Gospel Team Finale

Today was the last HiBA Gospel Teams rally in Shibuya.

I would love to be able to be more involved in this ministry, but I feel blessed that God has allowed me to serve as I have. These students are amazing. They love God with everything that they are and they give give give until there is absolutely nothing left. They stand up boldly and proclaim the Word... to a polytheistic society, they shout that there is one God in Heaven and on earth

and that God is Jesus Christ who loves and adores and knows you. These students.. are awesome.

The rally had a great turnout. The number of people who had been coming to the rallies throughout the week and others off the street was big. And all of the teams came back from wherever they had been serving; it was good to see all of the YWAM leaders one more time, as well as the kids from the States' team (the ones I met in Chiba with Anne Marie a few weeks ago). There were so many people crammed into the hall upstairs that we had to create an overflow room, and even then we pushed the rows closer together so that more chairs could fit in.

Worship, skits, testimonies. And Dave, one of the YWAM leaders, shared the message as well as part of his own testimony. That one had me teary-eyed. It spoke to the aching p

art of my heart that longs to see everyone really get it. Really understand just how much they are adored by our Heavenly Father. Dave's story reminded me so pointedly of the story of a friend of mine, only my friend is in the thick of it-the pain and the anger and the brokenness. I am so thankful for people like Dave who will stand up and share unabashedly about the moments when God speaks. These words are filled with such hope. Such hope. Oh, how Christ loves us.

Since it was the final rally, we had another bake sale. Aichan and I ran it, and I think it went well. It was a nice vantage point for me, as it was the time before, to sit back during the lulls in sales, and observe the Church. How awesome are these brothers and sisters. How beautiful are these creatures that are hand-made by God. How joyful and hopeful and firey. How diverse in shape, size, color, language, heritage, likes and dislikes, fashion styles, volume. Again, I'm struck by the creativeness of our God.

The Power of the Holy Spirit was heavy in that

building as well. The joy was tangible. There

were students praying all over the rooms and several invited Christ to be Lord. And this girl, Katya, man is she an encouragement. Every time I see her, she's an encouragement, with her bright smile and big hugs and aggressive

amicability. But today, she was everywhere, expressing how the Spirit was moving. She'd stop and pray for and with any random person she bumped into. And of course there were hugs. I'm thankful that God created masterpieces such as these.

Anytime that God moves, it's beautiful.

And today was more than beautiful.