Count Down!!!

Another 90 days to go before I leave Hong Kong, and probably around 100 days to go before I head off to Japan. 

I need your prayers! 

Things to do before I leave Hong Kong: H4J people will get its vision, and continue to pray and be connect with resources!

Things to do before I head off to Japan: The CHURCH needs to get the vision! The CHURCH needs to come with me (I hope......)

H4J is about you and Jesus, on a response to His heart about Japan. 

Let's be certain about this, and get your root deep down in Him, Jesus, the one who give nourishment to all!

H4J Forum

Dear Friends,

Just to create a quick attention to you all about these posts in the H4J forum: 
1. Japanese Churches Recommendation
2. Great Resource for Christmas
http://www.heart4japan.net/forum/index.php?board=8.0

You might wish to input in these areas!

Love,
Roseline

Japan = Suicide is a MYTH

There is always a myth about suicide. When people think about Japan and suicide, we thought about "harakiri 腹切り" , the story of "Chrysanthemum and the sword", and the incidents of suicide of some famous people in Japan. The general perception commonly appeared to the general folks and missionaries while respond to the Gospel call to Japan, we tend to relate death with the Japanese.

In fact it had been true that Japan has a high suicide rate. One hundred people kill themselves by their own choices, perhaps perceiving death as the only solution to their circumstance. Yet, if we based our assumptions on what we thought is true/classical novels/legends, then our work will always fall in deception.

In Japan, the reasons to suicide had been classified as follow: Some, due to mistakes that they had made that would eventually lead to shame. Some because of being badly bullied perhaps including physical assult and rape. Some because of financial difficulties involved loan sharks. Most ended their lives because of a huge health burden. (Health burden = "cost for treatment" as well. )

For more detailed graphs and info, http://rose-risk.blogspot.com/2008/11/suicide-rate.html

There are so many things that we could discuss and drill further into. As our initial interest focus on Japan, the conclusions that we could obtain from this graph are:

1. "Japan's culture is uniquely associated to suicide" is a myth. (we will discuss this further in next article, you are welcome to contact me personally in this matter.)
2. "Japan has the highest suicide rate in the world" is a myth.
3. "Japan has the highes suicide rate in Asia" is a myth.
4. "Japanese people is suicidal people while compare to others" is a myth.

There are many reasons that tie to suicide. We should not neglect the very foundation issues of bread and life. Prof. Hedley sounded us that "Poverty is the greatest disease". In a movie production by Akira Kurosawa, Akahige 赤鬚, had said the samething.

Poverty in physical or spiritual, are equally deadly factors!!!

Another point taken home for my dear Heart4Japan people, Japan being NOT the nation with highest suicide rate does not hold you from responding to the Lord about the needs of Gospel and Salvation in this land.

We, as a responder to His heart, should had been responded by having sensed His heartbeat, His strong desire to see His people in this land to be saved!

Nov 7, Prayer Meeting

I understand that to many people, overnight prayer is stressful! The same thing happens here! If you can get a time to fellowship with each other (quality) once a week or twice a month, that will be really great! But I could encourage you to fix a time. So that the other people who are not in your network will perhaps join you as the Spirit leads them to. The best is to have a fix time, fix date, fix address, so that you will become a lighthouse that draw people for this mission/in this network. 

Over here, we are expecting three new people to join us this Friday, and we might have Yu to join us. Please pray for all these people, especially Yu. He had a lot of experience in the field, dealing with a lot of people who had went through ups and downs in life, and witnessed changes of waves in ministry. I am hoping that the other youth workers who joined the Global Summit will join us too, but the notice was just too short and the conference had been just too exhausting. Nevertheless, please, pray for these people! I can't name all of them, but they are great people who are ploughing the ground. Japanese and non-Japanese had dedicated their lives to Japan. 

Let's pray that the research that I done on Hikikomori and the data that I collected on Suicide will help us to understand a little bit more about the phenomenon and getting closer to the truth!

May the SPIRTI moves!

