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Well, the time has come for me to unveil a little about this vision for Japan that I have spoken so much about. I am unable to go into a lot of detail on here simply because of the scope of it all. However, I will try my best to give as clear a picture as possible of the course of the next 10 years. Most of the details of what I’m about to tell you have not been shown to me yet. Generally, what I have is logistical information. Just as God reveals things on a need to know basis, I only have now what I need to get things organized and prepared.

I will be returning home in February of 2005. Three years from the time I return home, I will be transferring to Japan to complete the majority of my studies in Psychology. The three years I am home will be spent in a couple different ways. The first year will be spent working and getting all of my financial obligations squared away and developing some true financial accountability. The next two years well be spent in school. Now alongside of those things, during those three years I will be doing a lot of networking, developing a large support base (business, individual, prayer, financial, investment, etc.). At the same time, I will also be doing a lot of scouting and global communication searching for the first 3 of 9 people who share (or will soon share) the same vision. Those first three people will help build the administrational, organizational, and financial foundation of this vision.

Still wondering? Keep reading!

Also, during those three years I will be serving, as much as possible as permitted, the youth of Alleghany County in a couple ways. I believe that God has given me a vision to help build the youth group at Fletcher’s. I really wanted to serve them in some way while I am home. After seeking God’s word on how I can serve them, he gave me a great vision for the youth. I also believe that He wants me to volunteer and help with Young Life. Now, this, of course, is all still just in the time during the three years at home. Upon arriving home, I will also be seeking, in some way or another, to study Japanese. This will be crucial for the time that I transfer to Japan to continue my studies. So, needless to say, my time at home, although three years, will be very busy.

Upon transferring to Japan, I will continue my studies until I complete graduate school. By the end of the next 10 years (by the time I am 35), myself and the other 9 will open a counseling practice that focuses on Pre-Marital and Newlywed counseling in greater metropolitan Tokyo. The primary focus will be the Japanese people, which is why it is important that I begin studying Japanese ASAP because it takes almost 10 years before they feel your Japanese is good enough to consider you for counsel. We will also have a small branch that serves ex-pat couples and International/Japanese marriages. However, as mentioned, the primary focus will be the Japanese people.

Now why?

This is all the culmination of many years of confusion, desire, leadings, promptings, and things that I thought were nothing more than, well, dreams. I’ve always had a huge heart for Japan. I love the culture, the people, the food, the history. It’s just all so richly amazing to me. I even remember the day it started. Third grade. We had a foreign exchange teacher from Japan teaching us about the culture. I fell in love. (With the country, not the teacher, haha) Many of you may ask “Well, then why are you in China.” Well, I asked myself the same thing when I heard God say, “Go. Don’t ask. Just Go.” Even though I knew I had a future in Japan, I didn’t know what it was, yet I was still wondering why. That was where obedience took over. From the day I made up my mind that I was going to Kona at the beginning of last year, I told myself that I would no longer ignore what I knew God was telling me to do. No longer would I waste time saying “How high?,” from then on, it would be, “Go? OK! I’m Gone!”

After I arrived in China, I began facing things that just confused me. I came here completely willing to stay, heck, forever if asked. But something strange started happening. I started having all of these visions about Japan and ideas that, although quite jumbled at first, came together to form the foundation of what I explained above. It all confused me though, because since I was willing to stay as long as asked, I started to doubt what God was showing me because I expected ,that since I was willing, He would tell me to stay. Also, the staff and students here are like one great big family and I love them all dearly already. However, I must be obedient to what He tells me. Well, it was a bit of a reversal from what I expected. Luckily, JR (my boss) is very keen on really pushing people towards their vision. He has been very supportive since I told him of this. He even told me he could sense something because he could see that I didn’t have a clear vision for this place.

So that is the vision God gave me for Japan in a very tightly packed nutshell. Just imagine if I had given the full version.

Well, now there’s more!

