Departure

With an 11:30 depature time from Naha airport, our crew had to get up and out early. We made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare and said good-bye to the team along with Vee and Ai Tetsuo and their small son Setsuri.

We are so thankful for the time we were able to spend together and are excited about what this trip will come to mean to each person who was on the trip as well as to the church and family members who will hear about their adventures in the future. We also know that their trip has made an impression on many at OCSI, the Okinawa Baptist Convention and Hokuzanso Camp.

We truly appreciate how many of you made sacrifices so they could be here. Thank you for your support of them and of God's work in Okinawa.

Keep them in your prayers as they travel and as David and Joanna will be traveling back to the US on Monday and we ask for your prayers for them as well.

Peace Park

Today was the team's last full day on Okinawa and we had a lot planned for them. We left OCSI at around 8:45 after speaking with the Crossroad's Bible Study via Skype and arrived at Goya church to pick up the last crew when we were asked by Pastor Tomari if we would be OK with taking the wife of a visitor from Niigata Prefecture with us for the day. We readily agreed and enjoyed spending the day with Mrs. Nakamura.

Our first stop was at the Memorial Peace Park at the most southern end of Okinawa. This Park was built in 2000 to remember the over 250,000 troops who died in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. We first went to the area where the names of all those who died are memorialized on black marble slabs. Most of the names there are those from Okinawa and Japan but there are also names of Americans, Koreans, Europeans and those from Taiwan. The photo was taken at the memorial flame near the cliffs where many lost their lives.

After looking at many of the names, we then went to the museum where the complete history of the war and in particular the Battle of Okinawa is presented in order to get a more global view of what happened in Okinawa. This was a very sobering presentation and with artifacts, photos, video and actual testimonies of those who experienced the war, we all had a better idea of what life would have been like on Okinawa at that time.

We boarded the bus again and headed to lunch and after eating a choice of curry, beef bowl or McDonald's, we went to International Street in Naha. There the whole crew took advantage of the many stalls and vendors of all kinds of Okinawan goods. We met after shopping at a local Starbucks and there we saw the fun purchases. There were t-shirts, dresses, bags, sandals, robes, scarves and many other things that will be making their way to West Virginia tomorrow.

Dinner was at a local department store where everyone could split up and try their own restaurant. We chose our favorite called "Wafu Tei" where we can get good Japanese food. Hilda and Grace ate sushi and really seemed to enjoy it. Some used the time as a last minute chance to do a bit more shopping.

We then headed back to the apartments for some packing and much needed sleep to prepare for the trip home.

Hokuzanso-The Next Day

The second day at Hokuzanso started early when Jane and two of the Melanies woke up early and went to see the ocean at sunrise...it was a lovely sight and they said they felt they had been led by God to be there at that time and see His beautiful creation.

The rest of the gang woke up a bit later and began work on the main camping building. The men worked on cleaning off the roof while the women worked at cleaning the sleeping mats. The mats required getting them out of the closet, putting them up and hitting the dust out, carrying them out to the basketball court to be wiped down and then finally putting them back again.

Mrs. Kawamitsu was overjoyed and said that our WV team was the hardest working team she has had up at the camp. Mr. Kawamitsu was in shock and thankful for the new weed-eater that Roger bought for him. He kept saying, "kansha shiteimasu, kansha shiteimasu", (I am so thankful) over and over again. As the group were getting on the bus, Mrs. Kawamitsu pointed at Si and said, "You look like an international movie star." Si will certainly want to come back.

The team left the camp and headed to the pineapple park and were able to taste a bit of pineapple and drink some pineapple juice. They arrived back at school in time to enjoy dinner and Bible study with the missionary teachers at OCSI.

Tomorrow is a trip to the Peace Park and then shopping at international street...then to the airport by 9:20 for their trip back to the US.

Hokuzanso-Baptist Camp

Today is Tuesday with lots to report on how the day went at our Baptist Camp in Hokuzanso but first a run down of Monday is in order.

After a busy Sunday, most returned in the morning to the work they did last week. Si continued his work with the OCSI maintenance crew and was able to get all the locker work done as the ladies worked at OCSI in classes. Betty led the chapel for the students as she taught them songs and shared a lesson with them. Roger and Jim spoke at a workshop on church planting to about 20 Okinawa Baptist Convention pastors. The afternoon was spent in fun activities as Betty and Jean were able to visit several of the local military bases with one of the teachers from the base. It was good for them to see where their husbands had served while in Okinawa. The Melanies and Jane went with David to the traditional pottery village and the rest went out on the boat owned by Max, one of the maintenance crew and went snorkeling. It was a great time. Roger said he would have given up his Corvette for the experience!! It must have been great!! In the evening, Pastor Tomari took them all out to dinner....the buffet restaurant had some old staples as well as some new foods.."sliced pigs ear in peanut sauce anyone?"

Today started a bit slower as we took off from OCSI at 10:00 to head to the Hokuzanso Baptist Camp in Nakijin. It is such a help to Mr. and Mrs. Kawamitsu to have their help. The team will be cleaning the kitchens, doing some groundswork, and helping with cleaning up the main building.

They got started as soon as they arrived and seriously began cleaning the kitchens and cabins. Mrs. Kawamitsu wanted them to take it easy....but they didn't listen!! Talk about those stubborn West Virginians! But after about an hour and a half of straight working, they took a break and went swimming in the beautiful East China Sea. We then had a cookout and shared about how this trip has made an impact on us.

Most are making peace with the critters at the camp: the gekkos, mosquitoes, mice and other creepy crawlies...although the camp isn't a four star resort it is a place that has introduced many to God and His love for them as they have stayed there. How thankful we are for the work that is being done by our team.

Sunday-Day 5

What a day Sunday was!! It started in the morning at Daiichi Church with worship and Sunday School. Jane sang and Roger preached. Roger was able to spend some time talking about church planting with Vee, the pastor of Great Commission International church.

After the service, there was a time of fellowship with church members making origami and eating delicious goya cake. Lunch was at yakiniku (Korean Barbeque) restaurant where you cook your own food. Roger said the octopus was delicious.



We then went to the beach and visited several islands connected by long bridges. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful.


Evening service was at Goya Baptist Church where Roger and Jim are staying. Jim preached and the WV crew sang for the congregation. Joanna took some photos too!


Tomorrow is a busy day at OCSI.....