Pray
What are you enjoying?
25/06/10 07:23
Please continue to pray:
- Thank God for providing energy for me as I developed drafts of 3 teacher training kits.
- Ask God for travel safety as we fly to LA on July 5 to visit supporters and family.
Thanks for praying
12/06/10 07:25
Thanks for asking God to help CAJ finish
the year well. God answered your prayers:
P.S. Don't forget to watch our 4-minute video, Impact Japan for Jesus.
- On June 4, the Class of 2010 graduated.
- On June 8, students in K-11 finished their last day of classes.
- On June 10, teachers made progress on developing CAJ's curriculum.
- Ask God to help graduating seniors make a smooth transition to college.
- Ask God for energy for Michael as he develops teacher training materials.
P.S. Don't forget to watch our 4-minute video, Impact Japan for Jesus.
Check out our 4-minute video
28/05/10 07:14
Check out our 4-minute
video, Impact Japan
for Jesus.
Thanks for praying:
P.S. Don't forget to watch our 4-minute video.
Thanks for praying:
- Praise God that we've finished a draft of training materials designed to help teachers use assessment to help students connect God's world and Word.
- Ask God to help CAJ staff and students to finish the school year well. Classes end on June 8, and staff meetings end on June 11.
P.S. Don't forget to watch our 4-minute video.
How would you feel?
14/05/10 10:01
A Japanese student writes, “Growing up in a Japanese society and attending an American school, I was too outspoken for a Japanese but too timid for an American.” And a Korean student writes, “I was an American in school, a Japanese outside of school, and a Korean at home.”
How would you feel if you read these essays? My heart goes out to my students. They’re wrestling with who they are and where they belong. How will my American students deal with living in the foreign land of America? How do my Japanese students slip back into using honorific language with their elders at home after being at an American-style school all day?
I keep reading, hoping my students will move beyond who they are culturally to whose they are spiritually. And they do! A Korean students writes, “I am the loved one of my God, and therefore I can overcome the cultural problems I face.”
An American student writes, “Although I had found my own ways to define myself in a Japanese culture, God was behind all my confidence in being proud of who I was.” And a Japanese student writes, “Knowing that I am precious in the eyes of the Almighty then allows me to serve my neighbors in humility.”
Please keep praying:
- Praise God that Kim’s students are focusing on the security found in belonging to God.
- Praise God for travel safety from MI to OH, TN, GA, IN, IL, and AK.
- Praise God that our family is together again.
- Ask God to help CAJ staff and students to finish the school year well. Classes end on June 8, and staff meetings end on June 11.
—Kim
Want to visit a Japanese church?
28/04/10 07:57
Thanks for praying:
- Praise God for travel safety as I drove from TN to MI last week.
- Praise God for travel safety as Kim flew from Japan to the US on April 24.
- Ask God for travel safety as Kim & I fly on April 29 to see supporters in Anchorage.
P.S. Don't forget to check out the slideshow of a Japanese church (see sample photo below).
What are you excited about?
16/04/10 07:35
Please continue to pray:
- Ask God for travel safety next week as I drive from TN to MI.
- Ask God for travel safety as Kim flies from Japan to the US on April 24.
- Praise God that though we are separated, we have good family unity.
—Michael
What do you enjoy?
01/04/10 07:38
But wherever I am, I enjoy helping leaders. When I’m in Japan, I enjoy helping CAJ administrators improve CAJ’s program and helping church planting teams further develop ministry plans. And now that I’m in the US, I’m enjoying helping home office staff plan July strategy meetings and helping a CAJ board member (via videoconferencing) revise board policy.
Please continue to pray:
- Ask God to use me to help leaders grow.
- Praise God for providing staff for CAJ (technology coordinator and teachers—elementary, English, science).
—Michael
P.S. Check out how our mission trains Japanese Christians to lead Bible studies.
Students connect memoir, life, and Bibllical teaching
05/03/10 07:52
Then they begin to make connections. To the way South Koreans view North Koreans. To the way laughing at another can make them feel better about themselves. To what the Bible teaches about who people are and how we are to treat them. Here are some of their connections:
- “Whether it is in the form of murder, bullying, or stealing, people are being treated with less dignity than they deserve....as Christians, we must honor one another as created in God's image and love both our neighbors and our oppressors.”
- “People always say that they want to make the world a better place, but they think too big or they don’t think at all or say that’s awful and sit and do nothing. But...one specific thing that I can do is to stop criticizing people...and…‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Mark 12.31, Matt. 22.39).”
