Thursday, February 05, 2015

Over the Moon Excited

Yes, we are.

It's ridiculous how excited I am to share we are going back to Japan.

We will be accompanying our denomination's Global Ministries Director and his wife to Tokyo in July.  Yes - just 5 months away! The Churches in Japan are celebrating their 60th anniversary, and we will travel over to celebrate with them and represent Open Bible.

This will be our vision trip. It will be a chance for us to share our vision with Japanese pastors, to meet the church leaders of our denomination in Japan, to hear their vision for the future of the Japanese church and to see if our visions compliment one another. It will also allow our Global Ministries Director to get to know us, and to explore together what the future may hold.

We did not expect this. We contacted our denomination in late  2013 to inform them of our heart for Japan and our belief that God is calling us back. We asked for prayer and hoped for some suggestions for organizations they recommended we contact as our denomination has not had missionaries in Japan for some time.  We "knew" following this leading would require us to leave our denomination.

Unbeknownst to us, a delegation from the Japanese churches had visited headquarters in September and had extended an invitation to the anniversary celebration.

So - yeah, it will only be for a couple of weeks, but we're going back. We'll be able to hear the hearts of their pastors and see how we could possibly be used in Japan.

Why did we keep quiet? We savored the secret. ::snort:: We also wanted to be sure details would work out before saying anything and most of all - we didn't want rumors to start that we are "going to Japan as Open Bible missionaries."  We are not. We are going on a trip to worship and celebrate with faithful pastors in the land which captured our hearts. We are chasing after God's vision.  We know we aren't ready to sit in the rocking chairs come Air Force retirement.

We are researching to see if we stand a chance of getting Space A tickets to somewhere in Japan in July...we could bring the kids...or if we should just do this trip alone. Tickets are more than we remembered them being....but our children would LOVE to come with us - and they speak Japanese. ::snort:: Sort of!  Lots to process....

  We  need to update some passports!

8 comments:

Renee said...

How exciting; a trip back to Japan. Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to continue your discernment. Never have flown Space A .... down on the bottom of hte priority list though retirees

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Michael would be on Permissive TDY for this trip - and active duty.... they give you time to pursue other jobs/houses etc ....but it's still the pcs season.

Linda said...

Yay! Your denomination is called Open Bible? I've never heard of that one.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

http://www.openbible.org/ This is "us." LOL We are a merger of two groups which grew out of the Azusa Street Revival. Actually one part split from the Foursquare churches over land ownership and Aimee Simple McPherson's remarriage.

Anonymous said...

Sis: Dad & I are so excited for you. We full well know that the Lord will reveal directions you should go etc. Will continue to pray with you for these things. love/prayers - dad/mom t.

Cynthia said...

So very excited for you all :)

Renee said...

Still on active duty is a plus for Space A... Hooray!!

Laura said...

How absolutely wonderful! :D