Japanese Contacts

So, Dr. Krabbendam arrived last night. Isaiah picked him up from the airport, and he has already told Isaiah & I go for Uganda rather than Japan. "Half the money and twice the converts," he told Isaiah. Wow! This man loves the people he's called to, and he'll stop at nothing to continue the revival that has started there. It is my constant prayer that Isaiah & I feel this passionate about Japan even when we get into our 80's. I love Dr. K's constant fervor and zeal for his people. I hope that we will one day be recruiting as fervently for our country....for Japan. Because honestly, we long to be in Japan. Uganda may lend more conversions, but we long to work in the hard soil of the Japanese. I think of this country and its people more everyday.

In addition to getting our first supporter this past week (a friend in prayer and one ready to give financially even before Isaiah & I are officially accepted to minister in Japan), we also gained a contact here in Wildwood! He's a tattoo artist on the Boardwalk who is a Missionary Kid from Japan. He still lives in Tokyo and moved here for the summer to minister to the people of New Jersey much like Isaiah & I did. Only, let's get real, this guy is way cooler than us. Like I sort of wish I was him. He's a tattoo artist ministering to his boss, telling him how believing in the talking snake of the Garden is no crazier than holding to the fact that a monkey moved a mountain, and his dad is Canadian and Japanese, and he's just awesome.

We hope he comes back often and that we can talk with him more. He says he has many contacts he wishes to give us. He also said he believes the Spirit meant us to meet each other. We also did already have this great talk about the shame & guilt within the Japanese culture. And let me tell you something, friends, the shame that I had felt throughout my life ain't got nothin' on the weight of shame in Japan. I weep for the weight these people feel. No wonder the suicide rate is so high. When you commit a wrong there, you have disgraced yourself, your family, your community, and your entire culture & country by giving it a bad name. That's what I call weight of sin, shame, and guilt! The people in this culture really need to feel the freedom of being God's Children and the utter joy of receiving the Holy Spirit. They need to be infused with light--light that can conquer the dark clouds reigning over the heads and the shame hanging on their backs.

Isaiah & I continue to pray for ministry here in Wildwood and for Missions in Japan. I am currently reading a book called "The Unseen Face of Japan" and am learning so very much that I didn't know about this culture we feel drawn but do not yet understand.

Keep us in your prayers for Japan and also for this summer. The folks on staff are beautiful but broken (much like all of God's favorite things!), and they need love and grace spoken by the Spirit into their lives. Pray that I will continue to have the emotional strength to minister & love well and that when the going get's rough I will depend on God & my husband rather than on myself. We love you all and shall update you more soon.