Yikes! I can't say enough it seems... I've been meaning to write a blog entry for some time- to share all that is happening, but then something else happens, and then something else!!! Today was amazing! Haidee and I hosted an open house for our students from the English school and for the church members to get together and see the new place we live. There was so much prep to do- I must have cleaned and finished unpacking for close to seven hours yesterday, and Haidee stayed up half the night Friday making brownies, breads, and cookies, but it was all so much more than worth it in the end! We had so many people here- we couldn't all fit in our large living room and people had to go to other parts of the house to find a place to be! But in the midst of all the closeness, of all the baked goods and sembe (rice crackers), of a house full of people of all ages and walks of life- God did something amazing! People, formerly strangers, connected, relationships bloomed. Church members connected with students who aren't christian (yet) and the way people gravitated towards each other in conversation can only be credited to God; I mean right down to who was talking to who, and where! And who else was sitting close by to over hear and connect too! Many of my former students from Shirone came and it was so wonderful to see them again and although they are farther away physically, I felt so blessed that the relationships don't have to end- but that it may actually, through having to be more intentional and interacting outside of a classroom context, provide a easier and more fruitful place to share of Christ love! One student who has expressed interest in commuting to study with me or one of the other teachers at Nozomi sat next to a student in the class she wants to observe next Tuesday. Well, the women really really hit it off, and I think it's a great fit and a wonderful place for her to fit in and I am praying for the seeds that have yet to be planted in this guarded woman's heart.
I feel too as though things with my social calendar are really going to start filling up soon! A young Japanese woman I'd met once or twice before came after I emailed her on her cell phone an invitation. She has such a kind and gentle heart, but she is really hurting and lonely. We really hit it off and I was surprised to learn how close she live and works to me! And although she's not a christian yet, she was open enough to pray with us and sing during a worship time we had at the end of the open house. She has had contact with other Christians before, and it is those seeds planted before to which I attribute this openness. It reminds me of the passage in 1 Corinthians where Paul is adjuring the Christians to be careful in how they build upon the foundation laid by another- that each man ought to be careful how he builds. We never really know what place or stage in the working of the miracle of faith in a person's life in which God calls us to enter, but in love and faithfulness and according to His leading we tender and care for what is there in the hopes of what is to come! So please pray for Ms. K.
I also met another girl who has no connection with the church itself, but she has a friend who is connected. She heard from this friend about the open house and decided to come with her- and then ended up staying 2 hours after her friend left!!! We had such a good conversation- she told me of her time in the US two years ago when she was an exchange student in Delaware. She told me of how much she missed the states and we reminisced together for a while, and then she really opened up and shared what a difficult time it has been for her readjusting to the Japanese school system and culture. She said her favorite thing in school in the states was writing essays! This was a strange thing to hear- and would not have been my first guess- but upon further conversation, I deduced that it was because it was an entirely different and new way of thinking. In Japanese schools, students copy what the teacher writes on the board and memorize it. I attribute this ingrained technique of learning to the Kanji system of writing in which there is no other way to learn the thousands of characters needed to function as an adult other than memorization. But in the US, she had to formulate an opinion and support it in her essays! She said at first it was so strange because she didn't have one- she didn't care! Whatever everyone else was thinking was fine with her (also very Japanese). But now that this other way of thinking and existing (no school uniforms, no cram school after a full day of school, no nightmarish tests that determine the future of the rest of your life!!!) she is really struggling. I was so happy to meet her and connect with her and I am really praying about the things God may do and the ways He may work in this relationship!
In another corner of the room was a church member, a single woman, who before was living in the drudgery of daily life, who is almost suddenly realizing her gifts and potential ways she can be used in ministry. She has just been coming alive! She met and talked with an English school student who is in her 30s and single like her- and they found out they work across the street from each other- and now they are planning lunch dates! It was such a blessing to see this blossoming Christian woman connecting with a woman who is hurting and has many walls up- but God is using Kyoko to penetrate them!!! There are so many other examples.... that I know of- and so many more things that happened that were unseen!!! Yikes- God's not just raining blessings- He's pouring them down!
One last story- so cool- although I was mostly an observer to it all- it is such a testimony to how the body of Christ works together, functions together, to bring people to faith in Him- and parts of it He just plain does all by himself. There are two Jr. High girls; one is a student of the English school, the other is her friend. The two had been coming together to the free English events, like coffee house, and around April or May found themselves back in Cindy's apartment after one such coffee house. Atsushi was there, a good friend and recently baptized Christian, and he was sharing, in Japanese, all about his new faith with these two girls. While it was clear at the time that they enjoyed themselves, there was no other outward sign that anything was happening. They continued to attend English events, and they both attended our open house today. It was here, today, that Cindy was having a conversation with them and they kept saying things like, "now that we believe..." and Cindy thought at first she'd misheard, but when it kept happening, she clarified, "in God? Jesus?" they answered, "Yes!" and shared the story of how they'd thought a lot about what Atsushi had said, and they'd picked up some paper with a christian message on it. When they decided they believed after reading this paper, they began to pray about things in their life that came up- and God kept answering them!!! They were amazed!!! They began to become more and more convinced in their new faith- this was just two weeks ago! Their faith is so new and they haven't even talked to a pastor or been baptized or even to a church service!!! They just love Jesus and are hungry to know and experience more of what life can be like living in freedom, loving and trusting in the one true God! Praise God!
