Isaiah and I arrived in Nagoya, Japan on Sunday around 3pm. Jeremy Sink very graciously picked us up. We had planned on being here Saturday but Delta airlines in Detroit cancelled the flight. (However, we got vouchers and a full night's sleep on a mattress, so no lasting complaints here.) We met Jeremy's wife Gina near a local park where the Sakura blossoms were in perfect bloom and hanami (cherry blossom watching!) was on full display. People were lying on tarps and picnic blankets, eating KFC and sushi and watching the sakura above them as they fellowshipped together. It was truly the perfect introduction to Japan! We have been told that we came at the perfect time for this as well. God is kind indeed. For dinner, we ate at the most delicious Indian restaurant I have ever been to. The curry was to die for! We then returned home to the Grace House (a local share house) with plans for Jeremy to pick us up in the morning for a tour of Nagoya and introduction to the subway station.
We enjoyed our first morning in Japan very much, walking to the 7/11 to get Green tea Ice Cream and Yen from an American-friendly ATM and then to a small grocery store to grab items for our 10 day stay here in Nagoya. We came back to Grace House and made a simple breakfast complete with delicious Japanese eggs (so much better and more healthy than American ones!). We also met a few of our housemates. We are sharing the house with both folks who live there continually and one other short term visitor like ourselves. Our housemate Hao-chin has made mornings highly entertaining and energetic and other housemates have helped us remove our laundry from the washing machine we couldn't understand (it locked our wet clothes inside!) and have taught us about the detailed system of recycling here (there are 5 different trash cans!). We are very grateful and happy to be living among others.
Jeremy picked us up right on time (that is the case with everything here; the people, subway, trains, always right on time). We road the Nagoya subway system all over the city and walked quite a bit as well. We saw the rest of the lovely park from the night before, visited the business district, stood atop a tall building with a glass bottom you can see the city from, had Starbucks at a half-indoor-half-outdoor mall whilst talking about Japanese literature, saw two different shopping districts, and most impactful--visited one of the oldest shrines in the city called Osu Kannon. I will need to write a more detailed account of that later, but suffice it to say that Jeremy, Isaiah, and I prayed near the shrine for the people inside and about who continuously go through motions they don't understand dedicated to stone gods who cannot speak, hear, or help them. Japan needs workers indeed.
When our tour was completed, we went to pick up Jeremy's son, Josiah, up from ICAN, a Christian school in Nagoya. We dropped him off at a piano lesson and visited a local farmer's market. Isaiah and I were very happy to find good yogurt for our aching tummy's there as well as to discover the wide variety of fish and vegetables available in this country. After getting Josiah, we headed to the Sink home where Gina had prepared us a feast for our second night in Japan. We ate salad with dicon on top (a wonderful veggie here that adds great texture to almost everything), baked spaghetti, and grapes while talking about Jeremy and Gina's journey of faith here in Japan. We truly have wise and gentle guides helping us along here in these short 10 days! And we are grateful. We then went home to Grace House via the subway with detailed instructions via text and pin on google maps (a must here in Japan).
The next day Jeremy picked us up once more (we were going to brave the subway, but, alas, we got one more morning to relax) and gave us a tour of CBI (Christian Bible Institute) where a lot of the MTW team works (although there are other organizations involved and helping too!). We saw a theology class with a guest speaker on Genesis, witnessed the awesome library here, and saw the Heart & Soul Cafe (where I am currently sitting!). He talked with us about the different aspects of the CBI ministry including the seminary and library, church planting team, and heart & soul cafe. We also met a dear Japanese brother & sister in the Lord in the Cafe' who talked to us about their God stories. They taught us much about the Japanese culture and challenges of the gospel in the time we talked...which was quite a long time! This dear brother will probably be leading one the ANF (All Nations Fellowship) churches in Nagoya come summer. He and his wife are beautiful people whom we long to see again. We then rushed to meet with Brett, the leader of the CBI team. We enjoyed another Indian restaurant per the request of Brett's young son who accompanied us. He requested "daddy, Naan please," and we had no problem with that! Brett spoke to us about some practicalities of the ministry. After speaking with Brett, Isaiah and I headed home to Grace House for a nap, with plans to return to help a new friend, Kuni, later in the evening. After a subway ride home and fairly long walk (we hadn't yet discovered the shortest route), we made it to Grace House and took a nap. However, when we "woke," and I use that term very loosely, I found myself quite unable to move or function. The jet-lag Jeremy warned us of had apparently set in, and I could do nothing other than cancel the plans with Kuni and sleep. Though sleep this evening was sporadic, with a lot of waking by both Isaiah and I and sometimes both in between, we did get a lot of sleep and plenty of great Jesus talks in-between our sleeping and doses of melatonin. :)
