The highs of travel in São Paulo state!

The title of this post, "The Highs of Travel in São Paulo state" references the high temperatures during the past two weeks:  there were no lows.  With temperatures averaging between the mid-to-high-eighties, I was occasionally tempted to think of cooler winters in southern California! 

I have just returned from extended travels through the interior of São Paulo state.  It is a region in which almost 50% of the 1.5 million Nikkei population of Brazil are living.  Other Nikkei populations can be found in Parana state, south of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul state, west of São Paulo.  The remaining population is scattered in various cities and states in this sprawling nation.  Thus São Paulo state is a strategic location for ministry and outreach for JEMS.

My first stop was a visit to the city of Bastos, the egg capital of Brazil.  Bastos has a population of only 21,000, but is 11% Nikkei.  It was a bit strange to walk downtown and have every third or fourth face being Japanese.  I don't think even Torrance is like that!  ha ha!

Through the arrangement of the Bastos Holiness pastor, I met the local judo instructor, Umakakeba sensei, 8th Dan.  His former students have gone on to represent Brazil in the Olympics.  He invited me to share an evangelistic lesson with his judo class. It was a blessing to share my testimony with these young men and women. 

Later that evening, Pastor Joel of the Bastos Holiness Church, invited me to give a message to the Wednesday night prayer group.  It was a blessing to see so many come out for worship, the Word and prayer. 

The next city I was able to visit was the city of Adamantina.  JEMS has sent workers here previously in the 1990's.  Adamantina reflects a change in demography that is being seen in other Nikkei churches here in Brazil.

Adamantina is also the mother church of a congregation over an hour away in the town of Dracena.  In Dracena, I was able to meet the small group that meets faithfully week after week.  They were very receptive to the message and were eager to learn more.

A big part of ministry in the interior is home visitation.  Like physician's house calls, home visitation is almost a thing of the past in the US.  Not so in Brazil's interior.  One day with Pastor Castilho in Adamantina had me in several homes, including one in the neighboring town of Osvaldo Cruz.

The third city in the São Paulo state mission visit was the city of Tupã.  This was my second visit in about fifteen years.  The church continues to serve the Nikkei community in a town that was the zero point for hostilities within the community after the second World War.  The unfortunate and divisive role of the Shindo Renmei (still hush-hush after all these years) was featured in an historical book and a recent Brazilian film by the same name, called "Coraçoes Sujos."

As my schedule had me in Tupã on a Sunday, I was able to speak in both the morning and evening services.  The morning service, more traditional, had a mostly Japanese language group, while the larger evening service was a bit more contemporary.  The group was very welcoming!

My final city visit was in Pompéia, city that has received a number of JEMS teams over the past several years.  It was an opportunity for me to meet with Pastor Guto, who serves as the coordinator for the Missions Commission of the Holiness Church of Brazil.  

As JEMS considers the next step in our ministry, we understand the importance of keeping our partners and stakeholders involved in the conversation.  Pastor Guto has been a friend of mine since 1990!  We have been blessed to be able to serve together over the years.  We are praying that JEMS' dreams in South America can soon become a reality.

Pr Guto pictured with Pr Marcos (tall guy) of Esquadrão da Vida, a drug rehabilitation center in Pompéia.

Some special friends in Pompéia are pictured:

I managed to return in one piece to São Paulo city yesterday afternoon.  Thank you again for your prayers and support.  


As you read this update and think about the ministry here, won't you also take a moment to prayerfully consider supporting my ministry.  It only takes a few moments to write a check and send it in to JEMS.  Even less time to go online to donate via credit card HERE.  Your support is not only appreciated, it is especially needed as the new year begins.  Please pray and give!  Thank you!



Posts you may have missed:

•  In Country - End of January 2013 Prayer Update Link
•  Pastor John´s January and February ministry schedule.  Please pray!!  Link
•  Happy New Year photo from Pastor John and his kids!!  Link

In Country - end of January 2013

"Mi nombre es John Katagi. Yo vivo en los Estados Unidos de América. Yo soy sansei (tercera generación) Japonés Americano." 

Much appreciation is expressed to friends from the Centro Nikkei Argentino, who were instrumental in arranging these meetings for us.  It was an honor for us to meet with some of the leaders and others who shared the vision and purpose of the community organization.  They are also preparing for the bi-annual (every two years) event known as COPANI (the Congress of Pan American Nikkei).

