Correspondence Partners

For those who are helping in America by volunteering for correspondence I would like to say thanks. I want to give you some background so you can understand the situation. While I teach some classes at church, the students involved in this correspondence are all in classes at community centers. There is no overt evangelism in these classes; however I think they are very important. People in the community get to know me and know about my faith and when someone wants to learn about Christianity it makes me easier to find.

What I would hope for correspondence partners is to just write the women interested as a friend. As you share your life and struggles share your thoughts about how to approach them. If these thoughts and approaches include your faith, naturally share it.

I need to say that Japanese people have a very negative veiw of religion as a whole. I think this stems from their World War II experience in which national religion was used to bring the nation to war and tremendous suffering to the Japanese people. Also Japanese communication styles are very indirect, so try and be very polite and not too pointed on any one topic. Thank you for your cooperation. If this goes well I have another community class of 5 women I would like to find correspondence partners for after winter vacation. Initially all correspondence will flow through me but then later after trust has been developed people can either write or email each other directly. Thanks Again.

Kazumi is Pregnant

Well much has been put on hold as Kazumi is about 3 months pregnant. Because of the many changes ahead in the next few months we are not in a position to try new things. She will have to teach less at home and I will be taking over some of her classes. I continue to teach English Bible study classes at church and that is going well. I am thankful for the church I attend and a wonderful pastor. Tajimi Reformed Church and Pastor Ono have been a true blessing.
We have 78 students in our school at the house and I teach 3 days a week at a private junior high and high school. Along with that we are involved in our local church. We are thankful for God's many blessings.

3 Summer English Bible Classes have started

Last week 3 summer English Bible classes started. In all about 20 students have joined. Many of the students are not Christians. We are studying basic English conversation for the first half of the hour and then the Romans Road/Four Spiritual Laws in the second half. Please keep these groups in your prayers.

A Case Of Pepsi and a Box of Jello Deserts

We have 3 different students that are very high end ADD. From each of these families we recently received a gift. From Daiki's mother we got a high end box of jello deserts.
From Try's sister we were given a case of Pepsi. Try is one of my favorites and is such a sweet little boy. Sadly his mother jumped off the bridge near our house and committed suicide when Try was a baby. From Riku's mother we were given a container of suckers to give to the other children in our school. The classes in which these children participate require Kazumi and I to teach together to handle everything. Most small cram schools like ours would not take such students or if they get in encourage them to quit. You see other students and mothers are also paying for lessons and fear that the presence of kids with learning issues takes from the attention their own children receive. But the three boys beyond their behavioral issues are just so sweet. After all who would not want an occasional case of Pepsi. They saw me drinking it one day and just bought me a case. I feel honored to have them as students.

Three English Bible Studies to begin in August

After a lot of networking and help from everyone involved; this coming August we will be starting 3 English Bible studies at Tajimi Reformed Church. The application to a missionary agency is moving forward also. This past week was the end of the Japanese school year and it is now summer vacation as of today.

Please continue to keep us your prayers. We praise God for the progress we see even though at times it is small.

What I listen to....

I listen mostly to jradio.net Jradio.net is an online Christian Japanese music play list. Most school days while I am at my desk I have one earphone plug in listening to Japanese Gospel Music. I especially like the Okinawain style of music.

In Japan, religious organizations are not allowed to own radio or TV stations so there is no such thing as Christian Radio except for the emergence of the internet. So far jradio.net is the only station I have found. It is based in Australia and amazing enough there are optional worship services to listen to and the churches broadcast are ones that Kazumi is familiar with.

The Back to God hour Japan and other sites have many things to listen to on demand but have not put them into a playlist for a radio format type of listening.

Are We ambitious for the Gospel????

I have been reflecting upon ambition or in better words being driven. As tent-makers we are called to run a business. We are very ambitious in business going after contracts and students. We hold ourselves to standards of quality and service. If we do not do well we do not eat, at least as well as we would like. Do I have this same urgency, ambitious, drive, for the Kingdom of God? Recently I have been chanting to myself the old high school cheer, "Be Aggressive, B-E- Aggressive." It is my hope to be more aggressive for God's Kingdom.

This verse has stuck with me for about a month

In Genesis 33:14 Jacob responds to Easu with the following words at the time they are reunited: Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me, and at the pace of the small children.

I am struck as a parent and as a teacher and a missionary by this verse. Here Jacob provides an excellent symbol of what it is to be a good shepherd. Now don't get me wrong Jacob is not sitting around singing Kumbaya. He has traveled a long distance with this clan. He knows his flocks and his children and what they can endure. He has been a servant leader, leading those under his care to the promised land but at a pace adjusted to the weak under his care. Parents, teachers, and church leaders can learn from cross referencing this verse with Psalm 23. Well this verse has been with me for about a month because I have a lot of learn about adjusting my pace to the needs of others.

I drive a minicar

Last year when my parents were here and gas was Skyhigh my mother commented that maybe in America everyone will drive mini cars like us. My wife and I drive two mini-cars which are called Keicars in Japan. Would I ever drive them in America, probably not.

Japan and probably much of Europe are well suited for small cars for a couple of reasons: mass transit for longer trips and exclusive local city driving.
We only do local city driving and when traveling any distance use trains or buses. Japan has a highway system and it even cuts through the city I live in, but I have never driven on it. The local city roads we drive on are marked at 50 or 60 kmh max (30-40 mph). The roads here are also very narrow and large vehicles just do not navigate them well.

So when you live in a land of no high speed head on collisions like Japan small mini cars are fine. That land is not America though, I would never drive the cars I have now on American roads. Maybe in Guam though were the top posted speed limit on the island is 45 and that is only one small stretch.

New School New Opportunities

Today I had the welcome party at the new school I will be teaching at. I was one of 17 new teachers at this welcome party attended by about 60+ staff at the school. One of the Japanese teachers I know who teaches there is a Christian and has told some of the other staff who are Christians about me. One woman introduced herself to me with the opening words in a whisper, "I am a Christian too."

This new school contract is by the teaching hour and not a full time job allowing for more ministry time. One of the classes at our home is changing from an English class to a Bible Study Class. Though at the start it will only be 3 people, a Christian woman named Chikako, my wife, and myself I think it will grow (God willing). We praise God for his goodness and proclaim, "We are followers of Christ."

Met a Man looking for a Church Yesterday

Last night I was eatting out and a man who had seen me arround said hello. As I was by myself (Kazumi was away for a class she is taking) I asked to share his table. We talked and he told me he was a Christian and had moved to the area last November. He had become a Christian while studying at a college in Texas. Well we shared our testimonies with each other and I explained the status of the churches in area and was able to help him find a church that might match what he was looking for. I drew him a map and gave him the name of contact and he gave me his email address and phone number to stay in touch with him. Divine Appointments are the easiest to Keep.