Project Ezra

Until my last post, I had been in kind of a bad habit of posting only when I had a picture to go with it. I recently realized that such a practice is very inconsistent with the title I've given to this blog. "Radical Metamorphosis" was the name of my website, which I stopped updating after I stopped teaching English in the church and therefore stopped writing regular newsletters. There have been so many events leading up to coming to Japan, and many more since coming to Japan, that have contributed to drastic changes in my life, that it seemed the only appropriate title. When one considers that, as a highschool student, although I was a devoted church-goer, I hated the idea of evangelism, coming to Japan as a missionary is a big enough change as it is. Since coming to Japan, my faith has grown by leaps and bounds, most particularly in the last year.

Let me begin by explaining that the reason I hated the idea of evangelism was because I had an incorrect view of it, as I think many do. I had a rather un-believing view of it. I used to think that evangelism meant arguing in order to sway people to my point of view. I have since grown up, and have learned that it's really true (as opposed to a very humble-sounding argument) that no one can believe and come to Christ without the Holy Spirit. Everything that is "needed" for salvation to be assured is provided by God, and the evidence of it in our lives is merely the fruit of what God is really doing behind the scenes. God's word, his Law, repentance, atonement, trust in the atonement, praise, thanksgiving, a new heart, new desires, spiritual growth, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control, absolutely all of these are the work of God, (even the desire in our hearts for any of these things is just the same) and none of it can or does come out of our wicked hearts or depraved minds. Praise God; thank him for his mercy.

Since I'm not working for the church, God has closed the door on sharing any aspect of my faith in any regular way while teaching. However, God is opening the door for another way, a more challenging way, and yet a potentially more fruitful way to reach many more than merely the 70+ students I teach each week.

I've already had a few chances for one-on-one evangelism in Japanese, and have explained the law and Gospel to several people over the past few months. Today, I joined "Project Ezra," an initiative to read from the bible in the open air every weekend. Details are at the Project Ezra blog: http://projectezra.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-strategy-and-schedule.html
Since my one attempt to get God's word to my students left me feeling guilty of evading accountability, I've been asking Japanese Christians about how something like Project Ezra would be perceived in Japan. I asked two Japanese pastors, and also one elderly layman who is active with the Gideons, distributing bibles at schools and speaking at churches about their ministry to raise awareness. All of them thought it was a wonderful idea, warned me that people might look at me funny (which they do anyway, so all the better if they get to hear God's word too), and just generally encouraged me to go for it.

Today, my first time, I felt was sort of a practice. Late Sunday afternoon, I took my Japanese bible and an umbrella and went out in the rain to a nearby park. I was about to walk around the park singing praise when a man in a car stopped me and insisted on giving me half a dozen peaches! I offered him one of my little Sunday School bible memory verse cards, but he refused it and drove off saying "Good luck!"

I walked the perimeter of the park singing Revelation Song ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZUTt8XINPY ) and trying hard not to slip in the mud. Then I stood under a tree and read Exodus 20 as best I could in Japanese. To the best of my knowledge, all of two people may have passed by on bicycles. As I walked home, I was glad, but really tired. I also had a half-dozen mosquito bites on my ankles to go with the mud.

I know this project isn't going to be easy for me, but I think that's why I like it. Reading aloud in English has always been easy for me, but I still struggle with Japanese. For me to get out and read in public alone takes God working in me. For it to have any impact whatsoever on others will take God working in them. This was a huge step for me, but I'm sure it will prove to be minor compared to what God will eventually do through me.

Miracles and Praise

God is absolutely incredible. I have had probably the most amazing and intense day of my life, seeing God work powerfully in a way I've never seen before.

Recently in my life, God has been teaching me to praise him, with greater intensity and frequency than ever before. Because of this, as I went in to worship this morning, I chose to stand in the back where there would be room to kneel, because sitting and praising just didn't seem right at that time. I wanted to have the freedom to assume whatever posture God was leading me to.

Little did I know all that God was leading me to do.

Shortly into the service, I stood for the reading of the Gospel, which is not a usual thing in Japan. I grew up standing for the Gospel, but never really understanding why. This morning, God gave me the thought that, if an important person comes in the room, people will stand, or bow, in respect. How much more for the very words of our King of kings, Jesus Christ, when His words from the gospels are read aloud!

