Preparing for Japan
When I received the call to Japan, many thoughts began to cross my mind. I started to consider all of the things that I needed to do to prepare for the journey. Learning the Japanese language and culture were of course two of the things that came to mind. However, before I received the calling, the Lord began to prepare me spiritually first. Until recently, I didn’t recognize the direct connection between the daily scriptural outpourings and our calling. But I see it now. God refined my understanding of His truths in two particular areas - what is salvation, and what is the church. The two understandings are both key parts of the gospel message and must be of particular importance to the Japanese. I won’t spend time repeating them here, but it is important to note their significance in our calling. I have attempted to capture these understandings in Thoughts on Salvation, and Thoughts on the Church. I believe that first being prepared spiritually is consistent with what we find in scripture. When Paul had his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, the Lord didn’t send him to be educated by the Apostles in Jerusalem. Instead he sent Paul on to Damascus and revealed Himself and His truths and purposes directly to him. Likewise, Jesus directly discipled the twelve in the years that He walked with them here. During His time with his followers, He also made a universal appeal to anyone who would take on His yoke in Matthew 11, ‘Come to Me, all who are weak and heavy laden… Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.’ He is faithful to teach and to lead us as we come, trust and follow Him. And, in my opinion, the messianic prophecy in Ezekiel 34 of the “one shepherd” speaks of the time that we are blessed to be part of - His building and leading the church.
“I will feed my flock and I will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord God. “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick”
“Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.”
Ezekiel 34:15-16, 23-24
In regard to the Japanese language, Woody and I have continued to make an effort to learn both the written and spoken language through apps, an online class, flash cards, language textbook, and other sources with various degrees of success. We occasionally attend a Japanese church across the city that conducts its service in Japanese with English translation. Woody is doing better learning the Japanese language than I am, but we both, and me in particular, have much more work to do. In addition to being spiritually and mentally prepared, I also feel impressed that it is important to be a good representative of His kingdom in regard to how other people, the Japanese in particular, perceive me. Living in America, it’s easy to over indulge in just about everything. I have been at fault in overeating and was pretty overweight. I don’t want someone’s perception of His salvation or His kingdom hindered by something that is completely under my control. To counter being overweight, I started to walk my son’s dog a couple of times a day. Having his dog was particularly helpful since I don’t care to exercise for exercise sake. Additionally, Woody and I started to pay more attention to what we were eating. That coupled with several of my children and their spouses becoming aware of issues in the American diet, we were able to learn from them and make further adjustments. With these changes, I lost 25 pounds over a 3 year period. Although I have since added back a few pounds, I have been able to maintain a healthier weight, and more importantly, bring some fleshly habits under His lordship. Finally, Woody and I have set our hearts on learning about the country of Japan, their people and their culture. The Japanese public media organization, NHK, regularly generates English language programs that feature foods, festivals, travel destinations, religious practices, history, arts, and technology. We have become regular consumers of their programs. We also have read books and watched movies and programs depicting the culture. We joined a local Japanese cultural group and have attended Japanese festivals in San Antonio and Austin. We have additionally learned about the history of Christianity and the church in Japan. In looking back and reflecting on how we have been led to prepare, I was surprised to discover the connection between our preparation, and the command that He left us to love Him with our hearts, mind, soul and strength. I believe that He has led us, and is continuing to lead us, to prepare ourselves for Japan in every way. I pray that we will remain faithful in our preparation.
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