A Plentiful Harvest

   There is a snapshot in the gospel of Matthew of Jesus' heart for people and their need for Him:

"And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'"

Matthew 9:35-38 

   Much of Jesus' ministry involved hands-on work. He was with the people in their joys and sorrows. He taught where there was a need for understanding. He proclaimed the gospel of hope to the hopeless. He healed every disease and affliction. When He saw the crowds of people reaching out for help of various kinds, He was moved with compassion.

   Can you imagine moving through a crowd of people, every one of them in need and calling out to you for help? Watch from 3:00-4:45 of this clip:

   This is the image I get- an emergency, a disaster, people frantic with pain and fear. How overwhelmed I would be. These people were harassed and helpless, like sheep among wolves.

   Jesus chooses to use this as a teachable moment for his disciples. What does He tell them? 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'

   He doesn't say "Solve all their problems," or "Meet every need of theirs." He simply paints a picture of the reality we all face: a plentiful harvest, but not enough workers to accomplish the labor it requires.

   I look around Utsunomiya and the same scene the disciples witnessed in this moment is what I see. There is a plentiful harvest here! My Japanese friends have deep hurts and needs like I do; they need Jesus. And what's more, we spend time every week reading the Bible together! I get to help lead them toward Jesus, even if it is only one tiny step. Our discussions are deep and meaningful, full of questions and thoughtful responses. The Lord of the harvest is at work here.

   What exactly does Jesus tell us to do when we are faced with a huge harvest and not enough laborers? Pray. Ask God, the Lord of the harvest, to send out workers into the field to accomplish the work of meeting the needs these people have. 

   Would you join me in prayer for this? We are here for 2 more weeks and none of us want to leave. The day will come when we must say good bye to these dear friends, board a plane and return to America. We will have to trust these friends to the Lord and to the laborers who live here. Pray that some us may return to Japan. Pray that God would send laborers here to sow, to water, to reap a spiritual harvest. He will answer; after all, this is His harvest.

   This is a picture I took of a wheat field in Utsunomiya... days later it was harvested. Pray earnestly for a spiritual harvest as well.

An Empty Way of Life

   A couple weeks ago, I was able to share my story with the students at Joyful Night. I come from a broken home, two generations of divorce and alcohol abuse. My dad wasn't around and my mom was working overtime to compensate for his absence. I was left alone much of the time and learned early on how to take care of myself. I shared with the Japanese students a verse I would use to describe this part of my life before I knew Jesus:

Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

             1 Peter 1:17-19

   I inherited an empty way of life from my forefathers, and I felt the effects of it for years; I was often sad, lonely and empty. But it was at the end of high school that I was introduced to Jesus and understood for the first time that He was offering me a full life. I reached out that summer and took it. 

   I got to explain to the students how God has transformed my life from empty to abundantly full. In our discussions that night, I was able to hear from them what an "empty way of life" means to them and how they have experienced it. They all have. 

   One student described this type of life as, "You are doing everything, but you feel nothing inside." Others shared that they have experienced this through not being loved by someone or the loss of a relationship or the feeling of loneliness.

   As they shared, I felt my heart breaking because I know the solution to this desperate problem they have all experienced. Praise God we get to spend time exploring the Bible with these students every week! Pray that God would reveal Himself to these students. Pray that His word would not return void (Isaiah 55:11).

  A freshman girl in my group that night shared, "Yours was the first Christian story I've ever heard." Wow. I am so humbled by that. Can you imagine that many of these students have never been prayed for before coming to college? That has changed now. Would you join me in prayer for them? Praise God for the work He is doing here in Japan!

On the Same Level

   One thing I'm enjoying about Japan is the fact that I am the average size of a woman. I've never been able to look so many people in the eyes before. I like it. I'm on the same level, and in so many ways more than this.

   The more I get to know my Japanese friends and learn about how unique they are, the more I also learn how much we have in common. We all

1. have a need for the Gospel,

2. were created in the image of God, and

3. are dearly loved by God.

   We are no different in our need for Christ and His great work on the cross, no matter where we stand in faith. Much of this summer is praying for opportunities to share with these friends the reason for the hope that I have. Please join me in praying for this! God is always at work.

   I love Japan and its culture!!! I can't express how much I feel at home here. This has given me a glimpse at a whole new side of God's character. The Japanese are different than Americans in many ways, but they too were created in His image. What an awesome way to discover more about who God is through my Japanese friends! They are kind, organized, creative, relational, selfless, and detailed, and so is our Father.

   His heart is for the nations. This is the thread that is woven throughout the entire Bible from beginning to end! Because God's heart is for the nations, so should ours be. Not only is His heart for the nations, it is for Japan! The longer I stay here, the more my heart grows for this nation. I think I'm falling in love with 127 million people. 

BEST for the Group

   Japan is a group-oriented culture. People spend most of their time together as a group: eating, working, playing. If we make plans with one student, it is guaranteed that he or she will bring friends. Japan is a small country; it is approximately the size of California, but 80% of its land is uninhabitable because of mountains and volcanoes. So there are 127 million people in a very limited space. Not to mention that Japan is a series of islands, so the country is separated from much of the outside world on a regular basis. This reinforces the people to be dependent on one another.

