Tomorrow will be two weeks left until we hit the skies for this Summer’s trip to Japan! The suitcases are laid out in the spare room and Emily is already well ahead of me in the packing department (as usual!), so things are starting to get a little more real around here. We are grateful for our many friends and family who have asked about this trip and have committed to pray regularly that God will be glorified by our activities in the Tachikawa community. Thank you one and all for the way you encourage us!
I wanted to provide a brief update now that we have a few more details pinned down. At the Tachikawa Church of Christ’s invitation, Emily and I will be providing outreach to the surrounding neighborhood in hopes that new people will discover this steadfast community of faith and connect with the Japanese Christians there. We will be doing this primarily through two efforts – English conversation for adults and family music classes for those with young children.
Friends Speak English
Between Emily and I, we will be offering about 36 different time slots each week for individuals to experience a 45-minute, one-on-one conversation based around an easy-to-read version of Luke or Acts. Through interaction with the powerful word in Scripture, it is our hope that these readers are prompted by the Spirit to want to know more. Although we aren’t officially conducting a Let’s Start Talking campaign, this effort will be very similar. These individuals will initially be coming to simply practice their English a little, but we believe that they are created in the image of God and their hearts will recognize His presence in the text and prompt them to consider more.
Family Music Classes
As a licensed Kindermusik® Master Teacher, Emily brings over two decades of experience teaching music classes to young children, so I am personally very excited that Tachikawa has asked her to bring that expertise to Japan. We will be offering two different mornings per week for young families to come and spend some time together learning music and movement concepts in a fun, creative way. Though they won’t be Kindermusik classes in a formal sense, many of the underlying principles and universal concepts of music and early childhood learning will carry over into her custom class sessions. We are hopeful that a number of young families will come.
…and Then We Mingle!
Each week on Sunday afternoon, we will be hosting casual fellowship times for everyone to come back and enjoy party games, light refreshments, and a chance to make new friends and get to know each other better. More importantly, it is an opportunity for Tachikawa church members to gather with those coming from the community in hopes that new friendships might be kindled which could continue after Emily and I return to Memphis. We think this is a critical part of short-term missions. While interactions with Emily and I may serve to plant some seeds, it will really only be fruitful to the extent that our activities are integrated in some way with the local church.
Oh, and There’s That Too
We do have a few other items on our agenda as well. I’ll be preaching during the Tachikawa morning worship three of our six Sundays present. We are hoping to take some history classes with Japan School of Evangelism faculty members in both the Tokyo and Ibaraki areas highlighting past missionary efforts and landmarks. We are also eager to renew and deepen some existing friendships with brothers and sisters in Christ and welcome new ones as well.
Above All…
As Paul writes, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:16-18) We love and appreciate each of you, and may God receive all of the glory.
~ Clay
Fowlers in Japan 