Part 2

A season of thankfulness.... We have been back in Japan for a little over two months. It seems strange almost because it feels like yesterday when I was blessed to see so many faces in person that my heart longed for. As a family we are grateful for the time we were able to spend with everyone and to those that opened their doors to us. Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu. (please picture me bowing in extreme thanks.) It felt awkward to stand outside of the Dallas airport waiting for our shuttle bus to the hotel. We'd just come through an extensive customs check. Our plane had disembarked alongside another that had just come from Cabo. I was slightly envious of their tans, beach hats and summer dresses. We figured out that we needed to call our hotel to send their shuttle bus. So we waited a little longer than anticipated. A very hyper young man was driving the bus and he politely changed the station during a Marilyn Manson song almost as if knowing what we are or do. I'm not sure what he changed it too because his driving made me nervous. He was a nice person. We went to Altus first to gain our bearings in the slow paced town and try to get our jet lag in check. The following week we went to Oklahoma City and our first stop was to see my Grandpa who'd been on hospice since the previous December. He was able to meet Billy and see Emmaly once again. A couple weeks later while in Alabama we received word that he had passed away. So we cut out travels short to come back and I'm grateful that I was home in order to attend his memorial service.            Later, Will did a great job explaining what the past year had been like for us in regards to ministry. Since we have returned as you know by the previous newsletter things have taken a different turn. We are still working to help the Japanese people that God puts in front of us to understand salvation and the major and minor details of what being a Christian entails. So what else is new? Oh yes! We are having an akachan (baby)!! Baby Olson #3 is a girl! Two weeks ago I'd been given 80-90% accuracy so I’m going to run with it. Yesterday, the same doctor said "I'm not sure, I can't tell." They can sure drive you nuts! She is due January 31st (ish.) None of my children have been on time so I’m guessing she will be a February baby. We have a couple of names picked out but I'm being uncharacteristically indecisive. Being pregnant again is like winning a game show and they keep giving me options of prizes so I have to choose the best one! You'll just have to wait and see what we decide. Wait? You may be saying what? A baby? Did you know while you were in America? No, no I didn’t. I wouldn't have jumped on a trampoline or drank so much coffee. Obviously, I also didn’t know when I climbed Mt. Fuji, but it makes for a great record in the baby book right? I didn’t have a clue for even a couple of weeks after we got back. My belly almost magically popped out and I squinted my eyes suspiciously at myself in the mirror and knew something was up. My good friend Chika came along to help with any confusing translation and I praise God she was there because it seemed like they didn't believe my possible claim at first due to many details. I proved them wrong didn't I? The doctor, after stating how many weeks I was seemed overly concerned apparently by the look on my face. He kept asking if I was happy or excited. Trust me I was, I guess my smile wasn't big enough. I was processing it. However, in retrospect I can see his concern because in Japan it's not always a happy occasion. So this is a pleasant surprise. See photos of proof below. The second is a snapshot of her face! I think she is going to look like her daddy just by seeing this and that means he will have two twins! Those Olson genes are strong! Billy is 1 year old! He began walking right before his birthday and now he runs! He can talk a lot, most of it is in another language that I haven't learned yet. Things I can understand include, Dada, mama, doggie, woof woof, wow, night night, and no. His favorite activities include lounging in the bath, taking walks and clapping to music. He recently got his first haircut. It was less than pleasant. Bless the sweet Japanese man cutting his hair. I couldn't figure out how to tell him the medical mask he was wearing was creeping Billy out. However, I appreciated that if he was truly sick he wasn't breathing it on us. Emmaly and I just laughed it off. What else could we do? Plus, now he doesn't have a shaggy crop of bangs in his eyes. We celebrated Will and Emmaly's birthdays in America. Will's birthday was extended due to the being on the airplane and going back in time. Emmaly is getting ready to attend camp at the end of this month with her school. They are going to the Muira peninsula near the ocean. She's pretty excited. Apparently she's in charge of the games for her group on the bus and is rooming with some good friends. They also get to help cook which she loves. Due to departing with the church we were told we would no longer be teaching with the Tama Christian Center which we expected. Will found a new teaching job pretty quickly and was given an extra activities stamp on his visa so he would legally be able to teach outside of a church here in Japan. With this teaching position he is making a little more money than he had before which closes our financial gap a little further. We've been blessed when it was least expected. So despite the previous newsletter, things in general aren't too shabby! The holidays are coming and I'm pretty excited because it isn't as hard (as it was the first year) to come to a point of familiarity in how to celebrate it. It's important to keep some traditions alive in order to not feel so isolated on this island. We are celebrating Thanksgiving on a Sunday with some close friends. I'm so excited to eat!!!!! There's one catch. It's a 50/50 chance that Costco will have a Turkey. So just in case, I'm planning on getting that ham I lamented over last year. Afterwards we will decorate for Christmas. That tree is gonna have to go up high so little fingers won't be enticed to pull it down. While in America our funds weren't raised as much as we hoped but we also don't feel comfortable pressing people for it. We try to live frugally but our savings we once had is depleted down. We've set a cap on it to not allow for more spending in case we need it for emergencies. It's untouchable if that makes sense. We call it the "plane ticket home money" if it comes to that. That came out more depressing than I wanted it to, haha. We've always trusted God to provide and he does. There are a couple of pressing needs we are going to ask for as much as it hurts! Whether or not this baby is a girl or boy we are in need of repurchasing some baby essentials, especially clothes. I'd given away to other expectant mothers many things because even in my wildest dreams I didn't expect another baby so close. If you are interested in donating monetarily for baby supplies we'd much appreciate it. Remember, Jesus loves a cheerful giver.! Okay, a magician used that line on me once and I thought it was funny. If you choose to donate specifically for this cause please let me know so I can allot that separately. Speaking of donations. If you were previously and continually our supporters you should have received an email stating our departure from PAZ and asking you to cancel that donation and move it over to our home church website. I will list it below. If you are interested in partnering with us please use the link. Our family is listed under the Missions tab.                                                                           Donate Here We love you all and hope you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving! Portrayed below are only some of the moments of our time in America that carry an emotional depth that can't be explained easily. It's better to leave it alone and remember that we were blessed to touch American soil once again and we got to see our dog Minnie. (She's the little one.) God Bless!     Email Us!

