Return from 12 Day Florida Vacation

Konbanwa,

SO I HAVE OFFICIALLY RETURNED.

I just got off the plane about 3 hours ago. Florida was very interesting. It was great weather and the last couple days we had below 80 degree weather with very low humidity. We return right before Hurricane Ike hits.

We were at my Grandparents Late Aug 26th thru Sep 1st. Then we went to Orange Lake in Orlando thru today (Sep 6th).


Awesome Resort/Timeshare. I suggest you check out it place first next time you are in Orlando, Florida. On tuesday (Sep 2nd) My Parents, Grandma Dot and Me went to a YWAM Orlando church service for staff members where guest were welcome. The service title was "Patience". It's hard to admit but that was targeted to me. I need patience for this dream of Japan. I got to talk to Barbra and her husband face-to-face and I got so many answers and information. Her husband is the IT guy for there Orlando Base. I saw there base and it was amazing.

(TRUTH TIME)
I got have a good talk with my Dad over my dream. I have relized how many people don't trust me that I will carry out my dream. My dad told me about several people who told him that. Which it makes me upset to not be treated like an Adult. I fell like when people do that they are underminding me. I do understand my dad is still in authority but it would be nice if people would tell me to. One concern I've received from friends and family is if I go to Japan and not like it or come home early well if that is what happen then "I WILL KICK MY SELF SO HARD MY CHRILDREN WILL FEEL IT!!!". My dad pointed out that people will not be interested in suppoting me if I can't prove my passion. And he said I NEED to take my two week or more trip to Japan (costing about $3,000 dollars) and paying for it and the lecture part of DTS my self. Because DTS is a schooling (You even get college credits for taking it.). Starting monday I am going to try to get a new JOB harder then before. In order to make the money by next year I need to get a job paying about $600-$700 a paycheck (even if its seperate jobs combined to make that.) I need to get out of Blackbuster because I go to work and get SO STRESSED!!! (I think thats one reson I can't lose weight and I'm affraid I'm going to go bald if it continues like this.)

PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE. Pray for me and ask GOD to show me the way.

As a update to some I really don't know why I care so much about Japan. But I can't get it off my mind. People ask me what I like about Japan but I can't answer because I don't know...
Hope to upload some pictures and video soon from the trip.
I return to work on Monday (Sep 8th).

Sayonara,
- Joel Greene

Update

Just though I would post a quick update. My family and I are about 1.5 weeks from our 12 day vacation to Florida for my Parents 25th and Grand Parents 50th Anniversary. We will be flying out Tuesday (8/26) Afternoon. It's an interesting story about these tickets. My dad won these tickets from Wendy's collect 64 cups and get a plane ticket promotion a couple of years ago. He never thought he would get these tickets. He was at Wendy's one day looked in the trash and saw about 10 cups. So for the next three four days he went dumpster diving. When he was done he had earned enough cups to send the whole family anywhere Airtran Airways fly's for free plus TAX.


I talked to Barbra at YWAM Orlando and next week someone will call me and schedule a tour of YWAM Orlando when we are in Florida. I hate going so long with out talking to people I know. I have not been able to get a hold of Josh who suppose ably is working for YWAM. Shamin has not logged on mySpace since 6/25. If I have not mentioned Shamin before she lives in Tokyo, Japan and I met her on mySpace earlier this year. She is christian and attends chruch. She said her church works with YWAM. Also Maria and Sandy have not replyed to any of my e-mails.

- Joel Timothy Greene

New Info

Well today it's official I received my passport. I have taken the first big step to going to Japan.

Last Sunday (8/3/08) I found out from Jacob Davis at my church that someone named Josh Topper (A long time friend of mine.) is in Florida working with YWAM. I was amazed because I no idea. I have been trying to call him all week. Hopeful I get a hold of him soon.

My friend Luke recommended a book to me called "In a pit with a lion on a snowy day" by Mark Batterson. It's based on a verus in the Bible about Davids Strongest Soldier who chased a lion into a pit and jump head first after it. It teaches to jump head first into Hugh Opportunity and trust GOD will carry you though. For me that would be raising $10,000.00 for DTS.

Not that I believe in Fortune Cookies but today to went to a Chinese restaurant and my fortune cookie said "Your problem will be better next month". I'm not sure if this should be good news or bad news...

Monday at about 8pm we had huge summer storm. We lost power for almost 2 days. Half of Hazel Crest, Homewood and Lansing lost power. Here is some of the Pictures of the damage to our power poles. (Sorry for the quality. Was using my cell phone.)

YWAM Update

I got two more e-mail from YWAM in Japan. One from Maria McDaniel in Tokyo and the other from Sandy Gibbard from Japan National Office. I liked Maria's e-mail. she gave me a breakdown of what it would take to join there staff and live there. I would need to come up with about (estimate only) $700 per month during my stay taking DTS. It looks like the next possible available time for them would be April, 09.

Now for Sandy. She said there is only two people in there National Office. Chiori Kawamoto is there Office Manager. Sandy lives in a Small Appartment and Chiori-san lives with her monther. She said untill now they have not had anyone volunteer from overseas except short-term teams. Also they have part-time volunteers help in the office but they live in Tokyo and did not need housing. If I come on a very short trip to see Japan. She said I might be able to stay with some DTS Leaders a few days. She said also they need a letter from my church saying that they send me out to work with YWAM as a missionary in Japan.

As for Language Classes she said there was some weekly free classes offered by many city goverments.

I would incurrage anyone reading this to pray for YWAM Tokyo to find a place with all the fixings (Coffee Shops, English Classes, Concerts, Artistic Presentations and etc)

Like I said above I will need about $700.00 dollars per month to live in Japan plus $4600.00 for DTS admission, so I would like to request if any of my friends or family are reading this blog to let me know if you would be interested in supporting me financially one time or commitment once the time comes. Also I need people to pray for me and ask god to remove the barriers in my way.

