A short update on us in January
We reached our support goal for the matching gift for the fall/winter of $7,000. We went beyond it by a few thousand. We are very thankful to God and His Church.
Our current teacher finalized her decision to return to her home in Nagano and work for a Christian school in her home church as of April. Of course we desired her to stay with us, but we recognize this as God's will.
Our new ministry activities from April have been put into writing with the local ministries we will be cooperating with. Our plans have changed as our situation has changed. Last summer we were moving in the direction of starting our own ministry center using Kazumi's uncle's building in front of the station. As we were preparing the building during my summer vacation to open the following spring, I was networking with the area pastors. Ongoing dicussions with pastor Yasu Inoguchi at Agape church led to a change of plans.
Agape rents a seperate building for their after school program and is going to allow us to use space in that building to start some of our new activities. In exchange we will participate in their after school program providing English lessons to gather new students. Last year the J-Space space after school program had 18 students in it. This year it is hoped that with Agape Church and ourselves working in cooperation, we can raise that number to 30+ in the future. The building Agape church uses for J-Space will also be the location where we set a homeschooling co-op during the day.
We are still looking to start a new international Christian worship service in the valley. Our ability to do that will hinge on our ability to find a part-time teacher to work at the English school in our home. Pray for God to open the doors to find people to work for us and for us to work with. We are thankful for the support we have from churches in America and for the hundreds of people we see and meet each week. We will continue to keep you posted as things develop.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
November/December Update
The last two months have gone by super fast for us. Kazumi and the kids were in Guam for the first 3 weeks of November working on a tie up to a small Christian school there. I (John) was able to spend about 8 days there. Then December hit. During December we meet with each and every parent. I should say Kazumi does, I watch the baby in the other room. So about 50+ different meetings were scheduled at our home. Each meeting takes about 30 minutes. Family life is a complicated thing and often very difficult things are shared: from bullying, parents divorcing, to deaths in the family.
I was teaching a group of adults at my dinner table last week and we started talking about vacation plans. One woman shared that her family had no plans as her newly born and only grandchild had a serious medical condition and would be in the hospital over the vacation. We are praying for this family.
Another family sat in that same chair a week later and we talked with them about Christian education. They agreed (in the spiritual sense) to but their daughter in a church’s after school program that I will be teaching at from April.
As I write this it is the day after Christmas. Cherry has gone to school. Winter vacation has not started here yet. The 23rd was Emperor Akihito’s birthday and a national holiday.. So on the 23rd, a local church rented a cultural center and threw a Jesus centered Christmas party for children. A couple of hundred children were in attendance.
I was teaching a group of adults at my dinner table last week and we started talking about vacation plans. One woman shared that her family had no plans as her newly born and only grandchild had a serious medical condition and would be in the hospital over the vacation. We are praying for this family.
Another family sat in that same chair a week later and we talked with them about Christian education. They agreed (in the spiritual sense) to but their daughter in a church’s after school program that I will be teaching at from April.
As I write this it is the day after Christmas. Cherry has gone to school. Winter vacation has not started here yet. The 23rd was Emperor Akihito’s birthday and a national holiday.. So on the 23rd, a local church rented a cultural center and threw a Jesus centered Christmas party for children. A couple of hundred children were in attendance.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
News From November
Over the last three weeks we have been networking with a small private Christian school in Guam to provide new opportunities for educational evangelism. We did a trial run. For 3 weeks Cherry studied there as an international student. Yesterday Kazumi, Cherry, and Bianca came back to Japan and they are now home. I also was there for the first week but had to return because of work. It was a wonderful experience. As it was the off season we were able to travel on 25,000 airline miles per ticket. Bianca is also under 2 so she did not need a ticket. All in all it was the best vacation we have had. We enjoyed the fellowship and look forward to future opportunities to work with them in creating new opportunities to reach the Japanese with the gospel. Guam recieves about 800,000 Japanese tourists a year as it is much closer than Hawaii and more affordable.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
In our Lifetimes
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, August 12, 2011
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.
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