A Snowy Retreat

The Tsugaru church went on their retreat last weekend, from the 17th-18th. As a short termer I had the privilege of coming along, and enjoy a neat couple of days. The facility which held it was up in the mountains, offering a beautiful view of the plains below. There was also a fair bit of snow, which led to the obvious pasttime to get things started...

...sledding! (And the building of a snowman was also undertaken by a few.)

Everyone had fun shooting down the slopes on sleds and snow tubes, although the walk back to the top was very tiring. When the fun was finished, it was time to head indoors and start the next part of the retreat. These two days provided two opportunities for the Tsugaru Church: first, the chance to pray and seek the direction that the church will take in the year ahead; second, the time to relax and fellowship together.

I joined the children's activities while the adults were 'in session'. (What use would I have been, after all? I don't speak Japanese...) The kid's games were quite entertaining in respect to language as well, though. They were explained carefully and in a very detailed way, but of course I didn't understand a word. It was an interesting experience, knowing that the four-year-old next to me knew what we were supposed to be doing, but I didn't! I had to observe for a while to figure out what was going on, but thankfully was able to join in after a short time.

As the retreat progressed, everyone spent time chatting and playing games well into the night. Getting up the next morning wasn't so easy, though. A worship service was held at the retreat on Sunday morning, and then everyone said their goodbyes and parted ways. I got the impression that the retreat was enjoyed by all who attended, and I hope the church was encouraged by their time to pray and discuss the year ahead.

Faithful in Small Things

I arrived in Japan on January 8th, and was immediately struck by a sense of 'estranged familiarity'. So much of what I saw around me at the airport, on the train, around Tokyo, looked just like the sights I'm used to in England - but with a cultural twist! That's what makes travel so exciting, you get to see how other people go about living their daily lives, which often looks a bit different to the way you do!

I took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Namioka, and met Martin Ghent at the train station. He gave me a quick briefing about Tsugaru on the car journey to Itayanagi, and then a quick tour of the church. There was little time to hang around, however, with a youth group meeting in the church in only a few hours. I met Sharon, a fellow short-termer who had worked with the previous team from Brisbane, and offered to do 'anything' to help out.

In this case, 'anything' meant being a target for one of the games in the "Young Life" group. I was handed a few towels to cover my clothes, and then had my face caked in shaving cream! The kids began throwing popcorn at me, trying to stick as much as they could to the cream. (Wow, I'd only been in Japan for a day and already people were throwing things at me!) It was good fun, and the kids seemed to enjoy it. Through the rest of the evening, I tried to provide as much background support as possible. Working with the kids was difficult as I can't speak Japanese, but that doesn't mean I couldn't help with the clean-up!

It was an entertaining introduction to the work of Tsugaru church, and I've no doubt there'll be many more stories to tell in the month ahead. But as a starting point, it's good to be reminded that very small or even very unusual acts can be of service to God.

- Jonathan

A Short Termers Day Off ?!!?

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Monday 07/07, Day off, Mr. Fujimoto

I had to skip out a bit early to go with Mr. Fujimoto on our adventure. I was TOLD it would be from 10am-2pm. Lol was THAT wrong! x3

The first place we went was a huge float museum. On August 2nd they start these huge 4-5 story floats down the streets or something. They're ENORMOUS. So I took some pictures and had a good time talking with him. He did a little translation for me, but mostly I just took pictures.

After that we went to Kanagi City (name means Golden Tree) and got to watch a live performance of two Shamisen players. It was especially cool since I'd done a report the last quarter during undergrad on the Biwa and Shamisen, so getting to listen and watch someone play it was really neat.

After that we ate at a restaurant named "Pu-Re-", or "Poulet" (which is French for "chicken"). We talked there and looked a bit at an American newspaper. Halfway through the meal he asks me "Don't Christians normally pray before they eat?" The ONE time in the trip I forget t pray before I eat and this guy notices it. *slight laugh* So I explained that we didn't have to. Some do and some don't, but generally it is practice to do so. I hope he understood when I said that even when we do forget, God is willing to forgive us as Christians and does.

Anyway, after that we drove to a park/zoo. He bought me some soft cream (aka ice cream). We looked at the monkey and a few bears. Bunnies and chickens. Ducks. Etc. Then we crossed a floating bridge to a biker's camping area. Only one guy was there. We sat down and that was when he unloaded two barrels into me, basically. Haha.

Soon after we started talking he asked how missionaries make their money. So I told him church-goers and friends give them the money to partner with them. For example: Ghent-san knows Japanese and they may not, so they support Ghent-san to do the work they can't in Japan.