    These reasons explain much of why the Japanese are so kind and helpful, valuing harmony, respect and service. I've seen this take many forms since I've lived here. People will wear masks to cover their mouth when they are sick so that they will not infect others. When we get together as a group, someone always provides food or snacks. Everyone will contribute yen for community meals. I've also observed that when we open a bag of chips at one of these events, unlike Americans who dig out a handful, Japanese will politely take one at a time.

   As you ride down the street, you notice that it is so clean in Japan! I have seen several people sweeping the sidewalks already and no one litters here. Japanese take pride in their nation, in their culture. They also take very good care of children, elders, and disabled. On most sidewalks, there is a raised yellow line so that the blind can follow. We had a scare last weekend when one of our students was severely sick. We thought she might have appendicitis, so we rushed her to the hospital. I was amazed at how kind the doctor and nurses were and how efficient the service was.

   This week, our team experienced just how helpful and kind the Japanese really are. We traveled to downtown Utsunomiya for our team day, searching for the Shinto Shrine and a place to have dinner. Not surprisingly, we got lost and had to ask for help from passersby. We asked one man for help and he was unsure, but instead of blowing us off, he asked an older woman if she could help. Not only could she help, she offered to lead us there herself! We followed her (and picked up another guide on the way) for another mile through downtown to the shrine. She continued to bring us to the shopping and restaurant area of town and introduced us to some of her friends who worked there. All this, without speaking any English! We were able to figure out she lives just down the street from us and gave me her phone number!

   I love these people. I love how they care for one another, and for us as gaijin (foreigners) this summer. All of our student friends are eager to help us learn how to do things around here. I am so thankful for them! They are the BEST :)

Joyful House

   This summer I live in a home called Joyful House. This is the perfect name for many reasons. The obvious being that this house is full of joy. I walk in and my heart feels at rest. The women on our team are living and sharing the house with the permanent roommates Kanako, Miki, and Usa. They are wonderful and have been so loving, generous and helpful to us since we arrived. 

 

   The other morning I woke up listening to the sound of the rain falling outside and Kanako singing worship songs on her guitar. This is the home of joy.

   This is also a place where many of the Japanese students gather together for Bible discussions. Tonight is Joyful Night; we serve dinner, play games, share stories, and discuss the Bible all night long with about 15-20 freshman students involved in the BEST club. The house is not very big, so with that many people inside it gets very crowded, but it doesn't matter because this is a house full of joy when people gather here.

 

   Our house has a sort of open door policy. People are constantly coming and going. At the beginning, I wasn't even sure who lived here! When the door opens, we never know who is walking in, but all are welcome. I simply hear a joyful "Kon'nichiwa!" from the doorway. Students will often come here between classes and work on their assignments because we live close to campus. There have been several nights I've gone to bed with students still studying, and when I wake up the next morning, they're asleep on our couch!

   Joyful House is also a perfect name for my home this summer because of what God has been doing in my heart recently. It's no secret the past four years of my life have been painful and full of sorrow. I have pleaded with God to bring joy into my life again. Two verses that I have been specifically praying are Job 8:21,

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
    and your lips with shouts of joy." 

and Psalm 103:5,

"Bless the Lord, O my soul...who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

   I long for His restoration in my life, in my soul. I have found joy over the past four years and have understood what true joy is apart from circumstances. God has answered these prayers. But His grace abounds, and I have begun to experience new blessings. For so long, I have felt like my youth was stolen out from under me. I have had to grow up so quickly, missing out on the adventures of my early 20s like so many of my friends. 

   This summer is a turning point in God's restoration of my youth. I'm starting to feel young again. I laugh a lot more, I find joy in so many small things. Japan has been a sign of God's goodness; I have been satisfied deep in my soul. I love it here. It has been full of peace, rest, love, joy and hope. So many of the things I felt lacking for so long. This summer is God's good gift. I get to love people all summer long out of the overflow of my heart! My Japanese friends bring so much joy into my life, and I love that I get to share the reason for the hope that I have with them. Not only is the house I live in a Joyful House, so is my heart.

Getting Around

I love the bicycle culture of Utsunomiya. We ride our bikes nearly everywhere we go; I've been inside of a car less than a handful of times since arriving. However, there have been some adjustments. 

Everyone has a bike.

I have to ride on the left side of the road instead of the right. 

When crossing the street, I look right and then left. 

I never buy more than I can carry in my basket. 

In Japan, you always obey the street lights, even if there are no cars coming. 

We usually ride slow and carry on conversations with our Japanese friends as we ride. 

Every bike is locked up individually; there are no bike racks. 

My bike has a built-in bike lock. 

I have to remember where I keep the key. 

When I ride down some streets, the sewer is covered by stones and they make a beautiful stoney noise as you ride over them. 

