November
News
As
we finish up another month on Okinawa, I am constantly reminded how we
have to focus on God's will for our lives and not ourselves. I have
been used to being about to do my ministry through various projects
which were easy to be a part of in Ecuador. The situation here is
totally different and it is more of a ministry opportunity where you
have to go out and talk to people and share Christ. This is not a
strong suit for either Steve or myself!
Our largest opportunity is within the military community.
Like Ecuador,
you need to speak the native tongue to really communicate with the
locals. Japanese is much harder than Spanish, and God has provided a
huge field of people that already speak English! It is just such a
different purpose that it has been hard for us to adjust.
Okinawa itself is very quiet and laid back and the Japanese
here and a
little different than the mainland. They have their own quirks as does
the military community itself. Realizing that, we have found that
working to build one on one relationships with other couples we meet is
our most successful avenue to introduce Christ.
Stresses we have had include Steve trying to finish his
college classes
and not being able to find a job (which we were told would be easy), as
well as the government paperwork that keeps us from getting paid and
reimbursed all the money we had to lay out to get here.
I know that I am comforted in the knowledge that God is with
us and has
a plan for us, but frustrated at the same time that we aren't doing
enough on our part to be involved in outreaches because they don't seem
to be as plentiful.
We are really struggling with our purpose here and if this
was the
right decision for us. No time is wasted in the work for God and there
is always something that can be done, but we could use your prayers for
direction and clarity in our focus.
We continue to support our projects in Ecuador and Peru on
our own and
welcome any partners that would like to be part of working with
existing missionaries to provide them with the supplies and materials
they need and can't get in their countries.
As we go into the holiday season, I pray that you think
about those
around you and reach out to the ones who are really in need outside
your comfort zone.
Cathy and Steve
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