JP

FINDING YOUR RHYTHM

2011-02-15T06:35:00.000-08:00

Sapporo Feb 2010 (Month 11)

Hello, I would like to share with you with great joy an article by my dear friend Steve Manders also an OMFmissionary helping with his family at a Japanese Church in Omagari, about an hour from Sapporo.

He wrote for a Christian magazine in Japan called Japan Harvest, he wrote about the evangelistic event that I helped at Omagari Church in September, we did a dance workshop and I shared how I became a Christian, please read the article. Thanks for your prayers and support! Mega blessings and Sapporo still very vey cold!

FINDING YOUR RHYTHM

Steve Manders (OMF Japan)

To capture the imagination of a different generation of Japanese, the little church plant in Omagari, in the town ofKitahiroshima, wanted to try something different. The English class, craft class and cooking class outreach events were attracting people and making available an opportunity to hear the gospel of Christ, but these events were only attracting the ‘same’ people. What could be done to ignite interest in the many that lived in the area that were not attracted to these kinds of events? This was the main question. What resources did we have to our disposal? Who did we know? What ‘gifts and talents’ were out there?

Young Brazilian missionary, Joao Pedro de Carvalho, or JP to his friends, has a gift; the gift of dance. More specifically, Hip Hop dance. JP’s testimony itself is amazing. JP spent much of his childhood lonely and without friends until he was invited to join a dance class held at a local church. He was hesitant but went and what he found amazed him. He was amazed at the welcome; welcome to class and welcome as the person that he was. He was amazed at all the new friends that he now had. He was amazed at the ‘new life’ that could be his, and amazed by the fact that it was the living and loving God who wanted to give him these things. God gave young JP’s a new rhythm; new friends, new Life a new gift; the gift of dance.

In early 2010, JP joined OMF International and its ministry in Japan, bringing with him this unique gift.

So in September, 45 people, ranging from ages 1 through 65 gathered in response to a flyer promoting the “Brazilian Rhythm Hip Hop Dance Class”. They were gathered and eager to find their rhythm. JP, as instructor, taught the class some Hip Hop moves, culminating, after about an hour, with the class demonstrating to JP their newly acquired rhythm and skills.

The day of the Omagari Hip Hop event, JP was able to share his testimony two times. The first time was in words, sharing of his coming to Christ and of his desire to be an encouragement to those gathered to seek Christ for themselves. The second time was through dance and an incredible visual testimony of what it means to be a part of the ‘army of the Lord’.

In JP’s own words, “I was encouraged to see that I could also use the gift God had given me, that is dance, to make friends with people, and help those that maybe have experienced the same things I had. The help I received I want to give to others according to the gifts God has given me.”

We might not be all fantastic Hip Hop dancers, but God has given each and every one of us a very special gift or talent. Maybe it is musical like dancing, or singing or an instrument. But maybe it’s not any of these. Maybe it’s in craft, art or cooking. Maybe the gift that you can use is being able to make yourself available to others. I don’t know what your gift is, but I do know is that it is God who has given it to you and for that reason alone, it is not either a gift ‘too out of place’, ‘too small’ or ‘too unique for outreach’ that it cannot be shared with others. It is a gift for His purposes.

What gift has God given to you? How can you use it for His Glory? How can you reach out to those people who might have a similar interest as you but have not heard of the Lord Jesus Christ? Pray about it. Think about it. Then use it, so that others might find their rhythm in Christ.

Steve Manders (OMF Japan)

ハピスパAwesome God音楽付き.mov

2011-01-17T19:18:00.000-08:00

Sapporo Japan – January 2011

Crushed but not destroyed

(Month 10)

Hello and blessed 2011 for you and all your family, friends and Church!

Wow this is month 10 and it is 2011 already!

Crushed but not destroyed, 2 Corinthians 4:8, I’ve started this new year thinking about all the big challenges I faced last year and I realized, yes it was hard, challenging and all other difficulties I faced but I still with joy and glad because God took care of me and I am not destroyed.

I hope I don’t need to wait until next year again to realize that God is faithful.

I had a very had time during Christmas and New Year, my sister moved to Italy and she went through a lot, when she arrived there, things that she planned before she moved were completely different from what she really expected, planned and agreed, she was in a bad situation, it was a hard time for me and my family. Finally people from a Brazilian Church helped her and now she is going to church again, she’s been away from God for more than 9 years now she is back, crushed but not destroyed.

Also one of my best friend who lead me to Christ and taught me how to dance, he’s mother died on Christmas eve and during the same time he found out that his wife had a brain tumor, when they found out it was a bit late, they had to operate her quickly and after the surgery she was in comma for nearly 3 weeks fighting for her life. For me it was as if it happened with my own sister, it was hard! But New Years day, by the power of God, she woke up and now she is slowly getting better and better, now she is talking, walking and smiling, praise God, crushed but not destroyed.

2011 started very good, I have new Japanese teachers and is going very well!

For the last 2 months I’ve started to get more comfortable to use and hear Japanese, and I’ve decided stop saying that Japanese is hard, difficult, impossible to learn and bla bla bla…must get on with it and by God’s grace I’m getting there.

I’ve moved to another flat, now living with my friend who is also an OMF missionary and we are getting on very well.

Winter in Sapporo started, now it is extremely cold, I never seen so much snow in my life and after long hours of snow shoveling, I’m almost an expert, interesting experience, loving it! Crushed but not destroyed.

My Japanese friend who I meet every Friday is interested in Christianity and he heard and read once about David now he wants to know more details.

