God has been working. This week alone He has led three non-Christian friends to open up to me about their problems. It just hit me that I'll be leaving soon and it makes me really sad. I can't think about saying bye to all these people. There are some relationships I have formed since the day I landed and there are others that have just started to bud... the thought of having to say 'sayonara' gets me teary-eyed. However, I pray and trust that the relationships will not end when I leave. If anything I think it is the start of a lifetime of prayer for them. I have committed to praying for them until they receive Jesus. Although I'm not sure when that will be exactly, I have faith that it will be soon. I can't say for certain that we'll keep in touch all that much, because reality is distance does play an important role, but this doesn't mean I won't try... I just have to understand that it won't be the same as when we're living in the same country. -_-; I'm getting sad just thinking about it, so we'll save the tears for later. Please join me in praying for the following people whom God has really impressed upon my heart to love dearly and pray desperately for:
Seto. He's my friend/younger brother from Japanese school (born in 1992; one year younger than my real brother). Background: came from China with his mother (who married a Japanese man) so that he can go to college in Japan. In February, I got to hang out with him on his birthday because it was his first year here and no one to celebrate with. -_-; After that day, we got really close and he started to confide in me about his struggles with loneliness in Japan. During my birthday party he told me that he had no hope. This made me really sad. He told me that he doesn't see the point in why he's alive (not that he wants to commit suicide or anything)... but he feels like he does the same things everyday. I told him that I probably would feel like that if I didn't know Jesus. I was able to share that I came to Japan as a missionary and told him to check out the Chinese church that a missionary in our class started. He seemed to be open to the idea and said that he would go. He's very busy with a part-time job everyday so pray that God will open up his schedule! Let's ask God to be Seto-kun's hope and reason for living!!! He's a dear brother and friend... I really hope that he can meet Jesus. I BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN!
Nayoung (top left in the blue shirt wearing glasses). She's one of the first girls I met here and befriended. In class, we were assigned seating by drawing chopsticks. On the third day of school, we got to sit next to each other. She was kinda shy but she tried to talk to me so I thought that was nice/cute of her. HAHA. After spending the first quarter together, she stopped coming to the language school because she found a part-time job. However, we still kept in touch because we have a group of us who always hang out. She's the same age as I and she had a traumatic experience (cult) when she was young and so for a long time she was scared of/hated the church. But now she is slowly opening up. Yesterday she came to Friday night service with me for the first time and she started crying as she shared about her current struggles. She is having a hard time here and she feels depressed. I asked her to pray to God and just be honest with Him about her past and present circumstances. I believe with all my heart that God is tugging at her heart. She is willing to seek God because things are tough and she sees no light at the end of the tunnel. However, I pray that God will use this opportunity to show her just how real He is and how much He loves her. I think she was really blessed yesterday but I ask that you will join me in interceding on her behalf. Let's pray that the Holy Spirit would heal all the pain/scars from her past and be her Ultimate Counselor. Please pray for her family and their salvation as well. She is one of the nicest girls I have ever met... she has a desire to seek God but I think she is stopping herself from being completely vulnerable before God. She is close to believing God... let's ask God to pour out His mercy, grace, and blessing upon her so that she can meet Jesus in Japan before she leaves (in September)!
Emily. She started coming out to church 3 weeks ago. Apparently, she used to come out when she was younger but stopped coming due to some issues in the family. Some say her sister has problems with violence. -_-; I think all she wants/needs is someone to reach out to her. I was able to have lunch with her and she seems to have taken a liking to me. :) I talked almost 95% of the time in my "work in progress" Japanese. HAHA. She seems a bit socially awkward (as in doesn't like to make eye contact with people)... but I am noticing that she is starting to smile a lot more! PRAISE GOD!!! I am hoping that I can reach out to her more and develop a closer relationship with her. I'm sad that she came into my life so late into my time here, but I don't think that time is an issue when God's at work! She is so beautiful and I hope that she can realize that for herself. She is such a precious daughter of God... chosen beloved. Please join me in asking God to open up her heart and letting Him heal her from the inside out. God has great plans for her!!!
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WOW... I'm excited to hear him speak at Passion: Tokyo (this Saturday, May, 22). Please pray that many Japanese will come to experience God at this one-day event! I have a feeling that this week will be spiritually tough because Satan wants to bring me down and keep me from getting blessed. Pray for me that I won't let the spiritual attacks get in the way of receiving God's vision, blessings, and calling through this concert. I have a feeling it's going to be AMAZINGGGGG!!!
I seriously got the chills while watching this clip...
“The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
