Yabuki Breeze Blog

Tags: busyness, frantic, grace, peace

(check out pictures from this semester) This has been a very blessed but emotionally draining week. Honestly, this last semester has been one of the best of our career. We had some wonderful students that were very responsive to God and to their relationship with us. Just this week one student led Bible study the day after he made a definite decision to follow Christ. Another student shared his appreciation for us as his “family” in America. We have also been exposed to some new ways of doing ministry and have really made progress in applying those principles throughout the things that we do. It has been a year of much movement.

Still, this week was very hard… Several dear friends are going home long term this weekend. In addition, several of our staff have had some huge family crises and we are transitioning one of our kids through teenhood and another through being a Webelo… I can’t remember when we have had more “stuff” to do in my life. No I take that back, back in High School, the weeks before I left for New Jersey for the first time, I had just about every hour scheduled with packing, having dinner with someone, etc. It was just as non-stop but the idea that that sort of life style not ending any more can be daunting… Still the exciting thing is that God is showing me through daily time in His word and in prayer that it can be done. We are being forced to depend on Him for every second of every day and it actually works!

One of the things we end each Bible study with every week is “if this passage is true, (which I believe it is) how does it change the way that you live…” I’ve been really challenged this year to make this question a part of every Bible truth that I know and imagine this… THE BIBLE ACTUALLY IS TRUE AND LIVING AS IF IT IS ACTUALLY WORKS! Imagine that…

Tags: Bible, Friends, stress, Summer, truth

Many of you may remember this but perhaps not. There was a time when there was nothing I loved more than strapping on some roller blades, putting on some pads and going to the local tennis court to play some hockey. I used to love the game… actually I still do. I was reminded of that when I was caught up in the hockey at the Olympics this winter in Vancouver. It is a really fun sport to watch and definitely to play. I honestly still have a thing for the Anaheim Ducks but the Dallas Stars are a close second.

Well, imagine my surprise to find that one of our students, one from Colombia of all places also loves hockey and plays a lot in his home country. Julian must be very good. He has traveled to the U.S. in the past for international tournaments with players who play pro roller hockey in the states. One Friday night, this game me the opportunity to take out the old blades, my skates and pads. (They really smell after being in storage for so long) It was really fun. I even let him use my old practice skates while he is here.

Well in talking with him, I found out that he had never been to a real life ice hockey game. God placed it in my heart to take him and I prayed that the opportunity might come up. When it rains it pours when we take things to the Lord. First, my colleague, Jason and I jumped online and were able to get $99 tickets right next to the ice for a fraction of the price. Then, a member of our church said she had some free tickets that she wanted to share with us. You should have seen Julian’s face when we shared the opportunity with him: the chance to go to two games in one week. The smile was bigger than the smile of the Cheshire cat. He wanted to go to both.

Tonight was the first of these games. It was truly amazing! We sat right up on the action, so close we could see everything – from faces pressed up against the glass during a fight to pucks scooting around the boards right in front of us. It was an exciting game AND the Stars played well for once. Julian and our other friend Alex, also from Columbia seemed like they were in heaven. We saw big hits, goals galore and interestingly, right before the end of the game there was a fight right in front of us. Yikes!

I know both of our friends from Colombia were blessed greatly, both in different ways. On the way up and back we had some great conversations about life, about Columbia, the USA, about things even deeper too. Most of all, we truly enjoyed each other’s company. I know we will never forget this experience and it will forever knit us as friends and hopefully allow us to share even more deeply all in the context of a couple of guys enjoying time together watching a common sport that they love. Praise the Lord for His goodness.

Tags: access, Columbia, Friends, Hockey

It was a week of unexpected surprises from God. Our water heater stopped working last Friday. The plumber came over on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday to first try to fix our old one but in the end we had to replace it. It was little inconvenient having to take baths by dumping water from a stock pot heated over the stove on ourselves… Japanese style… Still, We could see God’s hand in this. The conversations with the plumber, a fellow home boy from L.A., was clearly God ordained and we both felt it even though he was an atheist.  He grew up in the “barrio” and went to Garfield High School in the 70′s. He loved talking about politics, religion, etc. We got to do deep and I really enjoyed talking with him. He comes from a proud mexican family. He also studied under Jaime Escalante made famous in the movie “Stand and Deliver.” Our conversations were very deep, the Lord was prominent in much of our talk, and it was nice talking to someone who shared some history. It all culminated with him OFFERING TO TAKE ME out to lunch afterwards so we could talk some more off the clock. That kind of stuff just doesn’t happen.

