The week continues to go very well.
We continue to prayer walk around the neighborhood. We are finding out more and more how extremely important this is. Every year the Buddhist temples carry their gods around each neighborhood and dedicate the neighborhood to their protection. The people take part in this event and join the praying and parading. These neighborhoods and the people in the have literally been dedicated to false gods, demonic forces. Please continue to pray for protection for us as we claim them for Jesus!
Ethan spoke to two different ladies groups today, sharing the parable of the Good Samaritan. This story is especially potent because the women of Japan seem to be buying into the self-help non-sense that states you first have to clean up yourself before you can help others. As Christians we understand that God meets us where we are at and continues to use us for His glory, despite ourselves! Please pray that the women’s hearts will be open to His word and find their true meaning in Christ.
We presented the gospel message to the kids tonight in skit form. The really cool thing was that the mothers of all the children sitting in the back continue to listen in on what we are saying. During the skit we observed the women of the church here in Nagoya leaning over and explaining the Cross to the unchurched mothers. What an awesome thing to know that this is highly likely the first time many of these kids and women have heard the Gospel!
Don’t forget to check out the photo pages link in the previous blogs
Please leave encouraging comments on the blog so that we can share them with the team and know that our people at home are following us!
July 12, 2009 at 8:58 pm |
I hope everybody in Japan is doing well. I think you are struggling with hot and humid weather. I pary that God keeps watching everyone, so that you stay in healthy and His strenthness. I understand that it is hard to communicate. But, language is not a matter to show God’s Love. Thank and love you, team !!
By the way, I do not think Mai could not join. She has gotten sick since she left in OC. I think she is bad at this moment. I could not reach her though.
July 13, 2009 at 9:23 pm |
Ethan,
I’m so floored by this entry! That parable holds a special place in my heart as it pertains to my story of salvation and reconciliation with the truth of who God created me to be and HOW and WHERE he loves me: unconditionally and right where I am.
What a blessing. Thank you for sharing this blog with me. Keep updating!
Christina
drink coffee. do good.
July 14, 2009 at 3:48 pm |
Cool story about Ethan teaching the women about the good Samaritan. It was neat to read some details about the kinds of thinking that are influencing people over there. Funny you should mention the ‘clean yourself up’ dilema, and the way that God meets us where we are at and still uses us. I have been pondering John 21 lately, where Jesus comes and meets Peter, who is despondent over denying the Lord, and he lovingly appeals to him to return to tending his sheep. This is exactly what you are talking about. He calls us, sinners thru and thru, to be his servants. This is humbling forginess. This is good news, indeed! I’ll be praying for this mindset to take root in Nagoya. May the Lord bless you as you continue to testify to Jesus!