This week marked my official one month "anniversary" of coming to Japan.
Wow! One month!
Can you believe it's been that long already? Though I'm continually becoming more and more comfortable and familiar with the landscape of life in Japan, I still feel as though my ministry is merely beginning. Being here, I understand why missionary organazitions classify any trip up to two years as "short term." While the foundations to relationships are being built, it's almost frustrating to look ahead and see that I won't have time to solidify them and really go deeper.

Every week I see more of these doors opening. More opportunities to spend with students outside of class. When I check my e-mail, I see an increasing number of messages from those I'm connecting with here. I'm so thankful for this! I know I mentioned it before, but it merits another mention: Friends, your prayers are effective. Thank you. I still feel blessed to be here. I still wake up in the morning, thankful to be waking up to the barks of the neighbors' dog and the sun that's rising 13 hours earlier here than it does at home. I'm overjoyed at the friendships the Lord is forming with SEND and WYAM missionaries. And it's exciting to be able to watch my own ministry grow as I begin to plant roots in the churches and HiBA. Not just through relationships, but through events as well. The more I am connected, the more I am able to physically be involved. Which also means my weeks become much busier!

One thing that I've been thankful for since I've been here: Podcasts. I've become addicted to the podcasts from Grace, CWC, and WSEFC. In my prayers I thank God that I live in this technological age where I have access to sermons and churches that encourage, teach, fill, and challenge me, even when I am not physically present. One passage that has been popping up frequently is Colossians 3:12-17. Sermons, my own devotions, the devotional books that I use... the same passage seems to appear frequently. Uncoincidentally I'm sure, this same passage had a profound impact on me almost one year ago to date. Straightforward and simple, it offers an amazing view not only of how we must live individually, but corporately as well. It speaks to our heritage, our identity, and the shape of our hearts--which, I believe, is unspeakably important. Our hearts are where the Holy Spirit dwells. It's where He works, convicts, encourages, moves. Yes, our bodies are temples, but our hearts are the Holy of Holies. They are sacred spaces.

Friends, the Lord has been hard at work in my heart these last four and a half weeks. He's clearing out and rearranging and refining and perfecting. He's using the podcasts, the missionaries, my alone-ness, my students, my pastor, the fact that I don't know the language (oh, how that creates such new ways to experience God!), PRAYER, my lessons, the train, time. Anything you can think of, He is using. I don't believe that ever in my life have I been so open and receptive to how God is moving.

Thank you for supporting me in this awesome chance to serve and be served.
Right now, please continue to pray for these relationships to be rooted in Christ. Pray also for my own time management, particularly as it relates to time spent focused on what's at home. I recently came across the Jim Eliott quote, "Whereve you are--be all there." These words are sticking to me. God has brought me to Tokyo to be here, not to be worrying about what's going on in Indianapolis or Pennsylvania. But with things like Facebook, it's very easy to be sucked back into what's happening where I am not. I'm working hard on this, but prayer would definitely help!

May the Lord bless you today.
Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one anaother with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.