Language Stories

When the Swedish missionaries who founded this church thirty or forty years ago first came to Japan, they did not know Japanese, nor did they know any Japanese people. It took faith and courage, and God blessed their mission; the church they founded still stands, and is staffed entirely by Japanese nationals.

However, they had some linguistic difficulties. On one occasion, the Swedish missionary was riding the bus. Back then, when one was riding the bus, he had to call out to the driver to stop ("Oroshite, kudasai!") when they got to his destination. This missionary was riding the bus, and when they arrived at the destination, he hurriedly called out, "Koroshite, kudasai! Ima, koroshite!"

He was one letter off. Everyone on the bus was both surprised and frightened to hear this strange man shouting, "Kill me, please! Kill me now! Kill me right here!"

Two Weeks In

Today makes two weeks since Laura and I stepped off the plane. It feels like it's been longer.

When we first got here, I was surprised at how my proficiency level in Japanese had jumped. However, it soon became apparent that it is still woefully insufficient. I understand so little still, but I've learned a lot since I got here. I have to remind myself that it's only been two weeks. When I remind myself of that, I feel confident that my proficiency level will be enough to carry a decent conversation by the time December rolls around.

We've been teaching some private lessons here and there, but the real work begins next week. We'll have English Summer Camp, which is an overnight thing. I'll be teaching the more advanced students. We'll have fun, I think.

After Summer Camp will be English Summer School, for which I am also excited, although we've done very little planning for that as yet.

These past two weeks, God has been drilling me with the parable of the Unmerciful Servant. I have been struggling with impatience with my partner, Laura, because of her inexperience and temperamental differences. She's a more slow, steady, thoughtful type of person, and that's been something of an irritant to me. But God's been using that parable to change me and remind me that it's not fair for me to be so critical and unmerciful, and that He expects me to be more gracious than that. As soon as I told Laura I was having that struggle, the feelings of irritation and impatience dissipated.

Pray for us, that God would keep us healthy and peaceable and give us the creativity we need to teach well.

Albuquerque

Friday two weeks ago, Laura and I were talking about the possibility that she might not be able to go. The numbers were daunting, and not very hopeful. She still needed to raise about $1500 to be able to get to Japan.

That Sunday, we spoke in both services of First Christian up there in Albuquerque. And God did something amazing.

We expressed in the early service that Laura had this need, and, I kid you not, not five minutes after we sat down, a woman I don't even know came to us and handed Laura a check for $1500.

One thing I have been telling myself for months when the numbers just seemed too scary is this: There is no recession in God's economy. And what I told Laura when she was starting to freak out about the numbers was this: If God wants you there, He gets you there.

The transition is no longer as scary as it once was. God would not call me to something I could not handle with His help. We leave in three days.

Geronimo!