Merry Christmas!

There is something so sweet about the week of Christmas. As you spend this time with family and friends, we wish you the most peaceful Christmas yet, full of joy and memories!

We sent our Christmas cards last week which included a letter. After looking at it again, we noticed many errors that we'd like to correct.  While we read it many times, we overlooked some pretty significant mistakes. Changes and additions will be in red.

Have a Merry Christmas!

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Christmas 2013

Hello & Merry Christmas! 

                                                                      

We are thankful for many things in 2012 2013. The Lord has challenged us, but He has also refined us and begun preparing us for many changes ahead. What a year it has been!

We spent time traveling this year. In March, we took a trip to Florida. We visited with Ryan’s grandparents, took a day trip to Clearwater Beach, and had a couple of days in Cocoa Beach. We also enjoyed seeing our Michigan neighbors, Larry and Judy, who work at Disney every winter. They kicked off a day at Disney with us on a safari for our first time to the Animal Kingdom. There is something magical about Disney with those you love, especially during fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. On memorial weekend, we enjoyed visiting with our Crandall family at a lake house cottage. In July, we were so happy to head to Houston, TX to visit Aunt Denise and celebrate the marriage of Joe & Kate Cales who are friends from Shanghai. It was sweltering hot, but the bride & groom looked radiant! We were rejuvenated by seeing friends from Shanghai and reminded that God will bring friends into our lives that become as close as family, even in the most unexpected places on the opposite side of the globe.

We are thanking God for one year of marriage and celebrated on August 18. How quickly one year passes! Ryan had a business trip to Germany, so we added vacation days and went together to see Europe. We toured Germany by car and saw picturesque cities from the north to the south into Bavaria: Berlin, Braunschweig, Leipzig, Munich, Fussen, the Alps, Oberammergau, into Austria, Heidelberg, and Frankfurt. We spent our actual anniversary in Fussen, Germany at Schloss Neuschwanstein, which inspired Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle, and the Alpsee. Such a fairytale! After Germany, we took the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) to Paris to see the city of love. To end the trip, we took the chunnel to the UK to spend our last days in London, Stonehenge, and Bath. It was a great vacation. Europe is as gorgeous as you would expect, and we highly recommend it!

Looking back into 2012, we began looking for a church in October where we could grow & serve in our community together. We found Huron Hills Church in Ann Arbor and very quickly felt connected. We have had much joy in becoming members. There are 4 pastors (5 including a 2nd site church) 5 pastors (6 including a 2nd site church), all of which have given sermons and interacted with us in a way which draws us closer to Christ.  We have learned so much and there have been some Sundays when we cannot take notes fast enough to capture the knowledge. We love the spirit and heart of the church and the way they equip us to go out and share the love of Christ with others. We love the freedom we have experienced in Christ through the church, the way we have grown in knowledge and truth, and the diverse community. Whether it’s a church service, theology class, or conversations with friends, both of us have walked away challenged, convicted, humbled, encouraged, healed, and with much hope!

We decided to join a small group right away and made good friends quickly. This gave us the opportunity to study the Bible more deeply with accountability. It has been a safe place for us to share our hearts, and we have been moved by how easily the people in our small group loved us without reservation, even before they knew us. This has been a great example of how to love more like Christ. We could not be more thankful for the church where God has taken us.

Very close family members have struggled with health issues this year, but we have seen hope in Christ through all of it.  Our life plans quickly changed as we stared at how fragile life is and were faced with the question of what matters most to us. Amy’s Dad struggled with heart & health issues in 2012 and 2013.  Ryan’s grandpa and Amy’s grandma also struggled with heart issues.  Perhaps the most eye opening glimpse of life was seen through Ryan’s Uncle Paul.  In late December 2012, we visited Uncle Paul and Aunt Denise in Texas.  Paul fought cancer very hard for about a year. Seeing them that holiday season changed our view of life and marriage forever. Both of them lived a full and joyful life, and it changed so quickly.  Ryan and I looked at each other and our marriage more closely and discussed our purpose in life and what was important to us.  We realized that a life lived is not measured by the pursuit of happiness through money and status or career as defined by society. A life lived fully is the pursuit of joy through Jesus Christ and a purposeful life in relation with God & others, as defined by God. We are not defined by the world. God defined our worth when He created us, long before any of us were born.

After prayer together, Amy resigned her position at General Motors on January 28. She was given a 6 month leave of absence to evaluate and reconsider. After working in an engineering environment for 9 years, it was time to change directions to focus on our walk with Christ, marriage, and our loved ones. It was time for a lifestyle that allowed support of Ryan instead of bringing home stress and burdens. In March, Uncle Paul lost his life to cancer at age 55. This had a huge impact on the family as he was a 2nd father to Ryan. Spending time with family and friends to mourn Paul, we also celebrated life: the life Paul had, the purpose he had every day, the joy that poured out of his and Denise's heart in marriage, and the role model he continues to be to us. This challenges us to remember how quickly life can change and to live NOW for our everlasting purpose.

In January, Amy's dad had his final surgery, another attempt at correcting an irregular heartbeat. There was much tension surrounding the months of medication and exams leading up to issues that had lingered for years. Seeing her dad in this condition had been hard. The year leading up to January was an emotional one. Learning of his diagnosis, experiencing his first semi-successful surgery in June 2012, Ryan moving home from China the same month, and getting married that August, we were anxious for January to be the final step toward healing. So far the surgery has been successful this time. Praise God that he is off all of his heart medication, and we are hopeful for a full recovery! Please join us in continuing to pray for his recovery and for him to regain his energy.

