Last winter in Hokkaido

As we move ever closer to our move to Tokyo next spring, a lot of things are being done 'for the last time'.  One such experience is our 'last winter in Hokkaido'.  Certainly this year the snow has been full on.  Already it is piled up way higher than it normally is at this time of year (or perhaps it is just that recent years have seen less snow than normal in this part of Sapporo).  And there are still three more months to go.  With Christmas over and all the boys back in one place for now, we thought we would enjoy one of our favourite things to do in Hokkaido.  It is a treat so not often we can do it but we love the experience of spending a night away at a hot spring hotel.  This is one of the first times we have done this in winter.  We had a great drive there along snow-covered (and often icy) roads, passing one of Hokkaido's largest lakes on the way and some majestic scenery as we crossed some tree-lined mountain passes.  Our destination was a place where we had stayed before as a family, but many years ago.  This place has a heated swimming pool inside but also some heated pools and jacuzzis outside where you can both swim and just chill.  It was fun to be outside with the snow falling overhead.  As we moved from one hot pool to another we had to walk over the snow and be fairly swift too as the temperatures were well below freezing.  The trees on the mountains surrounding the outside pool area looked amazing covered in pure white snow.  As well as the pools, there is a whole complex of hot spring baths too.  There is nothing better than sitting outside in a steaming bath with snow gently falling on your head!

 

The whole experience is one many Japanese enjoy.  Just one night away makes for a really relaxing break.  Outside clothes are swapped for a 'yukata' (a kind of loose-fitting gown) which is worn with slippers around the hotel, not only when going to the baths but when eating and sleeping too.  Dinner is always an amazing selection of all sorts of food and breakfast is great too.  All of us slept in the one room, two beds for Mum and Dad, four futons on the tatami area for the boys (set out for you when you go to eat dinner).  We enjoyed our time away - a great family memory of our last Hokkaido winter.

Church in the Swimming Pool

This blog has been somewhat silent of late.  It's not that nothing has been happening in Hiragishi.  Rather things have been such for us that there has been no time to pen the latest news.  One of the challenges for the church as we look ahead to next year is to find a venue suitable for holding our worship services after we move out of our house in March.  That is easier said than done.  We have shared before that Hiragishi is an area which has many associations with the dead.  There is a very large cemetery opposite our house.  There are a number of temples.  And such halls as there are tend to be used for funerals.  So there are few suitable places to rent as a space for a worship service.  Even the crematorium used to be located in Hiragishi.  And that, believe it or not, has a connection with a place we used for our service the other Sunday. 

 

What was once the crematorium is now the local swimming pool - a great place, with both a 50m and 25 pool.  When we first moved to Hiragishi we noticed that there were a couple of meeting rooms but at the time we had decided to use our house for the worship service so did not need to investigate using one of these rooms for that purpose.  Also, we were not sure how people would feel meeting at the swimming pool!  But now as we think about next year, we thought it would be good to experiment with some places as a one-off to see how they are.  We rented one of the rooms at the pool.  They had no problems with us having singing.  In fact they were very helpful.  It seemed to work well as a venue (if a little hot inside the room!)  Comments have already been passed that we are well set up for an impromptu baptism were we to meet there.  The room was located quite far away from other parts of the pool complex so we did not feel in any way that we were having a worship service at the pool.  We will try some other possible venues too over coming weeks and trust that in time we will be led to the right place for the church.

Celebrating harvest

As we are still a relatively young church which is still at the planting stage, we are always looking for ways to connect with people we know and find ways to invite people to an event or a worship service.  Certainly it is much easier for people to come to an event like Family Christmas or Easter Festival.  We thought we would try this year to do something a little different to mark harvest time.  It is not something which seems to celebrated much in the churches here but harvest is an important occasion to many in this land whether that be for rice, fruits like apples, or vegetables.  Of course for many city- and town-dwellers, there is little connection today with farming and most probably think very little about harvest.  Yet it is an important time both to commemorate and to give thanks for all that we have.  And it is a festival which is marked in the Bible.  So we rented the place we often do and invited people to come to a simple service celebrating harvest.  We started with a craft together - making something on which we would later write our thanks.  We moved into a time of worship, with some simple songs, a great illustrated kids' talk by one of our talented members and a simple message on what, to whom and why we give thanks based on one of the Psalms.  We also watched a short video made by a Japanese Christian charity which works to provide food and aid for, among others, children in Africa who have little food and little money.  Later we enjoyed some simple food and chat together.  Although we did not have a large number of guests, we were glad to be able to mark this occasion and can see this as something we might repeat in future years. 

Handover

Just over three and a half years ago we returned from Scotland and moved into a house in the Hiragishi area of Sapporo.  In our area there was no church for a population of some 30,000.  So we began from zero what came to be known as Hiragishi Izumi Church.  At the same time, we started this blog to describe the journey, but also to highlight some of the cultural and other aspects of Japanese life that we have interacted with along the way.  The church is still small, but it has grown slowly and surely.  We know and have come into contact with a large number of people in the area.  There have been ups and downs, challenges and blessings.  We did not know how long we would be able to devote to this baby church, but hoped that we would be able to serve here for a number of years.  As it turns out, our role has been simply to get things started and lay a foundation.  We will move on to a new role with OMF Japan from next month so the time has come for us to hand on the leadership of the church to our successors. 

 

It has been a joy to have Richard and Catherine, along with their two young daughters, being part of the team here since earlier in the year.  As of yesterday, Richard became the leader of Izumi Church.  During the service, David shared a little from Deuteronomy (looking at the passage when Moses handed over to Joshua), we thought also about the responsiblity of the folks in the church towards the leader (looking at a couple of verses in the Letter to the Hebrews), then had a time of prayer for Richard and Catherine and their two girls.  It was a special time and in some ways marks a stepping stone in the journey of this young church.  We will still be around in Hiragishi until next March and hope we can continue to reach out to the people we have got to know (and to others we do not yet know) in the hope that some of those people will begin their own journey towards Jesus and be added to Izumi Church.  We look forward to seeing what God will continue to do in this area of Sapporo and have assurance that Jesus is building his church, including this three year old church in Minami Hiragishi.  We will not be able to devote much time to the work of the church here from next month but hope to continue this blog over the coming months to share with you the next chapters in the story of Hiragishi Izumi Church.  In the next post, though, we will share more about our own future.

