We were all tired from a long day of landscape work and ministering to a small group of kids at Shokei Baptist Church. The First Baptist Pomona volunteers (FBPers) had provided a fun time of games, puppetry, and songs for children. Afterwards, the FBPers were mingling with the moms and kids. I noticed a little group of three: Grace, Anna and Mrs. T. I noticed them because they were all speaking Chinese! Mrs. T is a Chinese mom from Taiwan. She had met and married a Japanese man on foreign assignment. As they were talking, I noticed that Mrs. T is crying. So, I began praying.

I found out that Mrs. T is a believer. She was crying while describing her incredible experience during the earthquake two years ago. Maybe it was the first time she was able to speak about it in Chinese. She and her daughter had been caught in their home during the 9.0 magnitude earthquake. A window had shattered and glass cut her arm as she was protecting her daughter. Mrs. T was able to bandage up her arm but there was no clinic or hospital for her to visit. Her arm was swollen and painful. She found that when she prayed and praised God, the pain would stop. She did that over and over until the hospital reopened a month later. Finally she was able to get medical attention. She showed us her scar (~1 cm), the only evidence of her month-long trial. She can praise God and attest to the power of praise and prayer.

I think it is amazing that God put Grace and Anna, who are both Chinese, on this team to minister to Mrs. T. They gave Mrs. T Bible verses in Chinese and prayed for her. Since there are no Chinese Christian churches in Sendai, they exchanged emails and plan to encourage her. Mrs. T feels welcome at Shokei Baptist Church and will continue to attend.

           I was greatly encouraged by Mrs. T’s testimony. I would not have heard it unless the FBPers, Grace and Anna, had followed Jesus on this mission trip. They would not have heard Mrs. T’s story unless they started talking with her (in Chinese) and asking questions. Mrs. T may not have been able to continue coming to Shokei Baptist Church except that many people around the world (including American Baptists through OGHS) donated money to help them rebuild after the earthquake. It is truly amazing to me how our Heavenly Father connected all these people together to make something good come out of a huge natural disaster.

            Itsu = When (are you going to follow Jesus to . . .)?  Ima Desuyo = Now (is the time to follow Him . . .)! The time is Now for Japan and the Japanese. Now more than ever, especially among the 3/11 triple disaster survivors,  Japanese people are responding to the gospel of Jesus Christ and experiencing His presence. Will you answer His call? Like the FBPers, you can respond by coming as a short-term volunteer. Or is God beckoning you towards a longer commitment? You can support your IM missionaries through prayer and financial contributions. You can commit to praying for Japan and the Japanese. Will you do it now?

            Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12: 26 NIV

            May the Lord continue to richly bless you!

 

Gordon (and Lee Ann) Hwang