At my Church is going well, after being there for nearly a year I have good relationships and better understanding of churches and culture in Japan.

Please keep praying for my sister, my friend who went through surgery, my Japanese friend who is interested about Christianity; in February I will start study the life of David with him and please pray for my new 2 teachers, both of them are not Christian yet. Thanks for praying for me and all OMF finance situation, God is being providing, crushed but not destroyed!

We are crushed but not destroyed, God is faithful!

From my heart thank you for your prayers, support, and also for replying to my newsletter, it is so encouraging when I hear from you and please let me know how I can pray for you too! Thank you very much!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

João Pedro (JP)

ナイトdeライト　まきびとひつじを "The First Noel" in Japanese dancing at Christmas event in Sapporo with "night-de-light" Worship Band Dec 2010

2010-12-09T06:29:00.000-08:00

TAKESHI NISHINO (EXCEED) LESSON 11

2010-11-15T05:29:00.001-08:00

TAKESHI NISHINO (EXCEED) LESSON 9

2010-11-15T05:29:00.000-08:00

TAKESHI NISHINO (EXCEED) LESSON 12

2010-10-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

Dance Workshop Omagari 2010

2010-09-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

Sapporo-Japan (Month 7) God gives lots and lots of opportunities

2010-09-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

“Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Paul, messenger of Christ Jesus)

Month 7 wow… great opportunities God is giving me in Japan, reminds me the message Paul, messenger of Jesus, to the people in Ephesus, to be wise and make the most of God given opportunity, before is too late and sometimes I waste time complaining about life here in Japan, but it is life right?! I should get on with it and remember why I am here, and the reason is Jesus loves me and I love Him. This month opportunities to learn more Japanese, 2 Japanese friends, we meet every week Mondays and Fridays, they’re my language helpers, good to improve language and great opportunity to share my life with Christ.

Other opportunity, I have started to study Japanese, book 2 in Portuguese, I finished book 1 in English, it is so much better to learn from Portuguese. After finishing book 1, every student have to do 5 minutes speech in Japanese to the whole school, it was good, simple, funny…funny because on my speech I said that I love sushi and when I go to a Sushi restaurant, I would eat 15 plates with 2 sushi each, and from the 15 plates, 10 are Unagi (Fish Eel) and I love Japanese Fanta, every one laugh, I wonder why…

But also I said how it’s been in Japan, the last 6 months and how hard it’s to learn the language, hard but not impossible, God always reminds of His call since I was 7 yrs.

You can watch my speech on line on www.youtube.com/jpnetojapan

Other opportunity, on the first Saturday of Sept, I lead a dance workshop for a church in Omagari, 1 hr from where I live, there are OMF Missionary friends, helping the church so helped to organize this event to get contact of people around the community. It was amazing! About 40 people, from kids, lots of kids with their moms, to folks from the 60’s and so on. The church always organizes different activity for the community, so the dance workshop was good to invite them for future activities and church fellowship. From 40 people half of them were not Christians, I taught them some dance steps and them I told them my history about Christ and I, how and why I started dancing. Please pray for those that attended the dance worship and for Omagari church. Pray for my friends helping me to improve my Japanese.

Pray for my Church Grace Community: www.grace-community.or.jp

We a having church outreach at the car park on the 19/09 and the kids and I we are going to dance, please pray for the event and people that might come.

From my heart thank you for your prayers, support, and also for replying to my newsletter, it is so encouraging when I hear from you too! Thank you very much! Be blessed and be a blessing!

João Pedro (JP)

Sapporo-Japan (Month 6) “Summer”

2010-08-13T23:34:00.000-07:00

(Month 6) “Summer”

Month 6, it is summer; Japan is a land of extreme weather and sessions, Sapporo winter time can be 10

Degrees Celsius below zero and summer time can be nearly 37 Degrees Celsius, amazing!

This summer I went to Tokyo for 1 week holiday and it was very good, I was so blessed by visiting my friends. I spent quality time with my 2 Japanese home stay families, they hosted me when I came to Japan for the first time in 2006 and since then every summer I have been visiting and spending time with them. I thank God for their love and friendship, I’ve been so blessed for the last 4 years every time I visit them, it is good to keep in touch so I know how I can pray for them.

I also visited friends from Yotsukaido, Tokyo area, there is a church called Family Church, where we did kids program in 2006. It was amazing spending time with the Pastor of the Church in Yotsukaido who is a very good friend of mine, first time I met him I couldn’t speak Japanese and he couldn’t speak English, but when I met him this summer we could communicate in Japanese, he was so glad that we were able to have fellowship in Japanese.

The summer camp from my Church went very well; praise God and thank you for your prayers!

We had about 27 kids, great time, I could get to know the kids better and vice-versa, and I’ve learnt more how God works here in Japan and after being part and helping this camp I felt more part of the church and the fellowship, even when I don’t understand sometimes what is going in Japanese but by God’s grace, I will get there, that is why I am here to watch, learn and serve.

Language study is going well, praise the Lord I’ve found a Christian Japanese friend that is willing to be my language helper, so we meet every Wednesday for 1 hour and I am nearly finishing Japanese text book 1 and starting book 2 soon, so far I’ve been learning Japanese from English text book but from book 2 it will be in Portuguese, I will try and might understand better the Japanese Grammar.

Praise God I got my Japanese driving license, not planning to have a car though but it is good to be able to drive here in case if I need to.

Please pray for my friends and home stay families in Tokyo, for all the kids that attended the summer camp and in September the kids from my church are performing the dance I am teaching them.

