Well my friends, we made it! After being awake for over 24 hours Josh and I finally made it to Edmonton. Upon arrival at the airport we were picked up by our dear CLBI friends Andrew, Kara, and Andrea, and then immediately went to Sherwood park to watch CLBI's easter choir and drama performance. It was one of the best I have seen to this day.

For the last couple days in Japan Josh and I spent time with Cliff and Marg in Tokyo. Having completed our goals on the construction projects in Karuizawa, we felt like we could really relax and enjoy the remainder of our time in Beautiful Japan. One evening we went to see the Tokyo symphony orchestra in Suntory music hall. We celebrated Marg's 65th birthday at a Japanese home in typical Japanese style, and we spent a day in Yokohama with Cliff seeing the sights and eating ice cream (fantastic stuff I might add). Overall our trip was a huge success, and I am convinced that it wouldn't have been, had we not had the prayers of possibly hundreds of people backing us. Here are just a few of the many answered prayers: Josh an I are still friends (probably better than ever), We were able to play a big part in leading a fellow Canadian to the Lord (who knew that God would send us to japan to minister to someone who lives in the same country as us?) We were able to bless Cliff and Marg both through the work we did, and through Just really enjoying each others company (I stick with my verdict: they are much younger than they look) Finally, we thank God so much for those of you who sent us on our way entrusting us with your finances, We feel so blessed and loved by you our church families!

In closing, Josh and I will each be giving a presentation at our home churches within the next few weeks. Thank all of you again for showing an interest in our ministry.

God Bless You!
-Flo

Finish Line

Here we are back in Tokyo for the last time.  We are wrapping things up and soon to come home.  It is Sunday afternoon and we are lounging around at Cliff and Marg's place before we head home on Tuesday.  We will leave here around 6PM and arrive in Edmonton around 4:15 on Tuesday, wow wouldn't it just  be quicker to go in reverse two hours?!?  It will be a long of travelling but we will have some good friends at the other end as we will head into Camrose to spend a few days before I return up to FSJ for Easter weekend.  This Friday was Marg's birthday and we celebrated if with lot's of laughter as there usually is when we are together with them.  We have been so blessed by Cliff and Marg whilst here in Japan.  She has done a good chunk of the cooking for us since Phil and Sue left a while back.  The Lord has been at work in my life over these last few months.  This trip has been a good get-away for me to slow down, put alot of business aside and start reprioritizing my life.  

I have been on the go now straight from one thing to the next for the last few years, and I believe this time has been a blessing from God to straighten out some of the bad habbits I have developed while never having a steady lifestyle to count on.  Since We came and even long before, God has been stressing the importance of prayer on my life.  I realized I was preaching prayer so it has been time to pull up my bootstraps and start prying more regularly.  I have begun to do a more deliberate morning prayer and devotion.  This has been a bit tough for those of you who know me I'm sure you've figured out I love mornings....... But it has been going well none the less.  Daily prayer and readings in the word are what ground us to our convictions and commitments for the Lord.  This has been an amazing trip for Flo and I and PS we still are friends after spending everyday together since January 10.  I am so glad the Lord and Flow have given me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and come to Japan. 

 In case your anxiously wondering about what we got done with the cabin I will now inform you.  Flo worked on many different cabins during our stay.  He tiled beautiful entry ways in about half a dozen cabins and a hearth around Cliff's firplace which had to be ripped out after Kerosine spilled all over the floor soaking into the wood and needing replacing.  As far as cabin 5 I am happy with what we accomlished.  It is not finished yet and there will be a fair amount of work to come but my goal has been accomplished.  When we started and through out much of the rebuilding process there was never a fine line on what needs to be done, it just does.  So my main objective if nothing else was to get the cabin to a place where, when we leave the people after us can just finish it without trying to figur out how and where and what would be done. 

We insulated using a variety of North American and Japanese insullation.  There were many different types of walls and ceiling spacing, some 16" oc and some 2' oc and some 18" oc center which was actually a spacing in Metric, all this just to use up as much materials that they already had as possible.  We put a nice Laminated Beam in and I wanted wood ceilings so that the beam could be finished and tie in with the rest of the ceiling.  It worked out beautifully.  I used prefinished Ceader T&G for the ceiling I love it!  The Next person will do all of the drywall and then the finishing.  This will most likely be in the charge of Nate our new friend.  He was here for a few months earlier this winter and has now returned to spend 1 year taking over Randy's old job running the rebuilding of Team Center cabins.  He is a young guy like us and we had a great last week as we got to know him.  One last Onsen last Wednesday before coming to Tokyo this weekend, wonderful as always. 

Dear supporters you have been such a huge blessing to Flow and I as we have glided through our Time in Japan.  Your prayers have made all the difference here.  There is much God is doing here and there is much he will do in the future please continuing for the salvation of the Japanese people.

Love Josh

Paul Brandt is quoted as saying "all you are, is who you've been".  Who are you? And what will you be known for?  This is a question that apears to be posted all around our world.  Everyone is trying to make a difference in one way or another but in the end what is many of their concerns. People will say;  I want to make an impact on the world, society, someone!  All they hope for is that somebody will remember them for good, and that their short existance on our "lonely planet" will not have been spent in vain.  The question that has really been impacting me lately is:  What is hope?  Do you have it?  I rest assured my salvation has given me heaven that awaits me once I pass from this earth.  I wonder and struggle with the fact that so many are willing to continue in an oblivious state, stumbling around refusing to think beyond the simple gratifications of the flesh and the now.  Where is the sense of meaning?  Why are people so concerned with the fact of right and wrong yet simply believe that it is merely human tendancy to want to do good.  This doesn't appear easy nor does it serve any purpose besides the satisfaction that comes from praise of man.  In a world so filled with hopelessness how many are actually willing to listen to a word that brings hope and meaning to a life that is otherwise tainted with the wrongs of humanity.  And beyond the simple questions comes a much tougher one.  Who will be so bold as to allow the Holy Spirit to empower them and deliver this great news of hope?  What use are we unless we are fulfilling our purpose defined by our Creator.
God Bless
Josh