Celebrating New Life

Mother's Day in Japan is on 8th May. We had our service as usual at 4pm with some extra guests too. A couple of the men had made curry rice and we had eaten that and were enjoying fellowship time in various parts of the room. A lady called Hiroko who had come for the first time to our service the previous Sunday had been chatting with Kaori and Nora, reading in the Bible and praying together. Kaori then said Hiroko had something to say. She had just believed in Jesus! Hiroko has been involved with a gospel music choir for many years and had some Christian friends. She has been on a faith journey and it is with great joy that we were able to witness her commit her life to Jesus. She is really changed, knowing the joy of the Lord and was straight away sharing with family and friends. It is such a privilege to welcome a new believer into our young church and to be able to help a baby Christian to grow in these early days of faith. It is also an encouragement for us to see signs of things beginning to happen in Hiragishi. The first two years were very much a time for getting known and slowly building up relationships. Now as we are in our third year here, we look to the Lord to bring more like Hiroko and to see gradually the church being built up in this community.

Parents and School

Late last year David had a phone call from Calum and Alistair's school. 'Would you like to be PTA Chair for the next school year from April?' Stunned silence. Lorna has had lots of involvement with the school but David very little, apart from doing the morning duty as school guard and attending the school events. And a foreigner being PTA Chair?! Anyway, David agreed and the duties have now begun. The school prefers a dad to be the Chair but most of the duties are carried out by the mothers on the committee who do all the work and David just pops up now and again to give a word of greeting or a speech (the graduation and entrance ceremonies are some months away yet so plenty time to practice for those!) This Saturday is school sports day so is the first occasion in the school year for the PTA Chair to do his bit. An encouraging word is expected at the beginning and a closing comment too. Just for fun, the PTA Chair is also expected to fire the pistol at the start of the mums and dads tug of war - low-flying crows beware! And there is even more fun the previous day. In the afternoon all the mothers (or some grandparents) gather to claim their spot around the area where the sports take place. Last week each family was allocated a number (the children choose lots) and the parents divide off into groups of ten in order of the numbers chosen. Apparently the mothers then run off fast to place their pegs on one of the best spots for their mat at sports day the following morning. The PTA Chair is expected to turn up and set the various groups of ten off on their race for the best spot. Some guidance has been given though - the PTA Chair is meant to say that people should take care and not run! We'll see what happens. It's certainly a great way to be known by everyone in the school and indeed in the wider community.

Learning and growing

This blog has been a bit silent over the last two weeks or so. The Golden Week holiday, a Training Week and various other meetings this week have led to a busy time. But today is a quieter day! Last week OMF held the second IBCM Training Week. IBCM? A key part of OMF's vision for the lands in Asia where its people work - to see an indigenous, Biblical church movement among these different people groups. The Training Week was once again for younger missionaries but all had some (and one or two had quite a lot) of experience in Japan and working in the church here. It was a rich time of learning, engaging and interacting with many issues as we seek to understand the culture and religious setting of Japan and bring the timeless message of the gospel to the people here in the context in which they find themselves. It was a blessing to benefit from the wisdom of those who were able to guide us through difficult issues. This time it was a particular joy to have Japanese colleagues sharing with us. We all need to learn and keep learning. But more than that we all need to grow, and keep growing. Last week's trianing was not simply to impart head knowledge. Yes, we do not need to engage our minds, but so too do we need to be changed and moulded as we live and engage with the culture and people here in Japan so that we can grow as followers of Jesus and be better equipped to share Jesus with those around us. How we long to see a movement of the Spirit in this land which touches many places and many lives, a movement in which many are drawn to Jesus and the church is built up to the glory of God. These are days to pray for Japan and to pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would send out workers so that many can see the love of Jesus in action, but also hear the message of hope and salvation that comes through Jesus.