More Skit Day Photos

Skit Day, Site Training, and an Answer to Prayer!

Whew! What a whirlwind of a month! I was glad I could get my newsletter out, but my blog has been lonely for a bit- so I am sorry to my faithful readers! If you are interested in watching a video of me doing Shodou, the traditional Japanese calligraphy, I've included the link below. The kanji I chose is "Fukkatsu" which means "Resurrection". I retraced one of the strokes, which is a no no. Caught in the act!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=510169978515

On March 7th we celebrated the end of language school by performing a skit written and performed by all of the Japanese language students in a joint effort. We tried to tape it, but we found out afterward that there is no sound! But I have many, many pictures! It was titled "Densha (train) Drama" and was the story of love at first site on a busy train in Tokyo. As hard as the love birds try, different events and characters keep coming in between them on the train. There were sumo wrestlers, cowboys, tourists, Harajuku teens, a drink man, and a sleeping man. Finally their stop comes and the girl gets off but the boy is unable to. Thinking she's lost him, she goes to her first day of English class at LLI and lo and behold- he's a student in the class too! "Ya ta!" I hope we can get the tape working because I'd love for you all to see it! Especially where I almost told my love-interest that I am a vegetable!

Site training was really good. I got to meet the congregation, students, and pastor that will all be a big part of my life for the next two years, or as long as God sees fit. The two kindergartens are full of energy and curious, excitable children who were all in awe over my height and hair color. I even caught one little boy trying to touch my hair at lunch every time I turned my head the other way and he thought I wasn't looking. I of course let him, and he was so surprised by the texture! At both sites I teach other classes, and the schedule allows me to stay longer and eat lunch, play with students, and mingle with teachers. Most of the teachers aren't Christian, so it seems to be as much of an opportunity to share the love of Christ with the students as the adults.

This week has been filled with teacher training workshops, and it has been so helpful to have seen the classes I will teach in attending these sessions. I am getting a lot of great answers to questions and innovative ideas for teaching! Today I had a huge answer to prayer... my international driving permit came!!!!! So thank you all for your prayers! That is the fastest I've heard of postage making it across the ocean this way and processing of the application and such! What a great God we have! I have been so blessed lately through His constant and perfect provisions that come just when I need them. It makes me think of the line in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread". It's everything we need for the day, but still we trust in His love and provision for tomorrow. And everyday I see it, the stronger my faith grows in hope and expectation of all of the tomorrows to come.

"I have set the way of the Lord before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:8-11

I love you all! Please pray for me in this transition and for spiritual protection; and, as always, let me know how I can be praying for you!

Placement is.....

I learned tonight that I will be spending the next two years living in...... NIIGATA!!! Horray! I'll be teaching at Niigata University, classes at the church, and three kindergarten classes!!! The pastor there actually graduated from Ft. Wayne Seminary- coincedentally enough. More information and photos to come! Until then... take care and God bless!

Shame

I went to a seminar today on the topic of shame, its role in the Japanese culture, and its effects on ministry and christianity in Japan. I feel as though living abroad has taught me as much about my own culture as it has about Japanese culture. I see now that whereas before I had only one point of refrence in my pursuit to understand the world, living abroad has expanded this understanding immensly. Being such, we discussed today what it means to be living in and trying to minister to people of a shame-based culture. While guilt and shame are often assiciated, the differences are distinct. Simply put, "Guilt" is when you feel sorry for what you've done. "Shame" is when you feel badly about who you are. So deeply rooted in a person, it wraps itself around and even strangles feelings of intrensic value and identity one posesses of oneself. Is it any wonder then, that Japan has one of the highest suicide rates world-wide. The source of this structure is difficult to pinpoint, but can be related to the culture of honor and pride within the code of the Bushido. Sense of personal identiy is also somewhat less defined here, as the tendency seems to lean more toward collectivity and conformity- values which in my American upbringing were often opposed. "Dare to be different" a classroom poster said. You'd never see such a message in a Japanese classroom. (I always feel the need to be careful in making cultural comparisons such as this because I have to remind myself that any judgements I might make are coming from my own subjective experience and not an objective reality; meaning, that the last thing I mean to do here is to criticize another culture.)

Having said all of this, there is much hope to be had in the Gospel for people suffering within such intra-personal prisons. Pastor Oshiba spends much of his paper offering christiological direction in addressing these struggles and the challenges they pose to people and faith. Like in all other afflictions and temptations- our Savior is one who himself is not foreign to these sufferings. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15). Oshiba also suggests Isaiah 53 as a source of comfort and hope for those living in such bondage. So strong is the theme of shame in this culture, and so powerful is its effect on faith, that the students at the Lutheran seminary here spend a good deal examining its role in their own life and faith as well as how to minister to those who suffer under such burdens. "(Christ is) the eternal companion with suffering people, (and He) provides a powerfully healing way to those who suffer shame." To read the text in full, follow the following link: http://www4.big.or.jp/~joshiba/message/george/stm.html

Sumo!