Sharing the news

Recently David has been thinking (and speaking) a lot about someone called Tychicus.  He appears several times in Acts and Paul's letters and at the end of the Letter to the Colossians he is someone who is sent to the church at Colossae to share all the news and to encourage the hearts of the believers there.  It is a great passage at the end of that letter which goes far beyond simply 'final greetings'.  It gives a glimpse of this community we call church across geographical boundaries.  The reason for all of this is that David is back in Scotland for a month, partly catching with family and friends, partly settling Daniel into university life in Glasgow and partly taking time to visit many supporting churches across Scotland.  It's amazing how much you can fit into one month!  Engaging in mission overseas is always a task that integrally involves local churches back home as we live out what Paul refers to in another letter as partnership in the gospel.  Some pray; some give; some go.  But we are all part of a team and each part has a role to play. 

 

It has been really encouraging to be home and know of many who are praying for Japan and to sense the interest that there has been and continues to be in the work that is going on in Japan.  It has given the opportunity to share about how the new church plant in Hiragishi has developed over the last three and a half years; it has also given opportunity to share, both verbally and graphically, about the recovery and relief efforts in which OMF is involved following the tsunami last year; and it gives the opportunity to share about our future role in Japan as we take up the post of OMF Field Director from November this year.  Hopefully this has not just been a sharing of news but a time when hearts have been mutually encouraged.  David often refers to one of our Japanese colleagues who shared last year that this could be a kairos moment for Japan.  Another way of saying it is to quote the book of Esther and think of these days as a 'for such a time as this' moment for Japan.  We are seeing many new workers come through and many more are in the pipeline.  As we prepare to leave our work in Hiragishi having done not much more than lay the foundation, there are mixed feelings.  Yet we are excited about what is happening both in Hiragishi and more widely in Japan.  Certainly there are many tough challenges and hurdles.  Yet there are also opportunities and signs of God at work in this land.  Thank you to all you who are with us as partners in the gospel.

Another change

Life goes in cycles.  For many families, one of the big changes is when your first child goes off to univeristy.  For most, that can be their first time to stay away from home.  For us, it has of course been somewhat different.  Daniel went to Hebron when he was 12 so we have been used to him coming and going over these past years.  Now though he is returning not to school in India but to Scotland, his 'home' culture.  Or is it?  He has spend most of his 18 years living in places other than Scotland and was last there for a full year when he was 9.  His life over the years has brought him a whole range of experiences which many never have.  Certainly there have been tough times as well as joys.  But now he heads off to Law School, falling in Dad and Mum's footsteps in terms of subject if not location.  We are pleased that he will be based in Glasgow where we know many people and have family members too.  Next week Daniel will attend a camp called ReKonnect which is set up for missionary children and deisgned to help them adjust to life back in their 'home' culture.  It is great to have these opporunities.  We realise that many things will be new for Daniel, even some simple things which others who have grown up there just take for granted.  David will be back in Scotland for the whole of September, partly to help Daniel get set up with all that is needed, and partly to spend time with family, friends and supporting churches as it is around 3 and half years since we last left Scotland to begin this journey to plant a new church in Hiragishi.  It has been quite a journey and David looks forward to sharing about this with many over the coming weeks.

We are the champions

One of the things that impresses us about life here in Japan is the way that sport is encouraged from a young age.  Our boys are all into football.  There is a great set up here from the local teams right through to city-level training, prefecture-wide training and national-level training.  Since last year Calum has been involved in different levels of training and was chosen to become the captain of the team representing the whole of Sapporo in a tournament over the last few days.  Teams came from different parts of Japan, drawing in some of the best Under 12 players from their areas.  It all began as these things go with an official opening ceremony.  All the teams lined up and there were a few speeches along with everyone doing a fun warming up to music.  Near the beginning Calum came to the microphone.  He was the one chosen to give the opening greeting on behalf of the players and a vow that everyone would do their best.  He wrote it himself, memorised it and delivered it really well.  Then the action started and it was great to watch such a high level of play from 12 year old boys.  Calum's team did really well and clinched the trophy and winners' medals with a fine 2-0 win in the final. 

After that it was time for the closing ceremony and presentation of the trophy.  As captain, Calum came forward to receive a large flag for the winning team followed by presentations of various trophies and medals to each player in the winning team.  All of this was accompanied by the music of the hymn Thine be the Glory which is traditionally used here for victory in sporting tournaments.  Then it was the turn of the sponsors to give out their goodies - the boys received a boxload of things from cornflakes to cookies to bottles of juice and packets of Milo and cocoa powder!  Calum's team also got T shirts with the word Champions on the back.  It was a great few days and another fascinating insight into Japanese culture with all that goes into the different parts of the opening and closing ceremonies.  Of course at the start and end of each match too there is polite handshaking and bowing - at the end the players all run over to the opposing dug out and bow to the coaches and then do the same to their own coaches.  It is no surprise to us that football in Japan is on the up.  It is well organised, good fun and there is a great spirit among the children and the coaches.  Apparently one of the present Japan national team members once played in this very tournament.  Who knows - maybe we have seen over these past few days one of the future stars of Japanese (or Scottish?) football. 

Children's Camp

This past weekend we held another camp for some of the children in Lorna's English classes after our inaugural camp last year.  We once again rented the building below our house which we often use.  It is perfect for a camp.  14 children were there, a mixture of ages, boys as well as girls.  We also had the help of a short-term team which is here from the UK - they were invaluable as they worked behind the scenes, led games times and related to the kids (even those who could not speak much Japanese).  We had a number of games, both indoor and outdoor during Saturday afternoon before a British-style evening meal of coronation chicken (seems to be in vogue this year) followed by jelly and ice cream.  The latter seemed more popular!  Then in the evening we used the story of David and Goliath as our focus for the weekend.  David told the story, accompanied by vocal involvement from the watching children, and ending with one of the team collapsing as Goliath was struck down.  Lorna had written a simple play in English and the children learned their parts and made props before a rehearsal.  The evening ended with fireworks outside and then the sleeping bags and mats were laid out. 

