Mission Japan Has a New Home and a New Title!

Hey everyone, I've renamed my blog and changed it's address due to some changes that are about to take place on it (don't despair kids, good ones!).

You can now find this blog (and write to me!) here.

This will be the last post on this blog.

See everyone over there!

Trevor

こんにちわ！

Hey everyone!

Long time no see, sorry about not updating for a while. I've been; a) incredibly lazy when it comes to blogging and b) intensely busy.　ごめん！

A lot has gone down, so I am going to try to fill you in on the details. Please feel free to ask any questions by commenting below (in fact, I encourage it!)

Alright, here we go.

First off, the big news. Are you ready?

I'm going to Japan in June this year (2010) and will be staying there for 2-3 months! Very exciting times for me.

As of yet, I don't know where I'm going to be exactly. I should know in the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

So what am I up to right now?

I'm using the AJATT method for learning Japanese. It's premise is becoming Japanese rather than studying in the traditional classroom setting.

I immerse myself in a Japanese environment between 18- 24 hours a day, spending around 1 1/2- 2 hours a day drilling myself on sentences.

Basically, I have really full days! (Haha)

Linguistic acquisition is a huge interest of mine, so if you want to chat more about this, let me know.

I'm currently offering music lessons to get some change for my trip, but of course I will ultimately need to rely on God for support.

It's hard to believe that my dream is so close to becoming reality, in fact I'm still a little dazed. This will be my first time to fly overseas, so I am a little anxious but more excited than anything.

I will post an update sometime in the next few weeks!

Thanks so much for every one's support through kind words, actions and prayer!

Trev

An Inspiring Interview with Yukiko Okuda

Hey everyone!

I hope you're all doing well!

I just wanted to share this wonderful two-part interview with Yukiko Okuda, a Christian Japanese musician and evangelist.

Thanks for all your prayers!

Enjoy!

Part One

Part Two

トレバー　(Trevor)

The Price

Yesterday, I had to make a decision concerning my life and my future... never an easy thing to do. But it's so necessary.
I have someone who is very special in my life, but our lives are going on completely different paths. I'm sure a lot of you can relate to this.

I'm always praying that God will use my life to His glory in this fallen world... I knew that I was going to have to make some sacrifices- even if it came to leaving behind someone that I really care about.

Recently, I've been asking myself "is this really worth it?". And the answer is, yes. Even though the road ahead is dark and lonely, I can rest assured that our savior is there with me. And he has conquered the world through His sacrifice in order that we may gain much. He leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade.

However, I can't just shrug off my sorrow for having to, very soon, leave behind everyone I love here. Especially the one I mentioned before. It causes me a lot of heartache.
But I know I'll never be absent from your love, I have it in my heart. And I'll never forget any of you.

Let's take the time we have been given, and be thankful for it. Let's face the music and dance to one last song.


In Christ,
Trev

Update (February 1st 2009)

Hey everyone!

Thanks for all your support over the past couple of days.

Life has really been gaining momentum recently with all kinds of opportunities and events popping up. After several discussions with God and my family, I've decided to postpone my trip. This is a really hard thing for me to do, but I decided it would be much wiser for me to stay in the states for my Junior year. That way I will be able to get a job to raise funds and continue studying my Japanese so that by the time I graduate next spring, I'll be fully prepared to go and serve. This year will also be a great year for me to grow spiritually.
Although I had my heart set on going to Japan this year, I believe my choice will be for the better.

I will still be updating my blog, since there will be plenty of stuff to write about this next year, and I will need your prayers more than ever.

Please be praying that:

• God will give us more time to reach the lost nations of the world. 50% of mankind still hasn't heard of Jesus Christ.
  
• My mind will be able to easily learn and retain all of the stuff I'm studying
• I will have the strength and courage to let everything go, and give myself entirely for the work of Jesus
  
• Japan will be sheltered from false teachers and liars and that their minds will be open to the good news
• I will have the wisdom and ability to hear God's call in what I must do
• If it is God's bidding, I will be able to go to Japan next year for a few months
• I will continually put my trust in God
• I will be able to get a good job
  
• I will be able to make enough funds to go next year

Thanks for everything, and I'll keep you posted!

Trev

Update (January 31st 2009)

Hey everyone! Good news!

I received information from TEAM, and it appears that there is an opportunity open for me to go to Japan from May to August. There are four different positions I could choose to be involved in;

• Missionary Trainee--Teach English and/or use the arts to assist a vibrant Japanese church in planting six new churches. Work under the leadership of an experienced church planter and study Japanese.
• English Language Teacher – Assist a missionary/Japanese team in establishing a new church by making contacts through teaching English conversation classes to adults and children.
• TEAM Guesthouse Host & Hostess – Manage TEAM’s 20 bed guesthouse in Tokyo, serving and welcoming missionaries and others from around the world.
• Outreach Assistant Using Music—Provide concentrated outreach through music in coffee houses. Provide extended outreach through music to thousands of Japanese that gather in a resort town in the mountains of central Japan.

As you would probably guess, I'm very excited!
I'm still waiting to hear from TEAM regarding my application, but this has helped me plan out what I need to do in order to get to Japan.
Somehow, I need to be able to raise $4800-$5500, depending on how long I'll be staying. I am positive that if God wants me to go to Japan, he will provide.
Please be praying that I will be able to land a reliable job soon, so I can start saving.

Peace,
Trev

Update

Hey everyone!

Sorry for such a long lapse of time between my updates.
Winter time turns me into a procrastinator.

My studies are coming along great; I can read and write Hiragana fluently, my Katakana is coming along nicely and I can carry a decent conversation in Japanese. Thanks for all your prayers!

For those who don't know, Japan uses three sets of characters (kana);

Hiragana- the most basic, it's used for writing native Japanese words.

Katakana- it's used for writing foreign words that have been adopted into Japanese. For instance, shower becomes shawaa and when written into Katakana becomes シャワー.

Kanji- Chinese characters. There are over nine-thousand of these. They relay thoughts and ideas. In order to read the average Japanese newspaper one would have to know some six-thousand Kanji.

Yesterday, I officially sent in my application to TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) and am eagerly awaiting a reply. I'm so excited by the possibility of going to Japan this Summer!

Please be praying that;

• I will get the opportunity to go to Japan this Summer
• I will be able to retain all the information I'm learning
• That I will continually put my trust in God
• And that I will be able to make enough funds to go

I will try to do better at keeping everyone updated.
Again, thanks for your prayers.

Peace,
Trev