Preparation and Prayer

Greetings everyone! To my family, friends, and supporters I give a special thanks for all of your love and prayers, which I need on a daily basis. I am growing more and more excited as the time approaches for my departure to Tokyo! If you do not have information regarding what I will be doing this summer, check out the PAZ Japan video that I have linked to the blog.

PAZ Japan is a part of Project AmaZon, the church-planting mission that I grew up with in Brazil. You can learn more about them at www.pazjapan.org. Part of their ministry has been to a large population of Portuguese speaking Japanese, and that will ease the language barrier for me a little bit as I am already fluent in that language. I will be aiding PAZ Japan along with various other short-term missionaries to begin a youth focused ministry in Machida. The most effective way to share the gospel in Japan is through friendship evangelism. This means that one has to show the true character of Christ to the Japanese by building strong relationships based on trust, love, and truth. I will be involved in all aspects of this relationship based ministry while I am there.

The Japanese need to hear about Jesus! God has been so good in allowing me to serve Him there this summer. While I am no stranger to international travel and cultural changes, it has been quite a while since I have encountered an environment that is completely foreign to me. But that is what I love, and I am looking forward to learning everything I can while I am there. Still, I need your prayers that this transition will go smoothly and quickly for me. I want to be as useful and effective as I can be during the relatively short time that I am there. Pray that the Lord will work in me and through me as He sees fit. I can do nothing without His favor!

I leave for Tokyo on the 29th of May. That is ten days from now! I have been at home for the past week or so, and it has been a good time with family and an excellent opportunity for preparation and prayer for the upcoming trip. I have been studying the Japanese language, and it is definitely unlike anything that I have encountered before, but I love language and I am trying to learn as much as I can; I need prayer in this regard as well. Providentially I do not need to worry about anything visa related, since Americans staying in Japan under three months automatically receive a tourist visa upon arrival in the country. My little sister, Kristin, will be graduating from high school this Saturday, and I am so proud of her! There will be something of a family get-together for this event, and its going to be great.

Other than that, I continue to simply prepare and pray for this trip and for the Lord's leading in my own life. Living each and every day for Christ has constantly been at the forefront of my thoughts. There is nothing better in this life than to love God with all that we are, and I find this truth to be seeping into my life more and more. What is there to live for without Christ? Yet there are so many that have never known this love and this relationship with Him...

Again, I thank you all so much for your prayers. I still need to finish raising all of my financial support for my expenses while I am there, and I humbly request that you prayfully consider helping me in this regard. All contributions towards this time of service can be sent to:

Project AmaZon
P.O. Box 3253
Peoria, IL 61612

Please make checks out to PAZ and include a separate note or indication that it is for Brad Zimmerman, Japan Youth Outreach. A tax deductible receipt will be mailed to you. May the Lord be with you all as you seek Him, and I will continue to post and communicate throughout the summer, so check in to see what's going on! BE BLESSED!

Rockin' the world for Jesus!

Brad Zimmerman

Romans 10:14-15