Pictures from around Tokyo

Many of you have not seen a lot of the pictures that we share on Facebook, so I decided to post some here. Please enjoy!

Asparagus Bun

This is an Asparagus Bun. The Japanese seem to like including things in their bread that we would consider to be odd in the USA. I often see some various vegetables, corn,
small fish, etc. included with bread. Some popular breads are also hotdogs and buns with spaghetti on them, which are both left out in the cold.

Shinkansen

This is one of the bullet trains that can be found around Tokyo. They travel at a top speed of about 200 miles per hour. On board it is a very smooth ride. They are about equal in price to a domestic airplane ticket.

Ema

This is an "Ema", or a Shinto prayer request poster. Basically people write their pray-requests on a piece of wood and hang it here in the hopes that a spirit will see and answer it. They are common around Shinto shrine areas.

Gacha Gacha Toy Machine

This is a Gacha Gacha toy machine. They are all around Japan because Japanese people love miniature things. Here is a detailed video on it: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b9xoU0cy28 ) Just like in many American grocery stores you can buy these cheap toys in a plastic bubble for anywhere from $1 to $5.

Mini Bike

Japanese people love miniature things. This was a miniature bike that I got permission to take a picture of. It was kind of funny seeing a tough guy with a cigarette and a tiny bike!

Pagoda

In Japan in special places Pagodas can often be found. This particular Pagoda was on top of a mountain in the Okutama City area. It was certainly unexpected. We basically came upon it at the last second on top of a mountain. I did not even know that it was going to be there. Japanese like to build shrines, temples, and pagodas on top of high places. In the Bible in the Old Testament when I think of 'high places' that were used to worship pagan gods, I often think of the same thing here in Japan in their high places.

Apartment Mailbox

This is an average apartment mailbox. Most Japanese people live in 'Mansion Apartments' which are huge flats with hundreds of rooms. This particular apartment had 500 separate rooms in it. Whenever I talk about putting out 250 gospel tracts a day, these are the types of places that I go. This particular apartment took me two separate trips to completely fill up. Tokyo has millions of people, so it is quite easy to put out hundreds of tracts each day. To day I have put out close to 70,000 tracts in apartments. (These don't count the ones that I hand out in person, or leave in places.) In Tokyo there are about 40 million people, so I have barely dented the population with basic gospel tract coverage. Usually about 1-5% of people will actually read the website on the back of the gospel tracts. The website has youtube videos and websites about Christianity, God, Salvation, Evolution, and good churches. Please pray for those people who are interested to be saved and connected with a good Bible believing church!

Salted Roasted Fish Stand

This was an unusual treat to see. These are salted roasted fish for about $3 to $5 dollars. A traditional Japanese snack indeed. Throughout Tokyo there are many traditional type foods and stands to sell to passersby. One of the neat things about being in a large city area is to see the great varieties of foods.

Buddhist Shrine

This is a Buddhist shrine that is close to where we live. In Japan practically every street corner has some kind of a Buddhist or Shinto shrine. They are deeply embedded into the local culture. We often see people praying at this particular shrine in the morning. They will pray, ring a bell, and throw a coin in. Often times they pray for prosperity and health. Their idea of God is more of a mysterious energy, rather than a personal loving God. Most people do not actually believe in Buddhism or Shintoism when asked. They just follow these traditions because their ancestors followed these traditions. Nonetheless they are strongly influential upon their souls as they are dedicated multiple times in Shinto temples throughout their childhood.

Squatting Toilet

This is the famous "squatty potty". For the Westerner this is highly unusual. If you ever go to Asia you will see them. (Probably some ares in Europe too!) You basically stand and squat over the front part near the flushing handle. It requires a lot of balancing to do correctly. As Americans we could probably not imagine an older person trying this, but in Japan it is quite common as the people here are very limber.

Tanuki

This is a Tanuki. They are considered to be good luck animals that can also be mischievous. They are basically a unique raccoon - dog type animal that exists here in Japan. Often these little statues are seen outside of restaurants. Japanese people love to make small statues of various animals and people to place around gardens, houses, and public areas.

