December 2006
Proposed Design for Site 224
Christmas Eve services at Koza had concluded and family and friends stayed around sharing hugs and best wishes. Some spoke of the fact that this was the last Christmas service to be held in the current building. Most were aware and in prayer for the ongoing negotiations surrounding “Site 224” just few kilometers northeast of Kadena. Later in the evening, precisely at 2105, the joyful news came by cell phone: “The contracts were accepted!”
How appropriate for our Lord to bring agreement among the three land owners as a gift to Koza on the eve of the celebration of man’s greatest Gift. The night before, our real estate agent and broker had sat down with us for four hours, going through each of the contract proposals. Tim Smith had worked many more hours in putting together the purchase proposal which included fourteen contingencies. Of specific concern was the rezoning of the farm land and the need for all three land owners to agree on the price. Throughout the review of forty-plus sites and the detailed deliberations of floor plans and design, God has brought all together to His Glory.
Background to current status: Don Highlander made his third trip to Okinawa from 7 to12 December and worked with Tim and Laura Rice in refining the design of our new building. Along with the assistance of personnel from Nakamoto Architectural Development and Design department, we were able to see a proposed plan that was within our campaign goals. That is; if the church would approve the land offer for Site 224. Don provided an excellent overview of the proposal the Sunday evening before he left, and the day following his departure, Koza unanimously voted for the site.
Site 224 is located just east of Okinawa Expressway Exit 5 off Highway 36. It is almost dead center between Kadena and Camp Courtney, as shown below. The portion of Highway 224 adjacent to the Koza site is near completion and within the next two years will be extended north to Camp Courtney. At that time it will form a beltway around Okinawa City, affording excellent access to the new building.
Please be in prayer as the purchase contracts are filed over the next few days and we finalize the building plans in order to begin the solicitation of prime contractors. This process will take a month or more…and more information to follow after the holidays. For now, join us in praise for what God is doing on Okinawa!