- Praise God that my English 10 students are applying God's truth to their lives.
- Praise God for providing teachers (band, science) for next year.
- Ask God to provide a full staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (elementary, English, science) and a technology coordinator.
Had a good first week
19/02/10 17:02
I've had a good first week in the
US. Had helpful mission meetings,
enjoyed seeing my folks, got to visit with Caitlin
(who was at my folks' house during her school
vacation), and saw a lot of snow (don't really get
much snow in Tokyo).
Meanwhile, Kim graded her English 10 students' poetry tests. On the test Kim was pleased to see her students connecting class and life, for example: "I like to now go and listen to my favorite songs and catch different musical devices besides rhyming." Wednesday-Friday, Kim's students wrote a paper analyzing favorite song lyrics as poetry and giving a biblical perspective of the lyrics.
Please continue to pray:
Meanwhile, Kim graded her English 10 students' poetry tests. On the test Kim was pleased to see her students connecting class and life, for example: "I like to now go and listen to my favorite songs and catch different musical devices besides rhyming." Wednesday-Friday, Kim's students wrote a paper analyzing favorite song lyrics as poetry and giving a biblical perspective of the lyrics.
Please continue to pray:
- Praise God that Michael had a safe trip to the US on Feb. 11 for a 6-month home assignment.
- Ask God to provide teachers (band, math/science, middle school) and a technology coordinator.
How was 2009?
14/01/10 17:36
Michael, how did you see God working in
2009? Students at Christian Academy in Japan
(CAJ) continued applying a biblical perspective. Our
mission’s church plants at Higashi Kawaguchi and
Hitachinaka became independent churches. And 8
Japanese were baptized at Kurume Bible Fellowship.
Thanks for praying.
Kim, what did you and Michael do in
2009? At CAJ in English 10, I taught 105
students from 13 countries. During class, my students
reflected on questions like “What’s wrong with the
world?” and “Who is my neighbor?” I also served as
chair of the English Department and chair of a school
improvement group that focused on curriculum.
Michael coached CAJ staff and missionaries, trained CAJ staff in how to increase personal productivity and in how to teach from a biblical perspective, and helped CAJ and 2 missions with organizational improvement by providing consulting and web-based resources, including 19 tutorials.
What has God been teaching you?
Michael coached CAJ staff and missionaries, trained CAJ staff in how to increase personal productivity and in how to teach from a biblical perspective, and helped CAJ and 2 missions with organizational improvement by providing consulting and web-based resources, including 19 tutorials.
What has God been teaching you?
- Kim: Thankfulness for His blessings—family, friends, colleagues, students, and so much more.
- Michael: To pray—particularly for family and for the leaders I help.
- Ask God to help us prepare effectively for home assignment.
- Ask God for a full staff for next year. CAJ needs a technology coordinator and teachers (band, elementary, 8th grade, and home ec).
Our 2010 is off to a good start
08/01/10 02:35
Listen as Michael
shares. Or keep reading:
We celebrated New Year's with Caitlin (she's now back in Canada at college). And our first week back to school at CAJ went pretty well—Kim's English 10 students studied grammar, and Michael focused on school improvement. How did your first full week of 2010 go?
We've been working on our home assignment. We're looking forward to being in the US to share about how God is at work in Japan. And we'll be in the US both earlier and longer than we had anticipated. We were planning be in the US in the summer. But we need to comply with the US/Japan social security regulations, so...
We celebrated New Year's with Caitlin (she's now back in Canada at college). And our first week back to school at CAJ went pretty well—Kim's English 10 students studied grammar, and Michael focused on school improvement. How did your first full week of 2010 go?
We've been working on our home assignment. We're looking forward to being in the US to share about how God is at work in Japan. And we'll be in the US both earlier and longer than we had anticipated. We were planning be in the US in the summer. But we need to comply with the US/Japan social security regulations, so...
- Michael will be in the US February 11 - August 14.
- Kim will continue teaching at CAJ, visit me for 2 weeks in March, and then return to Japan to teach through April 23.
- On April 24, Kim and Anneke will fly to the US to join Michael. Anneke will finish out her CAJ year through independent study.
- And about a week later, Caitlin will finish college and join us. It'll be good to be together as a family.
- Praise God that we already have our tickets to the US and housing for home assignment.
