Bible Story Sausage Cookout 2010

The 10th of August we were back at the small riverside park for this years Bible Story and sausage cookout.
72 people joined in this year and we even had a few Dads come along with Mom and the kids this year!
It was great to see them join the activity, especially on a week day morning!

God blessed us with wonderful weather for the event

and as usual John starts out with some English activities to get thier attention and get things started.

The story this year was 'Jonah and the Whale'.

John read the story - bit by bit - in English,

followed by Pastor Kitamura reading the related verses in Japanese from the Bible.

Then Naoko would tell it for the kids using the awesome props she and her husband created from their family print shop.

After the Bible story the kids played a few games to work up their appetites while John got the sausages done on the grill.

Every year we have sausage dogs and tuna noodle salad and every year we hear how good the food and fun the story time were.

God IS good!

Annual Kids/Moms Cooking Class

On August 5th, the day after returning from watching Zack's team take third place honors in Okinawa, we led the annual cooking class for elementary kids and their Moms at the local community center where John teaches every Thursday afternoon.

As has been the case every year we had a full house!

You can see,

they're very serious about thier cooking

with all their aprons and head covers ;-)

And since it is an "English" cooking class John starts out the morning with some English songs and questions for the chefs-to-be.

 

The menu this year was grilled cheese sandwiches, potato chip salad and fruit cocktail cake.

Everyone had lots of fun preparing the meal and more eating it!

Yes.. it was HOT in that room and John's shirt shows it!!!

August 2010 news from Nagano

Blessings Dear Loved Ones & Prayer Partners!



We hope and pray that the heat you are all experiencing this summer is coming from the love of His Son that is burning deep inside of you! A fire that won’t go out! Please help spread those flames to all you meet each day.


We told you last month that as we were finishing the newsletter we were off to watch Zack compete with his classmates in the National Tournament. We have wonderful news to report…Zack and his team finished in the TOP FOUR of all the teams in the country. They lost in the semi-final game to the eventual National Champions. They played a total of 5 games and Zack averaged 26 points and 19.5 rebounds per game. Now you might say, the Japanese are too short…so easy for him, but Zack plays center and in all but one game he was 4 to 6 inches shorter than the other teams center. The boys, and the coaches goal has always been to reach the top 8 in the tournament, but have never gotten past the top 16 round and then reached it only once. In the top 16 round this year, their 3rd game, Zack got hurt in the 2nd quarter with about 2 and ½ minutes to go. He pulled one of the ligaments in his left knee and tore the muscle in his upper thigh. He came out of the game and his team quickly gave up 12 points to the other team. At half time one of the mothers (luckily a professional masseuse) gave him a massage that really helped. He played all the second half even though he was limping badly, and ended with 30 points and 22 rebounds! He said he never felt the pain, but was only worried about making their goal. His heart was so big. The tournament is continuous with no rest days, so that night and next morning more massage and off they went for the top 8 games against one of the top teams in the country. The boys played great and Zack was able to rest the last 5 minutes of the game as they had built up a huge lead. He ended with 38 points and 25 rebounds. The next morning was the game to decide who would play in the national finals. The boys were so excited and got off to a great start. At about the 3 minute mark Zack took a knee in the left thigh that was where the torn muscle was. The hit took him down, and was very difficult for him to get up. He told the coach he was OK, but you could see that he could hardly walk. He played the entire 40 minutes of the game. The opposing center is a large boy (6’9) from Senegal in Africa and is a very strong player. Because going into this game Zack had been averaging 30 points, every time he touched the ball 3 players converged on him. With his weak left leg he was unable to spin or move, so his offense was limited to only 13 points, but even barely able to walk, he still struggled for 19 REBOUNDS!!!! His team couldn’t over come the overall size and speed of the other team and lost the game, but not without a great fight! We are so proud of all the boys and their efforts, but of course of our baby! He is now considered one of the top 5 players in the COUNTRY!!!!! We can’t be more proud and thank-you all for your prayers and support for him and all of us.


A wonderful benefit of his achievements is that during the tournament Kim and I were interviewed by one of the National Sports Newspapers and our picture and story about our work as missionaries was told. So even though you may think that Zack’s basketball has no spiritual purpose, God can use anything and everything to help us bring Him honor and glory.


