Last Saturday's Coffee House

This week has flown by way too fast, but I can't let another day slip away without sharing about the amazing ways God is moving here- most recently seen at our once-monthly free English coffee house.

A woman came who is a huge switchfoot fan and has traveled to the US three times to see them play. It was because of her interest in their music that she became interested in Christianity and looked Nozomi Lutheran Church up on the internet and came to the Bible class a few weeks back. The theme was 'patience' and afterward, we got to talking about life, and I asked her if she was married and she said no, but that she wanted to be and really wanted to be a mother- but that she hadn't met the right person. So- being the nosy person you know me to be- I asked her if she'd dated much in the past, and she said yes, and her eyes began to well with tears as she told me it still hurts- that she can still remember one man in particular really well. So I started to tell her about God's love, and how we can take to him our hurts, our brokenness, and I referred to the song we'd used that night- everlasting God- and told her she could pray- that God could bring her hope- that he made her, that he knows her, and that he sees her hurt and wants to bring her healing- that he loved her and sent his son who gave his life for her- she was crying even more- and told me that from that night- she'd pray every night before bed. At first I thought she said she prays every night before bed- but she clarified that "from tonight" she will begin to pray every night before bed!!!!!!!

And there was a woman her age who is a church member, also not married, who was telling her all about where in Niigata she could get a good Bible that she'd be able to read and understand. This church member's faith has just been coming alive too- and God keeps putting her in places where he uses her in amazing ways!

There also was a man who came, Canadian, who teaches English in the area. He told Nomura Sensei at the beginning that he grew up in the catholic church, but that he's not christian. For the coffee house Haidee taught a song- "Everlasting God"- and we broke up into groups to talk about it. He was in my group and sat back with his arms crossed and asked me sceptically if these
Japanese people would even be able to grasp the concepts in the song. I said we'd try!

We talked a bit about it, then sang it- at the end, he said to me- "Wow- that's a great song! I love the guitar. The catholic church uses the organ and I hate the organ." He stayed around for worship after coffee house, and although he didn't want to sing, I gave him the words so he could read along if he wanted. After worship, he said that he feels like he should find a church, and he'd like to come here! Would you just look at the way God melted the ice around his heart!!!!

God's opening doors, bringing people, and touching them with His love through His word and the christian community here. It is such a blessing to watch and be a part of. I thank you for your prayers and ask you to continue to pray for Japan, especially for the people God is bringing as they are, having expressed interest in Christianity, in a vulnerable place in their new interest/faith. It is my hope and prayer that God would use you where you are to proclaim the gospel to those living in darkness, and I pray God would give you eyes to see and celebrate the ways He's moving and working! Blessings friends!

I can't stop praising God for this day!

I just had the most incredible day! Incredible! Amazing! Did I mention incredible?!?!?! After staying up waaaaaaaay later than I should have, I prayed before bed that as God multiplied loaves and fish, that He'd multiply my hours of sleep! I also prayed that I'd wake up before my alarm and that it wouldn't be difficult to get up. So this morning I woke up 7 minutes before my alarm was set to go off, and was able just to lay in bed and peacefully enjoy a cool breeze and take a moment to collect myself. Then I got ready and when I normally do my devotions, Haidee appeared with her computer and we started listening to worship music and talking about the crazy good things God does both in the Bible and in our lives! I actually left the house early, and caught the train which ended up being slowly filled by a hiking club- each stop brought more on the train- it was really funny- they were all so cute in their hats with their towels around their necks and their walking sticks (hiking is a quite serious endeavor here : ) ). I was much less prepared than usual to teach, but I really just wanted to pray and read this story of a missionary's work in China rather than worry about the day. When I got to the kindergarten, the kids were on a field trip, pulling sweet potatoes. So I didn't have to teach those classes today and instead got to go and dig in the dirt with 30 kindergartners! It was a good chance to connect with student parents as well. At lunch the kids were trying really hard to use every English word with me that they knew, and then they started singing, alternating between "ABC" and "Jesus Loves Me" in both English and Japanese. So we talked about Jesus and how much He loved them over lunch! Then, my women's class went well and one of my student's daughters who just turned a year and is normally afraid of the strange-looking foreigner, not only did she let me play with her, but I had her laughing her with the funniest, deep-belly laugh I've ever heard out of a child that young! In my private lesson with my student, Aiko, God opened the door for an amazing conversation about Christianity! She asked if I ever felt homesick, and I replied that while I do miss my family at times, I find that family love with my church family here. She really seemed to want to talk about the church. She recounted the time she travelled to Italy, and how at first she felt very uncomfortable because of all the big churches and christian things, but after 3 days she felt really comfortable and at peace. She was also privileged to see Davinci's "Last Supper" with 3 other people, in a room that is normally packed. She said it made it much more personal, like she was face to face almost with Christ, and her heart throbbed and ached. She wept. Although she couldn't understand it fully, she sensed the power and importance of what that painting conveyed. God had opened the door for me to share about that night, how Jesus was later betrayed and crucified. She said she'd seen paintings of that too- and this opened up dialogue further. Somehow we got to talking about Jesus' power from God, and how he used it not to exercise over people and bring about his own prosperity in conquering nations and such, but He used His power in love- to heal people, to give sight to the blind, to make the lame walk, and when I told her of how He raised the dead, her eyes got wide! And then it all came back full swing- when I shared that it's this same love that I have in Christ and experience with my church family! God is really stirring in this young woman's heart, and I am so thankful that He brought her to study English with me, and that He would choose to use me in such a way! My kids classes after that were such a joy, and then, as if all of the above wasn't enough, on my train ride home, a familiar-looking young woman sat down across from me. She asked if I spoke Japanese, and I responded that I spoke a little. Then, she began conversing with me in great English. She told me she'd seen me that morning at the train station, and that she'd wanted to talk to me, but that she was in a hurry and didn't have time. That's why she looked familiar to me! And then she expressed her excitement at seeing me again this evening, taking the same train back as her to Niigata Station. She said she was here for business and actually splits her time between Niigata and a prefecture north of here, half and half, but that she doesn't have any friends here. We of course exchanged contact information and I told her I'd be happy to be her friend. She then leaned over and asked about what I was reading, which happened to be the story of the missionary in China whose work was in the walled city with drug addicts and dealers, prostitutes, and gamblers. I shared with her how this woman gave up everything she had to share God's love with these people and about how through God's power and love people were healed of drug addictions, people's lives were turned around, and people and families found healing, joy and hope. The name of the book is "Chasing the Dragon" and I explained to her how that is slang for using opium/heroin. I connected the word "chasing" with drug addictions, and how addicts are always looking for their next fix. She responded by saying that the title had a double meaning- that the people were chasing the dragon while the missionary was chasing it too- not to use it, but to free people from it! Her response convinced me that what I'd said had definitely been understood! We parted ways, but I'm praying for her and looking forward to meeting with her soon. On my walk home I prayed for both her, Wakako, and Aiko, for God to continue to open their hearts and create faith, and that He'd use me and give me the right words at the right time. When I got home, Haidee was here (which is unusual, I normally don't see her Wednesdays) and so, after a day like that, what else could I do but worship! Poor Haidee was in a hurry to get back to church when I got home, but she gladly gave in to my request, and even though she's gone now to church, I'm still here and haven't been able to stop singing and listening to worship music.

Do you think I'm crazy? I kinda do right now! I have no logical explanation for any of this- but that's exactly what faith is! So I'm thankful, filled with Joy, and all the more convinced that this is what it is that God created me to do! I'm so excited for tomorrow!