Beginning of Plans

Sunrise from the apartment we lived in, Ikoma, Nara, Japan

Crystal & I have been thinking and praying about returning to Japan, at least for a visit, probably since we left in 2010! There's no doubt that living in a country, especially one as unique as Japan, has left it's mark. Having lived there a combined total of more than 22 years, that influence is still felt on almost a daily basis. From words, phrases and idioms, to the way we view ourselves and those around us. It's hard to believe, but almost every time we are invited to someone's home for a meal, before we eat I want to say, 'itadakimasu' which means (I gratefully receive - in Japanese) and afterwards I have to stop myself from saying, 'gochisosamadeshita' (that was honourably delicious).

As we chatted about going, we began to think of ways that we could involve our home church of Emmanuel Baptist in Vernon, BC, because we knew that realistically, although part of the reason for the return is to catch up with old friends and also re-introduce Caia to Japan (her native land), we trust and pray that a good part of our trip will also involve ministry to believers and unsaved alike. 

We really appreciate the support of Emmanuel's board and missions committee in designating this trip a 'missions trip'. That way, as well as highlighting the country and the spiritual needs there for prayer, people, if they wish, will also be able to contribute financially.

With Caia about to turn 7 (February 19, 2016) we both felt that this year would be a good time to take a trip back to Japan.

We booked the flights early in January from Vancouver to Osaka via Taipei, and got a pretty good deal. We're also so thankful to our friends at Japan Mission (www.japanmission.org) for making accommodation available for us while we are there, and plan to use the Japan Mission HQ as a base.

We're also having conversations with several folks about what our time in Japan will look like. While we want to have time to catch up with old friends and former co-workers who are still there, we would also like to have opportunities to minister and serve in whatever capacity the Lord sees fit to use us.

Once our itinerary becomes a bit clearer, we'll post more details.

For now, we depart Vancouver on Thursday, March 24 on an EVA flight to Osaka, at 01:50, arriving in Osaka at 15:55 local time on Good Friday (March 25). Once the clocks go forward again on March 13, Japan Standard Time (JST) will be PST +16 hours or GMT + 8 hours (from March 27, when clocks go foward in the UK & Ireland). We return to Canada again, God willing, on Friday, April 15, arrving in Vancouver at 19:30.

On our first Sunday in Japan, we will be visiting our 'old' church in Ikoma, the city where we lived since returning to Japan in 2004.

Aaron will be teaching an English conversation class that meets just before the church service.

It's a small class with only 3 or 4 Japanese attending each week, but they are mostly open to the Gospel.

Please pray that this class would be a blessing to those who attend and also to the teacher as they will get a break from teaching on Easter Sunday.

My (Aaron) first several years in Japan were spent teaching English conversation, so it will be nice to have another opportunity to teach an English class again.

An English Camp that Japan Mission held at the Fureai Center in Ikoma, where we lived

Crystal will spend some of the time we are in Japan, helping at her old school, KIU Academy, in Kyoto.

The new school year in Japan starts on April 6, and Crystal will help from this date until the following Friday, April 15th. at the grade 1 class there with her former co-worker, Naomi, who is still teaching at the school. Please pray for Crystal and Caia as they spend time at the school, that they will be able to connect well at the school and that they might be a blessing to the students and other teachers while they are there.

Below is a photo of the class she taught while we lived there between 2004 and 2010. When Aaron first went to Japan in 1997, he spent one day a week helping with the school building construction (building in the background) along with other volunteers.