栄国寺

A Buddhist Temple, a Christian Museum, a Kindergarten.

After the visit to Kakure Christian Museum in Kyoto, I had a chance to explore another Christian Museum - 栄国寺 in Nagoya City. It is a place with combination of three themes: Buddhist temple, Christian museum and a kindergarten. 

The temple received the bodies of the persecuted Christians in Edo period, to provide a burial place, and prayers for the rest of their souls after the mass execution. 

The picture (left top): a stone that wrote 遗迹切支丹 Christian Monument. It stood before the narrow entrance to the burial ground. 

The picture (left bottom): a sign that shows us the entrance to the burial ground of the mass execution, where a tomb was stood for a thousand souls. 

The picture (right bottom): a weird combination: A monument built by a Catholic priest, illustrating the stories of the thousands persecuted souls (left), the tomb of a “famous” Christian man of the time (middle), the “worship” monument that states the protection of Buddha over these executed Christians’ souls (right).

“A resting place for the souls...” how kind were these people that had offered a resting place and set their gods to look after the executed Christians, so that the dead could find peace. What can we do to help them to understand the eternal life that these persecuted Christians had even that they had went through time of turbulence. How can we in return help them to realize that they themselves who had portrait such a good example of Samaritan brother could simply have the same eternal life by believing and receiving the name of Jesus?

The picture (right top): a buddha statue which was claimed to be substitute of Jesus in Hidden Christian worship.  

To be honest, I do not think that the Christian museum really give us any concrete account of hidden Christian in Japan. Nevertheless it is interesting to see how the temple or the state officers had valued these artifacts.  

栄国寺, an unique place: a very traditional Japanese style of architecture building adjoint to a kindergarten, with a display room that full of “Christians” artifacts that joined to a meeting room and a Buddhist temple. Let's pray that in this strange setting, it will provoke the interest of the kids to find out TRUTH as they realize the challenging messages that is embedded in this place.

4th Week in Japan

Seeking His heart for this neighborhood

I have known Ramone for two years now through his prophetic artworks. www.art-for-jesus.blogspot.com. Sometimes there are some illustrations that didn’t make sense to me at all, yet most of the time the images are confirmations to what I’ve prayed, or comforts that I need in times. 

This trip will be primarily working with Ramone to see what God had placed in his heart for the area that he works on and also to be connected with his contacts.

The first assignment I have with Ramone is to walk around Tennoji and pray together with him. As I take photos casually at the street, the obasan in the picture approached me, “気おつけてねtake care, young girl! There are many different people here as you walk down the arcade, take care!” So we took the opportunity to sit down and chat  learning about this street, this area, and what she thinks about life. 

Obasan, 70 years old, tough lady, survival of Hiroshima during ww2, her malformed left hand is a mark of harshness of life. The friendliness of the Obasan had opened door to befriend with the other people in the street. 

The old man is a good guitarist and vocalist who plays on the street, and the young man is probably a regular wanderer at this area. This friendship seems to be a good beginning of my tour in Tennoji.

nishinari - 50 YEN drinks

This is the cheapest drinks that I have ever seen in Japan. 50 yen and above, almost half price of the normal 

vending machine. Ramone said it is probably only in Nishinari-ku 西成区, a place where you might find about hundred of jobless people waiting to be employed day by day basis. 

Nishinari-ku christian church 西成区大阪救霊会館

The Christian Church is of 70 years in Nishinari, serving the poor and needy, feeding the homeless and have service every evening. A huge amount of resource is put into this service. 

They also have two vans that goes around to preach about Jesus Christ in the city.  

The cost to pay is really about sacrificing the comfort of having a brand new building, or a set of brand new chairs for service. Everything in this church is just so humble. Yet, they send missionaries to overseas too, actively praying for the nations, for China. They welcome mission teams as well. 

Many homeless have come to the service mainly for food. Yet, in the midst of those, sometimes there will be a few truly came to know about the Gospel and saved. I could see the tears in Sakai Sensei’s eyes, the joy that leap in her eyes as she shared about the salvation of the homeless. Prosperity is not the tune that this church sings, but the love towards the neighbors is!

Add: 大阪府大阪市西成区太子１丁目－１４

Tel: 06-6632-5820

Shitennojimae 四天王寺前

The impressions of Shitennojimae　四天王寺前 are a lot of healthy looking students, quiet temples and a mushrooms of love hotels, a weird combination. The place also included an elderly care center, a blind center, and a YMCA building that located not far from the Subway station.

