Japan Day 8 - Osaka to Saitama

The day started when we were traveling from Osaka back to Tokyo! On this rainy day (during monsoon season), we were visiting a church and we also had an opportunity to meet Christina from KCPC.

In the morning, the team arrived in Tokyo by taking the Shinkansen and we were immediately on the move to meet with Setagaya Grace Church. We had lunch together and met a lot of people including their new summer interns and two other visitors. One of them being Larry. Setagaya Grace Church is a church plant and I think the greatest encouragement was learning how they reached families and younger children by building trusting relationships. Missions especially here require building trusting relationships that may take years to get to. However, what was so amazing was hearing how Larry has been here for over 40 years. His faithfulness to the Japanese people which began with an interest in learning Japanese has been used by God for His Kingdom. It was extremely exciting to see how much success Setagaya Grace Church has had with its ministry during our meeting with the whole team.

After stopping by in Tokyo, the rain started pouring and our dinner plans were a bit up in the air as delays were occurring everywhere. Despite this, the team was able to get on the train to Saitama to have dinner with Christina at Denny’s! One of the special things about this vision trip was the fact that we’re seeing and spent time with the missionaries sent from our church, but more than that missionaries that I have personal relationships with. I met Christina back in high school when I went to Urban Promise Delaware. I remember the impression she left from the beginning to the end was her commitment to the Lord. The way she lived was a testament to how following the Lord was always the best answer.

When our team met her for dinner and I heard her share, I was again so challenged by her heart. Christina and all the missionaries here have reminded me that following the Lord is infinitely worth it. Please pray for Christina: Her church needs a new Japanese pastor right now it’s being led by American missionaries. Please pray for more staff as she serves HIBA where she works with teenagers and youth. And lastly, please pray for her, for more physical strength and that God would provide her with faithful friends.

Esther