Is it vacation or remote work? Maybe it’s time with family and friends or is it time to share investment reports with churches? Furloughs, or home assignment, are difficult to explain even for the missionary. We recently finished our first furlough, which means we spent a year in America. Concerning statistics beyond normal school and “office” responsibilities, we drove over 24,000 miles, visited over 35 churches (some more than once), helped with 3 VBS ministries, went to 2 camps, and took part in 5 different conferences. Statistics make it sound rather tiring, so what is the point? Why do we do it?
Sharing God’s Work
Many people, including churches, pray for us faithfully, support us financially, and encourage us regularly. We wanted to express our gratitude to them all, and more importantly, we wanted to share what God is doing here in Japan. It is exciting to hear how God ordains “random” meetings or spurs someone to ask a question. Sharing with others gives the glory God deserves and encourages those listening.; God is answering their prayers and using the finances they have given for His own glory.
Reestablish Relationships
People constantly move, whether across town or to other states. As we travelled to churches, we often met new people who started attending after our last visit. They were praying for us, “their missionaries,” without ever having the opportunity to meet us. We also love getting to know people in the churches better and learning how God is working in their lives, whether it is children who have moved to opposite ends of the country or health conditions that God is teaching patience and trust through. Relationships require maintenance, and prayer letters can only do so much to help.
Sharing God’s Work
Many people, including churches, pray for us faithfully, support us financially, and encourage us regularly. We wanted to express our gratitude to them all, and more importantly, we wanted to share what God is doing here in Japan. It is exciting to hear how God ordains “random” meetings or spurs someone to ask a question. Sharing with others gives the glory God deserves and encourages those listening.; God is answering their prayers and using the finances they have given for His own glory.
Reestablish Relationships
People constantly move, whether across town or to other states. As we travelled to churches, we often met new people who started attending after our last visit. They were praying for us, “their missionaries,” without ever having the opportunity to meet us. We also love getting to know people in the churches better and learning how God is working in their lives, whether it is children who have moved to opposite ends of the country or health conditions that God is teaching patience and trust through. Relationships require maintenance, and prayer letters can only do so much to help.
Share Opportunities to Serve
We need more missionaries in Japan. Humanly speaking, the statistics show that the Japanese church cannot continue without missionary help. There are too few Japanese Christians. Part of what we did was share how people can serve God in Japan, whether through English lessons, church planting, or other talents God has given them. We want to provide places for people to serve either short-term or long-term.
Time to Refresh
Living in another culture, country, and language is hard. God calls every Christian to do hard things, and thankfully He helps us do them, but it is still hard. Part of that help is coming up for a breath. During our time in America, we loved seeing our families and friends. It was good to spend time with people who care about us and are willing to speak truth into our lives. We also attended many conferences, sessions, and classes to help us grow in life and ministry. God even used singing and listening to sermons to encourage and convict us. We are thankful we could let our children spend time with family and friends while we celebrated our anniversary or spent time nurturing our marriage. Even the travel allowed us to take time to make memories and see some of God’s creation.
We are thankful for the opportunity God gave us to spend in America; it allowed us to reset and prepare for future ministry, while tell others what He has done in Japan and what He could do through them. We are excited to be back, refreshed and ready to rejoin God’s work in Japan.
We need more missionaries in Japan. Humanly speaking, the statistics show that the Japanese church cannot continue without missionary help. There are too few Japanese Christians. Part of what we did was share how people can serve God in Japan, whether through English lessons, church planting, or other talents God has given them. We want to provide places for people to serve either short-term or long-term.
Time to Refresh
Living in another culture, country, and language is hard. God calls every Christian to do hard things, and thankfully He helps us do them, but it is still hard. Part of that help is coming up for a breath. During our time in America, we loved seeing our families and friends. It was good to spend time with people who care about us and are willing to speak truth into our lives. We also attended many conferences, sessions, and classes to help us grow in life and ministry. God even used singing and listening to sermons to encourage and convict us. We are thankful we could let our children spend time with family and friends while we celebrated our anniversary or spent time nurturing our marriage. Even the travel allowed us to take time to make memories and see some of God’s creation.
We are thankful for the opportunity God gave us to spend in America; it allowed us to reset and prepare for future ministry, while tell others what He has done in Japan and what He could do through them. We are excited to be back, refreshed and ready to rejoin God’s work in Japan.
RSS Feed