Be One movement in Kansai - B1 House church (http://www.b-1.jp/)

Jumpei, a English teacher of an international high school, started a cell church together with his student’s father, Keishi, three years back. The interesting things of this meeting place are: (i) it is located at Ame-mura, a sense of Osaka version of Harajuku; (ii) the meeting is free and easy; (iii) yet in all these, you find the spirit moving.

There is a crowd roaring outside the building, and then there is a little corner at the 5th floor inside the building with a little written sign:  #Prayer room#. As you open the door, a scene of people casually sitting and freely chatting in the room will brush away the stagnant image of what a normal service will be. It looks more like a high school club to me, with juice and snacks on the table, someone causally playing guitar, someone concentrating in working on her laptop, someone playing, someone reading...... 

The service starts with worship, and it just starts to pull a string in the heart of the people, and then they are ready for scriptures.... no one will be directly giving a message, but they proceed with bible reading, and then form into small groups discussing and reading, sharing what they feel about it, and pray about it together. The meeting is casual, yet with a sense of unity in the Spirit, AND fun!!!  Fellowship...... that’s the smell of this church. 

Contact# jumpei@b-1.jp 

With limitations yet also with great fulfillment of the Lord, the prayer room is going to shut down at the end of this month, but move to Shinsaibashisuji, a more higher end shopping arcade, to combine with another cell-church that is held in Shimamura’s office. With this piece of information, please pray for the spiritual atmosphere at this place and also the people who walk into Shinsaibashisuji, let them be bless by the present of His body!

The Needs at the Riverbank

Sometimes the riverbank is quiet, sometimes it isn’t, especially during spring and summer. There will be stores set up at the riverbank, featuring from food to entertainment. 

One store that caught my eyes is the palm reading store. A crowd standing outside the store, examining their own palms with the references (pictures of palms) that hang up at the store. 

Probably feeling insecure for the future, probably eager to know what is install next in their life, probably wanna to escape from current situation, they all stopped, mainly middle aged women.  

Coming from a background of unbelieved, I can identify with the feelings of uncertainties that causes a lot of anxieties especially when the present doesn’t seem to work out fine. People need an answer for the experiences that they have, the experiences that they are going through....

The homeless are often being ignored in the park or at the riverbank. The strong desire in Ramone in reaching out to them reminds me about Scott Williams who had the same passions towards these people.  Let us first remove our lenses, and begin to ask God how He looks at these people.Through God’s lenses... this is the key to His Kingdom and His ministries!

Prophetic Art-Ministry

In early 2007, when God led me to Ramone’s blog, I felt a strong connection with Heart4Japan. I often think, if there is going to be a fellowship of the Ring, Ramone would probably be Legolas Greenleaf. Prince of Elf, that could see and hear spiritual things and have an understanding of it. 

On the third day of staying with Ramone, he handed me a picture of Jesus under the pink sakura tree, and told me this is a picture for hikikomori. A scripture that attached to this is Song of Songs 2:14. The beauty of the petals, the long waited season, the joy and cheerful look of this picture, along with the scripture pierced my heart, the hikikomori is precious in His eyes, and he is calling them out from their closet!

Hikikomori might have rejected the world, or vice versa. But God has not reject them. He has a message for them, and that’s why He had brought us into this picture so that we can sense the hearts of the broken ones, and begin to pray and carefully search His heart for them, and work through it with persistence and endurance!

Ramone has a very sensitive heart and tentative ears for the Lord. It is fun to learn about what he had studied and often encouraging and humbling to learn about his visions of the place where his heart is on. I’ll leave it to you to be connected with him, so that you can form a strong team in the future if you have a burden for the poor and needy through interceding and prophetic art. Shalom!

Email: fulfilledinjesus@yahoo.com

website: www.art-for-jesus.blogspot.com

〜moment of relax 〜　長居公園 Nagai Koen

Besides of working and praying, I had an opportunity to relax and just to catch up with all the sleeping time that I needed to regain strength. The extensive travel in past three weeks had been more tiring than I expected. Probably often have to carry not less than 8kg loads on my back and extensive walking are the most tiring part for me...... ^^

There is a beautiful park in Nagai, one station away where I am staying. An International Game is going to be held at the park in May, and prior to that, there was a clean up of homeless in that area. An botanical garden is attached to this park.