From my heart thank you for your prayers, support, and also for replying to my newsletter, it is so encouraging when I hear from you too! Thank you very much! Be blessed and be a blessing!

João Pedro (JP)

God is in control

2010-07-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

Sapporo-Japan News Letter July 2010

(Month 5)

“God is in control”

Wow…month 5 already, I had a great time with my OMF coordinators, my dear friends Peter and Janet Dallman and we talked about my time here in Japan until now and at the end of the conversation they asked me what I have learnt in 5 months in Japan, my answer was that God is in control, not me, not people, but God only.

I could spend hours and hours writing to you about my problems and challenges I am facing here in Japan but I’d rather write what it’s real above all my problems, God is in control and I trust Him always.

Regarding learning Japanese, He is in control, He was the one that created Japanese language, so He knows well that I need the language, now what I must do is keep studying, do my best and God will do the rest.

For “Month 5” this is my highlight Brothers and Sisters that God is in control, knowing this, I am so blessed and I would like to encourage you to keep going knowing that He is in Control.

Life in Sapporo is good and soon I will be 28yrs, on the15th of July, I’m getting old, praise the Lord!

Please pray for churches here in Japan, and also for my church Grace Community, as the summer has arrived, during this time churches here are extremely busy with outreach, evangelism, summer camps, events, concerts and short term teams from other countries. Please pray for them as they help us and when those teams go back to their home country, pray that they encourage others about thinking of mission, not only here in Japan but wherever God calls.

In August I am attending a summer youth camp from my church; it will be my first one, so please pray for us, for the kids and leaders.

I will also have 1 week summer holiday in Tokyo, after 5 months in Japan it will be good to have a break. I am going to see my friends and 2 families in Tokyo area, they were my home stay family when I came to Japan for the first time in 2006, and since I visit them every summer, now that I am living here I want to keep the tradition alive and keep in touch with them. I am looking forward!

Also pray for summer festival and evangelistic event my church is organizing, beginning of September. Now I am teaching the kids dance “Every step I make” Japanese version and they will perform at the summer festival.

From my heart thank you for your prayers, support, and also for replying to my newsletter, it is so encouraging when I hear from you too! Thank you very much! Be blessed and be a blessing!

João Pedro (JP)

Yosakoi 2010

2010-06-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

Please Click here to see pictures

Sapporo-Japan (Month 4)

2010-06-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

“By Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, created by Him

and for Him”

Month 4, I was so encouraged by the creativity of Japanese people. Every year in June they have a festival called Yosakoi Sora is a unique style of dance that originated in Japan, traditional summer dance, the style of dance is highly energetic, combining traditional Japanese dance movements with modern music by large teams participants include men and women of almost all ages. It was so beautiful to see them having fun together dancing on the streets hundreds and hundreds of them with beautiful and colorful costumes, such a vibrant and good atmosphere.

While watching them, just remind me the verse in Colossians 1 that all things were created by God and for God, Japanese creativity was created by God and I keep praying that they will realize and understand that all this creativity was given by God and they have to use it for Him. It would be wonderful to see them doing the same thing worshiping the One Who created them. Yosakoi was my highlight of Month 4, to see hundreds and thousands of Japanese getting together to celebrate life with dance, music, instruments and colorful costumes on the streets of Sapporo. For me it was one of the greatest representations of God’s creation.

Life in Sapporo is good, the dance studio I used to teach and attend in Manchester and Bolton, Sunshinestudios, is promoting an international dance summer camp and my friend, the owner, asked to promote it here in Japanto my dancing friends and to the dance school I am attending. I was so glad that my friends from the UK asked me to do it, great opportunity to share and make new friends both here in Japan and also in the UK strength my links.

My church, Grace Community is doing fine, beginning of June, we had a youth camp, I couldn’t attend by I heard testimonies that it was great. This summer, August we are going to have another one for the summer. I gave my testimonies and danced at the joint service, it was great; I just shared why I went to Japan, thanked them for the hospitality, that I felt very welcomed by everyone and brought greetings from Brazil and the UK, told them if they have the opportunity of going to Brazil or UK they will be welcomed in the same way I was. I started the testimony in Japanese, just to break the ice, apologizing for my not yet Japanese and I finished in English with translation. Well this is it for Month 4 and I’m exciting to see what God’s prepared for Month 5.

Please pray for thing you have read, that the Japanese realize who they are in Christ Jesus and from 21/25 of June we are having a OMF conference here in Hokkaido, gathering with all OMF missionaries working in Japan, please pray that we have good time exchanging experiences and future plans. From my heart thank you for your prayers, support, and also for replying to my newsletter, it is so encouraging when I hear from you too! Thank you very much! Be blessed and be a blessing!

João Pedro (JP)

2010-05-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

“We all have the equal chance to reach out…”

“We have the equal chance to reach out to people…” this is what my Japanese friend told me after 2 hours talking about Japanese culture, youth and Church.

He is the youth Pastor of the church I am attending now,GraceCommunityChurch.

We had a very good conversation, I have learnt so much from him, we have the same vision related to strategies to reach out, and one of them is to encourage Japanese Christians to reach out to different people and situations according to their gifts, they have changes, opportunities to do it.

Month 3 now and getting deeper and deeper with Japanese language studies. The more I know I don’t know but I know if you know what I mean.

Thank be to God that I am starting put words into phrases and trying to communicate and make myself understood, so far so good, hard but good! I am getting there day by day, step by step by the grace of God.

