tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27388505201802402692024-03-05T14:11:49.440-08:00Karl in JapanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-65274116694157345792016-02-27T12:02:00.002-08:002016-02-27T12:02:19.767-08:00Karl was in Japan<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 52, 107); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #00346b; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light'; font-size: 24px; line-height: normal;">
Settling</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>First of all I want to thank you for your prayers, friendship and financial support.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reflecting upon the last half year I want to let you know that I am thriving in my new life here in Canada. I bought a car the day after I got back from Japan and went on a road trip to visit my brother and his family in Grand Forks. It was great to see his children and get to know my nephews and niece better. On the road trip I continued onto Calgary to connect with friends I made in Japan as well as pick up some of my stuff that was brought to Canada for me in anticipation of my return. The following week I started my Educational Assistant certificate classes at Columbia Bible College (CBC). By the end of September I found several guys that were looking for a place to live and we found a house for a really reasonable rent in Abbotsford.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have enjoyed my classes at CBC and am looking forward to starting my new career once my courses are finished in April. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work as an on-call education assistant at Pacific Academy in Surrey. It has been fun to work alongside other Christian teachers and students. During spring break in March I have the opportunity to assist in leading a team of grade 12 students to Chaing Mai, Thailand. I was first asked by a friend who works at Pacific Academy the first Sunday I was back at my church at that time I was still just getting my feet under me in Canada and the idea was overwhelming to me. Now I’m really looking forward to working alongside the students as they serve in a cross-cultural setting.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Every once in a while I do get into a mood of missing Japan in an unhealthy emotional way. At these times I have to remind myself of what a truthful recollection of Japan is. It involves both remembering the good things and treasuring them but also reminding myself of the difficulties that I experienced as well. They also happen less frequently than I expected compared to my return in ’07.</div>
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Thank you again for your support.</div>
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Your Brother in Christ, Karl Friesen</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-26142270766521247032015-08-20T14:38:00.002-07:002015-08-20T14:38:14.510-07:00August Update<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 52, 107); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #00346b; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light'; font-size: 24px;">
SCHOOL <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue UltraLight';">AND </span>SUMMER</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The school term has finished here at Torchbearers Yamanakako. It was a very fun season. We had a total of 16 student pass through our doors this term to learn from 10 different teachers that came to Torchbearers from around the world. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Work Day Wednesday was the weekly event that I enjoyed the most because it was the one day that I could spend any significant amount of time with the students which allowed me to get to know them as we worked on projects together at Torchbearers and in the local community. At graduation it was great to hear the students share about their experience, what they learned through the teaching while being removed from their home cultures. They not only increased their academic knowledge but also grown spiritually, more inline with who they have come to know God wants them to be. It was great to hear the students share their desire to potentially serve God here in Japan in the future but most of all to hear their desire to be a more effective witness back home.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>With the school being over, Torchbearers Yamanakako staff had two weeks for new staff orientation and prep for the summer season. This year our summer season is only spread over 6 weeks; essentially ending by August 24. During this time I am part of the meal prep crew which means I get to work in the kitchen putting together meals for our guests. It has been a lot of fun to work alongside the new summer staff and serving the Japanese church by providing a place to host retreats and camps.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>August 31st I’m getting on a plane for Canada. I have already started the weekly countdown and as it gets closer to the end of the month the daily countdown will begin. There will be a lot on my “to do” list before I leave, like emptying my bank account, packing and saying good bye to people and places. Once I’m in Canada I’ll have 14 days to find a car, job and a place to live before the first class for the Education Assistant Certificate at Columbia Bible College. I don’t know if I have set my schedule too tightly but I’m hoping it’s not.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is my last update from Japan and I want to thank you for your prayers and support as I have served here in Japan. This won’t be my last update I will write at least one more to confirm my arrival and my settling in in Canada.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thank you again Your Brother in Christ,</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Karl Friesen</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-55003458591904115362015-05-29T16:42:00.001-07:002015-05-29T16:42:49.090-07:00May Update<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 52, 107); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #00346b; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light'; font-size: 24px;">
CANADA <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue UltraLight';">AND </span>TORCHBEARERS</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In Mid-January I travelled back home to Abbotsford for a visit while Steve & Jen, Directors of Torchbearers Yamanakako, were back in Canada. It was a good time for me to connect with my supporters and church family; and to start preparing for my return to Canada at the end of my term with SEND Int. in August. On March 9th I returned back to Torchbearers Yamanakako in Japan.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>While I was home I enjoyed reconnecting with the members of my home church in Canada. The past two years the church has gone through a lot of changes. As The Life Centre seeks the Lord, I pray they receive a clear vision regarding its future.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have been asked by a supporter what my future plans are in relation to Japan. Right now I know at the end of my term I need to be back in Canada and engage in the church and serve my community to the best of my ability. I believe that using my teaching experience in Japan and the opportunity to return to school is a means for me to have a good career back in Canada.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I returned to Canada from Japan in 2007 I didn’t transition very well; I do not want this to happen to me again. So while I was home in January I knew it would be best for me to start making plans for my return. I applied to Columbia Bible College (CBC) in their 13 credit Education Assistant Program; I believed that this could be a very good fit with my teaching experience and I was accepted to attend CBC this fall. This is an opportunity for me build on the education I already have without committing a lot of time and money to additional studies. With the completion of this program I see the potential for me to work in two areas, either with students whose second language is English or with students that require assistance to be successful in school.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In April, Torchbearers Yamanakako has received more staff; two individuals have come from the United States for six months and another has come from India for two months. They have already been a great addition to our community; they have made the daily work load much lighter for the Torchbearer staff, enabling us to work on other projects for the Centre.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This month on May 7<span style="font-size: 7.3px;"><sup>th</sup></span>, the Torchbearers Yamanakako school season began; it runs until July 4<span style="font-size: 7.3px;"><sup>th</sup></span>. I am looking forward to a fun season of serving the students and providing hospitality to them while they attend classes by guest lecturers.</div>
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Please Pray</div>
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For my focus to be here at Torchbearers in Japan even though it is necessary for me to start making plans for school and work in the fall.</div>
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That the students will learn as much as they can during the two months they are studying in Japan.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-66509121742329604632015-01-05T16:44:00.000-08:002015-05-29T16:46:01.834-07:00January Update<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 52, 107); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #00346b; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light'; font-size: 24px;">
