by Whitey | May 29, 2008 | Thoughts
I didn’t begin pursuing a life of ministry in Japan because I thought I would fit in here. I fell in love with Japan because of having lived here. I also didn’t have a great sense that my personality or talents would lend themselves to ministry in Japan specifically. But, having already decided to follow God’s leading back to Japan, I had a lot of time to think about the future and where I might fit. And though I’m still figuring out the specifics, there are some things I’ve realized about myself that lend themselves to ministry in Japan.
In some ways, my personality lends itself to acculturation in Japan: I think I’m pretty flexible and willing to change, as would be needed if I moved to any foreign culture. But I also share some personality traits with what’s considered the “norm” here in Japan, such as my dislike of confrontation, or my friendly but generally-quiet and not-pushy personality.
I also have a desire to focus my ministry on youth and young adults — which, as it turns out, is a particular area of need in Japan. My talents and interests in comics are an asset, too — or could be in the future — because comics (manga) are such a big part of pop culture here (where the highest selling comic sells as many copies in a week as the highest-selling US comic does in a year). I also think the Japanese church is in need of some new ideas, and being a creative person in general could be useful.
On the other hand, there are sides of my personality that could be a problem (for me or others) sometimes. I’m a non-traditional, non-conformist person in a 4,000-year old, highly-conformist culture. I’m also working with a very traditional, conservative national church here in Japan. Will my new ideas be heard? Will I be able to use my talents and gifts to their fullest potential? Will I rub people the wrong way if I’m unwilling — or unable, or unsure of how to — adapt?
The potential is definitely there for me to feel squeezed into a mold that doesn’t fit me. The potential’s also there for me to offend or damage relationships if I don’t handle differences appropriately or adapt where I should.
But there is also a lot of positive potential if I’m willing to learn and adapt in the ways that I need to.
by Whitey | Nov 16, 2007 | Weekly Re-Cap
It’s been a pretty good week. Regarding my TESL studies, it hasn’t been as productive as I’d have liked, but I’m hoping to make up for that today by finishing this big assignment I’ve been slowly working through and thus wrapping up module 3. On the support raising front, I’m still having trouble connecting with new contacts, but the support is still rolling in. In fact, I now have less than $9,000 to be raised! Check out the Support Info page for the details.
I’m pretty amazed at how much new support has come in just lately. It seems like all the seeds I planted for the past year and a half are finally starting to bear fruit. I guess that’s how it works, though. People are usually reluctant to commit to something on the spot (and I can’t blame them). And with church budgets, meetings are required before commitments can be made. So it’s taken time for some to jump on board, but jumping they are! Also, churches who couldn’t support me in last year’s budget have started to support me in this year’s budget, and some churches who have been supporting my ministry have increased support.
So… stuff’s happening. It’s looking totally possible that I could have my support raised by December, and maybe even be in Japan by the new year. I just hope the COE and visa processing don’t hold me back when the support’s raised and HQ gives me the go ahead. Let’s pray the timing’s right.
And that’s a wrap for this week. See you next week.
by Whitey | Nov 14, 2007 | Ministry News
Approximate Amount Remaining: $9,445 — that’s only about 39 people at $20 per month! Please pray with me for the rest of the faith promises to come in quickly. If you can help out financially as well, check out the Support Info page and sign up. Thank you!
by Whitey | Nov 2, 2007 | Weekly Re-Cap
This was a pretty quiet week, so I don’t have much to re-cap, but I thought I should at least “check in”.
Support levels haven’t moved much this week, but I do have some “maybes” and even some “yeses” that I’m still waiting on official commitments from. I have a speaking engagement Sunday morning here in Fredericton, but after that my schedule is wide open. I’m having trouble booking anything, and not even sure where to look, but hopefully I can see some new doors open up next week.
I finished Module 2 of my TESL training this week. I’d hoped to be well into Module 3 by now, but that’s okay. Right now I’m averaging about 10-12 days per unit, which I guess isn’t bad. I’ve got six months to do it, and there are only 5 units total. I’d still like to have it all done before I get to Japan though.
Speaking of getting to Japan, I’ve continued to correspond with some Immanuel Church contacts there. My Certificate of Eligibility is on the way. Once I get that I can apply for a visa… But (and I may have mentioned this before) once I get the visa I have to enter Japan within 3 months. I guess that gives me till mid-February, even if I have my visa as early as mid-November. But still, so much is uncertain I’ll be a little leery about applying too soon. Where does caution end and faith begin in this situation? I’m not sure…
Again, speaking of getting to Japan, I’d said before that I hope to be there by the end of November. The Nagoya church is telling me that mid-December is the earliest they can house me, though. This is actually probably a good thing, as we’re already into November now, and even if my support raising is finished in the next couple of weeks, there are a lot of little things to do between now and departure.
I’m off to Sussex tonight. In fact, I may even leave this afternoon. BBC (where I graduated from) is hosting it’s big, annual senior high youth event. I’m not going for the event itself but to visit some friends. Should be fun, and I have a few people to corner about supporting me as well, so it could be productive too…
I ended up having more to say than I’d thought I would. Enough for now, though. That’s a wrap.
by Whitey | Oct 19, 2007 | Weekly Re-Cap
Here’s a random re-cap of the past week, and a look at the weekend to come:
1. This week I’ve gotten most of Module 1 of my TESL course finished. I have one more assignment left, which I hope to get done today.
2. One of the assignments was to interview a non-native English speaker about his/her experience in learning the language. I interviewed Haruka, my Japanese tutor. We talked about cultural differences between Japan and Canada, as well as the assigned stuff, because I was recording it for the podcast. So I’ve got the next episode lined up and should have it edited and posted soon (maybe next week). Should be a good one, too.
3. Last weekend and this week I’ve had some unexpected additions to my support, so things are continuing to progress nicely. Still waiting on a lot of “maybes”, too.
4. I received an email this week from the pastor I’m going to be working with in Nagoya. I was pretty excited about that because up until now my only communication with him has been through others.
5. Realistically, it looks like it will probably be the new year before I get to Japan. But I’m praying for miracles so I can get there sooner! It would be great to be on my way in late November. Let’s pray that my support comes in on time. Pray, too, for my visa application, that it doesn’t take too long — or finish too soon (if I get it and can’t go within 3 months, it expires and I have to start over).
6. I’ve been having a good week with my Japanese studies. I feel motivated and like I’m actually getting somewhere (this is not always the case).
7. It seems like I’m coming to the end of my church contacts. Seems like I’ve been everywhere that’ll have me, and I’m not sure where to look for future bookings. The next couple of weekends are booked but after the second week of November thing’s are looking pretty quiet. I’m praying that some new doors will open — or that I won’t need them to!
8. This weekend I’m in Nova Scotia, where I’m visiting a couple of churches and sharing my vision for ministry in Japan. Let’s pray for a safe and productive journey.
Thanks for stopping by. That’s a wrap for this week.
