*PHEW* It's our last week here of ministry and next week we head off to Osaka for our debrief. I can't believe we're almost done here, it's gone by pretty fast. It's an interesting thing when you live with the exact same 21 people for 1 month straight, I'll say it's not easy. And people experience things differently when a summer projects are coming to an end: some are tired and ready to go home, some are frustrated that they are leaving so early and want to stay longer, and some...well, lets just say everybody is different.
The fact is, we only have 1 more week to meet with people on campus and we're outa here. Please pray that our team will finish strong, stay focused, and remain united.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Half-Way
It's about our second full week into Kyoto which means we're half way through already. It's crazy to think that we only have 2 more weeks of ministry here when it feels like we've been preparing for this trip for years. Summer projects are an interesting time in a students life. In no other situation are we(as students) put into a context of being with 20 or so other students who are together for the same purpose: Christ. Students are stretched and grown within the time they are here but do not experience it the same way. For some, it will end up being the best summer of their lives; friends are made, fruit from ministry is seen and passions are revealed. But for others it will be the hardest time of their lives; frustration is experienced, discouragement from lack of fruit seen, and personal values/morals are tested. We cannot predict who will experience what but what we can expect is that we will come away changed.
For me personally, it's been an unexpected trip so far. Many of things I didn't expect to experience, I'm experiencing. I guess I didn't expect leading a project would be so difficult. I never realized that being a leader would be so different from being a student. I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew there would be responsibilities and new roles, but my focus has totally changed. No longer am I only focused on doing ministry and sharing the Gospel, but now most of my energy is focused into the students. A good way to describe it is "I'm always on".
But it's good, I'm enjoying myself and I'm sure I will walk away changed. Well, it's our day off and I'm off to do some laundry. (yay)
For me personally, it's been an unexpected trip so far. Many of things I didn't expect to experience, I'm experiencing. I guess I didn't expect leading a project would be so difficult. I never realized that being a leader would be so different from being a student. I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew there would be responsibilities and new roles, but my focus has totally changed. No longer am I only focused on doing ministry and sharing the Gospel, but now most of my energy is focused into the students. A good way to describe it is "I'm always on".
But it's good, I'm enjoying myself and I'm sure I will walk away changed. Well, it's our day off and I'm off to do some laundry. (yay)
Friday, July 3, 2009
Dayoff
It's been 1 week in Kyoto now, and it's been a long week. Good, but long. We've been able to meet lots of new students and invite them to bowling last night, which was a blast. I'm excited to keep meeting with them throughout this trip. But today was our day off *phew*. Finally got to sleep in and catch up on some rest, so nice. I also went running today....in Japan weather, crazy? maybe a little. But I had to do it. It's been two week since I've exercised and I felt pretty gross. I think people who don't run don't really understand runners. To them it doesn't really make sense, who wants to run in 80 degree weather? But to runners it's an opportunity to think, be alone, and to be with God. How can we think and hear God when we're always with people? Maybe that's my introverted side talking. Anyways, it was nice and it was worth the sweat.
I heard about Michael Jackson's death a few days ago while I was here in Kyoto. My heart goes out to him and his family, he's lived a hard life. I find myself strongly sympathizing with his life. Since his youth he's been in the spot light and in a way he didn't really have any choice in that. I saw an interview with him and Oprah a while back of him saying when he was little, he wished he had been able to play like normal kids. What is it like to bypass your adolescence and head straight to adulthood? So much is missed and so much is lost. I think about how much he's given to the world and still how the world wants so much more of him. Not to say he's lived a perfect life or even acceptable in certain areas but how cruel to we have to be to drive MJ out of the US? This is a sad thing. And now after his death, I'm forced to wonder if we, as media and America, had anything to do with his death. We've lost a great and possibly the world's greatest performer. Keep on rockin' Michael.
I heard about Michael Jackson's death a few days ago while I was here in Kyoto. My heart goes out to him and his family, he's lived a hard life. I find myself strongly sympathizing with his life. Since his youth he's been in the spot light and in a way he didn't really have any choice in that. I saw an interview with him and Oprah a while back of him saying when he was little, he wished he had been able to play like normal kids. What is it like to bypass your adolescence and head straight to adulthood? So much is missed and so much is lost. I think about how much he's given to the world and still how the world wants so much more of him. Not to say he's lived a perfect life or even acceptable in certain areas but how cruel to we have to be to drive MJ out of the US? This is a sad thing. And now after his death, I'm forced to wonder if we, as media and America, had anything to do with his death. We've lost a great and possibly the world's greatest performer. Keep on rockin' Michael.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Unexpected
You would assume that I would expect a project with 2:1 guy:girl ratio is different than vise versa but you would be mistaken. I guess it kind of hit my by surprise by the change in dynamics with different number of guys and girls. It's neither bad nor good, just something I have to get used to.
But we had our first day on campus today where we just decoded, prayed for the campus, and just got a feel for it. I was at Ritsu Uni. and what a different campus! Everyone is social! People aren't buried in their books and being anti-social, but people are actually hanging out! This is very unusual for a Japanese campus. So it started off a little slow but we ended up making like 6 contacts! So cool. Anyways, we're about the head off to the second day of campus. Ja-ne.
But we had our first day on campus today where we just decoded, prayed for the campus, and just got a feel for it. I was at Ritsu Uni. and what a different campus! Everyone is social! People aren't buried in their books and being anti-social, but people are actually hanging out! This is very unusual for a Japanese campus. So it started off a little slow but we ended up making like 6 contacts! So cool. Anyways, we're about the head off to the second day of campus. Ja-ne.
Friday, June 26, 2009
The First Steps
It feels like it's been a month already but we've only been here for a few days. So far God has been doing amazing things. $27,000 to send 5 teams around the world....raised in 1 day. This is one persons salary we are talking about here, raised in a day. This is God's economy.
So far we've been just settling in and getting a feel for Kyoto. Checking out the eateries, the campuses, the bus system, you know the basics. We're really going to get things cranking on monday when we really start going to Campus. Me and 5 others will be at Rikio (I think I spelled that right) University. Pictures will come.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
