Today was a long and tiring day in Kyoto, but I'm thankful for all the gospel sharing opportunities God provided throughout our outing. Our STM team and some of the students at Hamadera Bible Church went to Kyoto, where we met up with some non-believing students from universities around Osaka. Their English levels differed greatly, and it was easier sharing the gospel with those with better English. However, we got to know most of the students and even got to share our testimonies and how God has been working in our own lives with some of the students. I saved some pictures of my family and my life on my phone so that I could use them as conservation topics and use them as a way to share the gospel. Some other members of our team were also able to tell the students about God when they visited the temples in Kyoto. Many of the students we talked with had never heard the gospel before.
A couple days before leaving for Japan, I had been worried about being inadequate for this STM. I was scared that I wouldn't be able to share the gospel clearly and in a way that the students would be able to understand it. Moreover, one of my greatest fears was offending the students. However, God has helped me to gain a better understanding of how we as Christians are all inadequate on our own, but when we depend on God, He will provide for us in order to carry out His plans. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us "Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." I'm thankful that God gave us the words to say and so many opportunities to serve Him yesterday. Some of the students seemed genuinely interested in what we were sharing and I hope that we will have the opportunity to see them again throughout our time here.
Prayer Requests:
-That we continue to faithfully build relationships with the students and share the gospel out of love
-That we adjust to the time difference; for energy
-That we continue to encourage the people at Hamadera church and we grow in our love for them
-That the students desire to learn more about God and their interest in the gospel
A couple days before leaving for Japan, I had been worried about being inadequate for this STM. I was scared that I wouldn't be able to share the gospel clearly and in a way that the students would be able to understand it. Moreover, one of my greatest fears was offending the students. However, God has helped me to gain a better understanding of how we as Christians are all inadequate on our own, but when we depend on God, He will provide for us in order to carry out His plans. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us "Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." I'm thankful that God gave us the words to say and so many opportunities to serve Him yesterday. Some of the students seemed genuinely interested in what we were sharing and I hope that we will have the opportunity to see them again throughout our time here.
Prayer Requests:
-That we continue to faithfully build relationships with the students and share the gospel out of love
-That we adjust to the time difference; for energy
-That we continue to encourage the people at Hamadera church and we grow in our love for them
-That the students desire to learn more about God and their interest in the gospel
Update with more pictures from Kyoto!