Then I got to tell him how I believe God supported all the money for my time at RHIT, and then how He kept me alive when I was young and had all my seizures. He said he didn't think God had the money or helped me. He does believe, though, that when you pray you can change fate, though. I didn't try to reply or argue with him, because we were having a hard enough time understanding each other as it was. That, and I wanted to learn all I could from him. I'm a learner, too, you know. What I mean by learn is his thought process as a follower of Buddhist teachings.

Then he started talking about how Islamic nations chop off your hand when you steal. In Japan, you go to jail, then get out, then stay again, then get out, etc. Then he said in Christianity *made a cut across his neck* and asked if that was it. At that point I said that stealing was a sin, and God never desired all that happened to have happened to us, but that we wanted it and went against Him. Following that, God forgives us, but often times people may not. There is still punishment here. He asked about Bush being Christian and how he's treated the Islamic terrorists. I said ideally if they would repent and were really sorry, I'd like to think we wouldn't kill them. However, most of the time they have no desire to do anything but kill us. I said, "What do we do with that, then?"

Then he brought up war. He specifically brought up WWII and the atomic bombs. What you should know as background is that I am deeply regretful of what we did. I've always imagined having that kind of conversation with a Japanese person. I don't know if I was really moved to do it, but after he finished I started to get on my knees to let him know I really was sorry. In a way, his demeanor did change after that, I think. He seemed very embarrassed (I expect he thought he had forced me to feel shamed enough to do so) and almost tried to pull me back up. I think the point was made, though even after I started to tear up because of it. I guess... and I told him several times, that I don't think America has apologized enough for it. Now on the same hand while I did not say it to him, I do think that in the long run it might have been our only option, but that does not change the remorse I feel that we ever had to use such a thing in the first place. Even when God justifies holy war, I would feel remorse, because for things to get that bad... is that not a sorrowful thing?

Our talk went on a bit further, and I explained my ideas on war (basically it's only good when all non-war possibilities have been exhausted and people still won't listen). We kinda walked out after that to meet the friend who called him.

After that he wanted to go meet his friend and have coffee at Elm. Apparently he, too, was Christian. Of course, by now it's 4pm, though, haha. He bought me an ice banana chocolate drink from the coffee place (which was awesome) and then talked with his friend about me and about a recent helicopter crash that killed 4. It was foggy and they couldn't see, they lost altitude, and crashed into the water.

After Elm he tried to decide where to go next. Since it was 5pm I said going back now was fine, but he wanted to do something else. We looked at some stuff in the book store in Elm before going, and then headed off. I saw Hoshi and his mom outside (actually Mr. Fujimoto did first), but then we zoomed off toward the Aomori (name means blue forest) airport. When we got there he talked to a guard friend, then we went in and watched from the top of an observation deck for a bit. Following that we left and went to the control tower where he had a friend who explained (in perfect English, lol) all the stuff that went on up there. We talked for like an hour. We finally left at 8pm.

He asked if I wanted supper, but I said I wasn't hungry because It was 8:30 when I finally got back and I was supposed to be back at 2pm, lol. It was a long day, and at the end even though I had enjoyed my day, I was dead tired. It took a lot of energy out of me. May God reach Mr. Fujimoto, though. I think he is far more interested than he lets on. God is calling out to him. May he hear and respond well, too.
- Scott

Tseven Weeks In Tsugaru - 1

After a day of orientation at OMF headquarters in Ichikawa, I made my way up to Aomori and met the Ghents and the team from Brisbane. As the team had already been around for a week I hit the ground running and tried to keep up with the schedule as best as I could! The Ghents and the Brisbane team were great in welcoming me in and making me feel included.

God gave us many opportunities to meet and speak with people. I went to two of the services, one Japanese (Itayanagi) and one English (Grace). We also had two lots of English classes before each service and lots of eating in between. For the adult English class we had them read and act out the Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Luke 14:15-23).

Over dinner, R-san from the English class asked me for my testimony - I was told this was a great development as she has been in contact with the Ghents since she was in high school (she's now a mother). She ended up staying for church even though she had intended to leave after class. I also met A-san who was wearing a cross and asked him if he knew what it meant for Christians. It was only an accessory to him, but I was able to explain why Jesus had to die on the cross for us. It's amazing that people are so open to talk about Christianity here, we just need to rely on God for the boldness to steer the conversation that way!

- Sharon

Tseven Weeks In Tsugaru

Today marks my 6th week in Japan, but already my time here is coming to an end faster than you can say "shinkansen". Time has passed quickly here, yet it has been jam packed full of learning and doing. There is never a dull moment around here!