CHRISTMAS <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue UltraLight';">AND </span>NEW <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue UltraLight';">YEAR</span></div>
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The holiday season is over and for me it was a really good one. For Christmas day the staff at Torchbearers Yamanakako enjoyed breakfast together, then Steve, the director, took the staff out for lunch. In the afternoon I took some time to enjoy a bike ride around lake Yamanaka; I stopped at a local cafe and also took some Christmas photos of Mount Fuji. I was even able to say, “Hi,” to fellow SEND missionaries staying in the area. In the evening we had a gift exchange with the staff to cap off the day’s festivities.</div>
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For New Years Torchbearers Yamanakako runs its own retreat. The retreat provides a Christian alternative to all of the cultural religious obligations that happen over New Years in Japan. So from Dec. 30th to Jan. 2nd we were hosts to 30 some people for New Years. One of the highlights for me was that Rocky and Marla Ayatsuka lead worship for the retreat. I met them many years ago when I was working in Aomori. It was fun to connect with them again and they really encouraged me and my continued ministry in Japan. For the retreat one of my main jobs was providing transportation. I drove people to see Fuji at sunrise and sunset as well as getting people to the onsen where they could sit in the baths and enjoy the view of Fuji. It was a lot of fun connecting with the guests and serving them over the New Years festival season.</div>
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CANADA <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue UltraLight';">VISIT</span></div>
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January 14th I’ll be heading to Canada for a visit and work. Since the winters are so cold here in Yamanaka and the buildings aren’t very well insulated from the cold; it is more beneficial for Steve and Jen to visit Canada for the winter than to pay to heat the buildings.</div>
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Rather than hanging my hat at another missionary’s place for those two months Steve has asked me to also head to Canada to help with a few projects in Calgary and attend the Reaching Japanese for Christ conference in L.A. to represent Torchbearers Yamanakako with them.</div>
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While not helping Steve and Jen with Torchbearers stuff I’m looking forward to connecting with my supporters and church family. I am also planning on attending Missionsfest Vancouver at the end of January which is always a highlight for me. I’ll be returning to Japan on March 9. Then we will start prep for Torchbearers' spring Bible school and continue to serve the church in Japan by hosting retreats and groups.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-32584465125681273692014-11-18T17:18:00.002-08:002014-11-18T17:18:51.694-08:00November Update<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 52, 107); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #00346b; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light'; font-size: 24px;">
SUMMER</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This summer was lots of fun at Okutama Bible Chalet. Many groups come to OBC; they enjoy the summer camp program which says to me that camp was a success.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The highlight for the summer was the fact that my mom and dad took vacation time to come out and visit me in Japan. They were able to see the ministry of OBC and I had the opportunity to be a tourist with them as well. While being tourists in the Mt. Fuji area we visited Jenn and Steve Frentz at the Torchbearer Yamanakako campus where they work; mom and dad hosted Jenn and Steve when they travelled through the Abbotsford area while I was getting ready to go to Japan with SEND Int. The highlight during my mom and dad’s visit was hiking Mt. Fuji. It was cloudy at the base but once we hiked for about 3 hours we were above the clouds and it was a beautiful day. Unfortunately neither mom nor dad made it to the top but we still enjoyed each other’s company on the way up until they had to turn around. Mom hiked up for 2.5 hours until she was too wet from the light drizzle of rain and dad hiked to the 8th station which is an hour from the top; he had to turn around because of altitude sickness. Dad and I have already talked about attempting it again during their next visit.</div>
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TORCHBEARERS</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span>Last month my ministry changed and I have joined the staff at Torchbearers Yamanakako near Mount Fuji. I’ve only been here for two weeks and a staff member just got news from home that his family needs him to return to Canada. Torchbearers is already under staffed; if I had not been reassigned to serve here, Torchbearers would be really struggling to maintain the quality of service that they want to give to their guests. I see how God has moved me to where I am most needed rather than necessarily where I felt at home.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One opportunity I have had is to serve a local Christian who has been having some health issues on the farming plot near his home. Mr. Shimizu is a great guy and is a great witness to his neighbours. Because Braydon and I are foreigners working with him, we get a lot of attention from his neighbours which gives him the freedom to share where we are from and why we are helping him. He is also very generous with the produce of his land with his neighbours. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Before my reassignment within SEND to Torchbearers Yamanakako I took some time to reflect about my call to serve in Japan and I was reminded of the fact that God continually asks me to hold “Japan” with open hands. I have to be available to where and when God wants to move me here in Japan or back in Canada. I may be here in Japan for a short season or years but the primary focus and the reason for me to serve is to reach the lost; and that can be done anywhere He asks me to go.</div>
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Please pray as I have moved and I am adjusting to my new living arrangements at Torchbearers Yamanakako.</div>
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Please pray for the OBC staff as they adjust to one less staff member to cover all of the daily tasks.</div>
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Please pray for Torchbearers Yamanakako staff as we go through our own staffing transitions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-74575476075136088652014-03-12T21:26:00.002-07:002014-03-12T21:26:50.558-07:00March Update<div style="color: #00346b; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light'; font-size: 24px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">December</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Hello Friends,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Early December OBC staff did a ministry trip to Sendai City in Miyagi ken. We organized an advent presentation sharing the reason why Christians celebrate Christmas. Those serving in the East Tohoku have a very special opportunity to share the love Christ with the people displaced since the tsunami. It was a joy to serve at the temporary housing facilities and it was encouraging to see what has been rebuilt since the last time I was there in July 2011.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In mid-December I attended the Christmas concert at Tachikawa Station Front Church. One of the volunteers from Adult English Camp last summer invited former campers to attend. It was fun to see so many, we all enjoyed a good time of visiting, reconnecting and supper together afterwards.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Just before New Year’s I had the opportunity to go to Disney Tokyo; I really enjoy Disneyland. I even got to see the Captain Eo movie, with Michel Jackson, which I saw at the Anaheim Disneyland 20 years ago. Although it was great fun to see something in Japan I remember enjoying as a child, it wasn’t as good as I remember it...maybe I had bad taste as a child.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">January</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">At the beginning of the month I picked up my primary vehicle, a 250cc Suzuki Volty. It’s a little smaller than the motorbike I had in Canada but much newer and rode it until </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnWeR2DJsHQrnrIdayoCUz9duHW-gkVRU7xVEtq8SEn0LOUo2ZAuzDKzvfjN6UA2EfRZcjo43GcJA_y7i2MRNmalGC2HXko1JoUCi3UEq-QR5pvmHMefeuj_QB2UKMgMc6rCDDT7fWgg/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnWeR2DJsHQrnrIdayoCUz9duHW-gkVRU7xVEtq8SEn0LOUo2ZAuzDKzvfjN6UA2EfRZcjo43GcJA_y7i2MRNmalGC2HXko1JoUCi3UEq-QR5pvmHMefeuj_QB2UKMgMc6rCDDT7fWgg/s1600/photo-2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />the snow came. Now I’m waiting for the snow to melt and roads clear.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">With the help of Angela May, the SEND language coordinator, I have a language tutor that I have been connecting with on a weekly basis. I was also introduced to a new community run Japanese class which is run very well. I find it a little frustrating at times; I am more advanced than a beginner but not advanced enough to formulate sentences without long pauses.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I've even found a group of people to play squash with. This was a sport I enjoyed before I came to Japan; it is fun and I don't need any language skills to play. I'm definitely not the best player there but I think the players find me entertaining because I am faster than they expect and there is only one other left-hand player at the club that I have met. Squash is also fun way to connect with people outside of camp and the church.