Tokyo: Out and About

We only had 2 full days in Tokyo. We knew we couldn't see everything, so we did't even try. We got a good taste of the city with Ameyoko Street, Akihabara, Ikebukuro, and Ueno Park. Maybe we'll spend more time exploring on a different trip.

On the street where we stayed. Lots more people than cars!

We stopped for a geocache here, and there were preschool children on a walking fieldtrip trying to catch butterflies. So cute!

This is a retro video game store (think antiques for video gamers) called Super Potato in the middle of Akihabara/Tokyo. Lucas could have spent a lot more time here if we hadn't all been there with him.

There are SO few sitting options in Japan, and while I sat at this bench, I decided to google translate this sign. Sure enough, it discourages extended sitting.

We went inside a huge 6 floor store called Yodobashi Camera. The whole sixth floor was toys.

This was where Chance overcame his fear of escalators (prior to this, he would always walk next to us on the stairs but this one didn't have a stairs option). Now he loves them! 

The Nintendo section

On Monday, we met up with Lucas' colleague Matt. He lives in Tokyo and has done some translation work for Lucas, but they had never met before.

We went to the 8th floor of the Yodobashi store, which was all restaurants. The boys wanted a "dipping noodles" restaurant, where you get all the toppings on the side and then dip them into the broth. Colson LOVED the noodles. The boys also got French fries and white rice. And soft boiled eggs with a reddish yolk!

I thought the bibs were only for the kids, but it served as a splash guard while slurping the noodles.

Chance loves his "meron pan" from 7/11

It's not all fun and games in Japan

We walked around several gaming stores with Matt. He may come down to Osaka while we're there.

We joined Pray Yamanote on Tuesday at Ueno Park (more in ministry spotlight)

Walking around Ikebukuro. So. many. people!

Eating our peanut cream sandwiches :-)

Everyone got to pick something from the Pokemon store!

We got special Pokemon treats from the cafe. We normally don't go for touristy treats like this, but Lucas reminded me that we'll only be here as a whole family once, so we can live it up!

Measuring their height in centimeters compared to the character Doraemon

Ah, and then there's MY shopping spot -- Bookoff! (like a huge Half-Price Books)

We found a hip hop poetry book that we loved. We've checked it out from the library often, but for $4, now we own it!

Colson lost a tooth!

Then we walked around Ueno Park. I thought this would be a good Japanese-y photo spot.

This traffic divider was a geocache container!

This pond was covered in tall lilypads. You couldn't even see the water!

Ministry Spotlight: Pray Yamanote

In my research for this trip, I stumbled upon a ministry in Tokyo called Pray Yamanote. Pretty much every Tuesday for the past 13 years, believers have gathered to pray while riding the Yamanote loop around Tokyo. Every week, they stop at a different station to pray for that station specifically and to pass out gospel tracts to people walking past.  There's also a group that meets on Zoom to pray at the same time.  I was able to pray with them a few weeks before we left. Here’s a short video about the ministry:

We only had two full days in Tokyo, but one of them "happened" to be a Tuesday, so we were able to join Pray Yamanote!  They also "happened" to be stopping at Ueno station, which was walkable for us.  So, instead of riding the whole loop, we met them at Ueno station to pray and pass out tracts.  I think most Christians would agree that tracts may not be the most effective way to reach someone, but in a place where millions haven't heard of Christianity, God can use the seeds planted to awaken hearts. We pray for the seeds to be planted on fertile soil.

We put on bright green shirts (Pray Yamanote: Praying over Tokyo one station at a time) and prayed with the team as a group and then set off in small groups. It was a struggle because so few people were even willing to take one. But Cooper and Chance had more success than any of us!  In about 20 minutes, we gathered back together and had passed out 88. Fertile soil, Lord. Do what only You can do.

I had more luck later on the trains that day as I struck up conversations with people. In my broken Japanese, I could say that I had five sons and that my husband makes a video game magazine and that we came from America on a cruise ship and that we're going to Osaka. And then when I said, "Douzo" ("Here you go"), they were willing to take one to read.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to link up with such a great ministry in the heart of Tokyo, and I plan to continue to join them in prayer online in the years to come.

Ministry Spotlight: Yokohama International Church

Yokohama wasn't the intended church destination for the day.

But it's exactly where God wanted us.

Through a miscommunication, we were too late to attend a different church. But this church had a later start time and was within walking distance.

Note to self: 8F means the 8th floor in Japan. We were looking all over for a church building and didn't see it. Google maps said we had arrived, but we couldn't find it! Turns out, there was a big clapboard sign near the elevator entrance, but in a city of signs and stimuli, it can be easy to miss something right in front of your eyes.

Although we missed the music, we took our younger kids to their class and settled in for the sermon. It was presented in English and translated into Japanese (this is common in bilingual churches. Instead of translating on the fly, both parts of the sermon are scripted).  

After the sermon, we shifted to the baptism tub on the side. It was a fairly small group, so even as a stranger, I piped up that we'd like to hear the testimony of the young lady (maybe in her 20s?) being baptized.  She shared about always feeling worried and lonely. But on a solo trip, she felt peace  that she had never known before and knew that it was God with her.

