In the Last 5 Days

Friday I met a friend whose really seeking for dinner, and she came for the first time to worship with us in the evening. I continue to be amazed as I watch the way the pastor I serve with can take a Biblical text and find meaning in it that speaks specifically to the needs of an individual. Wow- I hope to learn a lot from this man- in whatever time it is that I have to learn from him. I gave this friend a Bible too- though not the translation she'd been talking about getting (she wants a Bilingual one), we have copies of the NT in Japanese that she was thrilled to receive, and, eyes wide upon receiving it, she told me she would treasure it! She stayed long after worship ended, enjoying community too.

Saturday we met with a group of students and Nomura Sensei and went caroling to church members and students homes. I can't even explain what a joy it was to bring the joy of Christmas to people through music- right into their homes. It's such a personal and intentional way of sharing the joy of Christ's birth with people. Going to the church members homes, though it seems small, was a wonderful opportunity to bring those two groups together, in a spirit of joy and hospitality.

On Sunday I was reminded of the importance of doing ministry with others, and the places and things we can do together with others that we couldn't do alone. This is true not only in terms of quantity and quality, but also in the kinds of relationships we are able to have with people and in enabling one another to live above reproach. We helped a friend in performing a new piece of music, then proceeded to dinner and karaoke. At dinner, my friend who I gave the Bible to was there, and when asked if she was Christian, she proceeded to tell the other woman at the table, "Not yet," and then went into the whole story of how she became interested in Christianity and found the church, etc. I of course, saw it as her sharing the story of how God was drawing her to himself, but she's just not quite there to see it as that yet. Praying she will soon...

Monday there was a one-day seminar at the church. Many people came from surrounding churches, and even a few students who aren't christian came. I was quite surprised to see many of the teachers from both mine and Haidees' kindergartens who aren't christian in attendance. The topic was, from what I gathered from others, about different aspects of your life (faith, physical, mental, emotional) and the source of our value- that is, from God. We are valuable not because of what we can do or even what we are, but rather because of whose we are! We are Gods'; we belong to Him, He made us, and paid a steep price in redeeming us! As God and His love are unchangeable and unshakable, so our value, derived from His disposition toward us, is also unchangeable and unshakable! What a thing to find comfort and hope in!

And today, Tuesday, I got to talking to another foreigner who also teaches English at the University. Somehow in our conversation we got onto the subject of church. He said that in England he'd attended the Church of England, but here, he thought all there were were Catholic churches, which he tried attending, but it didn't quite feel right- he didn't feel people were really meaning what they were saying and doing. (I'm not writing here to support or discredit his perspective, merely regurgitating what he said.) He seemed really excited to learn that there was a Lutheran church in the area, and said he wanted to come and see what it was like. What was perhaps the most interesting thing in this whole conversation, was that he said that when he hadn't felt anything in the Catholic churches, he decided to instead go to the local famous shrine. He said that there he felt something, "spiritual" (my word based on his impression), which is a really interesting observation! There is something spiritual there- a presence- but it is not of God! It's amazing that he recognizes it there. and so along with praying for him and that he comes to church, I'm also praying that God will help him to discern between the different kinds of spiritual presences he's sensing- and that he'll choose to dwell in the presence of God's light rather than the darkness on places like Hakusan shrine.

Jaa... it's so helpful to record these things and to remember them. In the midst of all this, yesterday for a time, I was struggling again serious self-doubt as to the value and effectiveness of my ministry here. Those thoughts are obviously not coming from God! And while God continues to assure me of His calling me here and the value He sees (in contrast to the world), I am still so thankful that God gives us tangible things to see and point back to- and, if I can exercise my "Lutheran" lingo here- tangible, our baptism points us to who we are and whose we are, the Lord's Supper points us to what He's done for us and assures us of our forgiveness, and having the privilege now and again to see how God is working and using us assures us that He hears and is answering our prayers- to be used by Him and bring glory to Him in proclaiming the one true hope and love to those He seeks to draw to Himself!