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This was the month for snow; it actually snowed twice here in Tokyo. The first snowfall broke a 45-year old record with over a foot of snow. The second snowfall broke a 120-year old record; here in the Tama Valley this meant all means of transportation was on lock down. Even if I could have gotten the car out of the driveway I couldn’t have gone anywhere except to maybe the grocery store which is only a 10 minute walk from my house. Two-lane highways were reduced to single lanes and the streets by my house were reduced to not much more than single lane traffic so driving wasn’t much of an option. The trains didn’t run up the valley for a whole week after the second snowfall because of downed trees and 7 meters of snow blocking the entrance to one of the tunnels. It may have been pretty but I was stuck at home for 4 days.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This month is the time when things starts up again at OBC. We still have snow piles on the property but the ume (green plum) trees are blooming and the cherry trees should only be a few weeks behind. On the 22nd we will have our first OBC sponsored camp, an International Soccer Camp, following this is the Japanese soccer camp and spring break Bible camp.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There is a staff change happening at OBC this year which will mean something new for me. Chris Milby our English camps coordinator is retiring so I have been asked to take on this position. The soccer camps will the first camp running after I start this job. It is my responsibility to communicate with the directors of our English speaking camps. I expect the learning curve to be a little steep but I have plenty of support people to back me up here in the OBC office.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And, with Chris retiring from the mission field, I’ll also be teaching her two English classes on Monday afternoons. Besides playing squash, this will be another opportunity where I will enjoy getting to know more new people here in Japan.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Your Brother in Christ,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Karl Friesen</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-44237096668450447972013-10-09T23:07:00.003-07:002013-10-09T23:07:44.205-07:00October 2013<br />
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<span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue Light; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">HAPPY </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">THANKSGIVING</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The summer is well over and the fall is in full swing. The summer was a privilege for me to see what God is doing through the ministry of Okutama Bible Chalet. For most of summer I served in a support role managing the grounds crew cleaning up after guests and campers. I also, got to hear stories from the Joy Bible Camp cabin leaders sharing how our camp theme, of being “Treasured” by God, was a huge encouragement for to campers and their self image. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For OBC’s English Bible Camps, ESL camps, I had the opportunity to help with the programing since starting next spring I’ll be responsible for being to liaison between OBC and the volunteers that run our English programming including Soccer Camp, Joy and English Bible Camps. The biggest highlight for me was hearing of a Christian grandmother, who participates in our Adult English Camp, bringing her granddaughter to the teen’s english camp and for the last few years. This year the granddaughter acknowledged Christ as her saviour and now the grandmother has the opportunity to disciple her own granddaughter in Christ. God is moving in the hearts here in Japan.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jci6HasHgXrLtfYgk7zDqBf9UOLF3rCV9oGLbV89pc7dXvMCnWVKzKA7y4XjJVvAA1thKYYmGKcXbg6V2jppaGIm3YetWzYpwVs8dKIuj7l9TTDt6pQwXZSx6Hf6pNIcEQtZ3o3CgOk/s1600/531857_595531813832720_459192103_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jci6HasHgXrLtfYgk7zDqBf9UOLF3rCV9oGLbV89pc7dXvMCnWVKzKA7y4XjJVvAA1thKYYmGKcXbg6V2jppaGIm3YetWzYpwVs8dKIuj7l9TTDt6pQwXZSx6Hf6pNIcEQtZ3o3CgOk/s200/531857_595531813832720_459192103_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The other camp I was directly involved in was our parent and child out camp. We use the wooded area next to OBC as our base camp. Over the weekend we went river rafting, fishing and hiking. Historically we usually have dads and their son but this year we had our first family. It was a family of five with an eight year old son and two four year old daughters. It was lots of fun playing with the kids and helping out the girls by being “it” for them because they couldn’t catch the boys. We also had a father/son pair from two years ago when I was at OBC. It was neat to see them again and getting to know them better.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Currently camp has slowed down a bit allowing me to attend two community Japanese classes.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thank you to all of you that have been faithfully giving and for all of your prayers.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Your Brother in Christ,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Karl Friesen</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-5158012616488235652013-06-15T22:45:00.000-07:002013-07-25T22:45:41.228-07:00I am in Japan<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I've made it to Japan. I arrived on May 27th since then I've gone through a day of orientation, moved out to Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC) and have found an apartment and moved in. Getting all of my paperwork in order has gone very smoothly. In the last few days I've registered my address with the city office, opened a bank account and now have a cell phone. All I really need to do now is transfer my driver’s license.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Monday, June 17th, will be the start of Joy Bible Camp our ministry to English speaking children. Our theme this year is Treasured from beginning of Isaiah 43:40; "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you." Please pray for safety as we have fun and share the love of Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I've had the opportunity for the last two weeks to attend Ozaku Christ Church. It has been a privilege to be a part of this Christian community. I'll be involved attending there and participating as much as possible when it doesn't contradict with my obligations at OBC.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Your Brother in Christ,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Karl Friesen</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-21685526433142421232013-04-05T22:41:00.001-07:002013-04-05T22:41:21.165-07:00Spring Update<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">WHAT </span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">HAS </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">HAPPENED</span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It’s been a very long time since I last wrote an update. In my update last fall, I informed my supporters that SEND and my mentor thought it would be beneficial for me to take a season of mentorship; we have worked through Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby this past winter. It’s been a very good time of refocusing on God.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The quotes that stood out the most to me while working through Experiencing God were about the importance of my relationship with God and how I can’t be passive about it;</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“God loves you. He wants to have an intimate relationship with you. He wants you to depend on Him when you seek a word from Him. He wants you to learn to hear His voice and know His will. Your relationship with Him is key to hearing when God speaks to you.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Remember, you will know what you should do through your relationship with God. Never bypass the relationship.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“He may want to develop a deeper relationship with you before He gives you your next assignment. He may have you wait because the timing is not right.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>While reading through Psalms and Proverbs in my devotions, during my time in Experiencing God, I read in Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT); My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For me this has been a season of discipline; no, I wasn’t a “bad” child of God but I wasn’t a “good” child of God either. It was a time when I heard God telling me to smarten up, put my focus back on Him and how He wants me do that. God doesn’t only discipline his children when they are morally wrong, he also has the right to correct us if he thinks there is an opportunity for improvement. It is our choice to respond to the correction that God brings into our lives. At first I knew I needed to submit to the authority of the Personnel Director and my mentor; now I’m grateful for this growing opportunity that has resulted.