隱蔽青年現象篇

現象篇（1）無力面對這些隱蔽的故事當中，似乎沒有一個直接構成他們隱蔽的理由，但是卻無可否認的每一個案件的背後都存在著一個狀況。有些人是畢業以後找不到工作，有些覺得自己趕不上時代，有些覺得自己欠缺溝通能力。在這群人中有一個相似點，那就是挫敗感。現實社會對選擇了隱蔽生活的年輕人來說，彷如一個無止休的戰場，每一分每一秒，他們都必須弓背豎毛隨時備戰，或是工作上的競爭，或是從人而來的索求。人際關係變得很累，隱蔽宛如就是從戰場上撤退的變身。详文请看 http://www.heart4japan.net/forum/index.php?topic=11.0

Roseline: Updates Oct - Dec 2008 (2nd)

Prison Outreach
The Prison Outreach last Saturday was really rewarding. I had 15 students, ranged from 20 to 60 years old who were so eager to learn and so responsive. My wish is that they will be able to communicate and serve Japanese customer if they ever have a chance to take up waitress jobs once they immerse into the society.

There are limitations such as I am not allow to give them any of my personal contact info, and I shall not serve a counseling role in the class. Yet I pray that His love will shine through me, and I will be able to share His love with them, and make Jesus known.

The schedule for the classes would be: Oct 25, Nov 8, Nov 29, Dec 6. The whole journey takes around six hours, but I have only one and a half hour with the students. The inmates have very tight schedule on Saturday evening, therefore I am hoping to change the later schedule to Nov 23, Nov 30, so that I can have more time with the students.

Let's pray about this! Please pray that His strength and mercy will comfort us and lead us on!


Mandarin Bible Interest Group
The Mandarin Bible Interest Group seemed to be a little too deep for the seekers. In the midst of the busy schedule of exams and presentations in the school, please pray that He will give Paula (the group leader) wisdom and strength to move on with His good work!


Pray for New Believers/Seekers
Eva and Pearl (2 mainland Chinese students) will visit church for the first time this Sunday, please pray for their salvation!

I am also inviting Chee Won (Korean exchange student) and Leo Vu Manh Tuan(Vietnamese MPH student) to the evangelistic dinner on Nov 29 organized by Elim Church.

There is a need to find a good Mandarin speaking church for the mainland students, so that they can grow stronger in fellowship of people who speaks the same tongue.

I am also planning to take a few students with me to Nick Vujicic's talk in November.

The treasure that the students can find in the relationship with Jesus is just far too amazing! Just keep this in prayers! ^^


Releasing the Research Findings
To release the research findings through my own post could incur some ethical issues. If I can purchase ISBN, or get the results published into book, then it will be much easier and convenience for distribution.

The printing cost for 300 copies will cost HKD15,000 in Hong Kong. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us into the best presentation of His work. I will try to speak to the University Press to see if there are academic interest in getting the result publish. Chances are slim in human understanding, but in Him, there are always indefinite opportunities! ^^


Joining the Global Summit!
I will be able to join the Global Summit in the evening after the Asia Pacific Suicide Prevention Conference in the morning. We thank for the open doors for the connection of Heart4Japan and Hikikomori Concern. Let's pray that the interviews with the Hikikomori not to clash with the conferences and meetings!


Needing Accommodation
Due to the finishing the term of postgraduate student in HKU, I might need to move out from the dormitory in December. If that happens, I will need to have a place to stay from December till March end, for there are still plenty of work to be done until the stated date. It will be unrealistic to rent a place, for the rental out there is just far too expensive, and the term is too short to rent. The best of course is to continue to stay in Starr Hall, so I can still follow up with the students, and continue main bulk with what I am doing now. We need God's wisdom to deal with this, and I trust that we fall into His good plans.

Shalom! Peace be unto you! Thank you for praying with me! :-)

Heart4Japan Prayer Meeting on Novemeber 2008

Let's prepare our heart for the prayer meeting in November!

After four prayer meetings, I find that not many people are able to sustain for overnight prayer. Yet, meanwhile, in Hong Kong, it seems to be the only available time and resource that we could have at present, until His people are revived and begin to take up their responsibility to take up the watchmen positions in their own respective areas!

