新しい生活

私たち家族は新しい冒険を始めようとしてます。突然に聞こえるんですが、その通り！突然です♫

圭介は農業大学出て以来ずっと農業に興味がありました。やってみたいという思いがずっとあったけれどなかなか機会が無かったし、お父さんのカメラ屋で働き始め、結婚して、子供4人授かり、どんどん農業をやるのが現実ではなくただの夢で終わっちゃいそうなところだった。でも圭介はずっと神様に祈り求めててた。今の会社もずっと続かないだろうし、もっと家族との時間も欲しいし、家族がともに暮らし、直接的に神様に頼り、生活したいという気持ちはどんどん強くなって来た。でも将来はカメラ屋を取り継ぐ事になるでしょうと思い、お父さんを置いてやめるも自分からやるもしたくなかった。でもひたすらに祈ってたところ10月の終わり頃、お父さんがある長い付き合いのお客さんであり、蘭越町でお米の農家を営んでる友達と電話で話してた。その会話の中でお父さんが自分の息子は農業に興味があり、たまに土地を見たりしてることを話した。その農家の人が話しに乗って、蘭越町では農業をやりたい若手を募集してる事などを教えてくれた。お父さんは息子がやったらいいんじゃないかと話して、その農家の人はいろんな情報を集めてくれて、私たちを紹介してくれました。

その後に圭介がお父さんにもう1回確認してみたところで、本当にやりたいならやっていいと言ってくれました！！

 お父さんから話が始めて、色んな道が開いて来てるとわかりました。

 しかも同じ蘭越町に私たちの教会のリトリートハウスもあって、同じ教会のクリスチャンも何人かが隣のニセコ町に住んでる。教会がまだないところで私たちがそのクリスチャンの友達と励まし合えるし、その地の人たちと生活を共にし、イエス様の証をしたいと思ってます。神様は私たちを蘭越町に行きなさいと道を開いてるようにどんどん強く思うようになってます。

 農業研修は最初の時期はトマト農家で学びます。

 次の年は蘭越町の農業研修施設で実際トマトを作ってみる。

これから色々大変なことが沢山ありそうけれど、神様の御心の真ん中にいるなら、平安の中で神様に頼りつつ、前に進んで行くのが楽しみ。

  研修してる家族のために給付金がありますが私たちの家族の人数では少し厳しいけれど冬の間はアルバイトした方がいいと言われてます。圭介はセブン商会で何かの形でアルバイトはできそうなのは感謝です。何より神様は私たちの必要を知っておられるから安心です。

具体的に祈って頂きたいことは沢山ありますが

*12月13日で申し込み書を出したので、1月に面接があると思います。神様の御心であるなら無事に受かるように

*家がいい値段とちょうどいいタイミングで売れるように

*これから住む場所(町営住宅)が私たちの家族にとっていいところが与えられるように〜 (狭くてもいいんですが綺麗でカビがないところは私の体にとって大切。カビのアレルギーみたいな体質がありますので)

*圭介とローラも研修を受けるつもりですので子供たちは保育園に行くことになると思いますが、皆無事に入れて、すぐ慣れて、彼らにとっていい経験となりますように〜

今のところではこれが一番大きいのですが、お祈りよろしくお願いします。

Family photos from 2015

Rankoshi adventure (BIG changes for our Family)

December 2016 update from the Noguchi’s

This may seem sudden to you, because well, it was very sudden to us. But God seems to be opening up the doors with a big change for our family. 

 Some of you might not know, but Keisuke graduated from an agriculture college in Tokyo with a major in soil study. He has always had a desire to get into agriculture farming but never had an opportunity to pursue it. He has been working for his father in the family business for 8 years and we thought he would continue running it for his dad. Keisuke didn’t want to try and leave his dad or try and make things happen if they wouldn’t be helpful to his dad. But he has been praying that God would open the door if it would be God’s plan, and would dream about farming and occasionally look at land in different areas for sale. But we didn’t really think it would come to reality. 

   Well, in late October Dad Noguchi was chatting with one of their long time customers. He is a rice farmer in a town called Rankoshi. This is a neighboring town of the well known Niseko (becoming well known world wide for it’s skiing and various outdoor recreation destinations). It is about two hours south west of Sapporo. It also “happens” to be the town where our church Fukuinkan has a retreat center and is praying for a future church plant. 

