Today was Coming of Age Day here in Japan, the day when all people turning 20 years of age are recognized as entering adulthood. It was also the end of the New Year festivities in which the decorations that were on display are collected and burned ceremonially. But we rejoice in even greater news that a close friend of the mission community, Katsumi-san, is one step closer to becoming a Christian! After 60+ years of being apart from God's Word which she had been exposed to as a child at a local church, she decided today would be the day that she would burn all of the idols she had in her house. This comes after much prayer on behalf of Christian friends, missionaries, and pastors whom she's interacted with, in particular Jodi Davis at SYME who led an English Bible study with her as well as Keiko-san, our dear friend and language helper. What's most encouraging is that Katsumi's non-believing husband was a major proponent of her decision!
Please join us in covering this family in prayer that their decision for salvation would come soon. There was talk about baptism in her near future.
We invite you to watch this short video that documents this rare step of faith in burning of their idols:
I am a god that you will not see, yet I demand you still worship me. For protection, health and good fortune, Just clap and ring the bell. But if you forget to pay me coin, Your soul you just might have to sell. Mite imasu ka? Neither can I. This video is a collection of photos I took at the local Shinto shrine at the top of the mountain near our neighborhood. Pray for the nation of Japan
Hikikomori is a term that has become something of a silent epidemic in Japan. Meaning outcast or shut-in, we've briefly mentioned it here before, but thanks to Jon Junker for his excellent presentation on how to bridge the cultural gap using the gospel, we would like to share some of that insight with you. On the surface, it appears that institutions are blaming poor parenting skills as the source of the problem, while frustrated parents put the blame on bullying and poor school environment. If we dig deeper, the true source of the problem stems from a cultural glitch that is rooted in several hundred years of "self" deprecating attitudes. It is not merely one million people in Japan that suffer from hikikomori tendencies as the media would have us believe. It is more likely 60-90% of the population that experience side effects of the post modern Japanese society. Here are links to two videos produced by HarvestTime TV, one of the foremost producers of Christian material in Japan. They invited noted Japanese behaviorist Yuichi Hattori to speak on the subject. Hikikomori & Social Collapse Bringing Christ to Social Collapse To believers and pre-Christians alike, those that have seen this presentation agree for the most part on the real cause of the state Japan is in today. Please pray that we are further equipped to build strong relationships with Japanese people who may suffer or have family affected by this social disease.
Due to the recent increase in swine flu cases in neighboring towns, the children's school has delayed starting classes until now. Ellissa, Julina, and Aaron had their first day at Horizon Christian School today and were required to wear the trendy fashion masks. Whether it improves their listening skills remains to be seen. Nevertheless, all but Aaron fared well on their first day. Apparently he decided he was hungry and wanted to have lunch before the appointed time. Fortunately, it was a half day session, so the drama was cut short. Please pray that all the kids would be good students, make friends, and begin to sponge the language and culture from their Japanese teachers - including COokie Monster.
“A mobile is far handier than a computer for Internet access -- I seldom use a PC outside the office,” said Tokyo travel agent Takeshi, 32, who declined to give his surname. Takeshi and other pornography fans are feeding a surge in demand for movie downloads in Japan, home to the world’s first third-generation wireless network. While profiting from the traffic, Tokyo-based mobile carriers DoCoMo and KDDI Corp. say they’ve been forced to impose limits on the heaviest users as the $74 billion network feels the strain. [continue reading:bloomberg.com] Part of the problem in Japan is isolationism has become the new norm as technology helps numb the pain associated with lack of social skills and self-worth. This breeds indifference and a desire to please one's self thinking that it doesn't harm anyone. The trouble is that it becomes a viscous cycle difficult to break without a support group. Pray that we are equipped to deal with this issue as we seek to plant thriving churches in and around Tokyo.
We just got word from Tim Turner that our initial visa application had some red flags. For my salary, I had listed our entire monthly budget rather than the more modest number that is listed as a line item on our budget. Duh. The more pressing issue is that Weiling was listed as a dependent on my application, but the letter from Team Expansion and our ordination certificate shows both of our names. Therefore we've opted to submit a separate missionary application for Weiling. Lastly, we had listed teaching English as a second language as part of our job description, so the visa office wanted proof of where we were going to be teaching and how much money that would bring in. Note to future missionary applicants - do not list teaching language on your app. Please pray that the resubmission of our corrected applications goes smoothly and that we'll get it back within the next month so we can take it to Miami in August to convert to a real visa.
