Spring 2022 Update

I know. It’s June (and some of you think it’s summer…but technically it is still spring 🙂).

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Tokyo, NOT Sendai…

I safely arrived in Japan in March and I have found permanent place to live in Toshima City, which is in the heart of Tokyo. I know many people were expecting me to live in Sendai (which is about a 220 miles north of Tokyo), but I was asked by SEND to consider living here during my first 4 years. The main reason for this request was to give me more opportunities to help the local church with video production since there is a greater concentration of churches in this area that use it.

As I considered this opportunity, I felt God’s Spirit leading me here for a few reasons. Living in Tokyo gives me greater access to language schools and established churches (and parachurch ministries). I may also have a smoother transition while I learn Japanese since there are more Japanese who speak English living in Tokyo. Ultimately, I feel that I am in a learning phase, and I need to first see how things are done here in Japan before I attempt to do the same.

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Backpack ✅ Textbooks ✅ Lunchbox 🤔

One of the greatest investments I will make in my desire to be a lifelong missionary here in Japan is to learn the language. Many experts believe that Japanese is one of the hardest languages for English speakers to learn and countless people have spent their whole life learning the language and would never consider themselves fluent.

Now that I have sufficiently lowered the bar of everyone’s expectations, I am happy to say that I will be starting language school this Monday, June 6th at Coto Language Academy in Iidabashi. I will be in whats called the “intensive“ classes. I will be going to school Monday through Friday for 3 hours each day (in addition to a few hours of homework each night!). I fully expect to go through cycles of learning, frustration, humility, and progress. I have heard it said that if I don’t cry at least once in class during my 2 year learning period then I’m not trying!

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Ministry Opportunities?

In addition to finding a place to live, and starting language school, I have had the opportunity to participate in many local ministries, reconnect with old friends, and make new friends.

One ministry in particular has captured my attention and I plan to invest most of my free time in it when I can. This ministry is located in a neighborhood of Minami (Tokyo). A Japanese Christian, who grew up in this neighborhood, owns an art studio there and opens it up on Fridays to friends, mothers, and the children living in this community. Missionaries are also invited and encouraged to interact with the Japanese that attend.

The environment is much like a coffee shop and is very relaxed. Children play, mothers talk, and the missionaries engage in conversation as the opportunities come up. The Japanese have a natural interest in understanding why we are here and enjoy talking with us. The owner of this homes believes that ministry is most effective towards the Japanese people through a genuine relationship, and provides a space for those relationships to develop.

For those of you who know me, you would know that I also feel the same way. Ministry is relational.

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Additional Proof I am in Japan 😉

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Please Pray for me:

1 - Please pray for my mind to be able to learn and understand the Japanese language, and for my mouth to be able to communicate effectively.

2 - Please pray for my heart to remain content and at peace through some of the stresses of learning a new language and living in a new culture. I don’t just want to survive, I want to thrive and be fruitful.

3 - I recently learned that I will need to raise about 10% more in support by 2023 (7 months from now). This was discouraging to hear, but I have already learned that when God calls us He also provides and equips us. Please pray for God to continue to provide for His work through me.