Our mini VBS outing was a HUGE success! On Tuesday morning August 10th we met outside at a local park to tell the story about Jonah. We had SEVENTY TWO people show up! All of the children were accompanied by either a mother and in several instances by father’s, too. Of the 72 people, that attended, only 8 are Christians!!!! So praise God that so many would come out in the heat of the summer to learn more about the wonderful love that God has for each of us. All of the members are either our students or Mako’s. If you remember, Mako is our friend from Singapore that first came to join us in our Tuesday morning Bible Study, then joined our Sunday English service, got baptized and now share’s God’s love where ever she can. We do 4 parties a year together, with 3 (Christmas, Easter and mini VBS) with Christian messages, at Christmas we put on the Christmas play, Easter we use the ‘Resurrection’ egg kits to tell the story and during the mini VBS we choose a different story each year. Our last party is only for fun and to build up the trust and friendship of both the students and the parents at Halloween. In all 4 parties we do the main events in the morning followed by a lunch we either cook or provide. We ask that you continually pray for all the people that attend these events, and all of our students, that His Spirit will talk to them and help to open their eyes to the wonderful gift of love that God has for each one of them.


On September 5th we will be hosting the Korean Gospel Singing Group, Ongijyani for our afternoon service. This will be the 5th time they have come to our church. The group is made up of about 10 Korean’s that volunteer to come to Japan to share their love for the Lord. They will be in the country for about 1 month. The group in Korea has about 250 members that practice constantly and different groups travel all over the world singing and praising God. They are so wonderful. We look forward to them coming each year and ask for your prayers that the time that they are in the country they can touch many, many hearts and God’s Spirit will open up the hearts and minds of many people during their trip.


Kim and I are both staying busy reaching out to as many people as we can each day, and God continually gives us new avenues to explore. We ask that you continually pray for our strength to continue and His Spirit will become alive in all we do.


Bo’s father went to be with the Lord the end of July. We thank you all for your prayers and support for Bo, his father and their families. We also want to especially thank those in New Albany that either visited the funeral home or attended the funeral. Bo thought only about 20 people would show up for the visitation, but well over 100 people came to pay their respects. It really touched not only his, but also Heather’s heart. So a special thanks from us to all of you that helped in their time of need.





By His grace, God continues to equip us for each individual challenge and opportunity that He presents. Your prayers and support are necessary to our being here. We ask you to pray with and for us that we always strive to walk before God, wherever that may be, and be used as instruments of His love in all we do. Should God ask any of you to partner with us in our outreach for Him, please send any love offerings to: Bethlehem United Methodist Church, for Baranski John Alan Mission Fund, c/o Becky Wack, 1003 Rowan Cove, New Albany, Ms. 38652.


We hold you each in our hearts and prayers with praise and thanksgiving.


In His love & walking before Him, the Baranski Bunch

What a TRIP!!!!!! BEST 4 in ALL Japan high school basketball!

YES!!!!

The Tokai Third boys basketball team went to the Okinawa Inter High Tournament as Nagano prefectures best and came home as one of the BEST 4 in ALL Japan!!!! Beaten only by the national champion team at the tournament.

WAY TO GO GUYS!!!!!!!

A celebratory hug with the assistant coach after winning to make the top 8.

A tad nervous maybe as they prepare for the starting team introductions before the semi final game.

...Though their faces don't reflect it...

they REALLY WERE HAPPY

 with their Best 4 medals hanging around their necks!

Okinawa!!!

Hi folks!!
Yes, I do realize that every post I make begins with..."I'm soooo far behind..."
I've concluded that behind is preferable to non-existent ;-}

Zack and the Tokai 3 team left early this morning for Okinawa and the All Japan Summer tournament. They'll have practice games today, tomorrow and Wednesday, and the opening ceremony. Their first game is the afternoon of the 29th....GO TOKAI 3!!!!!!

John and I ...and a swarm of others from all across Japan, will converge on Okinawa the 28th to cheer on our respective teams. We would ask for your prayers for safe travel, good health and games without injury. Obviously, every team goes with big hopes and dreams. We pray that they play to the best of their ability, have fun, and be proud of their accomplishments.

We hear the daytime and nighttime temps in Okinawa are basically the same -- HOT!! We're hoping the gyms there - unlike here - are condition controllable!

Here's to believing we'll return from the tournament with great memories and happy news to share with you!!




Ian will remain in Nagano for work and watch over the house and the dogs while we're away. He's planning a little BBQ for friends so we pray that goes well and the neighbors don't have any grumps.

Most of you have heard of Bo's Dad's cancer and it is in the final stages. He's suffering greatly and of course it's so very hard on the family to witness. Please pray for God's peace, strength and comfort for each of them as they go through this and for the healing in the days to come.

Take care and drink lots of water!!!! It's HOT out there!

June news from Nagano

Blessings Dear Loved Ones & Prayer Partners!



Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior from half way around the world. Isn’t it amazing, how vast this world of our is, yet how close we can all remain. Even more amazing is how present God is throughout this world. It is so wonderful to know that all of our family, all of our friends, all of our acquaintances are always watched over and protected by HIM!


