One Week In
Hello, Nate here. I hope you have enjoyed following our trip via updates and photos posted here thus far. Since Estella, Amanda, and Deborah have already posted about the first few days, I will just give a quick little update on the past couple of days since the last post.
Wednesday was a relatively lighter day. In the morning, we applied the first layer of paint in the sanctuary (I don't think we've posted any pictures of it yet, but hopefully we can give you guys a before and after look soon.) After a few hours of painting, we went to a mall to eat lunch and then shop a little. The guys played some games (Chris won a big box of HI-CHEWs) and the girls took some sticky pics. Overall, I think it was a great time for everyone and a good time to kinda slow down a little. We came back to HBC to eat dinner and then join the church's prayer meeting. The prayer meeting was definitely interesting. Basically, we had one of the church members teach in Japanese Sign Language and then Jun (Sunday's preacher) translated JSL into Japanese which was then translated into English by Tomoko (?) and Shinske. Afterwards, we split into smaller groups to pray for various items. The groups were mixed with church members and Americans.
Some prayer requests brought up during the meeting:
-Kondo Sensei's health and time in America (he's currently in America)
-Daisuke Okada's book translation: he's translating John MacArthur's Gospel According to Jesus into Japanese (please pray for both the translation and publication of it)
-Jun's daughter's health (4 months old and was hospitalized the other day due to weight issues and possible allergies)
Thursday, we painted the second layer. In the afternoon we went over to OPU to hang out with the ESS members. We played a few games and ate dinner with them. During the meeting, the president of the school came and visited to check out what was going on. That was definitely a treat. Someone noted that it was like JMac visiting GOC or even small group. The OPU students were like whooa never really seen him up close before. After he found out a little more about who we were and what we were doing in Japan, he told us he was also Christian. That was pretty cool and encouraging. Hopefully that can benefit further ministry in the future.
It seems we will be spending a lot of time with them this trip. Although our plans have been changed a few times (due to complications described in previous posts), I think this is a real blessing as we will have more opportunities to build relationships with students at OPU. From what I have seen and heard, it seems the students really enjoy spending time with us and have become good friends with us. I know some team members have already had opportunities to share the gospel with a few students (I can't recall the names maybe they will mention it when they update or send out emails) so please pray for the salvation of those students. I personally had the privilege of talking and sharing with two guys last night during dinner: Shota and Yuske. Shota spent 3 years studying in Canada in high school so he is very proficient in English so I'm pretty sure he understood most of what I was saying. I'm not too sure about Yuske but team members that came last year said they shared with him and he even asked for a Bible to read and they gave on to him. Please pray for their conviction of their own sin and need for Christ to be reconciled to God.
Prayer Requests (in addition to ones previously posted):
-humble and joyful hearts while serving here in Japan
-please pray that we be able to maintain our testimonies and live lives consistent with the gospel we preach
-salvation of the students (namely Shota and Yuske)
p.s.
reply to kablargh: I can't take credit. Some pictures are from my camera, others are from Estella's. I just give her my card with all my pictures on it and the rest is up to her. haha. (I haven't actually had to chance to go through my own pictures yet. maybe I'll do that when i get home.) so whatever's being posted here to to her picasa album is totally under her control (and discretion haha).
Wednesday was a relatively lighter day. In the morning, we applied the first layer of paint in the sanctuary (I don't think we've posted any pictures of it yet, but hopefully we can give you guys a before and after look soon.) After a few hours of painting, we went to a mall to eat lunch and then shop a little. The guys played some games (Chris won a big box of HI-CHEWs) and the girls took some sticky pics. Overall, I think it was a great time for everyone and a good time to kinda slow down a little. We came back to HBC to eat dinner and then join the church's prayer meeting. The prayer meeting was definitely interesting. Basically, we had one of the church members teach in Japanese Sign Language and then Jun (Sunday's preacher) translated JSL into Japanese which was then translated into English by Tomoko (?) and Shinske. Afterwards, we split into smaller groups to pray for various items. The groups were mixed with church members and Americans.
Some prayer requests brought up during the meeting:
-Kondo Sensei's health and time in America (he's currently in America)
-Daisuke Okada's book translation: he's translating John MacArthur's Gospel According to Jesus into Japanese (please pray for both the translation and publication of it)
-Jun's daughter's health (4 months old and was hospitalized the other day due to weight issues and possible allergies)
Thursday, we painted the second layer. In the afternoon we went over to OPU to hang out with the ESS members. We played a few games and ate dinner with them. During the meeting, the president of the school came and visited to check out what was going on. That was definitely a treat. Someone noted that it was like JMac visiting GOC or even small group. The OPU students were like whooa never really seen him up close before. After he found out a little more about who we were and what we were doing in Japan, he told us he was also Christian. That was pretty cool and encouraging. Hopefully that can benefit further ministry in the future.
It seems we will be spending a lot of time with them this trip. Although our plans have been changed a few times (due to complications described in previous posts), I think this is a real blessing as we will have more opportunities to build relationships with students at OPU. From what I have seen and heard, it seems the students really enjoy spending time with us and have become good friends with us. I know some team members have already had opportunities to share the gospel with a few students (I can't recall the names maybe they will mention it when they update or send out emails) so please pray for the salvation of those students. I personally had the privilege of talking and sharing with two guys last night during dinner: Shota and Yuske. Shota spent 3 years studying in Canada in high school so he is very proficient in English so I'm pretty sure he understood most of what I was saying. I'm not too sure about Yuske but team members that came last year said they shared with him and he even asked for a Bible to read and they gave on to him. Please pray for their conviction of their own sin and need for Christ to be reconciled to God.
Prayer Requests (in addition to ones previously posted):
-humble and joyful hearts while serving here in Japan
-please pray that we be able to maintain our testimonies and live lives consistent with the gospel we preach
-salvation of the students (namely Shota and Yuske)
p.s.
reply to kablargh: I can't take credit. Some pictures are from my camera, others are from Estella's. I just give her my card with all my pictures on it and the rest is up to her. haha. (I haven't actually had to chance to go through my own pictures yet. maybe I'll do that when i get home.) so whatever's being posted here to to her picasa album is totally under her control (and discretion haha).