My Dad

For a few days, we got to travel out to the countryside and visit with my pops. He has retired from his old profession and is now a golf course marshall, part-time. He LOVES his job -- what avid golfer wouldn't want to hang out at the course on his days off? So Dad took us out to his golf course one day, and we checked out the greenery. It was fun cruising around in golf carts, talking to golfers and Dad's co-workers. And of course, just hanging out with Dad is cool, too! Thanks, Dad! Perhaps you can bring your clubs over to Japan and get in a few rounds one of these years, eh? (That's my way of saying, "Come visit!")


この旅は比較的に短かったから、お父さんの田舎の家に長い滞在はできなかったけど、会いに行きました。お父さんは定年してから、本職を辞めて、あるゴルフ場の保安官になりました。けっこう偉く聞こえるけど、実は、ゴルフカートに乗って、コースを回って人を助ける（案内など）をする仕事ですよ。でも、ゴルフ好きなお父さんに最適な仕事ですね！休日でもゴルフ場で過ごせるって最高！ある日、お父さんは私たちをそのゴルフ場に連れて行ってくれました。緑を楽しみながらゴルフカートを運転して楽しかったです！お父さん、ありがとうね！いつか、日本にゴルフしに来てね！

Hockey Night in Sapporo

After a hot start to the season, the Sapporo Godzillas have now lost two straight games. And badly. Still, hockey is a lot of fun! I want to get some practice time in, or just work on my positioning or something. Keep on cheering for us, people... and pray for the souls of my teammates who do not know Jesus yet.


札幌ゴジラーズは２連勝の後、２連敗をしてしまいました。それでも、アイスホッケーは楽しいです！私は個人的にもっと上手になるために練習がしたいです。どうぞ、私たちの応援をよろしくお願いします。そしてまだイエス様を知らないチームメートのたましいのために祈ってください。

Two-in-One

Yesterday was a rather interesting day for me. As we have done the past few weeks, we had a Sunday evening service at ICF Lirabell Church. For the first time ever, I stood up in front of people (the Lorincz family were the only attendees, mind you) and led worship! I am far from a good guitar player, but God knows my heart and my desire is to worship Him. So anyways, I was supposed to miss our hockey game last night (7:30pm start) but since our evening service started and ended earlier than anticipated, I drove out to Hoshioki Arena as quickly as I could, and got there for the end of the first period.

I walked to our bench and Kenmochi (the guy I thought would be hard to play alongside but is in fact cool) yelled out, "Hurry UP, Trevor!" So I grabbed the locker room key, got dressed and ran back to the bench, this time on skates. After about 30 seconds, the captain told me I was to be on the top line with Isoda and Michizoe. I got out on the ice, and then they said, "Oh wait, not quite your turn yet, Trevor." But the ref said that since I had stepped onto the ice, I had to play the shift. Well, within a minute...

We had the puck down in their end, and I positioned myself in front of the net, waiting for a rebound, a pass, or a tip-in chance. All the while, screening their goalie. Kenmochi was on the point and he let a low shot go. I got my stick on it, and... RED LIGHT! The first goal of the Godzillas' regular season, scored by #7, TREVOR! After that, we scored two more (I don't think I was on the ice for either), to take a 3-0 lead. But the Warriors stormed back and tied it up, 3-3. I was on the ice for two of their goals. But with 2 minutes left, Isoda (our star) rifled one past their goalie, and we went home victorious!

The most interesting part of the game was when, during the 2nd intermission, one guy said, "Trevor prayed before coming, that's why we're doing so well!" And another guy said, "Yeah, he went to church - God bless you!" Weird - I have not said a thing about Jesus, at least not specifically, but they know what I'm about, and who knows? Maybe this will lead to some serious discussions of some sort! God knows. And we can all keep praying!


