Thank you for your prayers and sorry for the very late update!!
Tuesday, we went to visit Osaka Prefecture University again with Tomoko. This time, the English club that hosts us asked us to help students practice their English at an activity called "English Café," which is an afterschool English conversation workshop organized by the English professors. The event was an official school event open to anyone who wanted to come. Since the people attending were not from the English club we know, we were able to meet many for the first time. Some were even older alumni who had previously attended OPU. We spoke with them in groups for about one and a half hours.
Because the English Café was an official university activity, we were not asked not to share our faith. That was sad for us and a little discouraging to meet so many people and know that we would be unable to share Christ with them at that time. Yet we are reminded and thankful that this is not the norm-- this is the only time we have ever been restricted from sharing the gospel. We did have a good time getting to know them as new friends and helping them with their English, as we want to serve them and the English club in any way we can. For me, it was a bit freeing to be able to focus the entire time helping them and building friendships, and trust the Lord will bring those who are His to Him in His time. We will pray for the Lord to bring Christians into their lives and provide opportunities for them to hear the Good News!
Tuesday, we went to visit Osaka Prefecture University again with Tomoko. This time, the English club that hosts us asked us to help students practice their English at an activity called "English Café," which is an afterschool English conversation workshop organized by the English professors. The event was an official school event open to anyone who wanted to come. Since the people attending were not from the English club we know, we were able to meet many for the first time. Some were even older alumni who had previously attended OPU. We spoke with them in groups for about one and a half hours.
Because the English Café was an official university activity, we were not asked not to share our faith. That was sad for us and a little discouraging to meet so many people and know that we would be unable to share Christ with them at that time. Yet we are reminded and thankful that this is not the norm-- this is the only time we have ever been restricted from sharing the gospel. We did have a good time getting to know them as new friends and helping them with their English, as we want to serve them and the English club in any way we can. For me, it was a bit freeing to be able to focus the entire time helping them and building friendships, and trust the Lord will bring those who are His to Him in His time. We will pray for the Lord to bring Christians into their lives and provide opportunities for them to hear the Good News!
Praise God that after the English Café, we were able to eat dinner with a student, Takuya, who attended. Shohei and Yuka from the English club came too, and a graduate student friend from past STM's named Taka0! It was a blessing to be free to share the gospel once again. Praise God we were able to explain the gospel to Takuya and continue to build our friendship with Shohei and Yuka. Eric has known Takao for a few years, and it was a blessing to be able to see him again. He is a very intelligent individual who is researching star formation in the universe. Takao does not know if God exists or not, and is open to the idea that He created the universe, though he does not believe it. We were able to explain why we believe that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and why we can trust the Bible. We are thankful for Takao's interest. After dinner, Eric was able to explain the gospel to Takao again. Praise God! He will come to see us on Sunday as well.
Today was a little sad because we couldn't share the gospel with the students we met at the event, but we trust that God is in control of all these situations. What a joy it is that we were able to share the gospel freely later on in the day! So thankful that both in Japan and America, we can so often share our hope in Christ with no fear or restrictions. Let's not waste the freedoms and opportunities we have.
Love,
Hannah
Today was a little sad because we couldn't share the gospel with the students we met at the event, but we trust that God is in control of all these situations. What a joy it is that we were able to share the gospel freely later on in the day! So thankful that both in Japan and America, we can so often share our hope in Christ with no fear or restrictions. Let's not waste the freedoms and opportunities we have.
Love,
Hannah