Given that less than 20% of Japan is livable, a free parking space comes with a high premium. In fact, if you buy a new car there, you must have proof that you have a garage or rental space to park it. Many areas have double-decker parking lifts that involve you sharing a set of keys with your neighbor so that you can gain access to your car by taking theirs off the lift first and swapping vehicles around. One local resident has gotten creative in the video below. Pray for us.
Economic woes triggered a rise in suicides among young Japanese last year, with the number of people in their 30s taking their own lives hitting a record high, a police report said on Thursday.
The overall number of suicides fell by 2.6 percent to 32,249, the 11th year in a row the figure has remained above 30,000, according to the National Police Agency.
Those in their 50s were most likely to become victims -- making up almost 20 percent of the total.
But suicides among people in their 30s have been on the rise since 1991. One expert blames Japanese industry's increasing reliance on casual labor.
"The reason many men in their 50s commit suicide is to leave insurance money for their families," Chuo University professor Masahiro Yamada told the Mainichi newspaper. "But those in their 30s have difficulty seeing any prospects for the future. The lay-offs of casual workers are a symbol of this."
Hundreds of thousands of casual workers have been made redundant over the past half year, as Japan's export-dependent economy staggered amid the global slowdown.
The police report showed 4,850 people aged between 30-39 took their own lives in 2008, up 1.7 percent on 2007 and about double the 1991 figure, the report showed.
Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the developed world, at 24 for every 100,000 people. By comparison the rate in the United States stands at 11.1.
Although depression was the most common cause, there were sharp rises in the number of people in the 30-39 age group thought to have committed suicide because they had failed to find a job, were unemployed, or were having difficulty making a living, the Mainichi said, citing the police.
Suicides by people in their teens and 20s are also on the rise, the police said. More than half those who died were unemployed and another 28 percent were casual workers.[source:Reuters]
This is Hideko. She was 9 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on her hometown of Nagasaki, Japan Aug 9th, 1945. Weiling and I were introduced to Hideko-san by Bo and Ida. We hope to get to know her more as time allows. Please pray for a successful hip replacement surgery for Ida on Tuesday 3/31.
We surely enjoyed having lunch with Bo and Ida Sharp at the Burger King in St.Cloud today. We learned that Bo's great, great grandfather was none other than the inventor of the Ferris Wheel. Tru dat. It made it's debut at the Chicago Fair in the later part of the 1890's. Each car could hold over 100 standing people and was designed to be taller than the Eiffel Tower. There is a Japanese woman who is a survivor of the bomb dropped on Nagasaki who works at this particular Burger King, but she's been out sick recently so we weren't able to meet her just yet. Please pray for a speedy recovery. She'd be around 68 years old if my calculations are correct.
Here is a breakdown of education costs for one year of schooling in Japan for one student. CAJ is the Christian Academy of Japan where we hope to enroll our children. Elementary public: $3,423.70 Elementary private: $14,084.59 Elementary CAJ : $8,118.15
Junior High public: $4,835.01 Junior High private: $12,992.15 Junior High CAJ : $8,625.84
High School public: $5,338.80 High school private: $10,705.77 High school CAJ : $8,933.296
Please be in prayer about our transition to Japan as our children's education is very important to us. CAJ's prices above are discounted 50% for missionary families and a tremendous bargain compared to other alternatives in Japan. It may be that we have to homeschool if there is a waiting list at CAJ. Our preference is to avoid homeschooling, but God knows His plans for our family.
Some of you may have missed this presentation a few weeks back by Juan Enriquez speaking during an episode of TED. The crux of his talk, once you get beyond some of the humor and his discussion about the economy, is really a not-so-distance prognostication of the underlying events detailed in the Book of Revelation. Of course, given his clearly humanist worldview, Juan would not likely admit nor understand my correlation, nevertheless, we are quickly approaching that point where we humans will ultimately remove suffering from our vocabulary and in doing so, remove the need to recognize the existence of Creator God altogether. This is the reality we're facing - like it or not.
We were honored to share our mission presentation with the good folks of First Christian Church of Seminole just West of Tampa. Steve Bolin invited us to bring our vision for Japan to their mission committee and they in turn shared their vision of global missions. They just completed their faith promise for the year, so please join with us in prayer as they consider supporting our efforts in the near future. Shouts to Cole, Kumcha, Robert and Ramona, Steve, and Sadee. May God continue to richly reward your faithful stewardship and thank you for your desire to see the Gospel shared around the globe.