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">WHAT </span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">IS </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">GOING </span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">TO </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">HAPPEN</span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Last fall while taking time to refocus, my previous Certificate of Entry(COE) papers expired so at the beginning of March a fresh application was sent to Japan. This has been an act of affirmation for me from the SEND personnel department and the SEND Japan office that I’m ready to serve in Japan. The application is for a 27 month term starting by June 1st, which, means I’ll be in Japan for 3 summer seasons at Okutama Bible Chalet to fully use my experience in camp ministry. During my last long-term service in Japan I found that the last three months were the best because I knew what to expect and l liked knowing what to expect. I’m anticipating a similar experience this next term. I am looking forward to the opportunity of serving the church in Japan as well.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Currently I am working at EV Logistics as a product selector which means I drive a motorized pallet jack, selecting product and stacking skids of perishable food for the Overwaitea Food Group. Most days I’m working in the freezer and I am really starting to enjoy the job. I have passed my probation period which is an answer to prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">WHAT </span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">HAS </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">HAPPENED </span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">TO </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">MY </span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">SUPPORT?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I have been asked this question a number of times. The short answer is that it is still accumulating in an account designated for me once I arrive in Japan. The long answer is these funds will be first used for initial costs (flight, accommodations...) and the balance will be divided by 27 and will become monthly support. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Since my arrival was cancelled in the fall I put aside all of my networking activities. My desire is to do the Father’s will. Please pray for me as I reconnect with my supporters and that I will honour Him in how I network during these last months.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-39287742691694582232012-08-13T01:00:00.001-07:002012-08-13T01:00:25.596-07:00August Update - I have the Go<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Please permit me to share some really good news; I have received the “GO” from the SEND Japan office to go to Japan this fall. The last several weeks SEND Canada, SEND Japan and I have been in communication with each other about my anticipated arrival in Japan. In my last update I indicated that I needed to raise just under half of my monthly financial support; no, I do not have 100% of my support, however, SEND Japan is inviting me to serve at Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC) in Tokyo for a 2-year term while several full-time staff are on consecutive home service 2 years.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I will be serving at OBC and doing language studies part-time so a large portion of my out-going support that was designated for 2 years of full-time language studies has been freed up for other areas of my ministry support. There is still a need for financial support totaling $8792 over the next 2 years (or $365 per month for 2 years). This is very exciting for me.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At the end of the two-year term I am hoping to continue ministry in Japan as a “tent maker”, one who financially provides for his own ministry, by teaching English. This is not the “ideal” situation but through discussions with friends and trusted advisers this past month it seems that this may be the direction God is leading me. A job as an English kindergarten teacher during the weekday could potentially free my evenings and weekends for ministry and connecting with the Japanese people.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>While I writing this letter, the visa application forms from the SEND Japan office have arrived!!! I will complete the forms and forward them to the SEND Japan office where the process will be completed. My understanding is that it can take 1.5 to 3 months before I get the approved documents and then I take them to the Japanese consulate in Vancouver for my Visa to be stamped in my passport. So, sometime in the next 3 months I will be on a plane to Japan. The last time I went to serve in Japan for more than a year was Sept. 26, 2006. It’s hard for me to believe that it has been 6 years since I first really met and got to know Japanese people one on one. Through those relationships my heart desires more than ever to see the Japanese national church grow even more.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">PLANTS <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue UltraLight';">in </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light'; letter-spacing: 0px;">Toronto</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This month I’ll be going to Toronto for the Principles of Language Acquisition: Natural Tools & Strategies (PLANTS), this course will prepare me to learn Japanese in the most efficient way for me. While in Toronto I have made plans to connect with a number of Japanese churches in the area. I am looking forward to sharing with a new community of believers of where God is leading me to serve in Japan.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On another note…a little less than a year after demolition started on Family House at Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC), the new Ome House its replacement, is now complete; the keys were handed over on August 6</span><span style="font: 8.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">. Ome House will provide new office space and another floor of dorms that the previous building didn’t have.</span></div>
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<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The last of my financial support will come in quickly</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Wisdom and God’s leading as I share during these last months here in Canada</span></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-73683682343930593422012-05-29T14:55:00.001-07:002012-05-29T14:55:56.945-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The other day I posted a <a href="http://www.glosson.org/2012/05/being-different/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000099; text-decoration: underline;">blog by Megumi Glosson</span></a> on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/karlinjapan"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000099; text-decoration: underline;">Facebook page</span></a>, about 違う, chigau, the Japanese word for different and wrong. She wrote that because there is no difference between these words in the Japanese language, there is a strong negative view of being different. In Japanese culture because of 違う, chigau, there is a very strong sense of community and conformity, which results in a morality based on the group rather than the individual’s values. Also, since being different is looked down upon, standing out as a Christian can be difficult in Japan. One of my friends asked me after reading Megumi's blog, “if the church has difficulty with contextualization?” My natural reaction to the question would be yes, but now I think I am wrong…here are my thoughts…</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Because community is so important to the Japanese, the church strives to build community for its members. One example I have seen in all but one church I have visited is that the congregants have a meal together after every service as a way of building community.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Another way the church has tried to be culturally relevant is by using popular media to reach their nation. Manga (comics) is one of the most popular mediums for entertainment in Japan and has covered every genre, from classic folk tales to adult entertainment. The Bible has been produced into a number of manga volumes. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga_Bible_(series)"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000099; text-decoration: underline;">Manga Bible</span></a> has become a very useful evangelistic tool and I’ve met people that have become seekers through reading the Manga Bible. Christian stories have also been produced by manga artists. In popular music the worship band <a href="http://youtu.be/mYjhmkeS2qA"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000099; text-decoration: underline;">Growing Up</span></a> has produced great worship music for the Japanese. They are known to use traditional Japanese instruments which are being popularized by contemporary artists.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the summer of 2007, Power to Change alongside the Japanese church put on their own “Power to Change” outreach campaign in Japan called Power for Living which was very similar to the Power to Change campaign in North America in the mid 1990‘s. For this campaign they produced television commercials and a book that included the testimonies of well-known Christians in Japan as an evangelistic tool.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">These are just a few examples of how I believe the church in Japan is trying not to appear 違う, chigau, from those in the communities around them.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Check out my <a href="http://kfriesen.blogspot.ca/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000099; text-decoration: underline;">Financial Blog</span></a> to see my support stats.