Chichi no Hi Omedeto Gozaimasu
Friday, June 24th, 2011Before I go any further, I want to say Happy Father’s Day to three super special people: my daddy, and my two brothers, Chris and Justin. I love all y’all SO very much!!! And, although I wish every dad a Happy Father’s Day, I want to give a shoutout to a few people: Pastor Smith, Brother Burris, Brother Porter, Brother Hampton, and, although I just recently met these two people, Bishop Willoughby and Pastor Tim Lee. All these people, the ones I’ve known for what seems like forever and the ones I have just met, have all played a part in helping make me who I am today. My dad and my brothers have been around since the beginning so they have played probably the biggest part, my dad being a daddy, a pastor, a guidance counselor, a science (mostly chemistry and physics) tutor, and……everything else (there’s a whole laundry list of things I could write), and my brothers just being my brothers. Pastor Smith, who has been my Pastor for almost 9 years now (well, 7 if you subtract us being in Japan), has always stood up no matter what and preached the truth no matter what. (my dad does that, too! Actually, everyone in this list does). Brother Burris and Brother Porter, being the best youth leaders one could ever have (they were the only ones I ever have and I couldn’t have asked for a better pair of youth leaders!!). To Brother Hampton, well, we have known the Hamptons forever, but I think the two things that stand out the most are: 1). when we came to Japan (or right before we came). When we told Brother and Sister Hampton about it, they were SUPER excited!! They were more excited than I was, (that’s another story. I won’t go there right now.) and they weren’t even the ones coming! Brother Hampton said he was up all the next night because of how excited he was. And 2). when everything happened with my Paw-paw (wow, it’s been over a year already. I miss you Paw-paw!!!!!), Brother Hampton told my dad one day on the phone that he would love to be a Paw-paw to us, not to replace, but just to be there (I hope I’m getting that right). That really touched me. When my dad told us that, I bit my tongue to keep myself from breaking out crying again (and it felt like I was close to biting it off) not only from missing my Paw-paw, but from knowing that there was a couple that loved us enough to say that. I love y’all Brother and Sister Hampton!!! Okay, next on the list is Bishop Willoughby and Pastor Lee. First Bishop Willoughby (and you HAVE to read his book “Entering the Restricted Zone“). For those who don’t know, Bishop Willoughby is sick right now. He has had cancer for several years now and is very weak, BUT through all that, Bishop Willoughby has still remained strong in God. When we went to Singapore for DCD in December, just to watch Bishop Willoughby was amazing. When everyone would get to clapping, he would start slapping his chair on the arm and kicking his leg since he couldn’t clap. He still came to church every service even though he was very weak. He is holding onto the promises of God and standing strong. Although I only spoke to him for about 15-20 minutes one night after church during DCD, although I don’t know him very well, Bishop Willoughby has still inspired me. I think it was probably Bishop Willoughby’s words to us that really got me thinking about us staying in Japan. When him and Mikayla were telling us about LTD and Mikayla was telling us, “Oh you guys should come!” my dad looked at Rebekah and I and said, “If we go to LTD that might mean we have to stay in Japan longer.” We both looked at each other and said “Hmm, we might have to think about this some more.” Bishop Willoughby looked at Rebekah and I and said, “Give it up, girls! If God wants you to stay in Japan, He’ll make a way to keep you there.” That really got me thinking. Not just about staying for LTD, but the real meaning behind his words. I was trying to figure out just what he did mean. How far would God go to keep us, or more personally, keep me, in Japan? What all would He do? Did I want God to keep pushing us to stay? Did I want God to go as far as He would/could to keep us here? Probably not. But I think the second Bishop Willoughby said that was the second the lightbulb finally clicked on and reality hit me right upside the head: God can and will do whatever it takes to keep me where He wants me. If I still go against that, I’ve got huge problems and He probably needs to smack me on the head a few more times. I cannot go against God’s will. I am not stronger than God. He will find a way to bring me back by detour and I probably will not like the detour route. Anyway, to Bishop Willoughby, thank you for telling us that. And Pastor Lee, the pastor of Tabernacle of Joy (www.tabjoy.org). I met him in person on Sunday, June 12th, and that was the first time I’ve ever met him. I’ve watched all his messages online (his and Bishop Willoughby’s) at least once and some of them twice. But him and his wife, Sister Leah Lee, have also inspired me (everyone on this list has). I remember one night during Combined Camp there was a group of people sitting down. This group of people included: Tat, Adora (Pastor Lee’s oldest daughter), Rachel Lee, me, Li Lin, and Pastor Lee. He was just talking to us about anything and everything. Mostly he was talking to us about memories. That you might not laugh at something when it happens (and he was telling stories to go with it) but later down the road, you will laugh about it. But to cherish those memories and don’t take anything for granted. So, thank you to all the fathers in this and Happy Fathers Day!!!
CHICHI NO HI OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU!!!!!!
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!
