Ishinomaki, Japan. We stayed in a place called J’s Cafe (Jesus’s cafe). The cafe/ministry is apart of Calvary Chapel. God really gave some sweet encouragement for the leadership team through us. I would say there are 4 people total on the leadership team at the Calvary Chapel Ishinomaki. The numbers are small for the church, but they are so faithful in finding and loving the one.
So what did ministry look like for me? 1.) I got to use my video skills for the coffee shop which was such a blessing. I grab different photos for food, made video promotions for the cafe, and had a sweet lil recap video to bless and encourage the leadership team. I was in a way baffled that my first month I would be able to do something that I love for ministry! What a blessing. I also brought spikeball along with me. We were walking handing out flyers for a concert we were going to put on and I saw a teen playing basketball. We looked at each other and I motioned for myself to come play basketball with him. All the sudden a few of us and this Japanese teen are playing basketball together. Aaron and I won 15 to 14. A victory I will never forget lol. I and others from my squad would return there two or three times a week and that’s when spikeball broke out. The place were we would play was an after school study program. So, all the sudden we had anywhere from 2-8 kids/teens playing spike ball and it being an absolute mad house. Haha so sweet. There were two teens that we really got to spend sweet time with. Before leaving Ishinomaki, Aaron and I ventured over and gave them two mission balls. These are soccer balls that have the gospel written on them. I wrote them both a letter explaining the gospel and who Jesus is to me. My prayer now is that Holy Spirit does what He always does.
2.) We went to a nursing home. There was a Japanese man named Sam (He had a Japanese name, but this is what he called himself) there. He had a stroke a few years back and now as a result his hands and feet are extremely stiff and hard to move. We talked for a while. This man had such joy for the things he had been through. His wife had died of cancer and now he finds himself in a nursing home living out his days with his pain. Like I said though, he had such joy. We laughed together. We both like coke. He talked about drumming peoples bellies (I know it doesn’t make sense, but it was great.) I found myself nervous. I felt Holy Spirit compelling me to pray for this man. I got out my phone, I’m asking him if He has ever heard of Jesus. He says yes. I asked Him if he believes. I wasn’t sure what he meant by his response. I assumed it meant no. I asked him if I could pray for his hands and feet so that Jesus would heal them. He gave me a deep stare. So, I just started to pray. It was a simple prayer, “Jesus, please heal this mans hands and feet, remove any pain that is there. Amen.” We just sat for a second afterwards, then started to laugh and google translate again. Then our Ministry Host comes over and starts to talk to him in Japanese. Sam immediately says to him, “Stone prayed for me, I felt better.” I know this may seem small to you, but this is huge to me. Sam didn’t have to say anything like that. God had heard my prayer. My Jesus hears. He hears you. HE wants you to pray for these things. Healing has always been scary for me. And yeah, Sam didn’t get healed (all the way), but he might always remember feeling better after that prayer. Then he might trace it back to the source: JESUS.
3.) We meet some Japanese teens at McDonalds. I asked one of the guys if his pie was good. He gave me a thumbs up. I went and bought two pies. I come back and give him a thumbs up. Next thing I know I am taking a selfie with these guys and a few people on my squad. It was fun. I got all their instagrams (3 of the guys). So now we are instabros. I then try to google translate and tell them about Jesus. I told them if they are ever down or in need pray to Jesus and He will answer. One translates back that He is buddhist. We then say our goodbyes haha. I know that sounds weird, but that’s just how it happened. I message them later trying to explain the Gospel. Again, I believe Holy Spirit will do what He does.
4.) We had two concerts at the cafe. The first concert I preformed a song that I had written two years ago. If you didn’t know I enjoy writing songs as a way to worship. Never I had I ever thought of singing any of them in front of an actual crowd. It was to say the least, a step of faith. The first song was about Peter walking on water. I put myself in his shoes in the song. The second I did a collab with my homie sista Allie. I had written a song of a song called refuge a year back. It was good. Like I said, this was crazy for me. These songs were always just meant for myself and the Lord. Yet I hope and pray by sharing them they have become an encouragement and sharpener for the faith.
Those are a few of the many things God did through us. Beautiful stories of how the Holy Spirit flowed through the rest of my team.
This was a hard month. It wasn’t easy for me. It started out easy, and then suddenly I was consumed with my thoughts and a thorn had been driven into my side. Warfare was so real. God gave me the word STRIPPED. Stripped I was, and am continuing to be. There are deep roots I have buried from my past. There were fresh roots that seemed to be so strong. I felt I would never be relieved from them. Chains of heaviness. The last day we were at the cafe, doing our last church service. We had a worship time. Holy Spirit overwhelmed me. I find myself crying (maybe a lil bit of weeping). It wasn’t that I was filled with sorrow, it was a cry of joy. I found myself reminded that Christ is worth every second. He is worth every awkward moment, every rejection, every tear, and every hard time. There is such a love that He gives. I was overwhelmed with my Savior. Who am I, that you would be mindful of me? I will live my life for the King of kings. I wrote down a verse that came to mind. Psalm 74:3 – “Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.” I read this. Immediately I knew, Satan had been attacking my sanctuary. I had been consumed with my thoughts and so much. What’s beautiful is that even when there are ruins or a mess. God can always rebuild. He has stripped me of what needed to be broken, and now is rebuilding a stronger foundation for me and my faith. Japan was tough, but absolutely incredible at the same time. I can say that now that I look back.
Christ is it.
Stone
