Japan mission journal
As people ask me, "So how did your trip to Japan go?" And I have honestly said, "It was phenomenal!"
God really did more than I asked or imagined before, during, and even after my trip to Japan. As a way to tell the story of all I saw and did, I tell it by way of answered prayer.
Before we made plans to go to Japan, Kristen and I counted the cost and realized that we couldn't afford it. Yet at the very moment that we reached that conclusion, Savana brought us the mail containing a card from an old friend with "a belated Christmas gift" that she said God laid on her heart to send to us. It was 3 times the amount we needed!!
My primary reason for going was so that Mune, a close Japanese friend of mine, and I could actively engage in sharing the gospel in his home country and to his friends. Mune wasn't planning on going to Japan this summer due to research he was doing for his masters, but after talking to his professor about it he was given the freedom to go.
Since my biggest prayer was for Mune to catch a passion for the gospel to spread in his homeland, I was so encouraged when on three different occasions Mune powerfully shared the gospel:
First it was with Koji. A Tokyo University student who came up to me and said, "I would like to know more about Christianity." Mune and I were with him for over 5 hours as we shared the gospel that gives freedom with him. He is very close to salvation.
The second time was with Tomoko. She spoke little English, but as Mune translated for me he added a lot of his own words and thoughts to clearly explain the gospel message.
The last time was with Take. Mune was watching an intense discussion occur between Take and a Japanese Christian, Hiroto, when Mune jumped in and showed a passion for truth and love that I'd never seen before!
As I watched each of these events unfold, I distinctly remember thanking God for his promises and his presence.
With only 10 days to engage in this mission to help the TX team discover God's specific will for a church plant, God graciously spared me from experiencing ANY jet lag, helped me learn some survival Japanese in only 5 days, and immediately opened doors for the gospel.
We arrived in Tokyo around 4pm on Thursday. By 3pm on Friday, we found ourselves speaking at an English class at the Tokyo Women's Christian University. One lady I met there, Sayuri, later joined us for a "fun day" with 13 other Japanese. Since coming home, we've been e-mailing each other about what it means to be a Christian. Her latest e-mail said,
"He is savior and taught me the importance of my life ... Now that I have something to live for, my heart feel so free. It took me so long to see Him, but I am so glad He found me!!"
That is what GOOD NEWS looks like!
I was able to share the gospel and my testimony multiple times every day I was in Japan. One surprisingly effective way to get the gospel out was through my old testimony tract. I had printed out 30 testimony tracts, but came home with only 5 in my pocket. People were eager to take one. In fact, I even gave one to a Korean kid during my flight back to the states.
Here is a list of the people I met, shared with, and continue to pray for and keep in touch with through e-mail and facebook:
Sayuri, Koji, Tomoko, Mami, Daisuke (2 of them), and Take (sp?).
Please pray for them whenever you can.
Of course, along with the joy of being engaged in the Great Commission with Mune and an old college friend of mine, Paul Scott, I also got to "enjoy" all manner of strange foods (octopus, squid, seaweed, eel, ect...), visit temples and shrines (including the latest Japanese cultural icon... the subway), and sing kareoke (the Japanese people are a very polite people, so no one ran out of the room as I sang, "Mr. Roboto".
I think you'll really enjoy this slide show that Kristen put together.
I miss Japan. I long to return as God wills it. May God be merciful to these people and rescue them through faith in Jesus Christ.