From the moment I first heard about NHM’s summer mission to Japan, I felt an instant tugging on my heart to go. It was as though God was telling me that it was my opportunity to show him just how much I love him and his people, and how much I desire to be obedient to him (even if it means going to the ends of the earth). I was totally amazed by God’s perfect planning, both of the trip and of my spiritual wellness. Had I known of such an opportunity a year ago, or even 8 months ago, I likely wouldn’t have been ready due to some backsliding. But having seen just how patient God had been with me and the way in which his hand has been guiding me, I knew that I had to be obedient to him calling me to go forth on this mission’s trip.
As I prayerfully thought out my contribution to the team and the nation in which we’d be serving in, God started to bring to mind all of my past connections with Japan. He also started to grow a passion within me for the people of Japan. I also started to sense that God might have a greater plan for my life in sending me to Japan on this short-term mission’s trip. From that time forth, God started to give me visions about serving in Japan as a full-time missionary, however I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions.
As we began our weekly meetings to prepare for the trip, I found God both stretching and strengthening each of the members on this team. It was a blessing to discover everyone’s various giftings and abilities, and to see how they could be used in Japan. Likewise, I was encouraged to be able to serve in my areas of gifting and to see how God could use me in the areas in which I felt weak (i.e. languages).
From the moment we arrived in Japan, I felt warmly received by the members of the church where we’d be serving. We also got to partake in their house churches, which was a truly blessed experience.
Our main ministry in going to Japan was running an English VBS for children in the neighbourhood. So, I was a slightly stunned when there were no children in my age group to be taught. Nevertheless, I knew that God had another plan. I became the co-teacher in another classroom, however, that posed to be a personal challenge and learning experience because of differences in our teaching styles.
I was also stretched and challenged by our outreach experiences and the opportunity in which I had to share my testimony.
This mission’s trip had the potential to be both physically and spiritually exhausting, however despite my exhaustion I was truly blessed by this experience. In the end, I felt more blessed than I was perhaps able to give. I plan to return to Japan in the future, but I don’t know when or what I’ll exactly be doing.
No comments:
Post a Comment