For Houston Weekend some loaves and fish action happened this week…

• As of last Friday, we were short  host homes for 70 students the weekend trip to Houston. Your prayers brought in just enough host homes such that as of YESTERDAY every student AND volunteer has a home to stay in.
• As of Monday, we were short 6 cars to transport the 60 students from UTA and TCU (not to mention UT Tyler, Collin College, SMU & UTD, UT) to Houston. As of today, there are exactly enough cars to get them all there fairly comfortably.

Here is a story about a student… Kamal is a student from Saudi Arabia.

• Kamal shared on Friday night that he has really been knocked over by the warmth of the American people. He is very talkative and enjoys interaction with the Americans.
• Kamal asked if he could use our bedroom for his daily prayers on Friday night and then he asked which way is East so he could pray to Mecca
• Pray for Kamal that God will help him to see Jesus in us and that he would not outright reject Jesus but that he would stay long enough for God to impact his life… that he would not be seed dropped on the hard ground, but that the ground would be soft enough for something to grow.

Today was a special day for Jonathan, C-6 and myself. We were able to do something a little different and I think we all came away with a smile. Andrea, a member of our church small group, has been a part of the ministry of  Mission Arlington for many years, since she was 19. In fact, while she currently runs the mission’s clinic, she has also personally ministered at a particular apartment church the whole time. She has become a regular part of the community of that apartment. Now her and her family and another member of our small group, Leslie, continue to go to the apartment every week to touch the lives of the kids and their families.

Today, we got to be part of a community “carnival” at that apartment. We played sports with the kids. There was face painting, manicures and pedicures for the girls, arts and crafts for the smaller kids. There also was a baskeball hoop and all kinds of sports equipment. There was lots of food and wonderful fun.

My job was to go around taking pictures of everyone especially the families. Many of the families have very few pictures of them and so taking their picture is a very special thing. One little boy was having so much fun, he kept asking me to take his picture over and over again in funny poses. This will further the long term ministry of the apartment church as Andrea will be bringing these pictures for the families to take as a special gift. It made me very proud to see my kids getting into it and “making sacrifices” to do it. Jonathan was playing football with little Joshua (Understand Jonathan hates football… this was a image sacrifice in a big way) C-6 played with the kids though she cried a bit too because they didn’t want to play with her doing the stuff she wanted to do… Of course that is normal and you should have seen her before we went, we wanted so bad to go.

The people from the church were incredible. A couple of teenage girls were doing the manicures and pedicures… It kind of reminded me of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. Some of the teenage boys were playing all kinds of stuff with the kids. Seeing some of the guys painting bag “pumpkins” and some of the gals face painting and shaving ice. It was really really special. Anyway, it seemed that everyone came away with a big smile.

Tags: apartment, church, Fielder Road Baptist Church, Kids

I recently got an e-mail from a dear friend with the picture here with the subject as, “Anyone else see the similarity?” What is this all about!?!?!? Just because a guy has a round head, glasses, short nose, short straight hair, a hat, small eyes, a smiley face, loves the mountains… Wait a minute… Aren’t those two the same guys…

Some times God “benches” us in the craziest times to force us to rest. Often he uses illness or family issues to do this important thing. This last week I was exposed to a new way, Jury Duty.

The last couple of weeks have been very hectic. Our DFW team has really been pouring much time into preparing for the three night, three location Aradhna concert (http://aradhna.isidfw.com), we have been working on developing new international student ministry strategies for the DFW area and in Arlington and TCU, we have been preparing for the coming of students. (not to mention the other campuses – UTD, SMU, Northlake, UNT, Collin College, University of Dallas, UT Tyler) Last I checked our UTA Big Howdy team (www.utabighowdy.com – which includes ISI and from 10-20 other campus and community ministry organizations around UTA including BSM, Lutheran Center, Cornerstone etc.) picked up over 160 international students from the airport, took around 70 student to Walmart welcomed nearly 500 new students a orientation events and made quite a few meaningful connections. The bulk of Big Howdy is still ahead with the Used Item sale this Saturday and the approximately 450 attender Big Howdy Party on the 29th, the rides around Arlington on the 7th (already 50 sign ups) and the Aradhna concert on the 19th where we expect 350-400 students. Of course this all wouldn’t be possible without our incredible and dedicated team of volunteers and staff. At UTA, Ron leads our Howdy team of approximately 150-200 volunteers. It is a generally crazy time and God is blessing us in so many ways.