In the park on weekends, there were elderly people with their paint brushes or cameras and walking sticks, young families with beautiful children, a few pair of couples, some high school students, having fun, resting and having bento (lunch box) in the garden. 

After an hour walk in the garden, we finally sat down under the sakura tree (where the flowers had almost gone) and had our bento. It was relaxing as the sun was shining, but the weather was just cooling, and there was an old man concentrating on his drawing at the path which is not too far from our left, and another few families sitting not too far at our back. 

Lying down on the Mr.Thomas mat, I fell asleep comfortably, as a Sabbath rest, in the arms of the nature that He created, a relaxing moment, together with Yoko and Timo. 

Yet, in enjoying this, it also finally made me realize why many people had not recognize the problems of the homeless, hikikomori or youths with deviant behaviors. I remember an Osaka lady advised me earlier when I started the work on hikikomori, “Yes, there is a problem. But I believe we have enough ‘normal’ people to function in this society!”

......a pause for you, for me, to think......

Creative Ministries

Gospel concertmama outreach

There is a Gospel Choir Outreach in Jesus Family, where mothers in the neighborhood can bring their children to the church and relax, fellowship with one another, making friends, and singing Gospel music. http://www.jesus-family.jp/

Tel: 06-6697-3502 

Croix, Shinsaibashi

A beauty saloon that turns into an outreach place, where bible study and Sunday worship also take place in this warm Total Beauty Center.

shimamura@croix.jp

Highlights of Next week

Meeting this team in RJC (Reaching Japanese for Christ) remained a blessing to me. They had gone all the way out to meet with Takako Watanabe, a missionary that was sent by the Evangelical Church to Seattle, and brought a little bookstore with them to the conference.

Their love towards the Hiki T-shirt encouraged me! Somehow this turn out to be a wish to work with them in this trip. 

The highlight to this is that we seemed to cross into each other without any prior plans that we made. First, I met a member from the church during the second week when I was in JCMN Summit, and then the day after I left Nara city, Pastor Fukuno came to speak in Antioch Cafe. 

It seems like God is connecting Heart4Japan with the body of Japan Evangelical Churches (JEC). Takako did the translation for the brochures from English into Japanese, and the work with Hikikomori had also led me to Nagano Fukuin Kyoukai and Nara Fukuin Church. 

Let’s pray and see what God is leading us to. Having an opportunity to share with the ladies and the youths in the church is encouraging. Though it is just another two days ahead, I am still reserving a place for the Holy Spirit to move so that the message will be of what He wants the congregation to hear. Please pray with me in this too! Let me not speak out of flesh, but in obedience and tentative to His will and desire. 

It will be interesting to find out more about this church, and leaning towards the Holy Spirit to see what is install in the coming week. Maybe more of hikikomori? maybe more of encouraging the youths to after their dreams in Christ? maybe sessions of comfort and prayers? 楽しみね！

http://r-c-i.net/  Add: 〒584-0092 大阪府富田林市昭和2-2-8, Tel: 0721-25-9788 

Prayer Points for Heart4Japan: 

• Possible connection with Evangelical Churches.
  
• More people will catch the vision and willing to come together to seek His heart for the harvest in His field.
  
• Foundation for future work.
  

Prayer Points for Roseline:

• Speaking with Discernment.
  
• Chances to work with hikikomoris.
  
• Being an encouragement to the family of hikikomoris. 
  
• Faith and Trust
  

3rd Week in Japan

On April 9, I came to Nara to work with Robin Adam. A beautiful American lady, 75 years old, laboring with love and care, spending her last pension penny in this beautiful place.

Robin Adams works in two places in Nara, Antioch in Nara city and Haibara Prayer House.

After 20 minutes of walking from the train station with the heavy luggage, we were welcomed by Ako’s warm hospitality in Antioch. 

The next day, we headed back to Haibara, went back and forth Osaka and Nara in next few days, visiting different churches, and also some sightseeing with a couple of friends that Robin wishes to reach out to: a Jewish family and a Japanese family.

Syncretism or Redemptive Analogy?

Robin teaches English, and through friendship building she aimed to reach out to the neighborhood and she has a strong passion in reaching out to buddhist monks and shinto priests. 

For this she is convinced to use a lot of tools about Keikyo, Nestorian Influence of early Buddhism and Shintoism, the meaning of Kanji. If you wish to work with Robin Adams, please contact her via this email: robin.adams@mail.com

The argument of syncretism and redemptive analogy still remain controversial and I believe it always will. 

