Journey To TEAM's Conference

Our journey to TEAM's Annual Conference began about 8:00pm one evening. We drove our car onto an overnight ferry boat. This was a first time experience for us. It was amazing to see how many cars could fit onto the boat! Nick and I, the Gateley's, and Dustin all stayed in one room that held many other people as well. However, we did have our very own cubby hole to sleep in!
After a 10 hour boat ride, we finally arrived at another city, Osaka. We then loaded into our car and had about 8 more hours of driving. Our next destination was Tokyo! We met up with the team from our home church and spent a couple of days getting them acclimated. We did a little sightseeing!

Man, there was a lot of people in Tokyo. It was also very hot! But, we sweat it out and saw a lot of interesting things. One of which was the Tokyo Tower. The Tower is a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, it's a tad bit shorter, is painted bright orange, and it's used as a radio tower. Here's a few shots from the tower of Tokyo night life!

We also had the chance to visit a Shinto Shrine. The main Religion in Japan is a blend of Buddhism and Shintoism. Which means worship of Buddha and ancestors. When people visit a Shinto shrine they give an offering of money, clap to wake the god of that Shrine up and then pray to it in hopes their prayers will come true. Shrines are a great place for Christians to learn about Japanese culture and how imprinted it is with the religion of Shintoism. There are no absolutes in Shintoism. Humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Consequently, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to ward off evil spirits by purification, prayers, and offerings to the kami, Shinto gods. Did you know that over 80% of Japanese claim on personal religion? Most follow the demands of idolatrous and ancester-veneration Buddhism and rituals of polytheistic Shintoism. Now you know what we're up against! Now you know what to pray for!

Cooking Bamboo

We had never eaten bamboo before Japan! Our friend Teiki lives on a farm and they grow several things, including bamboo. He gave us some as a gift. Of course, we had no idea of how to cook it. So, the Gateley's stepped in. There are several steps to cooking bamboo. The first is to peel and peel and peel!! There are actually several layers of husk surrounding the bamboo itself. Next, is boiling. Yes it does kind of look like a foreign object in the pot. Then you can eat it in any dish. It's not our favorite. But, it's actually not that bad!

What a Bridge!! (You Tube)

Build it and they will come! A new phenominon was built in Japan last year. A very long suspension bridge!! The only way to get across it is by walking. No cars allowed!! It is surrounded by beautiful trees and waterfalls AND you only have to pay 500yen ($5.00) to walk across. If you aren't afraid of heights, then go for it. We've already been there twice and people come in droves to walk across this bridge. Only in Japan:)
See our video for a better look.

Bible Camp

Recently, we are able to attend a Bible Camp! Two families were able to go from our Church. The picture on the left shows us, the Katsumata's, and the Kogas. Camp was a combination of other Christian Churches on the island of Kyushu. All in all there were about 60 people there. It was in a beautiful place near Kuju Mountain. We stayed in a place that is a learning center for Japanese schools to bring kids to learn about Nature. So, we slept on bunk beds that were lined with tatami and so we put a futon mattress on top of the tatami. Interesting! We also had some "onsen" style bathing. Which we are starting to get used to. However, it was the first time that Karla Rae and I had bathed together. There was a time that I said, "Well Rae, I guess we've really bonded now. We live in the same bath together and now we've bathed together." Right then, we saw two ladies and one of them started to wash the other's back. I guess we haven't really bonded until we do that!!

At this camp there were four different countries represented. We had people from Japan, China, Korea, and USA. The Koreans that were there were a group that has spent the last few weeks helping another church in Japan. We had so much fun with them. It was really the first time that I have ever spent time Koreans. I quickly learned that their personality is similar to Americans. You know, friendly, outgoing, and know how to have fun! Here's a picture of them over to the right.

Another Korean that I got to know has been a Missionary in Japan for the past 2 years. She has picked up the language quickly and the people love her. However, she will be leaving Japan within the next year. Pray that God will show Kang-sahn His plan for her.

Camp was a great time to get out of our daily routine and be refreshed!

Check Out Our Videos

While living in Japan we've been filming a lot of videos. But, what's the use of a video if no one ever sees it? We want to share them with you! All you have to do is click on the YouTube link. The link will take you to the YouTube Webpage. From there, click on From: 07Japan09. Soon you will see a list of videos that we've made. There are only a few right now. Hopefully the list will soon grow! Enjoy Watching!!!

Fishing Without A Fishing Pole (YouTube)

I may not speak Japanese yet but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy a day of fishing out in the ocean. Fishing is a great sport for those people that don't know how to speak the same language. Everyone knows that you can't talk and catch fish at the same time. It's also a great time to bond and get to know someone by their actions, such is the case with Yoshi. He and I have had the opportunity to go fishing 4 times. The more time that I get to spend with him, the more I hope that I will have an influence for Christ on him. Yoshi is not a Christian and is old enough to be my father, but when we are out in the water we are just two fishermen enjoying the same hobby and bonding on a nonverbal level. Yoshi is a man that loves the "old" way of doing things. When we go out we fish in a style that has been done in Japan for hundreds of years. Basically you take a string, tie a weight and a hook to the end, and throw it overboard. The video shows Yoshi catching a fish. There is not a lot to this style of fishing. It is very basic from looking at the outside of it, but having the skill to catch fish is totally different. There is no pole to help you keep tension on the line so you have to use your fingers. Watch out! The line will cut your finger or break it if you are not careful. I am hoping that I'll be able to go a couple more times before the year is out.
Yoshi is holding a great fish Red Snapper in the picture above. Riz is a member of our church and wanted to try his luck at fishing as well. It was nice that he came along to help with translation and just to enjoy learning Japanese fishing. I don't remember the name of the fish that I caught, but it was very delicious. There is nothing like fresh fish! In the Bible Paul talks about becoming all things in order that some might be saved, that is my goal. Right now in this picture I AM a fisherman.