In the midst of these changes, Ryan's company asked if we would be interested in an international assignment to Japan. We spent that morning quietly looking at each other with uncertainty. After several days of talking, it didn't come up again for a few months.  Within those months, God placed specific people in our lives and surprised us with how He showed us that Japan is exactly where He wants us to be. Our lead pastor linked us by email to Ron and Carolyn Hardy, at church, who had been missionaries to Japan for 30 years! After several emails, we finally met at the Canton Farmer’s Market when we happened upon one another after church! Ron called out to us at the market because they had seen us at church. After talking and getting to know one another, we learned that they had been missionaries to Japan. That's when we put it all together and realized that they were the couple we had been emailing. God arranged such a perfect meeting that we couldn’t have planned ourselves. They live in the neighborhood by ours, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the nights we have spent praying and talking with them about Japan. We have expressed our recurring draw to Asia, our excitement, fears, and concerns, and learned to make Japanese cuisine! They equipped us with contacts of people there and to a camp where Amy hopes to do volunteer work: Torchbearers International Yamanakako. God also gave us the friendship of neighbors, Jay & Rachael Kent. Shortly after meeting them, Rachael invited Amy over for breakfast. She shared their heart for ministry in Texas. We hardly knew each other, but she shared her fears, concerns, and her hope in God.  As she said this to me, she said, "I don't know if any of this even makes sense." Amy said, "You have no idea how much I understand..." as she explained our opportunity in Japan. We only lived across the street from them for a few months until they moved to Texas. Those months had a huge impact on Amy's heart as Rachael helped open her eyes to the fact that Ryan has a heart for the work he was asked to do, and Amy has a heart from the people of Asia. We see very clearly how God put a church and specific people in our lives, even for a short time, as instruments to soften and prepare our hearts for Japan.

After that, we looked at this opportunity with open minds, hopeful hearts, and excitement. In July, Ryan told his company that we wanted to go, and Amy told General Motors that she would not be returning to work. This decision thrust us into constant prayer and planning! In September, we spent a week in Japan. We looked for an apartment together, then Ryan worked in his new office while a coworker showed Amy the basics around town: grocery stores, post office, bank, how to use the train system, and downtown Tokyo. We also spent an evening at Torchbearers Yamanakako to meet the team, see the facilities, and have dinner together. From the first moment we saw Japan from the airplane, we felt peace with how quickly our hearts were knit to this land.

Since September, preparations have become more real. Although there are a lot of things to prepare, God is clearly taking care of the details, which gives us peace on the hard days. We took introductory Japanese language classes two days per week from November 11 to December 11. We also had an eye opening Japanese culture training course for two full days (November 19 and 21) through Cartus. The course had great insight into the culture, the people, and the stages of emotions we will face while integrating into this (or any new) culture. The week before Thanksgiving, we listed our condominium for rent through a longtime and trusted friend and within 3 days had an offer from the first and only family to view the property. This family is also on an international assignment for 2 years from Mexico! How wonderful to know that we can help a family who is in the same unfamiliar setting in the U.S.A. as us we will be in Japan.

The month of December has been an emotional one. The reality of moving has become more real. When we think about the process of moving, we are overcome with memories of the first year of marriage in our home.

Christmas 2013: In front of our home in Canton, MI. August 18, 2012 - January 3, 2014. Photo by Erica Moccia Photography.

When we realize we will not see family and close friends until our home leave (Christmas 2014, Lord willing), we are overcome with sadness. God has given us encouragement through close friendships and Torchbearers Yamanakako. When we are struggling, we’ll get an encouraging text or email of love. At the end of the day when we take a moment to breathe and look at our lives from the outside in, we are so thankful for strength and support through family and friends.

We would love if you could pray for us over the next two years. We will pack and ship some items to Japan on December 30. The rest of our home will be packed away on January 3rd and 4th. Our departure date for Japan is January 9th. Ryan will start this new assignment on January 13, 2014 as a Team Leader in the Automotive Planning Department which does corporate and business planning for global Yazaki operations at the World Headquarters. This will be his first time leading people, and he will need patience and a sound mind to guide this team, especially since the culture is so different than what we're accustomed. Pray that his heart will be drawn closer to God's every day and that he will be a picture of Christ's love to the people around him.  Pray that we will become connected to a church in our city, Gotemba New Hope Chapel (also known as Gotemba Full Gospel Christ Church), and begin a life where we will feel at home. Pray that Amy will be patient and supportive of Ryan as we both go through the stages of living in a new culture, with a new language, and making friends. Pray that Amy will be steadfast in work at Torchbearers and that God will open doors for her to teach English and learn Japanese. Pray that we will learn Japanese culture quickly. Pray for Torchbearers Yamanakako, the directors Steve & Jennifer Frentz, their children, the team, and their ministry. Pray for us on our hard days that we will remember God’s promises and our trust in Him that Japan is exactly where He wants us for now.

Looking forward, we are reminded of Jesus’ great commission in Matthew 28:19-20. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Please pray that we will be mindful of our purpose in life to lift our eyes toward God so that others may also see His perfect love and that we will remember His presence always.

As we celebrate the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, at Christmas, this is our prayer for you: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).” We hope that you find His peace as this year comes to an end.

We invite you to join us in this journey at:

www.lifewiththehassfamily.wordpress.com

www.lifewiththehassfamily.blogspot.com

-or-

ryanandamy2012@gmail.com

Our U.S.A. address will discontinue on December 31, 2013, but beginning January 10, 2014, our mailing address in Japan will be:

 [Please email us for this mailing address]

If you have ever considered visiting Japan, you are welcome to stay with us. Our home is your home, wherever we may go!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love always,

Ryan & Amy Hass