helloo faithful friends! its ashley :D
Today we started our second week of visiting the schools. It was our second time at Sano High School. They had specifically asked us not to share the gospel with the students, and didnt even let us hand out flyers to them. Though they were strict, we are able to honor God by submitting to authority over us and not damaging the relationship that the church has established with the school. Today was a bit of an extended visit from the last time, we got to talk with a group of second year high school students structured much like last time.
Today we started our second week of visiting the schools. It was our second time at Sano High School. They had specifically asked us not to share the gospel with the students, and didnt even let us hand out flyers to them. Though they were strict, we are able to honor God by submitting to authority over us and not damaging the relationship that the church has established with the school. Today was a bit of an extended visit from the last time, we got to talk with a group of second year high school students structured much like last time.
I was gladly surprised that the students in my group asked me why I came to Japan. I explained that all of us are Christians who came to help Hamadera Bible Church. Then they asked why I came to help so I got to go a little bit further in explaining that we came to bring more Japanese people to the church, share the gospel with them and hope that they will start going to church too. Even though this had to be in simple english I am very happy that they had the hearts to ask about our purpose for being so far away from home.
One of the girls, Yuki, wanted to talk with me a little longer so instead of eating with a new group of students, I ate lunch with her. We had casual conversation about how school was going and what she wanted to do after college. She didnt really know, but she did want to come to America to study english, so I got her email and hope to keep in contact with her.
After that was more conversation time with some third year high school students. We even met an exchange student from New Jersey. We played a board game about telling about ourselves and one of the questions was tell me about a time when you were very happy. I tried to tell them that when I became Christian I was very happy, but this group didnt know english that well so im not quite sure if they understood. The exhange student was in my group, so hopefully he kind of got something out of the talk. We invited all of them to the barbeque that the church is having on saturday, but unfortunately some of the students have final exams on that day and most likely will not attend. The barbeque is kind of the big attraction event that we really want the students to come out to because they are on their own time and we will be able to talk with them more freely. Also the Japanese church members will be there so they can better establish a relationship with them. After we leave we want these students to grow an affinity for the church and the people there, we are referred to as the bait on this trip. Only here to attract more Japanese people to get acustomed to Hamadera Bible Church.
Tonight Tricia and I will get to have dinner with our host family. Im very excited because they are such a cute older couple. We hope to get to know them better and serve them through this time of fellowship.
Please pray for the barbeque! and all the hearts of the students that we meet.
One of the girls, Yuki, wanted to talk with me a little longer so instead of eating with a new group of students, I ate lunch with her. We had casual conversation about how school was going and what she wanted to do after college. She didnt really know, but she did want to come to America to study english, so I got her email and hope to keep in contact with her.
After that was more conversation time with some third year high school students. We even met an exchange student from New Jersey. We played a board game about telling about ourselves and one of the questions was tell me about a time when you were very happy. I tried to tell them that when I became Christian I was very happy, but this group didnt know english that well so im not quite sure if they understood. The exhange student was in my group, so hopefully he kind of got something out of the talk. We invited all of them to the barbeque that the church is having on saturday, but unfortunately some of the students have final exams on that day and most likely will not attend. The barbeque is kind of the big attraction event that we really want the students to come out to because they are on their own time and we will be able to talk with them more freely. Also the Japanese church members will be there so they can better establish a relationship with them. After we leave we want these students to grow an affinity for the church and the people there, we are referred to as the bait on this trip. Only here to attract more Japanese people to get acustomed to Hamadera Bible Church.
Tonight Tricia and I will get to have dinner with our host family. Im very excited because they are such a cute older couple. We hope to get to know them better and serve them through this time of fellowship.
Please pray for the barbeque! and all the hearts of the students that we meet.