I am planning to divide the overnight prayer into three sessions,
9.30pm-11.30pm (pre-meeting worship, preparing and sanctifying);
12am-2am (understanding Japan from what is happening in real),
2am-5am (sharing of a specific topic);
5am-7am (worship and sing praise to the Lord).

People who attend this meeting will take turns to host different sessions. May the Lord lead us in this meeting, and the preparation to it!Let's share more later!

Meanwhile, do schedule and plan for your own area meeting, and keep us update with what is happening!

Blessings!

Updates and things to do for these few months:

Prison Outreach (Saturday afternoon): It's a volunteer service with Correctional Services Department Rehabilitation Project. I am given some hours to start an interest group for Japanese study. Let's pray for opportunity to share God's love with them. The target are women above 21.

 

Mandarin Bible Interest Group (Saturday evening): There are too many JW and Mormons as well as other cults roaring and wandering in the campus, targeting mainland students in specific. We pray that this group will help the seekers to get a good grip of Good News Foundation. We are using the DVD teaching materials from Living Water 活水中心. However the only concern is the extensive college activities and exams that the students have within this period. Please pray that the Lord will open their hearts and stir them to seek the truth.

 

Suicide Prevention Conference (Oct 31-Nov3): There will be speakers from China, Hong Kong and Japan. I am hoping to meet up with the Japanese lecturer in specific. Please pray for open door!

 

CCMN Summit (Nov 1-7): I am hoping to meet up with the youth workers from Hokkaido, Japan who are coming for the global summit from Nov 1-7. 

 

More Hikikomori Research Coming Up: I will also have opportunity to meet up and interview some hikikomori in next month. I am also hoping to publish the research work that I done on Hikikomori. Yet, because of the limited interest among the academic world, we need to pray for open doors and funding so that the research findings will serve it's purpose in adding knowledge to the current work in the field.

Meeting with Mission Team from home (Nov 13-21): My church back home is sending a mission team to visit me in mid of November. Please pray for safe journey, and pray that the Lord will guide us in fellowship as well as making further plans while we pray and seek the Lord together.

 

More Concrete Plans for H4J: I am hoping to work with the Heart4Japan team in Yokohama to come up with a more concrete plan for Heart4Japan before year end, so that we can start to work more and allocate resourcess on different outreach program. Yet, this remains the toughest job for me. I need more feedbacks from the field and people who are likely minded to work together on this. 

I praise God for all these opportunities and open doors for me to engage in His work. Please stand with me. I need His strength and mercy in order to complete these :-)Please pray in this direction. Thanks!!!

 

 

Just one more......

Just one more person! One more person to be saved!

It is not the harshness of Christ that criticize us at the End, but the love of Christ, the passion of the saved souls will urge us and awaken our conscience, of what we had not done......

Why didn't I just take another step?

Let's our lives have no regrets!

Ask God for your position in Heart4Japan!

If you are joining us or planning to set aside time to join us in prayer whether here in Hong Kong or other places. Do let us know about the location and time that you are praying with us, so that we can cover each other in prayers.

Elim church had agreed to cover us in their prayers and also set a time for corporate prayer for Japan and India during their prayer service prior to our prayer meeting. 

I would like you to join us in praying for these following items:

India:
1. Peace and love in India.
2. Strength for our bodies to live, and get over it (the persecution) quick.
3. The persecutors to meet Christ.
4. Funds and people to rebuild.

Ask God for your position in Heart4Japan.
Ask God why He had brought you to this group.
Ask God is He bringing you to Japan? or is He bringing you to serve Him through this group? through this ministry?
Ask God for His heart for Japan.
Ask God to reveal His will for Japan, as well as His will in you in this ministry.

Japan:
1. The relationship of Japan with neighboring countries.
2. Wisdom and mercy for the Japan new president 
3. The financial crisis in Japan may cause results in upsurge of suicide and crime.
4. Worsening society illness (hikikomori, NEET, depression, mental illness) because of the financial crisis.

Bless you!

OCT: Heart4Japan Overnight Prayer Meeting Oct 4, 2008

I would encourage you to join me from 9.30pm to prepare our hearts by worship, listening to God's word, cleansing ourselves as well as the join effort of corporate prayer by the church members for Japan and Heart4Japan ministry!

