In Community:

May 2019 Newsletter

Yes, You Can!

by Pastor Dave Bauson

Eyes wide with fear, clammy hands clenched on a wooden post, feet frozen in indecision, Takumi stood stock still at the sheer drop. The next step would put him on a narrow, shaky plank fifteen feet above ground. At the start of the adventure he was excited and even boasting — “I want to go first, before those scaredy-cat girls!” But things look different when you’re on solid ground playing spectator.

Though speaking gently behind him, my encouragement seemed to fall on deaf ears. “Remember what the guide said: ‘If you start to lose balance, hold on to your rope. And if you fall, just relax because your rope will hold you up. You won’t fall all the way. Trust your gear and enjoy the adventure!’”

The guides at the Mount Hermon ropes course are super-helpful. They gird you in a harness that you can’t possibly fall out of. Your harness is hitched to an unbreakable rope that is firmly attached to a reliable steel cable. More guides are stationed at waypoints to remind you of the things you’ve learned about trust on your journey.

Journeying is a basic part of the Christian life! Once we put our trust in God’s promise in Jesus Christ we depart on an adventure of discovery. The rest of our life is spent learning about Him, His trustworthiness, His power — and how to walk with Him through life.

Just last weekend we celebrated Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Events like these are designed to fix our minds and hearts on our foundation as Christians. So, we leave the weekend, reminded on Good Friday that we have been crucified with Christ, freed from slavery to sin through His death (Romans 6:5-7). Resurrection Sunday calls to mind the fact that just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He has also raised us in Christ to the heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2:6). Did you leave the weekend reminded that you are a special work of God the Father, designed to do good works that He has personally designed for you (Ephesians 2:10)?

I’m not saying that serving God in your daily life is all that easy. Mundane life can dull your vision into overlooking all that God has for you right now and in store for you tomorrow. Trials make your feet unsteady and your path becomes a labyrinth of narrow planks and tightropes. But you have the Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and fellow Christians to serve as faithful guides.

“You can do it!” I cheered Takumi onward. He tells me that thinking about how safe he was girded in his harness with his rope and his steel cable gave him the courage to step on that narrow, shaky plank. No longer frozen in fear, he went forward trusting that his equipment would help and hold him. After that first trial, Takumi went on the ropes course five or six more times that week. The third time around I could no longer keep up, he was enjoying the adventure that much and moving that fast!

You really can step out in Christ, take on the trials, meet people, and serve in ways far beyond your imagination! Did you know that the God of peace has been and is even now equipping you through His Son? Take out your Bible and read Hebrews 13:20-21! Pray fervently, keep your eyes open and on the prize. Take joy in your journey and quest high and low for the works God has already prepared for you. “It is a trustworthy statement: for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him” — 2 Timothy 2:11

Easter Breakfast

By Rene Nova

This year’s menu we tried something a bit different: Spring Vegetable Egg Casserole , Biscuits and Gravy, and lots of toppings for the biscuits including butter, jam, lemon curd, whipped cream and berries!  Also, fresh french press coffee by Gifford.

I was worried we wouldn’t have enough biscuits so I was pushing for 800, but the team talked to down to making 600. We ended up making around 700 on accident. There was a ton of leftovers! The leftovers went to the Tiny Village across the street and to the mid-week feeding the homeless ministry.

Thank you to all of the helpers: Christine Swanson, Vickie Jo, Iris and Quinn Sandbeck, Tiana and Gifford Cheung, Kathy and Makena Nishimura, Yae Lee , Naomi, Hannah Esposito, and Rene and Juliette Nova

Baptism Testimony

By Jennifer Tsuji

The beginning of my spiritual journey probably looks much like many others: I accepted Christ as a 7 year old child after hearing the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25). I realized I did not want to be like the foolish, unprepared virgins that were left behind and that I did want Christ to live within me. But then my middle school and high school years were spent trying to fit in at public school and while I acknowledged and believed in God, I don’t think I truly understood what it meant to have a deep, personal relationship with Him.