After several hours sleep the children rose early in the morning (more willingly than some of the adults!)  We had the barbecues going for stick bread and sausages. The children were then given the challenge of going out in groups with adult help and taking photos of different things and actions following instructions written only in English.  Soon it was time for the parents to come and see a performance of the play.  We had a good number of mums and dads.  The children did really well with the play.  After a game with parents against children followed by some food and drinks, it was all over and we tidied up.  It was a great weekend.  These children hear a Bible story each week at the class and it was good over the weekend to focus on the message of David and Goliath and just to be able to spend time with these kids.  Who knows what seeds have been sown...

Another adult in the family

Today is Daniel's 18th birthday.  Seems a long time ago when David was watching the closing stages of the 1994 World Cup Final and hoping labour would hold off until the closing penalties!  It did - and started a few hours later!  Daniel came into the world on 18th July 1994.  Little did we know at that time that four years later we would leaving for Singapore with a nearly 4 year old and a 2 year old to start our adventure in Japan within OMF.  After some six weeks of orientation at the OMF HQ in Singapore we celebrated Daniel's 4th birthday and then a couple days later we found ourselves in Sapporo.  Two years of language study, seven years in Otaru, two years of home assignment and here we are now in our fourth year at Hiragishi (with double the number of boys too!)  In two days time we will mark our 14th annivesary of landing in Japan for the first time.  Neither of us had been here before, quite unlike most missionaries arriving here these days who have usually done at least some kind of short-term placement in Japan.  Our boys have grown up here and all have gone (or are still going) through Japanese primary school.  We have had rich and varied experiences over these years - many challenges, many joys, many things to learn.  We have watched our boys grow and the older two head off to India for secondary education.  Now we have reached the stage where our oldest boy is about to return to Scotland for university.  There are always changes.  There is no 'normal' - or at least not a 'normal' which lasts for long.  But it's a great life.  What could be better than to live in a land where so few know Jesus and be able to play just a small part in sharing Jesus with the people of Japan.  We enjoy our life here, though of course there are stresses, frustrations and disappointments along the way too.  As we look ahead, more challenges and changes await.  But we can look back over these years, the (almost) 21 since we were married, the 18 since we became parents, the 14 we have been in Japan, and can say that God has been faithful, he has been with us in this journey, and he will go with us as he goes with Daniel to the start of his new life in Glasgow from September.  There is much for which we can give thanks.

Sharing the gospel

Recently at an OMF Training Week we held in Sapporo, two pastors made the distinction between what can be called 'speaking' the gospel and 'showing' the gospel.  Of course we need to use words but there is also a time and place for showing the gospel through our lives, our deeds, our attitudes.  People watch our lives as well as listen to our words.  It is not an either/or but a both/and.  As we went today to a couple of temporary housing areas in a different area (Otsuchi) which was very badly damaged by the tsunami, we could see both in action.  We worked with another team to set up a mobile cafe at one place.  They have no common room where events like this can be held so there is little opportuniry for people to gather together.  Unlike yesterday, the sun shone,we set up the tents and soon the people gathered in large numbers for cool drinks, but more than that just to have the time to chat together.  The people were so appreciative, even though we were doing so little.  We listened once again to their stories.  Someone came with a guitar and led in some singing of traditional songs.  We then sang a couple of songs too.  It was a great time.  The cafe continued in the afternoon but David headed off to another place with one of our team and the leader of the other team to what turned out to be a very small temporary housing area.  We were meeting for two hours there and three ladies turned up.  It seemed the craft was using beads to make bracelets!  David was wondering whether it might have been better to have stayed at the other place! In time one older lady left and two remained (one being the daughter of the older lady).  The next hour was quite amazing as these ladies asked some questions about the Bible and about Jesus.  They knew some of the basics - something about Jesus dying on a cross and being born in a stable.  They kept asking questions and it gave great opportunity to share in words what the Bible is all about, who Jesus is, what the cross meant, and lots more.  We left most of the talking to the leader of the other team as she is the ongoing contact there and we hope that next time there will be good follow up.  We shared one or two Bible verses too.  One lady had said she read one page of the Bible and it was too difficult as it was just a list of unpronounceable names!  We worked out she had a copy of Matthew's gospel and did not get past Chapter 1!  The Bible is too difficult, she said.  It was great to be able to share with these ladies in response to the questions they had asked.  That over, we headed down to Kamaishi to see another building OMF has bought with relief funds to use as a base for relief work in that town and in Otsuchi where we had been.  A Japanese pastor is heading up the work there.  He has lots of ideas.  How will it develop?  What are the next steps?  Big questions which need much thought and certanly the Lord's leading in these times of much opportunity both to speak and show the love of Jesus.  We headed back to Yamada after a long, tiring but satisfying day and decided to use a local prefab restaurant for our evening meal.  The owner had operated a restaurant there for some 49 years and now is working in a prefab place.  We thought it would be fairly basic but it is a great place inside and the food was of amazing quality.  What a joy to eat there and give a little business to this community.  Many people were eating out there and obviously having a great time.  Yamada seems to be a place where recovery is beginning to happen and people are looking forward - even though the path ahead remains a long one.  It's been a good week here.