  Dad Noguchi mentioned to this farmer friend that his son had an interest in farming. This farmer got all excited and called the town office and got all the info about their farming internship program. It turns out the internship program is looking for young people who would be willing to learn farming and start up more farms as Japan has a dying out population and need more home grown food, etc, They are desperate for farmers! And the program just happened to not have any applicants this year and extended the enrollment deadline the same week we were introduced to them by our farmer friend. 

 Then Dad N said it would be worth a try for Keisuke to go for it. The camera business won’t last forever… So he could start now while dad is still working. We were very very surprised that DAD was the one who brought up Keisuke’s desire for farming, and then very positive about allowing Keisuke to go if he wanted to! 

  

 The training program starts in April. The first season we would learn directly from a farmer. Working alongside of them and getting hands on experience. The next season or two (depending on how well you do) we would do our “own” crop at the facility of the training program under the supervision of a “teacher” 

Then when you “graduate” they will help you financially for the first five years of your farm. They want you to learn to do tomatoes first as there is a shipping market for tomatoes right in Rankoshi. 

 We would receive financial aid (though it isn’t very much) that would be enough to get by but a little tight with our family of 6. But during the winter months we are free to work a part time job (Keisuke will probably work part time for his dad in some way) to help with financial stability. 

   This seems like a big jump, but we are feeling more and more that God has opened up the doors, and we are to step forward in faith. 

There are a few new Christians in this area connected with our church, but no church. Maybe we can be an encouragement to them? We feel strongly that God isn’t just sending us to Rankoshi to do farming, but to be a witness for Him in this unchurched area. 

  We would appreciate prayers as we move forward getting ready for this HUGE change and adventure. 

 Some prayer requests:

 Pray for our house to sell. We need to sell our house for a good price so that we can pay off our loan. It will be pretty tight financially in our new situation, so it would be EXTREMELY helpful to not have to pay our loan from our house. 

 Pray for details of housing in Rankoshi

The town will provide half of the rental cost for housing as long as we use housing that belongs to the town. They said there were many different types, depending on the timing. Sometimes apartments, and sometimes there might be a house available. We are hoping for a house, but know God is in control. Whatever it is, we are praying that it would be the best fit for our family, and CLEAN (not moldy) is very important as I get sick with mold. 

 pray for our family as we transition

 Keisuke and I will be entering the training program together. So the kids will need to be cared for. The town has a nice day care and we are hoping they will all be able to get in. and adjust well. Since it is farming, some days during planting season etc, would be very long. But other days maybe not as long. also in the winter when there is nothing to do for farming (too much snow in Hokkaido) then maybe the kids can stay home with me during the 4-5 months of winter. 

 Pray as we apply on Tuesday (december 13th) 

  If this is God’s plan, we know He will continue to open the door. But if we are mistaken for some reason, that He would close the doors firmly. 

 This is a huge step of faith for us. But we are excited to see how God is working and would appreciate your prayers for us. Love to you all! God bless

Long time no blogging.

Hello there. We have not disappeared from the earth. Just a bit busy since the last post. After Keishi's birth, God has given us two more daughters. Making a total of 4 beautiful children.

   Yoshiki is 4 1/2. He is creative, kind, silly, observant, and very passionate. If he gets angry, he is very angry and expressive. But he is also very loving. He goes to preschool on a touch and go basis as we chose not to put him in a full time school.
    Keishi is now 3 1/2. He is goofy, smart, good at acting, and very quick to laugh or cry. He loves Yoshiki his brother but wants to be Hitomi is little sister.

   Hitomi is 2 years old. She was born September 17th, 2014. Her name is taken from Psalm 17:8 and it means "the apple of my eye".  Her brothers doted on her as a baby,and tease her constantly now that she is bigger. She is so beautiful and smart but don't cross her or she can be pretty scary. ;) Hitomi loves to cuddle her "babies" and is a good little "mommy". When not being provoked by her brothers, she is quite sweet. She is also a tom boy. Walked from age 1. And can keep up very well with her big brothers.

 Eimi was born May 2nd, 2016. Her name means eternal hope and is pronounced like her aunt Amy. She will be 5 months old tomorrow and is just the sweetest thing. She can roll over and sleeps through the night since about three months old. She brings much joy and calm to my heart in the craziness of raising 4 young children.

 Keisuke and I are so thankful to God for the blessings that God has entrusted to us.
We have had some rough things happen in the last three years. Changing of our church here in Sapporo, learning how to discipline our children, death of my precious older brother Tom at 39yrs old. But God has been faithful trough it all. He is always with us and helps us through these hard times and encourages us with many beautiful and fun times too.

