Saturday morning, the team headed off to Kyoto for some sightseeing. We had heard that a few of the students would be joining us for the day and were excited that we would have another day with them before we had to say goodbye. We met our friends at Kyoto and grabbed a quick lunch at McDonald’s before heading out. One of the girls at my lunch table brought out a New Testament that she had received from one of her teachers. Shoshee, Korinn, and I were then able to talk to the 2 students with us about the Bible. It was really exciting to hear that both the girls were very interested in reading the Bible and seeing what it has to say about Jesus. Please be praying for them!
After lunch, we visited Kiyomizu Temple. Visiting temples served as a really easy transition for conversations to lead naturally to talking about the Gospel. We were able to talk with the students more about why they go to the temple, what they do at the temple, what, why and to whom they pray to, etc. As we walked around, I was so encouraged to hear my teammates’ conversations with the students and seeing the students truly engaged in these conversations, asking questions and thinking about the truths that we were sharing with them.
Standing on the famous “stage” of Kiyomizu. The Japanese have proverbs that mention this platform. After Kiyomizu, we were supposed to head to Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), but we reached the bus stop a little too late. One of the students actually stepped up to help Miho and Ed figure out where to go next. It was a really good opportunity for the team to practice being flexible. In general, our trip has taught us to be really flexible because our plans were subjected to change at any moment. It’s been a great learning experience for each of us to submit our plans to God daily and see what He would bring our way. We were able to relinquish our plans to Him because we know that His plans are best and we got a first hand look at really seeing this in action.
Because all the sightseeing places closed at 5, the group headed down to the river where we played a few rounds of Boom Chika Boom Boom (It’s been the #1 hit game with the students this year – as well as with the team.) The game has really helped us to quickly break the ice with students and bond with them. It was fun to see our team’s crazier side and goof off with the students. Activities like these allowed us to gain the students’ trust, showing that we were real people and wanted to be their friends.
Because all the sightseeing places closed at 5, the group headed down to the river where we played a few rounds of Boom Chika Boom Boom (It’s been the #1 hit game with the students this year – as well as with the team.) The game has really helped us to quickly break the ice with students and bond with them. It was fun to see our team’s crazier side and goof off with the students. Activities like these allowed us to gain the students’ trust, showing that we were real people and wanted to be their friends.
Afterwards, we grabbed dinner at the nearby mall where we split up into 5 groups. Dinner lasted about 2 hours, long after we had all finished our food. But the great thing was that each of the tables was able to have really meaningful conversations with the visitors. Shota shared the gospel in Japanese with one of the students from OPU who had been attending all the events. He was really challenged by what was shared with him and he knows that he has a choice to make. Please be praying for him as he continues to think through the gospel. Pray that he would be able to let go off his cultural ties to ancestral worship and turn to a true worship of God.
It was really sad to say goodbye to our friends at the end of night. It is amazing to see how God has orchestrated everything in the 2 weeks we had with the students. He really built and grew our relationships with each of the students and caused our hearts to truly love them. Even though, we say goodbye, we pray that God will continue to work in their hearts and that we can one day see them again in heaven. What a joyous occasion that would be!
It was really sad to say goodbye to our friends at the end of night. It is amazing to see how God has orchestrated everything in the 2 weeks we had with the students. He really built and grew our relationships with each of the students and caused our hearts to truly love them. Even though, we say goodbye, we pray that God will continue to work in their hearts and that we can one day see them again in heaven. What a joyous occasion that would be!
The most exciting thing about Saturday actually happened after we returned to HBC. Korinn shared with the team that one of the girls (Eri) accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior!!! Last year’s team had talked with her and we continued to challenge her this year. It is so exciting to see God hard at work in Japan. We are extremely excited for her. In the 10 years that Team 1 has come to Japan to share with the students, Shota was the first students to become a believer this past Spring, so only a few months ago! To see yet another student come to Christ is so encouraging for us. God is truly hard at work softening the Japanese students’ hearts. The team is incredibly excited to even begin to imagine all that God can do here in Japan.
Please please please be praying for Eri as she embarks on the hardest part yet – living out the Christian life. Pray that she would genuinely grow in her desire for Christ and seek out a Bible-believing church to attend. We have complete hope that God will do wonders in her life and pray that He will grow her immensely in love and true knowledge of Him.
To God be all glory!
-Priscilla
Please please please be praying for Eri as she embarks on the hardest part yet – living out the Christian life. Pray that she would genuinely grow in her desire for Christ and seek out a Bible-believing church to attend. We have complete hope that God will do wonders in her life and pray that He will grow her immensely in love and true knowledge of Him.
To God be all glory!
-Priscilla