Partway into the reading of the gospel, a woman whom I've been praying for regularly, who has desired to be baptized in the past but has backed out at the last minute, consumed by fears and doubts, her name is Eiko; during the gospel reading she came into the church, knelt at my feet and begged to receive mercy. There are so many details I can't remember. I touched her cupped hands; I told her to stand but she wouldn't. She said the same thing to some other people nearby. I placed my hand on her shoulder and began to praise and pray the names of God; Jehovah-Rohi, Our Shepherd, Jehovah-M'kaddesh, Our Sanctification, Jehovah-Nissi, our Banner of Victory. I had a book with me with many more names of God, and I prayed and praised through those. Meanwhile, the service continued, even though everyone had obviously become aware of her presence and some commotion in the back corner of the sanctuary, which is the size of a chapel. I felt that the pastor needed to pray over her, that the members needed to fill the church with praise, but none of that was happening. Instead, Cindy came over and told me that one of the church leaders was asking if we would move her into another room. I instictively said no. Several people were talking to her, or praying for her. Though all our voices were in quiet whispers until the service was over, everyone knew something was going on. A demon was cast out from her and attacked someone else for a while, but at the time I didn't know that, I only thought that God was humbling that other person. I continued to pray and praise in the Spirit of God, and I had the distinct impression that Eiko needed to be baptized as soon as possible, and that this struggle wouldn't be over until she could praise God with all her might.

Much of what happened is a blur to me, because I continued to focus on God and to praise, for quite a long while. I know what happened, but I don't remember details. There was an elder's meeting scheduled for that Sunday anyhow, and the church president hurried everyone off to it to start on time. Later, Eiko expressed her desire to be baptized, and she filled out and signed a form of intention that the church has. I don't remember in what order, but I heard that Pastor was calling Eiko's husband, and I heard that the elders didn't want her to be baptized yet. I was determined to praise God any way, and read Psalms of praise with some other Christian women who were there. Little by little, they went home; eventually I, too, was worn out, partly because I was still filled with praise but was discouraged by some church members talking loudly in the next room. I began to sing hymns of praise, only to have one lady come in and facetiously say "what a pretty voice." I rebuked her, insisting that God get all the glory, not people, not voices. Well, she retorted, we have a guest (so please be quiet because you might disturb our non-Christian guest). I paid it no mind and kept singing as God was leading me, to sing and praise, or to read silently and praise. But eventually I was exhausted, and I had no idea where anyone had gone to. I really wanted a quiet place to pray, so I decided to try going upstairs, but was soon interrupted by the voices of people coming out of the meeting. However, this time I was encouraged to hear that she might be able to be baptized after all.

By this time, it was after 4:00pm. I learned that Eiko had gone home to speak with her husband, and that if she came back to the church before 6:00, we would baptize her. So I prayed and praised in the sanctuary a little while longer, and at one point I sensed God telling me "if you trust me, lie down in the pew." So I did. I fell asleep, and when I woke up, Cindy and Lindsey were talking, so I sat up and joined the conversation. Within 10 minutes, Eiko arrived back at the church. She had not obtained her husband's approval as she had hoped, but he hadn't prevented her from coming back. So, we got things ready, and had a small but joyful baptism service. In some aspects it was disorganized (oh, we should sing a hymn. which hymn should we sing? or Oh, we should have communion together-- and then proceed to prepare the communion elements with bangs and clatters while Pastor is in the middle of a prayer! Not to mention that Pastor had been out walking his dog, a corgi, when Eiko arrived and so he didn't have time to take the dog back upstairs before starting), but in other ways it was really spirit led, as the church members scrambled to find a hymn, Eiko named a praise song that was extremely appropriate.

Afterwards, Pastor had somewhere he had to go to, and the other church members left, too. There was leftover curry and rice from lunch, so after we (me and the three VYM teachers) talked with Eiko and told her more places in God's word that would help her, we all sat down to dinner together. Eiko kept saying how thankful and happy she is, and said that she felt it was a miracle that she could come back and be baptized. After talking some more and hearing more praise songs, she got ready and went home, amid lots of hugs and blessings.

Cherry blossoms!

This year, I bought my own cherry tree seedling. As you can see, it's only one tiny stick, with only one cluster of cherry blossoms. This picture is just past its peak. My friends say that because this year was so warm, the leaves came out early. Normally the leaves wouldn't appear until the blossoms had mostly fallen. Isn't it cute!