Hiroyuki Suzuki probably wouldn't be your first pick in putting together a team of people to share the Gospel in Japan. Missing the tip from each pinky finger, and branded with permanent tattoos from time spent as a Yakuza member, Suzuki-san nowadays serves our Heavenly Father at Siloam Christ Church in Chiba prefecture. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." This is clearly visible in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit at work in Suzuki-san's lie and ministry. Pray that His light would shine bright in Chiba and beyond. [read more]
Promoting foster parenting has not been easy in Japan, a country where blood ties and traditional family structures are paramount. But in recent years, a home setting has begun to trump institutional care in officials' views of what's best for children who face abuse or abandonment. And now, the government is revamping its foster-care system to increase the number of caseworkers and better promote the option for families. The number of children in Japan, a nation of 127 million people, is still very small. In 2007, 35,925 children were placed in institutional foster care, a 12 percent increase from 2000. During the same period, the number of children who live with foster parents grew 68 percent to 3,633. [source:CSMonitor]
Come to Japan and join the team. You'll make a difference in one of the most difficult mission fields in the world. Make contact and sign up today! Please be in prayer for the workers and participants of this amazing conference. For many, it is the only chance during the year that they get to unwind and share with other harvest workers in God's fields.
Shared Hope International (SHI) awarded subgrants in each of the locations examined in the DEMAND. project totaling $124,000. Subgrants funded projects for public awareness and outreach to at-risk and exploited women and children and for direct care and shelter to victims. Subgrants were funded by the U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. The market in Japan continues unabated, even in spite of economic upheaval. Now you can help put an end to it.
Southeast Christian Church in Orlando will soon be reborn as The Bridge, and part of their new makeup is a slogan Crash the Future with a rhino that serves as their visual reminder. A group of rhinos is called a crash. We had the opportunity to share the SWORD STORY with the congregation and afterward I presented Pastor Steve Malone with our crash offering - an 18 pound solid aluminum rhinoceros that's been a talking point of our house since we've been married. Our prayer is that The Bridge would connect people to Jesus Christ and His purpose for their lives in Orlando and beyond. Will you join us in that prayer as they seek to follow the LORD's will in 2009?
We first met Jack and Joan Stenson while attending Roundup at Florida Christian College and they invited us to share our mission calling at their church in Inverness. It was a quick 90 minute drive Northwest of Orlando and we had the pleasure of meeting many seasoned Christians including Sarah who, Lord willing, will be celebrating her 97th birthday in January. As spry as a teenager, she makes her rounds giving hugs to any and all. We know the LORD has great things in store for this congregation. Glenn Bourne, who had been filling in while they search for a new minister, fell ill recently, so we will all remember him in our thoughts and prayers. Pray also for Aaron who is testing his parent's patience when it comes to his behavior in church.
We are currently contacting churches in Florida to partner with for our efforts to plant Christian churches in the greater Tokyo area. Please pray that we be effective speakers when talking to church leaders who make decisions about which missions they support. Pray also that the economy be seen as an opportunity for outreach in these trying times. Finally, pray for churches to be encouraged by our willingness to serve and that they be Spirit-filled in all their financial matters. We need only ask and trust that God will provide and He will be faithful.
Here's an interesting site with general stats on people's belief in God broken down by country. I don't know how accurate this is, but it's still thought provoking nevertheless. Our prayer would be that you might give others a reason for the hope that you have.
Self-injury in Japan is a sobering look at the degree of darkness that looms over Japan. This photo essay by TIME Magazine is a graphic reminder of who we are trying to reach. God does not want anyone to perish. II Peter 3:9
Warren and Yukari have 24 Japanese students and young adults coming to Orlando starting Wed 8/6. The Lord has graciously provided wonderful host families for each Japanese participant. In addition the Lord has provided our target number of American students/young adults to participate with our Japanese students for the Daytona Beach retreat. They'll have around 50 participants coming to the retreat including both American and Japanese students/young adults.
Recruiting host families and American students for this ministry is one of the most challenging tasks, but the Lord always provides. And it is such a blessing to work with those the Lord leads to be involved. A big thank you to all of you who prayed and to all of you who are hosting or participating in any way.
Please be in prayer especially during the next five weeks of our August/September homestay program. Please pray for safety for all involved in this ministry. Please also pray for the salvation of the Japanese students. Finally, please pray many blessings upon each of the host families, American students/young adults helping the ministry, as well as all the staff and volunteers of Mission To Japan.
We had dinner with my folks and Brenda, Rusty, and baby Grace (missionaries to Japan). There was lots of homemade goodness including Weiling's special stuffed peppers, Brenda's corn and mac-n-cheese. As we've come to learn, missions is more about relationships than anything else and we've certainly enjoyed getting to know the Carneys. Please pray that their support raising would be expedited and that they are embraced by their team in Hokkaido.
