September 10, 2008

Here you go...reflection on Japan trip.....(very late one though)

I know, it has been more than a month since I came back from Japan. The reason it took me so long to write about this trip is perhaps, my laziness, my busyness try to do different things at the same time as well as processing the things I have seen from Japan. I'm trying to get an understanding....

I will have to say that this trip to Japan was totally change my whole understanding of the Japanese. At least from the way I thought about them before. Things that we prayed about....that the Japanese has so many layers to dig into until we see who the real Japanese really is....they are simply complicated people (mysterious may be..)

I felt as I walk on the street of Tokyo as well as Osaka, in the midst of all flashy, fancy lifestyle and surrounding. I see the lostness of the people. How lonely they are....seeking the pleasure for today and not thinking hard about what tomorrow might bring. How women are being treated here is just so amazingly indescribable....all kinds of abuse. I just felt so bad for this women.

Drunkenness was also very common here in Japan. I mean, my 1st morning in Tokyo, I was awaken at 4am. As the sun is already up so i couldn't return to my sleep. So I went running. As I run pass one of those small lane....I saw this guy was lying on the street. I was shocked for a moment as I thought he might accidentally knocked by something and fall off his bicycle. So I decided to check him out. As I walk closer, I hear the snoring noise....well well....he is just so drunk that he decided to hit the ground here and make it his bed for this morning. Not just one....plenty of them on the street. Very shocking...

The Japanese are no doubt, one of the most creative people around...the way they do their hair, their dress, their gadget even their houses are total beauty. It drives me crazy to see so many cool looking things around....one of those thing is the toy store. To see those cartoon character figure that I grew up with....wow....pretty nostalgic...

Food....oh my goodness....I thought I love Japanese food. Now I'm totally madly in love with Japanese food. I realised, all those Japanese food I ever had outside of Japan is no where near the perfect quality and the authenticity of the true Japanese food in Japan. To name a few....hmmm Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza) of Osaka is a must!!! hmmm...yummy yummy =p and of course Sushi bar and fresh salmon.....you would not want to missed it.

The church of Japan are hungry too. They are looking out for resources and help from outside to help the local church to stay relevent to the ever changing society. Because the nation move so quickly that somehow the church is always play catching up.. I'm surprised that most of the people in church are 40 years and above...where are the young people and young working adult? I came across a few churches that have pretty happening youth ministry as well....but somehow it has pretty much become westernized church. I don't know but I just wondering if the Japanese church could somehow stay relevent to the society but yet stil have a very strong Japanese expression. I would really love to see that.

The land of rising sun is definitely riped for harvest....unfortunately, the workers are really few, and many has been here for so long but yet don't see the fruit....just yet...many discouraged and walk away...it sad but hey....this is a real hard ground I have to say....but if we pray and continue to persevere on...I believe....the greater thing is yet to come indeed to this great nation...

Come to think about it....Japanese is probably one of the largest Unreached People Group as well...so they need to know Jesus. The challenge is great....but our God is far much greater....and He can make all things possible. Will the church take up this challenge? I really hope to see more missionary being placed in Japan and be so radical in connecting and reaching out to the Japanese with the great love of the Father God. So that one day, Japan will be the land of the risen Son.....

The song keep ringing in my ears...."The greater thing has yet to come, the greater thing is still to be done in this city.......the greater thing has yet to come, the greater thing is still to be done here......in Japan."

I will pray for Japan like never before....that's definitely one thing I can do from here.
To Japan with love..