It's been almost half of my 6 months in Japan. It's already December. Can you believe it? It's ALREADY time for the holiday, the lights, the music, the CHRISTMAS SEASON!
My (almost) 3 months in Japan have been so rewarding. I even thought of extending my trip to a YEAR (will pray about that...b/c no $$)!! But for now, I will be back by the end of March. Time is flying by too fast, and I hope to make every moment count.
Not only have I been realizing my love for miso soup every day, but also my need for God's grace every day. My sins are revealed to me so much greater than before. I feel like I'm being put on blast by God daily. But God's grace is becoming more of my source of comfort, peace, and joy. We cannot live without it.
Thankfully, my insecurities have passed and I'm finally comfortable with where I am at. I have been struggling to find security in God's love, but His love can truly do amazing things once we trust in it.
Currently, I have been applying for grad school, so I've been stressed out of my mind. I need to take care of my responsibilities here AND my application, so it's been a bit crazy for me. And I worry way too much! If I don't get into a school for next year, I have no plans whatsoever when I get back. WHAT WILL I DO THEN?! I guess this can be a great way for me to learn to trust in God with my future plans...we'll see where God takes me~!
Other than that, I have come at the time of HARVEST here in JAPAN! I have been so incredibly BLESSED to come at this time of reaping. It is SO RARE for even an unbeliever to come to Sunday Worship, but we've been having so many newcomers every week. People are being saved!!!!!! Last week, 3 people officially accepted Christ. WHAT A JOY it was to experience!!!!!! Two of them (Derek and Kanna) came to J-House through street evangelism. I am still so in shock. Now they are believers who are redeemed through Christ!! I have had so much joy watching Kanna coming to understand God's love and growing in her faith. She is the girl I mentioned in my last blog. Last week during our Thanksgiving Party, we did Lifebook in small groups. I was going over what a "positive-positive" person looks like (someone who is positive now and in the future because they trust in God's strength and provision), then Kanna shares with me, "I want to be a positive-positive person!" She took out her Bible and said, "I've been reading this every day and I am always so happy! I am also doing Lifebook with Kimiko every week! Liz, I'm so happy to have met you! Thank you for coming to Japan!!"
ASDJFKLDDLKJFD. I can't even express to you how I felt at that moment. Her words melted my heart and I wanted to cry!!! From the first day I met her till now, I have been here to witness this precious sister experience the love of Christ. Someone who was once so broken and lost is now FOUND. And God used someone so wretched like me for His Kingdom. God truly has a purpose for me in Japan, and I am grateful beyond WORDS. Then on Sunday, she took communion for the first time and met with the pastor to officially confirm that she believed in Jesus Christ.
I am SOOOO encouraged! WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START OFF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!!!!! In our Jesus Soldier meeting last week, we went over Luke 15, which talks about the parable of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son.
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Jesus has so much love and compassion for each and every soul. We need to have His heart and go find that lost soul! And then there's REJOICING for the lost sheep that is found!
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Justin had a really good illustration with these verses that I really liked. The campus is like the room. We need to sweep and search carefully till we find that one soul (coin)!
There are two girls who I have been talking with the past few weeks. God has a way of mysteriously bringing people to us to share the Gospel with! Saeko contacted me first and wanted to meet me after I gave out flyers on campus (so rare for people to contact you first!!!). She also invited her friend Mio to our English program! Last Thursday, we ate lunch together. The conversation casually led into talking about religion. They said they knew about Christianity because they went to a Christian high school, but they weren't Christian. I shared the Gospel with them, and they were really shocked! "It makes so much more sense! I never thought of Christianity in this way." I asked them what their life purpose was- Mio said for her family and friends and Saeko couldn't answer because she had never thought about it. They asked me to share mine, so I shared my testimony with them. We had a really great conversation and they want to learn more about Christianity!!!! Tomorrow, we're going to go see the Christmas Illumination at night together so I'm super excited!! Please pray that God will use me and speak through me! Please pray for their souls!!!!!
Tis the season for rejoicing over souls! Tis the season for JESUS CHRIST! LET'S REJOICE in God's gift to us- His Son Jesus Christ, who came on this earth to die for sinners like us!
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The week before I left for Korea, a Korean mission team called JEM came!
Kangaku Campus! I love the fall leaves.
crazy J-Soldiers!
I seriously LOVED THEM! They treated me like their granddaughter :')
Nia & I are crazy together <3
Some of the JEM team with our Kangaku group :)
Blessings <3
This campus is SO beautiful... *___*
hehe she spoiled me :')
Chris is weird.
EVERYONE was taking pictures with this poster! IDK WHO they are but we decided to do the same.
I VISITED KOREA FOR 1 WEEK TO SEE MY FAMILY DURING THANKSGIVING WEEK!!!
Heaven??
1st Sunday at Yangjae Onnuri! Pastor Park, our old senior pastor spoke!
The Yangjae Onnuri landmark
Reunited with my lovelies <3
KOREAN BBQ with the family :)
hwae-dob-bab! So delicious!
love my little sissy <3
visiting the famous statue and palace!
GUARDS!
Our tour guide for the day~
@ Nam-san Tower!
MY BROTHER IS ALMOST AS TALL AS ME!! O___O
THe LOCKS of LOVeE~
I love my mama <3 We look way too much alike it scares me.
cute sister looks better w/out all that extra make up :)
twins?
My cousin oppah took us out for dinner!! He's the best :)
hahaha he tried to speak English so hard with my sister
Free ear lights!!!! :)
In-sa dong has the CUTEST cafes ever.
HOW CUTE IS THIS? 2 story tree house!
My family is the cutest.
My real face coming out.
Sunny took us out for dinner, but we couldn't take a picture :( This is like 1/5 of the food we ordered haha. KIMCHI Carne Asada FRIES!!!!! <3
BACK IN JAPAN~
LOOK WHO CAME TO VISIT ME IN Osaka, Japan!!! The lovely Anna and Pastor Peter! :) Took them out to the J-Soldier's favorite buffet!
2nd night, I took them out to the BEST sushi restaurant in town. HARUKOMA <3
w/ PASTOR PEET & HIS FAV FOOD!!!
BEAUTIFUL Anna!! <3
Their visit was such a huge encouragement to me. Thank you for all the support :') They are seriously family to me. <3
J-HOUSE THANKSGIVING PARTY!!!! I couldn't take a picture of the meats :(
1/2 of the people! There were over 60 people!!! Many new students :)
KANNA <3 I love her :)
Babysitting Hikari on a Sunday worship~ Hikari is a monster before she sleeps...you don't even know what I went through before taking this picture...
SAEKO & MIO!! <3
W/ Chris in front of Kangaku!
YAYY for new friends!! Great day of ministry :)
Ami stopped by to hang out with us! This girl is always SO busy...!
AHHH!! DADDY&BABY TIME!! HIKARI IS ADORABLE I DIEEEE
Trying to eat healthier now. ABOUT TIME.
It tasted exactly how it looked. But there was miso soup so it was aiites
I MUST ENDURE.
VCHAT w/ the bff :)
I miss this fool. <3
This past Sunday during babysitting~
LOL Hikari puts everything in her mouth. She loved chewing on my bag.
And Soma and Kogi LOVE photobooth on my laptop hahaha
When they first saw themselves on the screen.
Then they got pushy and couldn't stop looking at themselves.
