Konichiwa mina-san!
What a long week, but at the same time it has gone by really quickly! God has truly given me a peace that has transcended all understanding. I am a bit jet lagged, but now I think I have finally adjusted to the time schedule here. I have been busy and I know that if I wasn’t, I would be thinking about home, CUMC, and all my friends too much. As much as I love you all,
I think God wants me to love the people of Japan as much as I love you all, so please pray that my heart capacity will be bigger than it is now!
I will start from Day 1…
So when I arrived at KIX (Kansai International Airport), I was picked up by Saya and Justin (two of the staff/Jesus Soldiers) and was welcomed warmly by them. At that point, it still hadn’t sunk in that I am in Japan now. The car ride was filled with praise songs in English as well as our conversations; this did not help my brain to realize that I was in a foreign country many miles away. However, once the car pulled up by the familiar 5-story building and the bright, big sign that says “J-House” did I finally realize that I am at my new home. The sounds of the bells ringing as I open the front door brought a nostalgic feeling. “
This is my new home,” I thought in my mind. I go up to the second floor, where I would be staying by myself for a couple of months, and make a right turn passed the kitchen into “my room”. A small yet cozy room, as I envision how I will place my things in a Kevin-style way. As I am arranging my room, I hear footsteps echoing down the hall and have the “new” Jesus Soldiers that I have not met before peek through to see how I look like. They are very nice and fun people. ☺ Since I arrived on Monday, it is usually the day off for the staff, so I was able to just rest and settle down to prepare for the week!
Well, straight to work I go… Morning prayer from 7 AM all week. Tuesday through Thursday we went to these different universities to the “Funky Clubs” but since it is exam time for the students, not everyone was able to make it to all of them. I am going to
Kandai, Kansai-Gaidai, and Kangaku University. I met many new people and I am desperately trying to remember their names as well as their faces. I think I am starting to remember most of their names, and I hope to learn everyone’s name in a couple of months!! God has been gently showing me who I should pay more attention to and to be in constant prayer for everyone that I meet. It seems like a lot of work, but I actually find myself doing so naturally as I go through the day or even as I am meeting the students. I’m usually the type of person who doesn’t go to total strangers and just talk to them, but for some reason, I found myself doing that a little, so praise God for giving me courage to do so!
The people I am meeting are all so wonderful, but I hope and pray that I will be able to portray God’s love to them through my actions and words!
On Friday, we were preparing for
Funky Party (which is a night where both Christian and non-Christians come together and fellowship, sing songs, play games, and share with one another). There is actually ONE more Funky Party left, before they start a new Friday ministry called “
Big Wave.” I was able to play guitar during the “jumping worship” time, and what normally takes a lot of courage for me to do in America, I was able to do it as soon as we sang the chorus without caring what others thought about it. Something about this place where I am able to be so carefree in worship and just enjoy being in His presence.
Saturday I just did some small errands here and there, and walked around the city to see if I remember how to get to places. Haha…Surprisingly, I remembered. It's as if I have been living here the whole time.
Since it was my first Sunday since I got here, I didn’t really have a “job/task” to do, so I just went around helping people as I go. I met some more people and still trying my best to match names and faces together.
Still getting used to Pastor Katsuya being so…Pastor Katsuya haha (
he likes to put people on the spot and assign you to do things and then asking for permission…lol) But all in all, I am doing great so far! I appreciate ALL the intercessors that are supporting me and have been supporting me from even before I came to Japan. I
<3 you ALL!!!~ I have you guys in my prayers too! Every night before I sleep, I pray that God may watch over you and reveal Himself to you everyday!
Prayer Requests:
1. That each encounter I have will
plant a good seed in their hearts. Not by my own power or words, but by God’s grace, mercy, and love for His children.
2. I have to do a
testimony on
2/14 so please keep that in prayer
3. Confidence in what I believe in and in my abilities/talents, so I may be an encouragement to people.
4. Courage to come out of my comfort zone in all aspects: talking with new people, doing things that I normally don’t do well, etc.
5. To not do put too much on my plate right now. I need to realize
I am here for a year and not two weeks. To do things
slowly and
efficiently, so that I don’t burn out.
6. For my
parents who are home alone for the first time. They seem to be really missing my sisters and I now that I am finally out of the house.
Pray that they can be strong and use this time to get to know God more!
God has really blessed me by sending me specific people my way. There are several guys that have started to open up to me, both Christian and non-Christian, and I am truly blessed/grateful to be apart of their lives! As I look back at all the things that had happened to me throughout the years, I finally seeing that I am able to share these things and realizing that some of the students actually relate to a similar situation. God really doesn’t waste any experience that has affected me personally, good or bad. I know there is still a lot more months to go, but I am starting to see (kind of) why I have been called here…
I really miss you all! It’s pretty lonely here sometimes, but I know that God is with me wherever I go. I can use some words of encouragement too :P Arigatou!