- Praise God for good family time with Caitlin.
- Ask God to provide staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (band, home ec, elementary, and 8th grade) and a technology coordinator.
We're praising God!
23/12/09 23:24
We're praising God for the good turnout at the Wednesday night Christmas candlelight service of a church that meets at CAJ. Quite a few newcomers attended and heard the good news of Jesus Christ. Thanks for praying!
Japanese need the good new of Jesus at Christmas. They don't understand the real celebration. They focus on New Year's, when millions and millions of Japanese go to the temple.
Thanks for praying:
- Ask God to draw Japanese non-Christians to Himself through the special events CAJ parents are doing.
- Praise God that Caitlin arrived safely and that we're having good family time.
- Ask God to provide staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (band, home ec, and elementary) and a technology coordinator.
What are you looking forward to?
11/12/09 23:25
We're looking forward to celebrating Christ's birth, having Caitlin back from college, being together as a family, and eating Christmas pudding! Next week, Kim's students will be giving presentations. I'll be learning about a new standardized test that CAJ might give. What are you doing next week?
Please keep praying:
- Praise God that we continue to have good health.
- Ask God for good family time with Caitlin.
- Ask God to draw Japanese non-Christians to Himself through the Christmas-related events CAJ parents are doing.
- Ask God to provide staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (band, home ec, elementary) and a technology coordinator.
Please pray for my students
13/11/09 18:22
It’s 8:20 on a Thursday morning, 10 minutes
before class begins. Four 10th graders (an
Indian, a Japanese, a Korean, and an American) are
talking loudly. So loudly that I’m getting distracted
from writing my lesson outline on the board. They are
discussing (in Japanese) how to say “9:45 a.m.” (in
Spanish). There must be a Spanish test today....
I love seeing these diverse students working together. It reminds me that God calls us to have right relationships with Him, others, ourselves, and creation.
Such “right” relationships, of course, don’t always happen. For example, my students sometimes fragment into groups based on language (English, Japanese, or Korean). To encourage my students to value and to have “right” relationships, I had them read Cry, the Beloved Country and focus on God’s peace (shalom). Here’s what they learned:
I love seeing these diverse students working together. It reminds me that God calls us to have right relationships with Him, others, ourselves, and creation.
Such “right” relationships, of course, don’t always happen. For example, my students sometimes fragment into groups based on language (English, Japanese, or Korean). To encourage my students to value and to have “right” relationships, I had them read Cry, the Beloved Country and focus on God’s peace (shalom). Here’s what they learned:
- “From now on, I will be quick to forgive....”
- “In Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country there are characters from all walks of life—rich, poor, important, and unknown. However, they each do what is in their power to help restore the brokenness around them, and this is a powerful message for us today.”
- “Each person’s actions lay a brick in the bridge we’re trying to build, the bridge we call shalom.”
- “God is the ultimate source of shalom and without Him, nothing can be restored.... Jesus was crucified…to restore shalom, and He is the first Restorer. After He ascended to heaven, who was going to carry on His mission to restore shalom?…Christians.”
Want to try some bean-flavored Pepsi?
30/10/09 20:56
I tried it. To see the results
of my taste test, click here.
Thankfully, my work at Christian Academy in Japan has been going much better than bean-flavored Pepsi tastes. I designed an online school improvement survey that students, parents, and staff took. And I've been preparing for 3 teacher workshops for Nov. 3. The workshops deal with helping students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches and with using assessment results to modify instruction.
Please pray that as a result of participating in these workshops teachers will be able to more effectively help students learn.
We're grateful for your prayers, financial support, & friendship.
Michael
P.S. Don't forget to see the results of the Pepsi taste test.
Thankfully, my work at Christian Academy in Japan has been going much better than bean-flavored Pepsi tastes. I designed an online school improvement survey that students, parents, and staff took. And I've been preparing for 3 teacher workshops for Nov. 3. The workshops deal with helping students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches and with using assessment results to modify instruction.
Please pray that as a result of participating in these workshops teachers will be able to more effectively help students learn.
We're grateful for your prayers, financial support, & friendship.
Michael
P.S. Don't forget to see the results of the Pepsi taste test.
Thanks for praying
16/10/09 19:23
Thanks for praying about last week's 10th
grade leadership camp! Students
learned about leadership, cooked
outdoors, enjoyed hiking near Mt. Fuji, and
stayed safe from the typhoon!