This month we are so amazed at His power as we see it working through our son-in-love and his family. Those of you who know Bo, know what an exceptional young man he is. For those of you who don’t you have to just trust me, Bo would not want me to say something that would single him out. We have told you all about the cancer that is eating up his father. Unfortunately it is winning and God will soon be celebrating the arrival of a new child into his heavenly kingdom, as a few months ago Mr. Hefner asked Jesus to be Lord of his life. When Heather and Bo first new about his father’s illness, they longed to be closer where they could help out. Bo is in the Air Force so had limited options, but with God, thankfully nothing is IMPOSSIBLE!!!! They found out about a ‘recruiter’ position that would be opening up in Tupelo, Mississippi only 20 minutes from where his father is. Bo applied for the transfer, hoping the position was still open, he got accepted to the training school in San Antonio, passed at the TOP (YEAH BO) of his class and is now heading to TUPELO! God is SO GREAT! Now I wish that was the end of the story, but the part of me that always cries when I think of Bo, is the incredible love he has for his family. When we first met him (sorry Bo, I’m going to say a little) he was in high school and we didn’t think much of him. He had dropped out of school when he was 15….we could only think, YUCK what a low life. Then our daughter (OH NO!) fell in love with him. What should we do…we want so much for her, and she is in love with BO!!!! We didn’t know what an INCREDIBLE young man he is. We saw only what we saw, not the WHOLE STORY! I am sad to say that probably all of us have done the same. BO, we are SO SORRY for our original judgment. You see, we found out later that the reason he dropped out was to work to SUPPORT HIS FAMILY! At this time his mom and dad had undergone many troubles, and not working, this young man stepped up and sacrificed his life for his parents!!!!! It wasn’t long before he knew that without an education he couldn’t truly provide for all of his family’s needs, so he went back to school and continued working full time. Now for most people that would be enough, but he also enrolled in the high school Jr. ROTC program, with his eye on the future.


He has done so GREAT! He has gotten so many accommodations and awards. Constantly at the top of every class he is in and now soon to be a RECRUITER! Now throughout all of this, it would be normal for us as humans to have harbored some painful memories of dropping out of school, having to work so hard to provide for his mom and dad, especially since his dad was capable, but sadly wasn’t working. It would be easy to hate this person, to begrudge him for the opportunities that may have been lost, yet our wonderful son-in-love posted this in his facebook: Charles Hefner Keep my dad in your prayers, awhile back they gave him the 6 weeks to 6 months diagnoses, now he's headed to emergency room in Tupelo(fell messed up the leg that was ate up with cancer)...A strong man a year ago now to this....still my hero in his weakest moment!!


Can you believe it, a man who robbed him (my thinking) of his childhood, STILL HIS HERO!!!!!! BO, you are an INCREDIBLE witness of Jesus’ love to all of us! Thanks so much for all you do, not just for our daughter and grandsons, but all those you meet each day.


Of course we are so proud of him, and we are not sharing this wonderful story just so we can pump up our chests, but just the opposite. To share with you how unfortunate it is that we too often jump to our own conclusions about people. 8 years ago if we could have chosen, Bo wouldn’t be a family member, luckily for us…God was (and IS) in control and not us! We have never felt more blessed than to have such a remarkable young man as our son-in-love! THANKS BO!!!! We love you!


We had a wonderful end to May with over 50 people joining in for the March for Jesus. We spent about 2 hours walking and singing throughout our downtown area. That night we returned to church for our 5th Sunday sing and it was a glorious day. On June 23rd was the annual ladies luncheon, this year over 270 ladies attending. The talk was given by Mrs. Sakie Yokota whose daughter, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea over 30 years ago when she was 13 years old. She has never been returned and only has limited information about her. Throughout her ordeal, she felt a presence that was giving her peace. It was then that she discovered God’s amazing love. She became a Christian during the process and gave a wonderful testimony during her talk. Over half of the ladies in attendance are non-Christian, so please pray that His Spirit will talk to each of them.


It seems like our family, immediate and extended is suffering from a multitude of ailments. Please pray for all of them, especially Bo’s Dad and mine, Kim’s Aunt Ruth and Ben’s grandmother. We are always so grateful for all of your prayer support.


We have many dear friends that are suffering from different conditions and ask us to pray for them but not use their name. We respect their position, trusting God knows each one individually and specifically,so please pray for the souls and bodies in need here and there.


By His grace, God continues to equip us for each individual challenge and opportunity that He presents. Your prayers and support are necessary to our being here. We ask you to pray with and for us that we always strive to walk before God, wherever that may be, and be used as instruments of His love in all we do. Should God ask any of you to partner with us in our outreach for Him, please send any love offerings to: Bethlehem United Methodist Church, for Baranski John Alan Mission Fund, c/o Becky Wack, 1003 Rowan Cove, New Albany, Ms. 38652.


