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.