My time here has not been easy. I’ve run up against a spiritual wall. It is a bit difficult to explain however I can sum it up into just a few words (few by my standards, haha). The team here is at a spiritual level that I have never experienced before. When I try to join in, it can be a bit overwhelming. I have run up against this wall many times and every time I can see that there is an amazing truth on the other side of this wall, but my limited spiritual knowledge and experience has opened me up to a serious serious spiritual attack of criticism and debating. Criticizing ways I don’t know and debating things that I have no spiritual experience with. What’s most important about all of this is that I have recently realized that this is the main reason God brought me here. I must break through this wall before I can ever expect to lead a team in Japan. Japan is one of the hardest places in the world to work spiritually. I want to break through this wall. I want to reach the other side. I want to be willing and obedient. I know God is waiting for me to break through this. As it stands right now, I am spiritually lame. I’m operating on a 16th of a tank of spiritual and about 3/4 of a tank of natural.

About three weeks ago, I got a word that I would need to travel to Hong Kong before I leave in Feb. Well, last week JR told me that it would be in my best interest, if I am going to walk out this vision God has given me, to go with them to attend a conference in Hong Kong at the end of this month. The conference is being led and taught by Dr. Jonathan David, one of the leading apostolic forces in the body of Christ today. For more information, check out his website: http://www.jonathan-david.org. I have heard this man speak on CD and he speaks with much obvious spiritual authority. JR even told me that before he went to Dr. David’s conference, he was just as spiritually lame as I am. Dr. David is now the spiritual father of Gift of Joy. I know I’ve probably lost most of you at this point with my book length update, but I believe this is something God is moving me to do, so I am taking a step on this and pursuing the finances to do so. The total cost for lodging, food, travel, and the conference is approximately $600 US. The conference is Oct 22-26. In order to make arrangements in time, Anita (JR’s wife) has asked me to give her an answer by next Wednesday. Now, I pray that most of you read this by then. So that’s that. Hope you have enjoyed this lengthy but news filled update. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

Bless you all.

P.S. I’m going to be bold and say something God has laid on my heart. You may have gotten this message earlier in my update. When you feel or hear God speak, move on it. When God tells us something and then we say ok “I’m gonna pray about this for a few days,” that is the equivalent of little Tommy asking his mother if she is sure she wants him to clean the room or if she really meant something else. She said clean the room, so she means clean the room. I truly believe that when God speaks to us directly about doing something, he doesn’t expect us to turn right around and say, “Is this what you really want me to do.” And often, God gives us a small window, and if we don’t move, then that is disobedience. Just think, it’s possible that God spoke to someone around 1977 and told that person to start a computer software company that would help combine the most important programs into one solution. That person decides to spend time praying about things. The window passes, and Microsoft emerges. I believe God speaks to us like this. We pray for our nation, our world, our leaders, our family, healing, help, finances. And we also pray for direction. But when God says “Jump!,” we need to stop saying “How high?” and just simply jump, he’ll take care of the landing.

Ok, well, I don’t really know how to start this update. I suppose I will just start with a recap of the past three weeks. I returned from my trip about ten days ago. I had a wonderful time and it was truly refreshing. I also got to know Tim a lot better and really feel a lot closer to him now. He has such a bright future. It is amazing just how much he reminds me of myself. That could be why I get along with him so well. It was wonderful getting to see some of Eastern China and the beauty of some of the places that people have told me I should visit. Shanghai is a modern marvel. I’m always amazed by large cities and the architecture therein. I love walking about and seeing the people and hearing the sounds. The only thing that really struck me was just how expensive things are in Shanghai. Compared to America, its still cheap. However, I’ve gotten quite used to the prices of things in this part of the world, so often times, even American prices shock me. One thing I wish we had in America was more leeway for bargaining like they do here in Asia. You bargain for everything. Sometimes even when you go to department stores. As for the rest of the shops, its almost guaranteed that you can get at least 10% - 20% off the asking price of what your buying. Nevertheless, I was rather pleased when it was time for us to leave Shanghai, because it was putting quite a dent in my limited trip budget. It was really great getting to see my friend James, a friend from Korea who was also my leader while I was in Cambodia last year who is currently studying Chinese Mandarin at Fudan University. He showed Tim and I around the city and since he had been studying for the past 6 months he was as much of a tourist as we were.

