the country's failure with the visa plan, as they predicted something like 50,000 visas for people to come work, and they have only had 216. That proves the system here is so difficult to get through. One friend said it's like the Japanese would like you to go from A to B, but they expect you to have B to get A :( Now is where the lord gets to shine! Back to my point about driving back and the convo with Josh, as we shared our walk with the Lord, and connected with Tulsa and praying in the spirit and sending many of our friends here to Japan who feel a huge heart here, he was greatly encouraged! We even gave him Dave Roberson book, "the walk of the spirit the walk of power" and as of last night he's almost finished ready 300 pages! He was so inspired, he said let's pray today so we started our day with an hour of prayer in and in that short time, both him and Saori his wife had powerful visions and words from God for their future, family and marriage! Saori was overly grateful at our love for them and deep care! We desire that book to be translated into Japanese and that's Josh's job! We're so thankful for God's timing and following His lead, as I felt we would leave on the 12th, Paul felt 4 months ago from November 20th that God said to be here in 4 months, and here we are, and our hosts just happen to have hardly any word and the time to fellowship and help one another in many physical and spiritual ways! Even Saori pulled me aside saying this is a very difficult time in her life with many emotional, spiritual thoughts and decisions and was afraid that our stay would be a burden, but she said it's actually been such an uplifting time that has picked her spirit up and she's so comforted, praise God!!! So what's next? We asked to say a few weeks until we could find a place near the city (Chiba or Tokyo, nearby) because out here, it takes an hour to walk to the store or a nearby train. We all know that it's not logical for making connections, figuring things out, learning, etc. Therefore we've hunted down the cheapest place we could find for the time, and that's an Airbnb hostel for about $900 for about 50 days! So grateful for this option as apartments were about 2-$3000 for about 2 months. We're located in between both of those cities and right nearby a driving school if we decided to do so (costs $3000 for a driving school which takes awhile. driving here is quite crazy). We move in Monday! (hope our luggage will fit in our little room lol ) We really don't have a clear cut plan, we just know we need to meet more of the body of Christ here, explore, learn on our own, eagerly looking to go to some events/meetings if we can find anything to do with entrepreneurs, business, tech, etc. I think however, we're going to need business attire, like really nice stuff as that's what they all wear, but we'll meet that bridge later. I'm pumped to explore, love people, see God's provision in every way possible, create as many fires as I can with the Holy Spirit, and help lift Paul up more than I ever have! Well, if you read all of this I'll be thoroughly impressed that you have such a desire to know what the Lord is doing to us, in us, and through us. We really pray the same, and ask you to continue to look at what is good, what God IS doing, what God HAS done and be filled with hope. Make people ask you, what is that hope that is in you!?!? I love you, and I'll try to cut it shorter next time :) Sayonara, Noel