Living Out Faith

Time Alone in Nikko

2008-10-24T17:25:00.003+09:00

On Monday, my day off, I decided to head up to the mountains for a half a day alone with God. It was a gorgeous day, and I even though its "changing of the maple leaves" season here, I thought, "its a weekday, it won't be that crowded." Wrong! What usually takes a little over an hour turned into a 3 hour trip (2 hours at a creeping stand still on a one way road up the mountain.) Even in spite of the longer than anticipated trip, I was able to find a secluded spot with just me and some ducks out on a lake and enjoy time basking in the Lord's presence and meditating on how God is the gospel - God himself is our treasure! As is my usual style, I've got more pics posted on my photo link, as well as a short video of snow monkeys I ran into. (Considering my encounter with a certain Nikko monkey who jumped in my car on top of my sister 7 years ago, I decided not to leave by my driver seat door, but climbed out through the other side...)

35th Year Utsunomiya Navigator Celebration

2008-10-17T23:42:00.006+09:00

Last week I reconnected with lots of old friends and meet many new faces as we gathered to celebrate 35 years of Navigator ministry in Utsunomiya. It was humbling to meet and hear the stories of those who have gone before me, and to see God's continuing unfolding story of the gospel advancing here in Japan. I've got the 2nd half of the video highlighting the Nav ministry on my video link. (Its all in Japanese, but you can enjoy the pictures!) The last pic here is from when I first came to Japan in 2000.

Hokkaido Trip

2008-10-03T00:01:00.005+09:00

Here's a video slideshow I put together of our BEST Club trip to Hokkaido in August! It was a great time of deepening and enjoying relationships with one another.

Summer Photo Update!

2008-08-09T12:06:00.012+09:00

Just wanted to let you know I've got photos and videos uploaded to my gallery links. I take off tomorrow for a 10 day trip to Hokkaido so I need to get packing! Thanks summer team for a great 2 months joining us here in Utsunomiya!

A preview of pictures I have uploaded!

2008-06-22T12:01:00.006+09:00

Here's our Utsu Summer Team - Tom, Len, Nicole, Rachel, Katie and Martin - while we were hiking in the mountains during our Gunma Camp. Check out more pictures in my photo gallery on the left. I've been really encouraged by living with the three girls - they're fabulous! Sad that Nicole and Rachel leave on the 4th...

Graduation Parties and a New School Year

2008-04-03T21:25:00.002+09:00

The month and half of spring vacation are wrapping up here in Japan, and a new school year is ready to begin! For two weeks in March I went back to the States for a conference for women in the USIMG where I received training in coaching and met some fabulous women who are serving all over the world, as well as got some time with my family as my roommate Emi joined me. I actually got more time with my family than anticipated, as I found out that my grandpa had passed away during my flight from Japan, so I rescheduled to join my family in the funeral.

Emi and I arrived back in time for the BEST club farewell party for the graduating seniors, and the graduation ceremony. Lots of photos posted on my photo gallery link and video gallery link! The picture here is of me and Sakana, a gal who graduated but will be sticking around for a couple more years as a grad student! She's going to be leading a Bible discussion group for freshmen with some others like she did last year.

Recruiting starts next week! Time for me to pull out the big pots and make over 100 chili dogs again for after our Freshmen Orientation Meeting on April 11! Whoo-hoo!

Choked Up

2008-02-25T00:06:00.002+09:00

Its hard to believe that its time for graduation again. A while ago three of the seniors were hanging out late at my house after a Bible discussion, and I was listening in from across the room. They were sharing favorite Bible verses they were memorizing and talking about how they could continue walking with God for the long-haul. I slid over to join their conversation. Suddenly one girl said, "You know, I haven't gotten used to it yet."

"Used to what?" I queried.

"That we're sitting here, talking about our love for Jesus. None of us would have imagined this when we came to U-dai as freshmen."

I looked around at them, and she was right. Even I would have had a hard time believing that this kind of transformation would have taken place in their lives when I first got to know them 4 years ago. I started to get choked up thinking of God's goodness in extending his saving grace to the three of them. And that I've been able to see some of the fruit from years of laboring and praying for students at U-dai and for the gospel to advance in Japan. I'm excited to see how God will use these three's lives as they continue to flesh out what it means to be a disciple of Christ here in Japan and grow in their heart for others to know Christ, too!

Trip to Yokohama

2008-02-24T23:18:00.004+09:00

Had a blast on a day trip to Yokohama with Mukku, a sophomore who's been coming to BIB, and 2 junior gals Kaori and Emi, who have been co-leading BIB this year. In between riding the biggest Ferris Wheel in the world, spending time with Ronald McDonald, eating the "world's best" dollar steamed meat buns in Chinatown, taking the scenic tour bus the WRONG direction, eating dessert 6 times during the course of the day, and doing some crazy stuff on the train ride home (hey, no one was left!), it was definitely some bonding time! I've got more photos uploaded at the photo gallery link at the top of the page.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T21:08:00.005+09:00

I did something this evening I haven't dared to do when living in the U.S. - I went out to eat at a restaurant by myself on Valentine's Day. It was my day off, and I had a coupon for a free dessert, (in the picture) so why not? And hey, what'd you know - most of the people in the restaurant were women out with their friends or moms with their kids. Valentine's Day is celebrated in Japan - but with the girls making homemade chocolates (or store-bought) to give to their boyfriends or guy friends. (The guys reciprocate a month later on "White Day" by giving candy to the girls on March 14.) Christmas seems to be more the romantic date night out at a restaurant.

