Snow Festival - Day 5

My goal was to go to the snow festival every day, but alas, life has ways of keeping us busy. Still, I got to hang out with a friend and his younger sister, and saw more of the festival. Beautiful stuff! Here are some pictures.


今年は僕の初めての雪まつりなので、毎日行きたかったけどやっぱり忙しくて目標を果たせなかった。でも今日は友達とその妹と一緒に行けて良かった。すごいきれいです！写真やビデオをどうぞ。

Special Visitors 2

It is always a blessing to have familiar faces come up to Sapporo for a visit. Amazingly, since I moved here 9 months ago, I have had visits with 4 groups/individuals from Okinawa! On Sunday night, I met Jesse and Staci at Sapporo station and took them to their hotel. To my surprise, my car barely had enough room to fit all their luggage! They have come up to see the snow festival and get in some good skiing. This is a picture of them in front of an ice sculpture in downtown Sapporo.


沖縄から北海道に引っ越ししてから９ヶ月しか経ってないのに、４回も沖縄から札幌の来る人たちを歓迎する機会が与えられています。同じ教会（カルバリーチャペル宜野湾）に通っていたジェッシーとステイシーは、さっぽろ雪まつりを満喫しに来ました。それに、ニセコに行って３日間スキーもします。日曜日の夕方は、札幌駅に迎えに行ってホテルまで送りました。その後はすすきの横丁ラーメンというところに行って、バターコーン味噌ラーメンを食べてから雪まつりの光景を見に行きました。その翌日（昨日）からオープンしたけど半分くらいを歩いて楽しんだ。すっごいきれいです！皆さん、今年は手遅れかもしれませんけど、来年はぜひ、さっぽろ雪まつりへカモーン！

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！

Munich Christmas in Odori! - ミュンヘンクリスマス市in札幌

God has been blessing me with lots of new friends lately. It seems like everywhere I go, I am meeting new young people, and they are all so friendly! On Saturday night I went out to play futsal with a guy named Yuki - cool dude who lived in Ottawa for awhile. Anyways, I met a bunch of his friends and had a great time. Then today, my new friend Yuta invited me to the Munich Christmas festival at Odori Park... so I got to meet some of his friends, too! I hope I can continue to meet up with these two guys and their friends - many of whom do not know Jesus Christ. Maybe this is a chance God is giving me to reach out to new people! Pray that I would have courage and boldness and love for all the new people I am meeting these days! Here are some pics from tonight.


最近、神様は私にたくさんの人々に出会わせてくださっています！最初の半年は、あんまり出会いがなくてちょっと気が沈んでいたけど１１月入ってから数えきれないくらい新しい友達が増えている！と言いながら、１回会って「楽しかった、バイバイ」っていうことがないように、一つ一つの出会いを大切にし、これから神様はどういうふうにその人たちと関係を持ってほしいかを慎重に祈らなければならないと思う。昨日はユウキというカッコいいクリスチャンの男性にフットサルしに誘われて、たくさんの良い人たちと会いました。噂のカナダ人の宣教師のトレバーにも会ったよ！そして、今日はユウタというヤングマンにミュンヘンクリスマス市in札幌というイベントに誘われて、彼の友達にも出会いました。最高だった！その出会いの中で、イエス様を知らない人がけっこういて、どうか救いの福音を伝えるチャンスが与えられるように祈っています。皆さんも祈ってください！

No More Running in 2010...

I know I have reported snow and the end of running season here before, but this time I think it's for real. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the weather forecast for Sapporo for this week:



So I saw that today was going to be a nice day (and it is) and decided to go for one last run. Have I ever told you I hate running? Anyways, what's done is done. It's been a great year for me when it comes to running... lots of new accomplishments, records, and equipment. I can only hope that somehow, I will keep this up in 2011. This winter will be my longest layoff from running since I started back in June of last year.

以前にもジョギングの季節が終了したことについて投稿したと思うけど今回は本当に２０１０年の最後だったと思います。上の天候の通りになったら冬は本格的に始まる！


それを見て、今日の天気日和を最大限に使って思いっ切り走ろうと思った。行って良かったと思うけどジョギングが大っ嫌いって前言ったっけ？今年を振り返ってみると達成感を覚える。初めて１０キロを走りきったし、５キロを２５分以内に走りきった。（良く走る人には大した事ないけど僕にはけっこうすごいって思う。）どうか、来年にもこの調子が続けられるように祈ってます。

Sapporo Sickies

The Japanese are interesting. When someone catches a cold, or even when people around them are sick, everyone tends to wear masks. And since I work with little kids on Tuesdays and Fridays, and I have been battling a little teeny tiny cold, I had to wear a mask at work yesterday. Unfortunately these masks are not designed for the foreigner's face - it was so tight! Not only that, but it was really itchy due to my li'l beard. Ah well, good for a few laughs, I s'pose.

日本では、風邪がはやるとみんなマスクを着用しがちですね。私はそのマスクの効果を信じてないけれども、たくさんの子どもたちと接触してるのでルールに従ってつけてます。残念ながら外国人の顔に合わないだろうと思います。なぜなら、鼻がギリギリ入っちゃうけどキツくて痛いから！それに、ヒゲを生やしてるからかゆいんだよ！でもまぁ、周りが外国人のマスク姿を見るといろんな反応してるから我慢して面白いところを楽しんでる。私が完全に元気になるように祈ってくださいね！

Winter's here!

日曜日の夕方はまだ良い天気だったけど夜からまる１日雪が降ってて札幌が真っ白になった！たぶん人生で初めて初雪を楽しめた！（わかるよ、一ヶ月前に雪が降ったんだけどあれはカウントしない！）雪と言えば、雪だるま！今朝は少し晴れて来たので張り切って雪だるまを作ってみた！皆さん、このビデオを先に見てね、下の画像は終わってから見てよ！必ず！約束！

Well, for the first time in my life, I actually took great joy in the first snowfall of the year! (I know, I know, it snowed a month ago... but that doesn't count!) I decided it was time to go back to my roots - building snowmen and trying to have a little fun with it! On top of that, it was great to see people stare at me as they walked by. What's this guy DOING? He's got the body of a man but the brains of a child! And the snowman making ability of a camel! Well, I had fun doing it anyways. Before looking at the picture below, check out the video. OK? Trust me, it's funner that way!