We had 10 days national holiday, called “Golden Week”, Children’s day plus other public holidays. It was good time to revise Japanese, what I have learnt and also to relax. My dance school had special and extra classes during this holiday, so I went to make more friends and try to practice the language.

There is a new Japanese friend of mine, who I met at the dance school that I am praying and planning to ask him if he can be my language helper and meet once a week, he is not a Christian, yet, but he is very open to talk about anything.

At my Church, Grace Community, they have different small groups during the week and there is one for the young people called JAPON’S, every Wednesdays, I am planning to join this group, I have been once and it was really good! I have asked the leader if I could be part of it, but just to observe and learn from them how they do small groups. I am so encouraged by what they do and how they plan to reach out their friends and family.

The church has about 27 different small groups and 6 of those are for young people, those small groups help the church to keep going, they are the veins of the church.

Normally in Japanese churches the Pastor is the boss and is expected to do almost everything, but it is changing and that is why my friend, the youth Pastor, told me that every one has the equal change to reach, not only pastors and leaders but the whole church walking together.

I am very good and very excited to see what God has prepared for me, loved month 3 and let’s see next for month 4!

Thank you very much for your prayers and support and always remember that I am praying for you too and still it will be great if you send me a picture of you, so I can put on my prayer board.

My Family in Brazil are well and both my Mom and Dad had their birthday this May. They are happy for me and thankful for our God and what He is allowing me to be part of His work here in Japan.

Prayer points:

Pray for my family, Mom (Madalena) and Dad (João Alcides) their birthdays and also for my older sister (Michelle), she was planning to move to another city, but did not work well so she is a bit sad, God knows!

Please keep praying for my church, Youth Pastor (Mr. M) and JAPON’S Youth group.

Please pray for the opportunity to ask my friend from dance school to be my language helper.

Thank you very much! Be blessed and be a blessing!

João Pedro (JP)

Living the Dream

2010-04-14T23:14:00.001-07:00

Living the Dream

I am so glad to share with you my happiness; I am living the dream, living what God has promised me 20 years ago.

It’s been one month since I arrived in Sapporo, Japan and I love it!

All the practical stuff is done, like get ID card which is called Alien registration Card, yes “Alien” this is how Japanese named ID for foreigners living in Japan.

I was very welcomed by OMF missionaries that are studying and living in Sapporo.

I love the place where I live and got the chance to say hello to may neighbors and get to know the area where I live, it is my first time living by my self, I always share house with other people, living alone it’s been a good experience.

Also how to sort the garbage, 10 different ways of recycling, going to the post office and pay first bills, learning and experience other things from this amazing and unique culture!

I have started language studies 3 weeks ago and it’s very interesting and of course hard, but not impossible, I have to say.

I’ve started with 2 classes a day from Monday to Friday, plus 3 to 5 hours self study and soon it will be 3 classes a day.

Praise God I have found a dance school in town, I went to 5 different studios and I found 1 that I really liked and it was the cheapest one comparing to the others I visited, so I am planned to take dance classes 3 times a week, evening time, after my language studies.

I’ve already make friends with the students and with the dance teachers; it is good that they can’t speak English, so I have the chance to practice what I’ve been learning.

Before coming to Japan, I prayed to go for a Japanese close friend, so I can learn more about Japan and also practice language, praise God he answered my prayers and I met a guy at the dance studio and we even already performed together at a Shopping Centre in Sapporo, He is a Christian and we are getting to know each other, he can speak a bit of English, but sometimes I have to be careful to make myself understood and to understand him.

And also my dance teachers invited me to watch them performing at public places in Sapporo, like night clubs, great opportunity to make friends, witness and at the same time study practicing my not yet good Japanese.

For the first 2 weeks I was going to an international church with English translation, but now glad that I was assigned to go to a Church, 40 min where I live and this Church is linked with OMF, I went there first Sunday, last week and I loved it!

The name of the Church is Grace Community; they have 2 services, 8:30am and 11:30am, between the 2 services, Bible study for the members and especially for new Christians and Young People.

The Church is very free to expresses their love to God and full of young people, I was so amazed and encouraged to see such a Church in Japan, praise God he sent me to Grace Community to serve while I am here in Sapporo, in the future I am planning and hoping to start supporting their ministries according to the gifts God gave me, but first I need to concentrate more on studying the language so I can better serve the Church, now I am attending the church, watching, learning and making friends.

The service is all in Japanese and no translation, so it’s going to be a very good challenge!

Thank you very church for supporting and praying for me and please check my blog, videos and photos, trying my best to keep it up to date and for me images speaks better than words!

Thanks again and God bless you

Be blessed and be a blessing, love in Christ.

João Pedro - JP

2010-03-06T04:31:00.000-08:00

Hello again!

I am in Singapore now just about to finish an orientation course before heading to Japan. Singapore is beautiful, I had a very good impression of the place, everything well organized and so clear! I had opportunities to see all my Singaporeans friends I have worked in my previous trips to Japan.

OC (Orientation Course) as we called it, it's bee such a blessing for my life, during 1 month we had time to get to know more about OMF fellowship, questions I had were answered, learnt how to couple learning languages and cultural matters. However, I have enjoyed the most was to get to know other missionaries from 13 different countries going to serve in different places in East Asia.

I have even lost my voice once talking to all of them and exchanging experience, I was so encouraged by their histories and by families with little children going to serve, for me, as a single was a huge challenge to get here, imagine for those with family...I have learnt so much from them! In addition, I have met and spent good time with those who are going to Japan too, we are 10 in total and we might be working together in the future.

