2016 Japan-Phillipines Mission - Mission Summary

Council on Missions
Japan/Philippines
Interfaith, Intercultural, and Educational Mission Journey 2016

Congratulations to those how have committed to this spiritual journey.

From the Council on Missions we have Debora Barett of First Spanish UMC; Lorraine De Armitt, Districtict Mission Coordinator from Long Island East, and her husband Skip DeArmitt; Rev. Ed Dayton Vice chair of the Council on Missions, and Pastor of Long Hill UMC, Trumbull, CT;  Rachel and Jack Brunt, Bolivia Team Leaders from Long Hill UMC, Trumbull, CT; Rev. Beverly Morris, Long Island West District Mission Coordinator, of Cuyler-Warren UMC, Brooklyn; Denise Hamilton, Mission Personnel, Union Memorial UMC; Jill Wilson, Chair of Council on Missions, and  CT District Mission Coordinator, of Prospect UMC, Bristol, CT; Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie Conference Mission Coordinator and his wife Bennie Hammond,  of Seymour, CT. Also joining the group is Rev. Marjorie Nunes, Hicksville UMC, Hicksville, NY; Frankie Edwards, from Long Island; Rev. Wongee Joh, First UMC, Brewster, NY; and Rev. Luisa Martinez, First Spanish UMC, New York, NY.

We will be welcomed and hosted in Japan by Global Ministries missionary Rev. Hikari Chang. We will experience diversity in religions, cultures and traditions. Three temples to be visited are Ryoanji Temple, Kiyomizu-Dera temple, Todaiji temple. We will spend time practicing Zen meditation through spiritual teaching.  A trip to Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum will help us understand some of the history in Japan and the effects of the nuclear bomb in WWII.

Similarly, In Manila, Philippines, we will be hosted and welcomed by Global Missionaries, Revs. Jay and Grace Choi. Some of our experiences will include dialogue with theologians; visit Union Theological Seminary; the Pinto art museum; and spend time with people in the local community. Worship at Central UMC in Manila will give us the opportunity to worship at the largest UMC in Manila.

We would like to thank our hosts for all the preparation and work they have done to make our visit successful.