Here are some photos from the recent sumo match I attended. I was surprised in talking to the people here that most of them have never seen a sumo match in person. I went for a class trip with my Japanese class, and I feel very blessed to have done so. There aren't really any rules, other than to get your opponent out of the circle by whatever means possible. There is no whistle or bell to tell them when to go; instead, the opponents stare eachother down, demonstrate their agility, intimidate each other by throwing salt in the ring, and finally engage on a sudden whim. Enjoy!

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

I was struck by the irony of two events on Sunday. After church on Sunday, I met a member named Nishimoto-san. When I first saw him, I noted that he was elderly, on oxygen, and very short- even for a Japanese man. After the service I sat next to him at what the members call "British tea", where everyone drinks coffee or tea and snacks on various treats. A favorite game that older Japanese people like to play is "guess how old I am". I always do my best to guess low- and I'm usually off by 15 or 20 years- they all look so young here! I found out that Nishimoto-san is 70 years old. He also told me that he was born in Hiroshima. I quickly tried to do the math in my head. He told me that he was 8 years old when the bomb went off, and that he remembers the day well. My heart began to race. I didn't know what to say or to do; other than to listen to him and tell him how sorry I was for his pain. I learned then that although the oxygen was something he'd only been using for the last 5 years, he'd lost his left arm in the explosion and his growth was severely stunted. He hadn't grown since the bomb went off. He told me he'd written an article that had been published in the Lutheran Witness some years ago about his experiences, and so I am trying to track down a copy.

Then later that day, after lunch I wound up in Ueno Park. It is a place where modern meets tradition; boasting various temples, a 5-story pagoda, carnival rides, and even a zoo. But what struck me the most was a monument that was there. It was all in granite. There was a place in the body of the bird that had been hollowed out that held a single flame, concealed in glass. The flame is was captured and saved by a man who traveled in search of his father after the bombs were dropped, finding only the house in ruins and still burning. The flame became for him a sort of symbol of his hatred and anger; but over time it became a symbol of his desire for peace and the eradication of the use, production, and possession of nuclear weapons. The flame was presented at the UN disarmament task force that convened in New York in 1988, and has found it home in Ueno Park ever since.

Prior to coming here, I was very apprehensive about encountering people who harbored negative feelings toward the US for dropping the two atomic bombs at the end of WWII. Some 60 years later, and international relations seem to be much better than before the war. They love American culture here among the younger generation and seek to emulate it in various forms: movies, music, food, etc. But there does exist the convicting and convincing voice of experience among the people here- asking the world to consider the costs that they had to pay and for that the price is enough to stop Nuclear war forever.

New Year Reflections

Today was the first teacher training seminar of orientation. Langauge class started up again last week too, and I was surprised to see how much I remembered. Studying language here has felt like traveling very slowly up a steep incline. But coming back from break felt like taking two giant steps forward all at once. I think the homestay was a big help to this; and also just having a bit of a mental break for the rigors of new class material everyday and a chance to practice and review the material that has already been covered.

I'm sad to report that I am still sick, and that my lingering cold has turned into a sinus infection. But I am optimistic that now that I know what I'm dealing with, I can treat it accordingly and be rid of it sooner.

Earlier this week, at our Tuesday morning devotion, we spent time reflecting on the last year- all that had happened, all that God had done, etc. From here, we were encouraged to think of a resolution of sorts. It was all done through personal journaling; and through it I learned a lot. I reflected for the first time on the last year as a whole- and I saw many common threads running through it. I saw many big- life altering prayers answered. I saw many moments of doubt on my part, and patient mercy exercised on God's part. I reflected on so many times that God provided things I needed without my even having to ask for them. I saw times I was up against impossible odds, and God always making a way. What a thing hind-sight is for the faith of the present! My whole being, my whole heart, give thanks to God for His goodness. But I also feel a bit like Israel, having just passed through the Red Sea on dry land, making an idol for myself as I needlessly worry about things. Faith and worry are in opposition to each other. They cannot co-exist in the life of a Christian because faith is trust, and who better to trust with one's life than the one who gave it; the who sacrificed the life of His own Son to restore it; and the one who holds eternity in His hands. So my resolution is to spend more time singing songs of thanksgiving and praise in English, because my heart yearns for it.

I was also blessed to discover that the church at which I did my DCE field work broadcasts their 7:45 AM service through Wheaton Bible Colleges radio station- and that it is also broadcast over the internet. So Sunday nights I can get ready for bed and then join them for worship at 10:45 PM my time. Pretty wild! It had been so long since I'd been able to hear a church service in English. How much I've taken for granted in the past!

Tomorrow I have a sight placement meeting with the program director, and I'll officially receive my placement on the 8th of February. I'm presently feeling a bit anxious, wanting to know, and praying for patience.