Mission trip to Japan 2008
During early 2008, Catherine and I were blessed by God to be able to go to Japan to Spread the Gospel. As you know Japan is dominated by two major religions, Shinto and Buddhism. Christians in Japan are in a distinct minority, so mission trips to this country do much to nurture and grow and spread The Message. Click on the link below to watch a PowerPoint presentation showing some highlights of our trip.
Japan Mission Trip Blog from: January 2008
God has
provided for US to "GO", (Mark 16:15) to another country
to help those who need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Catherine &
Thomas Fusco
Phoenix,
AZ, United States
Just two nobodies who can share with anybody about
somebody that can save them.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
It's late around 10:30p and I just finished setting up this blog so that I can communicate with those who supported us on what happens to us in Japan. I pray that this method can work and so that they can read about what God has us doing in this foreign land.
Tom's friend Alan said...
I think this is a great idea. We can see in real time (almost) what is going on with your trip
Blace said...
My aren't we getting techie! This is great: we who are praying can hear how God is answering on the front lines.
Anonymous said...
I'd love to hear more news as the time of your departure is closing fast. Praying for a safe flight, what else can we pray for?
Catherine & Tom said...
Anonymous, one of our concerns is that of Catherine's mom Gloria. We have moved in with her so that she can have constant care. Pray that the Lord watch over her while we are gone. Also that He protects us from any illness so that we can be on fire for the Lord to those we meet.
dayfly said...
Cathy and Tom,
Will pray for Gloria & for your
good health while over there. But
do remember 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Dale
Catherine & Tom said...
Dale, Thanks for the message, and pointing me to the One who saved me & provides me with all that I need. As I continued to the chapters end, 2nd Cor 12:21, it reminded me of those who have not repented and are lost.
kim said...
Hi Mom and Tom!
I am just checking to see if you
have landed. I will be praying for
you guys and of course grandma. I
love you!
Love,
Kim
Edwin said...
Are you in Japan yet?
D.Yoder said...
Tom hows the fishing in Japan ?
Praying for you !!
Psalm 89:1
Catherine & tom said...
Kim, we arrived safely except I
did lose my dinner 10 minute
before landing. This is the first
time we have been able to send
something. This has been an
awesome experience. We have met so
many nice people here. 1st on the
train, i was able to give away a
million dollar bill. Then while at
Star Bucks in the mall, Tom shared
the Ten Commandments with a young
girl who spoke English.
We are at their church now and we
gave them our testimonies.
I’ll try to send some more when we
have chance
dayoldy said...
Wow, you peeps are 16 hours ahead
of us! (AZ is GMT-7 & Japan is
GMT+9).
Let see, it's about 12:30 am here,
so it must be 4:30 pm there.
Hopefully you're getting some good
sleep to adjust. So Catherine, you
lost your dinner, huh... don't
worry about it-maybe you'll find
it on the flight back! ;-)
Grace to you who love our Lord
Jesus Christ
Dale
Catherine & tom said...
Dale, nice to hear from you. Your sense of humor is refreshing. We were out today meeting people in the neighborhood by this church which is about 45min from where we are staying. We were at lunch and a women recognized me as the man who was handing out tracts she saw at Starbucks the other day .
Catherine & tom said...
Edwin, Thanks for your concern. As you can see we have arrived safely. We have lots to tell you when we get back. We can compare stories now that you have already been here and done that
Catherine & tom said...
D.Yoder, The fishing has been great. Today we were busy sharing the bait. Getting to a computer has not been easy. Say hello to the sower`s on mill for me.
Catherine & Tom said...
Left Phoenix AZ on Thursday at 7:30a
& arrived in Tokyo on Friday at
5:30p. Met David Spurdle outside and
had to take the 3 separate trains to
get to where he parked his van. This
took approximately another 2 hours.
Then 45 minutes later we arrived at
the house where we would stay, this
was about 8;30 or 9P Japan time
which would mean that we were up for
about 27 hours as it was now 5:a
Friday Phoenix time. On the first
train our prayers were answered as
we had been praying that the Lord
would bring people to us who spoke
English. At the first stop a man got
on and sat next to Catherine. He
asked her if she would mind if he
sat by her. She was surprised how
well he spoke English and
complimented him on it. She offered
him a million and he took it. After
reading it, he mentioned that he
liked the tract and that he was a
Christian and she continued to have
a great conversation with him. He
gave us the newspaper he had with
him as it was written in English and
he stated that he buys it so that he
would better understand the English
language. We praised the Lord for
answering our prayers so quickly.