Every morning we had the opportunity to give 8 minutes testimony, I was the first of them all and after I worshiped the Lord with a dance.

OC is finishing and I cannot wait to go to Japan, to the Promised Land! I am flying on the 15th March; I will spend 2 days in Tokyo and then flying to Sapporo where the battle of learning language begins.

The language teachers at OC quoted something very interested and so true: "Language Learning - A voluntary humbling to a severe degree." Regarding learning Japanese, I will do my best and God will do the rest, I will never be native Japanese but I will try to be a very good foreigner in Japan.

What God has been teaching me while OC is that attitude is everything, I will try my very best never to put a full stop where God puts a comma. Thanks to God, all my Family and friends are so happy that I am here, specially my parents and dear older sister; we have been dreaming this as a family.

Prayer Points:

Before any request, I am so thankful to be where God wants me to be, to be here! Please pray for my last days at OC.

For my beginning of a new life in Japan For my language studies, so that I do not compare myself with other at the Language centre and creative and productive ways to learn Japanese.

From my heart thank you so much for your prayers and support, keep in touch and remember that I would also love to pray for you too, send your prayer requests!

You might received an invitation from Google Picasa to look at my pictures, please accepted so you can see great moments of my time in Singapore and Japan in the future. God bless you, be blessed and be a blessing!

João Pedro - JP

THIS IS IT

2010-02-08T17:02:00.000-08:00

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

God will finish what He started, this is it!

Learning from Philippians 1:6, God is reaffirming His calling to my life, what He has promised me when I was 7 years old it is happening now.

Until this point I have rejoiced in my suffering, patience, waiting and waiting because I knew that suffering produces perseverance, character, hope and my hope and faith in God did not disappointed me, because God has poured out His love into my heart by His Spirit. (Romans 5:3-5)

My dear Brother and Friend Steve McGowan always reminds me that the only reason I am going to Japan, it is because I love Jesus and Jesus loves me.

It is amazing how God allows us to trust Him until the very last moment of our journey; everything was ready for me to go to Japan, apart from the most important thing for me to enter Japan, the Visa. I didn’t have it until one week before my departure, sure I got worried, didn’t sleep much thinking and praying about it, but while praying Philippians 1:6 kept hitting my head, God will finish what He started, and I got the visa now.

I am leaving to Orientation Course in Singapore from Manchester Airport on 14th February, Sunday have to be at the airport for checking 6:30am.

This is it! Thank you very much for you prayers and support and it is just the beginning of an exciting adventure God is preparing not only for me but for those I am going to meet in Japan.

Behind a great battle, this is great victory. God bless you, your family and friends, thanks again!

Jon Pedro

Just to remind you I will be regularly updating my news through my blog, facebook, Picassaphotos and Youtube videos:

www.picasaweb.google.com/japansukisuki

www.japanbyjp.blogspot.com www.youtube.com/jpchiphop

Sapporo

2010-01-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

Hello again! Hope you are enjoying 2010. Just a quick note to tell you that I have posted some videos and photos of where I am going to be living in Japan, Sapporo. Photos of OMF Japanese Language Centre, where I am going to have fun studying Japanese for 2 years and photos of my family back in Brazil.

It is getting closer and closer, I am going in 4 weeks!

Thanks again for all your prayers and support.

God bless

Photos of Sapporo and the Language Centre: www.picasaweb.google.com/japansukisuki/SapporoAndJapaneseLanguageCentre#

Photos of my family:

www.picasaweb.google.com/japansukisuki/MyFamilyBrazilMinhaFamilia#

If the links above do not work, you can also go to:

www.picasaweb.google.com/japansukisuki

Video of Sapporo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Af4iAbqq0

Just to remind you I will be regularly updating my news through my blog, facebook, Picassaphotos and Youtube videos

The new has come! Happy 2010!

2010-01-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2Corinthians 5:17

The new has come! Happy 2010!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas time and New Year with friends and family.

I was in Belfast and Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, for Christmas and New Year; it was such a blessing for me, I saw all my friends, after living there for 2 years while I was in Bible College and helping with 2 local churches.

Good news! God is faithful, as we reached the 40% minimum financial support needed for me to go to Japan, I would like to rejoice with you and praise God for his Faithfulness and thank you for your prayers and support. The Good news is that the ticket has been booked to go to Singapore for 1-month OMF orientation course and then beginning of March heading to Sapporo, Japan to start my journey studying the language.

I am flying 14th February and I am so glad! There are 6 people going to Japan with OMF at the same time as me and I know 2 of them, about 48 people, including the 6 of us, are going to different places in East Asia, so excited! I am going to meet them all in Singapore at the orientation course.

Next step now:

Keep teaching at a dance studio in Bolton and helping my church, Salt Church.

I have a Japanese friend in Manchester, he is studying English, he is from Sapporo, I have been meeting with him and we have good times! I will try to meet him again before I live and he told me when he goes back to Sapporo, he wants to meet up again, this is great!

Packing, not that much packing to do really.

Language, I have been trying to study Japanese at least 30min a day, to keep it fresh ready for a good start when I arrive at the language centre in Japan.
Farewell Service preparation, it will at, Salt Church Bolton, Sunday morning,17th January.

Trip to London, Japanese Embassy to get my visa, end of January.

Jan 8-10 - Youth Event St Nicholas - Borough Green, England
Jan 24 - Stockton Heath Independent Methodist – Warrington,‏ England
Jan 30 - St Andrews, Evangelistic Meal - Chealdle Hulme, England

And visits to friends in England, please pray for my those steps I have mentioned, I am really looking forward to getting started and always keep praying for the Japanese Nation to know the love of Christ through our lives.