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I also posted a video this month, I hope you enjoy a <a href="http://youtu.be/Q6bMxfxiUMk"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000099; text-decoration: underline;">Quick May Update</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Your brother in Christ,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Karl Friesen</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-44676617095324047232012-05-23T12:34:00.001-07:002012-05-23T12:34:32.301-07:00May Update<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q6bMxfxiUMk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-89683829110968605532012-03-24T13:31:00.000-07:002012-03-24T13:31:30.426-07:00March Update<div style="color: #0e3567; font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue Light; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">CELL </span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">CHURCH </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">PLANTING</span></div><div style="color: #0e3567; font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue Light; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In my past updates I’ve talked about the effectiveness of camp ministry; having said this however, it has become clear to me that camp ministry is not church but a tool that can be used to build the church. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At both the Member Orientation Program (MOP) and the Reaching Japanese for Christ (RJC) conference there were sessions about cell church planting. At RJC Richard Nakamura, a fellow SEND missionary to Japan, shared of his experience in a cell church plant in East Tokyo. He and his wife focus their ministry on discipleship and mentoring the people in their faith. One aspect of their ministry is to train others to share their story so they can go out into the community and share their faith. The purpose is not to bring people to "church" but to bring Jesus to the people. There are many dysfunctional families in Japan; the Nakamura’s hope is that a close, small group environment models what healthy relationships can look like. When they meet together, they study the Word in participatory Bible studies, they pray, sing and encourage each other, etc. Their house church plant started in Shin-Koiwa and has grown into a network of four churches. Although each house church is independent, the network is important, they depend on and hold each other accountable, they encourage and support one another. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>SEND’s mission statement is “to mobilize God’s people to engage the unreached in order to establish reproducing churches”. Whether through camp or in a cell church, our mission is to establish reproducing churches. Would you help me join the frontline team in establishing reproducing churches?</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #0e3567; font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue Light; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">JUNE </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">DEADLINE </span><span style="font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue Light; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">FOR </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">OCTOBER</span></div><div style="color: #0e3567; font: 24.0px Helvetica Neue UltraLight; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Determining a departure date –</span></div><ul><li style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">SEND Japan asks missionaries to arrive a few weeks before the beginning of language school</span></li>
<li style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The visa process takes 3 months and is needed before departure</span></li>
<li style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The visa process cannot begin before the missionary is at 85% of required support.</span></li>
</ul><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My departure date –</span></div><ul><li style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I need to arrive in mid September for language school in October</span></li>
<li style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I need to begin the visa process in June</span></li>
<li style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I need another $1,800 pledged to bring me to 85%. </span></li>
</ul><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Prayer Requests:</span></div><ul><li style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The continued relief effort in northern Japan and that Christ will be spoken of boldly there.</span></li>
<li style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That I’ll continue to seek God’s guidance as I learn about cell church planting in Japan.</span></li>
<li style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That people will prayerfully consider becoming involved with me in ministry to the Japanese through prayer and finances.</span></li>
</ul><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Your Brother in Christ,</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Karl Friesen</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-88413575988444619512012-02-24T10:23:00.000-08:002012-02-24T10:23:24.257-08:00A must watchVery good video on ministry after disaster and hope in Christ.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/June/After-Japan-Quake-Pastor-Finds-New-Purpose/" target="_blank">http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/June/After-Japan-Quake-Pastor-Finds-New-Purpose/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-82980919480938574812012-01-13T17:07:00.000-08:002012-01-13T17:07:00.653-08:00TwitterI've created a Twitter account you can follow me at @karlinjapan.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-18344063203713977442012-01-12T12:41:00.000-08:002012-01-12T12:41:10.288-08:00Facebook PageCheck out the freshest info on what's happening.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/karlinjapan" target="_blank">Karl Friesen with Send International</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-14042383008242083862012-01-10T09:29:00.000-08:002012-01-10T09:29:38.182-08:00Jan. 2012 Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">Here is the PDF of my <a href="http://www.wemakestuffhappen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/12-01-03-karlinjapan2.pdf" target="_blank">Jan. Update</a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy New Year</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">I hope that you had a really great Christmas with your family and friends, that you were able celebrate Jesus’ birth with your church and have created wonderful memories with your family. I trust this coming year will be one that opens new doors, doors beyond your wildest dreams; I certainly am praying that 2012 will be just this for me!</span><br />
<div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Bringing in the New Year in Japan is a time when families gather to practice Shinto rites worshiping their ancestors. In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_New_Year" target="_blank">Buddhist temples</a> all over Japan when the clock strikes midnight, the priests ring their bell 108 times believing this is the way to be forgiven for the sins of the previous year. New Years is the time that most Japanese visit both the Shinto shrine and the Buddhist temple in anticipation of the New Year to obtain good luck for the coming year.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">With New Years being a family event, there can be pressure to participate in Shinto rites. Many Christians meet in their churches on December 31st and January 1st to give Christians a reason not to be home and participate in the Shinto worship. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As Christians we know that it’s only through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary that there is forgiveness for our sins. The prayer of my heart is that the Japanese people will look to Christ for forgiveness of their sin rather than the Shinto and Buddhist cultural traditions.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My next step is going to Member Orientation Program (MOP) which I’ll be attending this month. It feels like I’ve been talking about MOP forever. It is the cross-cultural/ministry training aspect of my preparation for serving in Japan. It will also give me a better understanding of how SEND functions as an organization. It’s exciting to finally be able to attend and get one more step closer to serving in Japan.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My monthly support is about 46%; the standard policy for SEND is to be at 50% before allowing its members to attend MOP. SEND believes that I should be serving in Japan so they are sending me to MOP this January.</span></div><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">1 to 69</span></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I have created a <a href="http://www.wemakestuffhappen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/12-01-03-karlinjapan2.pdf" target="_blank">visual</a>, by adding the numbers from 1 to 94, each square represents potential partnerships. The sum equals my total monthly support. Since $2051 is promised, the red squares represent my present partners.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The sum of the black squares 1 to 69 is $2413, the remaining amount of my monthly support needed. A financial partnership with me could be a combination of more than one square. Once I have 100% of my support I will have completed the partnership development phase of my ministry and will be able to go to Japan!</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Please pray...</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">- How God would want you to partner with me as I serve in Japan. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">- That my support base will reach 100% by June 2012 so that I can serve in Japan soon thereafter.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">- For me as I travel to and from MOP.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Feel free to contact me if I can pray for you.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Your Brother in Christ,</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="p://www.facebook.com/pages/Karl-Friesen-with-SEND-International/314439665234279" target="_blank">Karl Friesen</a></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