Fast forward to college where suddenly I was immersed into a Christian fellowship and it became much easier to profess my faith and live it out. I was challenged and encouraged everyday by my Christian friends and truly began to get to know God on a deeper level. I was hungry for the Word and for the first time I realized what it was like to actually be friends with Jesus.

However, post-grad life proved to be more difficult. Being immersed back into the secular world, no longer constantly surrounded by Christian community, was a wake-up call. There were times I felt myself revert back to my old high school self, just trying to blend in and not rock the boat. My spiritual life also became stagnant. Spiritual disciplines were harder to maintain, prayers were said speedily before work or right before I fell asleep at night. I had become routine and complacent and didn’t find myself as dependent on God as I once was; I was simply going through the motions. But recently going through the Gospel Journey and reading Acts has shown me how passionate the Christians were back then. They were saved and immediately wanted to be baptized. I, on the other hand, would always see the baptism announcements in the bulletin and tell myself “okay NEXT time you really should get baptized” but that went on for years and years. I realized I had let my own selfish insecurities of public speaking, being the center of attention, being afraid of what others would think of me waiting so long to get baptized etc. get in the way of what God really wanted from me. I sometimes even falsely thought, if I’m already saved, why do I even need to get baptized? But I’ve realized my spiritual life was stagnant because I was ignoring God’s nudges and casting them aside. I wasn’t challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone and take risks to obey Him. So that brings me to today. Through devotionals, Sunday School lessons, bible studies and more, I’m thankful for all the convictions God has placed on my heart lately and feel excited to actually follow through with it and declare my love and obedience to Him.

Why do we go to Yakama?

by Julia Kumai, Kaleo Chan, and Brian Watanabe

I think it’s good to question why we do the things we do in order to understand the meaning behind things and to live with more purpose. As we prepare for the Yakama trip this summer we hope that everyone would come along with us in prayer with a fuller understanding of why we go. The following stories (along with Rieko Kato’s article from the April newsletter) will give you a few more glimpses into the meaning and purpose of serving with Sacred Road:

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“Going on the Yakama mission trip last summer for the first time, I didn’t know exactly what I would be getting myself into and went in with no expectations. After running around with 50 pounds of kid on my back, deforesting a yard, fighting off wasps, and chipping off every bit of paint on a house all in 100+ degree weather, I can honestly say that this was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I saw how God used each staff member, intern, summer team member, and child on the reservation to grow His Kingdom. As I became closer to the children, and interacted with the other teams, I could feel that we were all there for the work of the Lord; spreading the love of God through action and word. This eye-opening event led me to see the real problems they struggle with, including poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, self-harm, and suicide that they have with both the parents, teens, and children. But, thanks to the Granberrys and their staff working hard among the Yakama, God is able to work His wonders and bring more and more of the community to Christ, giving hope to the children and teens about their futures.” (Julia Kumai)

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“Three years ago, the FBC Yakama team reroofed and repainted a tribal family’s home. The mother of the family decided to let her children decide the colors/design that they wanted the house to be painted. Being huge Seattle Seahawks fans, the children decided that they wanted their house to be painted Seahawks colors.

Throughout the week, the FBC team worked tirelessly repairing the house. But it wasn’t just us. The family’s children, along with many other youth from Hope Fellowship’s BYGE (youth group) worked alongside us every day, and we were able to have many fun and meaningful conversations with one another as we sweat under the hot Yakama sun.

We completed the house, and it was definitely a Seahawks-themed house, from the blue walls to the neon green trim, and even to the huge “12” painted on the front of the house with the handprints of each person who worked on the roof.

Many of the children/youth wanted to place their paint handprints on my shirt on the last day of worksite, so I ended the day with 2 shirts covered in beautiful paint handprints and also paint all over my jeans, shoes, arms and face.

Fast forward to the next year (2 summers ago), it was the 2nd day of the mission trip and we were playing outside with the children after church service. I was wearing one of my shirts with handprints from the previous year. Children kept running up to me and slapping me (playfully, but still a little painful) on the back. I soon realized they just wanted to slap the handprints on my shirt.

