Newsletter in English: 2010年4月アーカイブ

After having stayed in Japan for approximately two months, I am now back in the States. It was great to be with my family and home church family in Japan. I also enjoyed reuniting with returnees there. Still having jet lag, here is my report about my time in Japan!

■Urbana 09 Reunion + Trip to Kansai■□

In February, my first responsibility in Japan was to attend the Urbana 09 reunion. Those who participated in the Urbana tour got together both in Kanto and Kansai. We saw some videos and slideshows from the conference, and reflected on what God led them to experience and learn during the trip. I was very encouraged to hear about how they have been applying what He taught them in their actual life. I sensed God delighting in them. Please continue praying for their faith journey.

Since the trip to Kansai was only for the Urbana reunion, I only stayed for two days. However, during this stay, I was able to meet returnees and visit churches to report about what is going on. I stayed with one of my friends, who is a returnee from New York. I have known her since equipper conference 2001, which I attended from Japan before I went to seminary. She was my small group leader. Because we are the same age and studied in seminary around the same time frame, we have continued to grow close and have been encouraging each other over th eyears. After her stay in the US for more than 10 years, she finally returned to Japan last summer. She told me what kind of journey she has been through during the previous months, and we were able to pray together. The specific conversation we had about her transition, what led her to decide on a home church, etc helped me to learn more about returnees. The short time that we spent together left a big impact. The most interesting comment that she made was that she wants her gifts to be used. Right after she arrived in Japan, she started attending church, but she did not feel a sense of belonging at the church. However, that changed after she began her involvement in a ministry at the church, where her gifts came to life. It is perhaps rare to find someone that comes out and boldly states, "This is my spiritual gift." Therefore, it may be a good idea for those who welcome returnees at church to intentionally ask them certain questions: What kind of ministries they were involved in at their churches while overseas, what passion they have, and what spiritual gifts they have. As for those who are returning or are sending them out, it might be a good idea to guide returnees to reflect on themselves including their spiritual gifts and prepare to explain themselves before their return. Please pray for my dear friend in Kansai and the other returnees.

□ec 10 Planning Committee has kicked off!!□■

The planning committee for equipper conference 2010, held at the end of this year, has begun meeting. This year marks its ten-year anniversary. The new director, Yoshiki Saeki JCFN associate staff, is leading the team. Since the team consists of people in different countries and states, most of the communication is held via Skype. Please pray for their team building and communication as the planning progresses. Currently, they are having discussions about the main theme. During the meetings, I get excited imagining the ec 10 conferees being transformed by God. This year, we will invite the following speakers: Rev. Kenichi Nakagawa (Harvest Time Ministries) from Japan, Mr. Eiji Osato (Japan Baptist Union missionary) from Thailand, and Rev. Manabu Nishikori (New Jersey Japanese Christian Church pastor) from NJ, USA. Please pray for the preparation of speakers as well.

□Something about ANRC 10 & Returnees□■

Thank you very much for your prayers for All Nations Returnees Conference (ANRC10). The special forum was held on March 19, and the main conference was held from the 20th to the 22nd in Kumagaya, Saitama. There were nearly 700 attendees, if we include those that attended only the reunion portion of the conference. The theme of the conference was "One Body, Many Parts." It expresses that returnees, senders, and receivers are connected as one body and that this body exists to actualize the work of the Lord together. Although I was serving backstage, I was excited to see brand new returnees encouraged during ANRC10. What is amazing about ANRC is that the returnees are not only encouraged, but also have an opportunity to connect with others like themselves and even network to bring something back with them to their respective areas. Such new connections in turn help upcoming returnees. In fact, various groups like RIM in Tohoku, RIT in Tochigi, ANRK in Kansai, NNS (Niigata, Nagano, & Shizuoka), etc. have started as the result of ANRC. Please pray for each movement.

After ANRC10, I had a chance to meet up with "Michelle (refraining her real name)," a returnee from Canada. JCFN received a request to follow-up with her. Since she lives close to my parents' house, I decided to have coffee with her. She had lived in Canada for two months, approximately eight years ago, met Christians there, and accepted Christ. After she returned to Japan, however, she has had no interest in Christianity. The reasons were various; her family did not understanding her decision to becoming a Christian, she married a non-Christian man, etc. But God had other plans and I was able to meet and hear her stories. I believe that if she truly had no interest in Christianity, she probably would not have met up with me. I believe that the seed of the Gospel is still in her heart. Honestly, I felt a sense of uneasiness that she had not had a personal follow-up session such as this eight years ago when she first returned to Japan. However, I also sense that this process she is currently going through brings her closer to God and glorifies Him. Several days later, I received an e-mail from the Canadian lady who requested for someone to follow-up with Michelle. The Canadian lady forwarded me Michelle's email which read, "I don't have time to go to church and don't believe in God any more. However, the prayer Chihiro prayed for me was so strong and I felt something Big helping me. That may be the power of God. I may go to her church some time and sing for God." Please pray for her so that she may experience God personally.

There are returnees who are able to go to places like ANRC, and there are also those who have stepped completely away from such communities. By meeting both types of returnees, I was led to reflect about the type of support God wants me to be for the returnees both before and after their returns. God is interested in people. My prayer is for me to be sensitive so that they may stay in relationship with God and obey His calling. May the will of God be done...

□What's Going on with Chihiro□■

Thank you very much for your prayer for my green card application process. On the day I left Japan to return back to the U.S., I received an e-mail from my lawyer reporting about my green card approval. When I arrived back, I received the actual green card in the mailbox at my apartment. Actually a month prior to that, I was told that the Immigration Office had lost all the supporting documents I turned in in December. So, I was surprised at how fast the things progressed since then. I have no doubt that it was it was the work of God. Thank you for your prayers. Because I have received the green card, it will become easier for me to travel between Japan and the U.S. I feel urgency to keep meeting up with returnees in person. I am looking forward to the expansion of the ministry. Please pray for my future ministries. Please continue praying for JCFN's office situation. We are still looking for a place to move. Please pray that we may be obedient to His guidance.

Apr. 17th - 18th: US intensive staff meeting
May 27th - Jun. 1st: Trip to Japan (vacation)
Jun. 5th - 6th: ec 10 planning committee meeting (CA)
Jun. 10th - 13th: Annual joint staff meeting (CA)
Jul. 22nd - 24th: WIT10 (CA)
Dec. 27th - Jan. 1st: ec 10 (CA)

■Prayer for Chihiro■□

♪ Thanksgiving ♪
 For my green card approval.
 For protection during my trip to Japan.
 For supporters continuously being provided.

♪ Requests ♪
 That I am able to meditate on God's word day and night.
 For my home church, Chofu Baptist Church.
 For those who I met during my trip to Japan.
 For financial supporters to be provided consistently.