Caring for one another

One of the values we hold dearly in OMF in Japan is member care. If the workers are well cared for and feel well cared for, then the work itself is helped. Living in a foreign land often brings its challenges and that not only in the early months, although these can be particulary stressful as a new missionary adapts to so many things that are new, with very little language to help them. One of the ways OMF here helps with care of new members is by what is called a Barnabas scheme. A new missionary (or couple) will have a more senior missionary allocated to them to befriend, encourage, help and pray in the first year of life here. We are just finishing being Barnabas to one couple and have just started with another couple too. It's great to have time with them - we are encouraged and challenged too. Once a month OMF also divides its Sapporo-based missionaries into fellowship groups which are times to share together, eat together, pray for and encourage one another. It is a privilege for us to be able to lead one of these groups. Actually although we've just been here 12 years we seem already to be reaching the stage of veteran (!) missionaries as many of our older colleagues have either retired or otherwise left Japan. It's a joy to be involved in a fellowship where care is a top priority. Hopefully it will always be a value which is well lived-out among the OMF community here.

Winter blues

Change is in the air. In fact, thousands of little white bugs are in the air too. Winter must be just round the corner. Every year at this time, the tiny 'yuki mushi' (snow fly) begins to make its appearance. Sometimes there are just a few, and other times you can end up walking through a cloud of them and you get completely covered. They are tiny, white, fluffy bugs and they herald the onset of winter. The first snow is already forecast for next week (a little bit too early!) Actually it won't really start until into November. Lots of preparations are made. Trees get their 'winter clothes' on to protect them from the heavy snow; car tyres are changed; snow-clearing implements are taken out of storage ready for use. In this football-mad house, this weekend has been the time for clearing away the outside goals before the pitches have their blanket of snow. It is time to move to indoor futsal for a while. Many changes, but life goes on - it's just that the pace of life becomes a little slower. Winter here we come!

A Day at School

Today was a busy day at Calum and Alistair's school. Saturday is not usually a school day but the boys headed off at their usual time this morning. It was a special time for parents to come and visit the school and observe a couple of classes. In the afternoon everyone stayed on for the school festival. In the morning we divided our time between the 1st grade class and the 4th grade class. It was fascinating to observe the way the class is taught, how the children participate and just the general atmosphere. The first period for both classes was what you might translate as 'social values' or 'moral education'. Each class was considering different scenarios and the children were to suggest what should be done and how the other person would be feeling. It was interesting to see the class working together on this. When a child had something to share, he or she would stand up behind their chair and give their answer in a clear voice. The next class was maths. The 1st grade class was considering how to work out the answer to 13-9; the older class was on fractions. In the 45 minute period each class managed to do one problem only - it was all done with involvement of everyone and each step worked through slowly and clearly. Everyone could follow. Watching the interaction and how the process works itself out provides a fascinating cultural study of the interplay between teacher and pupils on the one hand and between the group and the individual on the other. Having had all of our boys at Japanese elementary school has been a great blessing for them as well as a rich insight into the culture for us as parents.

Great provision

Last week David went to look at some possible apartments with our soon-to-be co-workers the Kochs. Later in the week he went with Kaori (who is also in the team at Hiragishi with How Chuang) to look at possible apartments for them as they have to move out of their present place next month. We found a great place for each of them quite quickly. However, that is only the beginning of the story as often we then hit the problem of landlords here not being willing to let a place to a foreigner or because the contract is taken in the name of OMF which has religious registration. Yet both proceeded smoothly and this afternoon within an hour calls were received from both agents to say that everything had gone through. We see both of these places not just as somewhere for the Chuas and Kochs to live but places that they can use for their ministry over the coming months and years in Hiragishi. God has provided great places and great co-workers. We look to him to be at work in this area and draw many to the spring where living water can be found - in Japanese izumi which forms part of the name of our church. Looking forward to many great things happening here!

A great vision

Today we visited another church as we are away for the weekend. It is called Obihiro Glory Church and is located in a city of some 170,000 surrounded by many smaller towns in the wider area. The present pastor moved there just over 20 years ago. The church has been built up to around 80 members (large by Japanese standards); there is a good mix of ages, including young people; and a very welcoming atmosphere. It was a joy to be there and be part of the vibrancy of a church alive with people who are worshipping and seeking to reach out to people round about. The church has a vision to plant seven (yes seven!) daughter churches in areas around Obihiro. One is already underway, meeting twice a month on Sundays in a cafe which is run there by two key members. Another area has a couple of OMF missionaries living there to help begin to make contact with people. It is wonderful to see a church with such a passion to reach out to people in the areas they are living. And it's not just the pastor's own vision - the church folks are behind it too. May there be many more churches with a similar passion to reach the unreached millions of Japan.

A new team

It has been a joy in recent years to have many new missionaries coming to Japan with OMF. Our language school has literally been bursting at the seams. It is an even greater joy for us to have the privilege of two of these new workers being added to our team from the beginning of next month. JP and Nora come from Germany and arrived in Japan in the summer of 2008. They have both done really well at the language school and are now ready to finish there and join a church planting team. They are both young and full of ideas, but at the same time are very teachable and looking to learn. They have worked in the past in different kinds of church settings in Germany, reaching young people in particular. Both are keen surfers and snowboarders and hope to use these interests for ministry opportunities. We are very much looking forward to having them on board (no pun intended!) in Hiragishi. But even more so we are looking forward to seeing what the Lord might do through them and through all of us in this baby church plant as the months and years go by.

A well used house

Eighteen months ago we moved into our house here. Just over a week before we were due to leave Scotland to return to Japan, still no house had been found for us. Then on the very day we were moving out of our 'Scottish' house, an e-mail came with details of a place for us in Hiragishi. It seemed perfect. And a year and a half down the road we realise just what a provision this place is. It's great for our worship services. We can host many people in our large lounge, with an extra tatami room off that too. Often we have hosted large gatherings of people whether these be church-related, OMF-related or just having several of the boys' friends for sleepovers. It's a very flexible place with so much space. It is not obviously a church building from the outside. But then again, it isn't - it is our home which doubles as our meeting place. And church is not about a building anyway (however helpful a building may be). It's about people. We are so glad that our home can be used as a place where people can come and go. We have had lots of precious times and fun times over these past eighteen months.