Saturday. January, 26 (which is
Friday in Phoenix)
Woke up early Sat, David made great
blueberry pancakes. Each day after
breakfast we have a Bible study, and
are learning about missionaries.
After our study David took us for a
walk that lead us to the base of a
mountain. We climbed that mountain
and at the top we could see the city
that Satan held captive. We prayed
to the Lord above that He would use
us to help free those people and
bring truth to the city of Tochigi.
On our way down David & Jack were
able to witness to two people, a
mother & son who were cleaning the
area.
Afterwards we went to the mall to
buy some supplies and to pass out
tracks. They had a Starbucks inside
the mall & we were privileged to
talk a young girl named Kazayo and I
walked her through the commandments
as she spoke English and was ale to
understand what I was saying. She
was convicted by the law an
Catherine noticed that she had tears
in her eyes when we got to the part
were she stated that would it
concerned her that she could be in
Hell. David invited her to his home
for that night as his pastor & the
pastor's son were coming that night.
To my amazement she and her sister
showed up.
Afterwards we all went to dinner at
a great Japanese restaurant and
shared with one another. Jack & I
started singing and were having a
grand time coming up with all the
different songs that we could
remember. Even the owners who was
the cook & his wife were smiling at
us signing.
Sunday, 27th,
We attended worship at the chapel in
Tochigi and we all shared our
testimonies. Afterwards I was able
to log on to my website and share
the video of the piano player.
Everyone was amazed at that man
using balls to play music. I also
shared with them the pink & blue
illusion cards as well as showing
the coin that appears out of thin
air. They were eager to learn how I
did it and I showed them. You should
have seen all the men young and old
practicing how to do it.
We were invited to a ladies home
which was on the outskirts which was
like a farm house. She served us an
amazing meal which Catherine helped
her to prepare. She shared with
Catherine all about her two sons and
then took Catherine to her bedroom
where she showed her pictures of her
daughter dressed in beautiful
Japanese gowns.
Edwin
said...
Tom
Good to hear you are fishing like
crazy. I can’t wait to hear all
about it when you get back. I will
keep you both in prayer and remind
the team at home to do so as well.
Catherine & tom said...
Monday, 28th
We drove to the top of another
mountain, Ohira, in Tochigi. We had
a terrific view of Tokyo in the
distance and could even see Mt Fuji.
They have a three story platform
that you can walk up to get a better
view and there we saw padlocks that
were engraved and locked into the
fence that surrounded the platform.
I was told by Jack that couples who
want to get married leave them
there. As we looked out over the
area David had us pray for all of
those people who have never heard of
the Gospel.
We drove to the area where the
church is and dropped off flyers
inviting people to come to the
church on Saturday.
Today I started to feel the jetlag as I was extremely tired this afternoon. Constantly yawning and eyes trying to close. Please keep us in your prayers that I get the rest I need so that tomorrow I get be fight to do battle.
Tuesday, 29th
Today was a damp and rainy day. We
dropped off tracts locally and
then went to the mall and stopped
at Starbucks. David was able to
share with a man who stated that
he had never heard the Gospel
before. David was able, with the
Lords help, to show this man the
connection from the old Chinese
manuscripts and the invention of
the computer how God was real.
Wednesday 30th
Today we drove to Mt Nikko, where
there is a Christian camp. We
actually have a bed to sleep on &
heat on the floors. We all went to
a tiny hut where we prayed for
Haruko who is the wife of the
Pastor at Tochigi as she has a
failing liver. We also prayed over
Nakajima, a close friend of theirs
who has ovarian cancer and was
told she only had a year to live.
Then we split up and each went to
there own little hut for about an
hour to spend some quiet time with
the Lord.
We then drove to a place called
Nikko Wonderland, but the
attraction was closed from
1/25-2-7, we just missed it. While
we wondering around at this empty
location some college students
from Tokyo showed. We were able to
witness to them for quite a while.