I will try to update a little more often. But no promises with my crazy life ;)

May, June pics 5月6月の写真 2012

night before surgery 手術の前の夜

still sleepy from anasthetic 麻酔からまだ眠い状態

in new house! 新しい家の中

living room in new house

ready for swimming 泳ぎたい！

in front of new house 新しい家の前に

It is now JULY and over time for an update! Ha! I am probably one of the worst upkeepers of a blog. Yoshiki is 5 months old now and thriving after his surgery on May 10th.

 On May 9th we checked into the hospital (Sapporo General hospital) and his surgery was May 10th in the morning. I stayed with Yoshiki in the hospital where we shared a bed. We were in the hospital for exactly a week. It was interesting staying in a four bed room with curtains for privacy. The first and last parts of the weeks we had roommates but during the weekend it was just us, so that was nice to have some quiet time. Keisuke was able to come and visit us every morning and night before and after work.  I was thankful for being able to use my phone and internet while there to help pass some of the long boring moments. Also lots of time to read my Bible and just take care of Yoshiki.

 His surgery took about 2 and a half hours on Thursday morning. As Keisuke and I handed him off to the surgical nurses and then were waiting in the room, we were just praying to God and giving Yoshiki and the whole surgery over to Him. He guided Doctor Kawashima's hands and the surgery went very well. (It now looks so good!) I wasn't too worried knowing that Yoshiki was in God's hands, but it made us wonder how he was doing, and wondering what he would look like when it was all over. He is so tiny, so wondering how he was doing in the surgery too! But God was good, and gave us peace during the whole time. When the nurse took us to receive him from the surgery nurses, tears just came to my eyes as we saw him with the oxygen mask and iv tubes etc. (though that is how he looked when I first saw him in pictures when he was born, he looked so pitiful all over again!)
 He slept most of the rest of that day with the affects from the anesthetic. He seemed to have some pain and did not drink well the first day, so he had to keep the iv in till the second day. :/

 From the second day he seemed to get a little better each day. The shape of his mouth had changed for him so drinking his bottle was not fun for him at first and I am sure it was very painful. So that was probably the biggest challenge after his surgery. But by the 3rd day the pain seemed to be tolerable and he started smiling a little and just looking better all around. We are very thankful to God for His protection and care over Yoshiki. Stitches came out on the following Tuesday, and then we were able to go home Wednesday morning. (the 16th). It was so nice to get home and sleep in our own bed! I was not able to sleep well with early mornings and no naps with all the lights and noises of the hospital. Yoshiki wasn't either so he had been waking up in the nights and early morning which was not like him usually!

  While we were in the hospital, we got news that we were able to get the loan to buy our new (to us) house! So I started packing little by little with help from Keisuke of course, and mom Noguchi. etc. And we moved on May 31st! We were glad that we ended up using a moving company's help as we have several big heavy items. (like wood table and fridge etc) We were thankful for help for cleaning and babysitting from many dear church freinds.

 Our new home is in the south ward of Sapporo, but it is still close to our church by car. It is on the base of Mt Moiwa and we are kind of half way up the mountain. It overlooks part of the city and the view is so pretty! We thank God for this new home for us! In our old apartment we had become a little crowded with all the baby items etc. Also couldn't sing and practice music as loud as we want or any time etc. We also enjoy having guests over but it was a little difficult with no parking place etc at our old apartment. So when Keisuke was praying for a new place, God led us to this house. The inside looks like a log cabin, but the outside looks like a normal home. Though it has a lot of character, and we really like it! We are excited to build relationships with the neighbors and be a light for Christ on this "hill" that He has put us on.
 We are enjoying living surrounded by God's creation of mountains, woods, birds, flowers etc. It is a very welcome change after living in the city for the past several years when I am a country girl from birth. ;) (though I am not used to the bugs even though there were lots at my home in Indy too!) I am hoping that Yoshiki likes bugs so he can help Keisuke protect me from those scary spiders etc. :)
 We have gotten pretty much all unpacked and settled with just one accident of the laundry machine hose being shaken loose during the move, and when I washed some bed covers (heavy items) it came completely undone and water was spread everywhere in the basement that the laundry machine is in. But thankfully that is where the stove is so it dried up very nicely with the heat from the stove. Was thankful for that because was worried because I didn't want mold to form!

 We have plently of room for visitors (one big room (that is actually two rooms with the wall taken out, but we have the materials to put the wall back up for two rooms if we ever need that option) (i.e. if God gives us many children ) ;-) or if any family or friends want to come visit us.. etc... haha so you get the picture. Anyone is welcome to come and stay with us! We would be very happy to have you!