I will carefully record what I’ve seen and learn in this trip, and also share with you what I sense in the embrace of the Holy Spirit. 

Amenominakanushi

I have no doubt that God had put a great desire in the heart of the Japanese to worship Him, the creator of Heaven and earth. That could be observed in e every single effort to seek harmony with the nature that turned out to be the way of life of the Japanese. Though not much putting into practice now, ikebana, cha-do, bushi-do still serve as the root of the culture and the way of life that one honor. 

The similarity in Kojiki and Genesis could be the very clue that God had left on this land of the evidence of His existence. In the search of the creator Heaven and earth, Amenominakanushi seemed to have substitute the name of Yahweh.  This finding is exiting yet, it is a huge challenge ahead in pointing them to Jesus with this redemptive analogy, not to syncretize but to reveal the absolute truth. 

Easter celebration - an unbelievable night 

It was an unbelievable Easter dinner on Sunday evening. 

Gill wanted to have Easter Hot Cross Bun with raisins in it. So we worked on it! Of course we can’t find that in the store, so I tried to make a chocolate marble cake, and Robin worked to put a cross on top of it with icing sugar. And then we get everyone to take one raisin in their hand, to symbolize the risen Christ. When we shared the meaning of the raisins, everyone started to raise their hands and shouted, “Bansai, Bansai!” So, they did know about the story of the risen King. 

Yet a knowledge about the resurrection of Christ had not brought them to the meeting place with Jesus. Perhaps knowing the truth does not necessarily prompt people to make the decision to follow Christ. There are something else in their mind that serves as bondage that we need to break.

It was kind of strange Easter Sunday to me, that we had different people of different religions sitting around the table, celebrating the resurrection of Christ, at the same time watching a record of buddhist funeral. Then we kind of formed different groups discussing about different things: strange things happened in church, stories of hikikomori, and then a time of quiet prayers to comfort those who are in sorrow.

A strange and thoughtful evening......

Left to right: Keiko, Miyatani's wife, Miyatani, Shinobu, Kazuhiko, Laurel Fooks, Robin Adams, Gill Fooks, Roseline

Creative Ministries

聴き屋Kikiya 

Kei Takikita ~ Takamatsu, Kagawa.  garichon@k.vodafone.ne.jp

Nara fukuin kyoukai

Calligraphy Outreach. It allows people to come and learn calligraphy for rehabilitation purpose as well as to learn more about Jesus. Wed: 1.30pm Tel: (0742)26-4680

Antioch Church cafe

A creative cafe outreach which serves free coffee and casual snacks for the people who stays in the neighborhood. Ako - 090-9980-6832

Beautiful Sakura Hanami

One thing that I notice is that almost all famous tera and jinja would have beautiful flowers or natures. In this observation, perhaps I’m not too far if I say the Japanese are attracted to the beauty of the His creations rather than the worship of tera or jinja itself. 

This beautiful Sakura tree is the largest and oldest in Nara located in 仏隆寺Butsuryuji. It branched out 2 meters off the ground, and each branch blooms into beautiful flowers. It was a full bloom while we reached Butsuryuji. People streamed to the temple to

 honor the beauty of the sakura. Indeed, it was amazing.  

Perhaps there is one thing that we can do, that is to pray that the Lord will awakened His people that the power of creation and the source of life is more important than anything else on earth, and it is worth to after it. 

~For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ~ Romans 1: 20

Pray for LIGHT!!!

Praying for Hikikomori

I had a quick sharing with Jesus Family in Nishi Osaka last evening, and then a quick visit to Osaka International Church today. The brochures help to explain the situation better when time is limited. The definition is still unclear to many, a simple 20 minutes is just not enough to explain the mechanism of the definitions, and the needs of seeing and holding the definitions right at this stage in order to help the hikikomori. We probably needs 45 minutes in next presentation, 1 hour if we can tie it in with the Words. 

The fear of the link of hikikomori and suicide once again sound an alarm to my heart when a sister cried on my shoulder sharing with me about her brother who had hikikomori for ten years committed suicide last year around this time. By having a firm grip of the emotional state of hikikomori and understanding of the issue, I was able to share her pain and pray with her. Hikikomori is not just an individual problem, the family members suffer together with the individual. Bearing that in mind, when you pray, please not only pray for the hikikomori to come to the light, but the parents and the family members too! There is a huge burden, huge bondage that is with it! This is a spiritual warfare! Do deal with it by WATCHING! It's time to train your spiritual muscle, get yourself ready for the battle!

