Why Japanese?

The Largest Unreached People Group (Joshua Project, 2005)

Only 0.04% Christians!

Annual Suicide Rate: >30,000

100-300 new religion registered each year (Operation World, 2000)

The battle is fierce, Time is SHORT! Please RESPONSE, Please PRAY!!!



Tuesday, October 30, 2007

HIKIKOMORI ?


へやからこの景色を見目ます。
从我房间看出去有这般景色,不错吧!
The view from my room......

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Test of Commitment and Love

My heart burst out of joy as I received the letter of offer for the dormitory this morning! I felt it was God just purposely made it that way, so to show me alongside this journey, there will be others to walk together, and getting INVOVLED.

The offer had not been made until someone being my advocate, organizing, helping to raise concern about this poor girl who have no place to stay, getting people who are willing to host me, then others came by to offer shelter and care. And then added on a further disappointment on the terrible condition of the residence house which challenged us to think of an alternative stay till January.

I have a strange feeling that if it was not the invitation being made by L. and C. for me to extend my stay with them; and the willingness and openness of Uncle T. to host me in earlier while other friends are coming to stay in Louisa's place next week yesterday evening, the offer will still delay.

It's strange to tie these together, but as I remember the promise He made, "The Church is coming in!" I felt this is what He meant. To show me that I'm not alone, and His family is going to care for me. Put it another way, it is also TEST of commitment and love.

It is not only about Methodist International for this chapter, but also the members of Full Gospel Assembly and Heart4Japan. I received many notes of prayers offered, love gifts and encouragement from all over, and God certainly remember all those who were involved. I just feel that He is strengthening the tie, and cleansing His temple... God, help me! Forgive me! and lead me on!

Saturday, October 13, 2007

毛虫、患难、鼓励

总觉得自己似乎一条毛毛虫,在茧里,等待着蜕变,又极不急待地伸展、挣扎。一共夹缠了喜悦、盼望、等待、守候、兴奋、悲伤。怎说呢?大概就像一个少年,时而激进、时而无病呻吟。

我想大家都在期待着这一条毛毛虫,到底从茧里冲出来的时候,是只怎样的蝴蝶,能飞的多远?我自己也在期待着。

患难和苦楚。
保罗说:“我们受患难呢,是为叫你们得安慰,得拯救。我们得安慰呢,也是为叫你们得安慰;这安慰能叫你们忍受我们所受的那样苦楚。我们为你们所存的盼望是确定的,因为知道你们既是同受苦楚,也必同得安慰。”我看着保罗所受的,见证着他所领受的,就加增了我的信心。神给我的心做了见证,也因为基督,再神面前才有这样的信心。并不是自己能承担什么事,一切所能承担的也是出于神。在心版上所刻下的见证,叫我坦然面对,不因人的举荐,乃因神自己的灵所写下的职分。众宣教士先贤所走过的路,有被记录下来的,也有被遗忘的,但是曾经刻画下的足迹却没有被上帝遗忘。困苦、艰难或舒坦,都与神共舞了。每一滴眼泪都记录在他的皮袋子里。人可以忘记,可以选择性记忆,但是神不能忘记。

有时候,神会在我们身旁安排一些有共同梦想、追求的人一块同行。有时候,路上形单只影,这一些都是必然。爱里有足够的信心,信带给我们希望。愿我们所受的大大小小的苦楚,教我们不能靠自己,只能靠叫死人复活的神,勉励每一个即将走上这条道路的人。也因苦难中的笑容和盼望,激励着每一个同在患难中的同行者。愿我自己,在每一次上路的时候,无论一个人还是有伴同行都紧紧记住主的信实与恩典够我用。阿门。


(林后)

Friday, October 12, 2007

My journey falls into His plans

Praise God! I have a place to stay now. A sister offered her study room for me until the dorm takes me in. (I hope the dorm wouldn't take so long......)

I believe all theses are added to the long list of His account, for what He install ahead for all the people that He had put together in the search of accommodation and the support in my preparation course in HK... my friends that host me, prayed for me, looked around for me, CEDARS, halls, church...