"Hair cut"

Here are the most recent photos I have. Actually, I'm not getting my hair cut. The lady is an adult student of mine, and I've been to her salon a few times for a "head spa," basically hair treatments, shampoo and conditioning combined with a scalp and shoulder massage that lasts about an hour and is absolutely wonderful! I'm still growing my hair for locks of love, and it's not time to cut it yet. One week, she learned that their salon would be featured in a magazine for hair salon owners, and she wanted to have some better pictures of serving foreign customers. So she called me up and asked if I would come in and let them take pictures of me. They had one from when another American friend of mine and I were there, but it wasn't very clear. She keeps a sign on her salon door that says "English OK." Her English is very fluent (she's my top student) mostly because she lived in England for a few years studying at the Vidal Sassoon salon in London. So my American friends are glad to have someone they can go to who will be able to understand exactly what they want done with their hair.
I don't know if my picture will get chosen by the magazine,
but I thought I could at least post it on here.

Anyway, to thank me, she's going to give me a free head spa
next Monday. I can't wait! I just finished a week of "Halloween
Party" classes, and I'm really worn out and glad it's over. Yes,
it is November 8th already. The previous week, we had the "Jr. Step Test" in almost every class, so we couldn't do halloween parties that week. Every year, we usually do the halloween party as a reward for the kids from preparing so much for the test. We have no choice over when the tests must be given, and so we had them during classes, Tuesday throught Saturday, October 28th through November 1st. Thanks to the brilliant suggestion of my oldest niece, I dressed up as an angel, wearing a long white dress that I made in highschool, wings made from cardboard, a white foam wrapping sheet, and white plastic string; and a halo made from a silver headband, white flower-arranging wire, and silver Christmas tinsel, the kind that is just a long, fluffy string. My only photo of it is from my boss's husband's photo studio, where I literally went 'trick or treating' with my youngest class, three girls who are all just barely three years old. One of them had a reindeer suit on, which was absolutely darling. Of course, they are all adorable all the time!

Cleaning under the rug

Upon further reflection of last week's post, I think the analogy of the swing is better suited to what we settle for in our walk with God. Sure, it's fun to play on a swing, but a hot-air balloon ride would be so much more exciting and enjoyable. The area where I grew up had a balloon launching pad nearby, and we loved counting the balloons float across the sky. The closest we ever got was to go watch the balloons as they were launched. Mom and Dad always said no, it's too expensive, when we invariably asked if we could go up in a balloon. Of course they were right. But, as Christians, how many of us settle for the simplicity and mundane enjoyment of a swing, and never ask our heavenly Father to take us up in a balloon?

Tonight I did some much needed cleaning in my apartment. I think I can finally, totally say that I feel completely moved in. All of my boxes were finally all unpacked, and everything repacked and put away where I essentially know where it is. I had borrowed a friend's vacuum cleaner this week (I have such a small apartment I'd rather not have my own vacuum) and I used it as a catalyst to get me to clean up my place, because I can never seem to clean up for the sake of having it clean. I have to return the vacuum by Monday night, and I don't think I'll have time to use it on Sunday... though maybe I can do a bit more on Monday.

I titled this blog 'Cleaning under the rug' for simplicity's sake, but tonight I cleaned under the tatami. Yes, we call it a tatami mat, but they are quite large. Each one is about 3 1/2 inches thick, maybe 4 inches, and they fill in the floor of the room like large tiles. In one spot, there is a gap just wide enough to get your fingers down into there and pry up one of them. Once one is up, any of the rest of them will come out as long as you don't have furniture on top of it. I have bookshelves and a desk all along one wall, so I was only able to take up three of the six mats and vacuum underneath them. Still, that's the kind of satisfying cleaning I love doing.

To take that yet a level deeper, I've also been pondering the meaning and substance of repentance. If you love God and hate your sin, you'll obviously be trying to avoid sin at all costs. But if you willfully keep returning to the same sin, you obviously love the sin more than you love God. Most every day, I realize how much I truly need to love God more, and hate sin more. Repenting of sin over and over again as a Christian is just like cleaning under the rug. Maybe no one sees all the ugly sins deep in our hearts, but God wants to clean it all out just the same. We may not even want to look in there, but we've got to admit our filthiness before we can be cleaned. Without genuine, regular repentance, we are not walking with Christ, and without Christ, we're doomed.

