Arsenal celebrate 125 years as a football club this year. It is a significant and historic anniversary; one which is celebrated in our new crest that includes a wreath that brackets the standard Arsenal crest as well as the motto 'Forward' written underneath. However forward is far from how we started the season! Psychologically our Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham was the deathblow to our season last year. In hindsight the game revealed our lack of mental strength and ability to 'bounce' back. We faded away, dropping out of all other major competitions and finally only managing to finish fourth. It was clear that last season we lacked leadership as the fiasco with Febregas lingered, speculation ever growing as to when, not if he would make his move back to Spain. We had our captain in body but not in mind or spirit. After long, drawn out negotiations Fabregas finally made his move back to his beloved Barcelona in the Summer. The effects of losing our once talismanic play maker were clear to see at the start of the new season - we were unable to score in both of our first two matches and through a series of injuries and suspensions were forced to ask our new teenage signings to go from being boys to men against the defending champions Man United. The result, an inform and clinical Man U were just too much to cope with and annihilated us with a humiliating 8-2 victory, which embarrassed fans, players and manager alike. Something had to be done. But as a pheonix rises from the ashes Wenger responded by making some vital and much needed new signings on the last day of the transfer market.
In total we signed five new players yesterday, four on long term contracts, one on loan. Each brings something that has been lacking in the Arsenal squad this season - every one of them are experienced players in their late twenties or early thirties, several of them have international experience too, making many appearances for their respective countries. We have reinforced our defence, midfield and forward positions. Per Mertesacker, our new German defender, will add much needed height and physicality to our game at 6'6 inches tall. Mikel Arteta has vast amounts of Premier League experience and should link up nicely with our other talented mid fielders in Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey. Arsenal play a very particular style of flowing football. However, arguably Arsenal have lacked a clinical finisher in the past and so a new striker was desperately needed to add greater attacking threat. Hopefully this is precisely what South Korean Chu Young Park can give us, as well as the leadership qualities he brings as captain for his national side. With Chu Young Park, Walcott, Robin Van Persie and Gervinho we should have plenty of attacking options both from the wings and from the centre. Moreover the additions of Yossi Benayoun (on loan) and Andre Santos should provide extra support for our more forward going players and Benayoun's Premier League experience, like that of Arteta, is invaluable to us at the moment.
As an Arsenal fan I am being very optimistic about these new signings. There will be some who just dismiss these signings as 'desperation buying' on the last day of the transfer market but I believe this is a real positive step Forward. Some Arsenal fans even believe our crushing defeat to Man U was the wake up call we needed to actually spend in the transfer market. I am not sure about this line of logic as I don't believe any defeat of that magnitude is a good thing, especially not for a club like Arsenal with such a prestigious history. Conversely I am glad we have made these signings and do believe that Wenger and his scouts have chosen well. What remains to be seen is whether Wenger, with the qualities and strengths these new players bring to the team will be open minded enough to change his tactics when necessary in order to prevent further defeats this season. When you reach the bottom the only way to go is up and I am optimistic that we can once more go 'Forward' as a club. However it is a long way back and securing a top 4 finish this season will be harder than ever. However, "Victory grows out of harmony" - Victoria Concordia Crescit.
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Masterpiece Conspiracy
Israel stands on the brink of war! Next month the UN will vote whether or not to recognise a Palastinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital along the 1967 boarderlines. The proposal will take territory away from Israel, including the East section of Jerusalem, the ancient Jewish captial. This has had no news coverage on British television, although there is a helpful article about it on the bbc website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13701636
The consequences of a UN recognised Palastinian state would most probably result in war as Israel would defend her territory by force if necessary. No doubt this would bring condemnation upon her by the international community and world's media. Ever since Israel was granted sovereignty in 1948 the Islamic world has sought its destruction. There have been numerous assaults on Israeli territory by the Arab world of the Middle East and there has ever only been a fragile peace between Israel and her neighbours. Even in peace time Israel has still had to contend with terrorist attacks from Gaza led by Hamas, supplied via underground tunnels from Egypt.
From Israel's ancient enemies of the Philistines and her exile in Bablyon, the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Roman Empire, which led to the diaspora all across Europe in the second century, the Inquisition and martyrdom of the Middle Ages for being the 'Christ-killers', to the Holocaust of WWII; sadly Israel's history has been intrinsically linked with a history of anti-semitism. Whether through racial theory or religion the spirit of anti-semitism has raised its head in almost every century. But why?
I believe there is a very simple reason. In the Bible Israel is always identified in connection to God. The first commandment is:
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:2-3
Therefore a recognition of the sovereignty of Israel is also a recognition of the God of Israel - Yahweh. The Jews were a slave cast in ancient Egypt. An immigrant race forced into Egypt through famine in Israel, they multiplied until the Egyptian authorities decided to enslave them in order to control them. Four hundred years later and Moses led them back to Israel across the Sinai peninsula. For centuries the land of Israel was seen as the Holy Land by both Jews and Christians, the fateful Crusades evidence of the important link between Israel and the God of the Bible. Today Muslims claim Jerusalem as being one of their most holy sites. To the secular mind this has nothing to do with a recognition of the god of Islam, but historically the land of Israel has never been able to be separated from the claims of the major Abrahamic religions. Indeed even today Israel is the only democratic country in the Middle East and certainly a strengthed Palastinian state along 1967 boarderlines would be another Islamic state amongst the many other Islamic states of the Middle East. The Middle East view the land of Israel in religious terms.
Indeed one cannot truly understand the troubles with securing lasting peace in the Middle East unless they know the Bible. The West has become secularised ever since the Enlightenment of the 18th century. Science and reason have replaced religion in terms of world view and moral authority. However, secularism opposes the Biblical mandate that Israel has to the land precisely because it would be a recognition of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This God whom Neitzche declared was dead, the God whom Fraud said was a psychological crutch and the God whom Dawkin's says is an illusion. Therefore the modern state of Israel is wrenched from its ancient predecessor and denied its heritage in order to fabricate some other kind of justification for its existence, one which can be taken away from it by the changing of political winds. What the secular world will not admit is that it is embarrassed by the existence of Israel because no matter how hard it tries it can never truly detach it from the God whom established it (Genesis 17:8).
The denial of Israel as a covenant nation before God is the very same spirit that denies Jesus as the Christ. This is known in the Bible as the spirit of anti-Christ. How are the two connected? Because Jesus himself said:
"Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." John 5:46
A denial of the God of Israel is a denial of Jesus. Satan is actively at work in this world blinding peoples' hearts and minds towards the God of Israel and is aggressively persecuting the Jewish people. Even in the Church Satan is at work, twisting its theology to deny that the covenant that God made with Israel is still valid. This is known as Replacement Theology - the belief that the modern state of Israel no longer has any scriptural connection to ancient Israel as God's chosen people. Replacement Theology is a distortion of Scripture. This is plain to see when one just examines the New Testament in its historical and theological context - see Romans 11. How could the Church be deceived? Because a house divided against itself cannot stand! This is Satan's purpose.
