Friday, January 20, 2012

My Chinese Life

For the past 3 years Adeng has been serving a Chinese church in Tokyo. This is a requirement of his seminary studies and preparation to go into the ministry.  Tokyo Sunshine Christian Assembly is the name of the church. I remember when Adeng first chose this church to serve- it's about an hour commute from his school. I was against it. "2 hours round-trip is way too long for a busy student to spend traveling." But God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and this church has been one of the greatest blessings in our life.  The time commuting can be spent reading or resting.  Once we were married and I joined Adeng in his journeys, we've often had great conversations on the ride home from church. We're usually hyped up and brainstorming about future ministry ideas, travel, family... you name it! 

On the way home from church on January 1st, also our first anniversary!!- we just happened to bump into a group of missionaries from YWAM Berlin.  They had been in Japan for 3-4 weeks, and were headed to South Korea for another 5, spreading the Gospel via street ministry.  Those young adults yanked on my heart and filled me with renewed hope and excitement. Here was a group of passionate young people, fired up and avidly searching and seeking how they can reach the nations with the Gospel!  God doing mighty things in the hearts of young people is the most exciting thing I've ever seen!-- So they prayed for Adeng and I after we talked and shared our own vision to be missionaries in Japan.  Talk about powerful!- all this on a train ride through Tokyo.

Back to the Chinese church. We went up to Fukushima for winter camp and spent a few days in the clean, but cold lodge.  However, our hearts were fired up by the movement of the Spirit, and no winter frost can dull that! 
Almost as a rule, when there's a celebration, we make Chinese dumplings, called "jiao zi."  These are scrumptious as a main or side dish.  We all pitched in and pinched dough, and LOOK at how many dumplings there are in the kitchen! We couldn't eat them all, even the next day for lunch and back at church the following evening.

Adeng, Qiucia (choo-sha), ShinShin, Annie

Many hands make many dumplings!


My breakfast team! We ROCKED the pancakes and sausages!

Pics with the lodge.

5 comments:

Vicky said...

I love reading your blog, Annie.
We just had three wonderful days with your parents at a church meeting in Topeka, KS.

Vicky said...

Well, maybe it was more like two evenings and a day and a half, but it was wonderful.

Pastor Mike McInnis said...

Hey, Anners, so good to read your latest blog entry! I'm glad you were encouraged by the YWAM group; I'm sure you encouraged them, too, just as Mom and I were encouraged by being with Vicky and Jeff in Topeka! The time was too short, but we know we'll get to see them again - hopefully in the near future!

Love you, Annie! Dad

Angel said...

Happy Anniversary Annie and Adeng,

I still check your blog from time to time and was excited to read your new post. I am glad to read you and Adeng enjoyed your first year of wedded bliss :-) I too have resolved to "train" for a 1/2 marathon this year. Mia completed the Chicago marathon back in September which i thought was great. Keep us posted and updated on your life's adventures!

Angel Wallace, City of Sioux City IA

Pastor Mike McInnis said...

Anners!!! You need to write another blog post sharing your future plans!

Love you,

Dad