So began the Argentinian journey. Together with Pastor Rick, missionary, Ligia and worker, Erika, we embarked on a ten-day study and ministry trip to Buenos Aires. 

After our initial meeting with community leaders, we went on to meet with pastors, preaching in three churches, ministering in a four day youth camp, and visiting other mission agencies and churches (non-Nikkei) to round out our time in the country.

God had much to teach us about ministry in a different culture. Camp was a stretch as we ate dinner at 9pm, began our worship time at 10pm and began preaching at 11pm. The service ending between 1am and 2am.  

If JEMS is to begin ministry in Argentina, we will need to rewrite our training manual with special attention to the cultural peculiarities of that country.

Pastors Retreats: Holiness and Free Methodist denominations

I was privileged to attend both retreats part-time, further cultivating our relationship with the principle Nikkei ministries in Brazil.  Rick and I were also able to meet with the Pastors Federation of Sao Paulo.  I am currently attending the Free Methodist Pastors Retreat.

National Staffing

Pastor Rick and I had the opportunity to discuss the idea of planting a staff person in Sao Paulo with the responsibility of maintaining national relationships, receiving and training JEMS teams, and accompanying teams into new fields as necessary.

As the South America department lifts up its eyes to Argentina and Peru, it becomes clear that we will one day soon need a Spanish speaking field coordinator. 

Yet to Come

I will be visiting four churches in the interior of Sao Paulo state, over a period ten days, spending approximately thirty hours traveling on the bus.  These meetings and accompanying visitations have been confirmed:  Bastos, Adamantina, Tupa and Pompeia.

After returning to Sao Paulo on February 6, I will travel by air to the cities of Curitiba in the south, Campo Grande in the central west and Belem in the Amazon (northern Brazil).

Prayer requests:

Continued open doors

Health, especially my lower back

Energy for the intense travel schedule


Posts you may have missed:

•  Pastor John´s January and February ministry schedule.  Please pray!!  Link
•  Happy New Year photo from Pastor John and his kids!!  Link
•  "The Nativity" Christmas message from Pastor John:  Link
• Merry Christmas PHOTO from the JEMS Staff  Link
• JEMS welcomes new staff member. Meet Rianna
• Invitation video for 2013 missions - Link 

Main Page

Happy Birthday, Pastor John!

This was really sweet!  The worship team of Megumi Kyokai in Buenos Aires, Argentina, concluded the morning service by singing "Happy Birthday" in Spanish and English.  




I also got a cake!

The wonderful pastor's family (Pr Luis, Marisa, Kaori, Megumi in the back row; Aiko in the front, left) from Megumi Kyokai - pictured with JEMS worker, Erika and me.  

PJ's Spring 2013 South America Schedule

Pastor John's Spring Mission Schedule

Please keep PJ in prayer during this mission trip.  Thank you!
You can follow PJ on his Facebook account or on his Twitter feed: @burajiru

January 6    

Pr Rick and Pr John depart Los Angeles.  1 stop in Lima, Peru     

January 7    

Arrive São Paulo Guarulhos Airport

Lunch with pastors from Nikkei Pastors' Federation 
and Free Methodist Church

Dinner with friends and supporters in São Paulo

Flight to Presidente Prudente (interior São Paulo state)

January 8  

Travel to Panorama (SP), to attend Holiness Pastors Conference

January 10  
Return to São Paulo

January 11  

Travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina

Meeting and dinner with Centro Nikkei Argentino (community agency)

January 12  
Lunch with Centro Nikkei

Meetings with Nikkei pastors from Free Methodist Church 
and Megumi Kyokai

January 13  
Preach at Iglesia Evangelica Japonés in Buenos Aires

9:00am Pr Rick preach at Japanese service

11:00am Pr John preach at Spanish service

Afternoon - Travel to Camp Nozomi-En in the town of Moreno (Arg)

January 14 - 16 

JEMS Team at Camp Nozomi-En (Arg) - VBS program

January 15  
Pastor Rick returns to LA (arrives Jan 16)

Pastor John solo schedule:

