Today we had breakfast at 8, and the first group was picked up 8:30. In the past, the entire team has attended Hasui's church. This year, the team will actually be split up to attend Hasui's church and 5 others. This encourages the churches to partner together, and it allows the Seahorses to be an encouragement to many more believers. The other advantage is that it allows the churches to promote the Seahorses coming and it draws people to their church who might not come otherwise. The hope is then that they will continue to come. Since there were six groups, it was impossible to get the report on each one to include in the blog, so for the church reports, you will need to speak with your individual tour member. At the church I attended, they hold an English class once a week, and one of those kids did come to church. After church they had what they called a garden party (tents and BBQ in the parking lot--see pictures and video) where a number more of the kids and parents attended. They also treated us to making the treat Mochi (popular in Japan & Hawaii) from scratch. The man who taught us how was a neighbor who was there at the church for the 1st time ever. His wife & son came too. We pray that he enjoyed himself enough that he will come back. Most groups were with their churches from 9-5 (ish) when we met back at Hasui's church for dinner. After dinner, people & pastors from the 6 churches came to the church for a combined worship time from 6:30-8pm. We sang songs, did our two songs, heard a testimony from the Japanese young lady who had been baptized in the church that morning, and then a report from each of the six churches. Each church had similar stories about they had new people attend and others impacted because the Seahorses came. Most of the churches are small (the one we went to was about 25), so whatever we can do to encourage the believers and bring new people in is very encouraging to them. Every time I attend one of their churches, I am struck with how we take so for granted the size of our churches and the resultant availability of so many brothers and sisters for mutual encouragement. That the Japanese toil so faithfully with so little support is always an encouragement to me. Also, as we worship in the churches and in the evening worship time, hearing the singing simultaneously in Japanese and English, it always makes me think a little of what heaven will be like. After the evening worship time, they treated the girls to some sparklers which they enjoyed.
Thank you for your prayers. They are working. Just one from today. I dropped my camera that I take the still pictures with. It is old anyway, and it cracked the screen inside making pictures impossible. As God would have it, the pastor at the church I was at knew of a store nearby where I could get a replacement of the camera that had cost me several hundred dollars maybe 7-8 years ago for only $40. It was almost exactly the same, used the same batteries and even fit in my tiny camera case. God is good. Keep praying. We are healthy so far and no injuries. Tomorrow is our biggest (most difficult) game of the whole tour against the Shizuoka Sangyo University girls.
Pictures--7/8, Other
Pictures--7/8, Migiwa church (Gil,Addison,English,Tatum)
Pictures--7/8, Hasui's church (Paul,Steve,Lizzy,Becca,Autumn,Amy,Carol)
Pictures--7/8, Kasai church (Franci,Selah-Joy,Amber)
Video Montage--7/8
Kimi-Wa during worship time--7/8
My God Is So Great during worship time--7/8
Testimony--English
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