I keep thinking I am not going to be able to top each experience here with another. And it keeps happening.
I roamed around the Shinjuku section of the city after lunch, not particularly going anywhere, just me and my map and my backpack. I had a meeting set with my contact from the International Missions Board at 3. So for the first time on the trip I did my very favorite thing to do in a large city, board the subway!
Now, one big thing is different about Tokyo. Not a whole lot of English on the subway ticket screen. And the stations are huge, like whole city blocks. I finally got some help buying my ticket, from an employee who was awesome, he even walked me to the entrance to the subway. Sweet!
The other problem was I bought too little fare, so when I got to the other side, I couldn’t get out! And I couldn’t find a way to pay the difference. I finally got that figured out after about 10 minutes and we were well on our way.
Next, to either find Starbucks or a pay phone. I could find neither. Blessing for me, Buddy was looking out for lost Americans and spotted me from 2 miles away :) So we hooked up and headed to Starbucks.
I was so excited to meet him and learn his story and his family’s story and about what God is doing in Japan. We shared our testimonies and talked about Japan and what I might like to do. I asked him a thousand questions. I have a brand new insight on what that life is like, the positives, the negatives, the blessings, and the frustrations, and I’m going to keep asking God to show me if that might be something in my future.
I do know this.. Japan needs Christ. And while streams of missionaries go to countries all around it, Japan is very overlooked by Christians overall. Prosperity enhances the need for Christ, and just because the water’s clean doesn’t mean the gospel is not needed.
I know I have alluded to it, for those reading these updates regularly.. the shrines are pretty to look at. But these gods are not alive. There is one God. Christ says ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life’ and that nobody comes to the Father except through Him. Not Buddah, not Mohammed, not your ancestors. They are all dead. Dead people can’t save you. Christ, the living God who rose from the dead, can save you. The true temple now is Christ, and by extension, each believer.
This place is so lost spiritually. No less than the churches of Europe with architecture to end all architecture, but with no worshippers left to give it any meaning. The Japanese people are beautiful and wonderful. And Americans could learn a lot from them on many things. But there is a need for Christ here in a big, big way.
I got to spend the evening worshiping with Buddy’s family and some of the interns that are here helping him in Tokyo. Melanie and Lindsey cooked dinner, and Trent, Audrey and Sonya were there, as well as Ashley, Adam and Avery, Buddy’s children. What an amazing group, and what an experience to be able to worship with them in the heart of West Tokyo. I won’t ever forget this night.
I won’t ever look at missions the same, or my Bible, or God. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to spend this extra time in Tokyo to meet with them.
Then the subway back with 2 of my new friends, and then back into the room just in time for the lights to go out. Another day in Tokyo done. Two and a half days left on my trip. Tomorrow I will explore the subway in the morning, meet up with some missionaries to go to an orphanage at lunch time, then more exploring in the afternoon. Perhaps sunset at Shinbuya, which is the Times Square of Tokyo. I’ll probably go find Tokyo Baptist Church also and see if there’s any other Bible studies going on. Then Thursday I am meeting Sonya and a couple others for ‘Free Bible Study’ in Tokyo, where we will do Bible study, and give out Bibles and tracts to whoever we can talk to. I’m obviously limited in my Japanese speaking abilities, but maybe I’ll catch a couple of English speakers or be able to have one of my partners translate a few things.
Off to bed for now. What a super day! If tomorrow is any sweeter I might explode with excitement, seriously. Good night everyone from my awesome bunk bed at the Tokyo International Hostel. Sayonara!!
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