Returning from Japan

The flight back from Japan flew through Seattle, giving me the opportunity to have Sunday brunch with John and Dixie (Mary’s sister), before flying on to Charlotte.

Now this is the way to break up a long trans-Pacific flight!

In Narita, Japan with Asian Access leaders

I have been in Japan this week with my fellow Asian Access leaders. While we have mostly been in meetings, in the evening we got out to enjoy some delicious Japanese food.

Here we are enjoying a traditional Japanese meal, all cooked in a boiling pot of water, then dunked in some special sauces. The meat is sliced so thin (being held up by Takeshi) you can almost see through it, so it cooks fast.

 
The characters of the Japanese language are so artistic. It becomes an art form.

Well, must run to a meeting. We had some excellent planning times on how to further accomplish the vision Asian Access has for Japan of 100 networks of 4-5 churches each which are focused on planting churches which results in 1,000 churches which are planting churches and 1,000 Japanese missionaries going out from here into the world.

At A2 Board and Leadership Meeting

I just returned from Los Angeles where I participated in the Asian Access Board of Director’s meeting and follow up leadership meetings.  Monday evening they honored Elliott and Lori Snuggs for 25 years with the ministry and had words of blessings for me as I leave the end of June to become the US Director of SIM (Serving In Mission).

Here we are at the dinner.  They gave me a beautiful compass with an engraved plague as a gift.  What a great gift to convey the broad international ministry to which God has called me, my gifting to bring clarify and direction to leaders, and my love for sailing.  I love this!

I have been blessed the past seven years to work with such a gifted, gracious and visionary group of people in Asian Access.

Contemplative seven miles high

Long flights often provide excellent reflective, creative times.  Like my recent flight from Singapore to Tokyo to Los Angeles to Charlotte.  Few distractions: no cell phone or email.  Totally “unplugged”. 

I took this photo over the south Pacific.  I read an article on this trip about how some people even buy tickets on long flights, just to get work done.  One author books several trips to no-where-in-particular, but so he could finish writing his next book.

No thanks.  I think I would rather stay home and use a 25 mile bike ride to clear my brain and refresh my body.  Much less expensive.

Good wrap up in Malaysia

We just wrapped up two days of full and fruitful leadership team meetings of Asian Access. Because we are scattered across Asia and the US, we appreciate the times we can get together.

To get a break and refresh, one afternoon we walked to a local A&W root beer restaurant here in Malaysia. And the root beer tasted exactly like it does in North America. But the burgers were pretty small.

Now I fly on to Singapore for a day before catching my flights for home on Wednesday.

Beauty of Malaysia

This day was beautiful here in Malaysia. The rich blue sky against the hills. In the foreground, with the scalloped roof is the local mosque. At 6 a.m. and four times during the day a call to prayer is announced over the loud speakers. A group of followers of Christ are in this hotel. They blew a horn for prayer at the same times, calling the followers of Christ to a time of prayer as well.

Rich fellowship

One of the joys of being together with the country leaders of Asian Access is the rich fellowship and friendships which we enjoy. Here I am with Pastors Vanlong and MengAun who lead the work in Cambodia, and enjoying a time with Joe Handley, president of Asian Access.

Serving together across Asia

We are from across Asia with one Lord and one heart to bless the Church of Asia by investing in the emerging generational of pastoral leaders.

Hearing updates

We heard updates from Joe Handley, president of Asian Access and from country leaders like Adrian De Visser from Sri Lanka.

There are economic, political, cultural, religious and societal challenges across Asia, however the light of our Savior shines into the situations.

A new generation of leading pastors is emerging in these countries and the church leaders who lead Asian Access in their countries have a passion to see that new generation model Christ-like leaders as they develop their own church leaders and plant churches.

Raising voices in praise

We joined together for rich times of prayer. Sometimes we used the common language of English. Other times each person prayed in their national language.

What a symphony of praise to the Lord, as we prayed together, all at once in unity before the Lord.

Skyline and Monsoon

Looking out of my hotel window, this is the skyline of Seremban, the city where the meetings are being held outside of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Directly across from the hotel is a mosque. The call the morning prayers awakens me at 6 a.m.

As I type this posting it is raining a downpour outside - the afternoon monsoon that comes like clockwork from 3:30 - 5:30 every afternoon we have been here.

