Genie in Japan

A Long and Random Entry

I finally visited J-House, a cool and hip church in Osaka that has an outreach ministry similar to ours. I was so fascinated by the simplicity of it all—they have four “F’s:” Food, Friends, Fun, and Funky Talk! I hope I got that right. Friends gather every week, both Christian and non-Christian to enjoy some really good food, play games, jump around to an awesome live band, and then listen to someone give a “Funky Talk.” Funky Talk is a thought that anyone can share about their week. When I went, it was about love–that perfect love drives out all fear.

The person who shared talked about his childhood, when he was maybe 2 years old, he had a really high fever and so his mother crossed two mountains in the Korean winter at night to reach the nearest hospital. Many years later, he asked his mother, “Weren’t you scared?” She replied that she had no time, no room, not a chance to be scared—the only thing that mattered to her was the life of her son.

As a Christian, I should know this–that God’s perfect love for me should drive out all of my fears.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.The one who fears is not made perfect in love. ” - 1 John 4:18

So, my family sent me a birthday card. In it, my mom wrote “Congratulations on becoming 20. You are almost an adult.”

Too bad I’m 21, Mom.

HAhahhahaha. Later on I called her and told her how old I really was. She replied, “What?! Weren’t you born in 1986?”

“Yeah Mom. It’s 2007 now.”

“Whaaaat?! That’s…that’s…oh yeah. Whatever. Twenty, twenty-one, same thing.”

I spent Easter in Japan.

At my church, they had a special service complete with drama/musical about Thomas on Resurrection Day. I was moved to tears just seeing Japanese believers sing, act, dance so passionately. I’m slowly realizing how hard it must be for Japanese people to even consider opening up to Christianity when only 1% of the entire country is Christian. It would seem like signing yourself up to be a loser, an outcast.

But it’s not, really. Would you rather have 99 empty and temporary friendships, or one true, loyal, loving, dependable, protecting, amazing, wonderful, forgiving, always available friend for your entire lifetime?

Lately I’m taken back to the reason why I came to Japan. Maybe I started forgetting. A birthday card reminded me:

“I remember I am getting along with you for a long time, three years. especially recently I think we can associate with each other more friendly than we are in the past because Genie came to Japan. You have been in Japan for six month, and you improved your Japanese ability very greatly! You might talk with many Japanese and gave us Japanese a lot of pleasures. I am also one of such Japanese. I strongly feel your pure consideration for others, impresses us. I regret I miss such feeling in myself, but you treat me kindly with your consideration for me. I am very glad to get along with such an excellent woman as my “sister.” Then recently I have experienced the entrance examination and I had crises to give up the test even in the middle fo the test. However, I could break such weakness by praying for God hard, and manage to achieve the result. So I believe I owe majority of my success to God, and Genie who taught me Christianity. Genie helps me on my way to step up in my life and that makes me arrive at the higher step. I cannot help appreciating Genie! Thank you very much Genie! Please give me and Japanese hope forever! I really congratulate your birthday. I celebrate you as a Japanese who are led by you. Your brother Takashi.”

All glory to God. He is so, so good to me.