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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