So we have made it to Asia! Coming from a city that was 100 degrees, to one that stays around 50 is amazing. It feels like fall; leaves are changing, and the sky is clear. Osaka is beautiful. When we got here, we had a mini orientation up at a center in the woods. It was surrounded by trees and parks, and I truly can’t describe the beauty in words. The seasons are not only changing through weather, but also through the race (corny, I know). We have relocated continents, we have new squad leaders, we have new ministries, and we have new teams! My new team is led by Mary Chandler and consists of Christina Reid, Kaysea Campbell, Sarah Dooley, and Bethany Dilts.
This month is EXTREMELY different from my time in Colombia. In Colombia we were all crammed on the floor next to each other, avoiding leaks, and surrounded by shootings. Now I have my own room with Kaysea, in a nice house that belongs to the cutest family. He is a pastor so it is a church/house. We have our own kitchen to cook in, and we are responsible for our own meals and groceries. I have yet to have this responsibility on the race. We live in the upper middle class suburbs of an area called Sanda. Our contacts family is American, and life is comfortable.
Our ministry for the month is to teach English to a range of students from 7 years old to 50 years old. None of which are Christian. We do prayer walks (there are many shrines and temples too), help out with church, and just try to bring new light to the people in the community. Japanese people, from what I have heard and observed, are very servant hearted, yet very very stressed out. Every sixteen minutes (ish) another person commits suicide. Less than one percent of the population is Christian. Kids wake up go to school, then have afternoon lessons, and then cram school at night. The father generally goes to work very early, stays late, then goes to the bar. Repeat. Behind the doors of a lot of the people who seem to have it all together, life is crumbling. We are here to show these people about Jesus (Yes, in Japanese). To show them love, to bring light and joy to their lives.
The people in Colombia had nothing, yet they seemed to be the happiest people I’d met so far. The children played outside every day, there was a real sense of community, and people were focused on the social aspect of life. In Japan, the people seem to have everything, yet there is no sense of community, friends don’t even go into each other’s houses, everything is focused on status and wealth and being the best at what you do. As the months on the race progress, I continue to see just how little money, material goods, and status matter in this world. You find the keys to life and happiness are through faith, family, friends, relationships, etc…
It’s a theme constant through my blogs, but it’s accurate, and this month is the most telling of all.
Please keep this community in your prayers, as well as our team leader, Mary Chandler. She is having medical issues with her foot, which may result in surgery and in leaving the field.