Busy Tokyo Train

This is a typical shot of the morning Rush-Hour on the train in Tokyo. Usually the train capacity is two to three times its norm during this time. It is not uncommon to be crushed by a wave of people trying to get into the train in the morning. Usually Japanese people do not touch each other, however in the morning they have no problems with getting close and comfortable with each other on the train to work! Here is a typical video of such an occurance:( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7kor5nHtZQ )

Wheat Field

Finally, this is a picture of a wheat harvest happening right in the middle of an urban neighborhood. In Tokyo the Japanese people make the best use of the small bits of land that they have to plant various crops!

Japan Culture Series 22: Otogibanashi

Now in raising a child in Japan my wife and I have been exposed to various Japanese children's stories and books. This has led to our exposure to Otogibanashi, or Japanese Folk Tales. Each story can reveal the influences on the Japanese people from Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, as well as other traditional thoughts. Often it is thought that a nations folk stories for children are meant to teach morals and values important to those people. What are the main differences between Japanese and Western stories?

If you read some of the Otogibanashi from the previously linked website, you will see some of these common themes: importance of the group, strong value of nature, and ideal morals to be practiced. For instance Japanese stories often focus on modesty as opposed to pride, inward beauty as opposed to outward beauty, dependence as opposed to independence, and acceptance as opposed to rejection. These values from the Otogibanashi reinforce what children learn from Japanese society as being either acceptable or unacceptable. If you are into reading manga or watching anime you will most certainly notice many Japanese cultural motifs that may influence you whether you notice it or not! This kind of cultural soft power has influenced many people around the world to be highly favorable toward Japan and to actually move here.

Although some of the values in folk tales are favorable, some of them are not. No matter which country we live in, we must be discerning of what exactly is being taught to our children. For instance, in America the mainstream entertainment industry specifically geared toward children always seems to influence thought based upon some kind of agenda. Often times those values are the opposite of Biblical values, and are therefore governed by the ways of the world. As is in the case of any type of media we consume, we must be highly discerning as to what is being taught to our children. Does it line up with Biblical values? Are you willing to see if your influences line up to the word of God? Please pray for us as we seek to find a balance between what is acceptable and what is unacceptable for raising children in this culture.

The Japanologist

By now you probably realize that Japan is indeed a strange country when compared with most places around the world. With that being said there are many people who devote their lives trying to explain the culture here in understandable terms. We call these people Japanologists. To an extent a missionary must study Japanese culture to try to understand the heart of the people here. Think of the last time that someone from another country not only tried to learn your language, but also communicated a foreign concept to you as if it were of the utmost importance. Never had that happen before? That is the task of a missionary. Now that I have been here awhile I can better understand the task at hand and see the importance for having Japanologists. My wife and I have spent a lot of time over the past four years watching a documentary style TV show about Japan called “Begin Japanology”. This on-going TV show is broken up into short thirty minute segments about some various aspect of Japan. By watching this TV show we were able to understand a lot about Japan as well as carry on a conversation with just about anyone here about just about any aspect of Japan. Today I want to take the time to direct you to a website where you can watch episodes free and learn about Japan:

http://japanology.tv/

If that link does not work where you are at you can always try to look up “Begin Japanology” on YouTube. If you have the time, please watch some of these episodes to better understand Japan. By watching this TV show you will be able to better pray for the Japanese people as well as understand missionary work in this country!

Japan Culture Series 21: Kenkyo

In Japan high emphasis in daily life is traditionally placed upon the virtue of modesty. This concept is known as Kenkyo. Because Japan is a 'vertical society'  it is important to know what your role is and how it works out in society. An important way to demonstrate an understanding of society is by being careful in the use of communication with others. Hence, the importance of modesty! In the Japanese language a whole subset of special words as well as grammatical forms are employed for use when speaking with superiors to demonstrate modesty. This subset is known as Keigo and is used extensively in the business world as well as when speaking with one's elders! Knowing how to use the correct expressions in Japanese society becomes very important. To demonstrate ones modesty by downplaying compliments or deflecting conversations away from oneself becomes a carefully orchestrated “dance” here. In the West this may seem silly or really overdoing the formalities, but here in Japan it is seen as necessary to show humility. Interestingly enough, in Japan this kind of passive or overly polite behavior is seen as a great virtue. Those who are humble, quiet, obedient, unquestioning to authority, and compliant are greatly valued here. (Although that is changing somewhat with new generations.) Whereas in America the opposite is true! Can you see how politics or businesses would clash when East meets West?

