Incredible trip to Japan and the Philippines
It is great to be home with my wife Becca and our Beautiful kids, Levi and Ava Grace. To me there is nothing more fun than coming home with gifts for my family. Levi has been running around the house like a crazy Ninja in his new Samari outfit and my baby girl Ava just wants hugs from Daddy in her new Japanise clothes. Becca is the most amazing supportive wife to allow me to do what God puts on my heart. I am so greatful. Leaving home is one of the toughest things for me to do but God gives us all the grace we need to serve Him faithfully. Last year when I was in Australia I felt the Lord speak to me and say “I’m going to send you back to the Philippines”. I wasn’t sure if it was just in my mind or maybe it was just a desire that I had so, I asked the Lord to confirm His word to me if this was really his voice. That night I was at Hillsong Conference and they decided to anoint everyone with oil in the whole stadium of twenty some thousand people. I usually am careful to to be apart of such a mass anointing service but I was personally asked to be apart so I thought I would do my best to be a blessing. Shortly after I was prayed for I was given a cup of oil and escorted to a section of the stadium to pray for some people. When I got there it was a section full of people from the Philippines. I began to weep as I was praying simply because God had confirmed His word. I was in awe that “God would speak to me”. So I told the Lord that I would be obedient and go at the first opportunity. When Pastor Aki and Marge Mizuno called me to come to Japan, I was deeply honored and I also remembered the vow I made to the Lord. So I made the Journey to the other side of the world on 08/08/08. The ultimate day of new beginnings. It was the day the olympics began in China, a new day for China and the entire world. I was stoked as I landed in the beautiful city of Hong Kong. As I arrived in the Philippines I was greated by our dear friends Pastors Jonathan and Vicky Sabastian. They have an AMAZING church in Manilla and many churches in the Philippines and around the world. Pastor Jonathan and Vicky are very close friends to my parents and I have been close to there boys Hans and Josh. It was great to see them all. That night I was apart of a large youth gathering in there church. And I also had the privilege to preach at there church on sunday. Over 100 people gave there lives to Christ during those meetings!!! Praise God!! On the Saturday I had the privilege of doing a music clinic at Victory Church in Manilla. It is a church of over 28000 believers. Pastor Steve Murrell and Pastor Manny Carlos have been great friends of my father for many years as well. They asked me to do a clinic on developing a worship culture in a church. About 400 musicians, worship leaders and songwriters were there. This was right up my alley!! I LOVED imparting on this subject. At the end of the service the place was filled with the High praises of Gods people. I also got to meet with some of the staff in the church and we talked about there kids and how my parents raised me. There was many questions and many very cool answers that I know really helped the pastors there. Sunday night I got to hang out with my good friend Hans. What a awesome guy and we have so much in common. Monday I was off to Japan. Japan is so cool!! The roads are like video games, there phones and cameras are so cool and there cars are so compact. It is amazing!!! I loved the food there except the crab cake that I had that was a bit weird. Eric Boseman from El Paso and Chris Doucette from Vancouver met me there. It was so fun to play some great music with some good friends. I was very curious how it was going to work leading a Japanise congregation in english would be, but it was amazing!! The people there LOVE to Worship. I learned alot about a soft and tender heart from the Japanise people. We basically lead worship and preached at a summer camp for Pastor Aki’s group of churches. What an honor. I have to thank pastor Yasuhiko for serving us so well and making us feel so apart of what God was doing. He is my best friend in Japan. Sunday we got to do three services, One in Japanise, one english and one youth service. I LOVE the youth of Japan. What a future they have. Well that is the very short version of my trip, thanks for your prayers and support. If you want to hear more I will be speaking at Word of Life Red Deer on Sunday August 24. Blessings to you all!!