My Japanese language abilities are limited to one term of learning in year 7 and what I pick up from watching anime or dramas. Therefore, it's not very much! However, God allayed any fears I had as I first got here. I was reading John and was reminded by the character of Philip that I can ask people to come and see to find out who Jesus is (John 1:43-46). Even though we can't communicate through language clearly, the way we live can be a way we point people to Jesus.

If you're reading this blog perhaps you are interested in what God is doing in Japan and/or keen to do a short-term here with Tsugaru Church, so I will attempt to briefly highlight some of my experiences here. And if you don't fall into either of those categories, don't worry, perhaps I can get you interested through my stories!

The next few posts from me will be about my time here... stay tuned.

- Sharon

Pizza!

We had a pizza party last Saturday, inviting a lot of people we've met over the past few weeks. I guess the evening brought together a lot of the feelings and thoughts I've been having over mission. Sorry if those thoughts are a little disorganised!

I don't have any Japanese language skills. I can greet people at all times during the day, thank people and apologise... though even with these I'm likely to get them mistaken with each other! So I knew before coming that my opportunities to directly evangelise people would be very limited, and that's okay, those opportunities are more than enough with everything else there is to do!

And there really has been, and will still be, a lot to do. If I can guess what God is teaching me now I think a lot of it is how to serve. I know I definitely do not have the gift of service, but I'm realising that just means I need to work harder than most. I usually don't mind helping and serving others, it just doesn't occur to me that there's stuff to be done. Well I'm glad that there's been so much to do here cause there hasn't been much chance to slack off - there's so much to do and that's why we're here! Working long busy days has been good, it's a very welcome change in productivity, one I've been wanting for a long while.

However, even when God has given me potential opportunities for evangelism, it seems I rarely take them. At our pizza party I spent most of the evening operating the huge 300° ovens (Fahrenheit okay... but it still sounds impressive yes? We seriously needed six layers of towels to get anything out of it.) I'd already burnt myself once and there was no reason for others to get hurt too. I was definitely being a big help, we needed to cook a lot of food very quickly. But... there were people there who had some decent English, and I could have spoken to them more than I did (what was almost nothing). Should I have? I don't know. When we had a kind of icebreaker game I did make my answers gospel-focused, but that was very short and impersonal. It concerned me more when those who can speak Japanese said they didn't have gospel-focused conversations either. Maybe I should have been more forward too.

But I also don't believe I really have gifts of evangelism either. I don't really enjoy it nor am I good at it. I think my strengths, and interests and passions, are more with teaching and discipleship. I haven't really had much experience with it yet, but I love both teaching God's word and working with people. I had hoped there would be opportunities for this in Japan, but there hasn't been any so far. The church here does not seem to have late-teens/early-twenties guys. There are a few girls of that age, but it would be even less appropriate here in Japan than in Australia for a guy to lead a girl in discipleship like that. So I'll probably have to wait to return to Australia to do that, which again is fine, but when I wonder what God's plans are here, a little perplexing.

Mission has given me lots of opportunities for service, which has been great. But I think it's really highlighting the need for wisdom in finding a good balance between service and evangelism and fellowship and teaching and everything else (rest too.) They're all essential for a healthy church, and though God gives us gifts and strengths in certain areas of that, I believe we still all need to be working at them all. But what is that balance? I don't know if mission has given me any of that wisdom yet.

The Aussie Team

November 21st brought a big "G'day!" from Australia with the arrival of the Brisbane team. We are...

• Deon, 25, a ruggedly handsome engineering student who really needs to graduate
• Catriona, 21, a freshly graduated and over-enthusiastic nurse
• Dannii, 21, a zealous linguistics "student" (when he's not being nocturnal)
• Esther, 19, an Occupational Therapy student who finds a way to apply ergonomic principles in every task
• Anna, also 19, a nursing student who dazzles us with her song and dance renditions at any time of day
• And this week Sharon from Sydney (29, a chirpy IT whiz and Bible college student) was added to our number.

So far we have all been loving our time here. Even with the limited Japanese that most of us possess, there really is something for everyone to get involved with here. We have been helping out with everything and anything; from adult's and kids' English classes, Christmas wreath making classes, cooking and baking in preparation for two thanksgiving dinners for 50+ people(!), to Young Life youth group and other kids' ministry, leading praise and worship at church, and renovations work at the Ghent's new church plant - Harvest Chapel. We have also had the exciting opportunity to share our testimonies at many of these occasions.

If you are hesitant about coming on short-term mission, then don't be - the only thing you need for God to use you is a willing heart :)