Living Water in Far Away Lands

"Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." -- Proverbs 25:25 ESV

 

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:1). Isaiah 55:1 is an invitation to come into the presence of our almighty God. It is an invitation to the weak and desperate to find rest and to find life – but not just any kind of life; it is abundant life (John 10:10). Our Father is the Great Shepherd who takes us beside the still water and restores our soul.

There is something special about water. It refreshes; it restores; it brings life. Jesus Himself offered living water to the Samaritan woman, and that same living water is offered to us (John 4:10). As I read through the Word one morning, Proverbs 25:25 stuck out to me. It says, "Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." The good news – the Gospel – that we brought to Japan was like a refreshing glass of water that stirred something up in the hearts of the Japanese people. Likewise, the stories we bring back from Japan will be refreshing streams of water that will awaken and revitalize the people back here in our homes.

Going to Japan, one of the things our team wanted to see was tears – tears of joy, laughter, pain, etc. We saw tears. One story in particular strikes me the most. One of the Japanese Christian girls named Jane (name changed for privacy) invited us to go to a Christian concert with her. While at the concert, Jane broke into tears as she was able worship unrepressed with other Christian students. See, Jane is persecuted at home. She is not allowed to go to church or even come to Christian events. Yet in the midst of her persecution, she has become even thirstier for more of God. St. Augustine once said, "You have placed salt on my lips that I might thirst for you, O Lord." Sometimes it is the tears of pain we experience that places salt on our lips and makes us even hungrier and thirstier for a divine touch from God. The Christians students in Japan are often repressed and persecuted by their parents, but this has only made them stronger and more passionate for the sake of Christ.

In addition to Jane's story of tears, one of the most powerful moments I experienced was being able to talk at the weekly Campus Crusade meeting called the Immanuel Meeting. As I stood in the front of the mixed Japanese and American crowd, I talked about how our brokenness, when brought before God, is like a sweet aroma that he cannot refuse. As I spoke, I myself began to tear up. When I sat down after the message, I broke into tears. For a brief moment, I felt some of the pain that God felt on behalf of the Japanese people. Those tears made me hungrier for more. They caused me to fall in love with Japan. I didn't fall in love with Japan for its culture, food, or technology – those were all a bonus. I fell in love with Japan because of the people. I fell in love with Japan because, in that moment, I caught a glimpse of God's heart for Japan, and I wanted to be a part of that vision to see Japan won for Christ.

Yet in the midst of all the hoopla of Japan being less than 1% Christian, I was awakened to a chilling reminder coming back to the U.S. As we got off the plane at San Francisco, we were no longer greeted by happy, courteous Japanese people. We were greeted by rushing mobs of people who were in a hurry – rude, uninterested, unaware. There was a spiritual darkness I felt in San Francisco that I had hardly even experienced while I was in Japan. Then it really hit me, America is just as much in need of the Good News as is Japan. The good news from a far away country is like a refreshing glass of cold water. We brought the good news to Japan; now we're bringing it back home.

My prayer is that as we return home bringing our good news and stories, those stories would only make us even thirstier in seeking God's presence and making His presence known to our generation. God alone can satisfy not only the Japanese's needs but our own need for love and significance.

Recap of final days in Japan.

So the last few days in Japan have been pretty crazy. This morning we left Nagoya and were sent off by some friends and staff members that we met along the way. One of our friends Sho stayed with us the night. It was really encouraging to see him helping us out and cleaning the apartment. He's not a Christian yet but it has been fun seeing his development in just the past weeks getting to know him.

