Photos from the trip

See our photos from our mission trip!

Half of us are home!

Jen, Miyou, Joanne, and I are back at home safely! You can only imagine how happy we were to be back home! Thank you for all your prayers and please continue to pray for the rest of the team who are still in Japan.

August 10: The end of our trip

Tuesday morning we backed and headed over to Sakuragaoka to say goodbye. We prayed as a team and took a final picture. The Morris’s came to pick Jenny up and Shun went with them. Aya came to get Emi. Richie prepared to travel alone. ): It was sad that the team had to split up. Michito-Sensei and Iida-san drove Joanne, Miyou, Sato, and me to the airport. Nobu-sensei, Sakae, Yurika, and Mrs. Iida came as well. Once we checked-in we said our final goodbyes and boarded. Now we are flying home to America, tired but happy.

Thank you everyone for praying for us, and all your support. Without you, this trip would not have happened. We are so grateful to all of you as well as God for providing for us. God has blessed us by letting us touch the people here. Seeds have been planted and hopefully they flourish and grow. Our testimonies have moved the people here to want to serve God with all their hearts, and we’re glad we were able to create such an impact. Not only have we changed the people, but they have changed us. This trip worked both ways and all we can do is praise the Lord!

- Jen

August 9: Odaiba

Monday was the day we went to Odaiba! We took the train across the Rainbow Bridge and into Odaiba. We started off with a great ramen lunch and ate out on the balcony, enjoying the scenery. 

After that was shopping! For about four hours we had free time to run around the shopping center. This included a pants-soiling horror house. Given only a red flashlight and forced to walk in a single-file line, we went inside only to scream at every single thing. Every sound was ominous and frightening and the house was filled with our screams and cries of, “KAMI-SAMA, TASUKETE KUDASAI. (GOD, PLEASE HELP US.)” Once we shook it off we were able to continue our shopping. We split up to go to the stores we wanted to. These included a pet store with dogs and cats that were just an overload in cuteness factor, Starbucks with a mango passion tea or yuzu frappucino, various clothes stores, and other little knick knacks.

We had dinner at an Italian restaurant. The pizza was thin crust but still delicious and we had all sorts of different pasta. The sun set and the city was full of colorful lights that were breathtaking. After enjoying the scenery we headed back to the train station to go back to the church.

Once we had to split up the tears wouldn’t stop coming. Some people wouldn’t be able to make it to church the next morning to say goodbye. We went back to our homestays for the night.

- Jen

August 8: Leaving Oshima

Hello everyone back at home! Today was the last day of FMTC. Early in the morning, several people got up before dawn to take a sunrise walk to the beach because the sunrise is supposed to be beautiful. The four of us were a bit lazier and got up to see the sunrise from a platform at camp and crawled back into bed instead.

After breakfast and clean-up, we had our last session. We sang songs and two of the campers gave their testimony. We were all so happy for Moe because she shared about how she accepted Christ during camp!

We took the four and a half hour boat ride back to Tokyo. The ship was huge and had many levels, so after a tearful goodbye to the staff at Oshima (complete with depressing music blasting from the boat’s speakers) we put our bags away and began to explore each deck.

We even played Sardines and had tons of fun with the teens and staff. After that eventful game (the ship had many excellent hiding spots), we sat around for the last hour enjoying each other’s company until we arrived.

The trip home was exhausting and sad as the number in our company decreased as everyone began to go their separate ways home. Once we got back to Sakura-Gaoka, our respective homestays came to pick us up. Emi and I stayed with the Ikutas, who happened to have two dogs. Apparently all our homestays fed us extremely well, and we all slept gorgeously.

- Jen

August 7: Sunday at Sakuragaoka

The next day, Sunday, was our long day but the final stretch. First we started off with the children’s service, performing the skit of the prodigal son again. After that finished, we had the service for everybody else. We sang Hosanna and God of Wonders for the congregation and Joanne shared her testimony again. Nobu-Sensei gave the message. Jenny’s family even came to visit! Lunch followed after service, and we all enjoyed the fellowship and getting to know the other members of the church.

At 3:00 PM, a couple people gathered in the sanctuary to hang out with the mission team. We played games, sang worship, and shared what we had learned from each other. There was a segment where people talked about the members of the team and it was hard trying not to cry. Just the fact that so many people had been touched was almost too much.

Dinner came after and we all ate some yummy pasta and sandwiches. It was once again because some people would not be able to join us the next day and it was the last time we would see them for a while. Our homestays came to get us again and we all got lots of rest because the next day was a big day.

- Jen

August 6: The Last Full Day of FMTC

It was the last full day of FMTC.  And we had a free time type of thing in the day. We got to choose from either going to the beach, cycling around Oshima, or to do crafts. From like 12 till 3:30 we could choose what activity to do.

The night before I got an email from a friend asking for prayer. Our mutual friend had multiple seizures and has short as well as long term memory loss. I was shocked and didn’t know what to do so I went to Nobu sensei and we prayed. Right after, the team found me and we prayed. It was late and I'm sure they were tired but it didn't matter to them and they just supported me and helped me pray for my friend. The guys went back to their cabin and the girls went back to theirs. Right after, Iida san came over and told me he was praying for me. I felt so blessed to have my brothers and sisters in Christ around me. I stayed out and watched the stars for a while after reading a passage in the bible about the 4 men who brought their paralyzed friend to where Jesus was speaking. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep well. So I asked god to help me sleep well. the next day was an activity day and exhaustion from lack of sleep was the last thing I needed. Also, I knew that camp wasn't over and I came here to serve god. Worrying about my friend all day would do me no good so I prayed that the Lord would give me the strength to stay positive and be my normal self.

