We THANK YOU for all yourprayer and support!

It’s freezing here still, but we haven’t forgotten to always have a good time!

Our New Job As A Ski Instructor

Believe it or not, both of us got the chance to work as a ski instructor this winter. Yes, you heard it right. I (Takeshi) now ski better enough to work as an instructor, thanks to all your prayers!! Working on the farm was physically challenging though, this job as an instructor too keeps us busy and requires us to physically fit more than we ever imagined!!

We experienced working on the farm under such hard conditions this past summer as hot as 37°C/98°F and this winter we’ve been working in a ski resort as freezing as -27°C/-16°F! We chuckle sometimes thinking how humorous God is to give us such crazy and yet fun job experiences all year round!

Takeshi has practiced skiing really hard since we got the job offer, and it sure was God’s grace and miracle that we both could work as instructors. In the book of Exodus 35, it reads:
“and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—“ (v. 31 NIV).
God may have given us the wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all kinds of skills to ski in order to meet our financial needs this winter!
Working as a ski instructor was totally our first-time experience and was challenging though, we got to connect with skiers and middle school/high school kids from all over Japan who came to learn how to ski. We felt blessed after all.

Our Community Expanded

Thankfully we’ve continuously been invited to open our cafe at different community events a couple of times a month. We call it a “City Service” and use it as an opportunity for us not only to revive the region we serve in, but also to get connected with people in and around the region. We’ve been getting close to those who are regulars at those events. They even asked us when we’d start our church and said, “You should start it already!” We can’t help but strongly feel God has surely been expanding our community as well as deepening our relationships with each one of those we met. So encouraging!

Keep Moving Forward—Church Planting

We are not exactly sure where we are right now in our journey of planting a church; however, we are aware that we’ve been moving forward in faith as God instructs and guides us one step at a time.
In the beginning of this year, we received a vision “to set up a banner” as we prayed. Since then we’ve been working on creating our new website to share with others about our visions for planting a church.

We’ve also begun to go to a local church called “Shinshu Community Church”, where Chie had an unexpected encounter with someone she’s known for a long time, and we met some people who’re somehow connected to Canada. We don’t think this was a coincidence. The senior pastor there, Rob, encouraged us by opening up his heart to listen to our visions and promising to support us in any way he could. We are getting ready to actually start our church some time this year!

For This Coming Spring

We’re planning to start our own farm and working toward renting land for it. It may be a humble beginning with a small vegetable garden or some sort though.
Our friend and instructor of farming (the one we’ve shared with you a few times before) has also been in the process of becoming an independent farmer. We are passionate about dreaming with him and helping him in the midst to see his dream come to pass! His vegetables are 100% organic, and it may not be too long before you’d be able to taste them!

Fundraising

• We will begin to raise funds for our church planting! We will be selling limited bags of our home-roasted coffee beans.

• Brazilian Chocolate Coffee (200g/0.4lb): ¥1300〜

• Guatemala Atitlan Blue Lake Coffee (200g/0.4lb): ¥1300〜

• Ethiopia Sidamo (200g/0.4lb): ¥1500〜

• Shipping all across Japan: ¥500

*Only 60 bags are available a month.
*These are whole bean coffee.

　If you’re interested in purchasing our coffee beans, please contact us directly. No pressure though! God has been supplying all our needs, so only when you’re led to! Hopefully we’d also be able to start shipping our fresh home-grown vegetables some time in the near future! Stay tuned!

Please pray for:

• God’s divine location for our future farm;

• a team to start planting our church;

• people we met in Nagano and their love encounter with the Lord.

To support them financially
https://forms.gle/AateB7Wgx6YDPnEZA

Instagram: tak_and_chee_journey
https://instagram.com/tak_and_chee_journey

Podcast: Tak&Chee Journey
https://open.spotify.com/show/6pOmFYiwiDlyNhFx5ebkEs