What do you do?

It's always good to have encouragements. Yesterday a lady who lives a number of doors away from us passed our house while David was watering the plants outside. After comments on how the plants looked, we had a conversation about why we were here and what we were doing. It was a great opportunity to share about the new church. This afternoon we were out in a park and two 9 year old girls came across to chat - and to practise their English. We chatted away about the usual things and then one asked, 'Why have you come to Japan?' Knowing that many children don't know what 'church' is, we asked if they had ever seen a cross on a building. They knew about that. And we could say that we were here to tell people about Jesus. As we look towards starting informal worship services next month, we were wondering the other day whether news about that would spread by word of mouth. Great that we had these opportunities.

body testing?

"Come and get your bodily strength tested" was an invitation issued by the PTA of Alistair's kindergarten. These tests are quite popular in Japan, consisting of several tests to test your speed, flexibility and strength. You compare the results with a chart and your age and come up with a result. Not the kind of thing either of us would usually volunteer for. But recently Lorna in particular was challenged by the need this year to go to things that others organise, to get out where people are rather than expect them to come to us. That's a good place where we can build relationships. Then from next April we hope that our church can begin to organise events that we can invite others to. So last week Lorna donned her sports gear and headed off to the hall at the kindergarten. 4 tests and a game of volleyball later it was finished, with the result being level B (not too bad?) But even better than that was the chance to meet several mothers she had never met before, and have a couple of good chats. She did put her back out, but maybe that's a small price to pay...

Bearing much fruit

One of Hiragishi's claims to fame is that it used to be an apple growing area. Yesterday we were driving along when suddenly we noticed a long row of apple trees stretching about half a mile along the central reservation. And they were laden with all sorts of apples. Each tree was carefully named. Some apples had numbers stamped on them. Others bore the name 'Fighters' - the local pro baseball team. Some looked ripe to eat - though of course no one was taking any, this being Japan. In fact the fumes from the passing cars surely would not help the taste. Others had fallen from the tree or were rotten (no doubt attacked by the ever-present crows). As we live and work here in Hiragishi and seek to build up a church here, our desire is simply to bear fruit, good fruit, everlasting fruit.

As for me and my house...

Yesterday was a special day in Otaru Church. Lorna was able to be there to join in the occasion. Two years ago Mrs Kudo, a young mother of four children, believed in Jesus and was baptised. Ever since we go to know Mrs Kudo, we looked to God to draw the whole family to Jesus. Her oldest child is Rikiya (14) and he was a classmate of Daniel in primary school. He first came to the church in Otaru when Daniel invited him to our annual Sun Kids Festival when he was 10. After his mother was baptised, Rikiya himself came to believe in Jesus and was baptised yesterday at Otaru Church. His testimony was very moving. These are always special times in the life of a church too as members recall the time of their own baptism. Being a Christian teenager is not easy anywhere, but all the more so in a land where so few are Christians and the pressures of school life are great. May Rikiya be given the strength to stand up for his faith where everything around says that 'the nail that sticks up should be hammered down'.

It's a cover up

When the hot weather hits Japan, you see some odd sights. Over the years we have got used to seeing ladies going around with umbrellas up to deflect the summer sun. Very wide-brimmed hats are also popular. But coming back this year we have noticed another trend. Younger women can be seen sporting long 'gloves' with a thumbhole and a larger hole for the other fingers, but which stretch way above the elbow so even when you wear a T-shirt, no skin is exposed to the sun. The in-phrase applied to sun-deflecting garments is 'UV Cut'. Lorna has even just bought a new hat which happens to be UV Cut - good to know that she is trendy (mind you the hat would not be called trendy in the UK!) Many people go to great lengths here to guard their health, and that includes the skin. But how many take similar care of the heart?

Time for a change?