It was always amazing to see how things moved and fall into its place. I always believe that I cannot outgive God, and my plans just don't work before Him. As for the halls or the position of tutors, I felt that God must have a good reason in this.

I know He will in the end grant me a place in the hall, somehow I just felt that is His will. However, if He wants it to happen, it will happen! irregardless what it is going to take. He is BIGGER!

Yet, I also have a strange feeling in me that, at this moment, He wants me to be of an encouragement to someone else, or to learn something, or to be there for something/someone for a moment. So, He planned someone for me to stay in with, for that season. And that test my patience and perseverance, and also our understanding about His faithfulness and grace.

Although I stepped into the problems, and went to Jesus, allowing myself in that humble state, being weak and to rely totally on His strength. Yet, I couldn't help to "help" myself with the situation, that cost a lot of anxieties, rather then being still. So, that's something that I need to overcome.

The stay with my previous host was incredible! Prophetic!

The story goes.... Vivian passed me a gift last night as I moved out, a post card with my name written on it while she visited Vatican this summer. The address was her home address. In another word, she sent a post card home by putting my name as a recipient. And both of us didn't even know the hostel is not giving me a place, even as I waited till October.

:-) Wasn't it amazing? I am really convinced that my journey falls right into His hands.

Till then......

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

"Planning" can have so many meanings......

" dear sister, learn to plan -- if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. " A caring elder sister in Christ told me this morning as she found out my needs in searching for an accommodation.

"planning"... seems like a  jargon word to me.

If "planning" is about counting the cost, I had. If "planning" is about seeing which move is the best, and get things ready before the next move, then I had not done so.

If I have planned, I wouldn't be coming to Hong Kong. I would go to US instead to earn a scholarship, and still do public health. But sometimes, it is just so hard for me, to plan in advance, I always turned my eyes to my strength and abilities, what I have, rather than what He has done for me, and thus what He has in me was not seen. Planning, can't really put that away, unseen, but you felt most secure for deep down in my heart, I know that He will provide. He is honest, faithful and trustable. So, as I am convinced that I should go, what I needed to do is only trust and obey, and GO.

I'm afraid that there is a sound of  "laziness" in this matter, putting everything in God's hand....... but somehow I just felt that is what He intended me to learn. I had been always taking care of myself, doing appropriate planning, I was a good event planner, always have alternate plans for each events. Plan A, plan B, plan C, and I was such a perfectionist, that I wanted to plan everything. But for Heart4Japan, or to prepare myself in Hong Kong in the area of Public Health, I didn't plan. I couldn't, for me myself had to spend a year to figure why and how I ended up this way. It was too quick, everything happened just in a second, but I was greatly convinced that was the right thing to do at that moment. There is a peace to continue to follow His plans rather then trying to figure out what His plans are going to be.

During the four months in Malaysia, to be honest, I always struggled if I have to come back. Thinking about what it is going to be......and thinking about having to have the whole scene replay in this semester was enough to make me sick. I knew I would have no place to stay when I come back, I felt I will be too weak to go through this. However, thinking about it, and remembering His goodness, seeing the growth of the ministry, and seeing so many had been touched, and revived for their love and calls to Japan, the excitement grew! And I knew that He would have a good reason for me, as I need to go through this... One of that, perhaps it was being advised, "Plan! Learn to plan!"

Planning... I did count the cost, and I knew I wouldn't be able to pay for it. But, somehow strange enough, there was a peace in me, encouraging me to pursue the dream. A dream to be soar with Him, and just trust Him. So, as I counted the cost, I saw what it had to take...... I still have no solutions, but yet time was running out. It was either to complete the study, obeying the call, trusting Him in advance, or to quit and serve the Lord back home, knowing that He will still loves me and provides me even if I chose to avoid Heart4Japan or staying alone in Hong Kong to accept the training.

I guess, going to Japan will be even tougher. The experience in Hong Kong will give me that strength to stand firm in Japan later.