So I had a great time of relaxing and reflecting, and enjoying my relationship with God. Recently I got an email from a woman I admire, who got married later in life, asking her friends to pray the singles she knows. I was touched by Minako's concern, remembering what it was like to be single and desiring marriage.

"We know that marriage is one of God's great gifts, and we've been asking God to give our single friends that gift. However, we also know that, since it's a gift and not a right, we can't demand it of God. As Valentine's Day approaches, I remember my own struggles of being single and dateless. I'm concerned for some of my single friends and students during this time of the year. Would you pray that they will fix their eyes on God and won't make marriage their idol? Would you pray that they would discover the wonder of having Jesus as the Lover of their soul and develop wonderful intimacy with Him during this time of waiting?"

This is a prayer I often pray, as well as praying that I can believe that God can actually bring marriage about for me. I realize its often a lack of trust and faith. But tonight, I was able to really enjoy my "date" time with the Lord, basking in His love and meditating on Psalm 63: (in the Message paraphrase)

"God - you're my God! I can't get enough of you. I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath, my arms wave like banners of praise to you."

Whatever stage in life you're at, may you also bask in and enjoy God's amazing love for you!

Mouse traps and Pregnant Friends (no correlation)

2008-01-28T00:06:00.000+09:00

I really have a great staff team I work with. In addition to sharing a common passion to know Christ and be involved in advancing the gospel and multiplying laborers, I've got a team of guys who are ready to serve me in ways like making homemade mouse traps out of toilet paper rolls, peanut butter, string and a tall waste basket.

After being freaked out a little :) when I finally met one of my baby field mice on Friday night after BEST, we finally decided that the rat poison was just not doing the trick. So while I was gone visiting friends in Kofu, the trap went to work and got one of the little guys. For those of you with a strong stomach (or at least the interest), feel free to browse through my photo gallery to see my photos of the mouse trap or a video of putting the trap together.

I had a great time with Shinji and Kaori Yoda, my dear friends from my time living in Des Moines in 2002-4, this weekend down in Kofu (near Mt. Fuji). We had a lot of fun taking pics, showing off Kaori's pregnant belly! (so check out that photo folder, too) Its exciting to celebrate this time in their lives, along with my sister Elizabeth's and fellow staff Heidi's pregnancy (all boys due in March and April!)

Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T23:55:00.000+09:00

And the celebrations continue as we're in the week of New Years holiday here in Japan. Please click on the link to the left to see various New Years parties. As you can see, there are a lot of changes to my blog as I decided to change my layout template so that you could view pictures I post directly better.

And some of you might be wondering why there's a mouse on this post. Well, it is the year of the mouse. But actually it stems from my stress level being a bit high the last few weeks because we seem to have a community of mice who decided to make their abode in our home. More precisely, the closet next to my bed. One Saturday I found the evidence of their presence by the half-eaten bags of pretzels, crackers, peanuts, cereal, etc. in both my room and in the kitchen (I had bought a lot of snacks for Christmas baking, as well as much of the food they ate were items brought back from the U.S) . Since we've set out rat poison tablets - they've eaten through 2 whole trays already and half-way through the third. Each morning I take a peak into the closet and see how much progress they've made. Man, either Japanese rat poison is not very strong or these are some hardy mice! Fortunately, I don't hear them eating away at night like I used to...

All that to say, for Christmas I got this toy mouse from Keith, who provided a hammer along with it. But I couldn't bring myself to smash it...after all, I wanted to use it to play pranks on my roommates!

Merry Christmas!

2008-01-03T21:22:00.000+09:00

Sorry I didn't get anything posted in December - please check out My Photos link for LOTS of pictures taken with various Christmas parties and cookie baking, etc. I've got pics from our American single staff retreat in Karuizawa as well. To get you started, here are a few of my favorites...

Nieces and Nephews

2007-11-29T23:57:00.001+09:00

I've added pictures of my new baby nephew, Nicholas Zane, born to my older sister Mary and Kyle in Springfield, MO! I can't wait to be able to see him! Click on MY PHOTO GALLERY on the upper right corner of my blog to get to the pictures!
And...I just got ultrasound pictures from my younger sister Elizabeth and Nate's pregnancy - haven't told us yet whether its a boy or girl... Even being across the ocean, it's exciting to be a part of both of their first pregnancies!

Photo Gallery

2007-11-20T00:14:00.000+09:00

I've got some pictures uploaded from my time in Tokyo and the Young Laborers' Conference as well as the changing of the maples here in Utsu. Click the link at the right to view my photo slideshow gallery!

Why Japan?

2007-11-07T00:42:00.000+09:00

Untitled from Summmer Impact Japan on Vimeo.

Excellent video put together by Mark Rood, fellow Nav staff in Tokyo (who I've been receiving training from these last few weeks) on why we're in Japan doing what we're doing. Please take a look!

Utsu BEST Club USA Trip 2007

2007-11-07T00:34:00.001+09:00

Utsu BEST Club USA Trip 2007 from Ruth Ann Hurd on Vimeo.

Thanks goes to Mori (and the crew who went through selecting from the 5800 photos and video taken on the trip) for creating this video!

2007 Ministry Short Video

2007-11-05T22:04:00.000+09:00

Enjoy this 3 min video that highlights some of my life and ministry this year! I originally made it to show when I was back home in September - so some of you may have seen it then.