昨日はとても祝福された日でした。カルバリーチャペル札幌はICFリラベル教会で夕拝を行いました。私は人生初めて人前でギターを弾きました。練習不足で上手に弾けなかったけどスティーブさんがキーボードを伴奏してくれましたのでなんとか最後までできました。２曲「God of Wonders」と「Be the Center」をリードしました。これからも練習して行きます！神様が私の心を整えてくださり、そして指や声を適切に動かしてくださることを信じます。

礼拝が終わったらすぐに星置スケート場へ向かいました。リーグ戦の初日だったから、途中からでも参加したかったからです。着いたら、ベンチへ控え室のカギを取りに行きました。したら剣持が『トレバー早く！』って言ってました。最初に剣持はちょっと気難しい人だなぁと思ってたけど最近は少ししゃべってたらけっこう楽しい人だとわかりました。すぐに着替えてもう一度ベンチへ行きました。そしてすぐに氷上に出て２分以内にゴジラーズの今シーズン初ゴールを決めました！アシストしたのは剣持だった。ゴールの後の喜びは気持ち良かった！

数分以内にリードを３点に伸ばし、楽勝かと思い込んでいたら残り１０分のところ、同点になってしまった。けど、私たちのスターの磯田が決勝ゴールを決めました。４対３、ゴジラーズの勝利！神様に感謝します！面白いことに、第２ピリオドが終わったら少し休憩がありました。その間、剣持が『トレバーが祈って来たから上手くいってる』と言い、キャプテンの荒木さんが「God bless you!」とコメントしました。私はイエスキリストのことまだ伝えてないのに聖霊様が語ってるように見える！ハレルヤ！昨日の成功がまた永遠の命の収穫につながるように祈ろう！

Now lining up at forward...

For the Godzillas... #7, TREVOR! A couple of months ago, I joined a local hockey club as a way to get some exercise and also to make contacts with other men (and women) and to reach out to a different demographic... I am sure few if any of my teammates have ever heard of Jesus. Anyways, last night we played a scrimmage for the first time in over a month. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a talented athlete or hockey player. So when I was told I would be lining up with the two best players on the team (Isoda and Kenmochi) on the top line, I was as surprised as anyone. I skated with Isoda in the previous game as well, but figured I was just replacing Kenmochi, who was absent.


Another interesting thing I should mention - I thought Isoda and Kenmochi were a lot like the guys who made me want to quit hockey in the first place, some 25 years ago. They seemed like they had big egos and looked down on those who couldn't play up to their level. So playing on their line brought out a little fear in me. Would they stop passing me the puck when I missed one or two chances? As it turned out, Isoda set me up for two goals, and me and Kenmochi had a lot of chances that we both barely missed. After the scrimmage, they talked about how easy it was to play with someone like me - I am always in the right position for a scoring chance, they said! My reasoning: I am not a gifted skater, so I find open ice in the slot and wait for them to find me! I had an awesome time out there, and wish I could make it to Sunday night's league game. Alas, God has called me to something else: helping lead worship? (More on that in a bit.)


昨日は１ヶ月ぶりにアイスホッケーをやりました。２ヶ月前にゴジラーズというチームに入って、メンバーの中で私は中の中ぐらいだと思った。先月の最後の練習試合にトップライン（いわゆる１軍）に入らせたけど、それは人数足りなかったからだろうと思ってた。ゴジラーズのトップ２人のフォワードは磯田と剣持です。二人とも足が速くてパックコントロールが上手でシュートも的確です。カナダ人として恥ずかしいけど、本当にホッケーはヘタッピーです。しかし、今日のゲームには、１軍に入らせました。前回欠席した剣持は今回いたので僕は２軍かなぁと思ったらキャプテンの荒木さんが私を磯田と剣持と組んだ。


したらなんと、２点決めました！磯田のパスが上手くて決めるのが簡単だった。磯田も３点ぐらい決めて、剣持は１点か２点決めた。２人ともあんまりおしゃべりしないからチームメートを見下してるかと思ったけど試合が終わったら二人とも『トレバーとプレーするのはすごいやりやすい！』とほめてくれました。これからもゴジラーズの成功のために、そしてチームメートがイエスキリストを受け入れるように頑張りたいと思います！