Yesterday, was our last day in Nagoya. I went to our campus for the final time and met with some friends to do Christianity explained with Tetsu, Kaji, and Takeshi, who is on JCCC staff. Christianity explained is basically an evangelical Bible study that goes through the basics of the Bible with those students who are seeking. Tetsu was going through the final lessons of Christianity explained. He is so close to receiving Christ as his Savior. I was able to share my testimony with him and encourage him some. But there is still something holding him back. He definitely feels the warmth and tug of God calling his heart. But it wasn't his time yet. But nevertheless his life has been changing. I mean this morning he woke up really early and came to say goodbye to us. He said he got out of work at 2 last night and he lives about 2 hours away from the train station we were at. So he made lots of sacrifices to come see us. But I will always remember the image of him running after our bus saying goodbye to us. He was the last Japanese student I saw in Nagoya. God is definitely going to do amazing things through him. He has such a great heart and a desire to see more open and intimate communication between the Japanese people.

I also got to hang out with Kahori on the final day. Kahori has such an amazing heart. She is not allowed to go to church or hang out with Christians because her parents are against it. Yet nevertheless, she remains passionate and faithful to God. As we were going around shopping and looking around, she told me how she would rather worship God at church than go around and shop or do any things. Yesterday was also Sara's birthday. It was awesome to be able to celebrate her birthday together with her a team in the country she was born in.

The thing that sticks out most to me is the great conversations I have had here with my teammates and the awesome spontaneous prayer sessions we have together. Last night, I got to go out to eat with Jeff and Diana. One of the things we talked about was how our families and especially our brothers at home were doing really well. I know that I'm really proud of my brother. I just found out that he helped lead one of his friends to Christ just today. And looking back at all this, we realized that God is working in all our lives especially our families. It is like God confirming that we are supposed to be here in Japan. God has been taking care of us not only here but our families at home. It reminds me that when we are following God's will and led by His Spirit all things will work out according to his purpose.

It has been an awesome trip in Japan so far - so many memories; so many things to process through. But it has definitely been one unforgettable summer. I'm excited to come back home and share the stories of what God is doing and to hear about the things God is doing in the lives of those back at home. It's crazy to think that my story is only a small part of God's bigger story. It's definitely been one awesome adventure.

Hard to say goodbye...

So, we are coming to an end to our crazy adventure here in Japan. It's hard to believe that it's almost over. Right now, I am typing from the "luxury" of a hotel somewhere near Mt. Fuji. I say luxury because I can get on the internet legally from the comfort of my room without stealing internet from the neighbors, getting bit by mosquitoes, or risking getting caught by the police again. We also have a t.v., couch, and table in our room -all things we didn't have in our place at Nagoya. Not that we didn't have a good situation in Nagoya. Being Japan is kind of like being spoiled - cool technology, great food, really nice people.

But right now, I definitely miss the simplicity of Nagoya. We didn't have internet, phones, or even a reliable laundry machine. We traveled a lot - over an hour to get to my campus and church - not to mention the many miles we walked. But looking back, I definitely would do it again. It's hard to express everything I feel right now. I haven't had a chance to fully soak in everything that has happened. The next two days here are all about reflecting and preparing to reenter our homes in the states.

It's going to be hard to leave this place because I feel like I'm falling in love with the people, the culture, and my team. It's hard to think that we will be leaving this place to go back to our respective homes. I say that because I feel like this has become my home in the past month. I definitely miss my family, friends, and church. Yet there is something about being here that's different. I have never been a community quite like this before. Our team has grown really close to one another living with each other, eating with other, and being with on another day to day. The JCCC staff has been great, and it's especially hard to leave the Japanese students and friends we have met along the way.

I will probably forever have this lasting image of our final moments in Nagoya. Our team was all on the bus ready to head to Mount Fuji. Outside, we were sent off by our Japanese friends Takeshi, Seiji and his family, Sho, Tetsu, Emi, and Keiko. I will never forget their smiles and the joy they always carried. As we drove away, Tetsu ran alongside the bus for about a block waving to us and bidding his final farewells. It was almost like a movie when the guy bids farewell to the lover he might never see again. And in so many ways, we have fallen in love with Japanese people, and it's been amazing to see how much they have fallen in love with us. There servant hood, sacrifice, and passion is amazing to see. It's hard to think about not coming back here again. We'll see what God has in store. So for now it's a waiting game - a time to reflect, relax, and reconsider what the future might hold, only time will tell. Three more days than back in America. It's hard to believe that the journey is almost over. It's so hard to say goodbye...