Nothing goes to plan

One of the keywords in working here in the tsunami-devastated areas is flexiiblity.  Plans can be made but they don't necessarily turn out the way you expect.  There are sudden changes and various twists and turns along the way each day.  It is a battle too - and that means things can go wrong or get in the way or just be made more difficult than they are anyway.  Today once again we set off for a temporary housing place.  But just as we got there it started to rain.  There seemed to be no one about.  But then one lady appeared and she was the only one for quite some time.  Then one more and eventually one more appeared.  We heard that just today a special shuttle bus had been arranged to take people from that temporary housing area to a shopping centre, so many people were gone.  But maybe part of the plan for today was for the ladies in our team to have time with these three ladies.  The conversation was good and the ladies enjoyed singing with us at the end.  We packed up and headed off to hear how one of the team had got on helping an American carpenter do some work at another temporary housing place.  But that had not gone smoothly either for all sorts of reasons.  Meanwhile the rest of the team got ready to go to yet another temporary housing area right next to a primary school.  We had a great time with the children there, having fun outdoors, doing some games inside, sharing snacks together.  Two of these children have already signed up to come along to to a special week-long Kids Gospel Outreach at the end of this month.  One game involved the three Ferguson men being wrapped in toilet paper by their teams to become mummies, ending with the three mummies having a race across the school playground.  A crowd had gathered by this time to watch this bizarre event.  David ended up surrounded by a group of 6th grade boys and had some good chats.  Wonder what the teachers thought if they were looking out from the windows!  But it was great to give these kids fun and build up some relations there.  Back to the cafe we went and were just about to head off when David and another team member were beckoned over to a table where a few customers were sitting.  Why are you here?  What led you to start this work here in Yamada?  What makes you do this for these people?  That led on to an unexpected but fascinating conversation.  One older man who is frequenting the cafe regulalrly summed up very well what we are doing here - caring for people's hearts, for their inner needs, listening to them, providing a place where people can gather and relax.  What a blessing to be a small part of this ongoing work in Yamada.  Tomorrow we head off to another town where a member of the OMF team (a Japanese pastor) has recently moved and started a new work.

Another day, another place

We set off again this morning as usual at 9am.  After a quick stop at the cafe in Yamada, we were on our way to another temporary housing area.  Same set up.  Same ideas as yesterday.  Same team.  Yet, today was different.  Where were the people?  No one seemed to be in.  One lady appeared and told us that today an announcement had come over the town loudspeakers that this would be one of the days when the conditions are right for going to gather sea urchins.  It seems many had gone there!  We wandered around to see if anyone was there.  We prayed for people to come.  It seemed deserted.  But it turned out to be a time of great blessing.  Gradually some people gathered and had time to chat and make the craft.  An older man came in with his wife but didn't care for the craft so was about to leave when we called him over to the barbecue.  An 81 year old man who loved sports - good conversation starter.  Then as we casually chat, he says he lost his eldest son in the tsunami.  And his home, his shop, his taxis (his former job now taken over by his third son who lives in another temporary housing area).  There is no hope, he says.  We continue listening and chatting.  He tells of his love of singing, and how he had bought himself a karaoke machine to use inside his temporary house (and this after being in hospital for a major operation last year).  It made our day just to chat with and listen to this man.  Meanwhile inside, the craft has finished and we join the ladies (and this man) in singing a couple of songs together, including one about the Lord being our shepherd and guide.  We ended as we did yesterday by singing God Bless You, which brought tears to a number of eyes.  After that we invited the elderly man to sing us a song - he started but then forgot the words!  But then all joined in with a moving rendition of a traditional Japanese song.  As this was going on, a 14 year old boy who had decided to have a day off school appeared.  It was good to engage with him for a while - the thought lingered though that this is a boy who is struggling in many ways, maybe even bullied at school.  People were so appreciative - yet we had done so little.  One lady came up at the end with small gifts for some of the team.  And she also explained how some had felt apprehensive about coming, wondering if we were just the same as the Jehovah's Witnesses who seem to be very active in the area.  Challenges from all directions!  We packed up and headed back to the cafe in Yamada.  We heard that a lady had come there today for the first time and she happens to live in the temporary housing area we will be visiting tomorrow morning!  There were more adventures in the afternoon, including a visit inside a temporary house (first time for David) to meet with a couple.  They had told the story before of how they had scrambled up the hillside and watched the awesome waves come in and sweep away their house below.  Tomorrow the plan is that one member of our team join with an American carpenter to build something at the temporary housing area where they are living.  Back to the cafe where some of the team dug a trench (unearthing all sorts of objects as well as rocks and concrete - there was a shoe, a child's toy, an item of clothing).  These had all belonged to local people - what were their stories?  Are they even still alive?  Why a trench - to plant some sunflowers round the car park area at the Ippo Ippo cafe.  The place looks really good.  There is a sense that this town is working hard to get back on its feet.  There is a positive spirit among the people we meet.  May Ippo Ippo be used more and more to reach many people in this community.  And may each of the team here be used over the remaining days here to share something of the fragrance of Jesus among those we meet.

Back to Iwate

Almost a year to the day since last being here, David is back in Iwate with a team of 6 people, including once again Daniel and Matthew.  The journey was much the same - overnight ferry crossing, a three hour drive down the coast, arriving yesterday afternoon and settling into the team room at the OMF building in Miyako.  Things have changed and moved on in the intervening twelve months.  OMF has had a couple working here full-time since last September along with a Japanese couple and more recently others added to the relief work team, including a volunteer helping with different carpentry projects.  A big change since a few months ago is that OMF's work is now concentrated on a place called Yamada where a temporary building has been put in place offering local people a place to come and gather and enjoy some goodies in a bright and welcoming environment.  It was great to be able to see that place today but more than that, to see so many coming and going at different points in the day.  This morning we set off for a temporary housing area, having arranged in advance to hold an event in the small room set aside for such gatherings.  A number of mainly older ladies gathered and it was a great time of chatting, eating some snacks and making a craft together.  At the end our team sang a song with which the local ladies joined in and as they ate lunch (barbecued frankfurter sausages in tortilla!) we serenaded them with a song which has become popular here called God Bless You.  During the craft time some members of the team were preparing the barbecue and it was good to spend time with some of the men (all of them fishermen) who came to enjoy some food and chat.  After we had packed up, we headed back to the cafe in Yamada which was in full flow.  Round about the OMF place, a number of temporary shops had sprung up, and even a temporary hot spring bath which is offered free to local people.  We went to visit another area of town where an 86 year old man introduced us to a local community centre where every other month the old folk from round about gather for karaoke, but their equipment was now old and out-dated.  When, where, how, in what ways can and should OMF be involved in reaching out to meet the needs people in different areas of these communities?  As almost the only foreigners in the town, the OMF team stick out.  News passes round the community by word of mouth.  There are huge opportunities in Yamada but many challenges too.  From what we saw today, God is beginning to do a work there in that town of some 17,000 people where many properties have been destroyed, many have been displaced into temporary housing and the heart of the community was ripped apart by the tsunami of last March.  Yet, there is hope and people are moving on.  The OMF motto is 'one step at a time'.  It is encouraging to see these small steps forward and we look forward to being part of the work here during this week. 