Prayer guides:

1. The Lord will use every brochures, reaching out to the believers and non-believers, helping them to understand the issue of suicide and hikikomori better, and from there we could start to connect with one another!

2. Speak love into the family that is struggling with hikikomori. We don't know who has a problem until one tells, but pray for sensitiveness and discernment. 

3.  Speak love into this community, and break the bondage of evil one in Jesus' name.

4. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide the hikikomori and bring them to Light and Hope.

5. Pray that the Holy Spirit will preserve the heart of the hikikomori.

6. Pray that the Holy Spirit will preserve the heart of the family members, strengthen them, lift up their burdens. 

8. Pray for understanding in the community, and true love to be prevail!

9. Pray for the provision of the funds to the printing cost that needs to be settled by May, JPY75,000!

The アルバイト Arubaito Experience

The アルバイト experience was ....... 楽しかったreally fun! 疲れましたreally tired.

I was told that my first day working with them was 『特別忙しい』(unusually busy) and my second day was『特別暇』(unusually free). However I tried quite a lot of different things as well... eg. making hamburger, washing dishes, cutting and preparing, arranging お弁当obento, looking after the shop, packing.

I remember when I was asked to serve water to the customer, I was so panic...... I didn't know what to say to the customer, I didn't know much about the food, the number of the tables, I wasn't sure about the price, I didn't really understand what they want, I was just freaking out! 

What I felt at that moment? 『やぱい，逃げる欲しい。』(Dangerous, I just wanted to run away!) When a customer comes in, everyone from the front to the back will shout, 『いらっしゃいませ Welcome！』 and when a customer goes out, everyone from the front to the back will shout, 『ありがとうございます Thank you！』 it just seemed so impossible for me to shout with such confidence voice 私に絶対無理と思う。I felt strange. 

It's not about being shameful or embarrassed, it was just not feeling "comfortable" at doing so. And because it is not "comfortable", I preferred not to do so. "Comfortable" become the keyword of this situation, 『行けるとか行けないとか CAN or CANNOT』. 

Perhaps the feeling of hikikomori people is not much different from that experience: 『無理、絶対無理！行けない！』Probably feeling strange, feeling uncomfortable are the key emotions that they have. If that's true, then we will feed "feeling strange" with "understanding", and "feeling uncomfortable" with "encouragement/embracing love"?

Hope that this will challenge us to think alternatively.

アルバイト

To have a better grip of アルバイト (part-time job), I will start working with Masanobu tomorrow in his restaurant for two days before I leave Tsudamachi. Let's see if this will help me to learn more about the working culture or to understand more about the feelings of hikikomori or young people who take up a part-time job as such. 

I will be out from 6.30am and back at around 9pm, I heard. :-p  A taste of アルバイト、期待します。This could be FUN!!!

So I better get all my works done before tomorrow! 楽しみね！

Tsuda Christian Church, Kagawa, Shikoku.

At the second week, after the JCMN summit, I came to Tsuda Christian Church together with Ryohei and family. So there begin my third week of stay in Japan.

Kamo Ryohei had been a 11 years Christian, and he is attending seminary in Aichiken one week a month, preparing himself to be a pastor in the future.

The Tsuda Church that he is serving now seems to have a great and far vision. The church has around 70 people, and it had been served as the salt and light at Tsuda for 30 years now. 7489 population, 1 church. The church started a Christian school for the children three years back, 2 days later, the 4th year begin. A total of 15 students, 3 kindergarten children, 7 elemental school children, 4 middle school children, 1 high school child.

The idea of starting a Church School begin when the pastor's daughter (middle school) decided not to go to the normal school because of ijime. After prayers and careful consideration, the pastor thought about of starting a new Church School in this place, so that people can continue to go to school at the same time to learn about Jesus. Then, the first Church School in Shikoku began at April, 2006 with three students. Since then, it started to take in students of different background.

There are various wonderful testimonies to be shared, but I will choose one to tell. :-)

The story begins with a 2nd year middle school female student who refused to go to school. The mother was wearied. Everyday, when the mother go to work, she took the path outside the church and noticed the Church School was there. Finally one day she called the church to arranged a meeting. The pastor explained to her with the picture below:

The student is like a seed, only with the help of both parents and teacher, together with the church, then the seed will grow.