Some more thoughts from Japan.

So tonight, we had our final Japan Campus Crusade meeting. It's kind of crazy to think that though our days have been so long and often tiring, our time here is almost done. Tonight was special at the meeting though because we got to serve the Japanese staff who has done so much for us in our time here. Some of the Japanese students are also going on missions. So, what our team planned was to do a footwashing service. Basically, we asked the staff to wash the feet of the students going on missions. It was a beautiful act of servitude and humility to see the Japanese staff wash their students feet. Next, we surprised the staff by washing their feet.

In a lot of ways, I think it was special because we had the opportunity to show the staff and students that though we are here for a missions trip and have accomplished a lot of things, ultimately, we are here to be servant leaders. It really was a special moment because for many of my teammates it was their first time really planning and stepping up. It's so awesome to see what a body of believes can accomplish when they are motivated to seek God and to serve.

One of my teammates Jeff was able to give a little message about the significance of washing feet. He read from John 12 and 13. He talked about how Jesus cast out demons, healed the blind and deaf, raised people from the dead, walked on water, and many other miracles, but even after all this, he humbled himself and washed his disciples feet. Jeff showed how even though the God of the universe was powerful beyond measure, Jesus took the time to show that at the end of the day He wanted to have a relationship with us - He wanted to make us clean and purify us from our sins. It was an ultimate act of humility and servitude.

So to be able to see a team of Asian Americans come and humbly wash the feet of the Japanese staff is exciting to me. Can you imagine what can happen if we take this mentality of service and humility back to our homes and campuses? We are in Japan to change the world and to see souls won for Christ. But in the midst of all the ministry, strategy, and spirituality, we must remember that God has sent us here to love the people. The Great Commandment and the Great Commission must go hand in hand.

It's been an amazing time here. I'm learning a lot about myself and a lot about others. I still don't know exactly why God brought me here. But I know it's for a reason. Regardless, I know that I have seen God work in amazing ways, and through this trip, I have become hungrier and thirstier for more of God's presence. I am not content to see a nation still mostly unreached for the Gospel. In my heart, I feel like I need to do more. Yet, I trust that in his time, God will reveal His plan and and His direction for my life.

God has given me a passion and faith in Him. But ultimately what it comes down to is understanding the passion that He has for me and for all people. It's been said, "if you don't have a passion worth dying for, you don't have anything worth living for." My passion is to know God's heart and have the heart of God; to know his love and make his love known; to love what he loves; to hate what he hates; to have a heart that breaks for what breaks his heart.

God, thank you for what you are doing in Japan. Thank you for the ways you have been speaking to me and and using me here. Thank you for my teammates. Thank you for the good times. Thank you for the hard times. In spite of my fears, uncertainties, and conflicting emotions, I know there is one thing that remains constant - your love. Even while I was still a sinner, you died for me. Your grace is sufficient for me. Your grace is sufficient for Japan. I long for the day when the Japanese people wake up as a nation to see your glory. Until that day, please continue to raise up laborers that will be faithful to your calling.

Lord let this be our prayer for Japan: "Awake O Sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine in you!" (Eph. 5:14). Wake up Japan, O Lord, from their spiritual slumber. We pray that Japan will indeed be known as the land of the rising sun. My the light of your Son be made evident across the world. We take it in faith that in your time, we will see revival in this land. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Japan Campus Crusade Meeting

Wow! So today was a pretty amazing! God has done some amazing things in our short time here in Japan. Today, I had the opportunity to speak at the Japan Campus Crusade meeting which they call the Immanuel Meeting. God definitely showed up from in the meeting, and I pray that many lives were touched – I know that I definitely was moved by the Holy Spirit at tonight’s meeting.

Today, I prepared for my message by fasting and praying for most of the day. It was an amazing time to get to spend some quiet time and wait on God. I remember just interceding on behalf of the Japanese students and for our team. As I have grown in my walk, I am beginning to see more clearly that the battle we are fighting is definitely not a physical one, but a spiritual one. We are fighting against the spiritual forces and principalities.