Regular Monthly Prayer Meeting

Date: October 4, 2008 (Saturday)

Time: 12am - 7am (7 hours)

Venue: HK ELIM Church, Vision House

Special Prayer Meeting Called for India

Date: October 3, 2008 (Friday)

Time: 11pm - 12am (1 hour)

Venue: HK ELIM Church, Main Chapel

Preparation (Including Corporate Intercession for Japan)

Date: October 3, 2008 (Friday)

Time: 9.30pm - 11pm (1.5 hour)

Venue: HK ELIM Church, Main Chapel

Planning for Special Prayer Session for India

I am planning to call for a special prayer for India next Friday (Oct 3, 2008) evening, for our brothers and sisters who are suffering in persecutions, and also uplifting the relief efforts that is ongoing.

Heart4Japan Monthly Prayer Meeting will be from 12am to 7am on every first Saturday of the month. The special prayer will be conduct for an hour prior to our monthly prayer. 

There will always be a corporate prayer by the church, and a slot will be set for Japan prior to our meeting on first Friday evening of the month in Elim Church. The time is from 9.30pm - 11.30pm.

I'll confirm with you the time again for the special prayer session for India when I have more information. Meanwhile, please keep India in prayers, keep this prayer meeting in prayers! 

When One billion of Indians had never heard of the name of Jesus Christ in this lost land, there is also 128 million of Japanese who cut themselves, tending suicides, hiding in, not because of persecution, but the lost of meanings in life! When the Lord is remembering India, He had never lift His eyes off Japan, that is the reason for us, Heart4Japan troops to persist, and to remember our bodies in India the more!

PRAY! ACT! GO! DONATE!

visit Gospel For Asia to find out more!

Sep 5 Meeting: Report 1

Thank you for praying with us! The prayer meeting here was showered by His love and grace.

The Korean church had covered us with their corporate prayers before we started our prayer meeting. Michael Karpf came over from Tokyo to join us in meeting, we were given the chance to share about the needs in Japan and the ministry of Heart4Japan. Phoebe and Tim Wan joined us in the meeting, we made it till 7am the next day.

The meeting was a combination of sharing of field needs, worship, scriptures and praying. Our prayers were in different languages including tongues. Guess I was the only one who pray in tongues that night, yet God is definitely amazing, and allow His Holy Spirit to tear down the walls between denominations.We had prayed for a certain things, including: the missionaries' need and corporation with local church; the suicides and homicides; sexual industry, elderly, quakes, ijime and school system. Few scriptures came to us: John 4: 1-38; Rev 7 :9-12

As approaching the end, Scott called us from California through skype and we prayed for each other, the Lord gave us a scripture through Scott's sharing: Romans 8: 18-25

I called Chauncey earlier before we started, and we believed that Brownwood, Calgary were praying before and after us at the stated time. I'll update more to the group by end of this week. I'm still waiting for the feedback from the other centers. :-) Several updates and notes had been posted by the participants in either Heart4Japan group wall, or the prayer meeting wall. Please feel free to look at it.

pic: (from left) Michael, Tim, Roseline, Phoebe

では、またよろしくお願いします。

Couldn't you watch with me even for one hour?

It's never easy to do overnight prayer, in fact, it's often not easy even just keep ourselves awake only for few hours. 

"Couldn't you watch with me even for one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!"

Obviously, Peter, James and John were tired, terribly tired. 

I can't remember how many times I dozed off in payers, how many times I felt asleep when I was supposed to watch. Yet, Jesus constantly reminded me, "Couldn't you watch with me even for one hour?"

It's never easy to pray, to ask for Him before we start on, before we go on with what are in our minds. We use the gifts He gives freely, use it in ways that "please" Him, for His Kingdom. Yet, we often forget to ask Him about what He wants, from us, for the Kingdom. 

Some people asked me, how could I be so clear of the Vision He set for me, how could I know where I should be the next step... without giving time to Him, without setting aside for Him, one will never know -- what He wants, what one should be to align in His will.

God will anoint all who seek Him and put Him first. 

God will anoint all the prayer locations, where they are praying for His heart for Japan!