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</div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-87118197135798518532011-12-05T13:33:00.000-08:002011-12-05T13:33:21.350-08:00Karl's Financial BlogI just posted my numbers if you would like to see them.<br />
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Karl<br />
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<a href="http://kfriesen.blogspot.com/">http://kfriesen.blogspot.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-11373831482160145082011-12-02T17:17:00.000-08:002011-12-02T17:17:04.630-08:00Dec 2011 Update<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas,</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: small;">A Year in Review</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>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?” </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>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.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: small;">Looking to the Year Ahead</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>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.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: small;">Prayer Requests</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pray that I’ll continue to have a learning attitude as I travel on this journey to fulltime ministry.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">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.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Your brother in Christ, </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Karl </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-81896655041983244442011-10-30T22:58:00.000-07:002011-10-30T22:58:34.164-07:00Oct Karl in Japan<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">A Note From Friends</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lord, Send Us Laborers for Your Harvest</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” Matthew 9:38<br />
<br />
The summer of 2011 was an amazing period of ministry for Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC), which is the camp and retreat ministry of SEND International in Japan. Over 420 children and young people attended our sponsored camps during that time. Many came from Japanese churches which relate to camp, but others came who had no background in the Bible or Christianity. These kids live in a highly sophisticated yet idolatrous culture which does not recognize God as God. A few have not even heard the name, Jesus. The need of these young ones is great. <br />
<br />
After the summer I have given thought to the needs of our ministry in the years ahead. I believe God is stirring the nation of Japan through the earthquake and tsunami that took place on March 11th this year and that the impact of that event will continue to be felt in this society for years to come. I believe some Japanese hearts are being opened to consider God, the Creator, and His Word. <br />
<br />
Four years ago God gave OBC a ministry vision called “Next Generation for Christ.” And, He has allowed our ministry to expand our capacity with a new three story facility to be completed by the summer of 2012. “Next Generation for Christ” is not about buildings, but it seems that God is preparing our ministry for greater harvest than we have seen in the past. We have been asking God to send us the spiritual workers that we need to bring in that harvest and to establish the next generation of His church in Japan.<br />
<br />
God sent Karl to us this past summer and made him a significant part of reaching children and youth for Christ. Karl is a biblical “John Mark” for whom Paul made special request (II Tim. 4:11) that he be sent to him for the ministry that he was doing. Karl is a knowledgeable and gifted camp worker. He shows faithfulness in the tasks he is given. I ask that you pray for Karl and consider being a partner with Karl in His harvest in Japan through Okutama Bible Chalet’s ministry.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOon2Dg-0JlpsFnEBSJcbgbaF81UhTH_dleHw9urdxCc213-VsVevZLfR-6OSQMpbOb7rEwrtWLA3Ewc5GGYWKrwgcV3vJMPmg9Drj5wN4oEzh1yqQuAXzcsx9c2nahpr7VbPVdXVgE0/s1600/CCIJapan+2010+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOon2Dg-0JlpsFnEBSJcbgbaF81UhTH_dleHw9urdxCc213-VsVevZLfR-6OSQMpbOb7rEwrtWLA3Ewc5GGYWKrwgcV3vJMPmg9Drj5wN4oEzh1yqQuAXzcsx9c2nahpr7VbPVdXVgE0/s200/CCIJapan+2010+023.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>Bruce and Laura Harris <br />
Director of Okutama Bible Chalet<br />
Missionaries with SEND International Japan<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">OBC Grounds Grew</span> <br />
<br />
Working at Okutama Bible Chalet for 3 months this summer was a really great opportunity for me, however when I first heard that OBC was on less than one acre of land I couldn’t imagine how they would do “camp” on such a small piece of property. Being from North America, I’ve seen camp in action mostly on large acreage, however now that I’ve seen the OBC site in use and even seen groups of over one hundred using the facility at any given time, a whole lot of camp can run on even the “small” acreage that OBC has. <br />
<br />
Wide games use the entire property, you don’t have to worry about kids going out of bounds because the boundaries are the property lines that are quite defined; the property is bordered by a forest on three sides and the bank down to the road on the fourth side. Bob McKemey, one of the previous directors, not only designed games that use the property to its fullest potential but also gave the games a narrative which is very useful for motivating Japanese children to participate in the games. <br />
<br />
When I served at OBC, I was on the grounds crew; this included cleaning a lot of bathrooms, multi-purpose rooms and the dorms, doing the dishes and being available to complete the tasks around the property. One of the responsibilities of the grounds crew was leading the river rafting activity; I really enjoyed this a lot. By the end of the summer I went down the river with campers almost 20 times and jumped off the cliff along the river over 60 times which was a ton of fun.<br />
<br />
I am really looking forward to the time when I’ll be in Japan long term, when I am able to be involved at OBC through all four seasons, see the year round ministry of OBC and perhaps other opportunities that God may have for me.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">Sharing at TLC</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">On Oct. 23rd I had an opportunity to share my passion and God’s calling on my life to fulltime ministry in Japan during the morning service with my home church, The Life Centre. Following the service I served a Japanese meal I had prepared in advance of currey rice, mabo dofu and yaki soba as a fundraiser by donation to around 60 people. It was a very encouraging opportunity for me to share with “my church”. I had a lot of people help serve; it was so encouraging to see that many people wanted to see the lunch be a success.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Even though on paper I was a missionary being sent by The Life Centre, it now “feels” official knowing that the Life Centre congregation has heard me share of my passion for Japan and my ministry opportunity at Okutama Bible Chalet.</span> <br />
Your Brother in Christ, <br />
Karl FriesenUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-59382378862671041752011-10-17T09:43:00.000-07:002011-10-17T09:43:49.987-07:00A Note Sent to My Church<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Hello Life Centre Family,</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I wanted to send a note to let my church family know that I’ve been given the opportunity to share during the Sunday morning worship service at The Life Centre on Oct 23</span><span style="font: 8.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><sup>rd</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> about my ministry opportunity. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I haven’t been able to personally connect with everyone in the church but I would like to give all of you an opportunity to hear what my future ministry will be. I’ll be serving in Japan with SEND International, a nondenominational Evangelical mission organization. Once I have completed my language studies, I hope to be assigned to serve the Japanese church through camp ministry at Okutama Bible Chalet, thus giving the Japanese people an opportunity to know Christ outside of their everyday lives. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 36.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If you would like to know more about my future ministry with SEND, please go to <a href="http://karl-in-japan.blogspot.com/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #0029e9; text-decoration: underline;">http://karl-in-japan.blogspot.com/</span></a> where I post my updates and partner development information. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After the service on Oct 23</span><span style="font: 8.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><sup>rd</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">, I plan to serve lunch as a fundraiser which will go towards my outgoing costs. Please come even if you aren’t able to leave a donation and enjoy some of my favorite Japanese flavors. There will be no seaweed or raw fish since these are not my favorites. For dessert I’ll be serving pumpkin pie which I learned to make in Japan and some of my favorite Japanese flavored homemade ice cream.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thank you. I look forward to sharing with you, </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Karl Friesen</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">All are welcome to come church starts at 10:30 and lunch will start at about 12:00</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-70016598909852525592011-10-05T23:54:00.000-07:002011-10-05T23:55:19.516-07:00Karl in Japan Sept. 2011 Update<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">WHY I STAYED LONGER</span><br />
