U squad has officially made it to Japan. We are the first squad to ever do ministry in Japan and we are so excited to embark on this journey and set the foundations for the World race for squads to come. I am have been truly blown away by Japan and what is has offered us over the past two weeks. Coming into this country I heard a lot of the stereo types of Japan, it is a grave yard for missionaries, only .3% are Christians and though I knew our contacts where missionaries I didn’t really know what to expect but I definitely wasn’t expecting what came to me.
Our squad is working with a house church group that is spread throughout Osaka, Nishinomiya and the surrounding area. We are doing a variety things things throughout the city, pioneering what ministry is going to look like for the World Race for us. My team is working with Ashiyama Preschool which is a school started by our contact, Jeff, and some other Christian families. This Christian preschool contains 21 students, ranging in age 3-6. The preschool is a place where these children come to learn english but they also learn about God, his love for us, the Holy Spirit, how God speaks to us. All of the families attending the school now are non Christians and the schools goal is to witness to the kids so that they can tell their families about the gospel. The teachers also focus on their relationship with the parents, looking for opportunities to pray for them, love on them and witness to them. It is an amazing place, full of the spirit, that loves and teaches kids how to be more like Christ everyday.
Everyday, two of us work in the preschool and the rest of do what we call Ask The Lord or ATL. During this time we pray to see where The Lord will lead us that day. ATL looks different everyday. We have gone on prayer walks, talked to people at universities, spent the day praying for the team, tutoring Jeff’s kids or spending time investing in the local missionaries here, loving on them and helping there where they need it.
Another part of our ministry has been investing in the families we are staying with. Our team has the unique opportunity of staying with non Christian families in homestays this month and Rebekah and I are staying with three different families that attend the preschool. It has been an awesome opportunity to experience Japanese culture, eat amazing food and witness to the family. So far, the two families we have stayed with have asked awesome questions and opened the door to have some good discussions about Christianity. It has been an awesome month of serving and being served, of learning how to love on people all the time and experiencing Japanese culture first hand.
Japan is a place that is ready for the gospel, the crops are ripe and ready to be harvested. Through these last 2 1/2 weeks I have seen a nation in need of Christ, who hearts are craving something far deeper than any other religion or thing can fill. There are some many Christian characteristics such as extreme hospitality, loving one another and helping those in need that are already apart of their culture but they are severely lacking a feeling of self worth and love. The people of Japan so desperately need love, support, comfort and to know they are worthy. Japan is not a place for missionaries to shy away from but it is a place that they should be running to. It is a place that once the fire catches is will spread wildly throughout this nation. My experience in Japan has been so amazing thus far and I am so excited to see how The Lord will work in this last week. Please be in prayer for Japan and its people. The Lord is working here in major ways but His work is just starting.
