Tug-of-War

Hello Everyone!

First of all, thank you for the prayers after the warnings of a tsunami coming to Japan, it actually hit, but it was northern Japan…It was maybe 4 feet high, but luckily not too much damage, and no fatalities (I think…I hope). We are all fine here in Osaka and J-House.

Despite all these things that are going on in this world, God still is working and is still providing. My heart is aching and in an emotional tug-of-war for those suffering from the Earthquakes/Tsunami, for those here in J-House/Japan who doesn’t know about God’s love personally, and for those at home that I want to be there for (who I dearly wish to see today for some reason).

I will talk about two people that I have been able to talk with/meet with more than once this week:

1. Atsushi Nozawa

This guy I met last year, and he has actually been coming out to J-House for over a year and a half, but he is not a believer. He really enjoys the atmosphere, practicing his English, the people, the events, and especially all the food he gets to eat here. When I first met this guy, it was only small talk or things not relating to God or Christianity. But now, he has really opened up a lot to at least talking about Christianity. On Tuesday, we watched 2012 and had a small discussion time. I asked what my group thought about the movie, and Atsushi asked about “The rapture” and what happens to the people who were not taken by God. Whoa…. Haha how am I supposed to answer this? From what LITTLE knowledge I know about the rapture and stuff like that, I attempted to explain (which I don’t think I did very well, but he didn’t seem to understand either way). So I tried shifting the conversation to death and asked them “If you had one day to live, what would you want to do?” He answers with, “I would want to spend a lot of time with the people I care about the most.” I remember we had this conversation with a couple other people last year when I met him, and his response back then was, “Eat the best food from all over the world.” Progress? I think so.  So he emails (they call texts emails, go figure) me and asks if I want to hang out. So definitely I say yes, and ask others if they want to come hang with us, but all the other Jesus Soldiers were busy, so it was just me and him. I think God gave me this chance to really talk to him about anything, but in a much deeper way, and I think I accomplished that! Praise God! I was able to straight up ask him what he thought about Christian people in general, and overall had a good impression on them, but just doesn’t feel like committing to it YET he says. So slowly, I want to continue encouraging him and sharing my testimonies and stories with him, not forcing anything upon him, but to by action show him God’s love. 

      2. Shinichi Sasaki

      

      This guy reminds me of myself sometimes. Does things when people don’t ask him to do anything, loves to worship, quiet yet saying things when he wants to, and does the small things that no one really notices. However, I notice them, and I am really looking forward to see him grow more and more in Christ! He just got accepted to Kansai-Gaidai (a foreign language school) and gonna major in something related to English. Very young, but wants to be on fire for God! I’m on the lookout for people who have an interest in worship and want them to develop maybe a different style than what they are used to, and Sasaki-kun is certainly one of them. I can tell he wants to be more comfortable around me and be able to talk more, but the language barrier kind of stops him a bit. So, instead of words, maybe we can communicate through a universal language – music. I want to find more people like Sasaki-kun and teach them what little I know as well as me learning from them too! Hallelujah!

Thank you all for the constant prayers and well wishes! I appreciate all the encouraging words that you shower upon me! I totally forgot that it was my birthday today, since Monday is usually our rest day, that’s all I really thought about. Yesterday, some of the J-House members got me a cake (which was hand-made by Maeda-san!) and it was ridiculously good (even though there were bananas in them! :D )!! Tonight I guess I will go to dinner with whoever wants to join me. 

Thank you for all the Birthday wishes back home!! Seriously, it isn’t even my birthday yet, but you all were so thoughtful and sent it to me because in Japan it’s my birthday!! I <3 you all!!!! 本当にありがとう!!!!~

 I’m so happy, yet so sad that I can’t celebrate it with you all back home :( My heart is seriously in a tug-of-war.