Thanks for praying
02/10/09 19:56
Praise God that several Japanese
women were baptized last Saturday.
One shared, "From now on I want to learn more
about Jesus' teachings, and worship Him,
and follow Him."
Praise God that Kim's students are responding to the questions Kim asks. Here's how 1 student responded to a short-answer test question, "What is the Cultural Mandate?": "The Cultural Mandate says, 'Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it.' We are to develop the social world (schools, governments, families, law, etc.) and use what we can from God’s creation to create culture and civilization."
Praise God that Hitachinaka, a church started by our mission, will go independent on Monday, October 12.
Ask God to help the 10th graders grow as leaders. During their upcoming leadership unit that Michael helped design, the 10th graders will focus on 4 key questions: How can you be an effective servant leader? What do you learn about God through studying His creation? What is wrong with the world? How can you make a difference?
Praise God that Kim's students are responding to the questions Kim asks. Here's how 1 student responded to a short-answer test question, "What is the Cultural Mandate?": "The Cultural Mandate says, 'Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it.' We are to develop the social world (schools, governments, families, law, etc.) and use what we can from God’s creation to create culture and civilization."
Praise God that Hitachinaka, a church started by our mission, will go independent on Monday, October 12.
Ask God to help the 10th graders grow as leaders. During their upcoming leadership unit that Michael helped design, the 10th graders will focus on 4 key questions: How can you be an effective servant leader? What do you learn about God through studying His creation? What is wrong with the world? How can you make a difference?
Provoke reflection
11/09/09 19:22
Reflection is powerful. Reflection
helps students to understand concepts, plan projects,
and apply a Biblical perspective. Reflection helps
teachers to develop curriculum, engage students in
learning, and apply what they learned during a
Biblical perspective workshop.
If you worked at a Christian school, how would you provoke reflection? You could give suggestions. Suggestions provoke reflection, provided they fit the situation and the person is willing to receive them. I appreciate suggestions I receive, but I must admit that sometimes the suggestions don’t fit my situation and sometimes I’m not prepared to receive them. How about you?
Instead of giving suggestions, what can you do to provoke reflection? Ask questions. Why ask questions? Because questions are more likely to fit the situation. Because students and teachers are more willing to respond to questions than to suggestions. And because responding to questions involves reflection.
What questions do we ask CAJ students and staff? In English 10, Kim asks: Who am I? Who is my neighbor? What’s wrong with the world? What’s the significance of words?
When we train CAJ staff, we ask: How can you help students to think effectively? How can you help students to read better? How can you help your students to understand creation-fall-redemption-restoration?
When I coach CAJ staff, I ask: What does being organized look like? What helps you pay attention to your goals? What do you want to accomplish in the next month? What excites/frustrates you about your strengths?
Provoke reflection. Ask 1 person a good question. Today.
Thanks for praying:
If you worked at a Christian school, how would you provoke reflection? You could give suggestions. Suggestions provoke reflection, provided they fit the situation and the person is willing to receive them. I appreciate suggestions I receive, but I must admit that sometimes the suggestions don’t fit my situation and sometimes I’m not prepared to receive them. How about you?
Instead of giving suggestions, what can you do to provoke reflection? Ask questions. Why ask questions? Because questions are more likely to fit the situation. Because students and teachers are more willing to respond to questions than to suggestions. And because responding to questions involves reflection.
What questions do we ask CAJ students and staff? In English 10, Kim asks: Who am I? Who is my neighbor? What’s wrong with the world? What’s the significance of words?
When we train CAJ staff, we ask: How can you help students to think effectively? How can you help students to read better? How can you help your students to understand creation-fall-redemption-restoration?
When I coach CAJ staff, I ask: What does being organized look like? What helps you pay attention to your goals? What do you want to accomplish in the next month? What excites/frustrates you about your strengths?
Provoke reflection. Ask 1 person a good question. Today.
Thanks for praying:
- Praise God that M, a CAJ graduate and Kim’s former student, was baptized on August 23.
- Praise God that new staff and students have made a good transition to Japan/CAJ.
- Ask God to help us ask questions that help CAJ students learn and CAJ staff be productive.
- Ask God to give us the health and energy we need to serve effectively at CAJ.
We're off to a good start
03/09/09 18:53
Christian Academy in Japan is off to a good start this school–thanks for praying.
Kim's 54 English 10 students grappled with how an author's perspective impacts what she writes. Michael helped teachers identify the technology they need to help kids learn. We celebrated the completion of the first week of school by going out to eat.