Back to Jury Duty… I got my notice in the mail several weeks ago and noted that it was during this crazy time. Thankfully it was at municipal court and I figured the cases are relatively short (it’s really traffic court). As it got closer and closer, I was feeling more frantic about being able to make the time to go. Still, to be able to finish out jury duty with one day of service (likely sitting around and waiting) and to not have to serve again for a while was very inviting. Anyway, I decided to go with an attitude of rest. This was a day off from the frantic daily requirements of life;  a time when “I could legitimately say, I can’t do it… I am serving my country.” I was going to take a good book, my facebook app on my phone and just relax.

When I got there, after standing in line for a while, I found out I couldn’t go into the court building with my mini-Swiss army knife on my keys. Back to the car… back to the back of the line… “I’m taking a day of rest.” I sat in the waiting room. I get an e-mail about Aradhna and something I have to do… I’m taking a day of rest… We are taken to the court room to be picked… We find out they just handle 30 minutes to 2 hour traffic (mostly speeding) cases. This time I want to be picked… I can go home quicker and I can honestly say I served on a jury in the last 2 years when asked next time. First jury… No… “I’m taking a day of rest… relax” Second Jury… YES! I am picked… but we have to go up to the 9th floor to wait for our turn for the second case.

The eighth floor was nice. In a city with few multistory buildings 8 stories gives you a birds eye view. What an incredible view. We could see all the way to Dallas, Six Flags, and the Ballpark and the beautiful new Cowboy stadium and its oblong shape is front and center. But we had to wait… and wait… 1-2 hours… “I am taking a day of rest…” It really was nice talking to one of the other juror, reading a book about family, having fun with Facebook. By the end of the time, I really did feel rested.

The case was relatively short, cut and dried. The defendant was trying to be “Denny Crane” on Boston Legal but no one bothered to tell him he was in traffic court and really, in real court… Boston Legal would not cut it. Actually in contrast to the obviously new, just-out-of-law-school but professional Assistant DA, his case really felt like a grown up version of “My dog ate my homework” with little substance but much passion. Anyway… I’m not going to let it bother me because “I’m taking a day of rest…”

And what a day of rest it was… Thank you Lord of traffic court…

Tags: Aradhna, Big Howdy, civic duty, jury duty, Rest, traffic court

It has been a while since my last post. There have been many very time consuming projects afoot. Anyway, I wanted to post some things that have been on my heart but I haven’t had time to post. I am going to bring in some tidbits from our most recent prayer letter that share what is on my heart right now…

In many ways this has all the indications of being a very emotionally draining week for me and my family. So many difficult things happened (see Prayer needs below). There were some sleepless nights and lots more prayer than usual. Still, God is here and working and for that I am truly grateful. We have lots of huge prayer requests this week. Please pray specially. The next couple of weeks will feel difficult and the effects of the last couple of weeks will start to be felt.

Praises

• God gave our DFW team a wonderful, wonderful retreat. We looked at a new strategy for ministry for the DFW area that incorporates what we already do but looks to expand on it using a new paradigm. We will need some prayer warriors if this will work, but if it does, it could be really special. Let me know if you are interested in praying specifically for this for the next year in a concentrated way.
• I have been really blessed by seeing how my kids have been getting along at this point of the summer. I will miss the special times together working at home with them here when the summer is over.
• We had a wonderful banquet for the Chinese EMBA students at UTA where they got to hear from a wonderful Christian business man who spoke at their level and also they connected well with their friendship partners.

Prayer Needs

• Many of you have been praying for the Chinese student, N, who police are looking for as she has been missing since Saturday. There is no new news to report. Please keep on praying for wisdom on the part of the police and that she will be found one way or another.
• My grandfather in Japan passed away today. I did not know him too well as he was always so far but I do know he was a very special man who was a huge influence for my mother. I’ll never forget his wonderful laugh, his constant smile and his deep but simple wisdom. I just wish I could have gotten to know him better. I don’t believe he ever knew the Lord. That saddens my heart.
• My oldest son turns 13 this week. I can’t believe that that little boy who was little more than one year old when we came to Texas is going to be a teenager. In many ways I am so proud of him and yet I feel compelled to pray for him and all the kids every day. There is so little we control and so much we depend on God’s grace.
• We began our “Politics, international relations and religion” discussion group at Starbucks on Wednesdays two weeks ago. The first one had one Italian student. This week we doubled our attendance with the Italian student, an Iranian couple and myself. Please pray for good conversations about worldviews and stuff eventually opening up discussion about Jesus.
• We are winding down our summer groups and getting ready for the craziest month of every year when we welcome new students. At UTA alone there are over 600 new international students coming and we meet most of them in this busy month.
• Pray for wisdom on some financial and priorities things we need to decide on for the city ministry soon.

