Wilderness Pioneering II - The Empire Strikes Back
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| Honey, you can come out of the nursery now... |
A faithful reader of this blog texted me the other day (now don't be jealous, we love all 5 of you!) and asked why I hadn't posted in a while.
"So how's your English lessons/meetings going? Are you able to meet up with people at Starbucks or 7/11 or something I think you mentioned?" inquired the upbeat text.
I replied calmly (using only lowercase type) "Well, no one has called us back... and I didn't exactly want to blog on THAT!"
And yet, here we are!
Someone, somewhere, wrote that my last post on Wilderness Pioneering was an encouragement to some folk out there in the wilderness. Well, if that be true, let's just keep "telling it like it is" for a while.
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| Now this is what I call roughing it! |
Pioneering is NOT like getting shipwrecked on Gilligan's Island! You might whine about missing out on the good life "back home", but reality is, the Skipper's getting fat on lobsters and coconut cream pies! And while your main convert may be a real Gilligan, at least you have the Professor to run the PowerPoint, Ginger and Mary Ann to sing for altar calls, and you can always count on the Howells whenever you have to take a pledge...
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| Except we had to leave "Luke" behind... |
Did you ever READ any of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books? (Watching the television series doesn't count) I didn't read all of them, but in the ones I did read, I was struck by how many times things didn't work out, and they had to try something else! Every time they settled in someplace, I thought "Ahhhh! Finally! Now they can put down roots, establish themselves, purchase some 'store bought' clothes!" But NO! They moved around all over the plains (notice how I didn't say "prairie"?) - between Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota. One of their homes was a dirt cave dugout covered with sod. They tried homesteading, and faced 3 consecutive crop failures (two of them due to plagues of grasshoppers). But Pa loved pioneering, Ma was supportive, and the kids were real troopers!
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| I just don't see any prospects... |
We're a solo pioneer work (in a 99.5% materialistic atheistic country) so there's a lot of grace. The Japanese are... hesitant, to make new friends or try anything new or potentially "awkward". But, there are 35 million people. Some of them speak English, and out of those, some will be brave!
We're only in the baby beginnings here. We just keep trying stuff, new stuff, old stuff, then go back and check on the first stuff, etc etc! I mean, music is good, music works, right? Right?
Then we passed these street musicians (click to see the video) -
So now, instead, I'm thinking of dressing up like Ben Franklin and reading sermons from a parchment that looks like the Declaration of Independence.... JUST kidding! (sort of)
Then we passed these street musicians (click to see the video) -
So now, instead, I'm thinking of dressing up like Ben Franklin and reading sermons from a parchment that looks like the Declaration of Independence.... JUST kidding! (sort of)
Keep praying for us! We need it! The devil is a liar! And so's his wife ("but, you say, the devil doesn't have a wife. That's right, because the devil is...") well, you know the rest.
Please pray for anointing, wisdom, and physical health and strength.
日本のために祈りましょう ←speaking in tongues
Gary & Lisa
Comments
Discouragement and nostalgia for Christian fellowship is sure to set in, but your desperate prayers to God has not gone unheard. Ps 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." It is His heart's desire and fulfilment of His destiny that you labor in Japan.
You and your wife are one of the many couples who are the heroes of our fellowship. Often times, the church body are left encouraged with praise reports from the field without the knowledge of the demonic oppression the process of the victory wrought. Seeing the Japanese has been your highest of high dreams... This IS the greatest thing to give your life to - God's kingdom, because after the blood, sweat and tears, it's worth it all. Standing before God on Judgement Day bringing people with you to Heaven is living an Earthly life driven by eternity.
If this is a help at all, please know that I am in the middle of the Daniel fast and praying daily for both of you. Matt 17:21 "However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting." I apologize for failing to e-mail the resources I found lately as I am taking an online class. But right when it's over, I'll be sure to do so :)
頑張ってください。神様はあなた達の祈りを聞いています。
I really hope that the Guam church will send an impact team to Japan >< Even if I would have to pay for the expenses, I would be more than willing to go
Oh, we have a Christian family friend who will be moving to Japan January of next year. May I request for the address of your apartment so they may be able to meet up with you?
どうもありがとうございます。
The willing Christian support of nearby fellowship churches in past experiences have highlighted the present isolation amidst the lost 35 million population. Often times, the congregation is encouraged to hear praise reports from the field without the true knowledge of the demonic oppression faced in the process of the victory wrought. Contrary to the present circumstances and personal feelings, your desperate prayers have not gone unheard. Ps 51:17 "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." Touching ground and waving the CFM banner in Japan for the very first time is a breakthrough in itself. You reaching the Japanese people is the very fulfilment of God's calling and the reality of God's destiny for your lives. This has been your highest of high dreams. You and your wife are one of the many couples who are the heroes of the fellowship worldwide. Standing before God on Judgement Day and bringing people with you to Heaven is testament to a live driven by eternity. The blood, sweat and tears will be worth it all in the end.
During Guam's June 2013 Bible Conference, Pastor Cluck was nearly brought to tears as he recounted an experience during the Philippine conference,
A disciple from Vietnam came up to him and in broken English said, "Thank you, Pastor, for sending a church to Vietnam. If you had not, I would still be lost in my sin." (or somewhere to that extent ><)
They've been in Vietnam for a year now. On the first month, they learned that Vietnam is a Communist country and that sharing the Gospel is restricted, especially for foreigners. When they came there, they didn't know what to do because it seemed like a dead end. They were outreaching in the park, but they realized that they may get exposed. They met a Christian lawyer who encouraged them to contact him if they got into any trouble. In addition to that favor, the lawyer's brother has just been promoted to the police officer who governs all the religious activities in that area. On the second month, they were asking God for ways to outreach. Then they met two Australians, who come and go to Vietnam, who also share the Gospel to the people. When they learned that they were pioneers, they remarked "You are the answers to our prayers!" The Australians entrusted to them their English club. Now held at their apartment, they tell stories from the Bible like the miracles of Jesus. After groupings, they practice "listening to English" where Pastor Remil preaches to them about Jesus. Some students already have received Jesus Christ. Pastor Desepida, the leader of the Philippines, stopped by Vietnam and water baptized the new converts.
If it will be an encouragement to you at all, I am in the middle of the Daniel fast and daily praying for a breakthrough for our fellowship church in Japan. Matt 17:21 "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." Our God is still greater than all the false gods of Buddhism, Shintoism and Confuciansim, like Dagon:
1 Samuel 5:3-4:
"And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him."
One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. We are simply messengers. God does not need to be defended; He is the King of kings. His Word will not come back to Him void.
Stay encouraged! どうもありがとうございます！頑張ってください。