We just got back from a week of pre-field training at MTW headquarters near Atlanta, GA. We had a really great time learning from and getting to know the staff at MTW. Finn was able to go with us and everyone in the office loved watching him strut around like he owned the place. Now that we have received this training, we are excited to start inviting people to join us in this work the LORD is doing in Tokyo!!
In 2009 I was an engineering graduate student at UNL. I was supporting and following the ministry of the O'Donnell family with The Navigators in Shizuoka, Japan when I happened to see a photo of a really cute gal in ministry with them. It turns out her name was Mandy and we had a lot of common friends in Nebraska. She was cute, loved Jesus and was a missionary. I was hooked. I asked good friends if they would tell her about me and see if she would be interested in emailing. They must have given an exaggerated reference because she said yes. In February we began emailing each other and then on a trip she took back to the States we went on two dates. I was praying about pursuing missions at the time, but ministry in Japan hadn't crossed my mind till I met Mandy. In July I went to Japan for three weeks to continue dating Mandy. Let's just say the trip was a huge success! In September Mandy flew back to the States to continue dating and I proposed. She spent three months of our engagement finishing her term as a missionary with college students in Shizuoka. In May 2010 we were married in Lincoln and immediately moved to Saint Louis so that I could attend seminary. Below is slide show of my first visit to Japan. Little did we know this was an instrumental beginning in our journey back to Japan together. **Warning: Lots of cute couple photos indicating that we really liked each other.** |