Japan the Land of "Can't"

Japan is a land where people are only given one chance. The population density creates a lot of competition to get into good high schools, colleges, companies, etc. Because the number of people competing is so great when someone fails and must start over again it is seen as tragic. Tragic enough for many people to take their own lives.
Because of this the word, "can" is a critical word often used in the negative as a warning. "That can't be done." I hear it a lot. Japanese people hear it a lot. 10 years ago when I was living in Tokyo one day I met this group of foreigners walking down the street in Kunitachi. They asked me some questions about the area and then invited me to dinner. They just happened to be executives from CitiBank. They were setting up the Japanese division and were looking for a place to put their Japan headquarters. They complained to me about hearing the word "can't" a lot from their Japanese management.
My calling in Japan is too try. Yes, I must listen to the all the "can't"s but in the end I must try. Yes, everyone before me has failed in the eyes of most of Japanese society. Everyone who has brought the gospel to Japan has found they carried an unwanted message. But regardless, I am called to try.

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.