Aperture's Blog

This whole process of blogging has really kinda’ got me addicted… I’ve started blogs before but never really got into the habit of updating them. Now that things are winding down I wonder how many of you are still reading. Even so, I feel like I need to write a bit more.

Tyler and I got back to Huntington today (Monday the 22nd) at around 10PM. After waiting the whole morning for a standby flight to Ft. Wayne, there were two seats left on the later flight Monday evening. The band decided that they’d let Tyler and I go back with out them… for numerous reasons ;) Anyways, instead of them coming back and waiting on standby for the evening flight they decided that they just wanted to spend another night at the hotel provided free of charge. Why not, right? Their flight will, Lord willing, depart tomorrow (Tuesday the 23rd) at around 12PM. Almost everyone’s bags are in Ft. Wayne, so they just need to catch up a little bit.

After finally getting back to school, taking my suitcase upstairs, taking a shower and getting to hang out with Brittany a bit ended up back in my room again doing some quick catch up homework in preparation for my 8AM class. Lucky for me, I got through all of it for tomorrow… I even decided on a subject for my sales speech; Jika tabi (not sure that’s how you spell it). They’re the shoes that Tyler talked about in a previous post. After sitting down on my bed and just taking everything in I realized that now that I was back, I was ready to return to Japan. Don’t ya just hate that? It’s like the summer camp syndrome… Suddenly after you’re dying to go home it hits ya and you that it was too much fun when you were gone!

I guess to some degree that’s pretty normal. I mean, I’m alone in a room (since my roommate, Josh isn’t back yet.) That hasn’t happened for quite some time.. I’m listening to music through speakers, not headphones! Anyone that’s known me for a while will probably know that I like being around groups and so now that I’ve had my quiet time I miss the busy life.
EXCEPT, this time I hope it’s a bit more. Japan has the second highest percentage of unsaved people. People that haven’t heard of Christ. Not only that, but they have the lowest missionary to person ratio in the world. Just like Zech might of touched on, it’s crazy how such an advanced country can be so lost, but when you think of it… they’re so busy. Life for them is one long work day. They’re trying to get ahead, and while they do that their spiritual lives are quickly dying off.

Some of you might of known that I wanted to intern at ORTV in Taiwan this summer. After not hearing about my application for some time I decided to spend the summer with Zech, however through so-and-so I found out that I did eventually get accepted. Asia has been on my mind and heart for a long time. After all, I was born in Taiwan. Japan has been a place Josh and I have dreamed of visiting, and it was all that we thought it was and more, however Japan needs God. Real bad. Right now the only thing going through my head is what else we can do for the country. These are thoughts I’ll keep pondering… I know that a group of YWAM missionaries were pretty persuasive.

I know I’m probably jet lagging since I’m writing this at 2:45AM and need to get up in 4 hours… I promise I’m going to bed now.

If you do read this, say a quick prayer for Japan and it’s missionaries. Also please keep Aperture in your prayers. The rest of the band isn’t back yet, and not only that… Our mission isn’t done yet. We’ve still got the rest of the semester left! Who knows, we might be worshiping near you some time soon!

We are in Atlanta right now. Unfortunately, not the airport.  Our flight from Atlanta to Fort Wayne was canceled due to a scheduling problem with Delta.  Best Western is a pretty nice hotel and we are working hard to get back to Huntington as quickly as possible.  Hopefully we will be in Huntington by late tomorrow night or Tuesday morning.

Besides this slight change in plans, the rest of our time in Tokyo was great. There were some bumps in the road on Sunday morning at the worship service at Jessica’s church, but we managed to make our 12-hour flight on time.  I felt like shedding a few tears as we took off from Tokyo because, in all honesty, I loved Japan.  It has been such a wonderful time of community among the band members and people of Japan with us.  God has blessed us greatly and we pray that others were blessed through our ministry.

Blessings,

Laura (on behalf of the band)

Today was an awesome day. Before I start into what we did today I want to apologize for not blogging and keeping all of you up to date with how God is working. Now, today was a somewhat easy day compared to others. We started out by going to the Bauman’s house and helping them pack stuff in their kitchen and upstairs room. They are moving out soon and asked us to help them which is the least we could do for them, considering all that they have done for us. After we ate lunch Zech, Josh, Kris, and Justin went Mr. Katsu to a hardware store to get some unique boots that I can’t spell or say. When they were gone me, Laura and Jessica were at the house, I took an awesome nap and the girls did something. I’m not sure exactly what they did because I was sleeping. When the guys got back we headed out for Shibuya to play at Hi-ba. We set up and ate some Mcdonalds, then had an awesome pre-worship time with all the YWAM helpers and our band. Paul, who leads the Hi-ba, lead this time of worship and did a great job at leading worship. After the pre-worship time we, Aperture, got up and lead an awesome time of worship. I, and this is just my opinion, thought that we got a lot of energy from the crowd and the setup helped the atmosphere. We ended the night with a long train ride back to our host families. We are heading out tomorrow after we play at one more place, some of us are ready to come back and some of us are wanting to stay. This opportunity has really opened my eyes and showed me a whole new way of life. The people here, the culture and even the money system is different; I am forever changed. I know that given the chance I would definitely come back here, and unofficially Aperture has been invited to play in the Philippines. God has really provided for us with safety and amazing people that have come into our lives. God is good. Thank you all for reading our blog and following us along in this amazing journey that God has provided.

