What is normal?

We've been back in Japan six months. Someone asked us recently whether things have settled down into some form of normality? Good question but not an easy one to answer. We left Scotland at the end of March having had a year back. Calum changes to Japanese school again. Alistair goes back to kindergarten. David leaves again immediately for India for spring half-term. We have a new house, live in a new area, begin to make new friends. We go round different churches for some months. Daniel and Matthew return for the summer holidays. They go back. We begin services in our home. Lorna goes to India for autumn half-term. In ten weeks time the older two will come back again, this time not to sun but to snow. And those are just the main events in our life story. What is normal? In many ways our lives go in cycles of abnormality. But within those in a strange kind of way things become 'normal' - until it all changes again! It's certainly not a dull life.

Changing seasons, changing colours

We have now been in our house exactly six months. When we first heard it was opposite a graveyard, we wondered what it would be like. In Japanese this large graveyard is called literally a 'spirit garden'. It is filled with mature trees which are looking quite stunning as they change from green to different shades of red, orange and yellow. With the blue skies and sunny days of late, it's a great place to walk. When we thought of the house, we saw it as great provision as a place to start a new church - spacious inside, parking spaces, neighbours only on one side. It is all of that. But it's also a great place to live with views over the city to one side and at the moment on the other side, nature shown in all its beauty, with the mountains too rising in the background. The change of seasons is precious to the Japanese people and something they feel keenly. And we wonder - how can people look at such beauty and not see the hand of the one who created all things? We're looking forward to the next six months - even if winter is just round the corner!

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.