The next morning, Isaiah and I hopped the subway alone, and, thanks to the efficient and intuitive systems here in Japan, faired very well. We arrived at a Starbucks to have breakfast with Jeremy and debrief about the days before. It was a very fruitful talk! Our new friend Creed met us there to take us on our Journeymen IMB (International Mission Board) adventure for the day. Creed is very passionate and zealous for the Lord, and we enjoyed him very much. He reminded us a lot of our dear brothers and sisters at the Boardwalk Chapel. Creed took us for "second breakfast" at Mister Doughnut, and we talked about our hearts for Japan, God stories, and about how much Creed enjoys each day here lived for the Lord. We then visited a JSL (Japanese Sign Language) class and next a local university where Creed often meets students, but unfortunately, though Yuki--a university friend of Creed's--saved us spots and was ready to chat at lunch, our cafeteria ramen took too long to make, and Yuki had to hurry to class. Creed, Isaiah, and I still had a fruitful discussion on campus, and he answered a lot of our questions about evangelism in this great country. Our brother's heart very much beats with ours, and we were very happy to see this! We then got a tour of Creed and his roommate Ian's apartment and picked up Yuka--a new Japanese sister in the Lord! After seeing more Sakura trees with our new friends, Ian, Creed, Yuka, and Isaiah and I had a praise-jam session in their apartment and learned our first Japanese song. Hanging out with Yuka was definitely a major highlight, for she felt very much like my own sister and child--a lot like Ginni Corsello feels to us! I loved her right away and my heart is so happy around her! After dropping Yuka off at the station, we met up with Arissa, a friend Creed & Ian met when offering 10 min English lessons over a year ago. Though our meeting with Arissa was random, it was so sweet and providential. Isaiah and I enjoyed very much teaching Arissa some English for her exam this coming Tuesday and discussing life with her. We all went for ramen afterwards and headed home for a hard night's sleep.
On Thursday, Isaiah and I traveled our longest to visit ICAN and get a tour of the school from Rebel Houston, who we had already met over Skype 2 years ago and then once more last year. We took a break between the subway and train ride in order to explore Fukigaoka, one of my favorite spots in Nagoya thus far. The cherry blossom trees were beautiful, and the homemade bread we picked up was delicious! Rebel and one of the current English teachers, Alison, gave us a tour of both the lower and upper schools and ate sushi with us as we discussed ICANs role in Nagoya. It was cool to see people and places we had formerly only seen over Skype. We then traveled to Nagoya before hopping a subway back to a former spot so we could meet with Chad Farmer and some of the founders of Mustard Seed, another growing Christian church in Japan. Chad gave us tons of very practical information and lots of spiritual wisdom as well. He answered just about every question I've had about missions organizations, options for getting over to Japan, and why things function the way they do. When our sweet and very useful conversation with Chad was over, we headed to a burger joint called "Handsome Burger" for some much needed American food for my aching stomach. That's right, the best burger I've ever had in my life was in Japan. :) Isaiah and I then headed for the Maundy-Thursday service at All Nations Fellowship. The occasion as very special because this was the evening where 3 different international churches (churches mixed with Japanese & missionaries) and a few visitors from All Japanese Churches all came together to worship the Lord. Yuka, my new Japanese sister, sat next to me with Isaiah on my other side, and all of the people we had come to know were all around us. All from different places, and all here as the body of Christ in one place worshipping the Lord. The service was the most beautiful I've ever experienced. Three different pastors led different aspects of the service and Japanese and English were spoken eloquently, one never dominating over the other. I truly felt that the body of Nations was in the CBI building and my heart was so happy! Jeremy Sink offered the sacraments and spoke with such authority, passion, and emotion that I could barely breath for the glory in the room. Jeremy has always been a good pastor, but the way he speaks in Japan--man! Such power I never heard from him in the states. God has grown him and anointed him in our beloved Japan, and it is beautiful to see and to hear!
Friday was a bit more chill (which was nice after such business). We met Jeremy at CBI, were joined by a new member of the CBI team who reminded me very much of my dear friend Susan Mitchell, and took the subway to Cynthia Ruble's cafe'. Cynthia is a resurrected Amy Carmichael, a kick-butt single missionary who knows the vision for her mission and fights with feminine, strong weapons of the Gospel. She runs the only crisis-pregnancy ministry in all of Japan, and through the government once disliked her, they now look to her as a great resource! :) She has accomplished so much in all of her years in Japan. She is also a very busy woman. She houses women who need assistance with their pregnancies, helps them put their children up for adoption or keep them, gives them work and skills in her cafe', does post-abortion counseling through email and phone, and has adopted a child who is now 11 years old! Isaiah and I couldn't help but see a place for our friends Londa & Griffin here, for Cynthia and the cafe' reeked of what these two live their lives for (not to mention Cynthia's desserts were the only things I've ever tasted which hold a candle to Londa's). After speaking with Cynthia, we headed back to Heart & Soul Cafe' and met briefly with Will, the guy who runs the Heart and Soul coffee shop. The main thing we learned about Will is that he is in the right job! This guy is such a coffee nerd and definitely has a distinct vision of what his purpose is on the CBI team. We then went to dinner with Kuni. Over udon noodles, Kuni both encouraged us and convicted us. He is a great brother, and by the end of dinner I was weeping tears of repentance for not enjoying everyday intimacy with the Lord where I am. I will never forget that dinner and will probably write more of it later.
