Seahorse International Soccer Club Visit to U.S., Day 6(Weds)

  After breakfast, the team went to Biola and joined Paul Gizzi's soccer class for a series of games.  After the games, they were taken around on a tour of Biola.  During the tour, we happened upon a basketball player (Mike Kurtz) who is 7ft and consented to give the kids a demonstration of dunking the basketball.  They really enjoyed that.  He even put one of the kids on his shoulders so he could dunk.  For more detail, see the video.  The tour ended with lunch in the Biola cafeteria.  The boys enjoyed having so many choices and as much as they wanted.  During lunch I was able to have a conversation with Masa, and was blessed to hear how there was fruit based on this visit.  After Chie's testimony on Sunday, one of the mothers told Masa that having witnessed so many people (Biola mens team, host families, Seahorse staff, drivers, etc.) supporting Masa & Paul, that she felt better about sending her kids to the school (she later shared this to everyone at the sharing time in the evening).  Masa said that once a month he shares with the students about God.  One of the mothers told him that when her two students come home after these times, that the three of them discuss around the dinner table what Masa had told them about God.  What a blessing to hear how these things are going on.
     After lunch we took them to The Citadel, a very large outlet shopping mall in Los Angeles.  They particularly enjoyed the Disney outlet store.  Then it was back to the hotel for a sayonara dinner, with the group, host families, staff and drivers.  The kids were asked to share some of their impressions of the U.S.  Some of the favorite rides at Disneyland were, Star Tours, Splash Mountain and Finding Nemo.  Some impressions were the large roads, huge food portions, and greasy food.  They also were very impressed by the friendliness of the people.  It seemed like all the mothers were more comfortable with Masa's school based on what they saw on this visit.  Pray that this translates to the others who didn't come and that more people will join Masa's school as a result.  The evening ended with prayer over Masa and Chie.  Please see the pictures for more detail.
     Tomorrow morning they travel back to Japan.  Pray for safe travel.

Seahorse International Soccer Club Visit to U.S., Day 3

     This morning, the whole group attended church at EV Free Fullerton, and then went to Paul's Adult Fellowship group, Sonlight Fellowship.  Chie shared her testimony with the group (in Japanese) and Dave Kennedy, a former missionary in Japan, translated her testimony back into English.  Of the group traveling with Masa & Chie, only Chie's sister Sachiko (sp?) is a believer.  Please pray that Chie's words will rest deeply in the hearts of those her heard.  Then she and Masa shared a little of how they are doing ministry with their soccer club.  If you would like to support them, please check with the Seahorse website.  See also the pictures from today.

Seahorse International Soccer Club Visit to U.S., Days 1 & 2

     Today was the first full day of the visit to the U.S by Masa's Seahorse International soccer club.  They started off their morning by traveling to Biola for some soccer drills and games with the Biola mens soccer team, the same on that will be traveling to Japan this summer.  The team presented the boys with a Biola backpack as a memory.  After the clinic/games, it was back to the hotel and a lunch  of McDonald's while in the car on the way down to Newport Beach (Balboa Peninsula).  They then got to spend 2 1/2 hours on a boat for a whale watching adventure.  We saw one whale, lots of dolphins (who played with the boat), and some sea lions and seals.  After whale watching, it was a walk on the pier to get ice cream at Ruby's (and a visit with a boa constrictor) followed by a walk on the beach to play in the water.  The day ended with dinner at Vinny's pizza in La Mirada.  The boys (9-11 year-olds) were very tired from the plane ride, a day on the ocean, and slept most of the time in the car on the way back.

     Day 2 began with a pancake breakfast at Gil & Sue Mellis' house.  Breakfast consisted of fruit and Mickey Mouse pancakes (and 1 Minnie).  Then it was off to the Brea sports complex for some games with Matt Morse's teams.  Lunch followed at the food court in the Brea Mall.  (This is all that I was a part of).  Please see the pictures to see what the kids experienced.

Epilogue & Iwakuni Marine Public Affairs office link to news story & Facebook page

     It has now been a week since we have been back, and life is returning to normal---but is it.  Lives were changed in Japan, and the lives of the participants were changed to.  As I reflected on the time in Japan, I am once again inspired by the faithfulness and kindness of the Japanese people.  They labor so diligently with so little and are generous with what they have, and never once was there ever a hint of complaint.  I know I could learn so much from them.  And the missionaries we met, the Luethys (Jonathan & Dorothy), the Reisters (Bob), and the Noars (Bill), had been so faithful, some ministering for over 30 years, just like Paul's parents did.  What an inspiration these people are.  I am sure there will a permanent impact on all the lives that were touched---on both sides of the ocean.  Thank you for your part.

   As a P.S., we were contacted after we returned by Lance Corporal Ramirez of the Iwakuni Public Affairs Office (the one you saw taking pictures and interviewing the girls) who sent a link to the news story & pictures that he prepared.  Also below is the link to the Iwakuni Youth Sports Facebook page.

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni News Story
MCCS Iwakuni Youth Sports Facebook Page

Days 18 & 19, Final Camp day, Game, Travel Home

     Today was our final camp day.  We did a lot of soccer drills and then Coach Ray had the kids play games to practice the skills they learned.  We did skits, songs and contests during the break.  We ended camp at 10:45am, and then have a massive water balloon fight.  The parents supplied us with hundreds of water balloons, so we had many rounds of kids throwing at us and vice versa, 2 balloons at a time.  It was a lot of fun.  We had our final skit at the end led by Danielle about the story of the fiery furnace.  Paul gave the closing message and prayer.
    After the program was over, lunch was provided in the pavilion.  It was great to see the kids mix with the Seahorse coaches, signing autographs on the team brochure and the shirts.
     After the camp ended, we had a couple of hours of free time, and then it was catch a train south again to play the high school girls that were part of the game on Tuesday.  We played some 6 v 6 first as the entire field was not available.  We won 2-1, with goals scored by Ashleigh and Natalie.  Then we played the full game and won 1-0 on a goal by Savannah.  Before the "full" game started, the team was really sweet and wanted to honor Breeanna who couldn't play all tour because of a broken foot.  They had her do the initial kick-off at mid-field.
     After the game, it was the team and Japanese song, and then a testimony by Alex L.  Then we mixed with the team for a while until they had to leave.  After they left, we had some final words from Danielle, who was staying down south with some friends who had know her grandparents.
     The missionaries who sponsored this event, Jonathan & Dorothy Luethy, came and told us about the impact that our Tuesday visit had.  Apparently, the faculty at the University didn't think the President should be paying for our food because we are a Christian organization.  Even though he (the President) is also not a believer, he insisted and said that if they wouldn't approve, that he would pay for it himself.  The faculty also came to the event and were moved by what they saw happening.  Apparently in Japan, they are stressing E.Q. (emotional quotient) as much as I.Q. and they really liked the E.Q. they saw happening.  Also, when Jonathan was asked by Paul to pray, it was the President's own initiative to explain to everybody what prayer is and why we do it (which he knows from his wife who is a believer).  The Luethy's were very encouraged by this.
     We were so late getting home, that we just went to bed

     It was an early morning 5:30am wake-up call to have the bus packed and loaded by 6am.  Then it was 5 hours up to Osaka, fly to Tokyo, and then fly to LA, landing at 11:45am, Japan Airlines JL0062. (This is being written in Osaka).  While on the bus, we did our third and final hynack session, and then each person had a chance to share their hi-light and low-light from the trip.  One of those hi-lights is you all who have supported us faithfully, financially and through prayer.  There will be many more stories you will hear when your individual participant gets home.

Pictures
Day 18 Video Montage