Following the rules

Japan is well-known for its precision - the trains really do run on time. It's also a land where people follow the rules. In fact they learn from an early age that there is a way for things to be done. Today we bumped up against both - precision and rule-keeping. Even in the setting of the dentist (fast becoming one of David's most-visited haunts) the sheer time and effort that went in to having a silver cap for a back tooth measured and shaved and re-measured and re-shaved was quite something. Things are done well here! And then the rules. Alistair was looking forward to getting a present at his tennis class. After all, it was promised to those who attended the requisite times in August and September. He'd been there the required number. But no present! David - 'Why not?' Tennis coach - 'He was missing twice'. David - 'Well no he wasn't because the times he missed he came on another day'. Coach - 'Ah but you need to come on the actual day to get the present'. It seemed rather unfair to deny a 6 year old his present (even if it was just a soft tennis ball) but that was what the 'rules' said. Aiming for precision is a good thing; following rules is not a bad thing; but both can become a trap. We are ever learning as we live in this fascinating culture.

Out of joint

In Japan there are many little 'hospitals' with particular specialisms. Often these are just one-man practices. You can find anything from a skin clinic to an eye clinic, some 'hospitals' deal with 'internal' matters, others with surgical matters. This morning David went to his local 'bone setting' hospital. An attempt at a save during a kick about resulted in a dislocated finger so the bone was duly yanked back into place. After that it was time to lie on the bed and have some tingly treatment, then some heat applied and finally some cream massaged in to the finger. The injury should have been attended to some weeks ago so David will have some more visits for 'treatment'. But that's good as the hospital he chose is run by one of the dads of the boys in Calum's football team, in fact one of Calum's best friends in the team. We were wondering about how to get to know the dads better so maybe a dislocated finger is one way!

Make the most of every opportunity...

It's fun going out and wondering who you will meet. Another gym story! Last week David met a lady there and we said we'd exchange address cards next time. She was there tonight and duly produced the card along with a note of her son's address and the church he used to go to. David gave his card too. Surely these'encounters' have a purpose. Next week will be the chance to chat more. Then David had another 'incident' in the bath! A few weeks ago the cleaning lady had come in to the men's bath and starting scooping water out of the bath in which David was relaxing. Just as David was going into the shower area tonight she appears again and we almost collide! And she's still there doing the mopping in the changing room when David comes out (towel wrapped round middle this time). Probably no one ever speaks to the cleaning lady. So David compliments her on keeping the place nice and tidy. Another comment was needed to get a conversation going but it flowed after that. We even talked about the Loch Ness Monster. And of course she asks 'Why are you here?' Another way in. Another chance to share. Even in the unlikely setting of the men's changing room and the cleaning lady. Maybe a bit like the passage we were looking at on Sunday in our first service, Jesus and the Samaritan woman. You never know when the opportunities might come. (No photo for this blog!)

Strength in numbers

The number of Christians in Japan is very small. It's not often that they can gather together as a large group. These past few days have seen over 1600 get together in Sapporo for a time of praise, fellowship, encouragement and challenge. A Convention on Evangelism has been held for the first time in nine years and this time it has come to Hokkaido. People have come from all over Japan. This evening over 100 missionaires (both foreign and Japanese) were introduced and thanked for their efforts. But most of all this is a time for the Japanese church and Japanese Christians to be encouraged, equipped and exhorted to work together so that God's kingdom can grow in these days of change and opportunity for Japan. Tomorrow is the last day - but may it be the beginning of something new happening in this land as God by his Spirit moves and empowers his people for action.

And we're off...

Today was a special day for Hiragishi Izumi Church. Early in the afternoon we had our very first worship service. We have deliberately not yet invited any contacts as we first of all need to find our way as a baby church. Yet, with a friend of the Chuas and another couple attending, we had 8 adults and our 2 boys, just a nice number for our inaugural service. Calum and Alistair played their part by helping during the service - Alistair enjoyed collecting the offering and Calum operated the PowerPoint! It was a joyful time of praise, hearing from God's word and sharing together in communion. A simple but moving service. Then later in the afternoon we had 22 adults and 8 children for a time of fellowship in our house after the adults had gone out in groups for a prayer walk round the area. It was great just to be out (in perfect weather) praying as we walked and looking to God to begin a work here.

Countdown to launch

Sunday is a big day for our new church plant here in Hiragishi. We have our first worship service. We are beginning both small and low-key as we find our feet as a fledgling church. As we start services over these coming weeks, we will meet in our home (a little unusual) and in the afternoons (perhaps a little more unusual). We hope to use the mornings to be out and about. Maybe there are folks out there for whom an afternoon is a better time. After our inaugural worship on Sunday, we will be joined by a number of fellow missionaries presently studying at the OMF language school for a prayer walk around the area. We just walk and pray - a great way to impact an area. It's exciting to be invovled at the birth of this church. Just as its name ('izumi' means 'spring') reminds us, may it be a place where spiritually thirsty people can find their way to receive the living water which Jesus gives. There are certainly many such people all around us here.

