Japan Newsletter #5 - Halfway Point

Happy belated 4th of July~ I hope everyone enjoyed the fireworks and stayed safe through the celebrations.

Over halfway through my stay here in Japan. I have lots to say and lots to do.

I’ll start with this. Yesterday, a friend asked me what it was like to experience what I’ve heard about Japan in real life, and I responded with, “Not gonna lie, I don’t think I’m experiencing enough. Can’t visit enough, can’t do enough in such a short amount of time”. Right now, I’m still getting to know Japan’s culture and spiritual state at a surface level. It feels as if everything I’m experiencing right now is only a glimpse into what Japan is really like. There is so much to do here as a visitor, that I’m not able to see what life is like on a daily basis. It’s as if visitors come and have a good time with the food, entertainment, tourist spots, and commodities, then leave without seeing what is underneath. So, in order to learn more about the spiritual state of Japan, my family and I will be meeting Pastor David and Rachel in Chiba tomorrow! We were able to find a time and place to catch up and have fellowship over a meal, so that’s very exciting. I hope to learn more about how they are doing, and what they need prayer and support for. Continue to pray for them as they further God’s kingdom here in Japan!

Today, I once again helped out Beautiful Feet Ministries with their sound. I realized how spoiled I am as a praise leader, for having a wonderful AV team at home who serve in the worship team with me. I realized this because I had to leave early to catch a train home, so right before I left I gave a crash course on how to use the system at church to a team member. The church’s sound engineer was on leave to take care of family matters, so he wasn’t able to be there for the session. Everyone, please take time to thank your AV team at church. They’re the reason why you can hear God’s Word comfortably, and the reason why your praise team sounds so good HAHA. If you’re in the AV team, know that you’re more loved and appreciated than you know. The complaints you hear are nothing compared to the roar of silence from the masses because they didn’t notice anything wrong LOL.

Next, I wanted to take some time to talk about a song I heard during worship. It’s called, “Jesus I’m in Love With You”, and it’s originally from Japan. But I actually heard it in America first because of Taesuk haha. The melody is so beautiful, and the lyrics are so simple.

Jesus I’m in love with You

I’m in love with You

Forever I’ll be Yours

You are everything to me

And all I ever need is You

My Heart is full

My Heart is full

With love and desire

That will know no end

Come draw me near

In Your embrace I belong

Lord all I ever need is You

イエス　愛します

Iesu aishimasu

愛します

Aishimasu

心注ぎ

Kokoro sosogi

ただあなただけ

Tada anata dake

慕い求めます

Shitai motome masu

溢れる　溢れる

Afureru afureru

あなたを　慕う　思い

Anata wo shitau omoi

御そばに

Misoba ni

引き寄せて主よ

Hikiyose teshu yo

慕い　求めます

Shitai motome masu

*lyrics and translation pulled from Google

I wanted to share this song because the lyrics are so simple, yet it captures the heart of the one who made this song, who knows Jesus is the only one they need. As I was hearing the people in the church sing this song, it brought me to tears, because they were proclaiming Jesus was greater than anything this world had to offer. It also reminded me of my life verse, Matthew 6:33.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 6:33 ESV

Seek God and His kingdom. He already knows all that you need. I pray for all of us, who live in first-world countries, where we have “everything”, will find the true source of hope and security in Jesus. I pray that everything we have and strive for will pale in comparison to the glory of Jesus Christ. I pray for utter dependence on Him, on His Word, on the Holy Spirit to sustain us in our lives. Being here reminds me daily that those who put their trust in Jesus, they lack nothing, for He is everything.

With Peace and Love,

Hongki Lee