(May 24) Yesterday was Pentecost. I woke up early because the church I was visiting, Megumi, is two hours away by train. As has become my routine, I immediately checked my e-mail. Tucked into a collection of sweet correspondence from people I love was, what its author titled, a "Love Letter." This letter came from a peer of mine whom I was lucky enough to mentor as an Orientation Leader during his first semester at Naropa University a couple years ago. The letter explained the path this young man had taken to the place and time we met and the road(s) he's taken since then. He highlighted my role in his life as being pivotal to the man he's become and is becoming. I was moved beyond measure by his words.
I've often paused to reflect on how I got to where I am (wherever that may be at the time) and always I can pinpoint certain people and experiences that directed me somehow. It fees amazing that I am just such a guidepost in someone else's life.
If I asked myself that question today--"How did I get here?"--I hardly know where my answer would begin. Indeed, it's been a long and unique journey--blissful and rich at times, somber or inimical at others. I feel each stone in the path beneath my feet has been perfectly placed, so I cherish the good and (so-called) bad that strenghtened and formed me into the woman who is now so joyfully relishing my life as a missionary in Japan!
After worship and lunch yesterday (where I was asked to SING! ...That's a story for another day.), I joined with many people of all ages to celebrate the commissioning service of Pastor Iwao Satoh, whose family (True, Humika, and Tabi, as they will be known in the U.S.), will leave next week to minister to Japanese-speaking families in Louisville, KY. Though the service was rather long and I, of course, understood very little, the significance and import of this day was deeply felt. It was exactly two months ago that I too publicly declared my intention to drastically change my life in response to a call from God. ...The thing is... My call from God initially came through Iwao Satoh!
Perhaps you've heard this story, but for me the wonder of it keeps it from ever becoming old. :) Two years ago, I visited Japan representing The Cumberland Presbyterian magazine at the annual General Assembly conference. It was my job to assist the then-Editor, a great lady and mother by the name of Pat White, by taking photos, conducting interviews, and preparing notes for a slew of articles. From the first day of our 10 day stay, I felt an immediate connection to the country and the people. By Day 3, I found myself sitting in a meeting (on which I was meant to be reporting) thinking, "I love it here. I do. I love the food I've eaten, the people I've met, the places I've been, the things I've done. I love Japan. I wanna live here. Yeah. Maybe I'll just stay here. Well. No. No, I can't stay here. I have a cat and a job and school, so I'll have to go back to Colorado and take care of all of that, then I can just come back. ....No, no, no. That's ridiculous. How would I ever come back here? And why? I wouldn't have a place to live and I don't have a job here and I don't even speak the language!!" At this point I realized I had not made a single note about the meeting for about 15 minutes, so I refocused on the task at hand. When the meeting ended, however, I saw something I will never forget. A man stood quietly near the back door wearing a sandwich board sign that read: "ENGLISH-TEACHING MISSIONARY NEEDED. PLEASE INQUIRE." As you can imagine, I immediately felt shock! I asked God, "How can I live here?" and God said, "Be a missionary!" People always talk about how they made the biggest decisions of their lives..."It was a SIGN!" they'll say. ...For me it was an ACTUAL sign!!
In Japan it is not common to do things that might seem outrageous or draw all kinds of attention to one's self. It would take someone rather silly or foolish to make such a spectacle as to wear a large sign in a crowd of visitors. Luckily for me, there was someone just silly enough to take that risk, and that someone was Iwao Satoh. He knew in his heart that we sometimes have to be a fool for God! So God orchestrated this whole relationship perfectly--a silly sign for a girl silly enough to respond. And now my friend, my sign, my guidepost, is about to take another risk in the name of Jesus Christ. He's uprooting from his life of comfort here, leaving his friends and loved ones, and the familiarity of HOME to begin life all over again, to some extent. I love him and his family very much and I cry when I think of their leaving--because I will miss them, because I know how difficult it is and will be, and because I am so happy for them! I pray that they may be as welcomed and cared for in MY home country as I have been in THEIRS!
They will leave a void in this country, one that I know I cannot even hope to fill, but I hope that I can follow their examples of love and patience, of extending compassion and forgiveness to all, of sharing in the excitement and sorrow of others, and of being genuine and fearless when it matters most. If I can do this, I know my life will be changed for the better, and hopefully I can also impact many other lives along the way.
I really love being in Japan and I love all that I'm learning and have learned. Some will say that the joy I feel in my life here is but a "honeymoon" phase. I have heard this before and admittedly, when I consider it now, it makes me worry. Further consideration, however, unravels that theory entirely. The "honeymoon" can be unending if I continue to deepen my relationship with everything and everyone around me. I may not ever have come back here without Pastor Satoh, but I'm here now, and I'm going to make the most of every moment.