January 17 -18

Visit mission work in Berisso, (La Plata) Argentina

January 19  
Return to Buenos Aires for community meetings

January 20  
Preach in Nikkei churches in Buenos Aires

January 21  
Return to São Paulo, Brazil

January 24 -27

Attend Free Methodist Pastors' Conference in Atibaia (São Paulo state)

January 29 - February 6

Travel to São Paulo state interior churches

February 8 - 11  
Travel to Curitiba (state of Parana), Brazil

February 11 - 12  
Travel to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay

February 13 - 14  
Travel to Campo Grande, (state of Mato Grosso do Sul), Brazil

February 14 - 17  
Travel to Belém, (state of Pará), Brazil

February 17  
Return to São Paulo

February 19  
Leave São Paulo for Los Angeles

February 20  
Arrive in LAX

Thank you from Pastor John!

Posts you may have missed:

• Happy New Year photo from Pastor John and his kids!!  Link
•  "The Nativity" Christmas message from Pastor John:  Link
• Merry Christmas PHOTO from the JEMS Staff  Link
• JEMS welcomes new staff member. Meet Rianna
• Invitation video for 2013 missions - Link 

Happy New Year from PJ and the Katagi kids!

(Português em baixo)

There is a special blessing that is mine whenever I am with my children.  God has been so good to continue to heal and restore. And it is completely by his grace, undeserved and unmerited on my part.  Anyone that has tried to repair something that has been broken knows that the process is not an easy one.  The fitting together of pieces never results in perfect wholeness. But with the passing of time, with effort and much grace, we are able to share warm and special moments together.  

Brandon, Alyssa, PJ, Tracey and Will

I am very blessed to be a part of their lives and am thankful for many prayers on our behalf.  We met for our annual post-Christmas dinner last night and shared stories and laughter together.  It is a joy for me to be with my children and for the sense of being family.  

As we look to the New Year, I pray that God's grace might be yours as well.  That you may experience his presence in very real and tangible ways. That when moments become a little challenging that grace might incline us to extend a kind word, a smile, a helping hand.  That we would choose forgiveness.  For that is the expression of grace that God shows us every moment of every day.  

My prayer is that 2013 would be a year of very special blessing for you and your loved ones.  

With love,

Pr John.  Also known as dad.

Há uma bênção especial que é meu quando estou com meus filhos. Deus tem sido tão bom para continuar a curar e restaurar nosso relacionamento. E é completamente pela graça de Deus, imerecida de minha parte. Qualquer pessoa que tenha tentado consertar algo que foi quebrado sabe que o processo não é fácil. Encaixando de peças nunca resulta em uma coisa perfeita. Mas com o passar do tempo, com esforço e muita graça, somos capazes de compartilhar juntos momentos calorosos e especiais.

Eu sou muito abençoado por ser uma parte de suas vidas e sou grato por muitas orações que foi levantado por minha família.  Nós encontramos para o nosso jantar anual pós-Natal ontém a noite e compartilhamos histórias e risadas juntos. É uma alegria para mim estar com os meus filhos e para o sentido de ser família.

Ao olharmos para o Ano Novo, eu espero que a graça de Deus possa ser o seu também. Que você possa experimentar a Sua presença de forma muito real e tangível. Que quando momentos se tornam um pouco difícil que a graça poderia ser estendido e nós poderiamos dar uma palavra amável, um sorriso, uma ajuda. Que possamos escolher perdão. Porque isso é a expressão da graça que Deus nos mostra a cada momento de cada dia.

Minha oração é que 2013 será um ano de bênção muito especial para você e seus queridos.

Posts you may have missed:

• "The Nativity" Christmas message from Pastor John:  Link
• Merry Christmas PHOTO from the JEMS Headquarters Staff.  Link
• January 2013 - Pastor Rick and Pastor John to meet with Brazilian pastors and establish contact with Argentinian Nikkei churches.  Read more.
• You can still receive your 2013 South America Department commemorative calendar with a year-end gift to JEMS - Katagi fund. Learn how.
• JEMS welcomes new staff member. Meet Rianna
• Invitation video for 2013 missions - Link 

JEMS South America welcomes new staff person

JEMS and the South America Department are pleased to introduce Rianna Wong as the new part-time Coordinator for South America missions.  She will be serving as a recruiter, trainer and team leader as part of her ministry responsibilities.  