How does this value impact ministry? Since Japanese people value great modesty they can appreciate that the same virtues are taught by Christianity in the Bible. For this reason many Japanese respect Christians even if they do not want to become a Christian. The great truth of Christianity is that God can transform the inner man through salvation, which leads to true humility. Inward humility from a sincere motive truly comes from God. Often times Japanese are taught to be humble outwardly because it is required of society lest they be shamed, however it does not necessarily mean that they are humble people in reality. Often times visitors become disappointed to find out that the humility here is just an act. As Christians we know that only the inward heart change can truly change a person. Once a Japanese person realizes that, they are free to 'be themselves'. In the West we have no idea how much pressure can be exerted on a person to act a certain way because society demands it since we are so used to freely being able to express ourselves. Unfortunately, in the West our freedom often leads to various sins and crimes. Although modesty is a great virtue practiced here in Japan, it comes at the cost of sincerity often times as it is the product of forced compliance from fear of shame or dishonor. Please pray that true freedom in Christ can be found by these people!

Japan Culture Series 20: Gaman and Mottainai

Currently in Japan there has been a wave of potentially dangerous natural events with heavy rains and floods in the west to new heatwaves in the east. These events have led to many emergencies as well as deaths. All around the world when natural disasters occur death counts usually accompany them. However, when was the last time you heard of so many dying from a heat wave? Normally a few elderly are affected by heat waves, however have you heard of 10,000 going to the hospital concerning heat in such a short period of time? Perhaps there is another explanation for this contained within Japanese culture.

Deep within the Japanese sentiment comes the idea of enduring unbearable difficulties, otherwise known as “Gaman”. In American culture we have a similar concept in the saying, “No pain, no gain.” However, in Japan it is proudly taken a step further in coordination with the overall group culture. It is expected to endure intense difficulties, rather than bother the group with your individual “weaknesses”. In the business world this is seen with enduring poor treatment or long hours as somehow contributing to the overall strength of the company. In a house for the sake of the country a person will often “Gaman” by not using the air conditioning in order to save power. This kind of stoic self-sacrifice is very much a Buddhist cultural trait akin to the ideal lifestyle of a monk: “Work harder, eat less, control the self.” Throughout Japan's history this sentiment has defined the people as they frequently endured hardships for the sake of achieving their nation's gradual milestones into becoming a first world country.

In modern times within the Japanese sentiment also exists the idea of having no wastefulness, otherwise known as “Mottainai”. Because of the great sacrifice it takes to produce things in society there is a strong sense to not waste anything. Japanese people tend to be a highly frugal people. Coupled with their sense of identifying with nature they strongly desire to be as frugal as possible in society at large given that many people live on the small island with limited resources. This is truly "going green". Japanese also tend to strongly believe that global warming is a reality, and that they must do something about it. Therefore, the wasting of energy is seen as a great societal sin. From leaving lights on unnecessarily, to driving a car too much, to using air conditioning – many Japanese desire strongly to avoid wasting resources.

Together with Gaman and Mottainai comes the belief that we can change the planet through our own strength, and that our individual value is low compared with the greater good. Perhaps now you can see why when natural disasters occur that people do not want to trouble others, or when a heat wave happens many health issues arise when people insist on enduring! Certainly these are admirable attributes that we can learn from, but sometimes we must ask ourselves is the stoicism worth it? In a society with no real concept of grace or forgiveness these attributes of Gaman and Mottainai are man's alternative. They are noble and highly admirable in the sight of men, however potentially come at great human cost. What is the value of a life? As a Christian, the value of one soul is great as seen in the parable of the lost sheep found in Luke 15:3-7 . While it is sometimes reasonable to endure hardship as well as to be frugal, it is not the ultimate truth! Please pray that Japanese people would be awakened to their need for God reliance!

