Saturday, July 20, 2013

Saying Good-bye to Yukie Ida!!


Our last night with Yukie
For those of you who are in the military, you know how hard it is to say good-bye.  It is a reality in our job....people leave our ministry regularly. We don't have to like it, but it is something we have to deal with.

This week we said good-bye to someone very dear to us, to the Lighthouse community and to the local Japanese community.  

Yukie Ida has been a part of the Yokosuka community for several years.  She came to the Lighthouse and met Jesus here.  As she grew in her faith, she was asked to join the Lighthouse team.  Yukie has served here for 6 years.  On Monday, she said good-bye to her "family".  The Lord is leading her to another ministry focus.  

Yukie and her Navy Christian Sisters
Yukie has served with four different house directors:  Paul & Stacy Cassidy, Jim & Martha Bowden, Matthew & Jill Bachali and now us. She has been a faithful servant to Jesus, Cadence and the Lighthouse.  
Yukie and her Japanese Christian Sisters


We were fortunate to have 4 weeks with sweet Yukie.  In those four weeks, we grew to love her & appreciate her deeply.  It became obvious to us that Yukie served in a sacrifical way to the Navy and to the Japanese.  She had a Japanese ladies study, where she was instrumental introducing them to Christ, where she discipled them, and helped these ladies deepen their walk with Jesus.  One sweet gal told me she will miss Yukie because "She taught me about God, she is my sister." Yukie was a blessing to her Navy family as well.  She taught them about Jesus' deep love for them and helped them navigate the Japanese culture. She has been a good friend and a great teammate!

We will miss Yukie!!  But, we know that God has a tremendous plan for her.  We are excited to watch her in this next chapter of life.  Thanks Yukie!