Keeping this in mind, the mother began to join the Church cell group. Though the situation had not changed much, however through joining the cell group, she was able to gain great strength and relieved. Very soon she became a Christian herself. The girl though not yet believe, but decided to stay in this school. Up to now, she had been here for one and a half year. The father had also visited the church sometimes ago, but still remain unbelieved.

The story has not ended at this point, I believe. Why don't YOU start to pray with me, together with this church, for the salvation of the girl and the father, perhaps as well as for the other students in this church who yet to be a Christian?

LET'S PRAY!!!

Tsuda Christian School

Address: 1249-4 Tsuruwa, Tsudamachi, Sanukishi, Shikoku. 759-2402

Tel/Fax: 0879-42-5170

email: cptc_tsuda@ybb.ne.jp

A Plead in Contribution to Printing Cost

The brochures of Hikikomori and Suicide were finally translated into Japanese language. I printed 1000 copies per title with NLL, and it came beautifully on time for distribution to the churches during JCMN Summit in Hakone. 150 pieces of each were distributed in Hakone, and the rest will be distributed to different churches in the following visits (please refer to previous post).

The Lord had used these materials greatly, and we could see both T-shirts an hikikomori brochures had a great impact with the hikikomori sufferers and people who are trying to reach out to them. The Lord had used it greatly, and a simple T-shirt and brochures speaks a thousand words by itself. May the Lord continue to use it for His glory and for the salvation of the Japanese people!


Pleading for Contribution:
Heart4Japan had been operating mainly on my personal savings, wages from part-time jobs and some occasional offerings from friends. I am here to plead you to seriously think about investing in the research of hikikomori by giving to the printing, so that we can venture further!

180 T-shirts: RMB 2,800
2000 brochures (Japanese) : JPY 75,000 (All materials were distributed freely to the audience)

If you would like to contribute to the above printing cost, or the future printing cost, please kindly bank into these account: HSBC 405-200-5487 (Hong Kong), HSBC 002-0740-86025 (Malaysia), Account name: Yong Kim Fong

About the Distribution of the T-shirts:
72 pcs - RJC Conference
10 pcs - Hong Kong
98 pcs - Japan

Let us be ONE, and let our investment turns into His Great LOVE, that will touch every soul that receive these sacrificial gift of yours!

Itinerary to Japan 09

It was a struggle trying to fix my itinerary to Japan with the limited resources that I have. As soon as I stripped  away all these physical "human" thoughts, He had quickly take away a few places (Kanazawa 金沢and Toyama富山) and replaced with another (Tohoku東北). The attraction of Kanazawa 金沢and Toyama富山 to me is the heavy sincere Buddhism practice, which might reserved as spiritual stronghold in spiritual setting, and Tohoku comprised of the top three highest suicide rate in the country. I am not sure what I will be able to see in Tohoku東北or Niigata新潟, but the map was drawn out and being confirmed these two days. If you know someone that I can work with when I travel to these places, please let me know. 

The uncertainties do not put me in doubt of this plan, in spirit I am rest assured. Compare to the down south trip, the up north trip is more like an expository trip, which reminds me about my first trip to Japan in 2005. 

Mar 23 - Arrival 

Mar 23 - 26 - Yokohama

Mar 27 -30 - Naganoshi, 壇田

Mar 31 - Apr 2 - JCMN Summit

Apr 2 - 8 - Shikoku, Sanuki

Apr 9 - 15 - Nara, 榛原町

Apr 16 - 22 - Osaka, 天王寺

Apr 23 - 29 - Osaka, Minami Osaka Fukuin Church

Apr 30 - May 7 - Nagoya

May 8 - 12 - Yokohama

May 13 - 17 - Saitama

Mar 18 - 29 - Iwate, Aomori, Akita, Sakata, Niigata

Mar 30 - Jun 1 - Yokohama

Jun 2 - 9 - Wakayama

Jun 10 - 13 - Nara, KBI

Jun 14 - 17 - Yokohama

Jun 18 - Departure

The missions of this 3 months trip to Japan is (i) to work with Heart4Japan members, (ii)to work with hikikomori, (iii) to establish connection with churches/bodies that we can work with in the future for resource sharing and interceding. As my position in Heart4Japan is fixed on research, I will continue to work on understanding the culture and social phenomenon from the social epidemiology perspective. 

