Japan Journal - April 21st

It's been a week since my last entry so I figure it's about time I wrote something again.

Unfortunately my head is not overly focussed so this could all be a bit haphazard.

Teaching English is just exhausting. It's brilliant seeing people progress so quickly with a skill that will be really useful to them, but having to simplify everything is not always easy. I've become so used to having a class full of children who know me and kinda get what I'm saying even if it's not perfectly clear. I can't fall back on that here. The students are so enthusiastic though which really puts me to shame with my langauge study. Most days I feel like I'm actually gettting nowhere, although there are days like today when I feel things are beginning to fall into place. It just shows up my own desire to give up easily and leads me to rely upon the Holy Spirit for perserverence.

I definitely find it easier to rely upon God in difficult one-off situations than in regular daily disciplines.

I actually made it to church on time on Sunday and the pastor's wife very kindly translated the sermon for me. When one person is going to the effort to convert everything just for you, it really makes you sit up and listen to every single word. How often we take for granted having everything in a language that we can understand. What of those people who never hear God's word in their own tongue?

I met with 3 students today, as well as preparing for class tomorrow and Thursday. One of them I meet with twice a week and he has agreed to do one of those times as a Bible study. Just brilliant! He has already read parts of it and he thinks it is beautifully written. We have built up a friendship so quickly that I know he will happily share any problems he has with what we read, so we can have an honest study. Another student randomly asked me what the difference was between Catholics, Protestants and Mormons. We had been chatting for about a minute, I shared a little and then he had to return to his meeting.

Just a little comment but God will use it to his glory.

Last week I was so tired but I'm feeling more alert this week.

Listened to a John Piper sermon called 'I'm sending you to open their eyes', last night. It was from www.desiringgod.org from 13.04.08. I then listened to it again last night and partially this morning. It reminded me of the reasons to evangelise and is so practical in equiping people to reach others. It reinforces why sharing the gospel is something we all should do and something we all can do. I will be reflecting upon it for days to come.

Overall things are great. I'm in a regular routine and now in a position to build quality relationships, whilst still initiating new ones. I daily have to go to God in the morning for the strength and desire to live the day out fully, and then turn to him again at night to thank him for all the things he has done. Not everything is easy and not everything is particularly fun,but everything is done in the name of the Lord and therefore nothing is in vain. 1 Corinthians 15.58.

That is a beautiful thing!