Back in September 2008, we were busy thinking up of a name for our Google group and blog... We wanted it to have something to do with us, the Oh family, and our destination, which, at the time, was Osaka. So after using process of elimination, we decided on "OHayo OHsaka".
Osaka was truly the best place for us to go for our vision trip. Unbeknown to us, God had already prepared divine appointments for us in the Kansai (area including Osaka) area. It was the perfect place for us to be based to meet missionaries already serving in Japan - the Crowhursts serving with WEC in Hikone, the Thomsons serving with Asian Access in Sanda and the Ryus also serving with Asian Access in inner-city Osaka, and of course, the Murrays, serving with Pioneers in Hiroshima. It was also the perfect place because there's a large Korean population in Osaka, which meant that there was a Korea town, lots of Korean restaurants, Korean food shops, and even Korean signage in subway stations! So we were a bit less stressed and felt a bit less like fish out of water. =) We even got to experience a bit of the Japanese Korean pop culture craze while we were having lunch at a Korean restaurant in Korea town. We were also able to attend a Korean-Japanese church with services in both languages and meet with teachers from Korean schools in Osaka too. The apartment that we stayed at was perfect too for the 28 days that we were there 'cause we had privacy, we could cook our own meals, it was right next to the subway station, and we were able to experience (a bit) of what it might be to live in an apartment in Japan - it's really hard to find a place to stay for just a month (without it being a hotel / hostel / motel).
Osaka was truly the perfect place for our vision trip. God knows best! =)
But then...
God confirmed to us in many ways while we were there and once we got back that our long-term destination in Japan was to be Hiroshima to work with the Murrays! So what do we do about the name OHayo OHsaka? We were having a hard time coming up with a name with Hiroshima in it. We shared this at our Friday night Married Couples' Fellowship and our friend A suddenly said "Rising sun... But with an 'o' instead of a 'u'." It was perfect!
Transitioning to the "Rising Son"
We had many many logo ideas and the one to the left is the one that was chosen in the end by us, and those that we asked. It was designed by my very own Peter! =) He put a lot of thought into it.
He designed it using a "free" logo creating website, but we found out that you have to pay for it if you want a copy so we asked our designer friend of a friend to recreate it. The symbolism behind it is that Japan is covered in (ri)SIN(g) but when covered completely by the blood of the Son, He will bring wholeness to the people of Japan... Or something like that. :)
I think it depicts perfectly what we want to do - to spread the Good News of the Risen Son in the land of the Rising Son.
A New Beginning
Along with our new logo we'll also be using a new email service soon so our emails won't be going out with our OHayo OHsaka Google group anymore. Well, maybe once or twice more while we get things sorted. =)
There are lots of amazing things happening. It's a very exciting time for us. Thank you for tracking with us!
Lots of love,
Jenny
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