First of all I want to say I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write about Japan! I hope this blog will give you a small glimpse into our time here….. hope you enjoy!
We’ve been here for just over 2 weeks now…. And can I just say I LOVE JAPAN!!!
We are staying in the town of Sanda, about 45 minutes away from Osaka (southern Japan). It’s so beautiful, especially at this time of year! The leaves are just starting to turn colors and fall to the ground, the weather is the perfect temperature, and the mountains are amazing. Also the air is clean and fresh, which I can appreciate after the past two months of pollution!
A Little Bit About the Culture:
When we first arrived in Japan, we had 2 days of orientation and training as a squad before heading out to our ministry sites for the month. We’ve learned a lot about the culture, and it’s so interesting.
Everything is so orderly and clean, from the sidewalks outside to every room inside the house. There is a particular way to do everything; for example, when you go into a home, you must take your shoes off, face them outward, and step up into the house without touching your feet on the ground.
The people are very punctual and scheduled – in fact, our ministry contact even created a Google calendar for us while we’re here! If we want to do anything, we have to plan it at least a few days in advance, and always let our hosts know.
One thing we’ve noticed while walking down the street is how quiet it is. People don’t honk their horns like they did in China and Mongolia!! And they don’t talk much in public – eospecially on the trains and buses, it is silent. But if you approach someone, they are friendly and happy to talk with you.
Education is huge here. Children start going to kindergarten at age 3, and throughout elementary, junior high, and high school, they are constantly under pressure to do well so they can get into the best schools (junior high, high school, and college). They often go to after school programs called “cram schools”, which usually means they are at school from 8am to 8pm.
Religion:
Most Japanese consider themselves to be Buddhist, but often that’s just because religion is passed down from generations, and to be Japanese is to be Buddhist. They go to temples to pray for different reasons, but they don’t know who they are praying to – it’s just “prayer”. Many people we’ve talked with also consider themselves non-religious.
What I’ve heard from our ministry contact is that the main religion of Japan is being Japanese. They are very proud of their heritage, and they don’t want to change or stand out. Christianity is seen as a Western religion, so they feel that if they believe in Christ they aren’t fully Japanese anymore.
However, people here are very aware of the spiritual world, and they are open to talk about Jesus. Many Japanese have heard of Jesus, and they are willing to talk about Him, but they don’t want to change their lives. Please pray for them, that their hearts will be softened and they will be open to accepting Jesus into their hearts.
Ministry:
This month we are staying with host families, which is a big part of ministry. Our team is split up, and Hallie and I are staying together. We’re staying with three different host families during our time here, and its been so fun!! Two of our families are not yet Christians, so just living with them is an opportunity to share Jesus.
We’re also helping to teach English – there are two missionary families here in Sanda who both have English schools in their homes. Some of us get to help with classes while living with these families. Certain classes are more structured, but a lot of times it’s just having conversations with the students and asking/answering questions. We’ve helped teach students anywhere from 1 year olds who come with their mothers, to ladies in their 60’s.
Our ministry contact also set up several community events and parties where we are the main attractions because we’re American! We had a Fall Harvest Party, as well as two cooking classes that we taught. And at the end of our trip we’ll have a Sayonara party, to say goodbye to everyone we’ve met while here.
The Fall Harvest Party:
Adventures in Japan:
On our second day in Sanda, we went out as a team to explore the city. Then the next day our host sent us into Osaka on our own, about an hour and a half trip by bus/train/subway.
Public transportation is an adventure in and of itself – trying to navigate the train systems and making sure you’re getting on and off at the right stops requires a lot of focus. On our trip to Osaka, we had to ask a few people for directions to make sure we were getting on the right trains, but we finally made it!
Earlier this month, we got to be a part of a Japanese drum class! There was a news reporter there and we actually made it into the Kobe newspaper!!!
Last week, we hiked Mount Maya and Mount Rokko as a team. Our host has a friend who is a boy scout leader, and he led the hike. We hiked nearly 18 kilometers (around 12 or 13 miles I think)…. Most of it uphill. THAT was quite the adventure, and very challenging! But my team came alongside me and encouraged me, and we were able to reach the top together. The beauty of the trees changing colors, the lakes and waterfalls, and the amazing views of the surrounding cities made the hike so worth it! At the top we could see for miles: the ocean, mountains, and islands in the distance.
On the way back, we took a tram down the mountain. The view again was absolutely gorgeous! We got to the bottom of the mountain and had to rush to the train station. We literally ran to the station, purchased our tickets as fast as possible, as ran onto the train just as the doors closed!
Another adventure has been trying new foods! Some are delicious, some not so good (a lot of strange textures).… but we just smile and pretend we like it!! Here are a few foods we’ve tried so far:
-Okonomiyaki – seafood pancakes
-Natto – fermented soybeans
-Fish, vegetables, miso soup, and rice – for breakfast!
-Takoyaki – fried octopus
-Mochi ice cream – the best!
-Matcha green tea – as well as green tea Kit-Kats and green tea ice cream
-Octopus sushi
A few days ago we went with our host family to an “Onsen” – Japanese hot spring. It was so fun!!! While there we also got to see a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Here’s a picture of their traditional dress:
There’s so much more that we’ve done in Japan, I wish I had time to write about everything! It’s hard to believe we only have 1 week left here…. This month has gone by so fast, but I can’t wait to see what the last week holds!
Right now I am $1,867 away from being fully funded. God has provided in crazy ways so far, and I’m so thankful to everyone who has given! Please continue in prayer and if you feel led to help me reach my goal by December 31st, you can click on the “Support Me” button at the top of the page.
Thanks for reading, and God Bless!!