As we pray, we are keeping Jesus in company. He had never stop working for Japan. In fact, He is waiting for us. Let's keep watch for each other!

"Couldn't you watch with me even an hour?" Mat 26:40

祷告 －－ 你、我的本分

这一次九月份得祷告，含着许多的惊喜。包括台湾、马来西亚、加拿大和美国的参与，还有米高特别从东京飞过来参与聚会的诚意。每一个聚会点，会有两个到五个人会聚在一起为日本祷告。在香港的祷告会，之前一次只有晓光和我。这一次，已经确实到会的也只有我和米高。

虽然说，“凡两三个人奉我的名聚在一起，哪里就有我在他们中间。”而且每一次我们也尽尝上帝同在的恩典。在得着恩典的时候，也着实为弟兄姐妹似乎对服事的次序先后错乱，而白白流失了生命本应得的祝福，和应许里更大的恩赐而感到惋惜。 比方说，有把本分的事误以为是使命。然后也有以为去宣教就是要先有储蓄等等的。熟不知，在这呼招里有过程......

(全文．．．．．．）

H4J: Overnight Prayer Meeting Sep'08

Feel free to contact us, if you are planning to pray with us! We are looking for more partners to intercede for this land! SHALOM! Peace with you.

3 OPTIONS

Yahoo Japan News: (2008/06/19)The National Police Agency reported that with from Jan to May, there were 489 cases of suicide by using hydrogen sulfide, and more than 517 victims were encapsulated in this, and most of them were in their twenties.


While compare to the 27 cases (29 victims) last year, the number had speedily increased due to the widespread of "suicide techniques" via internet.

Every 15 minutes, one Japanese die of suicide; every day, 100 Japanese die of suicide; every year, we lost more than 30,000 lives in Japan just by suicide alone.

What could we do? 3 options: 1) Go out there, bring love and hope to people! 2) Intercede for them! 3) Give money to support people who are willling to go!

[Warning to Israel] At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. (Ezekiel 3:16-18)

Sorry for didn't really write much these days

Sorry for didn't really write much these days. There are many things that I would like to address, but working on "hikikomori" at the last stage had really grab a huge amount of time in my daily chaos. 

I know many people had been worrying about my health status.

My recent schedule is like working for 18 hours, sleeping for 2 hours, and then working for 9 hours, sleeping for 12 hours, working for 12 hours, sleeping for 12 hours, then working for 12 hours, sleeping for 4 hours, then working for 12 hours, sleeping for 12 hours, then working for 2 hours, sleeping for 3 hours.......

I get all these flu symptoms :-) Diarrhea, nausea, headache, chilling, coughing, running nose, tiredness, weak. I guess the funny schedule is really because of the flu and tiredness with the thesis. I often have this nausea feeling when I look at my thesis too long.... To be frank, I guess stress had pull me down..... 

yet, having say so.... I still often feel a sense of happiness through all these discomfort, especially if I manage to watch a Japanese video, and when I am able to catch a phrase or two, and as I turn my head and realize how kind and linear that God had been with me, and as I see the effort in the essay is coming to fruit, I just feel "God, You are just so near to me!"

Yeah, I need a lot of prayers! Perhaps, prayers in such:
1. Lord, give Roseline co-workers in Heart4Japan.
2. Lord, speak to Roseline directly and clearly, so that she knows where to go, what to do next.
3. Lord, give Roseline prayer warriors/intercessors for overnight prayer ministry.
4. Lord, grant Roseline watchmen for her and Japan.
5. Lord, take Roseline's hand and write the whole thesis. 
6. Lord, let Your wisdom/discernment flow to Roseline, so that she will know what is real, what is not. What deserves your attention, what not.
7. Lord, give Roseline good health and strength to fight the fight easily and healthily!
8. Lord, let's prepare the ground in Japan! and bless everyone who is going in, and who is in the field! Bless them with resource, finance and discernment!

Don't worry too much about me. I just didn't really have strength to sit up and write much these days......

I call what I am having now a "summer hit", and guess this is the first time I really became sick after 2 years in HK. My first real summer in Hong Kong (June - Sep). Sigh.....