New year, new life, new season, new challenge, same God.

Once again, from my heart, thank you very much for all your prayers and support. Just to remind you I will be regularly updating my news through my blog, facebook, Picassaphotos and Youtube videos, it is always good to keep in touch and I would love to pray for you too, whenever you have a specific prayer request, please let me know, I will be more than happy to pray for you. Happy 2010, the NEW has come! God bless you
JP

Blog: www.japanbyjp.blogspot.com
Videos: www.youtube.com/jpchiphop
Photos: www.picasaweb.google.com/japansukisuki

Jesus is the reason for the season Happy Christmas!

2009-12-10T16:57:00.000-08:00

Japan is gettin closer and closer

2009-11-25T15:50:00.000-08:00

“Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” Psalm 30:5

Dear friends in Christ

First of all I would like to apologize if I forgot to mention your city on my last news letter when I shared the places I visited in the last few months here in England. Don't you worry, you won't be forgotten!

I'm so glad to write you good news!!! Japan is getting closer and closer, praise the Lord and many thanks to you, for your faithfulness in praying and supporting me.

The good news is that I'm at 39%, it means today I only need 1% to reach the financial support figure to go in February 2010. Once again is our Almighty God confirming through His word in Philippians 1:6, He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Next step now is to keep the faith to reach the 1% by the end of December, we've started my missionary visa process for Japan and hopefully, God's willing, I'm planning to leave on 15th February for 1 month orientation course at OMF Headquarters in Singapore. More training and also I'm going to meet OMF missionaries that are going not only to Japan but to different countries in East Asia and sure I will be glad to see my Singaporean friend that I've worked in Japan, so excited!! We will meet for time of fellowship and exchange experiences can't wait! After the orientation course in Singapore, March heading to Sapporo, North Japan, to start intense language studies for 2 years at OMF language centre: www.omf.org/omf/japan/ministry/japanese_language_center

Now I'm still visiting prayer meetings, conferences and youth fellowships mobilizing and serving the community teaching dance and also learning new dance techniques.

For Christmas and New Year I'm going to Belfast where I lived for 2 years while doing Bible College, it will be good to see my friends and spend more time with them before going February.

Please keep praying for the things I've mentioned above.

From my heart thank you very much for your prayers and support, may our God bless you in everything you do and touch and let's remember that:

“The purpose for which we are called is beyond our physical ability, our creativity or gift, the purpose was created and designed in the heart of our father while still in our mother's womb” (Isaiah 49:1)

Be blessed and be a blessing, thank you!

JP

Ambition

2009-10-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

“It's far too easy, Lord, to see nothing by my short-comings and miss the sight of your long arm of grace that can help me successfully fulfil your call”

Continuing to race around the country sharing using the gifts God gave me in a creative and passionate way at prayer groups, conferences and churches with a heart's desire to mobilize people (especially youth) to think about mission.
I've been to Manchester, Leeds, York, Sheffield, Darlington, Bognor Regis, Loughborough, Stockport, Cheadle, Preston, Blackburn, Wilpshire and Liverpool.
I had such an amazing time, I've met amazing people, new friends and friends that are praying and supporting me and I've heard amazing histories of missionaries that served in Japan and east Asia long time ago, it was so encouraging to listen to them and learn from their experiences.
It was very important for me to meet face to face and spend time for those that are praying for me.
Adding to mobilizing people about mission, I helped churches working with young people too through street evangelism, working with university students at international Cafe and street dance workshops.
I really like to say a huge thank for you all that organized those opportunities for me to go and share my passion, I feel privileged to have helped and met you.
Now I realize why I'm still here, God never put things forward or delay, God's time is always the perfect time for us all.
I'm still here in the UK based in Bolton, England, looking to finish deputation early 2010 and heading off to Japan February 2010 - please pray on for all my clearances to be met by the end of 2009 pray that God will also provide the financial needs.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain

From my heart thanks for praying and supporting me, many blessings
Love in Christ
JP

Time of God not JP's

2009-08-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

The time,
after arriving from Brazil, living my time here in the UK and waiting dearly to go to Japan, during this period God is giving me such an amazing time, a time of intimacy with him, a special time of more trust, more faith, more love and awareness that I am nothing without Him and now I only need to wait his timing.
I would like to thank you for all your prayers and support, so far we reached 20% of the OMF support figure, thanks to you that helped giving and praying, I really appreciate!
I was due to go this October, but because the clearance is 40% needed to be reached by the end of this week, I will need to wait until God provides the rest of the support which is another 20%.
And now in God's willing I will be heading to Japan in February, I would love to go in October but as I said in the beginning of my letter, I only need to wait HIS timing not ours, I am not discouraged or frustrated, God is strengthening more and more my passion, love for Japan, every hour, minute and second waiting to get there is getting me closer and closer to get there.
From now until February I will living in Bolton, England where I lived for 5 years, I will be helping Salt Church, one of my supporting church and I will be going to several prayer meeting and conferences and share the vision to churches I worked in the past and meetings linked by OMF.
Please keep praying, We'll get there, your prayers and support makes a huge difference towards the expand of God's kingdom in Japan.
I'll keep in touch, thanks again and many blessings
Hebrews 11
JP

3 weeks in Brazil

2009-08-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

Just got back from Brazil, it was a amazing time! I was there for 3 weeks and the reason I was there was because I needed to visit my friends and family before going to Japan in October.