End of an era

Last week saw the end of one chapter in one of our boys' lives.  Daniel started at Hebron School in India in August 2006.  That was a huge change for all of us as for the first time one of our boys was away from home - and quite far away at that.  We looked forward to the weekly handwritten letters (changed to e-mails as he got older).  Friday nights were phoning Hebron nights - and we had the inevitable frustrations at times of trying to get through to a dorm in a school way at the top of a mountain in south India.  Booking air tickets became a kind of hobby as there were two visits a year by parents for half-term and then two returns back to Japan for the summer and winter holidays.  For Daniel, he has been with many of the same group for these six years - playing many sports together, having fun together, going through tough times together, at school together, living in the dorm together.  And now it is over.  But as one chapter begins, another opens.  Now is just the interlude between school and university and for us that opens up a whole new world of form-filling and applications.  Born in Scotland, primary school in Japan, secondary school in India rubbing shoulders with many different cultures and nationalities.  Now it is back to Scotland and Daniel is following in his parents' footsteps by studying Law.  As we look back on the Hebron years, we are very grateful for this school, for the teachers, the dorm parents and the chance to meet and interact with many who are working in quite diverse situations in a number of different countries.  And we trust that Daniel will look back and be thankful (as he is) for the many experiences of his Hebron days.  Our third boy Calum is already getting excited about going - but that is a story for another day later in the year.

Light of the World

Every year in Hokkaido at this time of year, in various venues around the island, there is an event called the Yo no Hikari rally.  Yo no Hikari means Light of the World.  There is a Christian broadcasting group in Japan which uses the name Yo no Hikari and puts out short programmes on both televison and radio early Sunday mornings.  They contain a simple Bible message and people have the opportunity to write in or call with questions, comments or to request literature, including a Bible.  Although in recent times struggling with finances, this means of sharing the gospel has over many years been used and blessed to reach people in communities where there is no church, or simply to reach people who may be seeking something but would never thought of going to a church in a country where so few do go.  The rallies are held each June and have a simple format - some music, a testimony and a Bible message.  When we lived in Otaru, the church ladies often attended the morning rally and the hope was always to be able to invite others along.  This time in Sapporo David attended the evening rally along with Richard and two of our young believers.  It is good to see pastors and members of different churches in the city working together to make this kind of thing happen.  The radio and television broadcasting still has a part to play, even in this Internet/iPhone age - many elderly people would still happily tune in (and are up early enough to do so) and be able to hear a gospel message.  May this means continue to be used to reach many for the gospel in Hokkaido.

One step at a time

As we have seen this new church plant here in Hiragishi start from nothing and gradually begin to take shape, it has very much been a case of one step at a time.  Recently, that phrase ('step by step' or 'ippo ippo' in Japanese) has taken on a new significance for those of us working with OMF in Japan.  Around a year ago OMF took the decision to start a relief work in an area of Iwate Prefecture which had been devastated by the tsunami.  Amazingly, part of a building was available for rent.  An experienced missionary couple were appointed to the work, moving to the area last September.  Japanese staff workers were also provided - a couple moving to Iwate to serve full-time for a couple of years.  Much has happened since that time but this blog is about a recent development.  A site was identified in a town called Yamada which suffered extensive damage by the tsunami and by fires afterwards.  Over the last few weeks a temporary structure (called a 'super house') has been put in place which will serve as a cafe and meeting place for local people.  The building is topped off with the new logo - 'ippo ippo' with accompanying feet!  Just last week a simple opening ceremony was held attended by the previous owner of the land, a representative from the town hall and others who had helped in different ways with the building project.  Customers have already been in to the cafe - to enjoy what is on offer but also just to meet with others, chat and be listened to.  The present phase of this relief work will last for another year or so yet and we trust that this cafe will be well used over coming months.  This week Kaori (who normally works in the OMF office in Sapporo) is in Yamada helping in these early days of the cafe.  Next month an OMF team from Hokkaido (led by David and with Daniel and Matthew too) will go to Iwate to help in whatever ways we can for the time we will be there.  We don't know yet quite what that will involve but look forward to seeing and being part of (even for a short time) all that God is doing in these days among the people of the coastal communities in Iwate.

Church Office

Last Sunday we as a church gathered in a room in a building almost right next door to the local subway station to dedicate our new church office.  It was so good to find a place that is on the main road in our part of Hiragishi, bright, welcoming, just the right size and really convenient for those travelling by subway.  The office will give us a presence right in the heart of the area where we also live.  Our house, where the worship service will continue to be held, while in a great location for a place to have people come and not trouble many others with noise, is somewhat removed from the centre of Hiragishi.  Our colleague Richard will use the office as his working place and we will also use it for Bible studies, meetings, English classes and any other small group classes that we might offer in coming months.  We trust that it will be well used and be a blessing to all who come in.  Just now all the church folks are thinking about how we can decorate the walls and what we should do about furniture and the like to make it a place that is welcoming and attractive for guests and visitors who come in.  May this little office be used to God's glory and as a place where many can come into contact with what our church name stands for - Izumi, meaning spring.  There are many thirsty people in Hiragishi who need to drink living water.  