By the way, the title of this post comes from the fact that THREE different ladies told me yesterday that I look like Snow White. Perhaps it was my long red dress or the scarf I wore, I don't know. In some ways I do feel like Snow White--wandering through the woods and singing merry songs. (I just wish all the birds and rabbits would unite to do my dishes!!) :)
I've often paused to reflect on how I got to where I am (wherever that may be at the time) and always I can pinpoint certain people and experiences that directed me somehow. It fees amazing that I am just such a guidepost in someone else's life.
If I asked myself that question today--"How did I get here?"--I hardly know where my answer would begin. Indeed, it's been a long and unique journey--blissful and rich at times, somber or inimical at others. I feel each stone in the path beneath my feet has been perfectly placed, so I cherish the good and (so-called) bad that strenghtened and formed me into the woman who is now so joyfully relishing my life as a missionary in Japan!
After worship and lunch yesterday (where I was asked to SING! ...That's a story for another day.), I joined with many people of all ages to celebrate the commissioning service of Pastor Iwao Satoh, whose family (True, Humika, and Tabi, as they will be known in the U.S.), will leave next week to minister to Japanese-speaking families in Louisville, KY. Though the service was rather long and I, of course, understood very little, the significance and import of this day was deeply felt. It was exactly two months ago that I too publicly declared my intention to drastically change my life in response to a call from God. ...The thing is... My call from God initially came through Iwao Satoh!
Perhaps you've heard this story, but for me the wonder of it keeps it from ever becoming old. :) Two years ago, I visited Japan representing The Cumberland Presbyterian magazine at the annual General Assembly conference. It was my job to assist the then-Editor, a great lady and mother by the name of Pat White, by taking photos, conducting interviews, and preparing notes for a slew of articles. From the first day of our 10 day stay, I felt an immediate connection to the country and the people. By Day 3, I found myself sitting in a meeting (on which I was meant to be reporting) thinking, "I love it here. I do. I love the food I've eaten, the people I've met, the places I've been, the things I've done. I love Japan. I wanna live here. Yeah. Maybe I'll just stay here. Well. No. No, I can't stay here. I have a cat and a job and school, so I'll have to go back to Colorado and take care of all of that, then I can just come back. ....No, no, no. That's ridiculous. How would I ever come back here? And why? I wouldn't have a place to live and I don't have a job here and I don't even speak the language!!" At this point I realized I had not made a single note about the meeting for about 15 minutes, so I refocused on the task at hand. When the meeting ended, however, I saw something I will never forget. A man stood quietly near the back door wearing a sandwich board sign that read: "ENGLISH-TEACHING MISSIONARY NEEDED. PLEASE INQUIRE." As you can imagine, I immediately felt shock! I asked God, "How can I live here?" and God said, "Be a missionary!" People always talk about how they made the biggest decisions of their lives..."It was a SIGN!" they'll say. ...For me it was an ACTUAL sign!!
In Japan it is not common to do things that might seem outrageous or draw all kinds of attention to one's self. It would take someone rather silly or foolish to make such a spectacle as to wear a large sign in a crowd of visitors. Luckily for me, there was someone just silly enough to take that risk, and that someone was Iwao Satoh. He knew in his heart that we sometimes have to be a fool for God! So God orchestrated this whole relationship perfectly--a silly sign for a girl silly enough to respond. And now my friend, my sign, my guidepost, is about to take another risk in the name of Jesus Christ. He's uprooting from his life of comfort here, leaving his friends and loved ones, and the familiarity of HOME to begin life all over again, to some extent. I love him and his family very much and I cry when I think of their leaving--because I will miss them, because I know how difficult it is and will be, and because I am so happy for them! I pray that they may be as welcomed and cared for in MY home country as I have been in THEIRS!
"Silly" Satoh-sensai (in his PINK apron) with Tabi, when we went to make pottery last week :)
The Satoh women--Tsuruko ("True") and Fumika--made BEAUTIFUL tea cups!
They will leave a void in this country, one that I know I cannot even hope to fill, but I hope that I can follow their examples of love and patience, of extending compassion and forgiveness to all, of sharing in the excitement and sorrow of others, and of being genuine and fearless when it matters most. If I can do this, I know my life will be changed for the better, and hopefully I can also impact many other lives along the way.
I really love being in Japan and I love all that I'm learning and have learned. Some will say that the joy I feel in my life here is but a "honeymoon" phase. I have heard this before and admittedly, when I consider it now, it makes me worry. Further consideration, however, unravels that theory entirely. The "honeymoon" can be unending if I continue to deepen my relationship with everything and everyone around me. I may not ever have come back here without Pastor Satoh, but I'm here now, and I'm going to make the most of every moment.
By the way, the title of this post comes from the fact that THREE different ladies told me yesterday that I look like Snow White. Perhaps it was my long red dress or the scarf I wore, I don't know. In some ways I do feel like Snow White--wandering through the woods and singing merry songs. (I just wish all the birds and rabbits would unite to do my dishes!!) :)
"Snow White" making friends at Megumi Kyokai
2:40 PM |
Category: |
0
comments
