Modern Day Heroes

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

Grace Frizen has been ushered in to the everlasting presence of her King. What a woman. What a representation of a faith and life that I want to emulate.

Jack and Grace Frizen are some of our heroes here at PIONEERS. In fact, we even have a building named after them. After studying at Wheaton College, Jack was snatched up to serve in WWII. God used the time Jack spent stationed in the Philippines to give him a heart for the world, a heart for Asia, and more specifically, a heart for the Filipino people. After returning to the US, Jack along with several other GIs founded the Far Eastern Gospel Crusade, now SEND Int'l. While serving on the board and attending Columbia Bible College, Jack met his wife, Grace. Together they served for eight years as missionaries in the Philippines and then was Executive Director of the IFMA, Interdenominational Foreign Mission Association, for 30 years.

This sweet couple are truly lovers of the King and soldiers in his Kingdom. God has multiplied their humble work 100 times over! SEND Int'l is a major mission agency that, among other places, has been toiling the soil in Japan for decades. The Philippines was an unreached nation when the Frizens went in 1954, but with a 16% Evangelical population, the Philippines is now becoming a significant missionary-sending country. With the IFMA, Jack and Grace had the privilege of encouraging and empowering missionaries and mission agencies to do the work God has called them to. This support role continues today as Jack serves as a missions consultant to PIONEERS.

Dr. Frizen (as we call him, pronouced fri-ZAIN) makes me smile. I love seeing him around the PIONEERS campus. He always has a smile, a hand squeeze, or a hug for you. And he espouses words of encouragement and wisdom that comes from a deep heart of love. Grace has had dementia for several years, but even when she would occasionally visit campus, her eyes spoke compassion as she reached out for a hug.

Two weeks ago, Dr. Frizen gave an update on her condition. He described the pain of checking her into an assisted living situation, of watching her personality change from the woman he knew, and of kissing a wife who doesn't recognize him. The doctor did not think her body would fight the cancer much longer. "For the past six weeks, I've had a taste of what it's like to take care of her 24 hours a day, and it's not been easy," he said. "But she took care of me for over 50 years." As I listened to Dr. Frizen's expression of love for the wife of his youth, tears streamed down my face. It was so pure, so beautiful.

And now, she's home. Pray for Dr. Frizen as he grieves and rejoices for her at the same time. They've lived well - not without pain, but with a great confidence as they walked hand-in-hand with Almighty God. A life worth living.

Me and my Harley

I am officially a fan of Harley Davidson Motorcyles!

Last night, I went to hear a speaker share how he came to understand the Gospel, leaving behind a life of violence and substance abuse for real life in Christ. He strutted in with 120 tattoos showing through his tank top and leather vest, a hard Massachusetts accent, a crazy life story, and a love for Jesus that shone through it all.

Here's what I saw last night that I love about the gospel:

1- It always embraces the unexpected. At this time of year, consider the Christmas story: Could our Savior really come to earth in the most vulnerable way, as a baby, to re-claim His world and establish His Kingdom? Certainly His humble beginnings on earth were completely unexpected. And here in front of me last night was a man whose physical appearance makes him, quite honestly, an unexpected Christian. Now that's a whole other topic as a mistake of the Church, but anyhow, he comes in an unexpected way. But isn't our faith itself such a mystery? I'm not sure I can describe it in one word any better. What a mystery that he chooses us, loves us, and catches us up into His great story! It's altogether rather unexpected, isn't it? And that speaks to my sense of adventure. I eagerly "expect the unexpected", looking forward to what is ahead on this great adventure and journey of faith.

2- God is so good to give us such diversity in our family! Oh how I love meeting new people and seeing how God has uniquely wired them to be a part of His Kingdom work. We all have different gifts, abilities, and makeup, and it simply fascinates me how our God weaves it all together into a beautiful story of His grace.

SO...the unexpected and the diversity of Al Paquette caught me up in the worship of our God! And, you're thinking, how does this ever tie into Harley Davidsons? Yes, he drove in on a *sweet* looking motorcycle with several other friends. My eyes were wide as I glanced over the bikes, introduced myself, and asked for a ride!

Well, yes, he obliged and we started to get ready. I mentioned slightly how I might get cold (though not for a second a deterrant!), and his wife offered me her leather jacket. Oh yeah. Picture me getting on the back of a Harley Davidson Ultra Classic, the cadillac of all motorcycles, with my black helmet, riding sunglasses, and leather jacket. I looked hot.