Learning and Growing

Last week we held our third OMF Japan IBCM Training Week.  Some of you may not know what IBCM stands for - it means Indigenous Biblical Church Movement, and is part of OMF International's Vision to see IBCMs come about in different people groups of East Asia.  It is well known that the growth of the church in Japan is slow, many churches are small and struggling, pastors get discouraged, believers find the Christian walk a tough one in this culture where being different is not valued and where the pressures to conform in so many ways are very strong.  Yet, the desire of those in OMF Japan is to play our part, even though seemingly small and insignificant, to see the people of Japan come to know Jesus and to see believers strengthened in their faith, bearing fruit in their witness in word and deed.  We long to see churches which are growing, equipping their members for life and ministry, and reaching out with the gospel. 

We spent much time last week learning, reflecting, interacting, dialoguing.  We looked at Japanese church history, issues of how to contextualize the message of the Bible where we are, Japanese religious beliefs, issues of ancestral veneration.  We heard from Japanese OMF colleagues and had a fascinating panel discussion with some Japanese pastors.  Finally we looked at what one OMF church is doing in an attempt to be an indigenous, biblical church.  We are all learning and growing.  In some ways, it seems that we can only skim the surface of all that makes up our context here in this complex and rich culture.  The title of the Training Week was Missionaries Under Cultivation.  We all want to grow and develop and mature, in our understanding of the Japanese language, culture, people and thought processes, but more than that, to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus.  We can be thoroughly well versed in many aspects of culture and reach a high level of fluency in the language, but if we have no love....We need to be people who are growing to be more like Jesus, people who are nurtured by God's Word, and people who have a passion to share that word, aiming to be culturally relevant and trusting the Lord to do the work of opening people's hearts so they can receive and believe the message of the gospel.   

Another Sports Day

This is not the first time that something about Sports Day has appeared on this blog.  But is always an event we look forward to, not just because of the fun and watching the different races and performances, but also because it is such a cultural experience.  Lorna is now well up on what to prepare for the lunch-time feast, but she does not get up as early as some mothers who are literally up at the crack of down to get everything ready.  This year we had the unusual experience of the Sports Day being postponed the day before because of some changeable weather, including it seems possible thunderstorms, which were supposedly on their way.  It turns out that many schools in Sapporo followed the 'advice' (if that is the right word) to move the Sports Day back one day to the Sunday when only sun was forecast.  We have now experienced 12 years of Sports Day in Japan and one thing we have learned is that the weather is indeed changeable and the weather forecast is almost completely unreliable.  So we were very surprised that a decision was taken to postpone the Sports Day the day before rather than wait till the morning and see how things were - as would usually be the case.  As it happens, the Saturday turned out to be a perfect day for Sports Day (when it did not happen) and the Sunday was not so nice.  However, it did not rain and brightened up eventually so we had a great day. 

This time it was Calum's last Sports Day and he enjoyed the extra responsibilities the 6th grade children were given.  He also excelled in the different races and team events he was in.  Alistair did well too.  And both boys ended up in the overall winning team so it was cheers all round in the Ferguson household.  Sports Day is done so well here - from the dance performances (a very energetic, fast-moving popular dance) to team events, one of which ended up with two children climbing up a pole held by other children, to the due sense of ceremony with speeches, bowing and celebration.  Everyone has a part to play, whether they are sporty or not.  There is a great sense of camaraderie among the cheering parents, grandparents and other friends who turn up.  It truly is a community occasion.    

Celebrations

One of the things we always do in Izumi Church is celebrate birthdays.  Recently there seem to have been quite a few.  It's always a great reason to enjoy cake together!  And we take time to pray for the person who is moving one one digit in age.  Being a small church meeting in a home, it is not difficult to mark these occasions.  After our service (which usually finishes around 5.15) we always have a time of meeting and chatting together before we move into small groups to share about the message and pray for one another.  Someone is allocated to bring snacks each week, which can vary from simple cookies, to the most amazing home made cakes and desserts.  As a church it is good to celebrate together.  We were just thinking today in a training course which we are holding for OMF missionaries (more on that later in the week) how we as churches have much to celebrate - but do we do so?  Celebrating a birthday is a small thing in some ways - but it is a great way to thank God for the person he has made and to express our love and care for one another as the community of God's people here in Hiragishi.  There should be joy as we meet for fellowship together and always these times after the service here are relaxed and fun.  It is a blessing to be part of such a community.

Children's Day

Last Saturday here was a holiday called Children's Day.  It forms part of the annual so-called Golden Week holiday which has several consecutive holidays in a row, and if it includes a weekend at the end (as this year) can mean the opportunity for a well-earned break for people who lead busy lives.  The day was at one point called Boys' Day (there is a separate Girls' Day in March) but became Childrens' Day some 60 or so years ago.  One of the traditions associated with that day is the flying of 'koinobori' - large (some very large) flags in the shape of the carp fish.  This is meant to symobolise the hope that sons will grow up healthy and strong.  On Saturday we were at an onsen resort not too far away from where we stay and were able to see many large carp-shaped flags strung across from various places, fluttering in the wind.  Actually we took the opportunity for a night away.  Spending just one night in an onsen hotel is something many Japanese love to do.  You get in to your room (ours was the traditional tatami room with futons for sleeping) and then change into a yukata (light kimono) and enjoy the facilities in the hotel, which may be pools for swimming in or hot springs for soaking in.  Dinner is often buffet style and people wear their yukata and slippers to go to eat.  In fact when you go down for breakfast in the morning, many are still wearing the yukata.  The thinking is that you can leave your normal world (including your usual clothes) aside for a while and just escape into another world for the day.  Perhaps not something that might make sense to people in the west who would never think of driving half an hour up the road to a hot spring hotel and spending only one night there, far less go around inside wearing a yukata and slippers!  But it really does make for a refreshing and invigorating break, even if just for the one night.  The next day, being a Sunday, we were back for our usual worship service in Hiragishi in the afternoon.  The first Sunday in the month is when we hold communion.  At the start, we made reference to the day before being Children's Day.  We were all once children.  The gift of a child is a blessing indeed.  But the most wonderful thing is to become a child of God and that is what we can become due to the great love lavished on us by a God who gave his only Son to die that we might find life and hope.

