This is Kaori, Japan CCC Staff, with Nami and Ayaka, two Japanese students at Sophia University. I was on their campus today to help with an English lunch. I met up with Kieko, another friend of mine:
Going in to today, I was really praying that I would be able to have a good conversation about God with Kieko, and that she would accept Christ this summer. She is an incredibly kind, shy girl, who is always smiling! She's a chemistry major, and so, after lunch and a little time to hang out in the cafeteria afterwards, she had to go study for a big test. I was sort of disappointed, but I started talking with Ayaka, Nami, Sarah and Aya (a Sophia student who became a Christian one year ago today). Honestly, our conversation was pretty boring. I was exhausted and poor Sarah had been feeling sick all day. I was sort of counting down the minutes until I could pull Sarah away for discipleship, when Nami asked Sarah and I what we talked about with our friends. This was a great introduction to the Bible and God, and somehow I ended up trying to explain the Trinity. Aya helped out with Japanese translation and used Koala Yummies as visual aids:
Ayaka was very interested to learn more about who God was, and so I began to talk to just her, and Sarah started to talk to just Nami. Aya scooted back and forth to translate anything that wasn't getting across. As Aya and I talked Ayaka through the Gospel and Jesus' sacrifice for us, she breathed, "It's perfect..." By the time I explained to her how to invite Jesus into her life, she was gesturing hurredly for Aya to come over to pray with her in Japanese. At the same time, Nami was excitedly asking Aya to help her with the same thing! So the five of us sat together and prayed in Japanese, and then in English, and now Ayaka and Nami are my new sisters in Christ! The girls had to run off to class, but we already heard from them tonight; They're planning to come to church with us on Sunday and Ayaka will be at our outreach tomorrow night!
It is amazing how God uses people who are tired and struggling and so obviously imperfect for His perfect plan. Now Sophia University has FIVE known Christian students! Thank the Lord that even in a place with such "hard soil," God is able to touch people's hearts with His love and forgiveness!
Please pray for Ayaka and Nami that they would be able to connect well with other believers in Tokyo, and that they would find time in their incredibly hectic schedules to learn more about God. Pray that Sarah and I would have many opportunities in the next three weeks to encourage them and answer their questions. Take a moment and celebrate, too :)
1 comment:
That's an awesome story Megan, Jon told me a little bit about it the other night at the Switchfoot concert but it was nice to get some of the details. I will keep praying for you guys :)
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