I really thank God for such precious advice, for I know this person really loves me and she had spoke through her experiences. I chose a difficult road to tread. Research is again a jargon for me. I'm not that academic brilliant, and doing research is really killing in little guidance that I could have.

Again, the Japanese culture is so different from mine, and sometimes I just feel so scare......

Till here, I have great peace, more than ever. I miss home, I don't really know how to plan, but there is a peace to wait and trust.

Monday, October 08, 2007

回港小感

回来后,基于寄居的地方过小,而且光线太差,深夜里没有办法如常操作。白天的时间太匆促,不断地徘徊于不安定之中,很难静下心来好好地写文章。

我心里没有为自己的处境心烦,但是寄居之处却为我心烦。这样的状况,还真有点尴尬。而且这个家庭是非基督徒,慢慢了解下来,神助我讨人喜悦,但是穷苦寒酸的教徒似乎印证了一般人对基督徒的stereotype,不是个好见证。这样想的时候,自己也不禁紧张起来。她妈说:"你这么大胆,是不是就是你们基督徒所说的什么'神招'? 我有好几个朋友也这样。我有一个朋友的丈夫是宣教士,教会支助,但是生活不是过得很好。我真的不明白为什么这种事也能和上帝扯上关系?"

当然感谢神,因为这样,我也有机会跟她说见证,但是因为我朋友对福音的抗拒,每一次要进入福音的话题的时候,总是没有办法继续下去,有时候是因为一些干扰。

地方太小,没有私人空间,光线差,要祷告灵修也不容易。然而感谢神!我好歹也住在中半山,有钱人的地方!想回马来西亚述职以前我也住了沙宣道。感谢神,这个家庭真的很照顾我。只是,这样的日子持续太久,难免会给人带来不便。而且我须要尽快有一个稳定的落脚处,Heart4Japan 和 hikikomori 的工作都须要一个office。我更须要一个地方可以让我安静祷告、灵修、写作。加上我这种日夜颠倒的工作方式,还有服事,我需要尽快有个地方。

如何在燃眉之急中安静等待,在不信的人面前呈现的是依靠神的决心,而非懒散占便宜的心态,对于我现在这种状况而言很不容易。靠信心度日的生活就算是基督徒,未曾走过也不能明白,更何况对于非信徒来说更是匪夷所思。毕竟,今天的世代非当日初代教会的凡物共用,不分彼此。福音加上人为的不善处理时常不经意的就成了别人信主的绊脚石。希望这一家人能信神。母亲和女儿分别在天主教和基督教的学校长大,都没能相信神,似是而非的懂,求主怜悯!香港的教会所办的学校,似乎都呈公式化,渐渐失去了宣教的意义。求神原谅祂的仆人,也求主来复兴这里的学校。

你 们 不 要 倚 靠 君 王 , 不 要 倚 靠 世 人 ; 他 一 点 不 能 帮 助 。他 的 气 一 断 , 就 归 回 尘 土 ; 他 所 打 算 的 , 当 日 就 消 灭 了 。以 雅 各 的 神 为 帮 助 、 仰 望 耶 和 华 ─ 他   神 的 , 这 人 便 为 有 福 ! 耶 和 华 造 天 、 地 、 海 , 和 其 中 的 万 物 ; 他 守 诚 实 , 直 到 永 远 。(诗篇146:3-6)

很多基督徒因为不知道自己的使命,和自己在神的计划里所能参与部分,失去了与神同工的美丽见证!无论是施或受,无一不是因着神的恩典。不能充分地了解这一点,是很难跨上信心的一步。充满质疑,步步为营,也不见得就事事顺利。我虽看起来似遇上困境,但是因为耶和华与我同在,却也事事顺利。这不就是约瑟的生命吗?