Caitlin's had a safe flight to Toronto—thanks for praying.
Due to a typhoon on Monday, Caitlin's flight was cancelled. So, she flew on Tuesday. Since then, Caitlin's been getting ready to serve as a resident assistant. She starts classes next Wednesday, is majoring in social work, and brought back some very cool erasers to show her friends. We had good family time with her this summer, already miss her, and are looking forward to seeing her at Christmas.
Please keep praying:
- Praise God for a good start to school at Christian Academy in Japan.
- Praise God that Caitlin had a safe flight to Toronto.
- Ask God that we'd be healthy and have the energy we need to serve.
What did you enjoy doing this summer?
21/08/09 20:19
We enjoyed being together as a family, eating watermelon popsicles, going to the beach, reading a lot of books, and preparing for this school year.
What are we doing this school year?
We’re supporting the spread the Gospel by serving at Christian Academy in Japan, a K-12 school for missionary kids. Kim teaches English 10, serves as English Dept. chair, and trains teachers to help students read more effectively. Michael coordinates school improvement, trains teachers to help students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches, and coaches CAJ staff & missionaries.
How can you pray for us?
- Praise God for smooth staff transition for CAJ's new staff members.
- Ask God for a good first day of classes at CAJ. Classes begin on Wed., August 26.
- Praise God for good family time with Caitlin.
- Ask God for a safe trip/smooth transition back to college for Caitlin. Caitlin flies to Toronto on Mon., August 31.
How about a 4-minute trip to Japan?
07/08/09 16:41
On your 4-minute trip to Japan, you'll meet Kazu and hear his testimony, attend mini CAJ teacher workshop led by Michael, and get the flavor of Japanese culture from seeing the kinds of ads posted on trains and in train stations. To take your 4-minute trip to Japan, just click the 3 links. Enjoy your trip!
Thanks for praying!
- Praise God that Kim's work on her English 10 curriculum went well. She was able to further emphasize creation-fall-redemption, particularly in her introductory unit.
- Ask God to help new CAJ staff and students make a smooth transition to Japan/CAJ. New staff orientation begins Monday, August 17. Classes begin Wednesday, August 26.
What have you been doing this summer?
21/07/09 18:49
What have you been doing this summer? We we've been staying cool by eating ice cream and sampling green, shiso-flavored Pepsi (slideshow). Kim's been working on lesson plans for English 10, and Michael posted an online tutorial for CAJ teachers on making effective Biblical perspective assignments.
Thanks for praying!
- Ask God to help Kim effectively revise her English 10 curriculum. She's working to further emphasize creation-fall-redemption.
- Ask God to help members of a house church network to apply their July 25 training on sharing the Gospel. (Michael helped plan the training.)
- Ask God to help new CAJ staff and students make a smooth transition to Japan/CAJ.
How’s your ETA?
09/07/09 19:48
Here’s a description of the June 27 gathering for
house church members that Steve Weemes led. Steve is
one of the missionaries that Michael helps through
coaching/consulting. Michael helped Steve plan the
gathering.
Imagine that you’re serving a house church. It’s challenging work. To do that work, you need ETA:
Imagine that you’re serving a house church. It’s challenging work. To do that work, you need ETA:
- Encouragement
- Training
- Accountability to apply your training
Michael got pet beetles
26/06/09 18:46
On Father's Day, Cailtin and Anneke gave Michael 2 pet beetles named Mike and Bob.
- Tuesday, Michael made a 1-minute video entitled "To Close the Gap, Do 4 Things."
- Wednesday, we prepared our milk cartons for recycling.
- And on Saturday, Kim is playing in the 2nd round of the national volleyball tournament for neighborhood teams. There are 9 players on each side.
- Praise God that Kim's summer school students got better at writing persuasive essays. Thanks for praying!
- Praise God that Michael was able to help a missionary develop a workshop for a network of house church leaders. The missionary is doing the workshop on Saturday.
- Ask God to help new CAJ staff to make a smooth transition to Japan/CAJ.
What are your Saturday plans?
12/06/09 19:18
Kim is playing in a volleyball
tournament, and I plan do to some reading
and maybe some yardwork. Not sure what Caitlin and
Anneke are planning to do.
If you were in Tokyo this Saturday, you might hear some English words that have different meanings...
If you were in Tokyo this Saturday, you might hear some English words that have different meanings...