Japan Culture Series 19: Saving Face

Welcome to Japan. Avoid shame to your country, town, family, and self. The pride of your country, town, family, and self must be preserved! Humble yourself before your superiors to show them reverence! Although not spoken outwardly, this very deeply ingrained life-blood of Japan (as well as much of East Asia) is known as “Saving Face”. This has been described as the “air” in which Japanese people breathe and live in. Since the group understanding is valued greatly it also follows that social standing within that group is highly important. To humble yourself before another causes their social status to increase, while causing shame to others causes them to be viewed negatively in eyes of others therefore lowering their status. In Japan this is extremely important in everyday interactions. So important that at times in the past one would rather starve than to injure pride and cause the losing of face. Although not as radical today, a strong element of face saving is firmly planted into the soul of every Japanese person. How?

Rather than hurt the personal pride of another person it is more safe to remain silent, ignore issues, or lie. This is seen as protecting the dignity of another, while preserving your own standing with that person. For instance when asking someone for directions, they would rather tell you the wrong way than tell you that they do not know, since that would be embarrassing to them! For Westerners, especially Americans, this is unacceptable. We are accustomed to speaking openly and honestly with people while letting feelings come second. Because of this we can be blind to the realities of everyday situations here. Japanese may be afraid of Westerners as well since they do not want to be potentially shamed in public. (What if I don't know the answer to their question? What if my English is no good? What if they really did mean to order that bowl of broth with no noodles?) As Westerners we may not have a clue that we are actually causing people great shame because they will never say it or admit it openly since that would cause us shame! So, if a relationship suddenly ends there may be a reason why that happened without warning! Only by understanding the culture can a more acceptable approach to communication be taken here. How does this play into ministry?

In many ways Christianity always emphasizes open and honest communication. This can be another reason why Japanese think it to be a foreign religion as its emphasis on communication is so different. In reality Christianity helps Japanese people to look outside of themselves and their world to realize that there is more to this life offered by God. Some that experience living in the West long enough among loving Christians will experience this freedom given by God. Many Japanese tell us that they feel judged by other Japanese because of the standards set by society having to saving face. One thing is certain, the saving of face here contributes to a lengthier time period needed to invest into people in order to have good communication with them. Because of this process it takes longer to gain trust, and few close friendships are established. The friends gained however are very loyal. With saving face it is always difficult to tell if people genuinely want to study the Bible or if they are doing so because we are 'the sensei' that is to be respected. For these reasons as well as others the work here is certainly a slow and steady one. Few risks are taken in ministry here because of the potential backlash against an already sensitive system that will not allow disagreement with ancient norms. However on the positive side, with the right heart behind it, the saving of face is a powerful means of showing true love and respect to another person. Whether it be showing genuine appreciation, protecting others from shame, or the giving of gifts there can also be much to be thankful for. All in all the saving of face forces people carefully think about their interactions with one another whether or not their heart is in the right place. In the West in general we could probably use some of this respectful sentiment in our interactions with each other!

Japan Culture Series 18: Ikuji

    After reading these Japan Culture Series blogs for quite awhile now you may have come to the realization that in almost every way Japanese culture appears to be the opposite of Western culture. Perhaps one of the areas in which a stark contrast exists the most is in child rearing practices otherwise known as Ikuji. Raising our child here in Japan has certainly been a learning experience in that as an American we tend to focus on individual values (independent decision making, creativity, etc.) and discipline (direct communication, yes/no), whereas the Japanese way focuses primarily on the feelings of the immediate group and larger society. As Americans we tend to place a lot of emphasis on direct verbal communication for instruction (do what I say), while Japanese tend to follow by example and the actions of non-verbal communication (do what I do). In this way Japanese children gradually learn to be aware of what others are feeling or thinking, and to adjust their behavior accordingly.