Fall Colors at Kamoyama Park

A little back blogged

So I'm a little back blogged as of late- but that is not to say things have not been happening, it seems to be quite the opposite. So I'll do my best to give a brief summary.

The last week of October was fall retreat for the VYM program in Tokyo. I along with another missionary and friend, Jenae, had the opportunity to plan and coordinate the retreat in conjunction with the director and assistant director who worked on the business side of things. The theme was "In His Hands" and we spent a lot of time worshiping, praying, and learning together in community over the course of the week. We even got away to a retreat center for the weekend near Mt. Fuji which we had great weather for and spectacular fall colors!

Then we jumped right back into classes and ministry in Niigata. I had the opportunity to attend the once a year, customary children's blessing that the churches have in coincidence with the custom of the native religion here. The churches offer it to families in lu of the pagan blessing, but for many non-christian families, I think it becomes in addition to. The blessing was held at the supporting church of the kindergarten I work at on Wednesdays in Sanjo (around 50 miles south of Niigata City). It was another good chance to connect with the families of the school and to meet the church members for the first time. In the past, the church in Sanjo has had a VYM missionary and English school as well, but it closed about two years ago to the sudden surprise and angst of the church members and there are still a lot of hurt feelings. Rather than go into all the nitty-gritty details of conflict that we know every church experiences in some way, I'll just ask for prayer for this church and the members there and the outreach of the kindergarten to the children and their families.

The next weekend was coffee house, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving we had a pie tasting event to which 30 people attended and polished off most of the 10 pies that had been prepared! I even made a chocolate pudding pie with a graham cracker crust- the graham crackers I made from scratch because, well, this is Japan and they're not so readily available. It was delicious! I had no idea you could actually make graham crackers- and they were so much better than what comes from the box!!! The second part of the coffee house was in preparation for advent- we decorated! It was wonderful to see such an intergenerational event (kids as young as 5, Jr. High-college students, young adults, middle agers, and retirees) where everyone worked together and people that normally wouldn't interact with certain people or age-groups thrown into it and loving it all! By far the best part of the coffee house was the after time- when the stragglers were just hanging out, talking, listening to a student play his guitar, eating pie straight from the pan armed with forks! The people who stuck around are the ones who have needs for relationships and interests at varying levels in Christianity. Yuko was there, the woman with whom I've been emailing back and forth youtube links to worship music, and Bible verses that she reads along with her prayers every night that she started doing after last month's coffee house. A student of Haidees, the guitar player, has a growing interest in the Gospel and has been attending regularly the Friday evening worship times, Saturday English Bible class, Thursdays Christmas choir, and volunteering with Haidee and Nomura Sensei (our pastor) playing music at nursing homes. He's really gotten into playing worship music for Friday's worship and at the nursing homes, and at coffee house, when we were all sitting around, it was him who insisted that people couldn't go until they'd sung "Who and I" and seen the following youtube link, which you, the reader, should definitely watch! http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=FVJqRLU3J0I At the end of the night, Yuko and another young woman who, because of life circumstances is really seeking God, both are planning to attend for the first time the Friday evening worship- tonight! I'm so thankful for these girls and the place to which God has brought them and the openness with which I can share with them about the gospel and their eagerness to hear!

The next day was Sunday, and the church hosted an organ concert that was just packed! There were around 100 people there! Pretty amazing for a church that usually has about 25-30 for weekly worship. The church targeted families with small children especially by offering part of the concert with familiar music to the kids, and then providing child care for the second half. It maybe doesn't sound or seem so extraordinary in our culture, but here, most concert fliers will say things like, "no children under 6" or "no children!". The church, in doing this, was able to send a different message to their community about the value and place of children! Many of our students came to, which was really good as well!

That speeds us up to this week! I'm working on getting a newsletter out soon- and will be posting another entry here again soon to! I hope and pray that you are well, wherever you find yourself, and if not well, then that you are finding comfort and joy in the knowledge that you are "In His Hands"!