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Sunday, July 22, 2007

On the way home!

Hey all!
We are leaving for the airport in less than 90 minutes. Sorry we didn't post as much as we had hoped, but rest assured, we have tons of pictures and encouraging stories to share about our time in Japan. So as you see us back at home, please ask us as much as you'd like to know... at any rate, we should be back stateside in a number of hours, but not quite available for a few days. (There's a debriefing session designed to re-acclimate us to being at home)
Anyway, I've got one last errand to go run, and I really don't want to miss out on it.
- Chane

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Hello Everyone,

My name is Sergio and I served over six weeks in Oasa, Japan doing a short term missions trip with OMF (Overseas Missions Fellowship). I left the states on June 11th and come back to the states on July 23rd. My team consists of three other members who have been aiding the missionary in Japan with a club at a university and two ministries at Oasa church.
At the university, my team had planed and ran ESS (English Speaking Society). The club had over 20 members and was created by the missionary who is also a teacher at the university. It helps students practice and learn English through games, speaking seasons, and with outings. At Oasa Church the two ministries they have are English Open house and Bridges. English open house is designed for weaker Christians/ non believers to come learning english through bible stories and sermons. By design it helps to attract ESS members and others to church who would be interested in learning/practicing more English.The other ministry is Bridges. During bridges, we have a time of worship, prayer, and time to reflect on God's word. It is designed more for the mature believer who wishes to fellowship more and who is more serious about there faith.
One thing that happened in Japan that has been a great blessing and was very encouraging for me was on a outing time with the team. We went with a few other people to a concert hall and just decided to sing praise songs for thirty minutes. After that, a man approached us telling us that he was listening for a while and how wonderful our singing sounded. He was reminded of his praise time as a child because he went to a christian elementary school. Because of that seed that was planted so long ago, God used us to talk to him and connect him with the missionary that was there with us at the moment. He now does and plans to keep going to church on Sundays with his family. It was amazing to see God use us in that way from a seed planted in his heart so long ago.
Thank you so much for your prayers. God Bless.

Sergio (aka Sagio - my Japanese name)

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Happy 4th!

hey Guys...
I know the day is technically over, and we're supposed to be taking turns posting here - but I wanted to say Happy 4th to everyone, and hope nobody ate too much at any BBQs. We threw a 4th of July party out here and invited some students, so I wanted to share a few pictures and a video of the fireworks we got to play with. The party went well, and it seems some of them are starting to get comfortable being around us, which is a good sign.

Its been a really busy week so far, and there's lots more to come!

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Back In The Saddle Again

So... I had no idea that in other parts of the world that people call bicycle seats 'Saddles' ... kinda strange, but I guess it makes sense in some ways. Sergio and I are staying in a seperate area of Ebetsu, which is a couple of miles away from Oasa Church, so I'm getting a decent amount of cycling cardio everyday (I'm riding at least 30 minutes a day, and to top it off there are a decent amount of inclines... which in the other direction are declines... downhill is really nice... ) One interesting thing to note though is that before I got here (to Japan) this time, I hadn't ridden a bicycle in over 3 years!!

This past week has been relatively busy - sorry that noone has posted here recently. Most days of the week we have some various activity, most of which are opportunities for us to get to know the students at the university. So today (Tuesday) we have something called English Open House.... We meet at the church, play a few engligh games, have a simple bible study time, and then chat and have snacks. Over the past week we have each gotten the opportunity to share our testimony as well as slowly build friendships who have decided to show up - if you could pray for us and the ministry we're doing here, numbers have been lacking lately...
Sharing about spiritual things with the Japanese seems to be a rather unique challenge. My first guess would have been that the language barrier would be the biggest hurdle - and while my Japanese is no better than a timid 3 year old, I've come to learn that when speaking about God's truth, it isn't so much that the words are that difficult - it really is that they simply and honestly can't comprehend. The concepts of forgiveness, right/wrong, or even that there is a God that loves unconditionally seem to escape them. I'm blanking on the exact reference in scripture, but it does mention that natural man on his own cannot discren spiritual things. So on one hand I'm thankful that God has sent His Spirit such that I am able to understand enough to trust in Him and do my best to honor Him for who He is, but on the other hand my heart breaks over the fact that there are places like this all over the world that are so dark and lost spiritually that so many who live there would seemingly have no capacity for even the more basic spiritual concepts that we sometimes take for granted. Anyway - after you finish reading this post, please pray for the people of Japan, and specifically for the people in Hokkaido in and around the City of Ebetsu, and even more specifically for the students at Rakuno University - that God would open their eyes to His truth, and that the people of this place sleeping in spiritual darkness would awaken as His light is put on display here. Pray for the members of Oasa church who we are working alongside that they would not grow weary as they labor for Him, and please pray for us as we serve that we may be an encouragement to these people and continue in the strength that only He supplies.
oh yea.. and don't forget... we love comments! I will most more pictures next time!
- Chane

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Oasa Evangelical Church

Ok, so we are in Oasa right now. Basically the rest of the time we will be ministering in Oasa, a town near Sapporo. We minister with a local church (Oasa Evangelical Church), helping them outreach to the community, especially the university students (if possible, or at least attract some students). On one hand, we will be helping in “Bridge” and “English Open House” at church, which are evangelical events held EVERY WEEK. Here, the staff can follow up with non-Christians friends who join. What surprises me is that, actually a lot of non-Christian university students join! And I am so moved by how this church dedicates their time and energy for outreach to the university students! On the other hand, there will be a lot of opportunities that we may meet some Japanese students at the university. We will help in a club “English Speaking Society,” and also visit Karin’s class too (Karin is the missionary that we stay and work with). Since the university is a Christian one, we can “legally” invite students to church, and other Church-related events. But of course, we should build up relationship with them, and let them know that we are not weirdoes or cults that will do something harmful. Once they are willing to show out at any church events, it probably will be easier for the Oasa church to follow up.

Hope I am explaining everything clearly... haha…
So, please pray for us. We definitely need wisdom to show Japanese our life and love. Asian people have higher standard for Christians, and they have some impressions and expectations how Christians are like. Pray for us that we can be good testimonies among these students. Pray for us that we don’t do something offensive to Japanese students, which make them “move a step away from Christ.” (Imagine there’s a life journey for every person. What we can do is not to see how many people convert, which is discouraging sometimes especially we are here only for 4 weeks. Rather, we expect that all the people that we meet can move a step toward Christ.)

Let me add just a little bit about people in church. This church is actually really small, compared to my church in Taiwan. It’s probably only 50 (?) people show up every week. (Someone, comment on this…) But, to my surprise, a lot of them are so dedicated to the church. Some of the students shared that, they expect to see more and more students coming to church during our visit, so that they can follow up. I wonder if I’ve ever been that all-heartedly serving in the church. Church sometimes for me has become routine that I just need to show up. I am always too shy to talk to new comers, but at a second thought, that probably reflects my pride, rather than shyness. As a matter of death and life, how can I be shy, be cold, be withdraw? I worry my school work more than the spread of gospel. When I hang out with church people here in Oasa, I feel so shameful of myself. Last week, a woman said “thank you” to us because we would be willing to come, but I think, it should be us saying “aligato gozaimasu” to them because they let us see God’s work on them.

Sorry, I’ve been talking too much. I still have a lot to say about this church, Japan, and mission. I will share with you little by little.

Again, thank you for your praying and support.

- Wan-Jung (Amy)