Dave
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Dave
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Here she captures me at church last Sunday sharing my testimony.
Dave
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But I really hadn't accepted Him as my personal savior and I wasn't living everyday to glorify him.
Before my wife Jessica and I were married, we met with the Pastor of the of the Protestant church.
He told us that often when people get married, it is a time for them to reconsider the role that God will play in their lives.
During that time my wife and I decided that we would build our marriage on something bigger than just ourselves.
We would build our marriage and lives on God. We would make God our Lord and Savior.
We were doing very good and life was good!
After five years of being married, we decided to start having children and to start our own, new business.
We made a goal and even wrote out a Post-It, to "Build a Family and Build a Business".
During the time of starting the new business, we wandered from God and instead leaned our ourselves.
We thought that we could just work hard and do it all ourselves.
We forgot about asking God for His guidance.
Our business got off to a very poor start and our marriage was having great difficulties.
God broke us during that time.
One night, everything blew up, it was a sad night. We were arguing and I remember us each on the other side of a locked door, crying.
Our hearts were broken.
In that moment God came to us and comforted us.
We realized that we could not build our new business, or the family we wanted, without God as the center.
We remembered back to when we were married, and our promise to build our lives on God, not on ourselves.
Since that night when we decided to build our business and our family on God, and keep Him as the Lord and Savior of our lives, we have been very blessed.
Our business has grown from 2 employees on that night to over 2,000 employees now all over North America.
We also have three beautiful children that are growing closer to the Lord every day.
(Jessica & kids stand & introduced)
Last month all three children were baptized in Hawaii and chose to accept Jesus as their personal Savior.
And we believe that the reason all these blessings that have poured into our life over the past 13 years, is because every day we woke up not trying to glorify ourselves, but instead have TRIED to glorify Jesus.
We try. I know that I am a broken person, I sin and I make mistakes.
The only way to be whole is through Jesus, who washes away my sins and forgives me and offers me grace.
It's through the power of Jesus that we have been able to grow a family and grow a business.
Every day we try to treat our business and family like a gift from God.
It all belongs to Him.
Thank you for letting me share my testimony.
After church if you would like to discuss my testimony more or ask any questions, I would like to talk with you.
(Then I passed out my business cards & told them to share them with anyone who may be helped by my testimony)
Dave
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I met a few new Christians & helped Pastor with his relationships at his tennis club.
They said I looked like Mel Gibson. I told them all us white guys look alike & I would not be making any racially insensitive slurs :)
The court was artificial grass with sand on top. Interesting and slippery. Most courts are this surface.
Here we are cleaning steps & the main sanctuary. There are 66 steps top to bottom. Same number as books in the bible!!!
It has a book store which is the best place in town to get bibles & other Christian books in Japanese.
Great opportunity for the kids to honor the leaders here in Taka.
Girls in their ponchos ready for Typhoon!
For a team or a family to increase unity, everyone must corporately pursue humble action.
Great stuff we've learned. Had to share :)
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See video of kids with new place to sleep!
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| Top: Josh (Canada), Chris (Korea), Jeff Cheek (Indy), DY Kim (Los Angeles), Dave, Ryan (Orange Cty, CA) Middle: Yuka (Takamatsu, Japan), Tina (L.A.), Jonni Cheek (Indy), Tina Kim (L.A.), Jessica Front: David Jr., Darian, Maggie, Jaydon, Jackie Ray |
Also no tipping. If you try they will return it.
Dave
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Oh sorry, typo... Its Calpis. A creamy lemon lime soda we love here :)
Dave
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They have burgers without bun (taste like meatloaf) instead.
Dave
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Dave
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"I'm goin to Big Boy!!!!"
Big Boy & Bowling!? Am I on Summit street in Point Place Toledo, OH?
Dave
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veW2yRYBADY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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But we are reminded of our favorite lyric from our favorite band, RWB... "Everyyyyyybodyyyyy said, it ain't gonna be easy... Noooooobodyyyyy said, kid its gonna get hard!"
Its a rollercoaster. We are being humbled & challenged greatly. Hard on the kids especially which makes it hard on us too :)
Sleeping on floor, living on very tight budget (hungry & thirsty & hot all the time), always with each other & team members, no privacy, packed schedule, urban living without room to run & play, etc.
We had a good blow up the other night & let out some steam:)
We discussed that there are no perfect families... Only families that are willing to communicate & work through the crap, even when we don't feel like it.
We take pride in our family but last night Jessica & I were reminded that in the Bible pride is a sin. Humility is what God wants for us.
Though we are struggling with each other more than ever, we are also praying as a family more than ever! Its our only option for sanity. He is breaking us so that we will lean more on Him.
It has been hard for us to go without all the amenities we have in our normal life. Little things we take for granted like babysitters, beer, tv, video games, etc. Its been easier for us to "get along" when we can grab a sitter & a beer, or tell the kids to go in the basement & watch a movie, etc. Here it is all stripped away. No filler for the cracks. Gotta dig them out and reset the foundation :)
Jessica & I tried everything from discipline to bribery to threats to reason. Then we came to our wits end and knew prayer was the only answer. We are praying 4 or more times daily AS A FAMILY now. Its amazing how great the kids behave after a good prayer session.
Not to be too dramatic, but stress draws us all closer to God. The world looks different when we lose a loved one, or a job or some other tragedy. The difference on mission outreach is that it is voluntary. But some of the same stretching is happening.
Please pray for our unity & humble action.
Love you all.
Dave
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