Joel Greene

YWAM Update

On July 7th I received an e-mail from Maria McDaniel. In reply to my inquiry on a trip to Japan. Well she said DTS is going to be a requirement to join the staff but in the mean time I can volunteer. It makes me wonder what is the difference between Staff and Volunteering? Do the Staff get paid or don't have to worry about some expenses. What? She gave me some information about what is going on in YWAM Tokyo. So I'm going to copy her e-mail here

<-- Original E-mail -->
Dear Joel,

My name is Mara McDaniel and I am the Registrar for new students and staff here in Tokyo. Thank you for your letter. I am excited to hear about your heart for Japan, and we would be happy to a resource for you as you continue to pursue the possibility of coming here.
Somehow your inquiry has been missed, and so I want to apologize for the delay in our reply. I'm sorry about that.

If you don't mind, I will share a bit of information and history of what is happening with our particular operating location in the Tokyo area.

I don't want to repeat a lot of information you already know, so forgive me if I do. YWAM's basic structure is that we do evangelism, mercy ministry, and training. The variety of ministries that can be done within those categories is unlimited, and YWAM encourages people to dream with God and serve Him in the area of their passions, skills, creativity, etc. In order to serve as a staff with us, you must go take the Discipleship Training School which is normally 5 months in length, 3 months of lecture, and 2 months of outreach. After successful completion of DTS, you can apply to any operating location in the world.

So please write back and let me know if you have taken DTS at this point. If so, I can send you a staff application. If you haven't and want to work with YWAM in Japan, then the school would be the first step. Our next DTS will be next year, but the starting date is not yet set. It could be as early as April (09) or possibly in summer. I'd be happy to send the student application. Or you could also do DTS in any of our base locations world wide.

If you haven't done DTS and don't feel led that direction, you could possibly come short term as a volunteer as well, as you mentioned in your letter. If that still interests you, we could discuss possibilities.

Regarding ministry, let me give you a little background. Up until 6 months ago, YWAM's base in this area was located in a suburb 1.5 hours by train outside Tokyo. That building was recently demolished, and our homeless group took the opportunity to pursue our dream of moving into the heart of the city. Tokyo is super expensive, but the Lord has provided housing for each of our small staff team (some permanent - like our family - and others are just in temporary housing). We still have no base, and so we rented a big house for the DTS. But after DTS, we will again be homeless as a ministry.

We have had a number of staff apply, and we believe the Lord has a plan for housing and a space to do ministry. But basically we are praying and standing in faith for this. We believe that the Lord has moved us into the city at this time for a reason. We have a sense of momentum, and we believe that amazing things are on the horizon. Currently we are serving in various areas individually and as a group. Together we do evangelism, worship, intercession, and DTS. Individually, people are very involved in various churches and ministries, such as homeless ministry, children's ministry, worship seminars, and youth ministry (You would be welcome to get involved in any of these).

We are really praying into what our next steps should be after DTS ends. As our time frees up again, and we don't have the next DTS until April '09 at the earliest, we can really put some time into what God's heart and strategy are for us. We will likely pray into more creative ways to do evangelism, and we hope to use more music and arts as well. Some of the direction may be determined by the type of base the Lord provides (it's location and features). We have big dreams of coffee shops, English lessons (and other ways of meeting people), hosting concerts and other artistic presentations, etc, if the base has a space suitable for such things. Your skills in computer would be a real blessing, I'm sure.

Basically, we are in a pioneering stage, where things are not set in stone. The people who come here, with their particular skills and passions, will determine so much of what direction we go in. It's an incredible opportunity to build a ministry from the ground up in one of the most populated cities in the world. It's also a humbling opportunity, and we truly want the Lord's heart and direction in all things. So our next season isn't a settled routine, but one more of seeking the Lord and then taking steps of obedience to follow His lead. It is a different sort of situation than many YWAM staff opportunities.

So let us know how we can be of help. What time frame are you considering? The main challenge for us receiving you as a volunteer in the near future is the housing issue. If you had the budget to afford a youth hostel (maybe $25 a day) that is another option. But let me know what you are considering, and we can begin to explore it in detail and see how God leads us.

I look forward to hearing back from you. Take care!

In Christ,

Maria McDaniel

<-- End of E-mail -->

So that is the e-mail I received from Maria McDaniel. I would like to hear from other bases as well. Hope I can update more soon.

Rsponse from YWAM

Yesterday I received a phone call from someone at YWAM in response to my letter. She was very helpful. Like I thought she told me there is a huge need in the mission field for volunteer IT people. she also told me her husband is an Volunteer IT at YWAM in Orlando and is in a similer case to me having no official computer training. She said there is not much she can do from Orlando speaking the place I want to go is Japan. She asked if I tried contacting YWAM in Japan and I said yes. I tried 10-20 different e-mail addresses several months ago and never received an answer. She said starting Monday she will start working on the details for a short term trip for me and get back with me later next week. She told me that speaking to me she could tell that I was passionate about this. She was very interested in the fact I administer and design two websites (http://victoryreins.org and http://greenetreelinen.com). When I receive more information I will post it.

Also earlier this week (6/7/8) I attended my friend Robert Dolan's Wedding. There I met Charlie O'Connell, someone who used to go to our church when I was in youth group. He is very interested in Japan and other countries. In madder a fact he has lived in Japan for about 3/4th a year total. We talked and he told me a lot of good advice like if I get a choice of where to stay in Japan he said try to stay with a Host Family you will learn so much more about their culture. and some other great advice.