Karl's Financial Blog

I just posted my numbers if you would like to see them.

Karl

http://kfriesen.blogspot.com/

Dec 2011 Update

Merry Christmas,

It’s been an interesting two years since I started this journey with Christ to serve long-term in Japan with SEND. Looking back over this past year I see the evidence of how God has provided for my needs...  While I was in Japan for 3 months this past summer God provided for my stay through the help of great friends which lowered the cost of extending my stay from 10 days to 3 months. I had decided to save extra money while I was working last year which was more than enough to pay for changing my flight home and other extra expenses. I have amazing parents who provide a place for me to live while I am in the partnership development phase of my ministry.  And, my home church and many individuals are now partnering with me in prayer and with their financial support.

My passion for Japan continues to grow; people are praying for the salvation of the Japanese people. As I read my Bible, it gives me a longing for everyone to understand the heart of God and that He loves us.

I am very appreciative for the many doors that have opened and the opportunities I have had to share one-on-one with individuals, small groups and large congregations.

A Year in Review

The tragedy of the tsunami in March of this year was overwhelming for anyone who has a connection to Japan.  For me, being stuck in Canada at the time and not being in the country to be a witness, knowing that many, many people were lost for all eternity, was heart wrenching. After watching the news reports the first day, I had to stay off the internet and didn’t watch TV for the first week so that I didn’t have to hear stories repeated over and over of the tragedy. Knowing that God loves all of the people that died and that most, if not all of them, didn’t know God personally was too difficult to watch and hear the reports again and again. I felt so helpless knowing there was so much work to be done; not having the means to be able to help still irks me today. Seeing the loss of life as a result of this disaster sometimes makes it difficult to see any good in it and question “was God in control?” 

Japan is a nation where less than one percent of the population has a relationship with Christ. Since March 2011, God has been opening up areas in Japan that haven’t had any witnesses for Him; many communities have had their needs met by allowing Christian relief organizations to come into their communities to help with the effort. It is encouraging to hear that today, because of this tragedy, churches are growing and slowly, people are seeking for God as they try to understand who they are and what it means to be in relationship with God. 

In November SEND missionaries followed up with the campers from the disaster area that came on scholarship to Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC) this summer.  These campers are now being connected to churches in their area. God is working in the hearts of the people through SEND International’s ministries. Please continue to pray that as the Japanese heal and life once again returns to normal, they will continue to seek after Christ and not choose the status-quo.

My summer in Japan was absolutely amazing. I was able to see my friends in northern Japan, see how their ministries have progressed since I was there and hear how God is working in their communities. I enjoyed visiting different SEND missionaries’ churches, serving alongside them in the disaster area and working at Okutama Bible Chalet with them. It was exciting to hear cabin leaders at OBC share stories of Christ working in the lives of their camper’s, some of whom have never heard the Gospel message before. I have always enjoyed working at camp; it was encouraging for me to hear that the staff of OBC want me to return to serve alongside them; it was very exciting to work with them and experience how God might use me as staff at OBC in the future. One of the camp highlights for me was participating in the father/son camp out where we hung out for three days together, enjoying the fellowship of others as we shared during the Bible studies, went river rafting, fishing and hiked together. It was great to see the dads investing time into their sons’ lives. Being back in Japan felt like being home once again, just as it was when I was living there in 2006-2007.

Looking to the Year Ahead

As the New Year approaches, there are still several requirements I need to fulfill with SEND prior to serving in Japan. First and foremost right now, I am required to attend Member Orientation Program (MOP) which is held in January or July. It really is my heart’s desire to reach the 50% mark of my monthly financial support by the beginning of December so that I can attend MOP in January.  Currently my support is short $275/month.  Later in 2012 I will be attending a language acquisition program to improve my understanding of my personal language learning needs and how I can most effectively learn the Japanese language.

Prayer Requests

Pray that I’ll continue to have a learning attitude as I travel on this journey to fulltime ministry.

Pray that I will continue to trust in God’s perfect timing, that He will open doors of opportunity for me to share with the right people and then that people would partner with me so that I can attend MOP training in January, 2012.

Pray for those who are hearing the gospel during this Christmas Season in churches, at Christmas events and celebrations and for the many people that will be sharing the real Reason for Christmas. Pray for attentive ears and soft hearts towards the message that will be shared.

Your brother in Christ, 

Karl