God made His first covenant with Israel in the Old Testament with Abraham, in a ritual in which he symbolically passed through as a torch (Genesis 15:17-18). Abraham did not participate in this ritual convenant signing, this is significant because it meant Abraham was then not able to break that covenant. It was an eternal covenant made by God himself. In the New Testament, after hundreds of years of prophesy, God made a second covenant with Israel through the person of Jesus Christ - the Son of God, the incarnation of God Himself. Jesus took the world's sin upon himself on the cross. Again the covenant was made by God Himself without any human mediators who could potentially break the said covenant. God cannot deny Himself or be unfaithful to His promises (2 Timothy 2:13).
The state of Israel and its future will have spiritual ramifications. It is unavoidable. Over the centuries there has been a spirit of anti-Christ at work that has manifested itself through anti-semitism, replacement theology and secularism. Do not be deceived.
The consequences of a UN recognised Palastinian state would most probably result in war as Israel would defend her territory by force if necessary. No doubt this would bring condemnation upon her by the international community and world's media. Ever since Israel was granted sovereignty in 1948 the Islamic world has sought its destruction. There have been numerous assaults on Israeli territory by the Arab world of the Middle East and there has ever only been a fragile peace between Israel and her neighbours. Even in peace time Israel has still had to contend with terrorist attacks from Gaza led by Hamas, supplied via underground tunnels from Egypt.
From Israel's ancient enemies of the Philistines and her exile in Bablyon, the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Roman Empire, which led to the diaspora all across Europe in the second century, the Inquisition and martyrdom of the Middle Ages for being the 'Christ-killers', to the Holocaust of WWII; sadly Israel's history has been intrinsically linked with a history of anti-semitism. Whether through racial theory or religion the spirit of anti-semitism has raised its head in almost every century. But why?
I believe there is a very simple reason. In the Bible Israel is always identified in connection to God. The first commandment is:
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:2-3
Therefore a recognition of the sovereignty of Israel is also a recognition of the God of Israel - Yahweh. The Jews were a slave cast in ancient Egypt. An immigrant race forced into Egypt through famine in Israel, they multiplied until the Egyptian authorities decided to enslave them in order to control them. Four hundred years later and Moses led them back to Israel across the Sinai peninsula. For centuries the land of Israel was seen as the Holy Land by both Jews and Christians, the fateful Crusades evidence of the important link between Israel and the God of the Bible. Today Muslims claim Jerusalem as being one of their most holy sites. To the secular mind this has nothing to do with a recognition of the god of Islam, but historically the land of Israel has never been able to be separated from the claims of the major Abrahamic religions. Indeed even today Israel is the only democratic country in the Middle East and certainly a strengthed Palastinian state along 1967 boarderlines would be another Islamic state amongst the many other Islamic states of the Middle East. The Middle East view the land of Israel in religious terms.
Indeed one cannot truly understand the troubles with securing lasting peace in the Middle East unless they know the Bible. The West has become secularised ever since the Enlightenment of the 18th century. Science and reason have replaced religion in terms of world view and moral authority. However, secularism opposes the Biblical mandate that Israel has to the land precisely because it would be a recognition of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This God whom Neitzche declared was dead, the God whom Fraud said was a psychological crutch and the God whom Dawkin's says is an illusion. Therefore the modern state of Israel is wrenched from its ancient predecessor and denied its heritage in order to fabricate some other kind of justification for its existence, one which can be taken away from it by the changing of political winds. What the secular world will not admit is that it is embarrassed by the existence of Israel because no matter how hard it tries it can never truly detach it from the God whom established it (Genesis 17:8).
The denial of Israel as a covenant nation before God is the very same spirit that denies Jesus as the Christ. This is known in the Bible as the spirit of anti-Christ. How are the two connected? Because Jesus himself said:
"Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." John 5:46
A denial of the God of Israel is a denial of Jesus. Satan is actively at work in this world blinding peoples' hearts and minds towards the God of Israel and is aggressively persecuting the Jewish people. Even in the Church Satan is at work, twisting its theology to deny that the covenant that God made with Israel is still valid. This is known as Replacement Theology - the belief that the modern state of Israel no longer has any scriptural connection to ancient Israel as God's chosen people. Replacement Theology is a distortion of Scripture. This is plain to see when one just examines the New Testament in its historical and theological context - see Romans 11. How could the Church be deceived? Because a house divided against itself cannot stand! This is Satan's purpose.
God made His first covenant with Israel in the Old Testament with Abraham, in a ritual in which he symbolically passed through as a torch (Genesis 15:17-18). Abraham did not participate in this ritual convenant signing, this is significant because it meant Abraham was then not able to break that covenant. It was an eternal covenant made by God himself. In the New Testament, after hundreds of years of prophesy, God made a second covenant with Israel through the person of Jesus Christ - the Son of God, the incarnation of God Himself. Jesus took the world's sin upon himself on the cross. Again the covenant was made by God Himself without any human mediators who could potentially break the said covenant. God cannot deny Himself or be unfaithful to His promises (2 Timothy 2:13).
The state of Israel and its future will have spiritual ramifications. It is unavoidable. Over the centuries there has been a spirit of anti-Christ at work that has manifested itself through anti-semitism, replacement theology and secularism. Do not be deceived.
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
A Moment Suspended in Time
Well my adventure in Japan has come to an end. I arrived safely home after what seemed like an eternity in the sky flying first to Rome then connecting for my flight to London. Nevertheless I am grateful for intercontinental flights and what would have taken months a century ago now only takes a day! It's actually quite incredible when you think about it. Hurrey for aviation! My last week in Japan was not without incident; after my day in Kyoto the following day I was treated to a sushi lunch by a lovely elderly Japanese couple before going the following day to WEC HQ, an impressive large, old Japanese building where I spent time with Simon and Henrietta, a missionary couple just recently returned from Bible college in England. Simon gave me a copy of his Masters' thesis on Japanese house churches, which I read with much enthusiasm having determined in my own mind that house churches were potentially the way forward, not just for Japan but for Christianity in Britain too. We discussed his analysis, evaluation and conclusions of the effectiveness and relevance of the house church model to the situation in Japan, which I found both informative and stimulating.
Thursday was the start of the third and final camp back by Lake Biwa. This camp was called Friendship Camp and was focussed on adults in their twenties and thirties primarily. The first night we were there I got to meet a 24 year old Japanese man by the nickname of 'Sugi'. After the evening meeting in our small group we discussed the message, which was from Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman in John 4. The emphasis was on how encounters with others can define and reshape our lives. Sugi had been particularly challenged by the message as he had many issues going on in his life and struggled to believe God could forgive him. Through Peter who translated for me I shared what was on my heart for him after listening intently to his life story. Sugi seemed very grateful for my comments and insights and I felt compelled to physically hug him as he seemed in need of acceptance. I believe God was working powerfully in Sugi's life that night. The next morning he left the camp early before I had a chance to say goodbye. I reflected on how it was almost like a chance encounter with Sugi, but maybe our brief meeting together and the message he heard was all Sugi needed at that time.
