Yabuki Breeze Blog

The last couple of days has been quite the days. It has been so full that we all have been falling asleep as early as 9 PM.

Yesterday, the daughter of our dear friend Garrett, Lucy, took us around all over Tianjin. Garrett, a part of the previous year’s UTA EMBA class, has become a close friend with our family as we got to know each other over the year, first, through the golfing ministry and then eventually through his involvement with his daughter in our Friday night group. His daughter, who studied ESL at UTA this last year, will be returning to Arlington in August to start undergraduate studies in Biology. Tianjin is a very beautiful city of 6 million people. While less sophisticated and busy compared to Shanghai and Beijing and less know outside of China, we really enjoyed touring this city. It had the feel of a “Boston” with its “Paris” inspired river centered design.

It was truly a blessing to spend the extra time with her and she really went out of her way to help us to enjoy our time in Tianjin. I really believe that the time together yesterday will lay the groundwork for deeper trust and long term effect when she returns. Garrett took us to a nationally famous restaurant specializing in Baozi. It was a very special time .

Tags: Asia Trip, email

We are on a train from Shanghai to Tianjin. Shanghai was an unforgettable experience.Tim took us to see a show with incredible acrobats with the Era- Intersection of Time” show, with acts that seem to come from circ d solei y but even better. Our gracious hosts have been so incredibly generous. Sitting on the train now without a guide, without an advocate, I can really appreciate how har it is to be a brand new international student. Tim’s hospitality helps me to understand the difference we make.

We spent some time with brother Michael but with little time to talk. This quick stop in Shanghai made me wish wehad more time with students and appreciate the even couple of months concentrated time we have witn students back home in Arlington. We hope to meet with Michael on our final night in Asia when we fly back through Shanghai.

Today we head on off to see Garrett and his family in Tianjin, 9 hr by bullet train away. Popish people we hope for some good conversations about LONG term future things.

Bullet trains are everywhere here but different but more plentiful than in Japan. We almost missed our train but by Fathers grace and some really pushin and stretching by each of us, we made it.

Reported on my kindle,

Roy

Tags: Asia Trip, email

After quite the journey, we have safely arrived in Shanghai. What a blessing it was as our family learned much about what it means to be flexible and what it means to trust Father with all the details. The course we took was not at all what we planned but we ended up being even more than planned. We have touched base with our friend Tim. He had some incredible plans for our time with him. To stay with him in his home in a beautiful “Venice” like city as his guest, showing us the best this region has to offer. Unfortunately that was derailed because of our one day late arrival. So we are “stuck” having to be only in Shanghai. Still lift up the time as we know Father is orchestrating it all.

The kids have been very flexible. I have been so proud of them. It has not been easy, especially for our little one who thrives on control of situations. Still they are doing well. Met a couple on the plane who are adopting a child and know a co ism friend Roger from DC.

Also unexpectedly ran into an American friend picking up someone else at PVG airport. Very Small world. Lift up today our first full day here. Looking forward to what Fathe has in store for us. Roy

Tags: Asia Trip, email

I never thought I would say this but praise the Lord for American Airlines. They took us in to go to Shanghai when China Eastern wouldn’t. Leaving soon. Thanks all who are praying.

Tags: Asia Trip

Here is a post from Dallas teammate Jeff. Good stuff.

Roy

Hey Gang,

I have some fantastic news! Johannes (Muslim student from Iran that has been attending church with me) trusted Christ as his Savior and Lord yesterday afternoon! Thanks, praise and glory to God! We met for lunch at Jason’s Deli and he prayed to receive Christ right at the table.  We had an incredible time and as the conversation turned to spiritual things, God opened the door to transition into the gospel and he was very receptive. I have been praying for him for the last few months and God was clearly working in his life and drawing him to Christ. It was so cool as I asked him if it was the desire of his heart to invite Jesus into his life and he said yes! He said he wanted to go to heaven and was surprised at how simpl e and easy to understand the gospel was. He thought it would be a more difficult and longer process to become a Christian.  The thing that was so cool was how God used my mom’s cancer to really speak to Johannes’ s (not real name) heart. His brother recently died from cancer and when we first met back in March, the fact that we both had loved ones with cancer connected us. Yesterday he told me that since his brother’s death, he had really been thinking a lot about heaven and hell and what would happen to him when he died. I shared with him how the Dr. had given my mom 3 – 6 months to live and that she was at peace and ready to go be with  Jesus. He then said that he didn’t have peace like my mom did, but fear because he didn’t know where he would end.

Tags: email, Praise, testimony

Flight from Dfw cancelled. Going to sna now will arrive in shanghai a day late. We will stay unexpectedly with my folks. Pray for us to be able to go to shanghai as planned.

Tags: Asia Trip

Today is the day that we get on the airplane and head on off to Asia. The time has come incredibly fast. Tim told me in tears that he was startled that the time is already here. He always saw it as in the distance but now that it is here, he doesn’t feel ready. Pray that we can be patient in the long flight with our family of five. Praise the Lord that the time has finally come!

Tags: Asia Trip

You all have been a special part of it in many ways so far. Some of you gave financially. (if you still want to give, we still need $2000 to break even click here to learn how) Some of you gave your time. Some even sold stuff to help. Quite a few students and former students and you all helped us set up parts of the trip that we could not because of cultural differences. We could not have gotten to here without you.

But now is the most important part. THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE NEED YOU THE MOST. Any type of mission trip, while having tangible elements is primarily a Spiritual affair. We need a team of prayer warriors to cover us as we go. You don’t have to be a prayer expert or you don’t have to have stellar prayer habits already… but you do have to be willing to pray for us as often as possible. During the time leading up to the trip and while we are on the trip. Are you willing to do it?  Even one day of the trip is okay as long as you commit to do it and do it.

If you are interested, please let us know. We have put our daily schedule for the whole trip on a web page, this will give you a sense of how to pray for a given day and it gives specific prayer needs for the day. In addition it is our plan to send live updates, as often as possible via e-mail and we hope to put up posts (and hopefully pictures) up on our ministry blog http://blog.yabukibreeze.com. All of our weekly prayer partners will automatically get these updates. The e-mails will be more detailed than what we can post on our public blog for many reasons.

If you are NOT already signed up to receive our weekly prayer update, we can add you to a SPECIAL PRAYER E-MAIL list for the trip. This will not lock you into the regular prayer e-mail unless you want to receive them. If you reply with an e-mail to us before June 7 I can add you or any time you can…

Sign up for live trip email updates to pray for the trip

Tags: Asia, Asia Trip, China, Hong Kong, Japan, trip