Making a difference in Japan

I am wrapping up five days with the Asian Access staff in Japan at our annual Spring Conference. It was held in the mountain town of Karuizawa at a Christian retreat center. These wonderful staff love living and ministering in Japan. Here are some of them.

Rev. Kawasaki is the national director of JCGI Networks (Asian Access Japan). Here we are with his daughter Setsuko and wife Itsuko.
Peter Thomson is the director of Asian Access North American missionaries in Japan. He and his wife Wendi have served in Japan for 20 years.

Pastor Hiroshi Tokio returned to Japan to plant a church with his wife Tomoko and two children, Ray and Kay, after completing his pastoral training at Dallas Seminary.

Pastor Stan de la Cour pastors an international church in a suburb of Tokyo. The congregation has multiple cultures, worshipping one God and Savior. His wife Faith oversees care and development for the North Americans serving in Japan with Asian Access. They have served in Japan for over 25 years.

Missed flight, but made it to Japan

The snow storm that hit Charlotte Sunday night/Monday morning caused major flight delays and cancellations at the Charlotte airport. My 7:40 a.m. flight left at 9:30 a.m. But at least my flight left. Half the flights were cancelled.

That caused me to miss my connection in Los Angeles. I showed up at the check in counter at 11:35 a.m. The flight left at 11:35 a.m. However, the ANA ticket agents went to work for me and got me on a Singapore Airlines flight that was leaving 2 hours later.

I made that flight and got to Tokyo. Right now it is 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning in Tokyo. I stayed overnight at a hotel near the airport. This morning I will take the trains to the conference center. So it all is working out.

Dropping into bed last night felt so good. I think it took me all of 2 minutes to fall into a deep sleep. I'm rested and ready to go. What a joy to walk with God and see how he provides.

Serving in Chennai on the Bay of Bengal

...I just wrapped up my time in Chennai with the first "batch" of pastors in the South India Asian Access training. North Americans call it a class. Indians call the group a batch, as they use the king's English as a result of the Great Britain influence....It's Wednesday evening here. CNN is on TV here, broadcasting the results from the U.S. election, but it still seems so distant from home - because it is.

...What a great group of 18 pastors from three major cities. They represent a broad segment of various denominations, but have faith in Christ and the scriptures as our common points of unity.
...They formed quick bonds and friendship in just a few short days, just like pastors in other Asian Access training across Asia. Asians are so relational. They quickly embrace new people.
...Mike Hoisington did the majority of the teaching, with me covering a couple of sessions. Gratefully, Mike has regained his strength and did an excellent job on the topic of the week of discipleship. You will read on a post below that Mike had emergency surgery last week. While swallowing continues to be a bit painful, his voice was not effected. He taught on.
...Learning not only took place from lectures, but also through the rich interaction among the pastors as they wrestled with the material and discussed how to apply it within their ministry context.

...What a joy to hear their stories and the scope of their churches. Several have thousands in their congregations and have already planted multiple churches. Yet they said that Asian Access provided a very unique opportunity, not found in the broad selection of training available to pastors in South India - learning in a community of peers with an emphasis on life and ministry transformation.

...Tomorrow, Thursday, I fly up to Delhi and then catch my flight back to the States. It will be a bit of a cultural, climate and time warp, but a heart filled with gratitude to serve such quality people was these pastors.

With pastors from across North India

...I have been at the start of a new class of pastors starting in the 2 1/2 year training of Asian Access in North India. They will be meeting for eight, one-week sessions over that time period. What a gifted and personable group of 20 pastors from across the north of this vast country. ...The smiles on their faces express the joy of new friendships made during this first week.

...Asian Access in each country is led by nationals. And many of the sessions are totally or co-taught by nationals and faculty from outside the country. That was the case this week for the class from North India. When Mike fell ill I stepped in and picked up his material, added some of my own and taught a couple of days. But also David Dayalan stepped in and taught in the morning. It was a great team in response to a changing situation.

...One of the reasons the pastors so enjoy their time in Asian Access is the friendships and deep community which is formed among the pastors. While they may know many pastors, it is rare to have an open, sharing relationship to learn from one another and encourage each other.

...So the week together is a rich time of learning, refreshment and friendship.

Fellowship with David and Anita

...One of the great joys of working in Asia is my friendships with such quality people.
...David and Anita Dayalan have become dear friends. David leads Asian Access India and pastors a growing and disciple-making church just south of Delhi. Anita is gifted in her own right as a teacher, musician and capable ministry partner with David.