The campaign is now formally underway. Here in Japan there is an election on 30th August. One party, the Liberal Democratic Party, has been in power almost constantly for the last 50 years. But now there is a distinct possibility that another party, the Democratic Party of Japan, might gain power. Election campaigns are a big - an noisy - event in Japan. There are of course all the usual posters and leaflets pushed through doors. We even had a visit from one of our local candidates the other day. But the thing you notice - and hear - most is the constant noise of messages broadcast over tannoys attached to the top of cars as the politicians drive round the streets, often accompanied by white-gloved, waving ladies in the back seats. Will the DPJ's Mr Hatoyama become Prime Minister? We'll find out at the end of this month.

Symbol of hope

We have many people passing by our house, on foot, by bike, in their car, especially the primary and high schoolers on their way to the nearby schools. In terms of our lease, we cannot have any sign up at our house, so how can we let people know why we're here. Recently at a church service, a Japanese pastor sopke about how many people associate a cross with a church. That gave us an idea. Perhaps we could have a cross at our house, an inside "decoration" but visible from outside. So we asked someone from our former church in Otaru if he could make us one for the inside of one of the upstairs windows. We trust that as people look up, they might spot the cross in the window. At night time too with the upstairs light behind, it can be seen from outside.

Sights, sounds and smells

We live right opposite a huge cemetery. At the moment it is a real hive of activity. This is the time of the bon festival when many Japanese people gather as families to visit the graves of their deceased relatives. Our neighbourhood has become totally transformed. The sounds - bell ringing; the chants of the Buddhist priest; the ever-present crows waiting for a feast. The smell - burning incense constantly fills the air. The sights - families from babies to great-grandparents (and dogs too) cleaning the grave and paying their respects, even worshipping the spirits; each grave decorated with flowers, fruit offerings and even cans of beer! Buddhist priests wait around and recite the required sutras (for a fee of course!) Some believe that the spirits of the deceased return for a few days and there are special bon dances which take place in the evening. In these days of the bon festival, it reminds us how much there is the need for so many to hear of and receive new life, hope-filled life, eternal life in Jesus.

It's parade time

Summer is festival time in Japan. When we lived in Otaru, almost every weekend there was a festival (usually linked to the local Shinto shrine)happening in some area. There are sideshows, lots of food and drinking, and just as importantly, the local 'god' is taken from his residence in the local Shinto shrine and paraded through the streets in a box supported by long poles and carried by the local men. Even the tiniest villages mark their local festival and parade the 'god' through the streets (or even just along the one street in the village) and back to the shrine. As we were on holiday, we saw several such processions in little coastal villages. All very bright and fun looking. But how the Japanese need to hear of and come to know the one, true God who is with us always.

The travel adventures - again!

Today Daniel and Matthew began their long journey back to India for the start of the new school year. Despite a delay due to a typhoon in Tokyo, they arrived safely there and after an overnight stay at the OMF Guest House, will fly to Bangalore via Bangkok tomorrow. They will arrive in Bangalore around midnight Indian time (3.30 in the morning Japan time) and travel up the long, winding road to the school - 36 hairpin bends! Although we've had a good time together over the past six or so weeks, it's never easy to say goodbye and be separated again. The little brothers also miss their big brothers. Yet we so appreciate Hebron School and all that it offers the boys educationally, spiritually and - just as important for our boys - in sport! We commit all of our boys into God's hands and look to him to grow them and shape them through all the different adventures and experiences they have. Our lives are continually filled with adjustments and adapting to new situations. But we serve an unchanging God who provides for all our needs.

When is a holiday not a holiday?

In the north of Japan, summer holidays for school children are short - just 3 1/2 weeks. Most of their parents will only be able to take a couple of days of that, maybe to go camping for a night. So what do children do? One of the answers is work! Calum has come home with about 20 sheets each of maths and Japanese, with a note from the teacher explaining that children are expected to do 30 minutes a day revising this term's work. They also had to choose something to study, a sport and some way to help at home, and have a chart which they fill in each day saying whether they managed these things, as well as a note to write of what they did each day. On top of that each child is expected to produce some sort of craft which should take about 3 days to make. Calum's football and swimming also continue pretty much as usual. In churches, Sunday schools will continue through the holidays, with most children being there most of the time. We have the saying 'All work and no play'. So often that can be the reality for people here. And perhaps that is why many Japanese are drawn to Jesus through his own words - 'Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest'.