 Well Yoshiki is doing great and able to roll over from tummy to back and now back to tummy also, stands with hands supporting him, gurgles and smiles lots and is a joy to be around! :) We started baby cereal last week and he seems to like it if he isn't too hungry when starting. He is a little under average for height and weight according to the scales at the doctors. But we aren't worried about him. He is growing steadily and seems very full of life and personality. After his surgery we have had some drinking milk problems but that has seemed to settle to back to normal

 This summer we should be busy but are excited to see what God has in store for the city of Sapporo! A group of 32 members from my church back at home in Indy (Castleview Baptist church) are coming to do outreach with our church from July 17th till the 30th. We are excited to see them all and serve together to share the Gospel with the people of Sapporo.

 I will turn 27 next week. It is hard to believe, but I don't mind getting older. :) Just one step closer to Heaven is how I see it.
 I will put some pictures up. Enjoy!

もう７月となってしまって、私はブログの更新するのにいつも遅れてます。（笑）
喜基は５ヶ月になりまして、手術も無事に終わりました。そして大きく成長しています。
五月の９日に札幌市立病院で入院して、１０日に手術がありました。１週間の入院で私は喜基と一緒に入院しました。４人部屋でプラベシーのためにカーテンだけがあって、少し大変でしたが、神様の恵みで１週間は無事に終わりました。
入院してた間は喜基との時間がたくさん与えられて、また聖書を読む時間もたくさんありましたので感謝しました。
　当日の週術は２時間半くらいかかりました。その間圭介さんと一緒に喜基をイエス様の御手にゆだねて、祈ってました。そして手術が終わるの部屋で待ってました。
神様は川島先生の手を導いてくださって、喜基の口と鼻はすごくきれいに治りました！
迎えに行って、喜基が酸素マスクをかぶられて、点滴も入って、麻酔からまだ半分しか覚ましてない姿を見たら涙がポロポロ落ちましたね！でも無事に手術を通せて、神様の守りに本当に感謝でした！
　一日目はあまりミルクを飲めなかったため点滴は二日まで入ってました。そして三日目まで少し痛みがありそうでしたが、３日目からほとんどぐずらなかった。ただ手術１ヶ月後くらいまでミルクの飲みはあまり良くなかったですね。多分痛みよりも口の中が前と変わってしまって、本人はそれが変な感じをして、飲むのがいやになってたと医者先生が言ってました。
　手術後１週間で抜糸できて、そして１６日に退院できました！
自分のベッドに寝れて、喜基も私もすごくホッとしました！やっぱり病院の中では休みずらいです！

　入院してた間に家を購入するローンをもらったことをわかりました。そして退院してから２週間荷造りして（圭介さんとお母さんの手伝えで間に合いました！）そして５月３１日に私たちの新しい家に（中古ですけど）引っ越しました！新しい家は藻岩下にありまして、山の上で、本当に神様の造られた自然の中で、素晴らしいところが与えられました！神様に本当に感謝してます。南区になりましたが、まだ車で行けば教会に遠くないのでそれも感謝です。家中はログホームの感じですごく落ち着きます！
　お客さんが来れるようなスペースたくさんありますのでいつでも来てください！！
泊まるスペースもありますので遠くから来る友達も是非来てね！！

　喜基は大きくなって、今５キロ半になってます。平均のサイズと身長も体重も少し小さい方ですが少しずつ成長してますので心配するほどではないとこの間医者に言われました。今は寝返りよくやって、いろいろな面白いおしゃべりをします。そして手をつかんでるといつもお立ちしようとします。とても元気な面白い子です。性格もなんかだんだん出てきて、面白いです。神様が造られた人間って、本当にすごいね！離乳食も少しずつ始めてすすんでます。

　今年の夏は忙しそうですが、神様はこの札幌の中でどんな働きをしておられるの見るのはとても楽しみです。７月１７日から３０日まで私のインディアナポリスにある母教会Castleview Baptist Churchから３２名が来札幌して、私たちの恵みキリスト教会と伝導協力してくださるので一緒にイエス様の福音を伝える働きを楽しみにしてます。

　来週私は２７歳になります。もう２７になるのは信じられない部分もあるが、年をとるのはかまわない。なぜなら天国に一歩近づくだけです！だから毎年の誕生日はいつも楽しみです。

　さて写真をのせますので、エンジョイしてください♬

Recent pictures 最近の写真