Tomo calling you to say "THANK YOU"

Tomo took a break from filling a "Box of Love" to give you a call and say "THANK YOU"

This became a very familiar sight to Koza Church members the month of December as they would pass by and wonder when will they ever be finished with this ministry.
Thank you Saran for always supporting your mommy and being such a good girl.
Thanks Tomo for being a good little boy and not complaining about being drug all around the island making deliveries and spending alot of time in the bouncy seat watching us work on the boxes.
And for the really BIG THANK YOU to Koza Baptist Church for allowing us to nearly live in the church the month of December sorting, stacking, receiving and deliverying the "Box of Love" campaign from the foyer of the church. Thanks to everyone who supported this ministry this year by way of making a "Box of Love", visiting locations with us and praying for this ministry. God was gracious and merciful to us and allowed us to go beyond and reach even more of the least of these than we did last year. The grace extended beyond the least of these to the care givers and we pray that it will reach beyond that too. We are so very Thankful to have this opportunity to reach the Okinawan Community during the Christmas season as we can share with them the REAL meaning of Christmas as we heard more than once, "That is the first time I've heard the REAL meaning of Christmas", thank you for sharing it with us". Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow. We pray that God will give us more opportunity to serve Him in the community through outreach ministry.

Shoni Hattatsu Developmental Center

Okinawa Christian Junior College students shared their musical talent with us all and several songs of Hope during the holiday season.
OCHEA Okinawa Christian Home Educators Association joined us and shared several Christmas Carols and blessed us with their servant hearts.

Kindergartners from OCSI Okinawa Christian School International shared some songs along with hand motions too.

Elizabeth Tipton and her son and Joseph brought along Quali and Alexandria their trained therapy Poodles to share with the folks. Everyone enjoyed them.
There were other volunteers who joined us to serve this special group of people. We left with the blessing for sure. The care givers at Shoni were also blessed by our serving them. They had asked for a MD (mini disc) player and some various therapy items which thanks to the USO we were able to provide for them. Thanks USO for once again helping us serve the community.

Awase Baptist hosts Ohana School for Handicapped Children

Last year when we went to Ohana School for Handicapped Children there was hardly enough room in their facility to have a party, so we are so thankful to Awase Baptist for their generous offer to host this event, complete with lunch and a HUGE cake prepared by their staff.

What a day of celebration, everyone was full of joy and happiness.
Thanks so much toYomitan International Church who supported Ohana and presented them each with a "Box of Love".


Thank you also to some of the YIC members who joined us and presented their box to the child they sponsored.
I think this may be the BIGGEST Birthday cake I've ever seen. What a way to celebrate the Birth of Jesus.

Another YIC member presenting their "Box of Love" to their sponsored child.
The children of Ohana took their turn in the party to present us with songs and musical talent. Everyone had a part and played an instrument.

Mili from YIC giving her gift to her sponsored child.
This is the daughter of the director of Ohana. Her mom wanted to take care of her full time so she started this facility to care for others at the same time.
Thank you Awase Baptist for hosting this event, Thank you Ohana for serving the children in your community and making a difference in their lives. And Thank you YIC for serving these children with a "Box of Love".

Pallet Developmental Preschool

The van is loaded and Ruth, Michelle and their children are all ready to go to Pallet and serve them with a "Box of Love". Thanks to Koza Baptist Church for preparing the boxes for Pallet.


Rika and Junko shared the Christmas Story with them and a few songs of hope titled, "You are Special", and "You were created for a special purpose". This really meant alot to the caregivers as they expressed their hearts with us. As usual they had to gift us a well. They presented us with a Christmas Wreath they made especially for us. There is many opportunities to go back to Pallet on a monthly basis and just play and love on the children there. Please pray about serving them on a regular basis.

Nago handicapped facility

We had many go along with us to serve in Nago. This was our first visit to this location. Please pray for all the folks there and their care givers. This facility asked for a Christmas tree complete with decorations and we added a Nativity Set so they could have a better understanding of the true meaning of Christmas. Isn't God so Great! Thanks to the USO and private donators we were able to gift this location.

The Clemmons family joined in decorating the tree, this was a joy for the folks to watch them do. And praise God the lights came on when plugged in, we all know what a blessing that can be.

After Junko and Rika read them the Christmas Story, they along with Kazuko and Daisuke entertained them with songs of hope and then we all sang Silent Night, closing with "We wish you a Merry Christmas". They in turn sang us a song to thank us for coming. Daisuke is from Awase Baptist. After we served Ohana at Awase Baptist he expressed an interest in going along with us to other locations and serve with us.
Taz entertained us all with his balloon art and his wonderful smile. Tomo played a great Santasan.

Naha Handicapped Facility

Taz the clown joined us once again and this time was asked to teach the staff how to make balloon animals so they could keep the kids happy in days to come with the balloons. A couple of the staff caught on immediately.



Junko, Shion, Saran, Mia and Rika blessed the folks with songs of hope and with the story of the Birth of Jesus.

With the help of USO and private donations, we were able to give this center a keyboard, CD player. balance ball, crayons/markers and various toys for therapy.
Naha's facility was a wonderful experience and they were so thankful for us serving them for the first time and surprise, surprise, but they don't see any or many American faces down there. They would love to see more, so if you have time and a desire to serve these folks let me know and we'll get you connected with them. Due to the privacy of the patients at this facility we could only take pics of them from behind. There were many folks there that were so happy to see us and expressed their joy in hand written notes. One such man is unable to use his body so is unable to write, but they have a device for him to type messages with his mouth. He was so excited for us to receive his message, what a joy for us to experience and share these stories with you.
They had many THANK YOU notes for us, one was from a man whose only communication is through a device that enables him to type a message and that he did. He was so proud for us to receive it from him. What a place full of JOY.

Our turn to go to Rainbow House

Rika, Junko and Kyoko sang songs of hope to the mom's and their children, telling the true meaning of Christmas then ending with Silent Night, then the moms and their children sang to us and wished us a Merry Christmas.
Let the fun begin, and 1, 2, 3 OPEN

These girls really enjoyed sharing their lotion with each other.
In the past Rainbow House has come to Koza Baptist Church to pick up their gifts as their location is private and secure. However, this year they invited us to come to them. What a blessing to serve them and upon arrival they met us in the parking lot, helping us out of our vans, offering to help carry in the gifts. After presenting them with the story of Jesus and songs of hope, they then sang to us, the they opened their gifts. They were so excited and so thankful. We since have found out that Okinawa City is building a new single mom shelter to be completed spring of 2010. Believe me, it is well overdue, praise God for this new facility although over a year away.

Urasoe Single Mom Shelter

Tom brought lots of joy to the children with his Santa impersonation.

Hey all you manly men, check out this reindeer made from tan colored duct tape.
Urasoe welcomed us back this year with happy hearts. Rika and Junko along with Juda's assistance, be that what it may, shared the story of Jesus birth and the true meaning of Christmas. As Japanese culture gives way, they had to entertain us as well and two of the kids sang to us and shared some talent with us. Thanks to PWOC Protestant Women of the Chapel and Kestone Church of the Nazarene for supporting these children with a "Box of Love".

Serving the Single Mom's of Ginowan

Serving this large group of kids and their moms was a treat especially for the Toys for Tots Marines. Thanks so much Toys for Tots for all your support this year, we couldn't have reached the children without your support.