- Sweat: A sports drink that I like and that some people think tastes like sweat.
- Member change: A substitution in an athletic event.
- Paper driver: A person with a driver's license who doesn't drive.
- Service: A free gift a store owner gives to promote customer loyalty, for example, a rice dumpling.
- Praise God for providing full staff for next school year.
- Praise God for a good finish to the school year, including a fun graduation ceremony on June 5 and effective school improvement meetings on June 8.
- Praise God for good family time with Caitlin.
- Ask God to help Kim as she teaches 9 second language students how to write effectively. She will be teaching June 15-26.
- Ask God to help Michael as he leads a mission meeting on Monday and does coaching/consulting Tuesday-Saturday.
We feel encouraged
10/05/09 18:19
Michael, what are you feeling encouraged
about?
I’m encouraged that staff members at Christian Academy in Japan are reporting that my coaching helps. A school principal told me that my coaching helped her clarify her thinking, test her ideas, and get the confidence she needed to try new things.
And I’m encouraged that teachers are continuing to apply the Biblical perspective training I provided in the fall. They are identifying Biblical principles they want their students to learn, documenting those principles in the curriculum, and helping students learn them.
Kim, what are you encouraged about?
My English 10 students wrote essays on who they are spiritually, culturally, and personally. I was encouraged by the results:
I’m encouraged that staff members at Christian Academy in Japan are reporting that my coaching helps. A school principal told me that my coaching helped her clarify her thinking, test her ideas, and get the confidence she needed to try new things.
And I’m encouraged that teachers are continuing to apply the Biblical perspective training I provided in the fall. They are identifying Biblical principles they want their students to learn, documenting those principles in the curriculum, and helping students learn them.
Kim, what are you encouraged about?
My English 10 students wrote essays on who they are spiritually, culturally, and personally. I was encouraged by the results:
- “Being a student at Christian Academy in Japan has transformed me spiritually. Although my family is not Christian, being in a Christian environment has led me to become a Christian.”
- “I thank God for His allowing me to live overseas; I see it as a blessing. I think it was His plan all along to reduce the shyness in me by thrusting me out into the unknown so many times.”
- “As a human, I am a reflection of God and therefore have value (Gen. 1.27, Matt. 10.31). As a Christian, I am a child of God (Eph. 5.1). These truths are liberating because they mean that I do not need to focus on obtaining value and love—I already have them.”
- Ask God to help us finish the school year well. Classes end on June 5, and meetings end on June 12.
- Ask God for good family time. Caitlin is back from college, and we’ll be together until August 31.
How are you doing?
06/05/09 03:39
We're doing well:
- Caitlin is home from college.
- Kim's English 10 students (including Anneke) are enjoying Shakespeare.
- No school on Monday & Tuesday (national holidays).
- Praise God that Kim's students wrote effective essays on who they are spiritually.
- Ask God to provide teachers for next year (secondary science & math, elementary ESL).
They’re making connections!
27/02/09 17:38
As I look out at my class, I see a roomful of
kids whom I hope will understand how the
Bible connects with every area of life, including the
literature they read and the deep human questions the
authors talk about. On my last test, I saw this
happening.
Here are sample student answers to the final question on my English 10 short story test: What else did you learn this unit that you did not have a chance to show on the test?
Here are sample student answers to the final question on my English 10 short story test: What else did you learn this unit that you did not have a chance to show on the test?
- “Both Christianity and existentialism believe that people have the desire to find meaning. In Christianity, we find the true meaning in God and find joy, but in existentialism, people find their own meaning and find joy in that process. I thought it was sad that not all the people have hope and that not all people can feel true joy.”
- “I learned from Leo Tolstoy’s ‘How Much Land Does a Man Need?’ that if we are selfish and greedy, it might seem like you’re ‘living the life’ at the moment, but in the end you’ll lose everything (the important things) you have.”
- “I learned a lot about decision-making and finding my place here. We all get left out and feel like an outsider, but I know that I still belong to God.”
- “I learned that just like ‘The Guest’ we all have to make decisions between two things. I learned that I have to pray to God before choosing the decision by myself because without God’s power, we are all weak and cannot make a decision we won’t regret.”
- Praise God that Kim’s English 10 students continue to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches.
- Praise God that we’ve been healthy all through cold/flu season.
- Ask God to help the 24 participants in Michael’s 2/27 workshop use their learning to serve well.