We really only rode around for a few minutes, but it was a dream, let me tell you. Al's favorite part about riding is the experience of seeing and smelling everything around you. I quite agree. It was exhilarating!

So...a Harley has now been added to my Christmas list. Okay, maybe that's a little extreme. But it did make another list. Do you have a list of things to do before you die? My Mom encouraged me to do this when I was young, and I've already been able to cross off a few accomplished items. But now I've got a new one: road trip to the mountains on a motorcycle! Can you imagine?! Me and my Harley....

Whoa, where have I been?

Yeah, I know. Definitely not here. Sorry! How many people told me this weekend that it's time for me to get in the game and post an update? More than I remember. But, hey, thanks for reading! :)

It's 5:08pm. It's been a normal Monday at the office - busy, lots of meetings, desk is still ridiculously messy. It will have to hold off for one more day, though, because I'm taking tomorrow off for doctors appts (flex money - use it or lose it before 12/31) and taking an RTS final. See you Wednesday!

I'm off to another Christmas Party. I think this is #4 of the season with a few more to go. But tonight is the annual Crandall Ornament and Cookie Exchange Extravaganza...or so I call it. This has to be at least year 15 that I've been to this party --- it's a staple of my holiday season! And so I'm off.

Don't forget to leave a message! Try to fool me and see if I can figure out who you are. :)

A few pictures!

Tadaima

I'm home! That's what Tadaima means. I'm back safe and sound and am pretty much feeling delirious at this point. (I hope I can drive home from work safely.) Now to find my bags...they're still lost in space somewhere.

Can't wait to update you on my last several days in Japan. They were busy, full, and very satisfying. God answered much prayer and I'm excited about what's next. He's good!

And maybe I'll finally get to upload my pictures. But first,sleep...I need sleep.

A lesson on ministry

Konbanwa! Good evening! I just got home from a great dinner with my dear friends Masami and Masaji Nakayama. I had Udon (my dad's favorite noodle soup) with red miso, which is a famous dish to this area of Nagoya, Japan. If you look at a map, you can find the city of Nagoya about halfway in between Tokyo and Osaka. It's kinda in a mountainous area, so it's very beautiful! And the leaves are changing, it's chilly outside....how nice to experience seasons!

The last couple of days have been very full. On Monday, I spent about 4 hours singing karaoke! :) I had lunch with my J-Girls and we went to karaoke to hang out for the afternoon. Then I had dinner with Ayako Soneda and she wanted to go to karaoke, too. I loved it! Ayako is a sister in Christ about my age from Oyumino Christ Church. We never got to know each other when I lived there, but had such a great time together Monday night. Pray for God to continue to encourage and woo her heart daily to His!

I awoke at about 6:40am on Tuesday to an earthquake! Earthquakes are pretty common here, but this one swayed my fourth-floor hotel room pretty strongly. It was quite a shake.

Tuesday I had lunch with some Chiba University girls, hung out with a friend in the afternoon, and went to Bible Impact at Midoridai Church. One of the most striking things the Lord showed me yesterday was through meeting a new Japanese friend at church named Jackie (her American nickname). She spent 6 months in Washington state about 7 years ago to study English. She lived with other Americans in a house, and one of her good girlfriends was a Christian. Maybe this was a ministry house? Not sure. I'm also not sure about this, but can imagine her friends simply loved on Jackie and shared their lives with her without seeing much spiritual interest from her. Seven years later, however, Jackie is back in church, seeking the Lord, embracing the gospel, and is preparing for baptism in December. Praise God! Another lost sheep has come home. It may be a long process, but God is faithful! He knows His children by name, even though they may not know His name yet. This is a lesson for me to never underestimate the little ways I can share His grace and love, even if I see little immediate fruit. God is good...all the time.

That's it for now. Tomorrow is a full day of meetings with the MTW missionary team here, so I better go. Hope all is well in O-Town. Beracah girls - I miss you!

now to Part 2...

Hey there! I'm in an internet cafe in the airport just sending you a quick update. The CPI team is getting checked in and they leave in about 3 hours to head home. I'm here to see them off, activate my rail pass, and thus begins "part 2" of my grand November adventure in Japan. :) Last week was very good --- hard, like usual, but very good. Our team worked very hard during the week to care for crying babies, execute an awesome vacation bible school-like program for the kids, run the powerpoint and video for the main session, set-up rooms for training sessions, and hang out with the youth MKs. I'm so proud of the long hours they gave to serving our missionaries in Japan! We celebrated yesterday with a day of fun in Tokyo, although some of them were too tired to enjoy it, I think. I was digging it! For those of you who have been here and would like to hear it -- I went to Harajuku and feasted on Yakiniku for lunch (yum! are you jealous?), took a bus tour of the Imperial Gardens, Business district, Government district, and Ginza, and shopped in Odaiba with Reiko and Kie. And the evening ended with some pericula, of course. :)

A final prayer request for our team: safe travels home, sure, but do pray that God would continue to move in their hearts as they reflect and share about their trip. May the connection of their service this week (holding babies?) to the greater church-planting and missionary efforts in Japan serve to fuel a greater love for our Lord and His Kingdom in their lives! Pray that God would continue to call many back to serve Him here.

And....Part 2! I've got several meetings planned these next 3 days in Chiba, and a few more to finalize. You can pray for these:
1) Good, quality time with Ai-chan. We've been roommates for a week, but we've been working so hard that we haven't seen much of each other. Pray for rest for our souls and that we may encourage each other this week. She just moved to Chiba, so it can get lonely.
2) Time with the J-Girls -- Mayuko, Reiko, and Kie. Reiko and Kie have spend much time in Orlando the last year. Remember them? Pray for our times together and that we would have good spiritual discussions.
3) Bible Impact Tuesday night. This is a Bible time for the Impact Student Ministry at Chiba University. Christian and nonChristian students come. I worked with this ministry before.
4) Time with the missionary kids (high school aged girls) here and in Nagoya.
5) Time with two Christian girls about my age from Oyumino Christ Church (my home church here). Pray for mutual encouragement and good heart connection.

...and this is just in Chiba! I'll be here through Tuesday night, leave Wednesday morning for Nagoya for 2 days, then Karuizawa for 2 days, then back to Chiba one day and head home on Sunday, November 20.

Thanks for praying! I'm feeling much better - almost back to 100%. God is good! More later--HUGS!

Feeling better!

Hi folks - just a quick note here. I'm feeling much better! Thanks for praying for my recovery. Tomorrow is the last day of the conference so pray that it will end well and the participants will leave refreshed in their own hearts and in their ministries. Pray for a solid final time with the youth. I've felt like some of them have really connected with the leader and with each other.

A few more thoughts....JDawg for Mayor in Wyoming! Jackie Chan, have a great time in Turkey. I'll be praying for you and Scott and families. Maybe in 6 months the MOB team will all move overseas. (But NOT YET, Lauri!) :) Fleminator....what kind of school do you go to? Tell them to unlock my blog! Great video, by the way.

Next stop tonight: OFURO. That's the public bath. :) Sooooooo relaxing.....

Quick Update

I’m writing this as there is a lull in the registration line. It’s almost 2pm on Tuesday afternoon and the conference is just about to begin. Wow! It’s been a good morning! But let me back up…

“Aa megumi! Hakari shire ne megumi

Aa megumi! Ware ni sae o yoberi.”

Grace, grace, God’s grace

Grace that is greater than all my sin

…So we sang together – myself and my Japanese friends, my co-laborers in the gospel, my brothers and sisters in Christ – on Sunday morning. How beautiful to sing this gospel together! Worship at my home church was invigorating and delightful. I loved being with that part of my family again and joining them before the Lord. Can you imagine that joy?

Oyumino Christ Church is fast approaching their one year anniversary in a new facility - this was my first time there and it is beautiful! God has been so good. The old chapel served as a multi-functional site for years for the church and missionary team, but space became tight as worship attendance grew. I was here for most of the process several summers ago of seeing God unexpectedly provide land and finances for the church to build their own facility. I could say so much more about that….but the simple fact is that it was a joy to be with this maturing body of Christ and rejoice with them at how God has been moving in Oyumino and the greater Chiba area.

On Sunday evening, we met for a team meeting with all 60 members for the first time! We are quite a group! Monday included travel to the conference site and set-up for the week. The Children’s rooms look great and since our conference really takes over the whole hotel, the team has made it look very inviting.

I’m back to registration now….but I have much more to share!

Mie Prefecture: Inabe city: 43,000 people with no church, no work among them. Would you pray with me for this city?

Listen, this has been an exciting day. I’ve made some wonderful contacts and God has encouraged me in so many ways. I happened to sit next to the director of a language school in Northern Japan at breakfast and we had a great conversation. (For you PIONEERS people reading this, that’s where the Hoisingtons are going to study.) During registration, I sat next to a lady working with the Christians in Art Network seeking to support the worship community in Japan (ethnomusicology). Networking!

But the best thing was when a copy of the latest edition of Operation Japan prayer guide was placed in my hands. As I flipped through the book, I was moved by reading about Mie Prefecture (like a county), an area with few workers, and a specific prayer request for Inabe City within Mie Prefecture. As I kept reading, I came across a page highlighting the 10 largest cities in Japan with no church. And what was included? Inabe City! (as THE largest) This city was formed in 2003 by combining four cities, none of which had any church.

I will pray for God to build his church there. And I will pray for more workers. Would you pray with me? And would you pray that God would show me whether I may be one of those workers? As soon as I read these things, I called my friend Ai over to my table. I showed her the pages and shared what I was thinking. Do you know where Ai is from? Mie Prefecture! And next week, she and I were planning to travel down to that area. Now we hope to make a stop in Inabe City and prayer walk. Pray that God would make a way for this and prepare my heart. I don’t need an answer now, but it’s exciting to begin thinking this way. We’ll be headed that way next Wednesday and Thursday.

Calling all pray-ers! Friends, I’m feeling terrible. I awoke on Tuesday with a sore throat and my nose was stopped up by the evening. I slept well last night, but quickly lost all that energy by mid-morning. I struggled until the afternoon, stole away for a nap, then slept right through dinner to awake only feeling worse. My team leader took one look at me and said I had to go back to bed. But I hate this! I hate being “out of commission” and missing meals and appointment times I wanted to spend with people. Pray for my quick recovery, please. I’m in pretty sad shape right now.

I really think it’s this dingy old hotel. The Japanese don’t quite “resort” like Americans do, so this hotel looks like it hasn’t been updated in 40 years. Anyhow, it’s very cold and musty and I think it’s been the cause of many sicknesses on our team. I suppose this is one of the costs of serving here this week. No one had a problem until we arrived, but at least 15 of us have been running to the “team mom” who carries a medicine cabinet on her back. We need you, Dr. Lu! Where are those Z-packs you gave us last year!

Please lift us up for healing. Pray that I would sleep well tonight (your Tues. daytime), awake refreshed tomorrow, and in the meantime be a good steward of what time and energy I have.

Okay, I’m off to the coffee house because the evening youth program is about to begin. By the way, it was a HUGE hit last night! It looks smashing and the kids love hanging out in there. I’ll try to post pictures tomorrow. For all that shopping and packing and crafting, it was well worth it. I can’t wait to show you all who helped me dream that place up!

Goodnight!

Home again...

I'm home!! Oh, it's so fun to be here. We had a huge welcome at the airport with several of my former teammates and their children. All the kids have gotten taller and are looking so grown up! Moving 60 people through immigration, customs, money exchange, and then on the trains took a few hours, but we traveled to Chiba (which is where I used to live) and got some yummy Japanese dinner. Now it's about 7:00am for you East Coasters on Saturday morning and I'm about to head for bed (9pm). Just wanted to say hello. Thanks for reading this and taking an interest in my life. I love the comments...keep 'em coming! James, I laughed out loud in this politely quiet little hotel lobby at your message. I promise I'll recruit for Pioneers. :)

Feeling blessed,
Becky

22 hours and counting...

Whoa. I'm leaving tomorrow morning. As I finally crawled into bed early this morning, my body was screaming, "what are you doing?" I think I've stressed it out! My mind goes much faster than my body (how old am I?) and now I'm feeling the strain. The last 3 weeks have been full of brainstorming, planning, designing, list-making, shopping, driving, packing, repacking, and about 10,000 emails and phone calls in between. There are still endless details to attend to in these next several hours. It would not be surprising to me to finally get to the conference and suddenly get sick. Please pray for my strength!

Here are a few other prayer requests:
-Team travel: all 60 arriving safely and intact
-For our hearts to rest in Jesus (especially mine!), and not in our ability to get things done
-For a true spirit of servanthood among the team
-For God to call at least 10 from this group to catch the vision of church planting in Japan and return longer-term (especially pray for this to begin during our first weekend worshipping in various churches)

Thanks for going with me!

Witness

Tim Keller is preaching through a series now called The Vision of Redeemer, and the sermon I heard was titled "Witness." The verses below are from Isaiah 55 and then I have bulleted what was most striking to me in his message.

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not konw you will hasten to you, because the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."

• We have been given by God a mission and a message
• Paradoxically, the wine and milk do not come without cost. It is free to us, but expensive to Jesus. This cost is satisfied by the body and blood of Jesus on the cross that we may come and partake without money.
• Conversion comes two-fold: He longs to convert (1) what your heart seeks, and (2) how your heart seeks it.
• What is your heart targeting as bread and water? What are you searching for? Your heart was not made for the things of this world.
• Every other religion is based upon labor. As our heart seeks these new things, we seek through the channels of grace, without money and without cost.
• How then can we not boldly proclaim this truth? We are unashamedly seeking the conversion of our neighbors to this Good News. Our experience with the gospel leaves us HUMBLED -- we know we have been saved through grace and we're no more worthy than the next guy. There's no room for superiority. But we're also AFFIRMED. We know whose we are, we know where our security lies, and we can leave fear aside.
• GOD NEVER CALLS YOU RADICALLY IN WITHOUT SENDING YOU RADICALLY OUT.

May you know afresh today the incredible privilege of having a redeemed heart and experience a renewed burden for the millions of lost souls who are still seeking "what is not bread and what does not satisfy."

The Big Apple!

I've just been chastised for not keeping this updated. So let me tell you about my trip to the Big Apple last weekend!

How much do I love NYC? I'm definitely a big-city-girl, no question about it. I really don't know how to explain it, but being up there and blending into city life is like a breath of fresh air to me. It reminded me a lot of Tokyo. Maybe this is one reason Japan sits so well with me.

For several years now, I've been spending time with a couple of high schoolers (Hope & Noelle) in a discipleship relationship. October 17 was Noelle's 18th birthday, so she and I flew to New York together to celebrate. We stayed with her brother in Harlem, where he just moved to take a teaching job. Can you imagine teaching inner-city like that? It's definitely a ministry. Pray for him!

In just 3 days, Noelle and I romped around the entire city seeing things like the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Square (ask me sometime about my fascination with NBC/Today Show), Statue of Liberty, Battery Park, Ground Zero, Wall Street, Court District (Law & Order!), Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Times Square, Little Italy, and Chinatown. Can you believe that? We sure saw a lot! It was Noelle's first time in the city, so it was fun to experience it through her eyes.

I have to admit one of my very favorite parts of this trip was worshipping with the Eastside congregation of Redeemer Presbyterian Church and hearing Tim Keller preach. My heart was truly refreshed as I joined this community before our Father. More on that later...

This was my second fall trip to NYC and I do believe it shall become an annual thing. The leaves weren't quite changing yet in Central Park, but the air was crisp and this Florida girl got to wear a few warm clothes. :) Join me next year!

Pressing on...

Okay, so obviously this is a new thing for me. I like the idea...but wow, now I have to keep up with it!

In all reality, my objectives for this blog are to keep in touch with friends and celebrate the gospel together. I'd like to share with you my joys of walking with Jesus....big/small, struggles/triumphs, confusing/clear...you get the picture.

In that case, I don't know if this blog is going to be for you or for me? Since I haven't been so consistent with my journal lately, maybe typing my thoughts will offer the short-term therapy and long-term reminders that so freely come when we record our days. I'd like to be "stirred up by way of reminder" as I reread entries from previous events, heart struggles, or specific times of character development.

It's a discipline, you know. One dictionary defines discipline as "training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement." May my considerations of heart and life here serve as training exercises, producing an inner character growth that manifests itself in ever-incresing dying to self and leaning hard into Jesus. May this discipline be a part of my "rhythm of living" that engages my heart, keeps me accountable, challenges my growth, and affirms the truths of the gospel in me.

And this is where you come in. It's no fun to be alone. We were made to live in community. You're probably reading this because you are, in some way, part of my community.

Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your life with me. For whatever time God allows, I'm thankful for walking this journey of faith with you. The founder of my organization always reminded his coworkers to "press on, for it's a worthy cause." Let's press on together.

here it is

I finally got into the 21st century....we'll see how this goes!