After the 3rd or 4th slap on the back, I had gotten used to it. Then, suddenly I felt someone place their hand softly on my back. I turned around and was met with the face of one of the young children of the Seahawks house who I had been able to work alongside the year before.   “It’s my handprint,” she said.   I thought back to the year before and I wasn’t sure if it was really her handprint or not (especially since later that day, other youth who had helped at the Seahawks house the year before also tried to claim the handprints as theirs), but I was so filled with joy that she had remembered me and our team. She told me about her house with so much happiness and pride, telling me how everyone now knows their house as “The Seahawks House.”

Each year, seeing how God is working on the reservation and how just one week’s of work can help promote such a positive influence for children and youth in an impoverished land has kept me coming back to Yakama year after year.” (Kaleo Chan)

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There are many more stories like these and we’re off to go experience more of them! It’s such a cool thing to really feel that you are stepping into something way bigger than yourself; to be a small part of God’s continuing work among the Yakama people. As the Sacred Road slogan goes, I hope all who are able would “Come and See” what God is doing.

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This year’s Sacred Road summer mission trip will be July 27 to August 3rd. Please save the date and pray! If you are interested in joining the summer mission team, please contact Rieko Kato.

CYC/ROCK Bunco Night

by Ryan Tsuji

On April 13th, the CYC (College Young Career) group and ROCK (the high school group) got together for the annual Bunco Night. For those that don’t know, Bunco is a fun dice game that requires no skill whatsoever but produces amazing competitive drive and yelling for a short period of time. We first started off the night with a classic burrito bar (plus many other goodies and snacks from generous helpers!) and spent time talking, hanging out, and enjoying each other’s company. We then transitioned into a time of musical worship, led by Justin Kumai, and then into a testimony from CYC’s very own Cody Sugai from Hawaii. Cody is currently a freshman at SPU and has been coming to FBC since the beginning of the school year. At Bunco night he was able to share the amazing ways that God has provided for, and been with him from the very beginning. A medical scare when he was a child changed the trajectory of Cody’s life but he is living proof of God’s faithfulness and also how trusting in His goodness in bad situations will produce a special kind of faith. Go meet Cody if you have a chance! After that, we started the Bunco portion of Bunco night. We had 6 tables, with 4 people at each table, ranging from the loser table, that had huge green foam dice played on the floor, to the champions’ table. We played 12 rounds, moving up or down a table based on if we won/lost, consistently changing partners and keeping track of our personal statistics. In the end we tallied up all of the scores and the ones who had the most wins (and the most losses) got to pick a prize! Dessert, provided by more generous helpers, was served and we concluded the night just enjoying fellowship with one another. It was a great night to meet new people and we look forward to the next one!

Japanese Ladies Easter Afternoon Tea

by Akiko Bauson

“This is going to be our LAST Easter Tea!” One of the planning team members exclaimed, after learning that I am moving to Thailand with my family as missionaries. Considering all the planning, cooking, and recruiting helpers with just three of us as leaders, it was understandable.

This was our 5th Ladies’ Easter Afternoon Tea, an outreach to Japanese speaking women. Our “This is the LAST!” sales pitch might have done the trick, and we gathered 57 women, the largest ever number of guests this year. On top of enjoying lovingly prepared food and tea, we were privileged to hear a testimony from Josephine Anderson of Japanese Presbyterian Church. She shared how she had learned to rest in God’s presence as He has always delivered her through all hardships.

Many guests were non-believers and they all left positive reviews, wanting to come again. And six of them showed interest in attending the Japanese Christian Women’s Luncheon, another outreach event happening in June. We are encouraged that God used this event to spread seeds of the Gospel.