Unfortunately my own camp experience was cut short after my feet and ankles started to swell up and I developed a red swollen rash on the right side of my body. Thinking initially it was just a mosquito bite I left it but gradually as the day progressed the swellings became more uncomfortable and sore until I had to recognise something more serious had happened. I went home with Peter on Friday night and went to hospital Saturday morning with Edi as the swelling and rash hadn't improved. The doctor thought it was caused by an insect bite and gave me an intravenous injection and a perscription for three days worth of medication. I was praying that God would heal me before my flight and others prayed too. I felt very reassured that I was covered by so much prayer and God really looked after me those last few days. Yesterday morning as I was due to get the train to Kansai airport, Peter informed me that he now could spare the time to go all the way to the airport with me and handle my luggage for me. I was incredibly grateful for his time and sacrifice.
The swelling hadn't gone completely by the time I was due to fly but had improved sufficiently that the flight didn't cause me any further problems. It wasn't the way I wanted to end my trip to Japan but I have no regrets about my time in Japan which was one of personal and spiritual growth, new experiences and new friendships. In so many ways it was a rich blessing to me and a challenge God enabled me to undertake on my own for the very first time. I returned to two very happy and relieved parents who were thankful I was back home safe.
I want to thank everyone in Japan who I befriended, it was a very special and exciting time. Will I return to Japan that most beautiful and enigmatic country? I would like to say most definitely yes. God is not finished with that country and neither am I! I felt I heard from God while I was there. These feelings and the scriptures I believe God used to speak to me I will continue to pray over and take before my pastors here at home, but I do believe my adventure in Japan is not completely over.
Thank you to everyone here in Britain and over the world who has been with me in prayer and been interceeding for Japan with me. Please pray that:
1. Sugi would encounter the risen Lord Jesus and know the love and restoration of a relationship with God.
2. The house church model would bear fruit and new believers in Japan
3. That I would settle back into life here in Essex and return to work and church with vigor and passion for God's Kingdom work here at home
...Oh one last thing the more observant readers of my last blog will have realised I made a mistake in my geography of Japan - I got the names of the islands mixed up and we were infact on Honshu island not Hokkaido! I was quite embarrassed when I realised after I had posted it and felt I needed to correct it.
"(Heavenly Father) I know you will complete this work started in me; I need you more than ever now that I know who you are" P.O.D. 'Portrait'
Thursday was the start of the third and final camp back by Lake Biwa. This camp was called Friendship Camp and was focussed on adults in their twenties and thirties primarily. The first night we were there I got to meet a 24 year old Japanese man by the nickname of 'Sugi'. After the evening meeting in our small group we discussed the message, which was from Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman in John 4. The emphasis was on how encounters with others can define and reshape our lives. Sugi had been particularly challenged by the message as he had many issues going on in his life and struggled to believe God could forgive him. Through Peter who translated for me I shared what was on my heart for him after listening intently to his life story. Sugi seemed very grateful for my comments and insights and I felt compelled to physically hug him as he seemed in need of acceptance. I believe God was working powerfully in Sugi's life that night. The next morning he left the camp early before I had a chance to say goodbye. I reflected on how it was almost like a chance encounter with Sugi, but maybe our brief meeting together and the message he heard was all Sugi needed at that time.
Unfortunately my own camp experience was cut short after my feet and ankles started to swell up and I developed a red swollen rash on the right side of my body. Thinking initially it was just a mosquito bite I left it but gradually as the day progressed the swellings became more uncomfortable and sore until I had to recognise something more serious had happened. I went home with Peter on Friday night and went to hospital Saturday morning with Edi as the swelling and rash hadn't improved. The doctor thought it was caused by an insect bite and gave me an intravenous injection and a perscription for three days worth of medication. I was praying that God would heal me before my flight and others prayed too. I felt very reassured that I was covered by so much prayer and God really looked after me those last few days. Yesterday morning as I was due to get the train to Kansai airport, Peter informed me that he now could spare the time to go all the way to the airport with me and handle my luggage for me. I was incredibly grateful for his time and sacrifice.
The swelling hadn't gone completely by the time I was due to fly but had improved sufficiently that the flight didn't cause me any further problems. It wasn't the way I wanted to end my trip to Japan but I have no regrets about my time in Japan which was one of personal and spiritual growth, new experiences and new friendships. In so many ways it was a rich blessing to me and a challenge God enabled me to undertake on my own for the very first time. I returned to two very happy and relieved parents who were thankful I was back home safe.
I want to thank everyone in Japan who I befriended, it was a very special and exciting time. Will I return to Japan that most beautiful and enigmatic country? I would like to say most definitely yes. God is not finished with that country and neither am I! I felt I heard from God while I was there. These feelings and the scriptures I believe God used to speak to me I will continue to pray over and take before my pastors here at home, but I do believe my adventure in Japan is not completely over.
Thank you to everyone here in Britain and over the world who has been with me in prayer and been interceeding for Japan with me. Please pray that:
1. Sugi would encounter the risen Lord Jesus and know the love and restoration of a relationship with God.
2. The house church model would bear fruit and new believers in Japan
3. That I would settle back into life here in Essex and return to work and church with vigor and passion for God's Kingdom work here at home
...Oh one last thing the more observant readers of my last blog will have realised I made a mistake in my geography of Japan - I got the names of the islands mixed up and we were infact on Honshu island not Hokkaido! I was quite embarrassed when I realised after I had posted it and felt I needed to correct it.
"(Heavenly Father) I know you will complete this work started in me; I need you more than ever now that I know who you are" P.O.D. 'Portrait'
Monday, 8 August 2011
Memphis will be laid to waste
So I'm back in Ono in Shiga-Ken (prefecture) after an amazing week in Tohoku. The experience was emotionally and spiritually challenging, but ultimately rewarding. We traveled by van on Monday - a twelve hour journey across the island of Hokkaido. 80% of Japan is uninhabitable mountain range and every mountain is covered in trees! We finally arrived at the Karate Dojo in Miyagi-ken, Tohoku late Monday evening. I was personally looking forward to spending time in a real Japanese Dojo. The Dojo itself conformed in the main to what I had expected. There were white and blue mats permanently laid in the main hall. There were certificates (presumably of the students) all around the walls. However, on one side of the hall there were two Buddhist shrines. Nevertheless, culturally it was an impressive site.
Tuesday we began work with the rest of the team that were already there, mostly made up of Americans. We were working with the 'Be-One' team, a group of volunteers from house churches from Osaka. We drove into the city of Ishinomaki where the Be-One team had a base, a house that had been damaged by the Tsunami but that they were renting and had refurbished. Our main task for the week was to clean out mud and sand clogged drains. Over the course of the week we managed to dig out and clear drains in two streets. The reason why the Be-One team was working in the area of Ishinomaki was because there were still people living there trying to rebuild their lives. It was tough work and some of the most physically strenuous work I have ever done. It mostly involved lifting concrete slabs then shovelling out the dirt that was filled with all kinds of debris, filling plastic bags and then transporting the bags to the designated dumping ground.