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A season in distress

“In seasons of distress and grief, My soul has often found relief, And oft escaped the tempter’s snare, By thy return, sweet hour of prayer..”   Our trip to America this time was full! Full of people, places and things to see, visit and eat.  We felt so energized coming back into Japan though few knew the weight bearing on our shoulders a month prior when we left. By writing this I may step on a few toes but there isn’t a way to explain this otherwise. Back in January/February while I was out doing my daily walk I would listen to sermons, pray, listen to music and just think. During this time a lot of talking between God and I was going on. Almost out of nowhere it seemed to me that he was asking me if “I’m I sure of what I know?” Well of course, I can explain my testimony of how I became a Christian and share with others where the Lord leads about how they can receive salvation too. So, I thought this an odd nudging. However, the question persisted and later I heard a pastor online make a great case between belief and conviction. It’s one thing to believe, but to be convicted and stand by those convictions even if you are the minority is to be more like Christ. Traveling on in this story, this year our church received new pastors or at least we were told they were to be the new pastors. A sermon series began over the Holy Spirit. Almost right away I knew something wasn’t correct with the teaching. I sat in one service writing notes to measure up later, squirming in my seat due to the direction this service and its atmosphere was going. I need to add in here that when we first arrived at this church two years ago the teaching was sound and Biblically based. It was also non-denominational but has recently taken a Charismatic turn. Before, there was unity amongst the members as well as the missionaries working well together. Within the last year, I’ve witnessed a breakdown in communication, a lack of missionary unity and a rise in nepotism and spiritual abuse through authoritative claims. A rise in one sided preaching and not enough explanation. Many were starting to become spiritually starved or just plain confused. At the time, I couldn’t just walk away due to our commitment with the Church. Up until June I thought I was the only one feeling and seeing these changes but the Lord showed me I wasn’t. I was studying hard to make sure “I knew what I know.” Studying intensely like the Bereans. It felt a little wrong at first to be questioning someone constantly, but when you keep hearing error or a misconstrued scripture you have no choice to hold them accountable. Basing the teaching off scripture, I was slowly gaining those convictions I needed. The direction this Church is/was taking was hindering many and they didn’t want to own up to it. We asked to be shown in the Bible many things due to their claims, but were turned down or sent down rabbit trails. It’s apparent we needed a Church where the Bible was the infallible word of God and it could hold itself up. Not people’s supposed visions, babbling, feelings and “I experienced” testimonies. I don’t attend Church to get the warm and fuzzies. I personally need study, scripture and application to my life. I need to know more than just the love of God, but what he expects of me and how to continually strive to become more Christ-like. There are two sides of God. He is loving, but he is also the ultimate judge. You can’t keep preaching love or you are setting your disciples up for a huge letdown, a possible deadly one. July was when the light shined through to open my eyes and Will’s of all the studying we felt led by God to do about specific things. Out of nowhere hands began to rise around us saying “Me too.”  Will felt led and was asked to speak to the pastor about people who were coming to him with concerns and thoughts of leaving. The first meeting went well, however the second meeting, forced with ill timing as we were leaving the next day didn’t go so well. Theatrically speaking, we were thrown to the lion’s den for starting a made-up revolution. Each member choosing to leave had their own reasons and I can attest to you many were a surprise even to us. There were no secret clubhouse meetings. You have to understand the Holy Spirit was convicting us at this time and we were trying to figure our own paths out with God’s leading. The leaders of the Church due to not wanting to take responsibility must have thought it was easiest to pin it on us, the non-family. Maybe this newsletter sounds grating, but I’ve always said we will be completely honest with our family, friends and supporters. It is one thing to be hurt by a Church, but God wasn’t the one hurting us. Though we have been shunned, God hasn’t turned his back on us. It’s a reminder, though this wasn’t the case that we should always put our faith fully in Christ not in people. We still have Him. He knew the timing. We went to America a little dusty by the dirt just kicked on our backs. It was the best timing for he knew what we needed. After speaking with Pastors, spiritual advisors, friends and of course God we decided to break the chain with PAZ upon our return to Japan. We are definitely not down for the count. We never felt led to give up or leave Japan we gained more conviction on why we need to stay. Since our return we’ve visited a few Churches and have found one to attend. We began a Bible study group in our home with friends that previously left the Church and want to toss away the superficial structure we just left. It’s not about numbers to us, but about understanding the Gospel and being honest with any struggles of understanding. Up top, I put partial lyrics to one of the most beloved classic hymns. It feels fitting to our situation. This has been a season of distress and grief in regards to spiritual matters. There’s still clean up needed and the ground feels shaky at times. But, to be released from one more attempt of the “tempter’s snare” feels like we took a giant step towards understanding God.  Along with our own petitions of prayer we ask that you continue to pray for us during a new season in Japan! We love you all! Part 2 of our newsletter will be out soon!   Share Forward