    Japanese children are given a great amount of freedom to behave as they like until they gradually realize through observation of others that their behavior is not accepted and eventually need to conform to the group standard, whereas American children are typically told verbally by their parents that their behavior is wrong and that they need to stop immediately. An ideal child in Japan is one who is well-mannered in group relations as well as obedient to the group expectations, whereas an idea child in America is seen as one that can think for themselves and communicate directly. In this way Japanese people tend to see what the group thinks or does and listen rather than give their own opinions, which may disrupt the group harmony. Here in Japan it is clear that other people and society come before the individual opinion.

    Each way of raising a child has its benefits and detriments. Some difficulties for American parents occur when their children become too demanding, assertive, and self-centered. Some of the difficulties for Japanese children are that they have a difficult time thinking outside of the group or giving their own opinion of anything. Certainly a balanced approach is ideal in which truth in open communication as well as harmony with others is emphasized. As Christians when raising children we emphasize not necessarily what others think as the most important thing in life (or even our own will), but what God thinks. Our behavior is to be governed by God-centered principles as opposed to man-centered individualistic or group-oriented thinking. Rather than teaching a child that something is wrong because the group does not like it, or only because “I said so”, we operate on the premise that it is because it is wrong in the sight of God. As Japanese become more influenced by Western thought, and as Americans become more influenced by post-modern group thinking we need to remember that Godly biblical principles ought to govern our approach to life no matter where we are from!

Japan Culture Series 17: Ninjō

    In the social composition of the Japanese being exists the very real conflict between social obligation and personal feelings. These personal feelings are known as Ninjō. In an earlier blog here.  I spoke of social obligation, otherwise known as giri. This social obligation plays such a strong role in Japanese culture that it is often expected that one yield personal desires and feelings to it unquestioningly. However, this does not mean that personal feelings are absent. For example Japanese employees are expected to provide excellent service to customers even when treated very poorly. The honor of the company as well as the duty of the individual are at stake, so the insults must be taken. Whereas in the Western world a insult by a customer may or may not be taken so kindly; company or not! We may now understand how pressure could easily build up within each person as they continually deny themselves in order to fulfill social obligations. Perhaps this is one reason why Japanese life can be stressful.

    To an extent no matter where we are at in our lives we all deal with certain social obligations. However in Japan social obligation has been taken to a high degree as they have been integrated into every aspect of life. This especially becomes painfully obvious to the newly born-again Christian when trying to live every day life here. There are great expectations to conform to religious ceremonies, work obligations, and other various activities – which can bring great conflicts within the Christian conscience. What happens when in order to keep your job it is expected to drink after work every night? What happens when the school requires your child to do something against their beliefs? What do you do when your family pressures you into breaking your convictions? These are all real pressures that Japanese Christians face in a strong group oriented society. By default these brave men and women have to 'Dare to be a Daniel'. Perhaps this is why few here choose to become Christians, or are very quiet about telling anyone that they are a Christian. In reality no matter where we live in the world we have to make a decision to either go along with the world or to oppose it. We must ask ourselves if we are going to be of the world or in the world witnessing to it of Christ. May God grant us the resolve to live a Christ-honoring life!

But a Faithful man, who can find?

   

  In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus in a highly memorable moment for all future Christians, said: “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” From these verses we can see that from the very beginning of Jesus' ministry the problem has not so much been with people ready to receive the gospel, but has been with finding laborers for the long-term work. To any missionary on the field the goal should be to help raise up mature Christians who are able to depend on God rather than us. How then can we find laborers? The answer to this question I am still learning here in the Japanese setting as I have been closely vested in a few men, however there are broad principles that can be applied anywhere. Namely, as given in the classic book MasterPlan of Evangelism, three important attributes are needed for a good disciple: faithfulness, availability, and teach-ability.

