back in japan

wow it's been almost a week since i "re-arrived" in japan. so so so busy really. was immediately caught up in the flurry of activities here: teaching english, visiting people's homes for care ministry, talking about Jesus to non-Christians, encouraging Christians and of course shivering. :) haha it's crazy cold here now. last night it was like 1-3degrees celsius. AH freezing! especially coming from Brisbane where it was averaging 32deg the week before? Amazingly cold!

God is so good to me. like just in this few days I've had the opportunity to share Jesus with about 4 people. Also, another team from kenmore-baptist is here. they're using music and drama for evangelism and will be coming to the church next week.

that's a photo of the church service. the young man behind the drums is actually the pastor. :) as you can see, it's the same space as before. but because God is so good, many of the older members are preserved and also there are many more new people. :) so they also started a 2nd service while looking for a bigger place! :) praise GOd! :)


so one guy i wanted to share about. ka* was homeless when we last came. he had racked up massive gambling debts and was kicked out of his house. and was found on the streets by the pastor. he was then staying in the church building and had like nothing to his name. fast forward to today, he is renting an apartment and is a regular at the church and helps out with various ministries like welcoming and cleaning. what a testament to God's grace! :) he was working but was recently fired (i couldn't really understand why but understand its something to do with they have never hired a male before and thought he was not learning fast enough?) anyway, please pray for him. that God will provide him with a good job and that God will continue to build him up in Christ.

so many other things i have been learning about the culture here and all and it's really interesting. have to head out soon though so have not much time to type it. ask me about it when i get back? about the hole-in-one, the difference in socio-economic statuses, the culture of gift-giving etc. :) haha it's so interesting!

lastly, an insight to where i'm living at the moment. i'm living with 2 missionaries. one's from northern ireland. she's been here for about 14 years now and considers japan her home. :) she's had massive hand and back pain which i helped her with recently and we've been joking that that's why God sent me here. to provide her with some relief! haha so funny! the other one's from sydney and is on a 3 year stint. been really encouraged by their heart for the lost. here's a photo of the stairs up to the room. it's narrow and super steep!!! ah, always have to be careful to keep my momentum forward so i don't roll down the stairs. :)

if you have time, please pray for the people here. for the missionaries that they will not burn out but burn brightly. ;) for the pastor and pastoral team that they would lead with love and wisdom people to Christ. :) for health cos it's so freezing. for ka*. for the other team from aussie. for the nonchristians who'd be coming to the evangelistic events (students from the english school associated with the church and random strangers). for me that God will continuously remind me that these people need him desperately even if they don't even know that's what they need. that God will use me to be a shining light to everyone i meet. to uplift and uphold and to direct everyone to Christ. the center of all my affections.

till next time. :)