Hello Friends,

It’s been 17 months since I left Japan back to Canada; but who’s keeping count. I know I haven’t shared at all about what has been happening this last year; here’s the short version. My desire to return to Japan has not waned. When I left Japan I was told that I wouldn’t be able to enter into full-time ministry with OMF Japan, this was really crushing since OMF was a major aspect of my experience. I also knew that the likelihood of returning to ministry in Aomori was unlikely since OMF is the only non-denominational mission that I know of, working in the area. It took me a while to finish mourning the loss of both OMF and Aomori and get over my culture shock from returning to Canada.

In the spring I pressure washed apartment buildings and sidewalks and worked as a laborer for the owner of the buildings. When my contract was done I moved on to Pines Bible Camp for the summer of 2008 as a senior cabin leader. The summer was a great reminder to me of how fun but intense, camp ministry can be. From there I went to Gardom Lake Bible Camp as fall program staff. Now I’m working at a wholesale nursery and I’m the assistant manager for three apartment buildings which helps lower my rent.

Over the year I have been searching the internet to see what other ministry opportunities there are in Japan. The one that caught my attention was a camp ministry position with SEND International. When I was in Japan I would go weekly to Aomori Christian Centre to help with the maintenance and I also helped with the winter and summer English camps there. I saw great potential for the facilities and was saddened by its lack of use.

In April I applied with SEND International and now am waiting for their response.

I'm going to camp. Where I'll be a cabin leader at Pines Bible Camp.

I just finished reading Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle. I really enjoyed reading Bruchko, Bruce Olson's first book. Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle is way better. It is reflection in the writing with more of a commentary during the story. It's a great story about the how the saving life of Christ changes a culture and can continue on through the generations. It is really amazing to see how the Motilone tribal leaders lead their community in the will of God with out destroying their culture and adopting "Western Christianity".
The Best part of the book is the last chapter. Bruce Olson reflects on what he has done and the future of his ministry. This is one of my favourite paragraphs;
"For the mission field, my wish is that subsequent generations will be less interested in constructing fences and more dedicated to building relationships with the people they wish to serve. And I have seen evidence that more missionary programs are moving in this direction. Many are beginning to realize that our ways are not superior to those of native peoples because we have accumulated wealth or things. Rather than constructing a compound filled with beautiful homes and high walls that are off limits to the Indians, they are living among the native people, showing respect for their culture and values. Of course, there may be conflicts between the will of God and the lifestyles of native people. But I believe that the love of Christ and the influence of the Holy Spirit will resolve these difference in the hearts of new believers."
I think Bruce's reflections on ministry and and the attitudes of the missionaries can be applied no matter if one is working in a "stone age" tribe or a mega-city in Asia.

I just finished watching The Host. I have to say it is the best monster movie I have ever seen. Anyone that lives locally I welcome any of you to come watch it at my house. I'd be even willing to watch it again tomorrow if anyone is up for it. It is Koran so I only watched it with subtitles so I don't know what the dubbing is like. Great Movie

Today I went to the Vancouver Heart for Asia. I really enjoyed it. Those that shared had very good things to say about their ministries and I enjoyed catching up with those that I have met at other OMF events.

That's the seminar that I attended today. It was so good to be around people that are wanting to be involved in ministry and are seeking God's guidance in ministry. It's very exciting the leader of the event is starting a 20 something church and has invited me to attend. Hopefully I'll be able to find the community that I have been looking for since coming back from Japan.

For the past few days it has snowed. None of it has stuck but it is snowing in the end of March.

Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed.
Chritus ist gestiegen. Christus is tatsachlich gestiengen.

It's been a while since I have even considered posting. I didn't even post the update I sent out this week I must be really out of it. I have a job!!! it's nothing spectacular but it to my surprise pays well. I use a pressure washer all day and so it's a lot of thinking by myself. Well since my last post I have two new nephews. Owen and John they are cute they look like babies. Well Owen looks liked Kevin when he was a baby and John looks like Julie when she was a baby except that John got my mom's turn up nose. Turned up isn't a bad thing I got mom's turned up nose too. There's something.