Going to Yokohama横浜 is like "Touch Base" to me. My fellow worker Matthias Buerki and Justin Wrinn are serving in Yokohama横浜 at present, meeting Heart4Japan members is always a touch base practice for me. This will serve as (i) accountability, (ii) to share and pray with the information which we collected from the field. Saitama and Yokohama横浜 will be the meeting point with Heart4Japan members in Tokyo東京. Please feel free to contact me if you are available to meet. 

The trip to Nagoya名古屋 and Wakayama和歌山 will serve as retreat to me, will need some time to take rest with the support of friends: to pray, to seek time with the Lord, to gain strength in between battles. Don't ask me why I pick Nagoya 名古屋and Wakayama和歌山, perhaps just friends are there, perhaps I don't feel like working in Nagoya名古屋 and Wakayama和歌山, perhaps is another expository trip for me but less intense while compare to Tohoku東北...... I don't want to guess too much, but excited to see where the Lord is leading me this time. 

Akita 秋田　, Aomori青森　 , Iwate岩手　, Niigata 新潟　ranked no. 1-4 of highest sucide rate in Japan. Generally believe is that the harsh weather and the hopelessness of elderly people are the major contribution to this phenomenon. There is always a burden in me to see these places with my eyes, to taste the spiritual atmosphere, and to seek Him of His heart for these spots and these people. I know no one at these places. Please kindly let me know if there is someone that I can work with in these areas. The area around Sakata酒田 had often came out while I imagine church planting ( I always thought if it happens, it will be at mountainous area, but Sakata 酒田　is located at seaside). 

This trip is a trip that I had never dared to dream of. Knowing well the spiritual battle could be intense, and not knowing what to do as well because I felt so much unprepared. The trip to Nagano長野 is the same thing. But I believe that the LORD will have a good hand in this, so I TRUST Him.

Let's pray together with me!!! For I need your prayers and intercedes! Do watch over me!!!

SHALOM!

我们爱，因为神先爱了我们 ～ 约一4：19

要是上帝给你一颗日本心，那请问你的目标是什么？

a. 我不管怎样一定要去日本宣教！

b. 我现在就开始为日本得赎祷告！

c. 我要知道更多有关日本的消息，多了解这个民族和国家！

d. 我要开始着手去装备自己和装备别人！

e. 我要开始存钱去日本宣教！

f. 我现在就和别人分享日本的需要！

g. 我要专心日本，不再理会其他事情的需要!

不同的人可能有不同的回应。宣教对一些人来说是好玩，可能也是半个旅行团。可能宣教对一些人来说是个名衔，基督徒高人一等的名衔。而我希望这些都不是我们走宣教路线的人所考虑的范围！

首先基督徒宣教不是因为自己的宗教和文化高人一等，而是：i. 相信创造主的存在，ii. 知道创造主和我们之间乃是父与子的关系，iii. 受了耶稣的百般恩惠而愿意去到世界的末了，把耶稣平白的恩惠平白地告诉不知道的人。宣教是把全人摆上，不顾自己的利益和安稳也愿意把耶稣告诉别人。为什么？因为我们知道生命里真正的安稳就是认识神！而成为基督徒是何等的简单，就只需要信，就可以了。只有在敞开自己的生命向神的时候，神就可以带领你翱游在祂的翅膀上，就算在暴风雨中你的人生也能享受安稳，因为你知道祂同在！

信神原来是这般简单，可惜很多人不知道。于是我们要做的是让别人知道，因为我们白白地得来也要白白地舍去 （马太10：9）因为基督是在我们成为罪人不认识他的时候死了，为我们背负所有的羞耻与罪。这些羞耻和罪把人压着，叫人没有办法抬起头来。这种生活是可悲的。在神的国度里，原本就是被压迫的更容易得着福音，因为他们所求的就是神的怜悯和同在。但是富人要进天国却比骆驼进入针眼更难。但是耶稣却留下了这一句话：在人所不能的事，在神却能（路加18：27）。能不能进入天国不在于我们，乃在于神。但是不传就别人就没有办法知道神，不知道原来要在生命里拥有神只需要信，信耶稣为我们死了，担当所有的罪，叫我们因着他能够到造物主父的面前。就这般简单。于是耶稣在加利利的山上对门徒说：“天上地下所有权柄都赐给我了。所以你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗，凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常与你们同在，知道世界的末了。”（马太28：18-20）耶稣记挂在心里的是以色列以外未能有机会听见相信这福音的世人。我们很难想像在当时的基督徒在被逼迫的环境下，只要闷声不说耶稣的名字就得以保全，但是他们却费尽了力量，宁愿被石头丢死，被万人唾弃也要宣扬耶稣的名字（参考使徒行传全书）。他们为的不是害怕被咒诅，而是真的喜乐地活在逼迫中，真心的希望人人都能有机会听见耶稣的名字，而有机会得救。在末世的那一天，万民在羔羊宝座前敬拜的时候，没有一个民族缺席。因为上帝创造了每一个民族，每一个文化，地球之上的每一个角落！他们舍命，乃是为了这偏远的民能认识耶稣。

