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Dear family and friends,
Shinjuku, one of the most significant and vibrant districts in the city of Tokyo, blends the ultra-modern with deep-rooted traditions. Last month, we got an opportunity to join a one-day culture learning “field trip” to some spots within the Shinjuku area. We are thankful that the tour leader, Takada, a Japanese pastor whose ministry focus is to reach out to the young adults in that area, introduced a contextualized perspective on culture, religions, and society.
Shrines and temples were built within or surrounded by dense and modern concrete jungle. People from all walks of life come and pray at any time of the day. It is not uncommon to find graveyards that are located inside the urban regions. When we were visiting a graveyard adjacent to a Buddhist temple, Pastor Takada told us that the surnames of the deceased on the gravestones might not be their real family names during lifetime. As Buddhists believe in the convictions of transmigration and samara, most Japanese adherents would pay a large amount of money to the temples so as to receive new and “more blessed” family names for ancestors and “speed up” the queue of ancestors’ reincarnation.
Nightclubs and pubs are easily found in a large area of Shinjuku. It is a popular place for young people, especially the wanderers who ran away from home or were abandoned by families. The entire district is inundated with street prostitution and drug abuse. There are two national pastors visiting that area regularly and trying to reach out the lost souls and lead them to the Lord. Unfortunately, those converted youths are hardly accepted by congregations of churches and find it difficult to have a “normal” church life. We are thankful and encouraged by the two pastors who consistently give care and share Jesus’s love at this special region of the city. Giving thanks to God for letting us have a better understanding of the culture, history, and social condition of a small portion in Tokyo metropolitan area. We pray that God sends more workers to share the Good News and draws people to Himself.
While Japanese language learning is the focus of our ministry at this period of missionary service, we seize every opportunity to know and connect with Chinese-speaking people around us. Chinese-speaking people group is currently the largest group of foreign residents in Japan. Early July, we celebrated the baptism of a Chinese sister who became Christian in the Japanese church we are attending. It was such a great joy to praise God for His gracious and wonderful work of life transformation.
One Sunday, a church of Taiwanese congregation invited Rev. James Hudson Taylor IV to be a guest speaker. We are grateful to attend that worship service and were encouraged by the message. In particular, he urged the unity of churches in Japan and challenged every believer’s readiness to witness Jesus in any circumstances.
In the morning of July 30, a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Russia’s far eastern coast, where it is close to Japan. Tsunami warnings were issued in Japan, and more than two million people had been urged to evacuate. Trains and air traffic were disrupted across the country. We pray for God’s mercy and comfort to those affected in the disaster.
Since June, like in many places around the world, we have been experiencing an extremely hot summer, with high humidity, which broke the record. Your prayer for our adjustment to the new environment and culture in this first year of missionary service in Japan is very appreciated.
We sincerely thank you for your care, support, and fervent prayer lifting us up. Without your continued prayer, it is impossible for us to serve on the field. Many blessings!
Serving together for the Kingdom of God,