Since I’ve mentioned Sister Hampton and Sister Leah, and since I didn’t do this for Mother’s Day (I was planning to but when writing the blog it slipped my mind), I want to thank several women as well, in addition to Sister Hampton and Sister Leah. My mom, who has been a pastor’s wife, a mom, a teacher, guidance counselor, English tutor (THANK GOD!!! I’d choose physics and geometry over English anyday!), and the rest of the laundry list of things my mom is to us. Second is Sister Smith who has been one of my many role models (all the women on here are my role models) and my pastors wife for almost 9 years. Third is Sister Burris and Sister Porter, who are the best youth leader’s wives (actually in reality, they are youth leaders themselves) that anyone could ever want! And last but not least, although I never got to meet this person, but I know I would have loved her, too, and I have met her kids and her husband (I love y’all Meghan and Mikayla!!!), Sister Barbara Willoughby. Like I said, I’ve never met Sister Willoughby, and I won’t get the chance to meet her on this earth, but just from everything I have heard, read, and watched, she has already inspired me. For those who don’t know, Sister Willoughby had cancer for several years while her kids were still young (they are now 23 or 24, 22, and almost 16). The cancer went away and, then several years ago, she had a relapse. I know from videos I have watched on www.Apostoliclive.com and from www.tabjoy.org, she was still a worshipper. Even when things weren’t going right, even when she was in pain, she still went to church and still worshiped God. I still get amazed at seeing her in the videos up on the platform spinning circles with the microphone in her hand singing and praising God even though I’ve seen the videos several dozen times. So, hank you to all the mothers in this and Happy Belated Mother’s Day!!!
A few more people I am adding to these two lists are: all my grandma’s and grandpa’s and all my aunts and uncles. Y’all are the best EVER!!! Happy belated Mother’s day and Happy Father’s Day to all y’all!! Also, last but not least, Brother and Sister Lucas. I also wanted to thank y’all for listening to God and asking us to come to Japan. I know God was working in it all, but y’all are the ones that listened to Him and asked us to come. Because of that, I have an idea now what He plans to do in my life (although it took some time to figure that out). It amazes me how y’all keep going 24/7 (which, for those of y’all who don’t know the Lucas’s, is almost literally true). And thank you for all the encouraging emails that y’all have sent over the past 2 years. I really appreciate it! Thank y’all and love y’all! Happy belated Mother’s day and Happy Father’s Day to y’all as well!
Okay, so these first two pictures, I wasn’t going to put on here but I know if I don’t my dad will, so I’ll go ahead and do it.
During the Sunday School part of church, we did a slide show presentation from our trip to Ishinomaki (please read previous posts to see about that).
My dad also had Brother Omorefe speak about what he thought about the trip.
After my dad spoke about his thoughts, Rebekah spoke next and then my mom.
Next up was Brother Obi.
After we finished the presentation, we had the normal break and then the worship service, where we had a special service for our father’s. But, what my dad didn’t know, is that he had a special surprise waiting for him as well!!! More on that in just a minute.
While we were in Singapore, we (Rebekah and I) wanted to get something for my dad for Father’s Day, but we didn’t know what. So the two if us and Rachel Lee were talking about it the first day we got there, and when we saw this, we knew we had to get it. So we did! So Sunday morning, my dad looked at my mom and asked if there were any other announcements and she said no at first, then said, “Oh yes. I have one.” When she got up there, she turned to my dad and said, “I guess I have to repent because I don’t have an announcement but we do have something for you”. So she looked to us and we went up there and put this on him.
Brother Wisdom took these first four pictures.
I was laughing so hard!! We finally pulled one over on my dad!
And this one my mom took.
Now back to me being behind the camera!
Brother Daniel during the song service.
Sister Yokoyama.
Sister Victoria.
I think this was after the singing, but before the speaking.
David is so cute!!!
Even the young children were praying.
Peter’s adorable!! Actually, all the kids at Haijima are adorable!!!
Father and son.
Zion is one cute boy!
Sister Yokoyama praying with Sister Yamamoto.
My dad and Brother Yamamoto.
Pricilla!!!!
Wow! So many dads!!!!
Dixon is saying “Hey, what about me?”
This is the newest father. Although his and Sister Thomas’ baby hasn’t been born yet, they went ahead and had Brother Thomas come up.
And here is the oldest father, Brother Yamamoto.
Oops! I let the cat out of the bag just a tad too early. Here is the newest father again! He got a package of Singapore chocolates! Yum!!
Brother Daniel was trying to balance his Basken Robbins coupon and Dixon, and Pricilla was wanting to be held.
After church, we went to the base to grab a bite to eat, then we went back to the church to be there for the Japanese service.
Here is Brother Ishibashi.
Sister Yokoyama, Sister Igarashi, and Sister Ikeda.
And all the fathers from the Japanese congregation.
Brother Yokoyama.
All the fathers once again.
Here is the oldest dad, who is also Sister Yokoyama’s dad.
Actually, there were two oldest dads. Here is the other one.
At first, this dad didn’t want to take a Baskin Robbins coupon since he already had the Singapore chocolates, but they finally convinced him that he could have both.
My dad had been asked to speak for the main service for the Japanese congregation. Afterwards, when all the men were asked to come up, I snapped this of my dad and Brother Ishibashi praying together.
After the service, there was a fellowship that we had been invited to. And the food there was so good! But anyway, here are some pictures from that.
This girl is a cutie!
And so is her brother.
And the three boys of the Japanese congregation.
The only word to describe this one: CUTE!!! Okay, maybe adorable too!
Here is Sister Sato, Sister Ofori, and Sister Ikeda (from left to right).
Sister Sato with her two beautiful girls.
She’s a doll.
Michelle, Seika, and Grace.
Sister Yokoyama’s mom is so cute!!
Ai and Megumi.
I have no idea what my dad was laughing at, but I was laughing….just because he was laughing. I guess laughter really is contagious.
These two are cousins. Can you see the resemblance? I can.
There’s that smile I’ve been wanting for almost 2 years now!!!
There was a girl there Sunday for both the International service and the Japanese service that had the cutest little boy (all of them are the cutest). I got a lot of pictures of him (maybe like 10 or 20) but this is the only one where was smiling so this is the only one I’m putting on here. 🙂
Okay that’s it for now. The next entries include pictures from Singapore. Yay!!
See you soon!!!
~Rach~