- Ask God for a full staff for next year. CAJ needs teachers (secondary Bible, science, and learning resource center).
How'd your week go?
19/02/09 20:17
Ours went well:
- Mon-Tues: School vacation! We spent time with our mission.
- Wed: Michael worked at CAJ on curriculum and with a mission on strategic planning.
- Thurs: Kim's students studied Hebrew poetry.
- Fri: We had rainy weather.
- Praise God that Michael's Feb. 18 work with a mission on strategic planning went well.
- Ask God to use Michael's 2/27 productivity workshop at CAJ to help the 27 participants to serve more effectively.
- Ask God to provide teachers CAJ needs for next year (science, learning resource center).
What's going well for you?
05/02/09 18:38
Here's what's going well for us:
- Kim is excited that a student wrote, "Christians know that we will face death at some point, but we should be honored to live such a life God has given us. Life has worth because we are made in the image of God."
- Michael developed 3 sets of questions CAJ teachers can use to deepen their understanding of Christian education (course, subject, and creation-fall-redemption-restoration).
- Praise God that we've been healthy all through cold/flu season. Please keep praying.
- Ask God to provide the teachers CAJ needs for next school year (science, learning resource center).
- Praise God that CAJ teachers are applying the 18 hours of Biblical perspective training Michael provided. As a result, CAJ students are better connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches.
Kim's feeling encouraged
22/01/09 03:58
Here's what a student wrote about Kim's
English 10 class:
Thanks for praying!
"One class that helps me think like a Christian is English class. We have a lot of group assignments. When we give out ideas people around me give opinions from a Christian prospective. Just from that, I learn something about Christianity. Also, we always pray in English since it's my first period in school."
Thanks for praying!
- Though it's cold/flu season, we've been healthy. Please keep praying.
- Kim's English 10 students did well in grammar.
- Michael’s strategic planning work for CAJ and 2 missions is going well.
What did you do on Christmas Day?
26/12/08 17:35
We had a missionary family over for
lunch and then spent the afternoon together
as a family. It's really great having Caitlin home.
God continues to work in Japan! Praise God...
God continues to work in Japan! Praise God...
- That on Dec. 21 at our Hitachinaka mission post, Hiroshi was baptized and Akiko reaffirmed her faith and joined the church.
- That on Dec. 23 at Kurume Bible Fellowship's candlelight service, the real meaning of Christmas was presented to non-Christian Japanese.
- That on Dec. 25, 6 people joined the church of Rev. Ashida, a Japanese pastor whose son is in Kim's English 10 class at CAJ.
- For travel safety for Caitlin as she flies back to Toronto on January 2.
- To help Kim prepare effectively for her grammar unit (starting Jan. 6) and to help Michael prepare effectively for assisting a mission with strategic planning (Jan. 7).
Here's a prayer request update
18/10/08 01:08
Thanks for praying—God is answering your
prayers!
- Praise God that 3 of the 4 Japanese adults baptized on Sept. 27 have already shared during the Sunday service about God's work in their lives. Last Sunday Mr. Y said, "I really need Jesus...I would like to live every day accountable before God and keep remembering that every day is God's day."
- Praise God that Kim's students continue to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. On a recent test on Cry, the Beloved Country, one student wrote, "God gives hope to those who have none. Because of the hope, some broken things can become new.”
We’re finishing our 21st year!
23/05/08 20:18
Michael, what changes have you noticed at CAJ
since you started in 1987? The student body
has grown from 280 to 460, the curriculum now
includes Advanced Placement courses, and buildings
(constructed in the 1960s) have been refurbished or
replaced. What’s stayed the same is CAJ’s commitment
to providing Christ-centered education. Read
More...
What's gone well for you this week?
18/04/08 04:15
Here's what's gone well for us:
- Monday: Kim talked with 2 students about
books they'd been reading.
- Tuesday: I got to facilitate an hour-long
discussion about Christian worldview education.
Fifteen teachers participated.
- Thursday: Kim read an essay in which a non-Christian student reflected on a Christian worldview.
Thanks for praying
07/04/08 03:24
Thanks for praying for us:
(1) Praise God for Easter baptisms, including that of Mrs. T at Kurume Christ Church and 3 Japanese at Kurume Bible Fellowship. Read More...
(1) Praise God for Easter baptisms, including that of Mrs. T at Kurume Christ Church and 3 Japanese at Kurume Bible Fellowship. Read More...