I just watched Freedom Writers. It's a really good movie about the racial tensions of the mid 90's of souther California following the Rodney King riots. It is based on the true events of a high school teacher and her efforts to reach her students. The movie is over laid with the quotes of the students book called The Freedom Writers Diaries. The quotes gives extra context the to events and shows the changes that can't be shown through the student's actions. I was very surprised with the story and how it touched me.

Let it snow let it snow let it snow. Before I left Japan I kept telling people that I was coming home to a green Christmas. I was wrong it snowed on Christmas, yesterday and it snowing today. I had a very good Christmas. Christmas eve my mom and dad and I when to my Uncle Grant and Aunty Pat's church for their Christmas consert. It was very well done. Christmas we went to Kevin and Julie's were she had her Mom, Dad and sister over from Texas. We had fun visiting and playing games. So there's what I did for Christmas.

Dear Friends,
Merry Christmas to you I hope that you have enjoyed your fourth advent and are looking forward to the celebration the first coming of our saviour Jesus.
I’m back in Canada safely. I left Itayanagi at 8 in the morning on the 20th and took the train down to Narita Airport and easily passed through customs. My plane left the ground at 7 pm and landed at 10:55 am on the 20th.
I shared in my last update that I was concerned about reverse culture shook well I think I’m recognising some of the symptoms. And I found out those 15 months with out seeing a Wal-Mart won’t cure a dislike for Wal-Mart. Oh well.
Now on to a more series note; I am needing to decide what is the next step for ministry. Through my experience in Japan I know that God has given me a desire to sever. And through that experience I know that my pastoral skill are lacking and need more honing. Therefore; I am needing to either enter a school with a good pastoral training program/degree and/or find a church that would take me on as an intern where I could develop my skills in a active ministry setting under experienced pastor.

Thank you for continuing to pray...
Pray God will guild me as look for a school/internship
Pray that I’ll be able to continue to handle my reverse culture shock well
Pray that I’ll use the opportunities given to me to share about my experience in Japan

Dear Friends,
The count down has begun not to Christmas or New Year’s but to my fight back to Canada on the 20th. I have already started to ship some of my belongings back to Canada. But I’m not gone yet. Because this is my last week of ministry, classes are ending. The class that I teach at Mogawa kindergarten I taught last class today. My adult English class we will be having a Christmas party on Thursday to rap up the year and my time here in Japan. And Friday I’ll be having my last English class with my kindergarteners at Harvest House.
Life here in Itayanagi doesn’t slow down even for exits. On Thursday we will be visiting 2 kindergartens doing a Christmas program for them. Saturday we have a Kids’ Christmas event here at the church being run by the Sunday school teachers. Sunday is my farewell and International Chapel’s Christmas with a Mochitsuki after. Next week I have time to catch up with friends, pack and clean up before I leave.
When I was planning to go to Japan I wrote in my letters about culture shock and me handling it well. Now I’m on my way back to Canada and I need the same prayer again for reverse culture shock. With living in Japan I have gotten use to the way things are here to a certain degree and Canada is very different so please pray as I adjust to Canada and understand my reverse culture shock when it occurs.
Also when I get back to Canada I want to share about my experience here in Japan and how God used me with the churches that I shared with before going to Japan and also anyone who will listen. Please pray that I’ll make the time to contact the churches and that it will be easy to schedule everything.

Thank you for continuing to pray...
Pray that I'll be focused on my ministry while making plans for returning to Canada
Pray that I’ll be able to handle my reverse culture shock well
Pray that I’ll use the opportunities given to me to share

Today I shoveled snow and used three different shovels.

On Tuesday I taught at Mogawa Kindergaten and we had the "W" colouring sheet with a wagon on it and non of the kids coloured the wagon red. But I haven't seen any red wagons in Japan for the kids to know that wagons are always red.