Rianna has participated in past summer missions with JEMS and served as team leader for one of our 2012 summer teams.  She assumes the ministry position vacated by Justine Morey who has transitioned to care for her mother's health.  We are very blessed by God's leading of Rianna to serve with JEMS.    

Rianna, pictured right, with PJ 

Please pray for Rianna as she is immediately tasked with the responsibility of raising her financial support.  She will also begin the recruitment process for JEMS' 2o13 summer mission program.  

If you are interested in serving as a prayer and financial partner with Rianna in her ministry, please follow the JEMS financial link.  (Note:  Rianna's link will be online after January 3, 2013.  Follow the drop down menu from South America International Ministry to direct your gift).

If you are curious about serving with JEMS in South America this summer, the mission dates are scheduled for just over three weeks from July 7 to 31, 2013.  To learn more, please take a moment to watch our ministry invitation video.  Link

Blessings to you!
Pastor John


Past posts:

• Christmas Greetings from Pastor John: Link
• January 2013 - Pastor Rick and Pastor John to meet with Brazilian pastors and hope to establish more meaningful contact with Argentinian Nikkei churches.  Read more.
• You can still receive your commemorative calendar with a 2012 Year-End gift to JEMS - Katagi fund. Learn how.

Planting seeds of grace

Click any photo on this page to enlarge

The wording beneath the painting says, "Planting seeds of grace." As 2013 is about to unfold, may this be our theme wherever God may lead us, whether in South America or in our own neighborhoods and communities.


Prayers are appreciated for Pastor Rick and me as we travel to South America to plant seeds of grace in early 2013. Our departure date is scheduled for Sunday, January 6th with Pastor Rick returning on January 16th. I will remain on the field until February 20th.




The purpose of this trip is three-fold:

1. To further solidify possible partnership with Nikkei churches in the city of Buenos Aires.

2. To confirm Brazilian church partnerships for JEMS 2013 Summer Mission program.

3. To expand pastoral and church relationships within Brazil.



Pastor Rick and I will attend a portion of the Brazil Holiness Pastors' Conference on January 8-9. 

Immediately thereafter, we will travel to Buenos Aires to meet with community and church leaders to build bridges of friendship and potential ministry. From these meetings in Argentina, Pastor Rick will return directly to the US. 

After returning from Buenos Aires to São Paulo on January 21, I will attend the Brazil Nikkei Free Methodist Pastors' Conference to further cultivate goodwill and potential ministry partnerships. 

During the last week of January and first two weeks of February, I will be traveling throughout Brazil to introduce JEMS to churches and pastors who may not have an understanding of the ministry that JEMS offers to them. Please pray for safe travels. (continues below)

_______________________

Follow us on Twitter! https://twitter.com/JEMS_SA

_______________________

In a constructive expression of faith, during our stay in Buenos Aires, Pastor Rick and I will be stretching our ministry skills. The two of us are tentatively scheduled to speak and serve at a youth and children's camp with the Iglesia Evangelica Japonés. (Actually, this may not be so foreign to Rick since he has young children yet. But I haven't worked with children in ages. Especially children who speak only Spanish!!)

The VBS style program will be held at a campground in the countryside an hour away from Buenos Aires. At this moment, we are not even sure of our roles, but we are going with the expectation to serve.


Paul writes to Timothy, "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:5).

This will be our challenge as well as we face uncertainties of travel, lodging, ministry and communication during our time in Argentina. We will make every effort to fulfill what God desires, but we will rely heavily on your prayers!

Although the travel schedule in São Paulo state during the last week of January and first week of February's still needs to be fully worked out, please click to enlarge the calendars below to see my travel itinerary (if you wish).






Thank you!

God bless you!

Pr John



Posts you may have missed: 

• Christmas Greetings from Pastor John: Link
• Merry Christmas PHOTO from JEMS Staff Link
• You can still receive your 2013 South America Department commemorative calendar with a year-end gift to JEMS - Katagi fund. Learn how. 
• JEMS welcomes new staff member. Meet Rianna
• Invitation video for 2013 missions - Link
• Invitation to serve in 2013 - Link

Christmas in the Rainbow State - cute song

I'm just going to leave this here since I don't know where else to put it. A little Hawaiian Christmas Jingle about the differences in spending Christmas in the snow, versus in Hawaii., "Christmas in the Rainbow State" by Stasia Estep. 

