Day 11, 12, 13 & home

Saturday, May 6 - recap

Just wow, wow..wow...it's been almost a week since I have been home.

So much gratitude and thankfulne1s for the time Hitomi and I had with Chad and Haruka, our Ekklesia ohana who traveled on the ship, our co-pastors Talo, Nori, Steve, Yuki and Yukina and the hundreds of people we met and blessed and were blessed by.

Got home Monday, May 1 at around 1030amish after leaving Haneda aiport Monday May1 @ 955pm..ground hog day. Took like 15 minutes to get through Immigration and Customs and it was packed. But..since I got to airport like 3.5 hours before flight, my 2 bags (1 was all omiyage) were like the last to come off the plane. LOL

It was so good to be home. Did my laundry, took a nap, went to Ala Moana and did a walk, much shorter than our 6-8 miles per day in Japan and jumped in the water. When I was showering at the beach, the shower brought back memories of Japan..it was made for short/smaller people..lol.

Back to work on Tuesday and still in awe of what we were able to see, do and be while on this 2 week mission/vacation God-venture.

Here's a recap of the last 3 full days in Japan.

Saturday day 11, April 29

This was a sleep in day. Our ship ohana was set to arrive back in Yokohama @ 630am and we were planning to go meet them around noon. However, plans changed and the ship ohana was going their seperate ways to shop and rest and meet back for a de-brief dinner. Hitomi and I had a pre-planned dinner with Haruka and Chad at their apartment, which was in walking distance from our hotel.

So Hitomi and I decided to go shopping for a bit then go check out the world famous Ameyoko market in Ueno. It was crazy busy!! It's a roadway/alley that forks into 2 alleys. There are food vendors, omiyage shops, restaurants and other stores all catering to tourist. So much raw fish/food, Japanese treats, crepes, great food and all kinds of stuff. We had a great lunch (Japanese pizza, arabiki sauages (of course) and salad). We spent like 2 hours. Just as were planning to head back to hotel via a short train ride back to Kinshicho, we got a text that some of our ship ohana was in Ueno and heading to the markets..yah!!

We got to see Susan and Lisa and then found Dwight and Liza. They were shopping in varioius places and even got to sing karaoke at Big Echo in Akihabara..lol. So much talent in this ohana. We got to give these 4 a big hug and say goodbye, then headed back to the hotel.

We had a great dinner with Haruka and Chad. Home cooked food that Haruka and Chad made. Rockpot rice, fish and veggies. It was really ono and a blessed time in thier home that they have been living in for over a year. It was great to see their home and see them establishing thier lives here in Tokyo. Sunday was going to be a busy day. We had planned to go to New Hope Tokyo for 1030am service then to to New Hope Saitama @ 230pm then dinner with the Sataraka's. Sunday will be our last, well actually my last full day in Japan. Kinda getting sad but excited to see our church ohana!

Sunday day 12, April 30

Long full day today.

Stop 1 - Ochanonmizu Christan Center. 1 train stop, approximately 13 minutes from Kinshicho. New Hope Tokyo has been in this location for quite some time. I last visited NH Tokyo in 2013, my 2nd trip to Japan Was looking forward to seeing Talo and the entire NH Tokyo team. Got there a bit early and blessed the team with some macnuts and Talo with some Palm Corned beef (lol). Worshp and fellowship was so awesome. Got to bump into a few guys from Oahu who were either part of Men's ministry (Pat Watarari), Christian Horcajo (youth from NH Sand Island days) and Doug Buhr (NH Sand Island worship team). Also pretty cool to see some of them men in Japan who were part of our men's ministry misison back on 2011. Talo and Nori and team in obedience to the Lord is doing an amazing work in Japan. Young couples were present at their 1030am service held on the 3rd floor and overflow on the 5th. It takes a lot in Japan to get to a 1030am service. All of Japan, even though they don't start work till 9am/10am Monday to Friday, travel quite a bit and have to get up early and go home late 5 days a week. Thus morning service takes some effort to get to. NH Tokyo has a 2nd service @ 230pm on Sunday's and that is held on the 8th floor (2 story bigger space). Such a blessing to be with this ohana.

