A lot of things have happened in this month, here's a few that I can speak of and get into detail with:
Campus ministries:
It has been a really big joy to go out into the campuses and make new friends and share about the gospel. Though I still get nervous when it comes to giving out flyers (I don't know why, I just feel weird giving out flyers, especially on school campus), I'm starting to learn that rejection is part of the game...so to speak. I was taught early in the beginning of my term here that we'll probably get rejected 95% of the time that we're here, I should know this already, but experiencing it on a daily basis and also it being a part of the job, it takes some getting used to. No one likes to get rejected, but I'm quickly trying to put into my mind set that when I get rejected or in my mind, "don't get very far" in ministry, then its still a good day.
Anyway moving forward, I've met a few friends here and there and the rest of the J-soldiers and I have also brought some to Sunday worship and our other worship events! Praise God! It may sound like an easy thing to do, but it actually is very difficult to get the students here even remotely interested into coming to church or even just our normal "chill out" events. The only time we know they will actually come, is when they make a promise that they will come lol. But I praise God for the relationships that I have made on Campus, and I'm hoping that the seeds that are planted in the hearts of who I speak to, that God will water them and make them grow. Two of the schools that I go to, I have made a very loyal circle of friends who I hope will accept Christ as saviour one day. The Jesus-Soldiers and I try to always go out of our way to show God's love to them, even just by going out and hanging out on days that we don't go to campus, or even to talk to them when they're having trouble, we have faith that our efforts are never in vain!
I spoke to someone I had just met last week on Campus named Akihisa, and we had a very interesting conversation. He was a student taking Christian Studies. I asked him if he was christian and he said he wasn't. So asked him why he was taking a Christian studies course. He told me was very interested in finding out why Christians believe in what they believe in and it was a very difficult concept that, since he was interested in difficult studies lol, he wanted to take up the challenge in finding out why. within our conversation he gave me some very interesting insight about Japanese people and religion; That today's Japanese people, even though statistics say that Buddhism and Shintoism rule in Japan, don't really have a religion that they wholeheartedly believe in. They believe that there is a god, but don't know who he is. I guess this would be a little of his own personal opinion or by his own experience on religion in Japan, but I could see some truth in what he's saying, That people build shrines for unknown gods and worship beings that they THINK exist, but they just don't know what it is they worship and why they worship. It kinda reminds me of when Paul went to Athens in Acts 17 22-23, where he addressed an altar that said "to an unknown god". At the end of my conversation with Akihisa, I let him know what I did and where I lived and he was welcome to come and talk and that I or any of the other J-soldiers give him a little insight on why we believe in what we believe.....and also convince him that Jesus is the way to go!
Church and Jesus-soldier ministries:
We had a couple of events just past November. We usually hold events and invite as many people as we can (preferably non-christian). Last month was the new Missionary welcome party. This month we had American Thanksgiving. I'm happy to say that I did not miss out on Thanksgiving! I was able to celebrate the American Thanksgiving, although a bit earlier then usual lol. We had a thanksgiving party on the second week of November and I would have to say was the biggest party we've had so far. We we're only expecting about maybe 50-60 people to come, so we went to Cost-co bought 3 turkeys (only about 20 dollars! yet a little smaller then what i'm used to in Canada), a ham (a lot more expensive about 50 bucks?), mashed potatoes, gravy, and we got about 5 chickens, just encase the food we had wasn't enough. We also got 100 disposable paper plates thinking that it should be enough to handle everyone without having to wash dishes. We got more then we expected though, about 100+ people came, finished all the papers plates, ham and Turkey and nearly all the turkey. Thankfully we had enough food to accommodate everyone. if was a lot of work but It was a good event and we were able to invite some of the students we befriended and apparently people that J-house hasn't seen in a long while.
We also had our monthly open worship event just this past Friday, we had a good turn out even though we didn't have any new people come out. This is only the second open worship event that came up and we're hopeful that as we continue, God use it to work his wonders!
I have also joined the Gospel choir playing guitar, well not officially yet, but its a start I guess. J-house members are really into Gospel music, really surprised me actually, and they are really good at singing too! The second service at J-house on Sundays incorporates the Gospel and I'm really impressed at how they lead worship using the choir!
Other ministries
I have been kept busy even during my off times (other then monday). As I have said, I teach an English Bible study session on tuesdays with one the members of the church. I have also started an english bible study on Thursdays with 4 members, but at 2 different times depending on the days and the schedules. I am also continuing my Japanese lessons on saturdays so that I am able to converse in the language. One day I will get it all....but for now I'm taking it slowly :)
I wanted to start a discipleship with some of the members that I know, but its sort of difficult because of work schedules and the lifestyle of a worker/family man in Japan. The one thing that saps spiritual growth in Japan is the work culture. Work schedules are crazy here. Some of the members of the church here that I know work 12 hours a day and don't even get paid for the overtime. The working culture in Japan is a problem that I see that takes away from families and from other activities. But its also on the person and where priorities lie, especially for the men.
Prayer Requests
- For God's protection and safety on my fellow missionaries and I, it's getting even colder these and some of us are not used to cold climates (especially those of us who come from warmer countries.
- For those members in J-house to grow spiritually, there are still a lot of baby Christians in J-house, pray for spiritual growth and maturity in the Gospel and for those to put the Gospel first over everything.
- Also for J-house's Christmas events coming up, for those working hard to not lose focus on Christ, and that those that we invite will be lead by Jesus to J-house (and even make a life decision to follow him!)
- For the students that I have befriended and even for the students I have yet to encounter, for their eyes and hearts to be opened to Christ, and for Jesus to reveal himself to them in miraculous ways!
- For a revolution in Japan! for spiritual eyes to be opened in Japan and that the 0.5% of Christians will increase!
Thank you for your Prayers, love and Support! Till next update! Here are a few pictures!
