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My newsletters (they always include prayer items) are in both English and Traditional Chinese.
最新代祷事项 2025年7月
Dear faithful partners,
Greeting from hot, humid Japan!
May this update find you energized!
“The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.” (NRSV)|
“We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.” (MSG)
Proverbs 16:9
What’s Happening?
Thank you for all your prayers and the goodness of our LORD, I have some wonderful catchup time and being able to mostly stay in air conditioning. =P
Praise the LORD! The 55 Day e-learning PureHeart Challenge Course on our website is up. The 5-part bible reading plans in Tradition Chinese are now all done. (The last 2 waiting for approval from YouVersion.) Please pray that those who need to know that they are loved and forgiven, those who long for a deeper encounter and be satisfied by God will be blessed with these. (All plans are available in English and Japanese as well.)
So recently I had an experience of my lifetime... ok, it’s not so weird for parents. But after all these years of baby sitting, I never thought that I will get to "the beginning"! During my 3-day visit to former teammates I got to "witness" a baby being borned... It was late evening, and a member who hardly speaks Japanese had her water broke... (The due date was later that week). The one and only female team member was their official help but due to the need of her own young children she couldn’t accompany the couple to the hospital immediately... and then I happened to be there, right?! Logically then I went with them... thinking I will leave when "official" help comes. Due to late hours, the birth clinic was closed to public and i guess they rather have me in the delivery room than roaming around in lobby! So yes, I was there through it all... praying for it to be over quickly (of course for the sake of the labouring mother). Praise the LORD the labor was only approximately 3 hours, such grace for birthing a firstborn child. After some explanation of the stay, "official" help needs to return home to feed her own infant and I stayed until mother and newborn were settled into their room.
Side-note: Japanese clinics usually keep the mother and newborn for 4-5 days before they are released to go home. (It will be even longer if issues arises.)
I am grateful to be reminded of the “hardship” of mothers before visiting Mom. During my time with Mom, I was able to visit my former discipleship school and shared my testimony with the current students. Afterwards I also had time to talked to 2 of them, both lived in Japan (short-term) and have a heart for the lost in this nation. There are many who have burden for this nation yet finding it hard to find organization with the same vision and practice. Please pray for open doors to best-fit faith community for those wanting to come and are already in Japan.
As I came back to Japan at the end of June, I sudden found that I don’t understand as much... I don’t know if it’s a relapse, or the fact that I was immersed in my mother-tongue for too long?!? Therefore I have restarted my weekly Japanese lessons. Still figuring out what area to focus on but one way or the other I need the practice with feedback. For now I will work on both pronunciation and trying short translations.
I am so grateful that I am blessed with flexibility and capacity which allow me to meet up with visitors, visit former teammates, and make new connections. Although I must say I am not as youthful to run after toddles and/or hold infants.
What’s Next?
After much prayer and consideration, I have declined staffing a 3-month Japanese pilot school due to the extended away-from-home requirement. As I have that door shut, I was asked to help with another organization’s staff retreat. They have overseas speakers that would needs to be paired with translators. I will be helping with the kids’ program the third week of August. It will be a 2-day road trip to northern Japan with a few staff and another volunteer. Please pray for safety and also blessings for this retreat.
With one of my new connection, an older Australian worker who has lived in Japan for decades, who is burdened for her neighborhood and would like someone to pray and maybe do bible study with her on a frequent basis. To my surprise, we have quite a few things in common. For now we will start with praying weekly to see where the LORD leads.
A couple that I met on their seminary internship will be returning to Japan in September. I would like to accompany them for some of their ministries as they settle in. I have also offered to have them stay at my place while they look for their own apartment.
I have also been asked by the Osaka disciple school to translate for a few days. I am praying on if that’s something the LORD wants me to do. Please stand with me to do the “right” thing.
Mid-year reflection... It was very clear to me that I need to take this year "slow", meaning more casual schedule. The LORD has brought back many "old" people and as we chat I realized the growth and work the LORD has done for us. Many has been stretched/enlarged while others are switching gears. (Of course, struggles and hardship were unavoidable.) I am very grateful for everyone He connected me with and looking forward to see what the LORD will bring for the second half of this year.
One thing I am keeping in mind is when to visit Canada. It would be 2 years next April. But that doesn’t lineup with passport renewal (which will push it to June or later). Since last year, I am thinking to do a longer visit for health reasons. Recently I also have some online banking issues. Praying for wisdom in regard to timing and duration of the next visit.
Praises:
· Restful time visiting Mom
· Opportunity to reconnect with most of the former Kobe team members
Prayer Requests:
· Japanese language improvement
· Specific ministry guidance
· Timing to visit Canada and specifics
Blessings,
Christina
我在一个非基督教家庭长大，但我的哥哥在基督教学校读书并成为我们家的第一位信徒。从那时起，他开始和我分享耶稣，并带我去教会聚会。有一次的讯息是关于上帝愿意饶恕我们所有的罪，我很感动，但我想了解更多才决定去相信。第二天的讯息是关于信心就像幼儿吃鸡蛋一样的简单。因此，即使我不明白祂喂给我的一切，我仍决定相信这位愿意饶恕的上帝。在大学退修营，我决志全职事奉上帝，但从未想过怎样做。 工作多年后，我想与年迈的父母相聚，上帝带领我去了一所宣教学校（Youth With A Mission）。一步一步，上帝呼召我到日本神户开拓，透过祈祷和了解团队，我答应了。即使我看不见前面会发生什么事，我再次相信这位良善的上帝。
我目前的角色
目前，我是一名自筹资金的宣教士，参与在大坂的国际宣教机构「Youth With A Mission」和神户附近的本地事工。今年，我们开办了一所双语圣经学校，由我担任行政和辅导职务。因为一切都是新开始，所以都会在失败与尝试中学习。这是密集式的学习，所以确实有大量的阅读和作业（我需要评分）。我祈求这所学校的学生和同工都能够对祂话语有渴慕，并留下服侍下一年的学校。过去 3 年多，我一直与本地事工Onfire Japan合作。我们专注于透过查经和辅导来作门徒训练。自 2021 年以来，我们每朝早都会进行LIVE敬拜，并在周内各时段举行不同主题的聚会。我负责在LIVE 提供技术支援和培训。我们有一队非常愿意投入和填补空缺的团队，但我们需要更多的人手，这样我们才可以扩展到更多的时段并涵盖更多的主题。我祈求可以开始一个中日双语时段。
有关 To The Nations Fellowship/OnFire Japan/YWAM
我在加拿大的慈善合作伙伴「To The Nations Fellowship 」的成立是为了与基督的肢体一起，促进差派基督徒进行长期和短期宣教。
Onfire Japan于 1995 年成立，为关西大地震后的事工服务，是一个致力于让日本和日本基督徒被 神的同在和能力充满的事工。我们透过线上媒体、肢体互动和培训来装备信徒进行门训和建立教会。我们很高兴有机会共同见证教会的复兴和日本的丰收。
Youth With A Mission 于 1960 年成立，是一班由来自不同文化、年层和基督教传统的基督徒组成，致力于世界各地事奉主的的全球性运动。