This past week we spent our first full week at Waseda University. I know that it is not just by chance that our team has been assigned this campus...because guess who goes to Waseda? My host sister from my exchange program 5 years ago!! I got to spend some quality time with her today(pictured). I enjoyed hearing "the highs and the lows" of what she has been experiencing lately and also sharing about how knowing God has changed my life.For the next month, our team will be scattered on the Waseda campus in the cafeteria, lounges, and campus buildings 1) to learn the culture, 2) to love on people, and 3) to give students an opportunity to know Jesus by sharing the Gospel. Basically, we sit down and talk to anyone!
I have so many praises for our Lord from just this first week on campus! There have been many moments of sorrow for our team scattered throughout the week, but He continues to give us courage.
On Monday, we found out that it was not uncommon for the trains to stop because of a "jumper" or a person committing suicide on the tracks. As a friend described their own account of the delayed train, the sirens, and the police, I realized again the brevity of life and I was sad. I know that God does not allow my team and I to experience sorrow in vain. In fact, later that day, those feelings of urgency carried on throughout the day and God put an awesome opportunity to share the Gospel with two girls in the international building. Their wide eyes and curious faces brightened up as God gave me the words to speak! I knew it was Him because it was effortless for me. Also because of the sadness I feel, I was able to empathize with one student as she described how she has seen the "cultural disease" in Japan called depression.
Please pray that I (as well as my team) will continue to be able to channel even our sorrow towards His glory!
Wow, that's awesome that your host sister attends that university! Do most of the students you encounter speak English fluently, or how do you converse and communicate the gospel with them?
ReplyDeletehi allie!! it is awesome! thanks for keeping up with my blog. i'm really encouraged by your comments :)
ReplyDeleteto answer your ques, most of the students we pursue spiritual conversations with can speak English well. many times, we get rejected or students don't speak English or they do not feel comfortable conversing with us. i think only one person on our team feels comfortable enough to share his entire testimony in Japanese. we do have Gospel tracks in Japanese which we often use to clear up miscommunication or to give to people who are interested. :)