On a fleshly level, this was hard to accept because my mind works very logically and wants to have a systematic way of organizing information. However, I have realized that in preparing to speak the best way to prepare is to get on your hands and knees and seek God for wisdom and direction. I find that in preparing this way, I have a difficult time balancing between my heart in trusting God to give me the words to speak and worrying in my mind about the details and preparation.

Yet, in the end, I was able to pray and spend the day seeking God. During the end of my quiet time and spiritual preparation today, I just began to lift up praises and songs to God. As I sang, I could feel the Holy Spirit moving through my body. As I came in and lied on my bed, I could feel the Holy Spirit moving like electricity in my hands. I knew I needed to pray for someone. I was alone in my room, so I went outside to see if there was someone I could pray for. When I went outside, the first person I saw was my roommate Sam. I didn’t know what I should do, but I felt like God was telling me to pray for him.

So, I went up to him spontaneously and asked him if I could pray for him and if there were any special requests or any healings he needed. To my surprise, he told me that his eyes needed healing. One eye was nearsighted and the other was farsighted. He said his eyes had been bothering him for at least the past three weeks. So in faith, I asked the Holy Spirit to come, and I laid my hands on his eyes and prayed for him. I prayed for him the first time, and I asked him if his eyes were noticeably better. He said that they were in fact a little better, but still a little blurry. So I prayed for him again. After I prayed, I asked him to see again if there was a difference. He tested them for a while, and he came to the conclusion that God had indeed touched and healed his eyes. He said that as I prayed for him, he could feel the Holy Spirit moving in his body!

God is so good! He definitely wants to heal people both physically and spiritually. With this experience happening earlier in the day, I had confidence that God definitely was with me and would put the words in my mouth speak. This was such a reassurance because earlier in the morning I was having a hard time dealing with some mixed emotions after having kind of an awkward dream. Yet, after spending time waiting on God and interceding, I knew that God definitely was working and was answering my prayers.

At the Immanuel Meeting, I was able to share from the Bible and a little from my testimony. I spoke after my friend Sara gave her own story and powerful testimony. God definitely was working through her in speaking to people’s hearts and preparing them for a response. When it was my turn to speak, I wasn’t nervous, but I was a little worried about how I what I was going to talk about. It was really hard at first because I had to speak through an interpreter. I am very used to speaking really fast and getting really excited when I speak. But today, I had to really slow down and make sure that I had enough pauses in my speech to allow for interpretation. I had prayed and prepared my message for the past couple of days, but I still did not know exactly what I was going to say. In that moment, I just put my trust completely in God and allowed him to speak through me.

What came out from that point on was completely all from God. Like I said, I had an idea about what I was talking about, but I didn’t have a definite plan. But as I spoke, God spoke through me in a way that was flowing and coherent. I know that those were not my words because every time I had practiced or rehearsed in my head what I was going to say, none of it was like what came out of my mouth today.

I have never been so moved in my heart in giving a testimony or word. But as I spoke, I began to begin tearing up as I talked about the brokenness and pain of the Japanese students that God wanted to heal and take away. As I finished my message, I was able to give an invitation. I was advised by the Japanese staff not to have anyone raise their hands or stand up because there were first time guests, and it might be uncomfortable for them. So, I prayed and offered an invitation to the students by saying the sinner’s prayer. I initiated and let God handle the results. I’m not really sure how people responded. It’s hard to tell because we weren’t able to see tangibly who responded. But I know that in my heart, God had moved as my heart began breaking for the Japanese students.

During the worship, I just cried thinking about the pain and brokenness the students sitting there must experience day to day. I have never really cried after speaking or in thinking about the people. But I think today, I was able to get a just glimpse of the pain that God must feel towards the Japanese people. God wants to love and embrace the Japanese, and it must hurt so much that many of them are still lost and brokenhearted.

