Gina's trip to Japan

Here are a few of Gina's emails from her mission trip to Okinawa Lutheran Church in January - March of 2006. Enjoy.

1/24/2006 3:23 PM

Hello all!

It`s Cherry Blossom season here in Okinawa. Yesterday, I had the amazing opportunity to travel North to Nago and go cherry blossom viewing. It was so beautiful and amazing to see hundreds of cherry blossoms in full bloom. This Saturday, the church I`m working with is going cherry blossom viewing, so I`ll be able to go again. This Saturday will be even more exciting with the Cherry Blossom Festival going on, which means there will be a parade and other festivities going on.

I also had the opportunity to see a dolphin show at the aquarium. It is an outdoor show, so it`s free. Besides this, I saw giant sea turtles and manatees. There is a reason the manatees are called "sea cows"; they don`t do much! In addition to this I saw beautiful flowers, such as a wide variety of orchids and Bird of Paradise. They also had coconut juice for sale. They cut off the bottom and top of the coconut and stick a straw in one end. I of course had to buy one. The juice was just a little sweet and very refreshing. I still have to scrape out the inside of the coconut.

As for my studies, I have already learned much and my faith is growing stronger every day. I have relearned the value of prayer, something which has been lacking for a long time. I have also learned many different ways to outreach, some new and some not so new.

I pray that all of you are safe and doing well.
Peace!
Gina

1/29/2006 5:12 PM

Greetings!
Things continue to go well for me here in Okinawa. Yesterday was a busy day for me, but a very rewarding one as well. I was able to see how God has been using me in this small congregation and how God will continue to use me over the next month and a half. I was able to fill in for a Sunday School teacher who wasn`t there yesterday, I was able to help with the kids at the Japanese service, and I was asked to play my flute at the joint Japanese-English worship service next Sunday. On top of this, I have been able to help Pr. Mike with copying and other projects around the church and I`ve been able to help out around the house more, which pleases me very much.

As for sight seeing, I was able to visit yet another beach yesterday, I went to the Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, which was a lot of fun, I will be going to downtown Naha today to see a large fish market, and this Saturday, I will be able to see an ancient castle on the island that has been here since the Chinese owned Japan.

Well, I have to get ready to go. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

In Christ,
Gina

Hi, Mom and Dad!

All is going well here. I`ve been busy with the youth group. We had a lot of fun yesterday. We played Uno and threw M&M`s at each other - granted the M&M throwing wasn`t really part of the plan, but it was a lot of fun.

Two nights ago I had quite a surprise. The day before, we had gone to the beach and had lunch and collected sea shells and such. Then two nights ago, I was laying in bed and I heard a noise. At first I disregarded it because I thought it was my imagination getting away with me, but then I heard it again. It turns out that one of the shells I had collected still had a live crab inside. I was just relieved that it wasn`t a rat or a mouse. Later I was told that they don`t have rats or mice on the island. Instead, they have gekkos. I don`t know if this is better or not!

Well, I could tell you much more, but it`s time for breakfast. Just so you know, I`m planning on trying to call you again this Sunday. Is there anything going on this Sunday that I should know about.

OXOX,
Gina

P.S. Say hi to Herb, Bernice and Myrtle for me.

March 3, 2006 12:58 AM

Good Day! Molweni! Dumelang! Goeiedag!

This is how our World Day of Prayer service opened this morning. This year, the service was put together by the WDP Committee of South Africa and focuses on praying for South Africa and the different things they have gone through and are still going through. That is why we said, "Good Day!" in 4 of the 11 languages spoken in South Africa. The first is English (obviously!), the second is Xhosa, the third is Southern Sotho, and the fourth is Afrikaans.

The service was really amazing. We worshiped with many different songs and used much South African imagery in our liturgy. The theme for this year was "Signs of the Times," which emphasized how we can make Jesus a "sign of the times" today by acting "prophetically in faith, challenged by God to be Christians transforming and reconciling today`s world." In today`s world, there are so many situations that seem hopeless and sometimes we feel as though our world is dying emotionally, politically, economically, and, yes, even religiously. But we have to hold on to the hope that God has given us in Jesus Christ and boldly live out our faith; God is still working in the world through us!

I was extremely blessed to be able to be a part of this service. The idea of being an American in Japan, praying for our fellow brothers and sisters in South Africa with many other Christian denominations here in Okinawa is amazing to me. This fact alone has demonstrated to me that God truly is still at work in the world, bringing unity through faith and love for God and each other. I pray that God would bless all of you on this World Day of Prayer as God has truly blessed me.

Gina