今天的宣教可能除了中东以外，不需要再流血。但是世界仍然有许多地方不知道福音，又或者对福音一知半解，又或者因为许多人的私心把福音上了层层的枷锁，世人好可怜啊！每每用自己的方式试图去解答每一道方程式，总是无穷无尽。而生命的精彩之处不是正在与此吗？基督徒和不认识基督的又有什么不同呢？不同的是除了我们可以选择用主的方式，更可以在解答方程式中不失却生命的精彩同时拥有暴风雨中的安稳。

我不觉得自己是宣“教”士，“教会”与我无关。我关心的是人能不能认识耶稣、人能不能拥有幸福、人能不能活在当下却能认识天堂。我积极的原因是因为认识自己的过去，我不敢忘记自己未遇到主前的落魄和初遇主时的感动，不是因为我依然背负着当年的包袱，而是因为只有这样我才能紧紧地记着神的恩典才能有这个动力把耶稣告诉同样处在一个境况的人。

因此，当我听见上帝的叹息的时候，我回应了。我回应并不是因为我脑袋里对“宣教”和福音有什么幻想，而是当时对神对我毫无保留的爱所作的一个回应。与其说我在福音上有什么造就，倒不如说我衷心折服在他浪漫的爱中。因为爱，我愿意。我不懂上帝是不是一定领我去日本，但是我知道祂要日本得赎。所以无论去与不去，我都要为着这点站在破口处，寻得上帝的心意！

而我爱人的心是因为感受到他丰丰满满的爱我才有能力在许多的失望和惊涛骇浪中继续地热爱生命和所遇见的每一个人。我相信神爱的不仅仅是日本，他爱的是万民。因此我珍惜在我生命中遇见的每一个人。有时固然有自我的脾气而做不到最好，但是我愿意去爱，并时时反省自己是否用最简单最单纯的爱爱着每一个人。

日本与差传

福音在日本自从二战后没有增长过。在一战前，武士大名率先信主，为耶稣舍命，几经逼迫依然不愿意屈服，一直到后来的地下基督徒更促进了茶道的文化。二战后，MacArthur呼召宣教士进入日本的时候，只有半数回应。正确是因为经费还是仇恨蒙蔽了宣教的急迫性，现在已无从考究了。然而在近代的差传历史中，最大的单一文化单一语言的东瀛族群，在10/40视窗里面却时常被轻易地忽略了。热心事奉的基督徒想到日本只想到旅游却从来没有想到给他们传福音。我想我们必须检讨的是到底是因为我们因为历史对日本潜在的仇恨，觉得他们不配得着福音？还是我们认识主不够深，觉得物质富裕文化根源极深的日本不需要福音？还是我们觉得日本土太硬，花费太高，于是我们纵使知道日本需要福音，也不愿意把宣教士差到日本去呢？

事实上从事业满足感的角度去看（若宣教和福音是一个事业），那的确去日本宣教没什么了不起也毫不吸引的。日本的教会多半都是十几人，牧师必须出外打工才能维持生活。我们差传是渴望一挥手祷告，就有上百个人回应呼召的话，那就不要去日本，除非神给你应证，要在日本的某个土地上给你上百的灵魂。很多人在日本宣教八年，可能没有八个信主又待在教会里的。很多人因为工场上太困苦，精神上受了很大的压迫，宣教的路走不下去了，摇摇危机怀疑自己当初的呼召。但是若我们总是都这样想的话，有意无意地就把日本从上帝救赎世界的蓝图涂抹，那么在主来的那一天，东瀛民族缺席的座位上，我们人人都背负了流人血的罪状！

当我询问神祂对日本的心意的时候，祂就只有一句话：“有谁愿意为我们去呢？”这一句话在一声长长的叹息之后。有谁愿意为主去呢？