Not Lucky But Blessed.

I think I’m turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese.. I really think so. 

If you dont know it’s a catchy song, I’m not actually turning Japanese.

However, I have mastered separating trash into their proper containers, I have indoor and outdoor clothes/shoes, and I fell asleep on the train and woke up right on time for my exit!

Heart Language

I’m currently finishing up my eighth week of school and I cannot believe time has gone by so fast. In just these two months alone I’m now able to read, write, and speak Japanese! It’s by no means a high level, but I’m definitely able to understand and get by in daily conversations.

After some conversations with my teachers, I will be studying the Bible in Japanese once a week with a friend from the church. Please pray that I’m able to manage the time well with school and for the Lord to continue to give me wisdom and understanding. 

I’m so grateful for this opportunity to be able to speak Japanese and soon be able to communicate with people here in their heart language. This wouldn’t have been possible without your prayers and support, glory to God!

Based on Luck

Two weeks ago, we all took a field trip to one of the closest shrines, Sumiyoshi Taisha. During the preparation, we learned how to properly enter the shrine. Before you enter, you must wash your hands and mouth throughly. This is a sign of outward cleansing in order to come into the presence of the gods.

Once at the shrine, I noticed all the rituals are based on luck. In one section, there are these ‘fortune telling’ stones. You choose one of the stones, you bow and clap, and then you say your wish. After, you pick up the same stone again and depending on the weight- if it is light, your wish will come true. If the stone is heavy, then you have to keep working hard and try again later. 

One of the sections is for love and marriage. There are two different kind of amulets that you can get and write your prayers on them. One of them, depicts a woman and a man naked. It represents an ideal martial relationship, one of full intimacy and in which the couples have no secrets. The other one, in which they are clothed, is to maintain a happy relationship. Along with marriage, there is also a shrine to pray to dieties for a safe delivery of babies. 

Another section is for five kinds of blessings that are given by the dieties located there- health, wisdom, longevity, wealth, and happiness. There are stones scattered throughout the area marked with “five” (go, 五), “large” (dai, 大), or “power” (riki, 力). If you find all three of these stones you can take them home and your wish will come true. Once your wish is fulfilled then you can bring them back, buy another set of stones, as a symbol of giving back twice than what was received. 

During this field trip, I prayed and prayed to be a light and a good witness to my classmates. I didn’t want to be disrespectful, but I also wanted to stand confident in my God. I was impressed to see that because of me kindly declining the rituals, the four other members on my team also didnt perform most of the rituals. It was a good reminder that our actions truly to influence other people. 

I was also filled with gratitude in knowing I no longer need to do all these rituals, all these works, in order to please and seek God. There is no longer any need for sacrifices, for outward or inward cleansing. All thanks to the God of grace, the only requirement is faith. Faith in the God who came down and bore all the sins of the world. He paid the finally price.

That’s when it hit me- I’m not lucky but blessed! I’m blessed to know and believe in the God who hears me, sees me, and loves me. It most definitely wasn’t a coincidence or by mere fortune, but by grace and grace alone.

I pray that the Japanese people come to know the God that made them. The God that so dearly loves them. Please continue to join me in prayer for my classmates, my teachers, as well as Japan as a whole.

Intertwined

Once a month, I continue to teach the book of Ecclesiastes to a group of ladies. We begin with a time of worship and praise. We then continue on in our study through the Bible and finish off with a meal.

This study continue to bring me joy as my friend’s mom, Mayumi, continues to attend and is eager to learn about the bible. She finds the stories fascinating and was even surprised when I would reference other parts of the Bible. I was able to share how the Bible is intertwined and connects the Old to the New. 

The next study is on the 21st of this month. Please continue to pray for the group- for Mayumi, for her salvation may God reveal Himself to her as she reads His Word. May the Lord continue to bring women who desire to know Him!

Thank you family for your love, your support, and your prayers!

May His light shine in and through us.

May we continue to be witnesses of Him.

Until He returns ❤

-Mayra Alejandra