We then headed back for Cafe'oke and met the infamous Josh, whose soul missionary job in Nagoya is to go around meeting people and hosting bang-up karaoke as an in for the gospel. Pretty cool! However, though we had planned on staying, after being convicted over dinner and again, feeling quite exhausted from the day, we said goodbye to Josh and took the subway home to sleep.
Saturday was one of my favorite days in Japan. Isaiah and I woke up and felt like natives in this beautiful country. We walked our own neighborhood around the Grace House, discovered new places, and checked out the local subway, heading to Nagoya station for some breakfast. I enjoyed french toast and cappuccino complete with Japanese coffee art at an Italian-inspired bistro, and Isaiah and I walked the newest Nagoya building and mall, stopping for healthy drinks and bible study outside of a pizzeria. After a leisurely and very enjoyable morning and afternoon, we met a new friend, Kurt, an E-Free missionary who was different than almost everyone else we'd met on the trip thus far. Kurt runs a homeless ministry in Nagoya and he and his Japanese wife, Akane, also have 3 English learning schools and 2 teenage sons. Kurt showed us all of the cool, cheaper Japanese stores where we stocked up on snacks to bring home and got a feel for the less-posh section of Nagoya, which I felt much more comfortable in. I also had my first experience with a non-western Japanese toilet when we picked up bentos for the homeless ministry. It was a success. LOL. Kurt also took us to eat some local grub, including Tacoyaki & Okonomiyaki while telling us about his story of getting to and working in Japan. We found easy camaraderie with Kurt because he is very similar to my dad. We helped with his homeless ministry, giving out bentos, worshipping in Japanese, offering copies of Manga Messiah, and Kurt even let Isaiah preach while Akane translated. It was a beautiful experience, and we met even more brothers and sister in the Lord there--some who are homeless and recently converted along with Norweigen missionaries and an old friend of the Cummings named Nathan. One of the most wonderful things about Japan was seeing missionaries from all over the world from totally different denominations and mission boards working together for the gospel. If only the States could learn from these warriors! To end the night, Kurt, Akane, and their son Luca showed us some of their English schools and took us to the most delicious sushi. If you want to know more, check out the pictures on Facebook! So good!
Easter Sunday was church day. Jeremy Sink preaches at two churches now, both branches of All Nations Fellowship. First we went to a brach near Fukigaoka, having lunch at Freshness Burger afterwards with new friends, Brie & John Patton, who met at ICAN and are heading back to Japan to help with the Kobe Mustard Seed church plant after raising funds. We then took a quick nap and headed to CBI near Nagoya station where the second branch of ANF meets. Here, we kept nursery and read bible stories to the kiddos before grabbing bentos and heading back for bible study and to hear some amazing testimonies from our Japanese sisters. I cannot even begin to describe the gospel power in the sermon on Sunday, so I will simply say to conclude that I have never heard the gospel so clear and moving, nor have I ever cried such joyful and sorrowful tears on a Sunday.
On Monday, we visited Nagoya castle with Jeremy and enjoyed ourselves immensely, later meeting up with Kurt for a final chat and awesome dinner at a place with grills in the tables! We cooked our own meat and ate our fill that night whilst learning even more about Kurt's ministry and training.
Tuesday held great sorrow as we packed up, said goodbye to housemates, and headed for the airport. And now, we are home. I promise to write again soon and fill you, dear readers in, on more details. But for now, simply know that we know we belong and are called to Japan, and feel as if we have left our home and are now aliens in our current lives. But praise the Lord for the joy He can and will give us in the now despite this, for He is good! We have some ideas about where we might fit, but we must go before the Lord now and seek His wisdom. We cannot trust our own limited human ideas about where we fit in Nagoya. We must seek the Lord. Will you please seek Him with us? Will you pray, dear reader, for God to show us what ministry to become a part of in our start in Japan? Will you pray and make sure he wants us in Nagoya? Will you pray that if we are to be in a ministry we did not meet, God would show us? Will you pray for us to be content and joy-filled where we are, and yet passionate for Japan? Will you pray for us to seek intimacy and answers from God instead of ourselves? We thank you. ~Calli & Isaiah
Please pray for:
>The CBI Team, IMB Team, Norwegian Mission, Brazilian Mission, Reliant Missionaries, TEAM missionaries, E-Free Canadian Missionaries, MTW (which has two other teams), the spread of the gospel in Japan!
>Jeremy & Gina Sink: MTW-CBI Team, ANF
>Brett & Taylor Rayl: CBI Leader
>Ian & Creed: IMB-Nagoya Team, Journeymen
>Kurt & Akane Saban: E-Free Canadian Mission & Saban English Schools
>Chad Farmer & Family: Reliant Mission, Mustard Seed Church
>Cynthia Ruble: Business Woman & servant of God
Wow! Praise the LORD! I am praying... and crying with tears of joy~
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