Swings

Basic, everyday discipline is something that has always seemed to elude me. I've been struggling in many and various ways for quite some time. So, while I can't make any promises about posting here with any kind of regularity, I hope that I will post more often, now that I've decided not to post only when I have pictures to post.

What disturbs me most about my lack of discipline is that it generally seems to equal laziness. It's not complete and total laziness, but it is basically doing what needs to get done and relaxing the rest of the time. It seems I've always had a tendency to be at rest, which is part of why I try to keep busy doing outside things. If I wasn't busy doing outside things, I probably would become a hermit, living vicariously through my computer.

So, in an effort to shake off a little sloth, I went for a walk tonight. It was cool, but comfortable enough with a jacket and scarf. It's cloudy, but not damp or windy. I had a very productive hour, walking and processing and praying.

On the way home I passed a playground and decided to go in and sit on a swing for a minute. I found myself pondering: why do we find pleasure in playing on a swing? To put these thoughts in better perspective, at an earlier point in my walk I was pondering how much all the good, pleasant things in life are mere shadows of God's goodness; all the pleasure we could ever find in this life is insignificant compared with the privilege of drawing near to God. So, in that frame of mind, I began to put it to an analogy of spiritual things. There are two ways to play on a swing. You can be pushed, or you can pump. I think it was at some point during kindergarten that I learned how to pump on a swing. You know, move your body, stretch and bend your legs so that you can actually swing higher all by yourself. If you are pushed, you have very little way of controlling how high you go. You're at the mercy of your pusher. If you want to go higher, and they don't feel like pushing you anymore, you have to beg them again and again to push you higher. On the flip side, if you're ready to be done, but they keep pushing you, despite your begging to be let off, your only two choices are to hang on and ride it out, or let go and fall off.

Now, as with any analogy, it breaks down, because a swing doesn't really take you anywhere, and eventually you leave it behind in the park and go home. At first, I thought of pumping as the action of leading a disciplined life, where you go higher, but lose out on a bit of relationship. But the more I think of it, I wonder if simply sitting down and holding on is the basic discipline. I wonder if I'm just a bit afraid of asking God to push me higher because I fell off once. Is the pumping or pleading to be pushed representative of all prayer and praise and reading the word?
I think, people can swing in different ways to different heights, but if sitting down on the swing is repentance and holding on is trust in Jesus, that is all that is needed.

boating!

This Saturday I went boating with some people from the church in Shirone. Last year we participated in a race, but there was no race this year, so we just went for fun. One man was crazy enough to bring his digital camera onto the boat, and got a few rather good pictures, and those got sent on to me today. We were out rowing about 40 minutes. It was a five-seater, four people rowing and one calling, and one more friend rode in the boat behind the caller. It was fun, and I'm getting kind of good at it. This is one of the things that makes me really like living in Japan.

Easter sunrise

 
Every year, Nozomi lutheran church holds a sunrise service in the park that is a block away from the church. After hymns and scripture readings that remind us of Easter morning, they have a re-enactment of the women going to the tomb, and the angel telling them "He is not here, he is risen!" This is the group photo we took afterwards. Can you find me?

Easter praise hour

 
My blog is totally out of chronological order now, as this picture took place about a month before the ones I just posted the other day. During the party following Easter Praise Hour at Shirone, I played a horn-tuba-piano trio with my friends Yutaka (tuba) and Rikako (keyboard) of "Amazing Grace." It was Yutaka's idea. This praise hour was also a farewell party for Laura and Efrain, and Yutaka wanted to thank them both. Laura came with me to Yutaka's Tuba recital last fall.
Sorry, I don't have a recording.

Cherry blossom mountain

 
Last Monday I went with some co-workers to Fukushima prefecture to visit the famous 'Hanamiyama,' a mountain park that is filled with blooming trees and shrubs. Most of them are cherry trees of several varieties. It was a day trip. We left at about 8am and returned in the evening. All the cherry trees were at their peak, the weather was beautiful, and the day was absolutely splendid.
 