A New Team

As we go into the fourth year of the Hiragishi church plant, many changes lie ahead.  This will be our last year here as we move to a new role towards the end of this year.  Our former colleagues JP and Nora Koch have just gone back to Germany with baby Leo for home assignment, but plan to be back in Hiragishi early next year.  We had a student from the Bible College with us for the last church year (April to March) but she has now moved on to another church.  We are pleased though that we now have another student, Mr Sugimoto who will come here each week for the next year with his wife and baby girl.  And to complete the new lineup, we have just welcomed some new OMF colleagues, Richard and Catherine East along with their daughter Mari and baby Amy.  It's great to have co-workers to help us here in what are still the early stages of this church start.  Richard has been in Japan before for some years but after marrying Catherine in the UK, returned a year ago as a couple with (at that time) baby Mari.  They worked at another church plant during this last year covering for missionaries who were on home assignment.  The dynamics of our Sunday service have changed as we now have three young children here as well as our two school-age boys.  Over the coming weeks we will have the opportunity to talk, pray and plan together with the Easts as we seek the Lord's leading as to the future direction of the work here in Hiragishi.  Richard will become the leader of the church around the beginning of July.  We are looking forward to partnering with Richard and Catherine and excited to see how the church will begin to grow as the work of building on the foundation already laid continues.  We have just rented an office for the church in a central area right next to the subway station and have various ideas as to how that can be used beyond simply being a workplace for Richard (which it also is).  For us, as we have finished the double role of leading a church as well as OMF Hokkaido, we will hopefully have more time and energy to give to the church plant here and also to encourage and help the Easts as they settle in and develop their own thoughts and ideas.  We value your prayers for us as we work together in Hiragishi so that God may be glorified as this small church is built up. 

Easter Festival 2012

Last year we held the very first Hiragishi Izumi Church Easter Festival.  This followed on from our having gone to visit another church which has held a similar event every year towards the end of April in another part of Hokkaido.  Their event was very much outward-focused and for people in the neighbouring community.  Last time we held our event on a Sunday but this time, for various reasons, went for a Saturday.  The cold and damp weather of earlier in the week gave way to a warm, sunny day with no wind (it can be very windy at this time of year in Sapporo, as it was the day after the Festival).  Having been somewhat overwhelmed with unexpected numbers last year (and too few helpers) we were more prepared this time and had a good team of people to help, some from OMF, one from another church and indeed a group from Hong Kong who happened to be visiting for a few days and were glad to be there and help.  Many children who had been last year and at Christmas time came again.  We also had quite a number of new children, as well as quite a few parents (including one dad) and some older people from the community who came along.  One elderly lady had called a few days before and came quite a distance by bus and then walked to the venue.  She seemed to have a great time watching all the activity as well as indulging in the shortbread and white chocolate raspberry muffins on offer at the cafe corner.  We had various activities for the children, ranging from outdoor sporty things to slime-making to games.  There was food too, including the ever-popular mini-hot dogs.  Then in the middle part of the programme an OMF colleague from Brazil shared why he had come to Japan, told the Easter story and then did some hip hop dancing, after which he taught as one and we all joined in.  The event ended with the children all decorating an egg and taking home a bag of goodies, including a card with a simple Bible verse about Easter.  We trust that many were touched by the message of Easter and also experienced something of the life and hope we have in Jesus just by being there and being part of the Easter Festival.  We look to God to bring fruit from this kind of event.  Lorna hopes to follow up one young mother soon.  And the next day two of Alistair's friends who had come also turned up at our afternoon worship service.  We trust that somehow God is working out his purposes through these times of interacting with people and will use the various conversations that took place to be stepping stones for people to move closer to Jesus, whether that be soon or even in years to come.

Ceremonies

It has been some time since anything appeared here.  Now is the time to rectify that.  The frantic juggling of past months (and not least the last few weeks) have meant little or no time for doing things like posting here.  Now that one of the jobs is handed over to someone else, and David is no longer PTA Chair of the local school, and Lorna is back from her travels in Singapore and India, there is a little more breathing space to begin regular posts once again.  These past weeks have involved lots of greetings, bowing and speeches for David.  The end of March and beginning of April is ceremony season in Japan as it marks the end of one year (school, church, business) and the beginning of another.  David had to pop up in several places to give greetings ranging from a Bible School graduation to an induction service for a new pastor to a welcome to parents at the entrance ceremony for the local primary school.  It was important not to get the pieces of paper mixed up and give the wrong speech on an occasion for which it was not written!  There were two ceremonies at at the local school, both with some similarities and some differences.  The first took place late March as those graduating from sixth grade and moving onto middle school took their places for the last time in the large sports hall where those events tend to be held.  It was a moving occasion with full involvement from the whole school and lots of attention to detail and much bowing.  There were not a few tears too.  As always, these occasions are done very well in Japan.  There is a high regard for closure and doing it properly and meaningfully.  David's task as PTA chair was to give a congratulatory speech, the first half for the graduating sixth graders, the second half some words to the parents.  What to say?  In the end David chose to speak about a book by Max Lucado called You are Special which is translated into Japanese and which one of the years at the local school had actually performed last year during the school show.  It seemed to go down well and afterwards we heard from both parents and teachers that they had been moved by the speech.  Just one little opportunity to speak some words of hope and encouragement into the lives of these children who have now moved on to middle school.  The speech-making season for David is now over but the ceremonies continue - they are an important and valuable part of life here.  How far do we need to understand that and what lessons are there for the church as we seek to engage with this society and its people?  It is a constant challenge to consider how to bring the gospel into this context. 