As the Dojo did not have shower facilities and the Be-One house only had cold water we had to bathe in a local Onsen. For anyone unfamiliar with a Japanese Onsen it is a public bath, where people pay to wash and then relax in a steaming hot communal bath...naked! I must admit Tuesday evening I really struggled with having to use the Onsen, I resented my forced naked exposure and was particularly uncomfortable with the public nudity, especially as children and adults bathed together (although in separate genders). However I put the experience into the bigger picture and the grand scheme of what we were doing in serving the local population and bringing hope to the area, as well as glorifying God through our service. As the week progressed I learnt to resent it less and refused to let it ruin my week of which I grew so much serving the local people and sharing fellowship with the other volunteers. It truly was a great time to bond with others in our common goal and vision to reflect God's love and grace to the people of Ishinomaki.
Ishinomaki itself was a surreal place - literally metres away from the Tsunami devastated areas, only a minutes drive away businesses and roads were reopened and life carried on. As we were digging out the drains there were even a few people living in the houses around us - in the middle of such destruction! Houses were left barely standing, entire walls and rooms ripped apart by the Tsunami - there were huge mounds of mangled metal from vehicles etc and boats deposited in the middle of buildings or left on the streets. The most emotive thing I encountered as I surveyed the ruination was a family's photo album - the photos damaged by the water. It was particularly evocative and moving as it was putting a human face to the tragedy of the Tsunami. I didn't know whether the family were dead, killed in the Tsunami, or had just fled the area. But it was a powerful reminder that there was an entire community in that area that had been swept away by the powerful force of nature.
On Wednesday afternoon we went down to the local park, which the Be-One team had salvaged and restored a few months earlier and invited the children to come out and play. It was such a blessing to bring joy to these young children, many of whom had witnessed people dying in the Tsunami and to hear them laughing and seeing the smiles on their faces. I was incredibly thankful to God that in a small way we were able to bring happiness into their lives and let them be children again. We played tag and ball games and had face painting and guitar lessons. At the end of the afternoon we gave all the children that wanted one a pack of Christian children's books and note pad and colouring pencils.
On Thursday something rather bizarre and exciting yet alarming happened. I went with a small group of men to transport an elderly couples furniture to their new temporary residence on the outskirts of the city; on our way back we were pulled over by the police! As the van only had three seats in the cab of the van, I was riding in the back with another team member, who happened to be our team leader. The police pulled us over for the violation but unfortunately we had hardly any identification on us. I didn't have my passport or wallet on me as they were back at the Dojo and Chad our leader didn't have his foreigner ID card on him. To make matters worse we didn't have all the legal paperwork in the van we needed either! Thankfully the police only gave us a warning and we got away without a ticket. It was a wake up call to not take liberties with the road laws but at the same time we were frustrated because we were there for a good cause. Nevertheless God blessed our service and our outreach.
On Saturday it was a particularly hot day and my body finally succumbed to the nature of the work; I became dehydrated and I felt light headed as well as the circulation in my hands was effected. I had a strange throbbing sensation in my hands and what felt like pins and needles. After lunch and drinking a lot of fluids I felt much better and the sensation in my hands had gone. But I took it easy in the afternoon not pushing myself. Sunday I returned, but as we got back so late I had missed the last train home from Kyoto. Very kindly Catherine let me stay in her apartment complex as there was a spare room. We arrived back in Kyoto at one am in the morning, absolutely shattered! Earlier today, as I was already in Kyoto and had nothing planned, Catherine and I went and did some site seeing. Catherine took me to Nijo Castle, a fabulous historical castle complete with traditional Japanese architecture. It was very exciting to walk around the halls where the Shogun once walked with the Feudal lords. We also went to one of the more historical quarters of the ancient capital and passed through a large Shinto Shrine. I was extremely grateful to Catherine for giving up her own time to show me the city.
Finally I had to take a bus from Catherine's apartment to Kyoto train station and then get a train to Ono where Peter came and picked me up. After the last 24 hours I was very glad to be back in my temporary home while here in Japan. But I have had an amazing week, giving and helping the people of Tohoku as well as making new friends and sharing new experiences with other missionaries from around Japan.
"Am I only in this to feel comfort - without pain I'd never know what comfort was." War of Ages 'When Faith turns to Ashes'
Please give thanks to God for the following:
1. The relief work of the Be-One team in Tohoku and their extraordinary witness to the local people
2. That I am home safe
Please pray for the following:
1. That more missionaries and church groups as well as non-Christians would feel convicted to go and help in the relief work in Tohoku
2. That many people in Ishinomaki would come to faith through the witness and service of the several Christian groups working there
Tuesday we began work with the rest of the team that were already there, mostly made up of Americans. We were working with the 'Be-One' team, a group of volunteers from house churches from Osaka. We drove into the city of Ishinomaki where the Be-One team had a base, a house that had been damaged by the Tsunami but that they were renting and had refurbished. Our main task for the week was to clean out mud and sand clogged drains. Over the course of the week we managed to dig out and clear drains in two streets. The reason why the Be-One team was working in the area of Ishinomaki was because there were still people living there trying to rebuild their lives. It was tough work and some of the most physically strenuous work I have ever done. It mostly involved lifting concrete slabs then shovelling out the dirt that was filled with all kinds of debris, filling plastic bags and then transporting the bags to the designated dumping ground.
As the Dojo did not have shower facilities and the Be-One house only had cold water we had to bathe in a local Onsen. For anyone unfamiliar with a Japanese Onsen it is a public bath, where people pay to wash and then relax in a steaming hot communal bath...naked! I must admit Tuesday evening I really struggled with having to use the Onsen, I resented my forced naked exposure and was particularly uncomfortable with the public nudity, especially as children and adults bathed together (although in separate genders). However I put the experience into the bigger picture and the grand scheme of what we were doing in serving the local population and bringing hope to the area, as well as glorifying God through our service. As the week progressed I learnt to resent it less and refused to let it ruin my week of which I grew so much serving the local people and sharing fellowship with the other volunteers. It truly was a great time to bond with others in our common goal and vision to reflect God's love and grace to the people of Ishinomaki.
Ishinomaki itself was a surreal place - literally metres away from the Tsunami devastated areas, only a minutes drive away businesses and roads were reopened and life carried on. As we were digging out the drains there were even a few people living in the houses around us - in the middle of such destruction! Houses were left barely standing, entire walls and rooms ripped apart by the Tsunami - there were huge mounds of mangled metal from vehicles etc and boats deposited in the middle of buildings or left on the streets. The most emotive thing I encountered as I surveyed the ruination was a family's photo album - the photos damaged by the water. It was particularly evocative and moving as it was putting a human face to the tragedy of the Tsunami. I didn't know whether the family were dead, killed in the Tsunami, or had just fled the area. But it was a powerful reminder that there was an entire community in that area that had been swept away by the powerful force of nature.