To my surprise after Jenny and I listened to music, I fell asleep immediately and I woke up refreshed. Which was good because I really wanted to go cycling because you get to see most of Oshima and get a little taste of everything around the land. But cycling is rigorous apparently. And well if you know me…. I'm unatheletic.

 The next morning, the boy’s cabin leader asked me how I was. I was so surprised because I only talked to the team about my friend. It turns out that when the boys went back to the cabins, they talked with the whole cabin and asked them to pray for my friend and I. I was so amazed by all the love they had for me, and anyone who needed prayer. Even if they had no idea what kind of a person my friend was, they all hurt for me and they all prayed for me and for my friend’s well being. 

So I went cycling with about 8 others. Boy it was rigorous! There was this ginormous hill and I was like oh holly corolla, you expect me to go up this thing? And then the guy who was leading us was like, “oh, you didn't hear? Its all mostly hills!” and I thought boy I should have picked the beach or better yet crafts at the camp because Lord knows I’ve never worked out a day in my life. Like one hill was kinda tiring, then there was another HUGE hill and after I was like “I give up I'm walking my bike after this hill!” when I saw there was another cute little hill. Then shun totally was like “Miyou you're in the way! Quit stopping and just go! What gear are you in? [I was in first gear so I was going like an inch a minuet]. Gosh why are u so undoubusoku [its Japanese for not fit like AT ALL]” I was like oh Shun you're so adorable. We rode this flat road where my hat flew off like 3 times and my hair tie is now missing. Hahah. But the view was so nice! There were greener than green pastures calmly surrounded by the cotton candy clouds and the nice ocean whispering in the background. Then I saw the airport. We stopped at this farm where they have cows and sell Oshima milk which I had been drinking every day. There were like 4 cute chubby/healthy looking cows and I wanted one. But then I changed my mind when I got the soft serve milk ice cream. It was SO soft that when the lady handed me the cone I tried to look at it and turned it every so slightly and it almost fell….. we,ll it did and I caught it and dripped it back on to the cone. But because this was Japan, they gave me another one. Like seriously I thought man, I don't need the cows! Just this right here. Yes.  And we moved on.

We stopped after a while to play in the ocean. Before we went to the water, me, Shun, Yurika, and Nori went to get kakigori (shaved ice). It was as big as my face. I got strawberry. Shun got mango. Aikun got Hawaiian blue with ice cream on top. And Nori and Yurika shared grape. So Shun-chan drops his and because this is japan, they put more on top for him. Yeah we mission team members are a bit clutzy hahah. Then yurika who loves to mess with people [like we bonded so much through pranking], put into aikun’s now super watery shaved ice a little bit of everyone’s shaved ice and turned his purple bowl of ice into this delicious looking yellow. We kid around a bit and then we went to the beach. There I got shoved into the water. Nori was so smart he walked into the water with his sailor shoes and so for the rest of the camp, his shoes smelt really really bad. Then Yurika said there is a part on the cliff that you can jump from. So we all kinda took turns jumping in. before I went, I was like “if I don't float up in like 15 seconds, go get me a lifeguard and save me” because you know my luck! But luckily its deep and I'm small so I went maybe 10 feet under and easily came up. Oh and the water is super blue and clear and pretty. And so we moved on.

Then there was Shun. So we were cycling to the cliffs to see the view. Then we took photos to show like look how far we made it. Shunchan’s bike went “tink” shortly after and he ignored it and went on. Then like after 5 min you hear a KABOOM! And I was like what the heck was that?! Turns out his bike tire popped. So what happened was that one of the wires that go from the center of the wheel to the wheel popped off so that was where the “tink” came from. Then the pressure was unevenly distributed and caused the inner tube of the tire to pop.  The thing was we were  late already so it was kinda okay. We called the cycling rental place and they brought another bike for shun. And while we waited, shun and I played sweet and sour with the cars passing by and someone pulled over and asked if something was wrong. I was like whoa how nice. We shouldn't do that anymore. And we cycled on.

On the way home I was already tired to no end. My towel around my neck was soaked with sweat. Don't worry, it smelt like roses J. Well on the way home we just sang and finally made it to the campsite and they were waiting to start the barbecue.

Now the barbecue was exquisite. You had to be there! There was yakisoba, beef, pork, eggplant, onions. All grilled on the grill. It was great. You had to try some.

Then there was campfire. Nobu sensei’s message was on love and how great God’s love is. He talked about forgiveness and  Jesus’ love for the disciples and how without that love there would be no Christianity. Without Jesus ministering to each of the twelve none would have felt moved to spread the love and christ’s teachings around the world. And how that love still lives on today and that forgiveness is still unlimited because god loves us and with that we can do anything and stay strong. Then Richie gave his testimony on how God showed him love, which ultimately saved him. It was all so intense and everyone was crying. I could see that god really moved each and every single one of the campers, staff, and everyone else.

After we packed and then there was a special tea time. There was a special dessert with some tea coffee and water at 10 pm because it was the last night of camp and everyone hung out at the dining room. I could feel the end of camp coming and it was somewhat sad. But I had hope for Japan. The Japanese Christians here have such amazing faith and are so strong in Christ that I knew that Japan was in good hands and I prayed once more under the starlit sky that night. I prayed for japan, the kids at the camp, the staff, and the people who need God or just found God. 

Sorry this post was term paper status long.

~Miyou