"I command thee to GO FORTH WITH EYES CLOSED....

having renownst your country,

giving thyself WHOLLY to God."

This quote....from a guy that I did not get his name.....pretty much sums up my 3 days with my team! I must tell you that I could possibly not make sense today due to my lack of sleep. I am sorry in advance. My emotions are so all over the place this afternoon that I feel like I don't need to write but just cry. CAN I BOLDLY PROCLAIM THAT OUR GOD IS SO BEAUTIFUL IN PEOPLE OF EVER AGE! I am overwhelmed with this up coming generation. They are FEARLESS and the idea of following God...with eyes shut...and not a single idea of where he will lead them....EXCITES THEM FULLY!!!!!!!!!!! Praise you God!

Here is my "honest moment" picture. This is me right this very moment! I am beat! You know I'm tired when i go in public with no make-up and wet hair! It is so against the Hughes girls rules hahahah. sorry mom! hahah kidding and yes i do have eyelashes...they are just really blonde!

We spent a lot of time talking about Abraham and any one that knows me totally understands that Genesis and the OT are a personal love of mine. I wanted to share something that we learned and this is just during the preaching time. We talked about how when God called Abram to leave his land, he went with eyes closed. Meaning he walked by what God said not by what he saw. Then when Abram got to the land Canaan it was occupied. What I love is that Brad pointed out that the land was taken but Abram didn't say........."ok so, i just go back to my home.....God was probably wrong".......no he stayed and he SET UP A TENT!!!!!! in the middle of the land.......but he kept 'shallow' roots so that he could be mobile should God call him somewhere else. I love that. Shallow roots, so that in a second he could up and move. I want to be like that! Willing to follow the second I hear HiM........even when I can't see anything. The best part is that in the next chapter in Gen Abram totally blows it and gives his wife to the Pharaoh so that he could say himself. And God still called him faithful. OH HOW OUR GOD IS AMAZING!!!!!!! because I am fully aware that in like 3.5 seconds I could do something really stupid or totally allow myself to fall in to deep dark temptations. I am not exempt from really messing up, blowing it. But I am overwhelmed that OUR GOD WOULD STILL CALL US FAITHFUL. The blood of Christ covers us and redemption is for all! For me that is almost too much to grasp. But he has redeemed me time and time again and I want Him to know how much I really, really love Him!

I want to thank each of you that prayed over me and my group! When I say that your prayers were answered......I MEAN THAT THEY WERE ANSWERED AND FATHER ADDED MORE TO BLESSING! HE IS SO GOOD! We had an instant bond and each is on a different spiritual level but it works because it pushes them all to step it up by leading more or following more. I would like to introduce you to each one. We have 3 weeks till we leave and should you have some time, I ask that you might pray for them by name. Many just graduated from High School and this is a busy time. Pray that their time in the Word would increase not decrease!

Beautiful Morgan

one of the oldest in the group.
from Texas
college soph at SFA
She has a deep love for missions and is such a sweet spirit
very motherly and wants to teach elementary

Graceful Cara
Just graduated from high school
Going to UNT
From Texas
Lights up a room with her smile
Has a very real understanding of scripture and God's deep love

Peaceful Katy
High School Senior

From Oklahoma

has great humor and totally laid back

wants to be a devote prayer warrior! amen!

Hilarious Nick

High School Grad..from Texas

Heading off to Baylor!!

FUNNY, FUNNY ,FUNNY and I just love it!
He is all about servicing others and loves helping communities

Brilliant Blair
College Soph at UT-Tyler-civil engineering
My East Texas boy
When he prays the Spirit is all over him! To God Be the Glory
Loves the Japanese people and has worked with them once before

Imaginative Kathryn
High School Jr from Texas
Loves to perform in all areas...cute as a button
This girl may be 16 but she is so spiritual mature
Not afraid to share the Gospel!!! amen!!
Goofy Matt

High School Grad from Texas
Going to aTm- Galveston-
goes to my church!!!!
lives for making people awkward and I love it!
Went to Japan last summer and will be a big help to me!
Is a natural team and spiritual leader! PTL

Eccentric Viktoria

youngest in the group
High School Soph. and from California
Speaks some Japanese PTL
This is her very first trip overseas
She has that smile and those eyes that shine while she talks!!!

yesterday we had a scavenger hunt and one stop was playing kick ball! Which happens to be a favorite of mine! This is me tell them to spread out...is this not a teacher pose or what.....and Nick explaining that he was a "drum major" not a kick ball player hahahahhahhhaa. And of course I said "get over it' hahahahhahah

running and screaming

oh I am so proud of these girls. We had to eat a lot of gross things over the 3 days and one was face down in crazy baby food to find a gummy worm!!!! They did it like champs!!!! WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!! MATT.....dressing like an Igosian and being funny...this boy loves the attention hahahahhahah

after it was done and eating Popsicles. are they cute or what?

You must know that I have only known these students for 3 days but I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THEM!!!!! Of course, I have already had to have the "team unity' talk and there were a few issues along the way. Nothing that could not be resolved and man do they bring joy to my live. I can't wait to take them to Tokyo and push them to allow God to change them. I desire for them to know and really experience waking up and yielding themselves fully to God. Many of us do that on a daily basis and know the importance of it. They don't "get" it yet, but they will. They will see that God writes a way better life story than we do! HE INVENTED ADVENTURE!!!!!!!! Please continue to pray that when we are in Tokyo...tired from a long non-stop day, hungry, moody, annoyed......that we chose to listen to Father! That we chose to fully understand that this is not about us but HIM!

Pray that GOD WOULD USE US TO CRUSH, DESTROY, CAST OUT, AND DEFEAT SATAN ON EVERY LEVEL IN JAPAN! THAT THE STRONG HOLD OF EVIL WOULD FALL AT OUR FEET!

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father". Phil 2:1-1