Feb Update 2

So I return to work tomorrow and I'm definably going to say something to my union rep. Boy how time goes by so fast.

I e-mailed someone by the name of Justin and Amy who are on their way to returning to Japan for Missions. I just thought I share my first e-mail.

<<< --- Start of E-mail --- >>>

Dear Justin & Amy Perry

My name is Joel Greene and I am 23 years old and currently live in the South Chicago Suburbs. I first heard of you guys though some friends of mine and it is great to hear what you guys have been doing in Japan and admire you for it. For the last 5 years I have had a strong burden on my heart to help spread Christianity in Japan. I have prayed hard since then and have decided that I would like to take a short trip to Japan to help me find out if this is what God is calling me to do. I have had some contact with Christian Japaneses involved in the ministry and Missionaries over the last couple years but the disappointment is that every time I make contact they either past the buck to some else or forget about me all together.

My family and I have been attending Believers Church in Matteson, Illinois for more than 17 years. I have had a youth pastor who is very involved in missions and would have guest missionaries quite often. In fact my father has even been of mission trips to Guatemala. I know this must be God because when I was about 12 years old I would sit in my Youth Group and listen to my Youth Pastor and be scared of God calling me into the ministry or a place like the 10/40 window but now I have a peace about this. I have committed myself to God for whatever he wants me to do even if that includes relocating to Japan and going full time into the ministry.

The reason I'm contacting you is to ask if at all possible you can get me in contact with ANYBODY that can help me on my quest. I may finally have the opportunity to visit Japan coming this June if the right connections are made. I work for AT&T and I have saved half of my goal of $5000 and about 3 to 4 weeks of vacation time. (which is only available to me in whole in the month of June) The only bummer at the moment is my work blacks out the last two weeks of June and any other time is already taken. My Union Rep said he might be able to get me special consideration if I can provide a letter from a missions organization proving that I'm requesting the time off to do what I really am doing.

I am really just in love with Japan, I love the people, their culture and location and I just feel extremely burdened to help. I've attended Japanese Events, Been to conferences, Eaten their food (a lot) plus I've even worn a Kimonos. yes, I have even come realize that there is still a lot to work to do and It might not even work this year (again) but this is closes I have ever come to it possibly happening.

Mental support is one of the things I need. Thank you for reading my e-mail and please help me out. I'm behind you and I pray for you.

Sayonara,
ジョエル グリイン (Joel Greene)

<<< --- His Reply --- >>>

Joel,

It sounds like the Lord has definitely put Japan on your heart! We are actually not leaving for Japan until August. We start our term at the beginning of the school year in Japan.
My advice is just to remain patient. When I returned to the USA after my first mission term when I was 23, I was prepared to get ready and go back right away! Well, this is 2010 and the Lord has delayed my returning to the field for six years! It doesn't sound like you'll be delayed for nearly that long with the time you've spent raising funds and accumulating time off. Let me tell you from experience, when the Lord allows you to go, the door will open wide for you. He probably has a time and a place for you to serve the Japanese people and it's just not here yet. From experience again, let me tell you that while you are waiting, get as immersed in the Japanese culture in Chicago as possible. Especially, get to know Japanese people; build relationships. Make friends with some guys at the sushi shops, at the markets, etc. We found a nice, intimate Japanese restaurant in Wicker Park when we were in Chicago in 2006 and it's a place like that where some great relationships could start.
Keep in touch and we might have a lot better connections for you after we move. I will definitely pray for you and your desire to go to Japan in His service.

-JustinP-

<<< --- End of E-mail --- >>>

I will be sure to continue to talk with him.

Small Things Add Up

I find it funny how thing just seem to add up and seem to become even bigger then one big.... thing.
Time goes by and a lot of small thing add up fast until it become time to post it on my blog about those things to the best of my knowledge. And you know now is one of those times.


For starters some good news. Ever since I filed my tax return and somehow had some extra money left over. I now have over $2500 of $5000 saved up for my trip to Japan. I get a grin on my face every time I see my savings balance. Now I need people to continue to prey for me because now I'm running to problems getting the time off. Because of my hired date my Vacation Balance will be the fullest around June 12th. So I thought I would go to Japan the entire month of June. But now I find out that the last two weeks in June are blacked out by the Company because of the end of second quarter and the first two weeks are already taken by employees. I talked to our Union Rep and he said that he said try to get special permission from our Regional Manager to allow me to get the month of June off anyways. But he said I would need a letter from a missions organization to confirm that I'm doing what I say I am. So it sounds like I have no choice but to go with an organization. But SEND International has not gotten back with me about the missions open coming this June for a assistant to a christian camp in Japan. If I get a hold of them I will post more details then. But basically I NEED TO TALK WITH THEM ASAP.

Now for the bad news. I am NOT working til next Monday............................ because I got suspended again for something SUPER SUPER stupid. Super Long Story Short I was on my way to a customers house. On my way there I called the customer and the customer told me she was busy had some appointment babababa.... Basicly she wanted to rescheduling. After she said NOT to come I was already in front of the house. But since she already denied dispatch I called CRC (Customer Retention Center) to notify them and left to my next job. The only mistake on my end was not calling my Manager just to notify him. Where I got in trouble was about an hour later the customer called in and complained that I refused to do the work and said I just left. She claims she NEVER told me to reschedule. When I heard this I was speechless because I could not understand why they would say tell me to reschedule then call and say something else. When I told my boss that I called CRC he basically called me a lier without saying it. He pulled my phone records and in the investigation meeting had to ask me what the CRC phone number was. I told him and he looked at my phone records and I could see the look on his face when he saw I not lying about that. Few Days later he hands me a FIVE DAY Suspension for something this crazy. My union Stuart said she will fight this hard. I will update more about this later when I learn more. I just fell like my manager is out to get me.


On a little note I redrew my Anime Character a couple weeks ago with a new aspect and I think she looks more like an Anime Character.

I'm in the works of starting a Anime Content Review Website where I will judge Anime & Manga based on Christian point of view and list any profanity, lanaguage and more. I encourage people to give it a try and give me feedback. I'm also in the need of anyone who can help me contribute to the site. Visit it Here

Enjoy the rest of your day,
Joel Greene

Feb Update

I'm really excited that the possibility of Japan come right around the corner. I did my tax return the other day and got almost twice what I was expecting. Which is I huge boost to making this a reality. Just for the record I tried to contact someone at RJC to inquire if I can get in contact with people or organization that can help me with my passion. Long story short I finally got in contact with someone who asked me if I would be willing to volunteer to operate the Sound and Lighting for some Japanese Christian Conference the end of May in Elgin, Illinois. This sounds like a wonderful opportunity. They are suppose to give me more details as that come available.

Supposedly my family is planing a trip to Tennessee over July 4th but I'm unsure if I will be able to go if I end up in Japan but hey Japan is much for exciting. I'm a little concerned because if I am for sure going to go this June I should buy my plane ticket now but I still have no traveling companion nor all the money and I can not put this off because June is the only month that my Vacation Balances will be at the best allowing me the longest duration in Japan. If I get a planes ticket today it could be as low as $1000 but I wait til late April it could be as little as $1400 and as it gets closer to June the price will get higher and higher and might even sell out. Please continue to prey for me.

I heard from someone that donating frequent flyer miles to missionaries since most people never earn enough to take a trip but combine they do. Just a little side note and thought it was interesting.