On Wednesday afternoon we went down to the local park, which the Be-One team had salvaged and restored a few months earlier and invited the children to come out and play. It was such a blessing to bring joy to these young children, many of whom had witnessed people dying in the Tsunami and to hear them laughing and seeing the smiles on their faces. I was incredibly thankful to God that in a small way we were able to bring happiness into their lives and let them be children again. We played tag and ball games and had face painting and guitar lessons. At the end of the afternoon we gave all the children that wanted one a pack of Christian children's books and note pad and colouring pencils.
On Thursday something rather bizarre and exciting yet alarming happened. I went with a small group of men to transport an elderly couples furniture to their new temporary residence on the outskirts of the city; on our way back we were pulled over by the police! As the van only had three seats in the cab of the van, I was riding in the back with another team member, who happened to be our team leader. The police pulled us over for the violation but unfortunately we had hardly any identification on us. I didn't have my passport or wallet on me as they were back at the Dojo and Chad our leader didn't have his foreigner ID card on him. To make matters worse we didn't have all the legal paperwork in the van we needed either! Thankfully the police only gave us a warning and we got away without a ticket. It was a wake up call to not take liberties with the road laws but at the same time we were frustrated because we were there for a good cause. Nevertheless God blessed our service and our outreach.
On Saturday it was a particularly hot day and my body finally succumbed to the nature of the work; I became dehydrated and I felt light headed as well as the circulation in my hands was effected. I had a strange throbbing sensation in my hands and what felt like pins and needles. After lunch and drinking a lot of fluids I felt much better and the sensation in my hands had gone. But I took it easy in the afternoon not pushing myself. Sunday I returned, but as we got back so late I had missed the last train home from Kyoto. Very kindly Catherine let me stay in her apartment complex as there was a spare room. We arrived back in Kyoto at one am in the morning, absolutely shattered! Earlier today, as I was already in Kyoto and had nothing planned, Catherine and I went and did some site seeing. Catherine took me to Nijo Castle, a fabulous historical castle complete with traditional Japanese architecture. It was very exciting to walk around the halls where the Shogun once walked with the Feudal lords. We also went to one of the more historical quarters of the ancient capital and passed through a large Shinto Shrine. I was extremely grateful to Catherine for giving up her own time to show me the city.
Finally I had to take a bus from Catherine's apartment to Kyoto train station and then get a train to Ono where Peter came and picked me up. After the last 24 hours I was very glad to be back in my temporary home while here in Japan. But I have had an amazing week, giving and helping the people of Tohoku as well as making new friends and sharing new experiences with other missionaries from around Japan.
"Am I only in this to feel comfort - without pain I'd never know what comfort was." War of Ages 'When Faith turns to Ashes'
Please give thanks to God for the following:
1. The relief work of the Be-One team in Tohoku and their extraordinary witness to the local people
2. That I am home safe
Please pray for the following:
1. That more missionaries and church groups as well as non-Christians would feel convicted to go and help in the relief work in Tohoku
2. That many people in Ishinomaki would come to faith through the witness and service of the several Christian groups working there
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Vertebraille: Choke that thief called dependence
So I have been in Japan for just over a week and have completed two of the three camps. The first camp was for primary school children and the second for families. My duties for the family camp primarily involved cleaning the toilets and making sure there was enough boiled drinking water. However other duties included lifeguard, carpenter and sound engineer! On Friday evening we built a makeshift stage and Catherine gave a wonderful Harp performance. We built a camp fire and had hand held fireworks that the children played with. Not at the same time as Catherine's concert of course! With the rhythm of the waves caressing the shore and the Harp's therapeutic melodies it was the perfect way to relax after what was a long and busy day.
I also met some of the other missionaries and learnt that Japanese social groups are extremely partisan; the Japanese are a very cliquey set of people. As such the society is very fractured and many Japanese are apparently very lonely. Most of the newcomers to the Church have been people who do not conform to a social clique such as housewives, the retired or young mothers. Social groups are very important to the Japanese and are usually based on standards of education or employment. On the one hand it is good the Church can facilitate the longing by some Japanese for acceptance and fellowship, but on the other it is sad that the Japanese in general are so discriminatory towards their own people.
Well I am blistered, sunburnt and aching after 5 days of camping and ground working and tomorrow we go to Tohoku for six days to help clear houses and aiding in other cleaning operations going on in this region. But what gives me strength is reflecting on what Jesus said to His disciples at the Last Supper that He came not to be served but to serve and washed His disciples feet as proof. I worship a servant King and Jesus' example inspires me to carry on; I hope that these experiences help me to become more Christ-like.
Earlier today I took the train (with instructions from Peter and Edi for which I was most grateful) to a nearby town called Heizan Sakamoto to the church there to give my testimony. I decided to use another new phrase that I've acquired: "Koko ni iru koto ga deki ureshii desu" - I am very happy to be here. The people there seemed to receive my token gesture of Japanese graciously. Afterwards there was a time for the 'peace' to be shared and I spoke to an American named John who was encouraged by my testimony. After the service had finished we ate lunch together. It was good to fellowship with some of the members of the church in Sakamoto and I spoke to an older gentleman about the similarities and differences in Japanese and British history as well as the two countries views on nationalism. Despite having many differences as I learn and reflect upon Japanese society the more I realise there are many similarities. These similarities are not always positive and it has helped me to see the reasons why it is also so hard to evangelise in Britain. Conversely I was encouraged by a testimony brought by one of the Korean missionaries at the church of a non-Christian woman who came to the family camp. She had text messaged the missionary saying how much she enjoyed the camp and how different it was to Buddhist camps she had gone to previously. She explained how much warmer, friendlier and brighter our camp was compared to her experiences of Buddhist camps. People here in Japan are desperately in need of God's love.
I have also been challenged by the WEC missionaries lifestyle of faith. They do not have a salary and trust God for all their needs; Ben was able to share some amazing testimonies of how God has provided when they had practically no money. It is a step of faith I am still uncertain I could take, but certainly it is inspirational how faithful God is.
We must get up early tomorrow morning, for around 5 am in order to travel to Osaka to collect the van we have been allocated to drive up to Tohoku - the journey itself to Tohoku will take roughly twelve hours so it will be a long day! Please continue to pray for the following:
1) physical strength for the work in Tohoku
2) for a thawing in Japanese social groups so that people are more embracing of each other and more open to the Gospel. The splintered nature of Japanese society makes evangelism very difficult as people are suspicious of others outside their social sphere.
I also met some of the other missionaries and learnt that Japanese social groups are extremely partisan; the Japanese are a very cliquey set of people. As such the society is very fractured and many Japanese are apparently very lonely. Most of the newcomers to the Church have been people who do not conform to a social clique such as housewives, the retired or young mothers. Social groups are very important to the Japanese and are usually based on standards of education or employment. On the one hand it is good the Church can facilitate the longing by some Japanese for acceptance and fellowship, but on the other it is sad that the Japanese in general are so discriminatory towards their own people.