 
 
You can see these pictures and more on my web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/betsy.frick/Hanamiyama

Ohisashiburi -- translation: It's been a long time

Hi. I'm still alive. I moved back to Shirone. I can't believe it's been since October that I posted. I'm really busy and still trying to move in and get unpacked. That's all for now.

flowers!

 
 
 
 

Night Safari

 
 
In the evening, we went to see the night safari. It was really cool, like a "Jurassic Park" style zoo at night. We rode a tram through the "jungle" to see all kinds of animals, some standard ones like lions, zebras, elephants and giraffes, but also many that are more nocturnal, such as anteaters. I've never seen a giant anteater before. You can also walk through it, and we walked along one part that had many more small animals. There is one cage you can walk through: the flying fox. The sign on the outside door says that the animals inside are harmless, but if you don't like bats, you shouldn't go in. There were double doors that would only open when the one behind was closed, to keep the animals from escaping. The bats weren't easy to see in the dim light, and they blended in with the branches. The biggest one was about the size of a chihuahua with wings. As we were watching one, it suddenly released two streams of fluid, one clear and the other red (#1 and #2?). We narrowly missed being hit by it! Later on, we saw the "creatures of the night" show, and I had my picture taken with a couple of the animals. After hitting the gift shops, we headed back to her place, and had to get up early to catch my flight the next morning. Overall, it was an awesome trip, and definately the most spontaneous thing I've ever done!

Baking party!

 
 
 
Last Saturday I hosted a baking party at my house. Four of my friends came, and we had a really fun time! It was a strictly women-only event, and we made sugar cookies, chocolate crinkles, oatmeal raisin cookies, apple pie, and banana bread. A few things got a little dark, but everything was super yummy! We ordered pizza for dinner after most everything had been baked, and I also made a salad. I had considered a video, but we were content to chat the whole evening. Four other friends I had invited couldn't come, but a few people said I should host another one for Christmas. I think I may! It's so much more fun baking together, and we could sample different kinds this way.

Random

No picture, no point, I just sort of feel like posting. I've finally gotten a little better about checking other people's blogs, so I finally understand how frustrating it is when you check repeatedly and keep finding the same post, with nothing new. It's kind of impractical that way.
Anyhow, it's 4am and it's about time I was asleep!

Genkan

 
 
 
This is my front entry-way, or genkan. The first picture is the view from it, of my stairs and hallway that goes back to the bathroom and the kitchen. To the right is the adult classroom, and to the left is the hallway that leads to the waiting room and children's classroom. The window is really pretty, frosted glass with a Japanese scene decorating it. The flowers were a present from a concert. The final picture is the view of the genkan and front door from the hallway. It's nice and big, and I have lots of room for shoes. The step is also a good height for sitting to take your shoes off, but not so high that I can't do it without sitting, either.

Length of the house

 
This is a picture taken from the kids classroom, down the hallway, into the adult classroom, to show the longest possible length of the house.

Children's classroom

 
 
 
Here are a few angles of the children's classroom, the biggest room in my house. It's essentially twice the size of the waiting room, and it also is tatami covered by carpeting. First there is really old brown carpeting, on top of that there is the blue carpeting you can see, and the yellow is a really soft Winnie the Pooh carpet. I teach two classes in here. Sadly, we don't have so many kid students in Niitsu. Chris has a few more classes here on another day. The rest of the time, this is my favorite room to practice my horn in, partly because of it's size, but also because it's the farthest from any neighbors. The ceilings are quite high with the exception of the divider in the middle. If the room were only tatami, there would probably be sliding doors there, dividing it into two rooms. The closet in the corner would hold a Buddhist altar for the typical Japanese family. Right now it's filled with school supplies :-).

The waiting room/ my living room

 
In the middle of the first floor, there is a room with tatami underneath carpeting. The room was originally very old-style Japanese, but with the carpet, sofa, and bookcases, it looks more modern now. It was decorated that way when the school opened. If any students or parents come early, they can wait in there for class to start or end, respectively. But it's also like a 'family room' for me. There is a small TV, VCR and DVD player, and the bookcase is half full of toys for any students or siblings that come in, and in the other half I've put my cookbooks and other things that I wouldn't mind people seeing and reading. I've also taken advantage of this space to keep a Japanese bible and other Christian literature, both for adults and children. It doesn't have windows directly to the outside, so it stays the coolest during the day. It also has an air-conditioning unit, but it hasn't been hot enough to try that yet.