We arrived safely Tuesday afternoon around 3pm in Union Mills. The weather stayed nice for the most part and we had no trouble getting settled. The apartment we're staying in on campus is outstanding. There's enough room for everyone and even possibly a guest who might like to stay a night or two. Our next door neighbors are also missionaries in training to Japan! Rusty, Brenda and their daughter Grace will be living in Hokkaido to work on their language training before moving down to Tokyo area. Please pray that Grace's fever goes away, her ear infection subsides and that everyone stays healthy.
The death of a Christian friend, especially one who's been instrumental in shaping our walk with Christ, is a bittersweet reminder of the mortal tents that we live in. Paul Tucker unexpectedly passed from this life into eternity Thursday morning May 15th. He's gone on ahead of his loving wife Beth and two teenage sons Kevin and Brian. Paul was the guy I first shared my desire to "do something more with my faith" and he was the one who prayed with me and encouraged me to listen to God. It was that moment I believe that has propelled Weiling and me to the decision to enter the ministry in a full-time capacity.
Jesus reminds us in John 12:24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. How sobering to consider the magnitude of that statement? Certainly it was pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of the Cross, but if we are truly called to live as Christ lived, then ought not we count it all as joy when we are called home and when our life was spent working the fields of Christ's great harvest? The mournful tears we shed now will be tears of joy as described in Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Please join with us in lifting up Paul's family and friends who are devastated at this loss. May the Holy Spirit lift each of them up and carry them through this valley.
Garry applied to enroll in Hope International University's intercultural studies program. Team Expansion highly recommended this curriculum as a way to jumpstart our effectiveness on the field. It doesn't get any more intense than this. Classes will be taken completely online beginning April 7th with 50% of the program needing to be completed before we depart for Tokyo. The remaining courses can be completed in tandem during our full-time language acquisition. Please pray that we raise sufficient funds to cover this additional expense, and that Garry would maintain a balance in life during this time of discipleship.
Weiling and Garry will be in Louisville, KY March 15-21 to attend Team Expansion's LAUNCH session. This is an orientation/strategy program designed for get everyone ramped up for what's going to take place between now and departure, plus setting the foundation for the work that will take place in Japan. Please pray that spirits would open to God's will and that there be unity among leadership who are responsible to nurturing this sprouting missions. May the right questions be asked and may the right answers be given during this critical gestation period. This really is the birth of something special we hope will impact many people both in Japan and the United States. May the same fire of the Holy Spirit that started the first church of Acts, be present to anoint everyone in attendance. It's no coincidence that Japanese people love them some KFC, so it's appropriate that we be in America's heartland for this training week.
We've registered for the Center for Intercultural Training camp this summer. This is like a missionary boot camp where the whole family learns how to survive on the mission field. There'll be language acquisition, sharpening interpersonal skills training, teaching English as a second language, spiritual formation and effective team leadership development. The kids will have fun as well learning what it takes to be great witnesses for the faith, how to make new friends in a foreign country, and how to adapt to their new environment. We believe this training will be instrumental in making our transition efficient and this is the first hurdle financially for us to overcome. The cost of the 9 week training program is $10,495 not including travel expenses and some weekend meals. Initially we thought that was quite expensive, but we discovered it is on par with what other missionaries have to raise support for their training as well. It's over 2 months of intensive learning and immersion in the missionary lifestyle from a team that has had great success producing effective missionaries for Christ. If our ministry is encouraging you in the faith, to study your Bible more, deepen your walk with God, or motivated to share your faith with others - we would be honored to have you as a fellow prayer warrior, praying for our success in this new mission. If God has prompted you to help defray the costs of our preparation, we would be greatly uplifted by your blessings. Blessed be the name of the LORD.
Key bible and mission courses @ a bible college (Many colleges offer these online)
A longer-term apprenticeship with the missionaries in Japan
Two years minimum language training prior to or upon arrival in Tokyo (ministry work can NOT begin until you reach level 2+ and you must continue to train until you reach 3+. With Japanese this is likely to take two years.)
100% funding for your ministry.
There is a lot of work to be done between now and when we leave for Japan. Please pray that doors would continue to open and that we could serve sooner, rather than later.
Weiling and I just completed our phone interview with Tim, Training coordinator for Team Expansion. Our completed application now moves to the review committee and we hope to have a response to the affirmative by the end of January. Once we're approved, then we will attend a week-long LAUNCH session in Louisville, KY this spring. Aside from raising the necessary support, the final step in the process is to attend a 3-week session in Colorado Springs with our kids where we'll be educated on the finer points of mission life. The cost of that is $6,290 + airfare, so we are petitioning God to provide and to ensure that we'll have a spot reserved for us. Summer tends to book early. Please pray for these next few steps to go smoothly and that obstacles are avoided.