It has been such an amazing journey here in the past couple of weeks. Like I said in my previous journal entry, God has been surfacing a lot of insecurity and inconsistencies in my own life that need lots of working on. But at the same time, I see how God has been genuinely changing my heart. Today, I cried for the Japanese people really for one of the first times ever. I have never felt that pain to that extent before. But as I have been praying for God to break my heart for what breaks His, I was able to get just a small taste of what His heart must feel. I look back and see how my whole life and past experiences have been preparing me for that moment. The time that I spent fasting today and even the 40 days I fasted over the summer have all been a process in humbling my ego and will to God that I may know the love of God and make His love known.

I desire to know God’s presence and His love in my own life, so that I may be able to make that presence known to my generation and through them the generations to come. It’s hard to tell how many Japanese students were genuinely touched by today’s meeting. But I take it in faith that God planted fireseeds of revival on this Thursday night. I was able to have some conversations with some of the Japanese students who said they were “impressed” by today’s talk and events. I heard other stories of those who were profoundly impacted and others who still have questions. Regardless, I know that what happened tonight was not a result of my own wok or experience. God showed up in a mighty way and is continuing to completion the work he has started in many of the Japanese students lives.

On a lighter note, today as I was trying to get on the internet and blog, I was sitting outside by myself when a police car drove by. Now to give some context to this situation, we don’t have internet at our apartments, so basically what we do is sit outside in front of our gate and steal internet from our neighbors. So tonight, I was sitting alone outside the gate when the cop car drives by. The car goes passed me, and I was a little nervous because I knew I was stealing internet.

The next thing you know, the car stops and a police officer comes out and starts talking to me. There is a huge language barrier so we definitely can’t really understand each other. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I was using my computer. He asked me what I was doing on my computer, and I told him I was using the internet. After many awkward exchanges of information two other officers came out of the car and came to talk to me. They asked me if I had a passport, how old I was, and what I was doing in Japan. The whole thing was pretty comical because the officers seemed kind of baffled and indecisive due to the language barrier. Eventually, as we trudged through the conversation they told me to go inside.

It was kind of just a funny event because I get to tell everyone I was interrogated by Japanese police officers. Of all the times, we have been outside trying to get internet, tonight was the night I got caught. I think it is kind of ironic because I was about to type up my story of today’s events and post it on my blog. But it was as I was experiencing opposition not only in a physical level from the police, but even more so on a spiritual level. I think that Satan definitely knows what we are doing here in Japan, and he sees the breakthrough that has already begun and is even still to come. Satan is trying to do everything he can to try to stop us and discourage us from sharing our stories and successes.

But Satan cannot hold us down because we have the Lord and Savior on our side. We must continue to press in and seek God for direction and wisdom. The devil is definitely on the prowl, and now more than ever we must be careful to be spiritually ready and protected each time we go out.

Please continue to keep me and my team in your prayers as we walk in spiritual darkness day in and day out. God is using up to be beacons of light in Japan, and it is only a matter of time when the presence of God is going break out full scale.

God, we thank you that you are alive and moving in the hearts of your people here in Japan. We thank you that you have been working here and have been raising up and preparing labors to reap an abundant harvest. Lord, we pray that you will continue to raise up an army of Japanese students who will be fearless for you. Use our time her to encourage and empower students to rise up and take their place in writing history. Your will be done in our lives father. We want to make your name famous and be the generation that brings the gospel to the ends of the world for you.

Japan Update

So I'm here in Nagoya, Japan. It's seems so surreal to actually be here. I never thought I would be in Japan. When I first signed up to go on this summer project, I wasn't really sure why I was going here. But in just this one week here, God has been revealing a lot of things to me. I have come to see both my strengths and my weaknesses in many areas. I have come to love and in many ways grow attached to the Japanese culture. I see the love and the servitude here, but along with that, I see the emptiness and brokenness behind the facades of smiling faces. The persecutions of Christians by their families is heartbreaking, yet the resiliency and fervent hearts of worship of those same Christians is heartwarming. I see the vision for winning Japan for Christ. My mind races with visions, strategies, and ideas. It's like in my time here God is giving me a taste, or a brief look at the possibilities of what could happen in Asian and around the world if Japan was won for Christ.