Well I am blistered, sunburnt and aching after 5 days of camping and ground working and tomorrow we go to Tohoku for six days to help clear houses and aiding in other cleaning operations going on in this region. But what gives me strength is reflecting on what Jesus said to His disciples at the Last Supper that He came not to be served but to serve and washed His disciples feet as proof. I worship a servant King and Jesus' example inspires me to carry on; I hope that these experiences help me to become more Christ-like.
Earlier today I took the train (with instructions from Peter and Edi for which I was most grateful) to a nearby town called Heizan Sakamoto to the church there to give my testimony. I decided to use another new phrase that I've acquired: "Koko ni iru koto ga deki ureshii desu" - I am very happy to be here. The people there seemed to receive my token gesture of Japanese graciously. Afterwards there was a time for the 'peace' to be shared and I spoke to an American named John who was encouraged by my testimony. After the service had finished we ate lunch together. It was good to fellowship with some of the members of the church in Sakamoto and I spoke to an older gentleman about the similarities and differences in Japanese and British history as well as the two countries views on nationalism. Despite having many differences as I learn and reflect upon Japanese society the more I realise there are many similarities. These similarities are not always positive and it has helped me to see the reasons why it is also so hard to evangelise in Britain. Conversely I was encouraged by a testimony brought by one of the Korean missionaries at the church of a non-Christian woman who came to the family camp. She had text messaged the missionary saying how much she enjoyed the camp and how different it was to Buddhist camps she had gone to previously. She explained how much warmer, friendlier and brighter our camp was compared to her experiences of Buddhist camps. People here in Japan are desperately in need of God's love.
I have also been challenged by the WEC missionaries lifestyle of faith. They do not have a salary and trust God for all their needs; Ben was able to share some amazing testimonies of how God has provided when they had practically no money. It is a step of faith I am still uncertain I could take, but certainly it is inspirational how faithful God is.
We must get up early tomorrow morning, for around 5 am in order to travel to Osaka to collect the van we have been allocated to drive up to Tohoku - the journey itself to Tohoku will take roughly twelve hours so it will be a long day! Please continue to pray for the following:
1) physical strength for the work in Tohoku
2) for a thawing in Japanese social groups so that people are more embracing of each other and more open to the Gospel. The splintered nature of Japanese society makes evangelism very difficult as people are suspicious of others outside their social sphere.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
The Latter Rain
Well the first of three camps is over. I am back for a short respite tonight and a return to modernity before going back bright and early tomorrow morning for the start of the next camp. We drove up to the site Tuesday morning and to my surprise the facilities were very basic! The camp is situated on the other side of the lake to where I am staying, it is quite small with only a few buildings. There are two communal shower rooms that only have cold water, one for boys and the other for girls; there are also two sets of port-a-loos too (and not Western style - Japanese style, which are let's say... on second thought I'll let you google traditional Japanese toilets). For all three camps I am a 'ground worker', which basically means an odd jobs man. Our primary job and purpose is to ensure there is clean drinking water on site. The water is collected from a spring nearby the site that comes down from the hill. However the water must first be boiled to make it clean to drink. So several times a day we have to fill two cisterns with water that is pumped from the spring, boil it then fill kettles and place them in the stream to cool off ready to drink. In order to make the water more palatable tea is added. So for the past three days I've been drinking nothing but cold tea with the occasional fruit juice at meal times. There's nothing quite like camping old skool!
But despite the nature of the camps it has been rewarding to serve. I have been reflecting on Paul's metaphor for the Church as the body and how we all have different, but equally important roles to play. Naturally due to the language barrier I cannot teach, but I can boil water and build camp fires and lug tables about. I am here to serve and I am grateful to God for this opportunity to be able to serve in this way. Without clean, drinkable water they wouldn't be able to run the camp, so it is an incredibly important job in order to enable the leaders to teach.
I also met Ben who I originally contacted about joining WEC Japan for a short term mission. It has been very insightful again discussing the particular needs and issues that arise when evangelising in Japan. He was able to confirm some of my first impressions and I was also able to learn more from him about just how difficult it is to reach the Japanese people with the Gospel. Religion and culture have amalgamated into one in Japan, so even though people think of themselves as irreligious, their actions and traditions are in fact steeped in the religions of Buddhism and Shintoism. For example every house when it is first built has a Shinto dedication ceremony and there are Shinto shrines in the rice fields to try and produce a good crop. The teacher/student hierarchical relationship is also very ingrained into the Japanese culture, which effects the dynamic of the Japanese Church. Bible studies are difficult as most Japanese Christians just expect the leader of the study to teach them the interpretation rather than exploring the meaning together. This has even greater ramifications for witnessing and evangelising - there is still a great dependence from the average Japanese Christian on the pastor or missionary doing the evangelism.
But I have also observed that it doesn't matter which part of the world you are in some things stay the same - children like to play, women wear makeup, people have a sense of humour and everyone likes to eat! Though there are many things that are distinctly Japanese, some basic things are inherent in every human being. I am growing far more accustomed to the look and feel of the country now. I was thankful to one of the other short term workers staying with us that he was able to show me around Katata, a nearby town to where we are staying. I sampled a Japanese nectarine, which was larger than the ones found in England and was very juicy and sweet. He also took me to a Sushi restaurant, where I ate several types of Sushi, some for the first time. I have liked everything I have eaten here in Japan, most of it involving rice to a greater or lesser degree. The food appears simple yet very refined. I have also acquired a few new phrases in Japanese that I have been using but they will take much more practice before they are embedded in my memory and I can pronounce them correctly. "Oishii des" means this is delicious (a very handy phrase to know) and just yesterday I was taught how to say how old I am: "watashi wa niju gos si des".
The second camp is slightly shorter and runs from Friday to Saturday and then on Sunday I am giving my testimony in one of the WEC churches before Monday morning we go to Tohoku to help with the earthquake relief work. Thank you those of you who are praying for me; please continue to pray for the following:
1. That I am able to handle any further culture shock that may arise from the Tohoku trip.
2. For my personal safety while in Tohoku
3. That God would raise up Japanese Christians filled with the Holy Spirit to go out and plant new churches across the country. I believe this is vital for the future of Christianity in Japan.
I hope to be able to write one more blog before we go off to Tohoku as we will be away for a week without internet access.
"A blanket of deception is layered on sacred writings which contain the thoughts of the One who is Almighty God. A sword unsheathed is drawn bringing legions of demons to their knees by the covenant prepared before the earth itself. Still so many choose to warm themselves beneath deception. As the end draws near and history closes I pray that the winds and the rain of that which is latter, will bring clarity and understanding to Your infallible Word. Let the lack of knowledge that destroys us be lifted in Your name." Zao 'The Latter Rain'
But despite the nature of the camps it has been rewarding to serve. I have been reflecting on Paul's metaphor for the Church as the body and how we all have different, but equally important roles to play. Naturally due to the language barrier I cannot teach, but I can boil water and build camp fires and lug tables about. I am here to serve and I am grateful to God for this opportunity to be able to serve in this way. Without clean, drinkable water they wouldn't be able to run the camp, so it is an incredibly important job in order to enable the leaders to teach.