Link.  (It's easiest to go to the bottom of that page and work up.  It's the 15th song from the bottom).

The Nativity

The painting by Federico Barocci catches my eye in his use of light in this unusual Nativity scene.  The source of light in the image emanates from the infant Jesus.  It calls to mind the wonderfully messianic passage in Isaiah 9:1b-2: 

"in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."  

The painting illustrates that there is a curiosity about this infant. Faces peer around the doorway to look upon this child.  They are drawn to the spectacle.  But light can be easily obscured.  Obscured by the many distractions of our age, the busyness of our time.  How many now have the curiosity to look more closely at the birth of a tiny child? 

Unlike many Nativity scenes where the infant Jesus is front and center, this image shows him off to the side.  Not especially the focal point of the painting.  It's the light that brings our eye back to the child.  In our present day, Jesus is often a side theme of the holiday.  We need the light of God's word to bring Jesus back into focus.   

The dawning of light in Isaiah 9 refers to the coming of a Savior.  And yet there are many in our world, in our communities and perhaps in our own families, who still walk in darkness.  Without hope and without joy. 

The figure behind Mary directs our eyes toward the child through the artistic device of pointing the finger.  In the same way, God entrusts us with the privilege of pointing the way to the Savior.  

And it is important for us as followers of Jesus Christ to make the message of Jesus Christ known to our friends and family who are walking in darkness, to those who are living in the shadow of death.  May this Christmas and the year to come be an opportunity for us to shine the light of Jesus into the dark corners of our world and to point the way to God's provision of salvation.  

May God bless you this season.

My warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year!

Pastor John


Past Posts
JEMS South America introduces new staff. Link
Merry Christmas from JEMS staff.  Link.
January mission trip for Pastor Rick and Pastor John.  Link.

Feliz Natal 2012

A pintura por Federico Barocci me chama a atenção em seu uso de luz nesta cena da natividade incomum. A fonte de luz na imagem emana do Jesus infantil. Ele chama a atenção para a passagem maravilhosamente messiânica em Isaías 9:1b-2:

"No futuro honrará a Galiléia dos gentios, o caminho do mar, junto ao Jordão. O povo que caminhava em trevas viu uma grande luz; sobre os que viviam na terra da sombra da morte raiou uma luz."



A pintura ilustra que há uma curiosidade sobre essa criança. Faces pares em torno da entrada de olhar para essa criança. Eles são atraídos para o espetáculo. Mas a luz pode ser facilmente obscurecidos. Obscurecido pelas muitas distrações da nossa idade, a ocupação do nosso tempo. Como muitos têm agora a curiosidade de olhar mais de perto o nascimento de uma criança pequena?

Ao contrário de muitos cenas da natividade onde o menino Jesus é frente e no centro, esta imagem mostra-o para o lado. Não especialmente o ponto focal da pintura. É a luz que traz de volta o nosso olhar para a criança. Em nossos dias, Jesus é muitas vezes um tema lateral do feriado. Precisamos da luz da palavra de Deus para trazer Jesus de volta ao foco.

O amanhecer de luz em Isaías 9 refere-se a vinda de um Salvador. E ainda há muitos em nosso mundo, em nossas comunidades e, talvez, em nossas próprias famílias, que ainda andam em trevas. Sem esperança e sem alegria.

A figura por trás de Maria dirige nossos olhos para a criança através da estratagema artística de apontar o dedo. Da mesma forma, Deus nos confia o privilégio de apontar o caminho para o Salvador.

E é importante para nós, como seguidores de Jesus Cristo para levar a mensagem de Jesus Cristo aos nossos amigos e familiares que estão andando em trevas, para aqueles que estão vivendo na sombra da morte. Que este Natal eo ano que vem será uma oportunidade para nós para brilhar a luz de Jesus para os cantos escuros de nosso mundo e apontar o caminho para a provisão de Deus para a salvação.

Que Deus te abençoe. Os meus sinceros votos de um Feliz Natal e um Ano Novo feliz e abençoado!

Pastor John

Past Posts

• Feliz Natal da Equipe Principal da JEMS. Link
• JEMS South America apresenta um novo membro da equipe. Link
• Viagem missionária do Pastor Rick e Pastor John em janeiro. Link.