RSS Feed
SubscribeE-TEAM Hokkaido News Archive 2007 ETEAM HOKKAIDO SAYS GOODBYE!
Sunday night the missionaries hosted a "goodbye" party for ETEAM HOKKAIDO prior to the evangelistic outreach Ebetsu Alive!. Over 80 people attended, including all of our homestay hosts, some students from the International Center, the ladies from our tea ceremony, many of the church people we had met and many others. We were so excited that everyone came to tell us goodbye. We sang, performed our mime, and gave testimonies - and of course ate! Ebetsu Alive was a time of music and ministry. We're praying that some of those who attended will desire to get in touch with our missionaries and hopefully attend one of our churches. Many thanks to our missionaries for the "fantastic" goodbye party.
Monday was our last full day in Hokkaido and we spent the day sightseeing and shopping! We went to Otaru, a seaport city, bordering the Sea of Japan. We had a great time and spent the rest of our money! We're hoping we can get it all packed in our suitcases and back home with us.
Below are the farewell thoughts of our team members:
Nic Dennis: It is impossible for me to write down in words what has happened on this trip: spiritually, physically or emotionally. You wouldn't believe it if I did. What I will write is that God has rejuvenated my soul and prepared it to do whatever His will for me is. I've experienced some of the tallest mountains and lowest valleys on this trip and am truly grateful for them. I thank God for Him sending the Holy Spirit to Hokkaido to speak to the Japanese people. I also thank the missionaries of Hokkaido. The great burdens placed on them cannot even outweight the love they have for the Japanese.
Abi McLoy: Our stay has reached its end. It is hard for me to realize that this "new reality" will soon become part of my yesterdays. I have learned so much about Japan and the work of international missions. I cannot explain how torn I am to be leaving Hokkaido. I feel so at home with the Japanese, their warm hearts and generous hospitality. I wonder if my spirit will ever feel so at home as it does here. I am so thankful for the missonaries and OA's. All have spent so much of their time and energy in the preparation for this trip and in taking out time for us from their busy schedule. I will never forget this trip. Praise God for His goodness in letting us be in Japan, and also for His faithfulness to us during this trip.
Eleni Karounos: Our trip to Hokkaido has been one of the most memorable experiences in my life. Yesterday morning Pam asked me what my favorite part of our two week stay in Ebetsu was. I could not think of an answer and I don't think I'll ever be able to say what my favorite thing was. However, the event that sticks out the most was our visit to the Shinto shrine. I just remember thinking "this isn't fair". When I saw all of those Japanese people praying to a god or gods that did not even exist, and they have never even been given the opportunity to hear God's word. During training week Neil Gilliland told all of us, "You can't unsee what you've seen" and he was absolutely right. I will never forget the Japanese people or the things I've seen and experienced, both good and bad.
Hannah Gaston: Well, our misson trip is a day from being over, and I'm happy to say that I made the most of my trip here in Japan. For the past year I prayed that the Lord would strengthen me to tell people my testimony and to calm my nerves. Over these past two weeks I've had four or five opportunities to give my testimony and with the Lord by my side, I did! Every time I gave it, afterwards I was told by the Japanese that they were touched by my testimony. And everytime I thanked God for giving me the chance to be on ETEAM. This was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I am changed as a Christian and I feel closer to the Lord than ever before.
Rachelle Moore: This ETEAM experience has been great. I came on this trip thinking nothing could top last year's ETEAM experience but I was completely proven wrong. My team is a team! We love to be with each other and we enjoy each other's company. Sure sometimes we get on each other's nerves, but we just bite our tongue and think of a better time. I've made quite a bit of friends this trip and became closer to my best friend Jesus Christ. He has taught me no matter what language is being spoken, no matter what their customs or traditions are, and no matter what side of the road they drive on, we're still praising the same Jesus Christ. Thank you to all the supporters for sending me here and thank you to my team who has put up with me.
Andrew Osterkamp: ETEAM HOKKAIDO 2007 has been wonderful. Our trip to Hokkaido Japan has been a great experience. I pray we have been a help to our host missionaries. I know we all have acquired a much deeper love and concern for the Japanese people. This trip has helped open my eyes to the millions that lack even a basic knowledge of Christianity.
Matthew Lee: This trip was a great experience. I got to see another side of the world and another way of life. I got to hear, taste, smell, see and feel things that I never have before, but most of all, I got to work for a good cause ad help people out who have devoted their lives to that cause and that was the most important thing about my trip.
Blake Jordan: Japan was awesome! All of the people are so nice. We have all bonded and become really good friends. From carnivals to late night games, we have all learned to live with each other. I can definitely say that there are people in Japan that I will miss dearly. God has truly worked in all of our lives.
Seldon & Pam Buck, Leaders: Once again we have been blessed by being ETEAM leaders. Thank you to the parents who entrusted your children to us for this time and let us have the privilege of seeing them experience "first-hand" the ministry of our missionaries in Hokkaido, Japan. Please know that they will come home "changed"! It brings us such joy to see God open their eyes to the purpose of international missions and see them realize the great need and urgency to share Jesus Christ with those around the world. ETEAM HOKKAIDO 2007 is a group of great teens who met for the first time in Nashville, Tennessee on June 6 but from that date til now have become a group of "friends" who have worked and played together as well as prayed together and we are sadly leaving "friends" behind in Japan who will continue to be in our hearts and prayers once we get back to the U.S.
Thank you to our missionaries and OA's who planned and worked so hard to make our time here an enjoyable and memorable experience! We appreciate so much your ministry here in Hokkaido. Please know that you will be in our thoughts and prayers. Our time here with you has helped us to understand your ministry better and to know how to better pray for you and the people of Japan.
We love and appreciate all of you!
ETEAM HOKKAIDO 2007