My original plan was to stay for two weeks when I went to Japan in June to reconnect with my friends in Aomori and acquaint myself with SEND Japan by serving as a volunteer for one week at Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC). It didnʼt quite go as I planned; this was a good thing. Once I was nearing the end of my original departure date I was given the opportunity to stay longer, continue serving at OBC and attend the SEND Japan conference which would give me the opportunity to meet and get to know more SEND missionaries serving in Japan. I extended my time to mid-July.<br />
<br />
My time at the conference was really a good time of teaching by Chris Thomas of Torchbearers International whom I have had the privilege of hearing speak while studying at Capernwray Harbour on Vancouver Island 8 years ago. As I neared my July departure date and OBC looked at their staffing requirements, it became evident that they would be short staff for the remainder of the summer season if the head grounds crew and I both left OBC in July. OBC contacted SEND Canada to get their approval for me to extend my stay once again. SEND Canada affirmed this and once again I changed my flight so that I could continue at OBC to the end of the summer season. With this extension it also gave me an opportunity to serve on a SEND missionary 5-day relief trip to the Japanese that were affected by the earthquake and tsunami in March.<br />
<br />
Serving this summer was not just a great time but a tremendous affirmation to me of my <br />
calling to serve the church in Japan long-term. I am looking forward to future opportunities to<br />
serve in Japan.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">SERVING AND SEEING</span> <br />
As the SEND relief team drove northeast of Tokyo, the highways were open to traffic but travel was slow due to the number of people traveling north trying to get to communities that still desperately needed help with the disaster relief. My team served for three days in the city of Ishinomaki. We served in many practical ways; I personally spent all three days removing dead trees in the yards of two homes that were killed by the salt water from the tsunami. Other <br />
missionaries on my team were able to pray with the people we were serving and encourage them.<br />
<br />
On the third day we went for a short visit to the town of Onagawa, one of the communities that was hit the hardest by the tsunami that devastated Japan in March 2011 to see for myself how bad the destruction really was. As we drove to this town, sandbags lined the front of homes and<br />
businesses to holdback high tide. Sections of road were rebuilt at least one foot higher than<br />
they were originally constructed due to the fact that this region had dropped as much as 170 cm because of the earthquake and now the high tides were washing into homes because of the drop in elevation. I was shocked by the extent of the destruction; I was overwhelmed by the evidence of lives lost as we entered the town proper.<br />
<br />
Our first stop was at the hospital parking lot which overlooks the community’s harbor and<br />
downtown core 50 feet below. One of the first things I noticed as a result of the tsunami was<br />
the complete and widespread destruction of the city’s commercial and industrial buildings;<br />
currently there is no trade or commerce here.<br />
<br />
Even the hospital parking lot wasn’t spared; there were cars found flipped upside down after<br />
the tsunami rushed through. We drove through the ruins while our guide clarified the true loss for this community. She told us that 1,500 people were killed and another 1,500 were lost in the tsunami. The hardest thing for me to hear was that there was only one Christian witness in this community of 10,000 people which meant that 30% of this community was lost for all eternity. There are not enough willing Christian workers to serve in Japan.<br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">SEND ME</span> <br />
Member Orientation Program (MOP) is the 2nd mandatory training session required by SEND missionaries once 50% monthly support is promised by our Partners. I am so grateful to God for my friends and family that have already committed to supporting me, but in order to attend the next MOP in the New Year I still need about $1000 per month promised by Nov 30th. After MOP I’ll receive my departure date for long-term ministry in Japan. Please prayerfully consider how you might partner with me and SEND’s ministry in Japan. If you are unable to give at this time, please continue to pray with me for Japan. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Sept. 2011 PARTNER STATS.</span><br />
Committed Prayer Supporters - 24<br />
Prayer Supporters still needed - 6<br />
<br />
28.2% - Monthly Support pledged ($1,260)<br />
71.8% - Monthly Support still needed ($3,205)<br />
<br />
52.7% - Out Going Costs covered ($27,398.38)<br />
47.3% - Out Going Costs still needed ($24,620.38)<br />
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Your brother in Christ, <br />
Karl Friesen <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">CONTACT INFO.</span> <br />
SEND International - Canada <br />
#1-22423 Jefferies Road<br />
RR #5, Komoka, Ont.<br />
N0L 1R0<br />
<a href="http://www.sendcanada.org/">http://www.sendcanada.org/</a><br />
1-888-918-5036<br />
<br />
Home<br />
2946 Cardinal Place<br />
Abbotsford BC<br />
V2T 5P6<br />
<a href="mailto:karlinjapan@hotmail.com">karlinjapan@hotmail.com</a><br />
home: 604-852-8877<br />
cell: 778-245-4112Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-33196860929716541832011-10-05T23:25:00.000-07:002011-10-05T23:26:04.740-07:00Karl in Japan July 2011 Update<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">MY AOMORI VISIT</span><br />
Eating all of my favorite foods. Waiting an hour in rural train stations for the last train of the evening. Seeing preschool children dressed up in matching uniforms on a school trip. Hearing frogs and crickets singing from the rice paddies and cicadas singing in the summer woods. Walking in Hirosaki Park through the cherry blossoms with friends that I hope one day will see God’s glory through the beauty of His creation. The shared community and common goals that missionaries work toward. These are all memories that have come rushing back to me as I visited Aomori, where I worked previously for 15 months. <br />
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I have seen how God is moving and progressing the Gospel in Japan. Harvest House, the outreach point I worked and lived at during my previous term, has moved to a new property that they have purchased and are now having regular weekly meetings there. And, with change comes a new name: Harvest Chapel. During my recent visit with Martin, the missionary I had worked with, he asked me what I thought about the changes in light of the fact that I was directly involved in the development of Harvest Chapel. When I first heard that Harvest House had moved I was sad and disappointed because it was not only the house I lived in that they had left, but my home. Martin pointed out the connection between the progress of this ministry and the work I had been involved with at Harvest House. I was surprised with my own excitement of seeing where this ministry has clearly progressed. I was also excited to see where God will lead Harvest Chapel’s ministry in the future. <br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">WHAT'S UP?</span><br />
Japan is a country I have fallen in love with and the Japanese are the people I know God has called me to be a witness to. There is a place for me to begin ministry in Japan today; my visit has confirmed that I could start serving right away. I know and believe that God’s timing for me to begin long-term ministry in Japan is perfect. I expect when I leave Japan this time it will be just as hard, if not harder than it was the first time but for now I’m pleased to say that my stay in Japan has been extended to the beginning of September.<br />
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Since I started serving at Okutama Bible Chalet (OBC) in June, I have served at Joy Bible Camp, the kid’s camps for native English speakers. I had the privilege of attending the SEND Japan Conference where I was able to get to know and hang out with the SEND missionaries serving in Japan. Staying to serve in Japan longer was not in my original plans to visit. If it had been, I definitely would have brought my running shoes since it’s difficult to find shoes my size in Japan. My shoes should be arriving in a package from home any day now.<br />