So much more to tell- but it'll have to wait for another post or I'm going to fall asleep at my computer! Thanks for all your prayers- they are a big part of what is happening here too!
I feel too as though things with my social calendar are really going to start filling up soon! A young Japanese woman I'd met once or twice before came after I emailed her on her cell phone an invitation. She has such a kind and gentle heart, but she is really hurting and lonely. We really hit it off and I was surprised to learn how close she live and works to me! And although she's not a christian yet, she was open enough to pray with us and sing during a worship time we had at the end of the open house. She has had contact with other Christians before, and it is those seeds planted before to which I attribute this openness. It reminds me of the passage in 1 Corinthians where Paul is adjuring the Christians to be careful in how they build upon the foundation laid by another- that each man ought to be careful how he builds. We never really know what place or stage in the working of the miracle of faith in a person's life in which God calls us to enter, but in love and faithfulness and according to His leading we tender and care for what is there in the hopes of what is to come! So please pray for Ms. K.
I also met another girl who has no connection with the church itself, but she has a friend who is connected. She heard from this friend about the open house and decided to come with her- and then ended up staying 2 hours after her friend left!!! We had such a good conversation- she told me of her time in the US two years ago when she was an exchange student in Delaware. She told me of how much she missed the states and we reminisced together for a while, and then she really opened up and shared what a difficult time it has been for her readjusting to the Japanese school system and culture. She said her favorite thing in school in the states was writing essays! This was a strange thing to hear- and would not have been my first guess- but upon further conversation, I deduced that it was because it was an entirely different and new way of thinking. In Japanese schools, students copy what the teacher writes on the board and memorize it. I attribute this ingrained technique of learning to the Kanji system of writing in which there is no other way to learn the thousands of characters needed to function as an adult other than memorization. But in the US, she had to formulate an opinion and support it in her essays! She said at first it was so strange because she didn't have one- she didn't care! Whatever everyone else was thinking was fine with her (also very Japanese). But now that this other way of thinking and existing (no school uniforms, no cram school after a full day of school, no nightmarish tests that determine the future of the rest of your life!!!) she is really struggling. I was so happy to meet her and connect with her and I am really praying about the things God may do and the ways He may work in this relationship!
In another corner of the room was a church member, a single woman, who before was living in the drudgery of daily life, who is almost suddenly realizing her gifts and potential ways she can be used in ministry. She has just been coming alive! She met and talked with an English school student who is in her 30s and single like her- and they found out they work across the street from each other- and now they are planning lunch dates! It was such a blessing to see this blossoming Christian woman connecting with a woman who is hurting and has many walls up- but God is using Kyoko to penetrate them!!! There are so many other examples.... that I know of- and so many more things that happened that were unseen!!! Yikes- God's not just raining blessings- He's pouring them down!
One last story- so cool- although I was mostly an observer to it all- it is such a testimony to how the body of Christ works together, functions together, to bring people to faith in Him- and parts of it He just plain does all by himself. There are two Jr. High girls; one is a student of the English school, the other is her friend. The two had been coming together to the free English events, like coffee house, and around April or May found themselves back in Cindy's apartment after one such coffee house. Atsushi was there, a good friend and recently baptized Christian, and he was sharing, in Japanese, all about his new faith with these two girls. While it was clear at the time that they enjoyed themselves, there was no other outward sign that anything was happening. They continued to attend English events, and they both attended our open house today. It was here, today, that Cindy was having a conversation with them and they kept saying things like, "now that we believe..." and Cindy thought at first she'd misheard, but when it kept happening, she clarified, "in God? Jesus?" they answered, "Yes!" and shared the story of how they'd thought a lot about what Atsushi had said, and they'd picked up some paper with a christian message on it. When they decided they believed after reading this paper, they began to pray about things in their life that came up- and God kept answering them!!! They were amazed!!! They began to become more and more convinced in their new faith- this was just two weeks ago! Their faith is so new and they haven't even talked to a pastor or been baptized or even to a church service!!! They just love Jesus and are hungry to know and experience more of what life can be like living in freedom, loving and trusting in the one true God! Praise God!
So much more to tell- but it'll have to wait for another post or I'm going to fall asleep at my computer! Thanks for all your prayers- they are a big part of what is happening here too!
2 comments:
Yay God For So many blessings in one night! He truly is awesome! Thanks for sharing. I cant wait to hear more stories.
for real, so amazing! How great is our God! I'm so glad to hear things are going well for you as you transitioned. Blessings!
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