I arrived in Brazil on 14thJuly, one day before my birthday, on the next day I celebrate my 27thbirthday with all my family at my Grandmother's house, it was my first birthday in Brazil after 7 years away from home.

I also had the chance to share my vision and passion for Japan at a conference in Sao Paulo and in my home church, Sal da Terra (Salt of the Earth) and its congregations.

One weekend I did a dance workshop and a seminar "Art to serve the Kingdom" in a small town called Uberaba where I have dear friends. We had more than 40 people and the majority were not Christian, on Saturday evening we did a evangelistic event and we invited those that came for the workshop, they all came to show case what we did during the workshop.

I gave my testimony and love for Japan, at the end I did an appeal and 9 people, dancers, gave their lives to Jesus, praise the Lord!

Again, my time in Brazil was a blessing, I've recharged my batteries and I believe coming from Brazil, God gave more and more strength to start the battle in Japan this October.

I got the chance to meet with my church leaders to clarify last details about my journey??it was very positive time, they had the chance to ask questions and to pray for me.

Praise the Lord, from the 40% I need for my support to go, today I have 10%, God is moving and I have faith that He'll get me there, please keep praying!
I've posted some pictures and videos of Brazil on my Blog and Youtube, please feel free to have a look. www.japanbyjp.blogspot.com www.youtube.com/jpchiphop

We need to surpass what is cultural so that the absolute, the word of God prevails.

Love is not to be said, it's to be shown.

Thank you very much and God bless you.

Pic1: My sister (Michelle), my Dad, my Granny, my Mum and I

Pic2: My birthday party

Outreach among Dancers

2009-05-20T20:02:00.001-07:00

Now we're talking, the time has come! I've met more than 30 dancers at Waseda University in Tokyo, same Uni where we did evangelism last week. It was really good, they were like a dance club and the members are all university students preparing for their closing year show in November, they also have what they called “clubs”, where students can come and share their interests like, baseball club, drawing club, manga club, amime club and I went to the dance club, off course!
They were very welcoming, I could share about my life and why I am in Japan, I've met the leader, it is always good to identify who the leader is to build up a good atmosphere and it happened! He asked me to dance and even teach them some dance moves.
I also spend time talking to a young guy, and he said that he finds himself dancing, when he is sad he dances, when he is happy he dances, that is a way of communication, even if I could not speak Japanese and he could not speak very English, we have the language of the Dance and I shared with him that I am the same and the reason I dance is God.
As a result he told me that he wasn't interested in religion and I told him that I wasn't talking about religion, I was talking about my way of life, then he understood what I meant by dancing for the one who created me, God.
I exchange contacts and share a bit of my life with at least 10 of the dancers. I'm meeting them again in 2 weeks, I can't wait!
The next day I had lunch and spent time with my dancer friend I meet last year, we kept in contact through the internet since last year and I've managed to meet him here. We had a amazing time just talking about life praying and trying to find a good opportunity to share the gospel, it was the first time I met him alone and I wanted to listen to him first rather than just me talking, we were talking about films, books and I had the chance to say that I hate reading but the only book I read regularly and that I love to read is the Bible, but he didn't respond or ask questions, he just changed the subject. But the highlight is I am meeting him again going to his dance class, I know more about him so I can pray and also he gave me the contact of his friend that dances too and his friend lives in Sapporo, place where I'm going to live in October, so it means that I already have a contact over there, praise the Lord.

Prayer points:

Please pray for my second visit to the dancer club in Waseda and that the seed planted there may grow.

Pray for my friend I spent the day with and when I meet him again I have more opportunities to share.

Pray for this contact that I have in Sapporo, that I can become his friend even before I move to Japan.

Bible study at McDonald's

2009-05-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

Bible study at McDonald's with Japanese business man working and his son, sharing with them the importance of the death of Jesus Christ and the transformation of our lives through his blood washing away our sins. Positive response and understanding from him as for the Japanese it is hard to understand the conception of sin, so we can start talking and explaining that sin is not just do something very very bad, but also it could be addressed as self-centred, selfish thinking.
He meets with a OMF missionary from America every other Saturday, what I like is that we can do church every where, even at McDonald's! Some times I think so small putting my God inside 4 walls, Church building, but He is beyond church walls and He is calling me to take His church, His fellowship and His community outside, every where I go.

Prayer points:

Please pray for my friend that works at Sony, so he can everyday understands who he is in Christ Jesus and he is not slave of sin any more, but be aware of sin.

Pray for us missionaries in Japan to think beyond just church wall, there was a time that people used to go to church, now is the time us church, go to people.

Outreach University

2009-05-17T22:42:00.000-07:00

I went to Waseda University in Tokyo, outreach among the students, I joined a team of 4 Japanese and 1 Korean guy, Every Tuesdays and Wednesdays they do outreach among the students.
Before we started we had lunch together and it was really encourage for me to see Japanese mobilizing to reach Japanese, I had good conversation with the leader of the team and he shared his vision, he told me that the students are like his children and he has the task to teach and lead them to a better life with Christ Jesus.
We went 2 by 2 walking around the campus after lunch time praying for the right opportunity to talk with a student.
I went with the Korean guy, very passionate, we could talk to a student that spoke very good English, my Korean friend could not speak English, only Japanese, I could not speak Japanese, enough, only English and the student we met could speak both and he was translating for both of us and at the same time sharing the Gospel, wasn't it great, God has such a good sense of humour.
We approached the student using questions about general interest in life like favourite music, book, subject, hobbies, TV, person that most admirer and so on. From that we could talk about God and ask him what he thinks about Christianity, he was very shy but we gave him a booklet explaining about God and I gave my contact and told him to read the booklet, if he has any question or thought to contact me or my Korean friend.
It is all about listen to them first, what they think, what they like and dislike and then find a way to introduce the Gospel so they can think and make choices by themselves not pushing them to believe but showing them the way to believe. After 1hour we gathered again and shared what happened and prayed for those we talked.