The streets are so narrow, there are mirrors on the corner of most streets so you can see oncoming traffic. 

Some places have more bike parking than car parking spaces.
I have learned how to ride a bicycle and hold an umbrella at the same time. 

I love riding bikes.

A YOJO Attitude

At our SiJ orientation, we were encouraged to have a "Why not?" attitude. Instead of asking "Why would I do/eat/try that?" we should ask "Why wouldn't I do/eat/try that?" I think this is a good attitude to have in daily life, and especially for this summer.

Well, we have no ordinary team. In fact, our team is probably the most fantastic team that ever was. Our UFers have brought with them the phrase "YOLO," which means "You only live once." It is an attitude that encourages adventure and curiosity, because we only have one life to live. If someone says, "Let's hike a mountain and watch the sunrise!" a YOLO attitude responds with an enthusiastic YES!

Upon arriving in Japan, we decided to alter the phrase to YOJO, which means "You only Japan once!" Yes, we are using Japan as a verb. Everything here is new and fun and exciting! We are loving it! 

Everyday is full of adventures. Riding bikes everywhere we go. Almost getting hit by passing cars. Driving on the opposite side of the road. Eating raw foods. Speaking Japanese. Taking off your shoes inside. Exploring a new city. Grocery shopping. Photos. Public transportation. No translators. Ordering food. Getting sick. Japanese hospitals. Sitting on the floor. Thin, sliding doors. Tea. Music. Rice for breakfast. Chopsticks. Notto. Takoyaki. Onsen. Communal showers. Karaoke until 2 a.m. Bowing.  Earthquakes. Mochi. Calpis water. Yen. Kilograms. Nine different ways to sort trash. Sitting down to shower. Sleeping on futons on the floor. Cartoons, everywhere. Rice fields. Tatami mats. Trains. Small bowls. Small everything. Dragons. Square cars. Mirrors on street corners. Bamboo. Uneven roads. Line drying.

Life here requires a YOJO attitude, and I'm so thankful our team has one. Here's to many more adventures!

Culture Shock, After Shock

Kon'nichiwa from Japan!

We made it! What an adventure it has been already! We traveled for nearly 30 hours to get from Orlando to Tokyo. In Los Angeles, we met up with 9 other staff and students who are spending the summer in other cities in Japan. The 12 hour flight didn't feel as long as I expected. Once we arrived in Tokyo, we took 3 different trains to the other side of the city and then walked with all of our bags for about a half mile. It was a long journey!

Everything is so different here, in such a good way. It is quiet here. Dogs don't bark as much, doors don't slam, there is rarely music playing. Even the trains are quiet; no one speaks above a whisper while they commute. There were a couple times the fact that we are American was extremely obvious, besides our outward appearances. People have a specific way of doing everything in Japan and efficiency is key. People stand in lines and everything is organized. Checking out at the store takes no time at all.

Fashion is amazing in Japan! The women wear a lot of leggings and tights. There are a lot of neutral colors and lace. Men wear tighter pants. Hair styles vary from traditional to spiky, from pixie cuts to thick bangs.

The bathrooms and stalls are much smaller than in America. Actually, nearly everything is because there are so many people and such limited space. They are like tiny closets, but really, why do we need so much space in America? Some of the toilets even have seat warmers! No, I'm not kidding. The first one I sat down on, I didn't realize the seat would be warm. It startled me so much I literally jumped! Another interesting bathroom adventure is the noise machine. Japanese are very polite, and there is a machine that simulates running water to cover any noise one may make. Yes, there is much to learn here in Japan.

The showers are communal in some places and the counters are lower to the ground because the average Japanese is shorter than the average American. That is one thing I really appreciate here!

Japanese value beauty. I am constantly in awe of how beautiful it is around me! And they are extremely clean. Taking out your trash in Japan is serious business. There are very few public trash cans because they want you to take your trash home in order to sort it.

This summer we are gaijin, foreigners. We are different. We are the minority. I've never felt like that, but I appreciate these people so much. We are also students, of people, of culture, of individuals. There is so much to learn, it would take a lifetime. I wish I could stay longer. We haven't even been here a week and already I don't want to leave.

Culture shock has been both subtle and obvious. All of the things I've mentioned are the things I've noticed to be different. It has caused me to wonder, why do we do the things we do? Why are Americans so loud? Why are we so wasteful? Why do we drive on the right side and the Japanese on the left? Why is it rude to point in Japan?

What else is different? The earthquakes! I felt a 5.2 on our very first night in Tokyo. I was so confused! After 30 hours of traveling across the world and hardly any sleep, I was so groggy. It happened at about 1:30 a.m. At first, I thought to myself, "I don't remember this being a massage bed." then I realized what was happening! My bed was shaking because the earth was! To the Japanese that was no big deal, just a regular occurrence! No one outside of our group said anything about it the following day. There is a lot to get used to here.

In our orientation, my new friend Martina shared this quote:

"Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness."

This is the story so far of my summer, embracing the uniquity of the Japanese. I love it.