Prepairing for Japan 2023

Monday, April 17, 2023 

Aloha ohana!

In late September 2022, Hitomi and I were invited to join some very good friends to be part of a boat cruise around Honshu island (main island) of Japan.  Initially, we said we were so busy with items happening in 2023 that we probaly would not be able to go even though we would love to go.  It's funny how God works...Hitomi and I talked and we realized that we did not even pray on the opportunity and the "why" behind going on the trip...boy were we convicted real easy..lol!

Within a week or so we committed to go on this 9 day boat cruise with 7 ports (including Pusan Korea).  However within a week or 2 after that, we were notified that Hitomi and I could not go on the cruise due to required health protocols.  So we sat in a little bit of disappointment and felt that the Lord had closed the door on this ministry vacation opportunity.  Within a few days, independent of each other, we both felt the Holy Spirit tell us to go anyway, but go by land...wow..go by land, Lord?  Really?  So the planning began and with eyes wide open, plans loosely held and relying on Proverbs 3:5-6, we decided to trust the Lord had a pre-ordained plan and annointing for this trip.  

That was 6 months ago, and on the eve of embarking on this almost 2 week trek thru the entire Honshu island, we are exicted and anticpating great and wonderous God things to occur in this time.  We will be on the road the first 5-6 days...following the ship from Yokohama, to Hitachinaka, then to Miyako, then to Aomori and then to Akita.  We then get a break as the ship heads to Busan.  In this few days of down time, we will be stopping in Sendai to meet Chad, Harkua (Chad's wife of almost 1 year) and also get to meet the in-laws. Super exicting and all about relationships.

After a few days of chill, we leave Tokyo to fly to Nagasaki to meet our traveling ohana in the place where the 2nd atomic bomb was dropped.  This trip is so filled with potential moments of repentance, reflection, opportunites for prayer, restoration and God's redemptive power.  

We are so excited to be on this journey with people we love and apprecaite it.  After Nagasaki we head back to Tokyo to spend some days with Chad and Haruka in their city and hopefully get to see good friends Pastor Talo and Pastor Yuki. So so looking forward to this time with each other, with the people of Japan and with whatever opportunities God will place in front of us to spread the Aloha!

Will update this blog as best as I can.  

With that all said, can we ask you to partner with us and keep us in your prayers throughout this 2 week period.  Here are the current specific prayer requests:

1)  Traveling mercies - other than the 8.5 hour flight to Japan, we will be training it alot over the first 6 days.  Shortest train ride is like 1.5 hour, longest train ride is like 4.5 hours with much connecting and moving.  We are praying for it all to work in God's time and if things go crazy, may we be filled with His grace and mercy and favor. 

2) For our health.  Masks are no longer mandated and restrictions have been lifted.  We have our vitamins and have set aside time for rest (and onsen..lol). 

3)  For our traveling ohana who we will be meeting at each port except Pusan.  May their travels and their health and our time making the connections be in line with God's will and way throughout the trip.  

4)  Finally, for Holy Spirit, Jesus filled - aloha opportunies - we are looking forward to who God puts in front of us and the opportunites to spread the ALOHA values that God has instilled in all of us.  

We covet your prayers and blessings during this time and look forward to the miracles, testimonies and praise reports to come out of this journey to Japan 2023.

Aloha God Aloha people!

Love you all and mahalo for the love and support.

Sean & Hitomi