Prayer Points:

Please pray for the Japanese team and the leader, may God give them fresh ideas to reach the students.
Pray for the students we meet, they could think of what we told them.
Pray for Waseda University, students and staff.

Philippians 4:4-7

Good News

2009-05-13T19:12:00.001-07:00

Good news, one of my Japanese friends I met in 2007, he went for the first time to a house church lead by my missionary friends also working with OMF, and better he brought a friend with him.

Since 2007 we've been praying for him and my friends have been meeting him regularly, one to one evangelism. He is very open to hear and talk, I'm meeting him this Sunday, Daniel my friend staying here for 1 year will go too, so I can link up him with my Japanese friend, so Daniel can also help him to develop his faith.

Amazing! God is Faithful!

Prayer Points:

Please pray for my Japanese friend to open his heat more and more while we meet him and that this seed will grow and grow.

Proverbs 29:11-22

In Japan day 1

2009-05-12T01:48:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Japan safe, can't believe that I am here again!! God is amazing!
The weather is so much nicer, not too hot comparing to previous trip, anyway...
When I got here, on the way to Narita airport to Tokyo, I noticed that everything was so quite and not busy, not many people on the streets as usual and it was a good opportunity for me to pray on the train, it was good to see the other quite face of Japan.
Day 1 was good, I am staying with Daniel from Singapore, who also arrived on the same day as me and he is going to be in Japan for 1 year with OMF.
He needed to get thing done such as open a bank account, register with the government, life insurance, etc...things we have to do when you come in to the country to live. I went with him, and now I know things I need to do when I come to live in October.

Prayer Points:

*Thank God I am in Japan again
*Pray for Daniel and his new journey in Japan
*Preparation for following days

Many blessings

Philippians 3:7-8

Goin 2 Tokyo in 12 hours!!!

2009-05-09T13:22:00.001-07:00

I will be going to Tokyo tomorrow 10th May for a month, working with missionary friends helping with evangelism, house church and performing arts creative ministry.
I will try keeping you up to date with what I will be doing over there with prayer points.
I am so excited, can’t wait to get there! Keep in touch!
Many blessings
JP :)

2009-02-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

12 Hours Dance Marathon
Japan Trip May 09 fundraising

I will be dancing for 12 hours from 6am to 6pm on 2/05 @ Gateway Church Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland.
If you would like to sponsor me the money will be for my Belfast Bible College Placement to Tokyo-Japan May 09. The target, challenge is £700
I will be working with Young People, Street Evangelism, Performing Arts and House Churching.
For more information to sponsor the dance marathon please contact me: 07846121801
183 Larne Road
Carrickfergus
BT38 7NN

2009-01-26T04:07:00.000-08:00

Jesus Christ and the 12 Diciples

2008-03-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

JP

FINDING YOUR RHYTHM

ハピスパAwesome God音楽付き.mov

ナイトdeライト まきびとひつじを "The First Noel" in Japanese dancing at Christmas event in Sapporo with "night-de-light" Worship Band Dec 2010

TAKESHI NISHINO (EXCEED) LESSON 11

TAKESHI NISHINO (EXCEED) LESSON 9

TAKESHI NISHINO (EXCEED) LESSON 12

Dance Workshop Omagari 2010

Sapporo-Japan (Month 7) God gives lots and lots of opportunities

Sapporo-Japan (Month 6) “Summer”

God is in control

Yosakoi 2010

Sapporo-Japan (Month 4)

Living the Dream

THIS IS IT

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

God will finish what He started, this is it!

Learning from Philippians 1:6, God is reaffirming His calling to my life, what He has promised me when I was 7 years old it is happening now.

Until this point I have rejoiced in my suffering, patience, waiting and waiting because I knew that suffering produces perseverance, character, hope and my hope and faith in God did not disappointed me, because God has poured out His love into my heart by His Spirit. (Romans 5:3-5)

My dear Brother and Friend Steve McGowan always reminds me that the only reason I am going to Japan, it is because I love Jesus and Jesus loves me.

I am leaving to Orientation Course in Singapore from Manchester Airport on 14th February, Sunday have to be at the airport for checking 6:30am.

This is it! Thank you very much for you prayers and support and it is just the beginning of an exciting adventure God is preparing not only for me but for those I am going to meet in Japan.

Behind a great battle, this is great victory. God bless you, your family and friends, thanks again!

Jon Pedro

www.picasaweb.google.com/japansukisuki

www.japanbyjp.blogspot.com www.youtube.com/jpchiphop

Sapporo

The new has come! Happy 2010!

Jesus is the reason for the season Happy Christmas!

Japan is gettin closer and closer

Ambition

Time of God not JP's

3 weeks in Brazil

Outreach among Dancers

Bible study at McDonald's

Outreach University

Good News

In Japan day 1

Goin 2 Tokyo in 12 hours!!!

Jesus Christ and the 12 Diciples

ナイトdeライト　まきびとひつじを "The First Noel" in Japanese dancing at Christmas event in Sapporo with "night-de-light" Worship Band Dec 2010