New Life and Great Joy

Yesterday was another special day for Izumi Church.  When we chose the name Izumi (meaning 'spring') for the church, we hoped this would express our desire that many who are thirsting would find their way to Jesus to drink living water.  Although our numbers are by no means large, it was a real joy to add another believer to our church as he was baptised during the service.  When we first talked about baptism after he believed in Jesus, there was some talk of the sea or a river but sub-zero temperatures in Sapporo at this time of year led us to the somewhat more comfortable alternative of warm water in a bath which we borrowed for the occasion from another church and set up in our dining area.  Quite a number of buckets of water later and it was ready for baptism.  Before that though we had the privilege of listening to Wataru share his life story - of the hard times, the struggles, the issues he had to face.  But so too we heard a story of someone brought through to faith in Jesus, even when it looked like this would not happen.  He shared about several turning points in his life which led him to the point of commitment.  After his baptism, we all shared together in a very simple communion.  What a joy in one service to see the grace of the Lord in action as we witnessed a baptism, to know the grace of the Lord as we listened to his Word, and to taste the grace of the Lord as we partook of bread and wine to remember all that had been accomplished for Wataru and for all of us on the cross.  Later on in the day we had a really happy time of fellowship together.  One of the joys of Izumi Church being small and still meeting in a home is to have that kind of intimacy.  Wataru now faces many challenges.  He is just about to start a job.  That will place demands on him as it does on so many here.  He has many issues to face as a new believer in Jesus.  By we believe that as we walk together with him on the path of following Jesus, we will be able to help each other but we also know that, as he shared in his testimony yesterday, he is not alone and will not be abandoned by the God he now serves.  A good day - may there be many more like it to follow in the months and years to come in the life of Izumi Church.  

It's shaking

With Japan sitting on an area where several tectonic plates meet, earthquakes are to be expected on a regular basis.  Here in Hokkaido we don't get as many as some other parts of Japan, but once every few months we do hear the familiar noise of crockery rattling, see the light switches swinging and feel the swaying under our feet.  Yesterday evening there was a magnitude 6.8 earthquake off the coast of Hokkaido and northern Honshu followed by a 5.9, and then later in the evening a couple of 6.1's nearer Tokyo.  The 6.8 earthquake brought instant tsunami warnings and for 30 minutes or so these were repeated over and over on the main news channel with instructions to people living at the coast to move to higher ground.  In the end of the day only a very small wave reached the coast, but coming so soon after the 1st anniversary of the big earthquake and tsunami on 11th March, there was a eerie sense of deja vu.



The effects of yesterday's 6.8 earthquake



In a year we are due to move to Ichikawa near Tokyo, where recently the odds of another big earthquake in the near future have increased considerably, along with recent reports that Tokyo is not as well prepared as it should be.  In fact when we tell people that we are moving, this is usually one of the first comments they make.

Of course much of the beauty of Japan stems from the fact that it is a volcanic archipelago.  And we enjoy the benefits of a multitude of hot springs to relax in.  But the regular earthquakes are all a reminder that creation is groaning and that we too should be groaning as we wait eagerly for full adoption and redemption.  What a wonderful hope we have to share with the people around us.    

Snow, snow and more snow

Sapporo, the city where we live, is famous for several things: the Winter Olympics in 1972, the annual snow festival, delicious ramen (a large bowl of noodles with meat and vegetables in a soup) and Sapporo beer to name a few.  It also has the distinction of being the snowiest major (i.e. population of over 1,000,000) city in the world with several metres of it falling every winter between about December and March.  Living in a city set up for snow is great.  Come October people tie up the plants and bushes in their gardens to protect the branches from the weight of the snow.  Special shovels of all shapes and sizes are sold in the shops.  Cars change their tyres to winter ones with a thicker tread and don special windscreen wipers.

On a snowy morning everyone gets up a little earlier and goes outside to clear their car and the pavement area in front of their house.  People then get to work earlier to help clear the areas there too.  "Snow moving" becomes a major focus for the city authorities.   An everyday sight is lorries full of snow driving to one of the dumping grounds.  One place is beside the main river where tons of snow are dumped and then in spring gradually put into the river.  There are other empty plots of ground which gradually become filled with snow mountains too.

Driving is an interesting experience.  The roads are not salted, nor are they cleared as such.  Rather the snow is flattened down so that you are driving on top of the snow and ice.  On a warmer day though this might melt a little and then freeze again, likening driving conditions to a rally driver.  2 lane roads become one as snow is piled up at the side, and pedestrians are often found walking down the roads as the pavements may be impassable. 

Schools build their own snow mountains in the playground where they teach beginner skiing, with the older children being taken to local ski slopes for lessons as part of PE.  This mountain is also great for sledging with homemade sledges consisting of a cushion taped inside a 10kg empty rice bag.

1st graders learning to ski in the school playground

One of the displays at the Sapporo Snow Festival

And the snow is beautiful.  On a sunny morning it sparkles as if with diamonds, sometimes almost too bright to look at - a great reminder of the promise that we will be washed "whiter than snow".

Valentine Fun

One of the things we are keen to do in Hiragishi is to encourage our believers do something themselves to which they can invite friends.  This being the season of Valentine's Day, yesterday a small gathering was held in the home of our missionary colleagues here, all fairly low-key with food, chat, watching a short DVD (I'm Special).  One young guy who has been to several things before over the last couple of years came along afterwards to our service too.  We made it quite simple with a straighforward message about God's love.  Valentine's Day takes on some strange twists here.  It has long been the custom that girls give to boys on February 14th and the compliment is returned exactly one month later on White Day.  In recent years, so-called 'tomo choco' have been popular - chocolates exchanged just among friends, often girls to girls.  Today one of our boys got some chocolates from a girl (not at school - that is not allowed) but he also received some from one of his buddies too.  We have never before come across boys giving boys chocolates.  It's funny the way traditions work out in different cultures, and indeed the way they change over the years (not that this would have anything to do with marketing by the chocolate manufacturers of course!)  How to communicate that deep, self-sacrificing, amazing love in the midst of all of that?  Some years ago we had the following conversation with a 13 year old girl who had been coming for some time to our children's club.  She was now too old for the club but kept coming anyway.  We asked - 'What brings you here to the church?'  She said this - 'I find love here.  There is no love at home'.  Sadly that may be the experience of many.  And even fewer know the love of God shown so clearly in the passage from John's gospel we were looking at yesterday in our service - the way Jesus dealt with the woman who was about to be stoned by others for her sin.  Our longing is that many in this land would find their way to true love - not symbolised in a heart-shaped pink chocolate, but in a cruel cross of wood.