On the other hand, this trip has been a lot about personal growth and healing. I'm coming to see more and more clearly the inadequacies and weaknesses on my part. It's like being here has allowed my life to be under a microscope where I see both my skill sets and talents but my shortcomings and failures. I have come to see the need for the own inner healing and reconciliation that must take place in my own life. On one level, this trip is about healing the broken hearts of Japanese people, but on a personal level, this trip is also about recognizing the deep rooted issues of pride and selfishness that are still holding me back from fully giving my all for God.

Deep down in my heart, I long to know the heart of God and love what He loves and have a heart for what breaks God's heart. But I see that in order for that to happen, I must be sweetly broken. And I see that gentle breaking of my pride and self-seeking slowly being chipped at. In the midst of God's goodness and sovereignty working through our lives to minister to the Japanese students, my own cracks are starting to show. But I remain hopeful because I know that in this process God is continuing to make me more complete and molded to his image. It's definitely been a roller coaster of emotions, but God definitely has continued to be faithful.

Here are some short testimonies of what God is doing here in Japan. We have had the opportunity to talk to many students here, and through those opportunities, I have had to share the gospel a couple of times. In my first conversation with a Japanese student, we were able to connect well together, and he shared a lot of insight into his life, his philosophies, and dreams. I was able to connect with him, share the Gospel, and tell him my story. It was so cool because afterwards, I asked him if he was able to understand everything that I said. He said that there were some words and ideas he couldn't understand, but he told me that it was okay because he could feel a connection between us. Earlier he told me how he tried to connect with his classmates on a deeper level but was unsuccessful because the other Japanese students were not willing to open up. So it was so great to be able to share and connect with him.

We also were able to have a fourth of July celebration where we had the chance to invite our Japanese friends. Many Japanese students showed up, but what was surprising was the people that ended up coming. The Japanese staff at Campus Crusade has been praying for more males and for more freshman to get involved with their movements. Guess who showed up to the celebration? All males and mostly all freshman. I kid you not, there were no girl students who showed up. Even the Japanese staff was surprised as they told us how usually it is the girls who come to their events. Also, we were worried about rain, but the day before we prayed that it wouldn't rain, and God answered our prayers yet again.

We also had the opportunity to plan the weekly meeting for the Japanese students. It was kind of a chaotic process not knowing the cultural norms and having difficulty with communication. But God was able to show up in a mighty way in the midst of the chaos. Albert was able to share his testimony in public for the first time, and for some of the Japanese students, it was their first time hearing the gospel. It was great to hear personal stories of God touching peoples hearts. The Japanese people are hungry, and they are yearning for more of God.

But like I said, I am still struggling in a lot of ways with my ego and my sense of control. On a fleshly level, I am holding onto my ideas and visions for what I want to see. My heart wants to be completely sold out for Jesus, but my flesh is still rooted in the things of this world. I want Japan completely sold out for Jesus, but I think God is showing me that I need to first give him my whole heart.

God, you know my joys, you know my frustrations. You know the desires of my heart. All I want is you. I want to know your presence. You tell me I must delight in you first, and you will give me the desires of my heart. Help me not to lose sight of your faithfulness; help me to remain patient in walking in your ways. I have a heart for the Japanese people, yet I don't want my desires to conflict with yours.

God bless the people of Japan. Change their hearts and open their eyes to you. Humble our hearts to be gracious servants. Help us to love from the overflow of your love for us. Help us to see the need and take action. God we are desperate for you to take over. Use our brokenness and inadequacies to reveal your glory and make your presence known. We are broken vessels - a work of progress and incomplete. But you are the Master potter, and we are the clay. Mold us and make us O Lord. This is what we pray. God bless our families, and keep them safe while we are away. You are good, God. Thanks for first loving us. Let your love pour down from the heavens. We want more and more of you. In your precious name we pray, Amen.