We hold you each in our hearts and prayers with praise and thanksgiving.


In His love & walking before Him, the Baranski Bunch

...time marches on...

Hi folks! As usual, when I do at last sit down to do this it's been soooo long
I can't even think where or what to begin with.
Life is full... and that's a wonderful blessing,

even in those moments when I have to remind myself of that fact!
June has been no exception to our busy days.
Ian turned 21 the 2nd of this month!!!! Honestly! 21!! No big extravagant celebration. As Ian put it, it's just not a big deal here. In Japan 20 is the "coming of age". I did make him a birthday cake and his Dad and I got to treat him to a yakiniku viking lunch (meaning all-you-can-eat-bbq-it-yourself-buffet with all the trimmings and dessert).

After a stint in Tokyo Ian is back with us in Nagano and back working at the clothing shop,
For now...

The 4-6th was the prefecture (state) high school sports tournaments. Tokai Third boys and girls basketball (along with a few other of their sports) are the champs and will be representing Nagano prefecture in the all Japan summer Inter High tournament!! WOOHOO!! Zack will have been a part of that all 3 years of his high school sports! This year it will be held in Okinawa, July 28 - Aug.3, - exciting, huh?! And... E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E!!!!

The summer tournament is always high cost and though we understand the concept that they go to a different area every year to try to even out the travel for all, when it goes to Hokkaido, Kyushu or Okinawa it gets pretty crazy. For many reasons. It starts right after summer vacation season begins so all the prices of everything go UP. It's a lose-and-you're-done deal so you really have no idea how long you'll want/need to be there - which when you have to make fight reservations/hotel reservations/daily transportation reservations - is pretty ridiculous, especially when you factor in the cancellation fees you have to pay if you want to duck out early!

So as thrilled as we are that they are going!, in all honesty it's a tad tempered by the hassles and expense. Still, we know God always has a plan and this will be no exception :-)

The Tokai Third High School Basketball Champs!!!! GO TOKAI 3!!!!

With this being a Fri-Sat-Sun tournament, John went Friday while I worked, we both went Saturday and I went Sunday while John worked. I was excited that Ian decided to join me - he rarely gets to watch Zack play. I was even more excited when after the game I got a picture of them together!! Yahoo!! Big event in this Mommee's life!

So here they are... our two baby boys ;-}

This month was also the annual church visit to the cemetery to clean things up a bit, sing some hymns and offer some special prayers. Many of you may remember last year when a young woman in our church here who was suffering severe depression took her life. There was a special visit with her family to their site to remember her. It's been a very difficult road for them and they are doing much for others in this area by ministering through their personal experience.

This month also brought the life celebration days for my Dad, 80 mighty fine years, and our grandson, Charles, 6. Heather, Charles and Will have been hanging out with Granny and Gramps in Texas while Bo's been in rrecruiter's school at Lackland AFB. He's just finished and as always graduated at the top of his class! They'll soon be moving back to Mississippi to be closer to Bo's Dad, who is in the final stages of a long trek against cancer. It's been a really rough road but God has done some amazing works along the way.

John is as busy as ever with all his church related activities, English classes and volunteer time. I'm working (outside of home) more than I have in a good long while. I teach one day a week at an elementary school - about an hour and a half from here - one day at a local high school, and three different classes on Wednesday afternoon/evening/night. For the most part it's being a good experience and God provides many things in ways we never imagine. That, we learn more by the day, is His rule, not exception :-) He is so good!

After much too long a break... John and I have started back to our daily walks with Ebony & Onyx (the two black labs we adopted a couple..3? years ago).  Four of our neighborhood friends are walking with us most days and this week one of the lady's 3rd grade son, too. We walk every morning from 5 -6am! (John and I, rain or shine, the others occasionally take a rain day ;-}) Some mornings 4:30 seems to come earlier than others but we are feeling the benefits, as well as few aches and sore muscles here and there, so keeping at it. We get home, shower, do our bible reading, devotionals and prayer time, have breakfast, get the laundry hung out - usually all before 8am! Cool!

This Saturday we're invited to join 4 families - all John's students and neighborhood friends - for an overnite camp-out as a pre-farewell to the Enomoto's. They were our first new neighbors when all the new homes went up in place of the rice fields and he is being transferred back to Tokyo  the end of the summer. We'll really miss them and they'll have quite an adjustment back to "big city" life. By the pre-camp discussions/plans this could be quite an experience. John and I get the impression that their ideas and ours on what 'camping out' is could be rather different. Maybe a story in a future post...

I know there's more, but don't want to do an overload!

So take care, be joyful and walk always before God!

May His grace and blessings fill your lives.