    Clearly, after someone has become a born-again Christian through whatever way we reach them we want to try to help them along in their walk by investing in them as opposed to just letting them go free to fend for themselves. ( Unfortunately, not everyone wants to be invested into, nor will they want to learn more. ) Even Jesus was very careful about who he spent most of his time. So with a discerning eye, He carefully spent His time on a select few to really disciple in the short period of time that he would be on earth. As a missionary we do not know how long we will be allowed into a country or how long we will be alive, so it is equally important to invest carefully into lives. What was a dividing attribute that these men had? One was certainly Faithfulness. Later in 1 Corinthians 4:2 Paul clearly states, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” In any ministry setting we do not want to just choose any random person to invest our time in, but we must be careful to seek God's leading on the matter. If a person demonstrates faithfulness in their daily life, chances are they will be faithful with the things of God that they learn. However, faithfulness is not the only needed element for a good disciple.

    One of the challenges in the modern world is that of availability. In this fast-paced world with everything vying for our time from the technology world, to the entertainment world, to the work world -- modern man has to carefully prioritize his life. Unfortunately, few even prioritize their spiritual growth as anything of significance in their lives. Here in Japan life is prioritized with everything revolving around work. With the expectation of late hours being the norm it is not uncommon for people to come home after ten at night each night! This really makes availability to do the things of God increasingly difficult for the average person. Yet, if a man is faithful He will find a way to trust God and make the time to invest in spiritual growth. Throughout the scriptures men of God from Abraham to Moses to Isaiah (here I am Lord) and beyond have made themselves available to God's leading. Therefore, availability is crucial. Availability and faithfulness are key components in a disciple, however without teach-ability they become meaningless.

    Think about the type of men that Christ chose to disciple: every day men without high pedigree. These men may have been difficult at times to teach, but they were teachable nonetheless. They were willing to learn from their mistakes and take correction from the master. Peter was even called Satan, yet he continued on! Teach-ability is therefore important, for without it the first two components are useless. Jesus with his inner three disciples, twelve total close disciples, and 70 other disciples essentially transformed the world by entrusting his time with a few trustworthy men. This was certainly the opposite of the church growth models today for it was built on time and faith rather than statistics and popular understanding. Fortunately, here in Japan by nature of the culture the people place teachers in high regard and in general tend to be highly dedicated though they be few in number as Christians. A slow steady work with few, while planting many seeds to many seems to be the order of the day!

    I will never forget reading a missionary story about a missionary to Vietnam during the Vietnam war period. He learned an important lesson in his ministry about where to invest his time in. Vietnam was a difficult field, so he was only able to lead a few people to the Lord and closely disciple one man. He thought that he needed to have a large building to attract people in the city to hear about the gospel, so he set about his energies establishing a building. He finally established the building, only to have to later flee the country as the Communists took over in 1975. He later found out that the Communists took over the building and used it as a propaganda center for the community! He had spent all of that energy, only to have it be used by an enemy of God. However, what he did not account for was his one disciple. The man that he had discipled became a pastor, moved to a rural area of Vietnam, and ended up establishing many village churches which led many to the Lord! This is a good lesson for all of us to learn: where are we placing our priorities? On the things of the earth or on the things of God? Are we sharing what God has given us or hiding it?

Japan Culture Series 16: Nemawashi

    In the Japanese group culture a unique way of decision making predominates which is distinct from Western style decision making. This process is known as Nemawashi, or laying the groundwork in advance. When it comes to making important decisions in group settings Japanese people often try to spend a lot of time gathering support from each individual person behind the scenes before proposing the new idea to everyone at a meeting. By spending time gauging each individual response as well as trying to convince each person of the new ideas merit, a lot of 'groundwork' is laid down to ensure that the idea will be accepted once proposed. This is very similar to the American political process in Congress that is used to gather support for a bill before an actual vote comes onto the floor of the house.

    Once an idea is proposed to the group it will have likely spent a lot of time being pitched to each individual to ensure its success. Therefore, once an idea reaches group proposal level it is often accepted. In Japan the leader of the group accepting the idea is more of a formality than a decision with actual weight. In the western world new ideas are often proposed with little groundwork laid to give room for more back and forth discussions with the leader having the ultimate decision making capacity on his shoulders. In Japan open conflict is avoided at all costs, so an open discussion of proposals without Nemawashi is seen in a negative light.