God is definitely doing a great work through this ministry. I thought it a shame for the Tea to end just because I am leaving. In the past, we lost one of our valuable team members who moved back to Japan, and at that time we thought of quitting. But the Lord was always faithful in providing all the help we needed to keep the ministry going. I trust He will do the same in the future if He wants to continue using this ministry. So, He led me to make an announcement to recruit new team members to take over my spot at the end of the event, and sure enough, a few stepped up! Looks like this might NOT be the last!

On behalf of the planning team, which consists of Hiromi Kuge, Maki Yeager and me, we want to extend our appreciation to FBC and its staff, for your support and prayers, and to all the people who served this year. Childcare: Mizuki Hirose, Betty Inouye, Hiro Kraakmo (Rock of Ages), and Towa Nakanishi (Japanese Presbyterian Church); Yumi Griffin who headed the kitchen/serving staff: Chieko Chaya, Atsuko Colson, Julianne Eng, Rieko Kato, Ayako Kobayashi, Andrew Lai, Sharon Rustia, and Sho Shigeta (Rock of Ages). It would have been impossible to carry it out without them!

Whole Church Work Day

by Roney Rustia

This is a short summary for a short notice Spring All Church Work day.  Thanks to all those who answered the call for help, the response was beyond my expectation.  I truly believe in the phrase “Little is much when God is in it” – Praise the Lord!  We had twenty-two people come out and support the clean-up.

I appreciate those who came out on Saturday morning on April 6^th knowing that there was a good chance of rain and high wind.   I thank the Lord for all your faithful support and His mighty hand keeping the heavy rain and wind away during the morning and providing some sunshine.   This was ideal weather for the tree removal with minimal wind to carry the branches into the power lines or unexpected drop locations.  We spread 2 cubic yards of beauty bark (Carpinito Brothers for $22/cu yd- great deal!) over the exposed beds – more remaining.  Some were able to work inside and clean-up the nursery and classrooms, in addition to straightening-up the storage rooms.

Most important everyone was working safely apart from the normal sore backs and arms due to our 9-5 desk jobs.   No missing fingers or limbs, averting fractional finger countering (thank worship leader for the term).

On a personal note, I thought this year’s Spring cleaning reminded me of what Gideon felt like going to battle against the Midianites, when his army of thousands dwindled to a small militia.   Imagine seeing God take 22,000 soldiers called to battle, but God reduces the number to only 300 men.  This was God’s faith-building moment for Gideon.   God saw Gideon’s wavering faith and took him to his enemies’ encampment to reveal to him that his fear was unwarranted.   His enemies the Midianites were all fearful of Gideon and foresaw their defeat in a God placed dream!   Gideon responded by bowing and praising the Lord – little is much when God is in it!

It was my turn for a faith building moment during my wavering faith like Gideon, especially as the work day approached.   The week before, I surveyed the work packages and estimated 40 people to accomplish the tasks.   I trusted God to produce the help like He has in the past.  Then, the weather forecast for Saturday was shown as rain all day – the sinking feeling of regret as I knew people would avoid the rain.  I honestly thought that there would be a hand full of people.  I envisioned just 10 people. Who amongst the small numbers would be willing to stay late in the rain to complete?

It was through prayer and personal worship thanks to my wife, relinquishing the reins to Him that brought peace.   In God’s true form the following day, He brought the calm and clarity on Saturday morning, freeing me from any expectations or worries because I trusted in His sovereignty and control.  For God called twenty-two faithful people and they came!  As those who heard me share after completion, I thank the Lord for His provision and everyone’s faithfulness – thank you.   He far exceeds my expectations – I praise the Lord with all my soul!

On April 28th, Sarah Wong, a freshman at SPU and member of the FBC CYC group was tragically killed in the construction crane collapse in downtown Seattle.  While her death was a shock to us all, we know that nothing takes the Lord by surprise and that she is safely in His presence now.  We carry her family in our hearts and pray that as a church ohana we might be a source of strength and hope for them and for all of Sarah’s friends.

The memorial service for Sarah Wong will be on Wednesday, May 1st, 7pm at First Free Methodist Church (adjacent to Seattle Pacific University).