When they left to get on there bus
they we very thankful that we
shared with them.
The Gospel Tract of the million
dollar bill with JFK on the front
and the Japanese language on the
back is being very well received.
When we came back to the camp we
were able to use the hot water
bath. First everyone goes inside
to shower and then steps into a
large bath and from there you go
outside to another large hot bath
which is located on the edge of
the small canyon. From this spot
you could see a water fall which
falls into the river below.
AWESOME!
After dinner we had prayer time
and Bibl study. This was an
unplanned part of our trip as we
asked by Haga San if we would
accompany them so that we could
pray for the two women.
Thursday, 31st
Then next morning we went to the
Nikko Tokugawa Shrine. This place
is amazing! The buildings and
their artistic sculptures are
truly works of art. The only
problem is that they are art works
for Satan. I was told that
millions of people come form all
over the world to worship here.
They even have what looks like the
Ark of the Convenient as described
in the Old Testament in one of the
temples.
The five of us were able to hand
out 100's of tracts each to all
the tourists who came.
Jack who I have to say is the
oldest was able to walk up three
hundred & fifty two stairs to and
it was only through the Lords
power that he was able to do it.
The rest of us didn't even try. Oh
Jack usually wears a knee brace
but he did this without it.
Friday, Feb 1st
Got more flyers came back and cut
them up. Headed for the Chapel and
put them in their mailboxes. We
then met up with the kids at the
park from the last time and played
some games with them. Even Jack
tried to hit the ball but to no
avail. About a dozen more school
kids on bikes came to the park and
we able to pass out million dollar
bills to all of them. They were
very excited to have the money and
we explained to them that they had
to read the back and have their
parents so the same.
Saturday Feb 2nd
We went to Starbucks again for
some more fishing and they had a
live band in the mall. As they
were performing I mingled with the
crowd and offered them the million
dollar bill. I'm sure they thought
it had something to do with the
entertainment that was going on
because no one refused them. I was
able to hand out almost a whole
pack. Jack came over and helped
out as he gave a bunch away and
then the security stopped him. By
then it was to late as our task of
handing out God's word in Satan's
domain was complete.
Evening came quickly and we had to
get back to our base as we were
entertaining some people from his
church as well as neighbors that
were invited. David and Catherine
prepared a wonderful American
meal, burrito's. They loved it as
many had two helpings. As the
evening went on Shin the son of
the Pastor Haga Son asked if I
would show his fried the magic.
While doing the tricks one of the
neighbors asked me to do more and
then I showed the pink & blue
illusion and then with the help of
David, translating it into
Japanese, I took him through the
question about selling our eyes.
We were able to go through the
process of how God would have to
judge a sinner, which we know is
someone who lies, steals or has
lustful thoughts for others. His
response to it was that he hadn't
given it much thought.
Now comes the amazing part,
remember the friend that Shin
brought, his name is Isikawa, I
noticed that his eyes were wet and
he started to speak about how he
understood what I was saying and
how he is a Buddhist & so is his
whole family. He related to us
about his grandfather's funeral
that when he looked at him lying
dead, his face seemed peaceful.
Since then he had been trying to
live his life by doing good things
just like his grandfather taught
him but after hearing what I spoke
of he understood my message and
was very thankful for me sharing
with them. He is still a Buddhist
but know wants to search out other
religions. I asked if he had every
read the Bible and he said no. I
then offered him a Bible written
in Japanese and he thanked me and
said he would read it. His tearful
story brought me to ask if I could
give him a hug and he responded by
leaning over towards me. I was
hugging him he said that he has
great respect for me & then I told
him that this moment was the best
thing that happened to me in Japan
and I think that God wanted me
here so that he could hear my
message. I then told him I would
be praying for him so that God
would open his heart and he would
truly understand what it meant for
Jesus to die on the cross for him.
After that I could hardly speak as
I realized that God had answered
my prayers, and allowed me to hear
the heart of someone in Japan.
Anonymous said...
Blace: thanks so much for sharing, I'm privileged to be praying for you representing Jesus on the other side of the world. We're praying continually for you.