Joel & Kelly Kaylor

It is December 31 here in Tokyo. I took some time this afternoon looking over my journal for 2007. This year was an incredible year. God provided in incredible ways for our move to Japan. As I flipped through my journal I was stricken by some of the quotes that were an encouragement to me this year. Below are some of the quotes that I wrote down in my journal. Some are thoughts that the Holy Spirit gave to me, some are from books, podcasts, sermons, etc. Trust that these will be encouraging to you as you start 2008! 

BIG VISION + BIG GOD = BIG PROVISION!–Holy Spirit during my devotions 

Holy Spirit is my administrative assistant–Holy Spirit during my devotions 

If you really take on the responsibility of obeying God and fulfilling His will you have to take risks.–Mark Batterson 

Set big enough goals that you will absolutely fail unless God comes through for you. –Frank Damazio 

I am more afraid of having regrets of not doing things than I am of having regrets of making mistakes in doing them.–Mark Batterson 

The greatest problems and challenges usually become your greatest opportunities into your destiny.–Mark Batterson 

We need to be involved in something big enough that will outlast our lives.–Holy Spirit during my devotions.

Dream no small dream, for they stir not the hearts of man.–Andy Stanley.

When leaders are no longer willing to dream, it is only a short time before followers are unwilling to follow.–Andy Stanley.

God has a plan and purpose for your life and is working all things in harmony to fulfill your God-ordained destiny.–Frank Damazio.

Dream big, but start small: dream big dreams, but be practical enough to start and take small steps towards your big dream.–Wayne Cordeiro.

Throw caution to the wind to fulfill your dream and let God take care of you. If you hesitate in your dream you will always be unfulfilled.–Rich Brott 

Jesus says “GO” everyday to his disciples.Jesus says “COME” everyday to all that still need Him. Live in the balance of “COME” and “GO”!–Sharon Wagar.

Time tests our character, faith and endurance. Nothing great has been built on weak people. You need faith, character and endurance.–Benny Perez.

God rules the world and His church through the prayers of His people. God is dependent on the faithfulness of His people in prayer. It is a stupendous mystery and an absolute certainty.”–Andrew Murray 

2 questions about your passion (will of God)              1. What am I willing to live for?              2. What am I willing to die for? 

God is Gooder thatn you think–Judah Smith 

You can not reach your vision with division.–Frank Damazio 

If you are not making mistakes you are doing something wrong.–Rick Warren’s philosophy for his staff .

Everything is an experiment–Mark Batterson’s motto for ministry 

Do not be afraid to go ahead.–Angel in Matthew 1:20 

You feed them–Jesus, Matthew 14:16  Don’t believe everything you read about Japan–Rob Plumer of Jesus Lifehouse in Tokyo. 

It’s your job to build the barn, it’s God’s job to fill it–Jude Fouquier based on Matthew 6:26 

God’s blessing is not a rainbow where you can never get to or experience.–Steven Kaylor based on Ps 34:8

Greetings Friends & Family

 

(Picture taken in November at the Aquarium on Tokyo Bay. It was very warm till the middle of November. Now the average high is about 50F and high 30s for the low) 

The holiday season is upon us.  We were wondering what it would be like to spend our first Christmas in Japan.  Would we get that same warm fuzzy feeling?  Would everywhere you look be decked out in Christmas lights?  Would Hope Church have a special Christmas service just like CBC? And most importantly, would Starbucks be selling their eggnog latte?!! Just kidding! What we have found is that the same commercialism that saturates Christmas in the States has taken up residence in Japan.  Christmas is all about selling as many toys, electronics, and Christmas cakes as possible.  I have not seen a single nativity scene and if you ask a non Christian what Christmas is about their reply will likely include the words “Santa” and “Christmas tree”.  How sad it is when our American culture has such a negative impact on other countries in the world.  On a more positive note, our family had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving.  The original plan was to buy a turkey at Costco (the only place you can buy a turkey in Japan) for $40.00, invite the entire Kaylor family (14 people total) and have a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.  That idea was quickly vetoed when we realized the cost and time involved.  Instead we found ourselves at Sizzler enjoying their fantastic American salad bar along with soup and tacos.  It was great to indulge in some American food and be thankful that we had family to share it with.

 

We had the pleasure of attending a fundraising dinner hosted by one of the largest Christian printing companies in Japan.  They print a variety of literature including Bibles in many different languages to be sent around the world.  The dinner was at the Hyatt Tokyo Hotel and included a delicious meal, music by a stringed quartet and testimonies from a famous rapper. What really astounded us was the dessert.  It was a chocolate mouse cake topped with 2 raspberries and a slice of banana edged with GOLD FLAKES!  Our first thought was, “It looks really pretty but what is the point?  It’s all going to end up in the same place anyway”J 

MINISTRY 

We were browsing through the isles of IKEA when we heard a voice call our names.  We turned around and saw one of our Japanese friends from Portland.  He had attended our Japanese Bible study regularly for a couple of years. It was so good to see him and to remember that the seeds that were planted in Portland need to be watered in order to grow. We are looking forward to a time when we can invite him over to dinner and keep on watering!!

