Dear Journal Friends,

Your support and prayers are so greatly appreciated. Many of you have joined my support team! Yes! The opportunity to give to the World Mission Offering is here again, and I get a little nervous, since my existence in Japan, in a sense, depends on it. Thank you for considering what you will give, over and above what you are already giving to your church.

The hot summer has passed and I actually feel a cool breeze more often. After moving back to Japan in June for another term of service, I entered a phase of being “homeless” for a few weeks, spending time with various missionaries and friends until I could get organized enough to move into an “older” house to set up a volunteer center. Part of the organizing of my time included mustering up the courage to drive in Yokohama and Tokyo. With the help and encouragement of friends, I have slowly adjusted so that I can drive when absolutely necessary (but not beyond that!). Secondly, I made arrangements to move my possessions from Northeast Japan to Tokyo. The third project was to begin setting up the house and getting acquainted with churches in the area.

Although thrown immediately into various meetings, my first priority has been to receive volunteers and other guests. About half of my time this coming year will be to make a place for volunteers to serve in Japanese churches and institutions and then find those volunteers in our churches in the USA. A total of seven volunteers came to Japan this summer. Six of them stayed at the volunteer center (my home) in Tokyo. Unbeknownst to them, they had a tremendous influence on the leadership here. It has been some years since the churches in Tokyo have hosted volunteers. Most of the leaders actually have never had contact with a volunteer at all. I will be working on helping the leadership to see that volunteers from our Baptist churches provide them the opportunity for Christian fellowship through work projects and chance to invite the neighborhood “in” to meet, study and play with the volunteers.

A friend asked if I was involved in evangelism any more. Good question. It’s been exciting to see how God has led people into my pathway. I could tell you several stories immediately, like the person who sat next to me on the plane coming over to Japan. She wondered if she could be my friend “since all of your friends are surely Christian.” We met again, and the ensuing one-sided conversation carried on by her was very interesting because she concluded with no prompting from me by saying, “can a person like me also go to church?” Then there are those who have come for advice and counseling…All these stories need to be saved for another time.

Also, by default in a sense, I’ve been put in a position called “Kanji” at one of our Christian schools in Yokohama established by American Baptist missionaries 125 years ago. Many of our missionaries, past and present, have served at Kanto Gakuin (16,000 students). The dictionary does not give a definition for “kanji” that we Americans understand- - -organizer, secretary, steward, officer….really none of these apply to the actual job. The bylaws of this Christian school say that one of the three Kanji must be a missionary. The responsibility of the three kanji is to sit above the board of directors and tell them and the school officials in what areas they are not towing the line according to law or their declared objectives. Whew! I can’t even understand the material and papers they hand to us, let alone whether or not they are towing the line. It’s scary because it is an important position in this society. Considering the time commitment, how can I be a witness for Christ? This is my dilemma and prayer. Monthly, I dress up in a business suit and do a lot smiling and bowing. Then I go home and wonder how I could possibly make a difference. In the New Testament, there is a verse that talks about being the “fragrance of Christ.” You can’t “speak” a fragrance but you can “be” fragrance, a quiet loving influence showing Christ’s love. When you’ve left the room, the fragrance remains. If people in these high places can sense God’s presence, even when words are not spoken, perhaps I can have an influence in that way. Please pray for me as I attend these meetings on the third Thursday of each month.

My prayer is that because of the fragrance of Christ, “their hearts will burn within them” as was the experience of the disciples in Luke 24. Jesus did not stick around to explain things to them. He said his part and then left them to experience the amazing after-affect of His presence. This is how both missionaries and especially volunteers can have an impact on the Japanese culture carrying God’s glory within them. Words are so often inadequate but the power of God’s presence allows people to open their hearts to God’s grace. Before they know it, they feel that they, too, should give to others. When they give, they find themselves transformed. It is truly amazing!

Your servant,

Roberta Stephens

(to reply to Roberta use her email address: rlsteph@attglobal.net )