Hello everyone,
A much needed update from Japan. I just wanted to let you guys know how everything is going over here and how much has been happening. We have been super busy with camps all season. NORTHSTAR has been such an awesome place to grow and do ministry and humble yourself to really help out where you are needed, be that background stuff such as cleaning the whole lodge top to bottom or cutting up tons of potatoes and carrots and onions for curry dinner. Being an instructor has grown me in learning how to teach snowboarding in a very easy to understand way and through Burton's awesome LTR (Learn To Ride) program. My snowboarding has improved so much here, and I'm stoked to come home and be able to ride on Mt. Hood again.

Japan has rekindled the flame I have for snowboard ministry, and youth and just how important relationships with people are. They are so so so God given. I am more stoked than ever to go back home and start really working hard to do stuff for SFC Oregon and really get that ministry up and moving at a better rate, be that just me working on stuff, or anyone else who wants to get involved. I know God is going to use this to effect people's lives and I just feel that He is prompting me more and more to start this and stay committed to Him and to SFC and to really see a change in the Portland and Hood River areas for the Lord with this ministry. :) :) :)

Being here at NORTHSTAR has been very vital for me and the desires of my heart. So I thank God that He has given me this opportunity to serve in Japan as a way to grow in Him this season. I'm stoked on life again. I feel like my motives are daily being refined and purified and my life, has a true purpose and direction and faith that leads it once again. Over the past couple years, my life took some turns and I made some super selfish, super ugly decisions, but all that was necessary for me to grow and for my heart to be broken for Him again. I need Him to be my everything, and I finally feel like He's inside of me helping my heart to beat strong again, helping the roots of my tree to grow down deep into His love. It's awesome to know that all my past mistakes and failures are washed away, and I can simply rejoice in the fact that He has grace and mercy that are never ceasing, always there, and He is waiting til I say, "Lord, I'm sorry, please forgive me for all my past crap, and the bitterness I've had welling up in my heart" before He will drench me with His love and pour down his pure blood over my body, and wrap me with His arms of love, and never ever let me go. God is an amazing and awesome God who we are so so so priviledged to know and love.

Please Pray For:
My last two weeks here in Japan, for God to keep moving and for opportunities to talk to people here and for me to continue learning more and realizing just how much I've been growing here. It's been awesome.

Thank You for your support and love and prayers while I've been here. They mean so much to me.
~Sarah

.Takayama Day Trip.

Today we had a day off and we took a day trip to Takayama which is close to Gifu City Prefecture. It was awesome to get out of Norikura for the day and see a new Japanese town. I loved the traditional streets and we went to an awesome ramen noodle shop for lunch. I bought a few gifts for friends back home and sampled a few different varieties of sake. I also had soy sauce ice cream for the first time today and it was surprisingly super oishie (yummy). We had an awesome day off. :) And, it's snowing in Norikura, so more fresh powder tomorrow.

.Matsumoto Castle.