This was our last full day in Japan! The end was just around the corner, and yet our job was not complete. We had a full day of shopping for gifts and a wonderful dinner with Maaya and her family.
We saw Kondo-sensei again nice and early the next day. He drove the team to take the annual Japanese Christian bookstore trip in downtown Osaka. For my life, I would not be able to take anyone there on my own, because it involves finding the right skyscraper, parking in the correct parking area of the ENORMOUS parking garage, riding the correct elevator to the correct floor, and then being able to reverse the steps. Eric and Kondo-sensei were laughing about how they have trouble navigating to and from the store every year. A sobering aspect of this bookstore, is the fact that the store is itself a rarity. As such, the managers see fit to sell the merchandise of all the denominations of Christianity combined. For instance, on display there are theologically sound books alongside best-seller books by false teachers. Even so, to see that Japanese people could have access to translated material was very encouraging, Kondo-sensei even bought some books for the church while we were there.
Kondo-sensei gave us a very informative car ride of the areas of Osaka we drove by, everything from driving through America Town to discussing the terrible state of air pollution in Osaka during the 1960's. We had sushi for lunch, and then we waved goodbye to Kondo-sensei at the train station.
Kondo-sensei gave us a very informative car ride of the areas of Osaka we drove by, everything from driving through America Town to discussing the terrible state of air pollution in Osaka during the 1960's. We had sushi for lunch, and then we waved goodbye to Kondo-sensei at the train station.
We spent the next few hours in LaLaport, a newly built mall in the outlying suburbs of Osaka. (There's even a Costco down the street!). There we met up with Midori-san and Maaya to have dinner with Maaya's family.
This opportunity was a new experience for us all including Maaya! Of her family, only Maaya is a believer, and for the first time she was going to share the full Gospel with them. We were coming over for the two-fold purpose of providing that open door for Maaya to share and to support her in anyway we could.
Maaya's mother was such an amazing hostess, and her home-cooked meal was delicious! We had a light conversation throughout dinner, and then Maaya's father came home from work and talked with us. Afterward Maaya's little brother really wanted to play "Issenode" (a strategic hand game) with everyone. It seemed like the Gospel was never going to come up. However, God graciously answered our prayers, and through some leading questions Maaya's father asked what Christians believed happened to people after they die. From there Maaya and Seichi were able to explain the salvation story from our eternal death because of sin. Although they spoke in Japanese, I know they talked of God's grace and mercy in sending His Son, Jesus, to be the propitiation of our sin. Because of His great love, we no longer await our punishment of eternal death after death. What a love!
Afterwards we all were rejoicing at how awesome God was, how He put every moment perfectly in place, and how great a testimony of growth in faith we witnessed in our fellow sister in Christ, Maaya.
This opportunity was a new experience for us all including Maaya! Of her family, only Maaya is a believer, and for the first time she was going to share the full Gospel with them. We were coming over for the two-fold purpose of providing that open door for Maaya to share and to support her in anyway we could.
Maaya's mother was such an amazing hostess, and her home-cooked meal was delicious! We had a light conversation throughout dinner, and then Maaya's father came home from work and talked with us. Afterward Maaya's little brother really wanted to play "Issenode" (a strategic hand game) with everyone. It seemed like the Gospel was never going to come up. However, God graciously answered our prayers, and through some leading questions Maaya's father asked what Christians believed happened to people after they die. From there Maaya and Seichi were able to explain the salvation story from our eternal death because of sin. Although they spoke in Japanese, I know they talked of God's grace and mercy in sending His Son, Jesus, to be the propitiation of our sin. Because of His great love, we no longer await our punishment of eternal death after death. What a love!
Afterwards we all were rejoicing at how awesome God was, how He put every moment perfectly in place, and how great a testimony of growth in faith we witnessed in our fellow sister in Christ, Maaya.
Praise God for His faithfulness! Please be praying for Maaya and her family! She has only a few more weeks with them before she leaves for college. Pray that her family will still hear and receive the Gospel.
Japan 2 STM is currently in Japan supporting the ministry there, so please pray for them also!
- Carissa
Japan 2 STM is currently in Japan supporting the ministry there, so please pray for them also!
- Carissa