It was about a year ago, my wife Lee Ann asked, “Would you be the driver for a pianist visiting Tohoku?” “Hmmm, OK, but I am not going by myself!” After many months of planning by our friend Mari, Julie Lowe came for a two-week tour of Japan.  I was the driver and photographer for five concerts in four days. Mari’s friend, a Japanese pastor from the UK, Ikuko, joined us as an interpreter.

The two unseasonal typhoons that sandwiched Julie’s arrival turned out to be “non-events.” Many were asked to pray for the weather to clear. The super typhoon, Vongfong, became just a large storm by the time it passed over Julie and never disrupted the concert or prevented people getting to her concert. “So, is this really a typhoon? We have worse storms in Vancouver!” God is still one at whom we marvel “Who is this that the wind and waves obey Him?”

Her best concert, at Matsushima Church, was incredibly blessed. First, this church was a small “preaching place” for about 100 years. This past April, they became an official church in the Japan Baptist Union. Secondly, this was the church’s first concert. With just 13 regular members, they were over-joyed to see about 40 people attend the concert. 

For some, in those moments of the concert, God was made real for them. One attendee, commented:

“I felt as though I was having a dialogue with your piano music and with God in the church. Your talk has spoken to me into my heart, and that was a special time. I received healing and strength by the wonder of your music. Your message matched the choice of music so wonderfully, and it was a concert graced by your gentle words and filled with God's love.”

The last song Julie played was a sing-along ‘Furusato’ (Homeland). Ikuko, our translator said,  

“When we began singing the third verse, which says ‘When my mission is completed, I then long to go home’, . . . I thought of the people in the area near the Fukushima power plant, who will never be able to go back to live in their home region.  How cruel this verse is for them…  But then, I was reminded of the verse in Hebrews 11:16, which talks about longing for ‘a better country – a heavenly one’.  What a blessing!  We are all being invited to long for the heavenly home, a true eternal home.   With the longing for that hope we can trust, we can thankfully continue our earthly journeys.”

Lastly, Pastor Kakuno of Matsushima Church, responded so enthusiastically and quickly to this concert opportunity. A cancellation two months before Julie’s arrival allowed them to participate in the tour. Their church continues to support the survivor community and this was a special opportunity to serve them with music and testimony. Pastor Kakuno would like to have Julie come again to their church. I think God honored them with a “Holy Gathering” where God received the glory for all that happened. 

Has God asked you to . . . ? If so, I hope you will respond quickly like Pastor Kakuno. I am so thankful I said yes to God’s invitation. I felt He truly is an awesome God who is calling us home! I am thankful for the many people who prayed and supported this mission trip. We are especially thankful for the many prayers and financial support that allow us to serve here in Japan. Praise and thanks be to God!

With much love and thanks!

Gordon (and Lee Ann) Hwang 

P.S.  Please consider “Giving Tuesday” (December 2) as an opportunity to show thankfulness to God by supporting mission with International Ministries.

http://www.internationalministries.org/drives/24