Tags: Big Howdy, Birthday, discussion group, Grandfather, international relations, Japan, Loss, missing, paradigm, police, politics, Praise, Prayer, Staff retreat, Strategy, Teenager

I’m am waiting at the airport after an incredible 5 days in California. One of the special part of our ministry is our interaction with the people, churches and organizations that make what we do possible though their time, prayers and financial gifts. We can’t do it without them. One of many favorite supporters is Calvary Church of Santa Ana, one of the churches we consider home around the country.
While Calvary is one of our most faithful supporters in prayer and financially, it is how they take care of us personally that is most special. They have their children regularly correspond with our kids, we get birthday cards, they regularly send building and support teams to different fields.
This week underscores their care for us.

Every year the church has a 2 week missions conference. This is fairly common. What makes it special is that during that time all the missionaries are treated to a three day retreat with all the missionaries present.

From the general director of a mission agency to the young campus minister all are lavished with the same care and sense of special value by MOST of the staff and pastors. These are busy guys and yet they take the time to listen and care. It is incredibly fun and by the end we have gotten to know some incredible people, have prayed, cried, learned about the going on of the church, etc.

The missionaries there are truly incredible and have done amazing things with the Lord. Pioneering Christian presence in new countries, saving countless lives, helping headhunters adjust to a new world, leading missions organizations with thousands of ministers. Yikes! Still we all have many things in common and the same Lord who makes it all this possible.

And to know there are literally hundreds of people praying for you and caring for you. It’s hard to keep a dry eye.

Tags: calvary, church, Prayer

This was a hard day today. I should have recognized that it would be… but I didn’t. One of the hard parts of ministry is that the day after the big sermon or the big meetings is often very hard. The more you feel you are moved by the Spirit at an event or speaking opportunity and have felt the exhilaration of being used as a vessel by God, the harder it is to return to the mundane of the daily grace filled life.

Today was such a day. We had a wonderful staff retreat on Monday and Tuesday. God was there in many ways and I could see Him speaking to each of us as we crafted plans for the coming years to touch EVERY international student in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area with the love of Christ. (See coming post) It was awesome. But then… today came. The day started late and I was tired. I had a hard time connecting with the kids again… A boy from next door dropped by just as I woke. He reminds me to Eddie Haskell from “Leave it to Beaver.” I didn’t feel like Ward… that is for sure. I checked the e-mails that piled up from the 2 days off and then tried to get some work done. I was really dragging. I had so many distractions from the kids, it hardly felt worth my time to try to do “anything of value.”  Don’t they understand that “God was using me” to reach the world.

In the evening, I decided to play a video game with T-8. This was a game his brother, J-12, out of the goodness of his heart bought for him today because he knew he would like it and T-8 was obviously enjoying it with his usual enthusiasm and joy. He wanted to share it with me so I decided to play with him for a while… It was a racing game and he was killing me every time we raced… for some reason, I was feeling very… irritated by his whoops and shouts of excitement over how well he was doing. So… I just quit. I started driving backwards, dying on purpose, etc. doing anything to not finish the game so he could not enjoy the fruits of his victory. Throughout this “tantrum” on my part, T-8 persisted in trying to encourage me… “You can do it dad” “Don’t give up.” Eventually, it became apparent to him that I quit on him in the worst possible way… I recall now the horror on his face…  One of the major “rules” in our family is that “Yabuki’s never give up” and he was having a hard time processing the fact that Dad was breaking that most sacred of rules… I really don’t know why I did it but I was just tired… and spent… The rest of the evening followed course as I was just feeling bad. I think I didn’t want to let him have such a great time when I felt so awful…

As I tried to sleep tonight, I was reminded of what just happened… I felt terrible… What a hypocrite! I couldn’t believe that I, of all people, could be so mean to my own son. Here we talked at our retreat about the importance of living the love of Christ at all times with our students because it was our greatest witness… How we were examples of grace and love with those around us. Then I did this. I am so glad that God is a god of grace and love and most likely he allowed this to happen to teach me… and my son. I hope T-8 also is able to show the same grace and love as I ask for his forgiveness tomorrow and post process what happened and hopefully there isn’t a huge scar in his heart and self-understanding. It is so hard sometimes to live like Christ even in our own family even in the power of the Spirit.

Tags: Home, Kids, Parent