 

A few weeks ago I (Joel) had an opportunity to minister at a Burmese Church in Tokyo. A friend of ours who pastors the Burmese Fellowship at CityBibleChurch has some relatives in Tokyo and he extended an invitation for me to preach at their church. I experienced something for the first time in my life–preaching in English in

Japan. Here I am in downtown

Tokyo standing in front of a group of Burmese preaching in English and having it translated into Burmese. You don’t get to experience that everyday. I also wrote a blog about this. Check it out! FROM WHERE WE STAND 

 

Hello this is Elisa. On Monday my family & I went ice skating. It was funJ I fell down a few times but I didn’t get hurt. On every Thursday my mom or dad comes with Joshua & I on our bikes to the sports club. I play tennis & Joshua Plays soccer at a Sports club. We have a lot of fun playing sports. I have learned alot about tennis & I have only done the class about 5 times. We have our Christmas tree up. Our Christmas tree is fake so it looks a little weird.   

    Joshua Kaylor- I caught a lizard and a lot of rollypollys outside of our house. The lizard was brown and it had yellow spots with a long tail.  The lizard was really slow.  Isn’t that strange?We went to the Tokyo aquarium and we saw huge tuna that swam really fast.  We also saw hammerhead sharks, penguins, starfish, Nemo, Dory and a stingray.  It was really cool. J 

CULTURE CORNER “Christ Max” 

　

(Mall sign and a poster advertising Christmas cakes for dogs) 

These were the words displayed on Christmas signs throughout a very big mall near our house.  I think that pretty much says it all.  We are to “Celebrate Christ to the Max!” this Christmas season.  I don’t think that’s the idea the ad campaign was aiming for but we definitely think it is! Since New Year’s is the big holiday week in Japan, Christmas Day is not a holiday.  So we should not have been shocked to receive a flyer at Joshua’s soccer class advertising a soccer Christmas party for when else but Christmas Day!  Needless to say, we will not be attending!  Usually a family celebrates Christmas with the father bringing home a Christmas cake from the bakery and that is about it.  Oh yes, you can also purchase a Christmas cake for the family pet.      

GOD’S FAVOR & PROVISION  

God has been so faithful to provide for our needs. This past month has shown us so many examples of God’s provision.  With the changing of seasons we found ourselves in need of a heater.  Houses in Japan do not have central heating and are not insulated.  Usually people rely on gas or kerosene heaters in the main rooms.   A brand new heater would have cost us about $500.  As we were in the process of praying about this purchase a Hope Church member from New Zealand approached us and asked us if we needed a heater.  He and his wife were moving back to New Zealand and were getting rid of everything!!  What a blessing!   When we give to those in need, God blesses us.  Hope Church took an offering to bless a church in the Philippines.  Joel felt impressed to give a specific amount in the offering. After church that day, Pastor Steven came up to us and said that somebody had put an envelope in the offering with our name on it.  The amount in the envelope was the same amount that we had just given to the Philippines that very same day! Living in the most expensive country in the world has definitely caused us to learn to trust God for everything.  He has proven time and time again that He is in control and that we are in His perfect will!  We are so blessed to have so many good friends and family believing in us and praying for us.  Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support.  We look forward to sharing many more exciting reports with you.

SIGN OF THE MONTH

It never ceases to amaze us of some the signs that we see in Japan. They love using English, but a lot of the times it just doesn’t make sense. We found this sign at the Ice Skating rink. As you can see it is a poster of “The Armors”, a local hockey team for kids. It simply says, “Will you to a happy ICE HOCKEY?” Your guess is good as mine as to what they are trying to say J 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

                         

 Recently I had the privilege of speaking at the Zomi Christian Fellowship (Burmese) church in downtown Tokyo pastored by Pastor Kimpi. It is a Burmese church reaching out to the 20,000 Burmese in the Tokyo area. How did a Japanese speaking American (me) end up in a Burmese speaking church in Tokyo you ask? It was through a Burmese pastor friend of mine (pastor King Mang Zam) in Portland who is the pastor of the Burmese Ministry of City Bible Church. Pastor King has quite a few of his relatives living in Tokyo and asked if I would go and preach at their church after getting settled.

Here is the great part. I preached ALL IN ENGLISH! It was then translated into Burmese by Pastor Kimpi. Actually, come to think of it, it is probably the first time I preached in English in Japan.

I had tons of fun meeting all of Pastor King Mang’s relatives and getting to know Pastor Kimpi.

Side note: I am more comfortable preaching in Japanese. For what it’s worth, and dare I say, I think I am a better preacher in Japanese as well:)