腰 袋 里 不 要 带 金 银 铜 钱 。行 路 不 要 带 口 袋 ; 不 要 带 两 件 褂 子 , 也 不 要 带 鞋 和 ? 杖 。 因 为 工 人 得 饮 食 是 应 当 的 。你 们 无 论 进 那 一 城 , 那 一 村 , 要 打 听 那 里 谁 是 好 人 , 就 住 在 他 家 , 直 住 到 走 的 时 候 。 进 他 家 里 去 , 要 请 他 的 安 。 那 家 若 配 得 平 安 , 你 们 所 求 的 平 安 就 必 临 到 那 家 ; 若 不 配 得 , 你 们 所 求 的 平 安 仍 归 你 们 。(太10:9-13)

接 待 你 们 就 是 接 待 我 ; 接 待 我 就 是 接 待 那 差 我 来 的 。 人 因 为 先 知 的 名 接 待 先 知 , 必 得 先 知 所 得 的 赏 赐 ; 人 因 为 义 人 的 名 接 待 义 人 , 必 得 义 人 所 得 的 赏 赐 。 无 论 何 人 , 因 为 门 徒 的 名 , 只 把 一 杯 凉 水 给 这 小 子 里 的 一 个 喝 , 我 实 在 告 诉 你 们 , 这 人 不 能 不 得 赏 赐 。(太10:4-42)

我寄居的这家庭将得平安!神的话因祂的名字持久不变!阿门!

Friday, October 05, 2007

TALK, WALK

As encouragement always being accompanied by discouragement, and discouragement being accompanied by encouragement, I guess what God is training us to, is to tune our mind and focus to His goodness and Faithfulness, also to learn how not to be distress in disappointments.

Many times, the disappointments do not come from the enemies and nonbelievers, but the fellow believer who had TALK more than WALK. Often, someone you trusted for the relationship that we have in Christ, promised you one thing, and turn out to be an empty one.  And when this happens, both side will have a different story. I guess, we need to repent!

It's not the time to compare what I had sacrificed or what you had done, nothing that we do can outgive God. We give it willingly in God, it's out of  love that we give. I know people who read this will probably agree, but do check our hearts as we agree. Do not be hypocrite. Repent if we hold resentment of what we had given.

Let's the people who joined Heart4Japan WALK more than TALK. Constantly check our hearts for what we do.

The good thing about having JESUS, is not that we will become a good person, nor we will do the right thing. But it is about having HIM, we will not be affected even in the stormy wind. And that takes TRUST, and ACTION! In the midst of storm, JESUS commanded the wind to stop. When the multitude were hungry, JESUS fed them. When the disciples were hungry, JESUS allowed them to take the grain on a Sabbath. When Peter fell into the water, JESUS extended His hand. When Peter could not catch a single fish, JESUS gave the direction. When the leaper needed healing, JESUS touched him. So much more....... If JESUS is here today, what do you think HE will do? Aren't we JESUS followers?


Stop BRAGGING, I urge you. But Start DOING!

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

牺牲的寡妇

我的肚子一直在翻腾,不由自主地脑海里面就浮起妈妈一个人忙家务、盲工作、一个人呆在家、一个人吃饭、闷闷地没有一个倾诉的对象。

很少人会省察到其实在这个宣教路途中,付出最多、作出最大牺牲的其实是我的母亲。

求主记念我的母亲!

Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 要 尊 敬 那 真 为 寡 妇 的 。 若 寡 妇 有 儿 女 , 或 有 孙 子 孙 女 , 便 叫 他 们 先 在 自 己 家 中 学 着 行 孝 , 报 答 亲 恩 , 因 为 这 在 神 面 前 是 可 悦 纳 的 。(1Tim 提前5:3-4)

那把孩子献上的妇女蒙神的喜悦!


The Widow's Offering ~ Luke 路加21:1-3

As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

耶 稣 抬 头 观 看 , 见 财 主 把 捐 项 投 在 库 里 , 又 见 一 个 穷 寡 妇 投 了 两 个 小 钱 , 就 说 : 我 实 在 告 诉 你 们 , 这 穷 寡 妇 所 投 的 比 众 人 还 多 !