I also met Ben who I originally contacted about joining WEC Japan for a short term mission. It has been very insightful again discussing the particular needs and issues that arise when evangelising in Japan. He was able to confirm some of my first impressions and I was also able to learn more from him about just how difficult it is to reach the Japanese people with the Gospel. Religion and culture have amalgamated into one in Japan, so even though people think of themselves as irreligious, their actions and traditions are in fact steeped in the religions of Buddhism and Shintoism. For example every house when it is first built has a Shinto dedication ceremony and there are Shinto shrines in the rice fields to try and produce a good crop. The teacher/student hierarchical relationship is also very ingrained into the Japanese culture, which effects the dynamic of the Japanese Church. Bible studies are difficult as most Japanese Christians just expect the leader of the study to teach them the interpretation rather than exploring the meaning together. This has even greater ramifications for witnessing and evangelising - there is still a great dependence from the average Japanese Christian on the pastor or missionary doing the evangelism.
But I have also observed that it doesn't matter which part of the world you are in some things stay the same - children like to play, women wear makeup, people have a sense of humour and everyone likes to eat! Though there are many things that are distinctly Japanese, some basic things are inherent in every human being. I am growing far more accustomed to the look and feel of the country now. I was thankful to one of the other short term workers staying with us that he was able to show me around Katata, a nearby town to where we are staying. I sampled a Japanese nectarine, which was larger than the ones found in England and was very juicy and sweet. He also took me to a Sushi restaurant, where I ate several types of Sushi, some for the first time. I have liked everything I have eaten here in Japan, most of it involving rice to a greater or lesser degree. The food appears simple yet very refined. I have also acquired a few new phrases in Japanese that I have been using but they will take much more practice before they are embedded in my memory and I can pronounce them correctly. "Oishii des" means this is delicious (a very handy phrase to know) and just yesterday I was taught how to say how old I am: "watashi wa niju gos si des".
The second camp is slightly shorter and runs from Friday to Saturday and then on Sunday I am giving my testimony in one of the WEC churches before Monday morning we go to Tohoku to help with the earthquake relief work. Thank you those of you who are praying for me; please continue to pray for the following:
1. That I am able to handle any further culture shock that may arise from the Tohoku trip.
2. For my personal safety while in Tohoku
3. That God would raise up Japanese Christians filled with the Holy Spirit to go out and plant new churches across the country. I believe this is vital for the future of Christianity in Japan.
I hope to be able to write one more blog before we go off to Tohoku as we will be away for a week without internet access.
"A blanket of deception is layered on sacred writings which contain the thoughts of the One who is Almighty God. A sword unsheathed is drawn bringing legions of demons to their knees by the covenant prepared before the earth itself. Still so many choose to warm themselves beneath deception. As the end draws near and history closes I pray that the winds and the rain of that which is latter, will bring clarity and understanding to Your infallible Word. Let the lack of knowledge that destroys us be lifted in Your name." Zao 'The Latter Rain'
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Breathing in a new Mentality
So my first blog from the land of the rising sun, it's a little earlier than I was anticipating due to the fact that I am going to be pretty busy for the rest of the week helping out at two camps. Well first impressions - I left Osaka airport and bought myself a bus ticket for Kyoto station, thankfully the ticket machine had an English option so that I understood what I was buying. The journey from the airport to Kyoto station took roughly 70 minutes, the bus travelled along some highway that cut straight through the middle of Osaka and into Kyoto. On one side were harbours, fishing vessels and warehouses and on the other houses and offices at the foot of tree covered hills (they looked mountainous to me but then I am from Essex!). The geography of the cities was a little confusing to me, there seemed to be no rhyme or reason, just a random assortment of houses, office blocks, factories, warehouses and sky scrapers. The houses were small and the streets very narrow, some looked old and others looked new all in the same vicinity. I was later informed that it is traditional for generations of families to build on the same plot of land thus having the old and new living next door to each other.
I was picked up by Peter Wilson and another missionary, a Chinese man also called Peter. We drove out of Kyoto and into Shiga where they live. By this point I had spent well over a day travelling by some means or another and was looking forward to seeing where they lived. Eventually after running some errands we finally got back to the Wilson's house, where I met the rest of his family. Japanese towns are quite different to British ones. Firstly Japanese towns don't use road names, only numbers which just seems to make all roads look the same. This was particularly disorienting to me as any of you who know me well, know that spatial awareness is not my strong suit. I spent the rest of the day feeling very disoriented. That evening we went to a firework display by the shore of the lake. The firework display was very impressive, although I was told it wasn't the biggest one they put on in the Summer. Nevertheless it was a nice way to say welcome to the country! The fireworks reminded me of the Soul Survivor song 'Light the Sky' and I couldn't help but reflect on the lyrics as I watched combinations of different coloured fireworks illuminate the night. My prayer that evening was that Japan would know the light of the world.
While I was very happy to finally be in Japan my first day was a little overwhelming. I guess that's what they mean by culture shock and I knew that I was bound to experience it, even if only minimally. Some of the shops look quite garish by British standards with their flamboyant, bright colours and cartoon mascots. Kanji too is impossible to decypher without studying it first. That was probably the most powerful feeling of culture shock, not being able to interpret or understand anything. Peter and Edi have three children all of whom are learning Kanji as well as English and I realised that I didn't even have a child's level of knowledge or understanding about the culture - it was truly infantile! However yesterday I felt much better as I adjusted to my new surroundings.
I went along to the Wilson's church yesterday, an outdoor service held by the shore of the lake. It was a beautiful backdrop of cloud covered hilltops and reminded me very much of the lake district. At least that is the closest comparison I can make with England. We sat under a home made canopy and Edi kindly translated the words of the songs from Kanji into Romanji so at least I could pronounce the words even if I didn't understand them; she then translated Peter's sermon for me. Afterwards we had a BBQ which was a mixture of Asian and Western food. Needless to say I enjoyed it. So far I am only able to use a handful of phrases such as good morning 'ohio gozaimas', thank you 'arigato' and I am English 'Watashi wa igirisujin des'. As learning fluent Japanese in three weeks is nigh on impossible the best I can expect is to learn some polite phrases to get me by, unfortunately this limits conversation and dialogue is very difficult unless I want to have the most one sided conversations in the world where I just regurgitate every single bit of Japanese I've picked up LOL! This was no better illustrated then after the the BBQ when I had to wait behind as there was not enough room in the car for all of us; the couple whose garden we were using by the lake invited me into their house to wait, but they spoke practically no English. There was a lot of awkwardness and confusion (in a humorous way) as they spoke to me in Japanese desparately wanting me to understand only to be met by a blank expression on my face and a reluctant shrug of the shoulders as I conceded I didn't have a clue what they were saying. Thankfully Peter turned up after not too long and he was able to translate my apology to them for not knowing enough Japanese and my gratitude for their hospitality.