After about four days in Shanghai, we headed out to Hangzhou to visit Tim’s cousin. Talk about a stark contrast. Shanghai is a modern marvel. Hangzhou is a natural marvel. Absolutely breathtaking. There are many pictures in the picture section that illustrate what I am talking about. However, I must be honest, none of my pictures even begin to show the beauty of this place. This is one of those kinds of places that require all of your senses in order to appreciate its true beauty. While there, I decided that this would definitely be the place where I take my wife for our honeymoon (whenever I get married). I got to meet Tim’s cousin and his family. It was quite interesting because Tim never told them a foreigner was traveling with him. All he told them was that his friends English was very good. As soon as we arrived, Tim’s uncle was showing us around many places. Most of which I’m almost positive was done for my sake. His uncle told us that it is very customary who are hosting a foreigner to show them the best sights of the city and take them out to the best restaurant. It was a wonderful experience. The food, the nature, the atmosphere. All of it was very pleasing. I wont go into great detail about the places we visited here. Since I will be providing more detail on the picture pages, it would be rather redundant to put all of that information here as well.

After 10 days, I came back very refreshed and ready to start the second half of my commitment with renewed vigor. The trip really opened my eyes to some things. It also showed me A LOT about Chinese culture. One big thing I realized about China and this holds true for almost all of Asia. Everything here. Everything. From things as simple as trees to the most complex structures. Everything about this place has some kind of spiritual, mythological background. Much like the stories of Greek and Roman mythology, China has its own very rich and very colorful mythological history. While out I saw temples, pagodas, bridges, lakes, roads, etc., etc., etc., almost all of which were dedicated to some kind of mythological creature, god, or an old hero who the Chinese people have elevated to god-like status. Probably the two largest forms of worship here are Buddhism and multiple forms of Animism (worship of ancestors or important figures). However, something that crossed my mind was this: If you take away the Buddhist influence and just consider the Animism, America is just slam packed full of it. It’s only because we don’t have the influence of these kinds of religions in our country that we don’t think of it in that way. Just think about all of the past figures of American history that people have elevated to god-like status. And it spans every area: Government, Sports, Entertainment, Academia, you name it, and someone has a god for it. Except we disguise it with the words “Role Mode” or “Great Example.” Shoot, lets get even more serious and look at the people in our own supposed “Christian-circles” that we as Christians have elevated to god-like status. Artists, Writers, Pastors, people who have all done great and wonderful things for the Church have become the focus instead of The One that gave them the wisdom and strength to do them. Now, without getting into a rant about this, I just wanted to point out the telephone pole in the eye of the ones pointing at the toothpick in the eye of the Eastern cultures. In my personal opinion, regardless of who or what these things are dedicated to, over time, with the proper teaching, and putting proper prayer into action instead of empty words (yes that means doing something about it if you are able), these beautiful things from these beautiful cultures can, and will, be redeemed for the glory of The One True God who created them all in the beginning. I honestly believe that Christ is smiling down on all of the breathtaking beauty, art, and culture that His, and our Father created, but weeps when he sees it being dedicated to false gods and mortals.

And, so ends the story of my trip to Shanghai and Hangzhou. Stay tuned very closely in the next couple of days for the full story about the vision the Lord has laid out before me. A vision that was very blurry before I came to China. A vision that almost kept me from coming to China. However, a vision that, had I been disobedient and not moved when God said “Go to China,” I would have never received clarity on. A vision for the great nation of Japan. Stay tuned!

Lastly, I praise God and Jesus Christ for all they have done for us all. For always being faithful when none of us can. For extending grace when we all miss the mark. And for opening my eyes to the truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen