Living In Faith

(Pastor Ro with Lisa and Garry above; Living Faith Community Church below)

My favorite part about this trip has been the time we have spent with the people at living faith. I really think they are a wonderful group of people. I cannot speak more highly of them. I know that people have such good things to say about Redeemer, I went and I was impressed. But I was not nearly as impressed as I am with Living Faith. They were so warm and welcoming. I was so encouraged by their presence. Their Christ like qualities of loving community and hating self exaltation became more and more obvious. Needless to say I will miss all of them. Thanks to modern day inventions like facebook I hopefully will be able to keep up with some of them.

Probably the second most impactful thing about my trip was the pastor at Living Faith church. He is a very down to earth person. We had a meal with Him to celebrate the completion of our work with Living Faith which was a great time of fellowship. When we asked him what he thought the number one problem with Living Faith is he responded, "The Pastor". This kind of down to earth Gospel reckoning was such a refreshment to me. It let me know that I am more sinful than I can imagine but God is more merciful than I can ever know. Thanks Stephen!

Also thank you Garry and Lisa for being so welcoming you made us feel right at home. And I may take you up on your offer to stay with you when I come back from Japan in a couple of Years.

NYC Busy Happy Healthy

Hello, everyone! NYC is quite amazing and all thanks to you who have supported me. I could not be here if it were not for your generosity. As you can see from the picture we have been in the thick of it! And Yes NYC is as bustling as most think. But contrary to popular opinion, I have not ran into too many stereo typical New Yorkers here. People are so nice. And though there does seem to be an ethic of mind your own business, it is more of a survival tactic than anything. The angry disinterested looks you often get on the subway are easily disrupted. We often disrupt it to ask people a questionnaire. All MTW missionaries have to turn in a questionnaire and cultural research that we have been accumulating each week. Needless to say, in NYC where 40% of the population are immigrants, Yes that is right, there is not a lack of diversity. I teach ESL classes for my ministry right now in Queens and when rise up out of the depths of the subway there are hundreds of signs that demand attention in color and design... but not in English. If i were to ask anyone a question about 1 in 4 people would probably speak English and they would be under 15 in age.

But all in all I am busy, happy and healthy. I have made a lot of life long friends here and am so gratful for all that the Lord is teaching me. I hope to see you all soon but continue to pray for me. I remember all of you and think of you in my prayer times. Please pray for one of my student who happens to be the only one right now. Her name is Kwai Fong Ho, God has brought her to us for His glory and her good!

Tim Keller, who is one of the Church planters here says, "Expect to reach the suburbs from the city, but you will never reach the city from the suburbs." After being here for a little while i believe it. There are so many people here that need the gospel but until you enter their world as Chirst did ours they will not hear you.

Grace to you all- Stay tuned for more about NYC