    In many ways the Nemawashi system of decision making ensures that once an idea is enacted that everyone will be in agreement with it. However, on the negative side this does not allow for much change to happen as everything tends to be kept in relative comfort as opposed to trying any radical changes. Perhaps for this reason changes are difficult to come by in this ancient culture! How does this relate to Christianity? Ideally, spirit-filled Christians would work together in agreement to progress at an ideal pace in ministry. This would seem to work well with spirit-filled leadership in a church. However, on the negative side, a complacent church could stall any meaningful spiritual changes preferring rather to keep its comfort. Given the slow growth of Japanese Christianity a real effort of prayer must be made in order to see changes made in this country.

2017: Year in Review

     Well, it is hard to believe, but we have been here living in Japan for about nine months now. April 2018 will mark our one year anniversary for this term! For me this will be coming up on year two for total Japan experience while for my wife it will be year eight! Looking back on the past year has brought back a lot of good memories. This was technically our first year as parents as well as a missionary family living in Japan. What has been happening over the last year?

     

     Starting last January as a family we started to travel together with our 3 month old baby (at that time) to complete our deputation. We did not know how long we would be raising support, but we were at that time at about 85% of our support needed to come back to Japan. As we continued to pray about when we were to go back to Japan, the end of April kept coming up. We were both convinced from God that we were to go back April 28^th, 2017, so we started to tell churches that as we continued to raise support. After a lot of time spent praying, calling, and emailing we scheduled new meetings throughout Georgia as well as other areas for January, February, March, and April. We did not know what would happen, but it was exciting as more churches and individual supporters decided to be a part of reaching Japan. Thank you again for being faithful to the Lord, and making it possible for us to be here!

     

     Amazingly, coming back to Japan April 28^th, 2017 was certainly a change for us as we had been deputation-minded since we left in June 2015. We took some time to adjust from the jet-lag then went into ministry immediately. My wife has been primarily taking care of our daughter, but has also spent a lot of time doing ministry with young mothers as well as meeting with many Japanese women. She has a really amazing God-given ability to connect with strangers that has proven to be encouraging to this body of believers in Japan. She has been relentlessly doing the work of the missionary while balancing her time with God and our daughter. She is a huge blessing. Our baby has been growing up quickly going from crawling to walking to talking! We have been careful to be balanced with our time so as to not burn out with the long-term work in mind. My time in Japan has been primarily spent in language classes, helping people in our church, discipling, and attempting to evangelize people whom I often do not share a common-language with! If I cannot yet communicate well with them, then perhaps a gospel tract can!

     

     Since coming back I have been convicted to make sure every person that I come across in an interaction gets a gospel tract no matter what. I have also made a Japanese website  to help in this way. The '10-40' window has the least amount of Christians anywhere on the planet. If Japan truly has only a ½ percent born-again Christian population , then gospel tracts are a must in daily interactions. Also in recent months I have been thinking about the Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans, and other English speakers here in Tokyo. This has led me to order some tracts for each of those respective groups as well. We do not know how long we will be alive, nor how long our work will be allowed here in Japan, so we must be diligent with every chance that we get. With this in mind we have given out over 30,000 tracts in the last 9 months, which is about 28 boxes of tracts shipped from the USA! Even with this number in mind we must realize that it does not even begin to reach the estimated 38 million people that live in and around Tokyo, nor the other millions who visit each month.

     

     Overall, it has been good time in our world's present situation to be back in Japan. We sense that lives are being impacted for Christ. I have now easily put in enough time with Japanese to do what it takes for an English speaker to fully learn Spanish. (500+hours) Just to give some perspective, I now will need to put in another 1700+ hours of study! Your prayers are much appreciated! We certainly could not do a lot of this work without your prayers. We pray for more years to come to continue ministry in this land. God bless.