Japanese homes are very different to British ones and mostly for very practical reasons. Traditional Japanese homes do not have a lot of furniture but this is a good thing if ever the event of an earthquake. It makes sense. Traditional homes also have a low table where they sit and relax as well as eat. It suddenly put my sitting kata in Aiki JuJutsu into perspective as I realised just how practical the self defence tecniques from our knees would have been historically in Japan. The Japanese also have a very strict etiquette in their homes - shoes are not to be worn indoors as the space is considered 'clean'. Toilets also include 'toilet slippers' to be worn as the space is 'unclean'. They are very particular about these codes of polity. But as the old saying goes manners cost nothing and it's no skin off my nose to be polite.
My initial impression of Japan is mixed - on the one hand I am delighted to be in this distant country, full of beautiful scenary, slowly learning their language and customs and embracing their culture; but on the other hand I am experiencing all of this with a tinge of sadness that the people of the country are so closed to the Gospel. Having spoken to Peter about his experiences in his twenty plus years as a missionary here I was sad to learn there has been no dramatic rise in numbers of converts in the Japanese churches. The Japanese are growing increasingly secular and individualistic and there is a lot of indifference to religion in general of which Christianity seems to be suffering inadvertently the most. This is compounded by the fact that Christianity is still viewed with suspicion as a 'Western religion'. This seems particularly sad when China and Korea have experienced tremendous revivals. As I've been reflecting on these things I have been seeking guidance through scripture as well as wisdom from the Holy Spirit, whom the Bible calls the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Please pray for the following things:
1. That I would overcome any further culture shock
2. That I would be kept safe when we go up to Tohoku next week to help with the earthquake relief work
3. That I would keep on keeping on - for ways to recharge my spiritual batteries and to stay close to God and sensitive to His Holy Spirit
4. Lastly that more Chinese and Korean missionaries would feel the call to Japan - I really think this is important to break the stereotype that Christianity is distinctly and uniquely Western.
I will try to post another blog Sunday afternoon before we go up to Tohoku next Monday, I am thinking about you all and keep you in my prayers.
I was picked up by Peter Wilson and another missionary, a Chinese man also called Peter. We drove out of Kyoto and into Shiga where they live. By this point I had spent well over a day travelling by some means or another and was looking forward to seeing where they lived. Eventually after running some errands we finally got back to the Wilson's house, where I met the rest of his family. Japanese towns are quite different to British ones. Firstly Japanese towns don't use road names, only numbers which just seems to make all roads look the same. This was particularly disorienting to me as any of you who know me well, know that spatial awareness is not my strong suit. I spent the rest of the day feeling very disoriented. That evening we went to a firework display by the shore of the lake. The firework display was very impressive, although I was told it wasn't the biggest one they put on in the Summer. Nevertheless it was a nice way to say welcome to the country! The fireworks reminded me of the Soul Survivor song 'Light the Sky' and I couldn't help but reflect on the lyrics as I watched combinations of different coloured fireworks illuminate the night. My prayer that evening was that Japan would know the light of the world.
While I was very happy to finally be in Japan my first day was a little overwhelming. I guess that's what they mean by culture shock and I knew that I was bound to experience it, even if only minimally. Some of the shops look quite garish by British standards with their flamboyant, bright colours and cartoon mascots. Kanji too is impossible to decypher without studying it first. That was probably the most powerful feeling of culture shock, not being able to interpret or understand anything. Peter and Edi have three children all of whom are learning Kanji as well as English and I realised that I didn't even have a child's level of knowledge or understanding about the culture - it was truly infantile! However yesterday I felt much better as I adjusted to my new surroundings.
I went along to the Wilson's church yesterday, an outdoor service held by the shore of the lake. It was a beautiful backdrop of cloud covered hilltops and reminded me very much of the lake district. At least that is the closest comparison I can make with England. We sat under a home made canopy and Edi kindly translated the words of the songs from Kanji into Romanji so at least I could pronounce the words even if I didn't understand them; she then translated Peter's sermon for me. Afterwards we had a BBQ which was a mixture of Asian and Western food. Needless to say I enjoyed it. So far I am only able to use a handful of phrases such as good morning 'ohio gozaimas', thank you 'arigato' and I am English 'Watashi wa igirisujin des'. As learning fluent Japanese in three weeks is nigh on impossible the best I can expect is to learn some polite phrases to get me by, unfortunately this limits conversation and dialogue is very difficult unless I want to have the most one sided conversations in the world where I just regurgitate every single bit of Japanese I've picked up LOL! This was no better illustrated then after the the BBQ when I had to wait behind as there was not enough room in the car for all of us; the couple whose garden we were using by the lake invited me into their house to wait, but they spoke practically no English. There was a lot of awkwardness and confusion (in a humorous way) as they spoke to me in Japanese desparately wanting me to understand only to be met by a blank expression on my face and a reluctant shrug of the shoulders as I conceded I didn't have a clue what they were saying. Thankfully Peter turned up after not too long and he was able to translate my apology to them for not knowing enough Japanese and my gratitude for their hospitality.
Japanese homes are very different to British ones and mostly for very practical reasons. Traditional Japanese homes do not have a lot of furniture but this is a good thing if ever the event of an earthquake. It makes sense. Traditional homes also have a low table where they sit and relax as well as eat. It suddenly put my sitting kata in Aiki JuJutsu into perspective as I realised just how practical the self defence tecniques from our knees would have been historically in Japan. The Japanese also have a very strict etiquette in their homes - shoes are not to be worn indoors as the space is considered 'clean'. Toilets also include 'toilet slippers' to be worn as the space is 'unclean'. They are very particular about these codes of polity. But as the old saying goes manners cost nothing and it's no skin off my nose to be polite.
My initial impression of Japan is mixed - on the one hand I am delighted to be in this distant country, full of beautiful scenary, slowly learning their language and customs and embracing their culture; but on the other hand I am experiencing all of this with a tinge of sadness that the people of the country are so closed to the Gospel. Having spoken to Peter about his experiences in his twenty plus years as a missionary here I was sad to learn there has been no dramatic rise in numbers of converts in the Japanese churches. The Japanese are growing increasingly secular and individualistic and there is a lot of indifference to religion in general of which Christianity seems to be suffering inadvertently the most. This is compounded by the fact that Christianity is still viewed with suspicion as a 'Western religion'. This seems particularly sad when China and Korea have experienced tremendous revivals. As I've been reflecting on these things I have been seeking guidance through scripture as well as wisdom from the Holy Spirit, whom the Bible calls the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Please pray for the following things:
1. That I would overcome any further culture shock
2. That I would be kept safe when we go up to Tohoku next week to help with the earthquake relief work
3. That I would keep on keeping on - for ways to recharge my spiritual batteries and to stay close to God and sensitive to His Holy Spirit
4. Lastly that more Chinese and Korean missionaries would feel the call to Japan - I really think this is important to break the stereotype that Christianity is distinctly and uniquely Western.
I will try to post another blog Sunday afternoon before we go up to Tohoku next Monday, I am thinking about you all and keep you in my prayers.
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