Japan is finally here. It has been a little over a week here and I absolutely love it. I love the bowed greetings on the street, the fall colors of the trees, and the amazing baths(onsens). I am amazed at every new thing we come across and by the fact that I am in Japan at all. I love this country so much and am grateful to be here. I want to experience all of it I can.
So why am I stuck inside, sick as a dog. I want to be seeing the sights and eating everything in sight. I already have a short month here in Japan, I don’t want to lose any more time. I have been waiting over a year for this month, why am I sick? I know everyone gets sick on the race, but why me, now? These are questions running through my head today as I sit with tissue box in hand, surrounded by pills, wadded up tissues, and cups of tea.
Perhaps I am sick to give me time to refocus my priorities. As humans we tend to start putting our wants ahead of what really matters. I need to think about why I am really here in Japan. I signed up for this journey before I knew I was going to Japan. God wanted me to commit to doing his work, then he would give me the desires of my heart. I need to put His desires above my own and let God take care of the rest.
So for now I will pray. I will pray for the people of Japan to have open hearts to the Gospel of Christ. I will pray for the missionaries who have been here working to expand the Kingdom. I will pray for team mates and squad mates who are ministering to families and neighborhoods every day. I will pray for those who God is calling to Japan to hear him and come help a nation in need. Then I will pray for healing, so that I may join them in the effort.
Japan is a prosperous, wealthy nation. They have many products sold around the world. They are a huge business center and have a rich history. The country is sick, however. Much like me there is a mindset that needs to be shifted. From a young age, Japanese are taught to conform and not be individuals. They are to be obedient to elders to the point of not having dreams or aspirations. What the parents want is best. The aim to make as much money as possible to provide for the family, no matter the consequence, is so rampant. People work at least six days a week and up to twelve hours a day. After work they go to the bar, get drunk and head home. They rarely see their families and never feel like they accomplish their goal.
All this stems from a belief to never dishonor your ancestors and hurt the family name. This all leads to a horrible self image in Japanese people. Thus leading to one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Suicide is the leading cause of death in Japanese men aged 20-44. Japan needs a radical healing. The freedom and love of salvation in Jesus Christ.
-JAPAN NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS-
Pray for Japan and its people to have a revelation of God’s love and salvation. Pray for the people here doing the work on a daily basis, and will still be here long after our squad has gone. Pray for the under 1% of Japanese who are Christian to be bold and spread the kingdom like a fire across Japan. Pray that obstacles such as ancestry worship, conformity, and capitalism are broken down and do not impede the advancement of the kingdom.
