Written For Calvin College's Japanese Department about my life in Japan

The Van Farowe’s in Japan

I was one of the first Calvin grads to participate in the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program. Of all of the grads I am probably one of the few who have remained in Japan long term. Over the last 15+ years I have had 4 different types of visas. I have had a teaching visa, a Japanese language student visa, a missionary visa, and now a spouse visa.

During those 15 years I have lived in Hirado City (Nagasaki), Fukuoka City, Tokyo, Guam, and now the greater Nagoya Metro area. I have seen more of Japan than most Japanese people and this is what I have learned.

Knowing the language is not as important as knowing the people and knowing yourself. I have had many foreign friends whose Japanese is better than my own but who the Japanese people can not stand to be around them. I have seen foreigners running from who they are in Japan and it is obvious to everyone. The key to success in Japan is to not only know Japanese, and know the people, but most importantly to know oneself.

It is very easy in Japan to be an English Teacher and make $30,000 a year. It is very difficult to be anything else unless you know yourself. Today I work with the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society out of California, formed by Japanese American churches after World War II. I work with several local churches including the Reformed Church of Japan. We have an English school with 120+ students. We have local contracts with Japanese companies, a Nursing College, an elite Junior High & High School, an elementary school, and many local community classes.

The secret to making it to where we are has been knowing who we are. This has allowed Japanese people regardless of their belief system to trust us. I am thankful for the start I received at Calvin College. In the end it was not the Japanese language courses that helped me the most in Japan but a Reformed Christian worldview which helped me to become someone others saw as trustworthy.

In our Lifetimes

In the last 100 years the gospel has moved forward around the world. When I think about Japan 100 years ago and today, now is the time.

The Aging of Japan

The Japanese Health Ministry estimates the nation's total population will decrease by 25% from 127.8 million in 2005 to 95.2 million by 2050. Japan's elderly population, aged 65 or older, comprised 20% of the nation's population in June 2006, a percentage expected to increase to 40% by 2055.

I work a lot with children but also with the 40+ crowd. Personally I think the way to reach Japan is to reach the 40+ crowd. They are the largest section of the population. They stay in their geographical area. They have resources to give upon believing. They have life experience to enable them to become leaders.

I see missionaries and ministries target the young. If you go to their churches there are no grey heads. Churches like that in my opinion are a niche church. Businesses are already adjusting but the church is still often driven by the American youth model. Our English school franchise system and every business in Japan is changing to meet this coming demographic move.

The 60+ crowd is not going to put their hands in the air and wave them like they just don't care. They are more likely to bow their heads and fold their hands in reverent prayer. I am excited to be working with the Reformed Church in Japan because I see us prepared for the times we are in. When I walk into my church and see 33% of the members at or above retirement age, it is a sign that we are reaching Japan. That is who Japan is and who God calls us to reach.

Junior Summer Camp

Last year the Central Presbytery of the Reformed Church of Japan began a 3 day camp for elementary and junior high school students. This year's theme was "the lost sheep." 48 children stayed in the cabins at the camp center along with 22 adult supervisors. The children were divided by grade level where they studied different Bible passages and developed a presentation. I worked with the junior high age group. The event went really well. A lot of the regional pastors were on staff and it was a blessing to get to know them in that context. My non-christian nephew and niece came and had a great time. Cherry had a great time too. We thank God for this ministry. I will post more photos and stories from this time over the next few days.

July Prayer Letter

Ministry News
As summer approaches, so does camping season. Our valley has the camp grounds for the Reformed Church of Japan in it. Kazumi will be a staff member for the elementary school children’s camp and me for the junior high. We are excited to see Cherry go with two non-Christian cousins. Pray that my nephew Kosei, niece Riko and the many other campers will learn of the love of God as they study about God’s love for the lost sheep.

The outreach English Conversation class will be on break in August. From April we had to move meeting from Thursdays to Tuesdays. When we met on Thursday we met on the weeks the pastor’s Thursday book club was on break. Since we lost that tie-up attendance has been down. I also continue to have a weekly breakfast fellowship time for English speaking ex-pats. A non-Christian friend from New Zealand attended for the first time this past month and we pray he returns.

On June 19th two adults were baptized at Tajimi Reformed Church. One was the husband of a longtime member and the other was the younger sister of a woman baptized at Christmas. You may remember that two adults were baptized on Christmas and two made profession of faith. Also two others are currently studying for baptism. Since I first came to Japan in 1996 as an English teacher, I have never seen this many people come to accept Christ in a local church setting.

Support News
Support raising has been slow. While we wait for additional support to come in we continue to serve in local churches doing the above as volunteers and absorbing any cost. At times we are having problems doing ministry, teaching 130 children at our home and caring for our own family emotional needs.

We will continue to do our best, and I believe that the level of support we receive is the level God desires us to have and we will be thankful for it while petitioning God for more. At the same time pray that we will be like the wise managers turning our 5 talents into 10. Pray for us to have the support, the wisdom and the energy to do the work of the Kingdom. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send us anything or anyone we may need. Amen.

Two Adults were Baptized June 19th

On June 19th two adults were baptized at Tajimi Reformed Church. One was the younger sister of a woman baptized at Christmas. The other was the husband of a longtime member. Two others are currently studying for baptism. We are very excited to see growth at Tajimi Reformed Church . There is currently also a discussion on building a new facility. The elders met in session to discuss it this past week. When I asked one of the elders what kind of time frame they were thinking of for a new facility, he told me they might challenge the church to start within 3 years.

A New Family Came and Sat in Our Seats - Praise God

As children many of us read the story of Goldie Locks and the 3 bears. In the story there is the refrain - "Someone's been sitting in my chair, eating my food, and sleeping in my bed." Well, Japanese churches are quite small and our church has no more seating room. That means when someone new comes they have to take what someone considers to be their seat.

This past Sunday a mother and three young children came and sat in the back in the row we as a family sit in. We had to sit somewhere else of course but rather than it irritate me it made me rejoice. I found myself praising God that not only did a new family come but they sat in our seats.

After the service seating in my new seat, I saw another young woman who is a seeker and in the preparation for baptism class talking with a strong Christian. As they talked the believing woman took the young woman's hand and with their heads bowed they began to pray. I would not have seen it from my old seat.