Kelly - A day of mixed emotions...

One thing I've grown to realize on these mission trips is that at a certain point, i really lose track of what day it is. Even more confusing on this trip is that our day one was a Thursday... OK I'm babbling here... The point of the babbling is that today was Sunday, a Day of rest for the team and a day to praise and worship our Lord and Savior. It was good, no joyful, to be able to worship the same God, in a church thousands of miles away... to sing songs of worship and know (that even though I didn't know the meaning of all the words I was singing) that God was pleased with what He heard. Joyful too that the TMK is growing - not by huge numbers, but enough to notice and ask/ verify the perception with Jon Reasoner.

Tonight at the BBQ there were about 40 of us. And while many of those attending were missionaries, some of the kids were there and they even brought friends! Hoping and praying we see them tomorrow. Some new moms :), but no dads except those already at TMK :(. I still hope... I must hope... I know one day they will come... I just wonder what it will take to win their trust and get them curious...(remember the 5 things from the current message series at LCC...)

You could kind of sense already the reason for the title... but the real reason for the title was the news we learned last night. Because Missionary out-reach to Japan is sooo expensive and the growth or "return" is so low, many groups will no longer be sending missionaries to Japan. The Southern Baptist's for example are actively discussing discontinuing sending missionary families here to Japan (they will send short-term individuals.) SEND will continue to support this field but there are 4 families who will not be returning to Japan at this point since they have not been able to raise enough support. I talked more with Richard and learned that once he returns for his home stay (the period the missionaries return home to raise their support) he will have to raise $14K per MONTH in support! My heart was breaking as it felt like bean-counters were choosing places like Kenya where $25 will feed 300+ kids for the day verses this land where less than 1% know our Lord and Savior. The business side of me goes "well, doesn't it make sense that we put our money where we'll get the biggest bang for the buck?" That thought just angers the very depths of my soul. But, as Richard and I talked, we realized, maybe it's Gods way of directing our paths. I know in my heart, that the church here really hasn't grown since I first came here in 1983, so it does make one wonder what have we (the christian church) really been doing here in Japan for the past 27 years??? Richard and I have both been sensing over the past few years that we need to change our approach here in Japan. I forget who said or defined insanity as "doing the same thing time after time and expecting different results..." So what do we think God wants us to do differently? To work side by side with the people of Japan. Richard is working/applying for a different VISA, one that will allow him to work here - two reasons - first is to be able to work next to the people here, so trust can be built, and second, it's getting almost unreasonable to expect to raise $14K per month (we both know that for God nothing is impossible, but maybe He is making it harder so we begin looking to outreach in different ways.) Besides, if tent making ministries were good enough for Paul, surely it might work for us today - look at the Tamura's, the Hyodo's... PLEASE be in prayer for Richard's VISA application. If he gets it, then the entire family gains this status and even his kids could work during the summers! Be in prayer for the Reasoners too, Chieko Reasoner has also applied for this type of VISA. She's applying since she was a Japanese Citizen and her return would be easier than the route for Jon to apply. Be in prayer too for the remaining families, that God would provide for them.

OK, I need to rest, getting really spacey here...