Friday, April 6, 2012

We went to a store so I could get the fixings for rolled sushi. At the store there were all sorts of imported goods from fresh veges to rices to canned and bottled goods.  I found a 5 lb. bag of sushi rice and bought some small shrimp to tempura fry for Saturday’s lunch at FIBC. 

This evenings service the Pape’s showed their DVD and Mrs. Pape sang a special called “Bury My Heart on the Mission Field”.

Pastor Creed preached on when God pulls back the curtain on missions.  A) grace of God in giving.  The church in Philippi begged to be involved.  They gave to their power and beyond their power 2 Cor. 8:5.  B) They realized the need of the hour. 2 Cor. 9:7-8—the need of world wide evangelization.

Here is a thought from Pastor Creed:   What is the color of a soul?

Wednesday April 4, 2012

Today Henry and I went to the library to connect to the internet.  However, I did not get the blog written then.  Anyway after getting somewhat caught up, I walked back to the house.  Wildwood Estates is an older neighborhood of brick homes with basements and wide streets and beautiful trees.  I’d like to live here if possible, but the house prices are about $400,000; about 10 times the original cost.  Maybe, someday.

 One of the new homes across from the FIBC in Glendale.

The plum trees are really beautiful.

We went to Faith Independent Baptist Church in Glendale for our first Missions Conference.  The Rick Dove family is in  Costa Rica and the Pape family are on deputation to the Dominican Republic.  Ricky gave his testimony, and Pastor Mike Creed from our home church preached about the four areas of giving.

The first point was every Christian needs to tithe, Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:4.  The second was giving with a willing heart—stewardship giving as a need arises.  The third is alms giving or benevolence giving in secret, Matthew 6:1-3.  The fourth is faith giving, 2 Corinthians 8.  Don’t tip God, but give obediently. 

After service we talked until nearly 9:00 p.m. with folks then headed home.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Tonight Pastor Creed preached on the Other side of Obedience.  1) we must be obedient to God’s plan. Acts 1:8. Can I trust God to do what He says?  Can He trust me to do what He asks?  Obedience is not temporary.  2)  Must be obedient to God’s command.  3) Obey regardless of Satanic activity 2 Tim. 3:12. They...shall suffer persecution. 4)  Understanding there is fruit in the future.   God is faithful.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

This morning we mozied over to the church to get our new prayer cards and we talked with some folks while there.   Then we went down to the bank to make a deposit and the on to the voting precinct.  I told the lady that checked my registration that it was the first time in 20 years I had voted in person, explaining we are missionaries in Japan.  She praised the Lord and was appreciative of our service.  Then I voted on the electronic machines.  It was a good feeling to have performed a civic duty.

Later in the day I went with Mary so she could vote at a different precinct.  There were few people voting there also.  While Mary voted, I talked with the man who was the greeter, a really nice older gentleman.  I mentioned that we’ve come a long way from paper ballots and he agreed.  The electronic machines could easily be programmed to record something different that voters intended.  Mary came over and we found out he was a member of the AME church and has great grandchildren.  He commented on my nearly white hair or “crown of glory.”  We invited him to our church’s Easter drama this Saturday and he was interested in going.  

While we were out Anna Gill called and asked if she and Sara could go with Peter and Joe to get ice cream from Miller’s Farm.  After we call got back to the house, Mary made some pasta and meatballs.  Matthew came over after work and we all ate and talked.  Hugs all around.  Joe said he had found a car to buy, so Henry drove him over to the place and they put a deposit on it.  Joe was going to get a loan from the credit union for the balance.  It is a 2000 Volvo with under 100,000 miles and total cost will be $6100.  Good deal.

April 2 landing

We arrived in Toronto about 4:30 p.m. local time.  After getting our luggage, we went through pre-customs clearance for the USA.  There must have been at least 100 people in line as it slowly snaked to the Customs officials.  Just 6 windows were open out of 12.  That took over 30 minutes. We were cleared and went on to wait at the gate. 

While we waited there was a huge sealed aquarium on the second floor.  It had floating plastic squares near as I could tell, that were moved about by bubbling water.

The flight had maybe 30 passengers tops, so we pulled back from the gate about 20 minutes early.  We landed at Reagan National Airport about 10:00 p.m., ahead of schedule. Then after getting our luggage we got on a shuttle to get the rental car.  We got to the Gill’s house about midnight.  The end of a very long day.

April 2, 2012 Flight to USA, Start of Our Short Furlough

We got up at 5:00 a.m. and were loaded and out of the house by 6:10; got to Itami Airport by 6:40 and through the check-in process by 7:00 a.m. for our 8:00 a.m. flight.  So far, so good.  Then through the security check.  All the computers, electric dictionary, cell phones, pens, watches, belts, hair pins, my clip-on sunglasses, tape measure, coin purse, etc, went into the baskets and through the x-ray machines.  Then it was all put back into the carry-ons and on to the gate where we waited to board the first leg of the trip.  Passengers were called about 7:45 to board and I said to Henry that they were not going to get us all boarded and belted in before 8:00 a.m.  I was wrong.  We pulled away from the gate by 8:01 and were airborne by 8:15.  


It was a clear, smooth flight and we landed at Tokyo Narita Airport about 9:05 a.m.  Then, once again, through the lines to connecting international flights where once again we had to unload everything into those baskets and go through the x-ray machines. 

It is now 11:30 a.m. here at Narita Airport Tokyo.  We are waiting here all day for our flight to Toronto at 6:00 pm.  So in the meantime we are in a WIFI area doing mail and recharging the computer battery.  It will be a slow day waiting, but we shall explore the airport at various times. 

After we board our Toronto flight, it will be 14 hours to there, then a four hour wait, and then two hours to Reagan National Airport, arriving about 10:30 p.m.  It's about 30 hours travel from the time we left the house until the time we arrive at the Gills house where we will be staying.   God is good.