Giant crosswalk. Shopping. Tonkatsu. Starbucks.

Just some of the highlights of our morning and afternoon.

Today we explored one of the major shopping districts of Tokyo, Harajuku, which was a time enjoyed especially by the girls. Think the boys got a few things out of it… maybe. Or perhaps they only enjoyed our delicious tonkatsu lunch together! It was a good day of adventuring nonetheless.

This evening we played an acoustic set at Hi-BA, and had the chance to hang out with some amazing high schoolers.

Only 2 more full days in Japan! It will be sad to leave.

And now I bid you GOOD NIGHT.

Well today was an awesome God filled day. It started out really early, we all were not very excited about that. We all met up at a station that went to another station that took us out to the country which sounds really confusing, because it was. We carried our luggage, guitars, synth, and drums, and that was our work out for the day. When we got there we instantly started to begin the day by doing an acoustic set. In the next hour we visited a preschool and lead worship plus a story about david and goliath. The kids were really cute and they were really behaved which is hard to find these days. We helped teach a class of music in the place where we did all the playing of the day. The class was..awkward..in my opinion and thats all that counts right now since I’m writing the blog. That sounded bad but it wasn’t meant to sound to self-centered. Anyways, we hung out at a place called gusto’s or something like that and it was pretty cool. We sat in the smoking section which was kinda not cool but no one was really there so it ended up being cool. There was a random guy that looked like an old gangster staring at us for at least 20 minutes. We left in enough time to get back and hang out before we played. This next part is where it gets great. We started out chatting and eating chips then pizza which was fine and all, but then we had a very random prayer time and hymn singing time which was AMAZING! That was a great start to our worship, we played and got a good response from the congregation. They most definitely wanted an encore and we gave it to them with Salvation is Here. We then packed up and headed back to our host homes, which are starting to feel somewhat like home. Over all it was an awesome day and we all are ready to continue this epic journey God has placed in front of us.

Wow. What a day! But before I describe today, let me add something in about yesterday. First, green tea soft cream is amazing.  Second, I’m a big fan of the public baths.  Third, I like shrimp sushi. Back to today. This morning Jessica and I woke up slightly late but managed to make it to the station before the train left…10 minutes after Jessica woke up.  Sadly, no time for Starbucks this morning.  After a ton of train transfers, we arrived in Ome.

Our first task of the day was to lead a short worship time in the morning chapel for Grace Christian International School.  About an hour later we went to a small Christian preschool where we did some songs with motions and I told them the story of David and Goliath.  I can’t get over how adorable those children are.  When we arrived at the preschool, before we went inside, we could hear them singing praises to Jesus in Japanese at the top of their lungs.  I have to say, there is something special, heart-warming, and deeply encouraging to me about young children worshipping God.  I was just incredibly joyful after being around them.

After the preschool, we went back to the school and ate lunch, set up our equipment, and played with the some of the younger students after their lunch break.  After teaching a music class where we taught the students about our instruments as well as some of our songs, we went a few minutes away to a restaurant and had some theological conversations.

Now on to one of THE best team times we have ever experienced…perhaps even the highlight of the trip for me so far.  When we were back at Grace Christian Fellowship (the church doubles as the school), the group went upstairs to eat pizza.  I think I wouldn’t be alone in saying there seemed to be some sort of tension in the air…possibly from the conversations we’d been having.  We like to do a time of prayer and testimony everyday when it’s just the band and today Zach brought some prayer requests before the group.

We all gathered around him and lifted up prayers to the Lord.  Some tears were shed.  Many hymns of praise were sung.  Hands were held.  The tension lifted, replaced by joy and a sense of brokenness only mended by God’s amazing love.  There have been several experiences in my life where I have felt joy that only the Lord can give.  The first time was in Iceland several years ago when I was enjoying some quiet time one morning.  The most recent was several hours ago as we all joined together and sought the face of the Lord.  Any discussions from the day were set aside, leaving no room for division to bear it’s ugly face among us.  I wish I could express with words what happened as we worshipped God vertically and served each other horizontally.  But perhaps this is why we have music—to express experiences and emotions that words could never understand.  If I could sum up our wonderful experience of worship with each other, I stand in awe of God’s endless love for us.  I also find myself blessed by the love that has been shared by all of the team mates.  Only God could manifest His love to us in such a powerful way as experienced through the service of His children.

To finish off our evening, we led an extended time of worship with a lot of lights.  Then we hopped back onto the trains to return to our host homes for the night.  Josh and I are still struggling with our throat health (is it possible we’ve been singing a lot?), and there is still physical sickness among us.  Please continue to keep our physical health in your prayers…specifically Kris (headaches), Zach (problems with food), Josh (vocal health), and me (vocal health).  And even more importantly, please pray that we would be protected spiritually and that God would continue the work He has begun in us.  Our God is extravagant and powerful! His love in indescribable and everlasting.  All glory, honor, and power is His forever and ever. Amen.

Blessings,

Laura

“We are His portion and He is our prize, drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes, if grace is an ocean we’re all sinking! So heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest…I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that HE LOVES US!”