We made our first presentation to our church's mission committee tonight. It was great to finally be able to share with everyone the reason we have our sites set on Japan and the course of action we intend to take. The slideshow contained three Scripture verses, photos from CPI and pictures of the missionaries we met while in Japan. We started off with some general stats on the Japanese people and areas we intend to focus our efforts. There were several questions asked at the end of the 20 minute presentation which we were happy to answer. The next step is to fill out a support request form and ask them to prayerfully consider helping finance this new mission.
Team Expansion is in the review process of our application. Pray that the reviewers give thoughtful consideration to our responses and that we are able to move to the next stage of the process. Tentatively we would be doing our LAUNCH training in Louisville in February.
Mission To Japan will take a group of American students and young adults (ages 17 ~ 24) to Japan again in 2008. This will be Mission To Japan’s 8th mission trip. There are two trips planned. One is a four-week trip to Osaka and the other is a three-week trip to Tokyo. These trips will concentrate on building friendships with Japanese college students through English teaching, special events and activities. We will also partner with churches and Christian organizations in Japan who will help with follow up after our trip.The Osaka trip will also have two special "friendship English retreats".These are weekend retreats where we’ll have sports, English activities and games, and times of sharing the good news with the Japanese students who attend.
Osaka Trip: May 1 ~ 29, 2008 Location: Osaka, JapanCost: $3,000; Lodging: Suita Bible Gospel Church
Tokyo Trip: June 3 ~ June 24, 2008 Location: Tokyo, Japan Cost: $3,200; Lodging: Hotel or youth hostel in Tokyo
Both Trips: May 1 ~ June 24, 2008 Cost: $5,400
The cost includes airfare, food, housing, transportation in Japan, insurance and administrative costs. You will be given guidance on how you can raise support to cover the cost. You may need extra money for personal shopping and sightseeing.
Who can join? Any godly dedicated Christian (ages 17 - 24) who desires to serve the Lord in Japan and who agrees with our Statement of Faith. Each applicant will need to go through an application process, which includes a paper application, phone interviews, and referrals from three references. Applicants should be willing to raise up a team of supporters. Applicants will also be required to join part of the August 2008 homestay program, especially the five-day retreat at Daytona Beach (see http://www.homestay.us/english/index.html for details).
What will we do? One of the major goals is to make friends with Japanese college students. This will allow sharing our faith with them and inviting them to join the homestay program in Orlando (see http://www.homestay.us/english/index.html). We will also try to connect the Japanese friends we make with other Japanese Christians, so that when our team leaves there will be good follow up. We'll also be following up with alumni who have joined our past homestay programs. Some specific activities we'll do to accomplish these goals include visiting college campuses, teaching English, having strategic parties, and sharing our faith through testimonies and Bible studies.
Deadline for application: It is highly recommended that you apply as early as possible to ensure that you'll have enough time to raise up a team of supporters. We recommend that you apply by the fall of 2007 for the 2008 summer mission trip.
How to apply:You can download an application from the website: www.MissionToJapan.org.Or you contact Mission To Japan for an application or for questions.
We are searching for a mission team that we can work with to establish our new ministry in Japan. We've started the search, however, it is a long process and there will be many questions along the way. It is an aggressive timetable in which to accomplish many things for this to succeed. We cannot do it alone; we can't do it without God leading the way.
Lord, please connect us with the mission team that we can share in the blessings of furthering Your kingdom's mission. Help us to ask the right questions, give the right answers, and never lose site of the vision You have given us. Make this decision less about what we want, and more about what You want. Your ways are higher than ours. May the team You've chosen for us share in Your vision for Japan and also in our enthusiasm to be a part of it. May the glimpse of Your glory that You've shown us be reflected in the way we live. In the things we say, and in the things we don't say. Listen to our hearts, Lord Jesus, and fan the flames of the Spirit you've given each of us to do Your will. Amen.
As spry as a teenager, she makes her rounds giving hugs to any and all. We know the LORD has great things in store for this congregation. Glenn Bourne, who had been filling in while they search for a new minister, fell ill recently, so we will all remember him in our thoughts and prayers. Pray also for Aaron who is testing his parent's patience when it comes to his behavior in church.
We arrived safely Tuesday afternoon around 3pm in Union Mills. The weather stayed nice for the most part and we had no trouble getting settled. The apartment we're staying in on campus is outstanding. There's enough room for everyone and even possibly a guest who might like to stay a night or two. Our next door neighbors are also missionaries in training to Japan! Rusty, Brenda and their daughter Grace will be living in Hokkaido to work on their language training before moving down to Tokyo area. Please pray that Grace's fever goes away, her ear infection subsides and that everyone stays healthy.