As the room shifted from chairs in a row to tables with chairs, I took the boys to the nearest MyBasket (small, cheap grocery store) for lunch. We got all this for $4 total!

During lunch, we talked with the pastor, who grew up in Kentucky! His road to becoming a pastor was unexpected. He was an engineer and accepted an assignment to work in Japan for two years. His family was part of a church in Japan, but things changed during Covid when they couldn't meet. So a few families launched this church 4 years ago (they actually were planning on celebrating their anniversary the following week).  He's not a pastor by training, and he's not fluent in Japanese (even after being here 8 years. It's a difficult language to learn!), but God called him to do this work for this season.  

We talked about the challenges of doing ministry in Japan. He said that sometimes when you ask Japanese people if they are Christians, they'll say, "No, we are Japanese." As if those two identities are mutually exclusive.  That's why he believes that it's the Japanese Christians that will reach Japan. Missionaries are there for support and encouragement and baton-passing.

Zoe International School is a small Christian school that meets in that building during the week, so they let the church have the space on Sundays. One does not run the other; it's more of a partnership. It reminded me a lot of the Christian schools where I used to teach -- small class sizes, tight-knit community. I found out that unlike my former schools, these schools have many families who would not consider themselves Christians although the teachers are all Christians and the Bible is a subject.

I met Anie, the third grade teacher at the school who is originally from the Philippines. I found out that she uses the same Bible curriculum I used to use at Summit. Even though the cover of the book is a newer edition, it looks like the memory verses are still the same. Back when I was teaching at Summit, I create YouTube playlists of all memory verse songs for each grade level. Anyway, they might be able to use some of the songs that I curated and created years ago! How cool is that?!

I also met Kazuko. She's the same age as my mom. She had a joyful personality, and it was delightful to talk with her. She said she has three friends that she practices English with. I said, "No, four. Me!" When I found out that she is a Christian, I asked for her story. She said that when her husband died a couple years ago, her heart was broken, and she was so lonely and sad. A person from her English class recommended that she could to this church. Eventually, she decided to become a Christian, and her joy was evident in her very expression. I told her that she is my sister in Christ since we are both children of God. :-)

We stayed from 11ish to 2:30! Church then lunch then games and fellowship.

I'm finding myself doing what I used to do on every mission trip in college -- picture myself there.  I could teach at the school! We could be part of this church! I could see Anie and Kazuko every week! I could buy my onigiri lunch from MyBasket! 

I think it's safe to say that this won't be our only time in Japan, but I don't know for how long or in what context. But it's in times like these that I think, "Oh, for a thousand lives to live!" So many possibilities of good Kingdom work, and I can't do them all. Sigh. Jesus, I only have one life to offer You. I want to spend it well.  Guide my steps, direct my path. You know what You're doing, and I trust You.

Ministry Spotlight: Muroran Christ Church Gloria Chapel

What an unexpected blessing this was!

This was the day that Lucas and I were exploring Muroran (Hokkaido) on foot and noticed a Christian church on the Google map along our route. We thought there was an activity going on, so we checked the door, and it was unlocked. The startled pastor (Takuro) spoke to us from his office doorway.  He spoke some English, and I spoke some Japanese.  Eventually, I asked if we could come in, and we took our shoes off since there were other shoes at the entrance. He took us to wait, and he went to the main entrance of the church to get slippers for each of us. (I wish I had a picture of the shelves of slippers at the entrance of the church!).

We walked into the sanctuary, and I spoke slowly and clearly asking him all kinds of questions.  I found out that he did not grow up in a Christian family but became a Christian at the age of 17.  His wife also became a Christian as an adult after a study abroad in England.  

I asked how long he had been the pastor there. About one year. Before that, he was pastoring in Ishikawa.

I asked how many people attend the church. He said there are 14 members. Small but mighty!

I asked if he had a different job to help with income. Nope--he's a full time pastor. (How is that possible?)

I asked how many other churches are in the city. He said as far as Protestant congregations, there are 4 other churches, but they are all very small with no children.

The sanctuary is beautiful. There are elements of the past (the church began in 1954 but have been in the current building around 25 years) and of the present (guitars, projector). There are tables for the kids to sit and color during the service. He is thankful there are children in his church, and he encourages them to be themselves. They often come up front to dance during the music time.

When I asked how we can pray for him and his church, he simply asked that the children would believe. He recognizes that most of the church is Japan is old, and he knows that children are crucial for the future of the church. Would you join me in praying that the children at Gloria Chapel and in Muroran would believe and follow Jesus?

I read later from their website:

In 2005, the church adopted the mission of "A Bridge of the Gospel." This is modeled after the Hakucho Bridge, built in 1998 to connect the hook-shaped town separated by a bay, and since then, just as cars and people have circulated between the two sides of the bay, the church intends to connect God and people, and people with people, through the Gospel.

That sounds a lot like my calling as a connector!

I asked Pastor Takuro if we could take a picture with him

May this church be a light to Muroran!

https://www.gloria-chapel.org/