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I have also been able to head north to the tsunami affected area where I was able to serve for three days. I helped clean several families’ yards by removing the dead trees that were killed by the salty sea water from the tsunami. Some people were removing the salty sludge from the surface of a farmer’s field and others were cleaning this out from the foundations of houses accessing it by removing the flooring from the first floor. There are many more families still in need of help with the clean-up of their properties. They can’t afford the clean-up or don’t have the time because they have to continue to work to provide for and feed their families. <br />
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Please pray that volunteers will continue to come to Japan to help complete all of the clean-up work that still needs to be done. Also pray that more people hear the call to work as witnesses for Christ in these disaster areas and that this work would continue long after the volunteers have finished the clean-up and serving in Japan.<br />
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Your brother in Christ,<br />
Karl Friesen<br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">CONTACT INFORMATION</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SEND International - Canada</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">#1-22423 Jefferies Road</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">RR #5, Komoka, Ont.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">N0L 1R0</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sendcanada.org/">http://www.sendcanada.org/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1-888-918-5036</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Home</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2946 Cardinal Place</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Abbotsford BC</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">V2T 5P6</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:karlinjapan@hotmail.com">karlinjapan@hotmail.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">604-852-8877</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-18318877594319346492011-10-05T23:16:00.000-07:002011-10-11T14:19:35.123-07:00Karl in Japan May 2011 Update<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">“I will build you up again and you will rebuild, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out and dance with the joyful.” Jer. 31:4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was reading Jeremiah 31 during a prayer meeting for Japan; the passage was very encouraging to me and is my prayer for Japan. It’s all about the suffering of Israel in captivity and the destruction of their homes but it’s also about the care God has for His people and the joy they’ll have in Him through their restoration. I can see the hope that we can have and pray that the Japanese will be able to see this Truth through the witness of the believers around them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">NEWS FROM JAPAN</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, Bernhard Triebel, SEND Japan Director, got this report from some Japanese friends about Ishinomaki Christ Church; </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Easter was the first Sunday the church was able to hold a worship service after the earthquake. This is a small church of 5 or 6 members pastored by Ito Sensei who also is the pastor of a church in Sendai. At this Easter Sunday Service 30 new people showed up 45 minutes before the service started. The church was full and the pastor started to talk to the people. Others came later and complained because they thought the service had already started and wanted to hear the pastor from the beginning. Needless to say, there were not enough bulletins to go around, but the new people wanted one because of the Bible verses written in it. So after the worship service they took time to copy the verses by hand. The new people wanted tracts and Bibles too.”</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I heard another story that 13 new people came to a church in Iwaki two weeks ago. I am sure this is happening in other places as well. God is at work in the affected areas in Japan and using even small churches to reach out to people who are hungry for the message of Hope.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can read more reports, like this one, on Japan and the earthquake on SEND’s web site at </span><a href="http://www.send.org/japan-earthquake-recovery">www.send.org/japan-earthquake-recovery</a>.<br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">ENCOURAGEMENT</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s very encouraging to reflect on where I have come in the last year and a half since starting my partnership development with SEND International. I see God moving the hearts of His people, to support me in prayer and finances. I look forward to how He is going to provide the rest of the finances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since my last note I have been able to share about my opportunity in Japan with two churches. I am so grateful for these opportunities and have seen how God has been involved in my connecting with others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, it’s been very encouraging to know that people are investing in His ministry which will enable me to get to Japan; I want to get to the field to begin ministry as His witness. One of my supporters had a conversation with a friend of mine; they wanted to give more than </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">they had already committed to support and felt in their heart that if they didn’t give more then I wouldn’t be able to go serve in Japan. Please pray that God would continue to stir the hearts of individuals and churches to partner with me in Japan.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">VISIT TO JAPAN</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In June I plan on going back to Japan for a 3 week visit; it’s hard to believe it has been three and a half years since I was there last. While this is a personal trip to visit friends in Tokyo and in northern Japan, I also plan to connect with SEND Japan. As I prepare to serve long-term in Japan, it will be good for me to get to know those who are already working in this country and gain a little understanding of the ministries in which SEND is involved. Please pray for safety in traveling and a good time connecting with many people. </span><br />
<div class="BodyA" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="BodyA" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Your brother in Christ,</span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Karl Friesen</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">CONTACT INFORMATION</span><br />
SEND International - Canada<br />
#1-22423 Jefferies Road<br />
RR #5, Komoka, ONT<br />
N0L 1R0<br />
<a href="http://www.sendcanada.org/">http://www.sendcanada.org/</a><br />
1-888-918-5036<br />
<br />
Home<br />
2946 Cardinal Place<br />
Abbotsford, BC<br />
V2T 5P6<br />
<a href="mailto:karlinjapan@hotmail.com">karlinjapan@hotmail.com</a><br />
604-852-8877Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738850520180240269.post-4092413232552589932011-10-05T23:07:00.000-07:002011-10-11T14:15:15.987-07:00Karl in Japan March 2011 Update<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Earthquake</span><br />
People have been asking me about the earthquake and if I know anyone affected by the quake. Personally, I don’t know anyone that has lost property as a result of the tragedy but I do know that Sendai is the major hub for mission’s activities in Northeastern Japan. So, many missionaries from many different mission organizations will have been in the line of destruction.<br />
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I understand how this destruction can be minimized by our exposure to other destructive events in the last decade. Yes, the loss of property was significant, billions of dollars, but the loss of life for all eternity is what has stuck with me since hearing reports of the loss of life. In Japan less than 1% of the population are believers. With the assumption that this one percent is evenly distributed, over 99% of the lives lost had no relationship with Jesus and most because they haven’t heard the Gospel. With those numbers, no tragedy in the last ten years can compare to what happened now.<br />
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One of my hope’s, resulting from this tragedy, is that those people that have fallen away from the church will be drawn back to Christ. Most people in Japan fall away because of cultural and social pressure of conformity and harmony. There is a much larger number of Japanese young people falling away from the church compared to North America. The church in Japan needs an awakening that will enable it to hold onto it’s young people. I pray and hope this tragedy will be a step towards an awakening in Japan. <br />
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If you would like to help with the relief effort in Japan check out Crash (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope). It is backed by both the church in Japan and mission organizations serving there. For more info go to www.crashjapan.com. You can also give to the Japan Earthquake Response Fund at the SEND Canada website (www.sendcanada.org) to receive a Canadian tax receipt.<br />
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Thank you for your prayers,<br />
Karl Friesen<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">CONTACT INFORMATION</span><br />
SEND International - Canada <br />
#1-22423 Jefferies Road<br />
RR #5, Komoka, ONT<br />
N0L 1R0<br />
<a href="http://www.sendcanada.org/">http://www.sendcanada.org/</a><br />
1-888-918-5036<br />
<br />
Home<br />
2946 Cardinal Place<br />
Abbotsford, BC<br />
V2T 5P6<br />
<a href="mailto:karlinjapan@hotmail.com">karlinjapan@hotmail.com</a><br />
604-852-8877Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0