Dear Friends,
We are in the middle of the holiday season. We have had Canadian Thanksgiving and in two weeks we will be celebrating American Thanksgiving many times over. For Thanksgiving we will be having a couple from down south joining us. Rocky and Marla will be doing a concert and message along side the Thanksgiving meals. One of the more exciting meals will be held in Morita. Morita is a village that doesn’t have a church so the Thanksgiving event that will be held there could be one of the first evangelical events in that area. Michael, one in the International Chapel members is a English teacher in Morita so please pray that he will be able to advertise the event freely and that people will respond to his invitation.
One of our students, Mrs T, in my Thursday English class has decided not to be connected with the church anymore. Mrs T has not given any specific reason why she has decided not to attend class anymore. Please pray that she will share with someone her concerns, which have made her choose to cut all ties.
My flight has been book for my return to Canada. My fight will be taking off on December 20th. I am looking forward to seeing my family and to share what God have done during my time here in Japan.

Thank you for continuing to pray...
Pray that people will respond to invitations to Thanksgiving events and upcoming Christmas events
Pray for Mrs T and her relationship with the church
Pray God will be focused on my ministry while making plans for returning to Canada
Pray for Martin and Ruth Ghent, as they’re in leadership over me
Pray the Naemi and I will work effectively together

I just started using Facebook and I have posted my first photos. And here is the link http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=731130494
I have also had my flight book for returning to Canada. I'll be back in Canada on December 20th. See you then.

Well in Sapporo it was cold here back in Itayanagi we are having an Indian Summer. My time in Sapporo was really goo and I enjoyed my time and I look forward to when I have to go there for language study. The city is very different from the Japan I have grown to love but I look forward to seeing the sites outside of the city.

My most recent e-mail update:

Well, summer’s over and the fall schedule is in full swing. I had a great summer break my mom and brother were able to come and visit me here. While they were here I was able to show them some of the different locations I teach English. They were also able to meet some of my student from my Thursday adult class. My student were very excited about meeting my mom and brother. I am thankful for their visit and there safe return to Canada last month.
We have a new addition to the team in the Tsugaru for the next three months. We have a new short-termer from Germany. Naemi is train to be a elementary school teacher which is great because she has brought new ideas on what and how the teach my (now our) English classes, which I was running out of new ideas.
Over the summer I read the Purpose Driven Life. I really enjoyed the read and would recommend it even though it is a bandwagon book. I like the book so much I have given it to Kaoru she’s the student in my Thursday class who is baptized but doesn’t attend church. Please pray that she will read the book and will respond to God’s moving in her life. We also have two new students on our Thursday English class, which is very exciting to see. We now have now seven students in that class.
I am right now on a centre visit. A centre visit is when one OMFer goes to another location of ministry and sees what is happening there. I am right now visiting Sapporo the capital city of Hokkaido(the northern island). This is a much larger city compared to any in Aomori. There are a number of church place and outreaches happen here. In Sapporo OMF has their language school, which I’ll be able to visit and see what is expect of a student of the language school. I have enjoyed seeing these churches and what they are doing to reach the people of Sapporo.
It is my first anniversary today(September 27) for being in Japan. I have been here for one year and am excited for my last three months. Please pray as there will be decisions made in the next three month about my future ministry in Japan and as God guilds me in understanding of how He would like to use me in future ministry in Japan and elsewhere.

Thank you for continuing to pray for me...
Pray God will effectively use me for my last three months and the decisions that are going to be made
Pray for Martin and Ruth Ghent, as they’re in leadership over me
Pray the Naemi and I will work effectively together

Your brother in Christ,
Karl Friesen
My blog http://chuck-freezen.livejournal.com/
52-2 Aza Minoruta
Itayanagi-machi, Aomori-ken
038-3661

Well vacation is long over and all the great memories locked away for me to remember when I'm senial. Well September is almost over and I haven't posted once. We have a new short termer at the church, Naemi. She's from Germany and has great ideas for the English classes. I have picked up my new visa yesterday I can stay in Japan for 3 more years but I'll be returning to Canada around Christmas. Right now I am in Sapporo. I am here to visit and see what OMF is doing here. I'll try and be more diligent about blogging more often.