We have now been in Japan for 1 month and 1 day. There are days where I feel like I am in a hotel room in a strange city and other days where I feel like I have finally found a home for which I had been searching. While I have posted many pictures on Facebook about differences I see here, it is certainly for other reasons than eating Japanese food that we have traveled half-way around the world.
My husband spent 3 years in a boarding school while his parents were missionaries. I am thankful for those that cared for him so his parents could spread the gospel but also sad for times when he did not feel surrounded by those who cared. Jeremy and I are working on building relationships with our students so they can know we care about them. We have many students who are in Japan so that their parents can tell others about Jesus. Several of the students travel an hour each way on the train to get to school. We are to instruct them in science while telling them above the love of Jesus by showing them our love to them. These students are so precious and I wish I could tell you about each one of them. Many of them have hearts so full of God's love that their kindness is overflowing out of their lives. There are others who are well-planted Christians but still growing as young adults and trying to find their place.
We also have students who are at our school for a good American education. I had one student write about how he just pretended Bible class was a fairytale and that he thought all the stories in the Bible were make-believe. I had another student write about her Buddhist parents but how she is interested in knowing more about Jesus. We are here to be a living example of Christ's love. It is sometimes easy to tell someone quickly how to become a Christian but it is more difficult when they see you five days a week over many years. We must be that example.
Our school is an amazing place! For those who have worked in a Christian environment, you might have an idea. There is such love for others that permeates the lives of the staff that staff and students can't help but feel it. What kind of school has students that don't seem to want to go home? We do!
We are looking for ways to interact more in the Japanese community. I joined a weekly Japanese lesson at City Hall last week. We are still looking for other ways that we can begin to talk to those outside of the school about our faith.
Our first month of transition has been made very smooth thanks to the staff here. We hope we are now in a position where we can be of service to others. Our one year in Singapore made us aware that we will become more "homesick" in months to come, but we are prepared to weather the storm because we are here for a purpose.
