In Recent Events

In my newsletter from this last month, I requested prayer God to bless the opportunities that Christmas brings to share its true meaning and joy with people. Goodness- has God been answering these prayers! In my classes yesterday and today I witnessed wonderful things!

In my 5th grade class, we opened the doors on an advent calendar, revelaing a picture and a corresponding verse from the Bible. I taught the students how to find the verse, and we read it in both English and Japanese. One student, Daiki, who often comes early and reads the Japanese Manga Bible, could not put the Christmas story down- he was just devouring it! He came to the church's kids event last weekend too- and was captivated throughout the pastor's message.

In a private lesson this morning with a middle-aged woman, we got to talking about Christmas and what she liked about it. She said it was a time of joy and happiness, but that the "heart" of Christmas in Japan and America are different. This lead into a conversation about hope- and the gift of love and forgiveness through the Christ child. She said for Japanese people, New Years is a time of hope too- they even have parties, called Bonenkais, in which they seek to forget the bad from the past year, and hope for or look forward to the good. They do this by consuming large amounts of alcohol! (One university student told me he has five bonenkais this year to attend!) My student then spoke about hope for the future- how she, every year, has many hopes that she, by her own power and strength, sets out to accomplish. At the end of the year, every year, though, she always feels disappointed in her inability to accomplish or change things. This lead into a conversation about the source of hope- in Japan at New Years, people put their hope in themselves and their own abilities. In the church at Christmas, we put our hope outside of ourselves because we know we fail- but there is one, God, who doesn't. Instead he comes to our aid, serving us and saving us from sin and our hopelessness.

And then, walking home from worship last night with my friend Yuko, we had a wonderful conversation about Christmas, and the difference between its meaning to Japanese people and to westerners/christians. I sent her, earlier this week, the page number of the Christmas story so she could read it in her new Bible. She was so excited to read it for the first time! She expressed how much she was looking forward to her first christmas attending church. Somehow this led to the the topic of other important celebrations in the church- and I got to tell her about Easter for the first time too! And, she said again, "I can't wait to celebrate Easter in Church this next year for the first time too!"

OK- one more story. Last week I had a long conversation with a grandmother whose daughter wanted to study English but couldn't because of her young son. (In Japan, babysitters are almost unheard of.) As a high school and college student both, I worked part time at early childhood centers, and loved it! So, in talking with this woman, an idea sprouted- creating a class for mothers and their young children- an English play group of sorts. Research has shown the value of early exposure in langauge ability and development, and so many of these moms are itching to get out of the house and interact with other people. It's all just been in the idea stage this last week- but God seems to be taking the lead and the phones have suddenly been ringing off the hook with people who are interested in just such a class. Though its the last week of class for the semester- observers just keep walking in the doors, wanting to join the English school! Today a woman called wanting to join the English Bible study. What a reminder- we may be gearing up for vacation, but God's sure not!

Especially at this time of year, it can feel difficult being away from family. But I am so thankful that though I can't be with my own family, God is blessing the ministry here and has given me many brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I can celebrate His gift in Christ and the ways He is working here and now among us in the hearts of people.