I have plenty in my mind, some discipleships are soon to begin in Heart4Japan. I appreciate your prayers! Thank you, my friends!


Love,
Roseline

Notes for Overnight Prayer Meeting August 1, 2008

Schedule:
9pm - 10pm (before meeting) - Declaring His Presence
Intercessory worship, praying for His Holy Spirit to fill the place, and to prepare our hearts. Ask for His Kingdom to come and His heart to be reviewed to us and bring in the right people into His work and this gathering.

10pm - 11pm - Praise and Worship
Getting ourselves into His rest and getting ready for the spiritual battle.

11pm - 5am - Updates, Sharing and Prayers/Intercessions
Sharing + praying + sharing + praying + sharing + praying (includes news in the field, hikikomori, missionaries' needs)

5am - 6am - Intercessory warfare
Oneness in Him, engagement in intense spiritual battle. Daybreak intercession! Across the Jordan River!

6am - 7am - Give thanks and ministering for each other.
Wrap up in thanks giving, pray for each other in spirit and love. Finalizing the schedule for next meeting.


Worships
The Lord had given me a few songs last night for my own preparation to the meeting, I am releasing the list and hoping that this might speak to some of you who may need a little bit guidance in this area. These are just guides, please feel free to use your own songs and flow with the lead of the Holy Spirit. :-)

Declaration - Pre-worship
You Are Awesome In This Place -
To declare His Glory and His presence in this place/(location that you are praying)/Japan

and/or songs that ask the Holy Spirit to fill this place!

No Other Name
Mighty Is Our Lord

Worship/ Repentance
To Keep Your Lovely Face
Deeper In Love

Eagle's Wings
Be Magnified

Declaration - Warfare
We Speak To Nation/向列国宣告
Touching Heaven and Changing Earth


Let's get two to three or more together to pray together for Japan! Praise God，Hallelujah! Amen.

Some updates in July

The exam was over now, didn't really do well, but there were other assignments to cover up, hopefully I can make it.

Just submitted my second draft, hopefully will gain my supervisor's feedback soon! Keeping busy now... some friends came and some were going away, and I remain here.

Just now when I was on the bus, I had so many plans for Heart4Japan, including promoting Hikikomori and fund raising to set up a proper functional network to push further the Kingdom of God.

As I was back to my office in Baptist this afternoon, I recalled the conversation I had with the grassroot people recently, and the social workers that I'm in touch with, I began to realize that there were so many unjustice issues at the social level of the common people, and in the social welfare system of the elderly and poor people in Hong Kong which had long been swept under carpet. Yet, there were so many Christians/Catholics in the Hong Kong government, who had appeared on the stage of revival meetings and shouted for His Kingdom to be established in Hong Kong, almost once or twice each year.

The church that I attend now shared with me their burdens about Macau, hoping that I could pray in agreement with them, and perhaps hoping that if there would be a slight chance that I will take up the missionary position to Macau - another place that fills with spiritual darkness and evil doings!

There are so many things to do, so many things that is happening today tell us that we are just so far from heaven! His Kingdom is long to due! As I thought about all these, my heart ached and cried, why aren't His people doing anything? Sometimes all our fight were just so vague, and as we were building the wall of Jerusalem by adding souls into churches, we had forgotten the commission of Jesus to love our neighbors as ourselves! What is about the Kingdom that we are eagerly looking for? Is Kingdom a building? a gathering of 10,000 people at a revival meeting? number of souls added in church? or maybe just a simple story of Good Samaritan.... a manifestation of Heaven on earth. To care and love the poor and needy! Perhaps it's really time to examine our hearts and our deeds.

My heart burns for the needs of the poor and weak, the one who are being persecuted, the cry for Japan and Heart4Japan had not weakened. In this case, the vision is clear. But then, there are so many things to do, sooooooooooooooo many things to do in each country, each land, each nation!

My heart is in great pain! May His people rise up in His righteousness! Hear our cry, Lord! Forgive us, Father, for being ignorance and being partial! Help us to see you! Help us to seek your face! In Jesus name, Amen.

Re: Matthew 5: 3-10James 2:1- 4Luke 10: 30 - 36