Stop 2 - Headed out around noon to head to NH Saitama to go and attend Yuki and Yukina's 2pm service. We planned to get there by 1pm to join them for their pre-service lunch. It would take a 2 train ride over 40 minutes (including walking) to get to Kawaguchi prefecture. NH Saitama holds their church in a 3 story building on the 2nd floor above a cafe. On Sunday's they have lunch @ 1pm with whoever shows up and orders food from the groudn floor cafe. Great marketplace ministry by Yuki and Yukina. Got there at about 115pm. 2 couples and 3 kids were there. The food from the cafe was ono. Japanese curry wtih rice in 1 bowl and Japanese ter style udon in another bowl. Was oiishi!!!

Yuki and Yukina do children's church before service. Pretty cool. Marisa and Sage and Chad and Haruka arrived in time for service. Blessed to meet Sage and get to know him a bit. Was a blessing to be in church with Chad and Haruka and Marisa and Sage. God allowed seeds to be dropped in their hearts for a future of hope in Jesus for all 4 of them.

Yuki, like I mentoined before, came to Hawaii to intern and ended up staying with Aloha Pau'ole durin our church plan phase. Our mission statement that still resonates with me was "

"Advancing the kingdom of God by loving God and loving people to a place of freedom"

LOVE GOD & LOVE PEOPLE

NH Saitama mission statement is

LOVE GOD & LOVE PEOPLE

Yuki and Yukina are living out the greatest commandement told to us by Jesus..and it was a blessing to worship and fellowship with this amazing ohana.

Hitomi did a hula to "The Blessing" in Japanese and I shared my heart on what I was seeing thru the eyes of God for this church and his people Totally blessed by this time.

Got to spend a good 4.5 hours with this ohana and headed out to Ikebukuro to meet Talo & Nori for dinner.

Stop 3 - Met Talo & Nori at a great shabu shabu place in the Lumine Shopping center. What a great meal!! The meat cuts, broth (fish and yakiniku style) and fresh veggies was so ono! Great fellowship, a lot of laughs and such a blessing to hang with Talo and Nori. They had a busy week upcoming with the New Hope Ohana retreat coming up. It's a privilege and honor to know these 2 amazing people and their daughter Erika (who we missed on this trip). Talo, full blooded Samoan has been in Japan for 40 years and planted and have lead NH Tokyo wiht Nori for the last 23 years. In addition to NH Tokyo, Talo has been an important ambassdor, mentor and leader for New Hope International. A force of God in Asia for decades. Talo and Nori have invested in church leaders and church plans from Japan, to Thailand, to China, to Phillipines and beyond. Mahalo Talo and Nori for doing the work of God in His land. Blessed to partner with you all. Love you guys more than you know.

Headed back to Kinshicho, about 30 minutes via 2 trains. Told Chad and Haruka goodnight and would see them in the morning before I leave. My last night in Japan until the next time God calls us to come back.

Monday day 13, May 1

Got to sleep in for bit and repacked our bags. We had a 1pm check out (which is very unusal for Japan or any hotels worldwide). Hitomi was going to stay with Chad and Haruka till she leaves on Wednesday. Hitomi went to a very big Daiso (in the shopping center right next to our hotel) that has it's own floor (4th floor of a 10 floor building) and shopped for a bit. Met here there and still amazed by how Japan has all these multi story building (vertical) with shops, restaurants and businesses. Pretty cool.

Check out and met Chad for lunch. We found this amazing Cold Soba (hole in the wall with a very small entry door) and then headed back to catch my 4pm limo bus to Haneda aiprot. My flight was not till 955pm and bus ride was only about an hour. I wanted to get their early and go for a shower (as I have done many times before). Got there and 2 of the 3 comfort stations at the airport were closed and the Sky Lounge that was open, the showers were not usable. So guess what. portagee wipe down bath was in store before I boarded. Ate my last Yoshinoya's, sat in lounge for a few hours, took my portragee bath in a big bathroom stall and jumped on my plane. Time to go home.

Entry door to Cold Soba lunch