The power of one word

This afternoon David had just come off the running machine in the gym and was cooling off beside a fan. Noticing a lady sitting to the side of the fan, he said just one word, 'suzushii', which means 'nice and cool'. Just one word. And the lady was so effusive in her praise at David's masterly grasp of the Japanese language - after just one word! Anyway, the one word led on to a conversation. The lady gives away her age - 71, but she looks much younger. David compliments her on her youthful looks. She tries her hand at English. David says how good she is. We chat on (David still cooling down by the fan) and David shares what we are doing in Hiragishi, starting a church. 'Oh, are you a Christian?' she asks, 'My son goes to a church'. Or at least he did - he's too busy at the moment. She would like to learn English. We promise to exchange addresses next time (sadly no name card in my pocket in the gym!). The power of one word. And the value of just engaging in conversation.

Party in the graveyard

This afternoon we had an interesting experience. The local community had organised a barbecue under the trees to celebrate the coming of the autumn leaves. Oddly enough it took place at the side of the local graveyard! The food was delicious - lots of local produce. Obviously we stood out as the newcomers. It's normal to do a brief self-introduction at the beginning so now everyone there knows who we are. We had good conversations with folks around us and one or two others came over specifically to chat. All in all it was an encouraging time. So much of these early months here is just about being visible in the community and taking the opportunities to get to know people. Who knows where they might lead?

Searching for the truth

One of the things you have to get used to living as a foreigner in Japan is the shocked looks on the faces of some Japanese who come to deliver things to the door. This was the case today when Lorna opened the door to a young man. For a few seconds he was speechless as he wondered whether Lorna would speak Japanese or whether he should speak English. Then he was shocked again to discover that we could actually speak Japanese! Anyway he described himself as a missionary with Tenrikyo, a Japanese religion. He passed over a tract and pamphlet. We have a supply of tracts at our door so Lorna gave him one and said she would read his if he read hers. It turns out that this man is also interested in English and gave us his phone number to let him know if we start something. Might he be interested in reading the Bible in English? We don't know, but there are many Japanese who have joined new religions in the search of meaning in their lives.

The building below

Not long after we moved into our house, we were intrigued by 'the building below'. We look down to it through some trees and woodland. It didn't seem to be used much and we wondered what it was. The thought even came that it might be somewhere we could use in the future if it really was empty. Now and again we heard some young children there. Occasionally a choir would be practising there in the evening. We found a contact number for the place, got in touch and found out it belonged to a kindergarten. The main teacher at the kindergarten was very pleasant and we went to have a look one day to see if we could use it for a special ceremony we will have to mark the start of the church in Hiragishi. It's bright, spacious and will really be perfect for all sorts of events we might hold in the months and years to come. It's right on the main road. And it costs hardly anything to rent! We wonder how God will use 'the building below' as the story of the Hiragishi church plant unfolds.

Praying and walking

Today was the first Wednesday of the month. We and our co-workers the Chuas have decided to make that a day when we can devote more time specifically to pray and fast for the area of Hiragishi and the new church here. Lorna had a prayer walk in the afternoon, stopping at different places to pray - for the building near us we hope to use for events (more about that in next post), for local schools (two are very near us so we always have school children passing by). David went out later on a different route. It's such a stimulus to pray as you walk around and pray for what you see, or the people you pass, for the houses and apartment blocks which are not just stone and glass, but homes to people, many of whom may be lonely or hurting or depressed. We ask the Lord to come and bless this area, to open people's hearts, and to lead us to them or them to us. And then we wait expectantly to see what he will do. That's an exciting thought.

An unexpected meeting

Last night David was walking back from the subway station along a main, but poorly lit, road. Along with another person we passed by someone who was lying on the ground hunched up against a wall. We both stopped to see what was wrong. The young Japanese woman on the ground had a note that referred to a hospital and contained the letters OD - she'd had an overdose and had been drinking too. A couple of young guys turned up and we tried to contact the hospital without success. The young woman on the ground then started speaking in excellent English explaining she had psychological problems and would like someone to kill her. At no point did she look up. The conversation continued in English. David tried to encourage her with words of hope, saying she was special and people were here to care for her. All of a sudden she lifted her head and looked David straight in the eye. By this time an ambulance had arrived. On the way back on the subway, David had been reading a tract about a young Christian woman who'd had an awful accident and just wanted to die. David was able to say to the woman before she was taken away that he'd left that with her. It had our contact details on the back. You never know how God might work and who he will lead you to in the course of each day.