* This is the update email that was sent out to our Google group on Jan 23rd.
** If you would like to receive our update emails, please send us an email and let us know if you would like to receive it in English or Korean.
*** The Korean version's always sent out a few days after the English one - the translation for this one was sent out in the early hours of Jan 26th (our time) in time for Lunar New Year in Asia! :)
Dear friends and family,
Happy New Year! We hope that your 2009 will be full of His blessings upon you and your family.
Here's a little recap and update from us.
Nov '08. Our four-week vision trip to Japan was filled with d*vine appointments. We met some awesome people, and they shared so much knowledge and experience with us that we'll be much better prepared when we get to Japan sometime in 2009. Did you know that the Japanese have a very high view of X-ianity? We learned they have such a high view of X-ianity that they feel like they can never measure up, and feel like they can't join a community of X-tians because they'll never be good enough. We pr@y they may experience a community of bel*evers who will shower them with the grace of G0d.
Dec '08. After returning back to the States in early December, Sara Juhee was sick with vomiting and diarrhea, so adjusting to jet lag took a bit longer than we thought. We were so grateful that she became sick after we arrived in the States and not while we were still traveling – thank G0d! We had a great time celebrating her first birthday, and spending Christmas and New Year's Day with family too.
Pioneers. We have some exciting news! After enjoying our holidays with family and friends, we attended Pioneers' (m*ss*ons agency) Candidate Orientation Program in Orlando, Florida at the beginning of January. We had a great time meeting other m*ss*onaries who were excited about their calling and the opportunity to work with like-minded, passionate people. After vigorous screening including psychological and personality testing, a very interesting and helpful counseling session, and an in-depth interview, we were officially accepted as Appointees on Friday, January 9th. Thank you, thank you. =)
Preparation. During our orientation, we learned that there is so much we need to do before we can depart for Japan! We definitely thought that we'd be in Japan by now, but we're at least a few months away from going, and even that would be a miracle! Just to give you an idea, both Peter and Jenny have required reading (by Pioneers) to complete prior to our departure, we need to create a display table, brochures, newsletters, pr@yer cards, etc. to be able to better communicate our involvement of what G0d is doing in Japan. We also need to invite more people to participate as part of our pr@yer and financial support team, complete medical examinations, as well as attend Pre-Field Connection (another week of training at Pioneers headquarters in Orlando, Florida). Jenny also needs to complete 15 units of formal Bible training within the next 5 years, preferably prior to departure as life will only become more hectic once we're in Japan. You might ask, "Is all this really necessary?". Well, we could just go without Pioneers, without building relationships, pr@yer and financial partners. But we would be severely handicapped if we did decide to go it alone because we wouldn't have a team of people journeying with us, and a family back home rooting us on. There's a lot we need to do, but it's well worth it because we know that everything is to help us be better prepared for a long-term journey in making a difference in Japan.
Partnership. We would like to ask that you pr@yerfully consider partnering with us through prayer and/or financial gifts. More information to follow, but if you would like to know more in the meantime, please let us know.
When, Where, and What. The questions we've been hearing the most these days is "So, when are you guys going back to Japan?", "Will you guys be going to Osaka?", "Do you know what you'll be doing out there?". The short answer is, it all depends... In terms of timing, we have several criteria to meet (like those mentioned above) including raising up to 90% of our monthly support schedule and 100% of our departure expenses required by Pioneers. We were hoping to be able to return to Japan in March, but it looks like it will take a miracle for that to happen. As for the "where" and "what" questions, G0d is continuing to open up doors for us so we don't know that yet either. But we know that in His time, He will guide us as we continue to seek His will in trying to answer those three questions.
OHayo OHsaka Blog. Remember to keep checking our blog for pictures and updates!
Thank you. To you, as always, and also to our G0d for blessing us with you, your pr@yers, and for providing for us in every way. He is good, all the time. =)
Pr@yrfully yours,
Peter, Yeonsook Jenny, and Sara Juhee Oh
PS: If you do not understand any of the terms used within this email, please email us and we will explain in a separate email. Thank you for not forwarding this email on to anyone.
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