I'm excited. Every morning as I walk, I pray. I've asked God to give me His heart for our Japanese neighbors. I've spent some days in tears at the realization that less than 1% of the people in this country know Jesus. It's breathtaking. It's heartbreaking. It's unfathomable. We so badly want to make contact with the few Japanese neighbors in the area. One is the farmer who has horses behind our home. He has "posted" signs in ENGLISH, rope barricades and fences. I have been trying to find someone Japanese to ask if it would be culturally brutish to ignore the ropes to take them something baked and a note.
Last week Zander began to walk with me. I'm working to teach him a bit of tact with his zeal. He told one sweet lady, "I'm sorry that you are wrong about God. There is one true and living God and His name is Jesus, you have to know Him so that you can go to heaven." I'm fairly sure she didn't understand his conversation, and Zander is now determined to learn Japanese. Anyway, his theology is fairly sound….but I want to find a gentler way to communicate Christ's love. I've had quite a few thoughts, I'd love to dialog and blog about….but no Internet. ::snort::
ANYWHO….last week one farmer and his wife (?) fell in love with Zander. Oh, it's a trial for a boy with his particular alphabet labels to have strangers talking to him, rubbing his hair and such…Social situations are difficult for him when he can understand the language. He's doing great. He did pull his hood tight at one point and said, "I think she may steal me if she sees much more of my blonde hair." ::snort:: ::gasp:: ::chortle:: He's done well….and tried out his few phrases several times.
We are always careful not to broach the farmer's ropes etc. We HAVE discovered a pond behind us. We can reach it without crossing his boundaries….and we are careful not to approach any closer than the fence allows. I was nervous today to see the farmer out during our walk. His wife, earlier, had made it clear that they are leery of all the new Americans. He stayed out while we watched ducks and talked. As we headed back to our home, he stepped into the road.
I said, "Ohiyogozaimasu". He responded. He motioned us close.
He told us to "touch" the ponies he had. We communicated…as best we could. I learned the ponies are 4 years old, he KNEW where we lived, he owns the horses behind us, he invited us to walk to the corral with the ponies…AND :::drum roll::: he told us we can fish for "big BASS" in his pond…but "caution". I think he told us he is the landlord…but we may not have communicated that word right. I KNOW that he owned the land that has been built upon.
He said much more and I said, "Summimasen, Nihongo ga wakarimassen "."Excuse me, I'm sorry, I don't understand Japanese." He smiled big, laughed and said, "skoshi anatawa wakarimasu!" You understand a little. I laughed. I told him (in English) that we are trying to learn Japanese.
Zander yelled, "Sayonara," as we left…when we turned the corner our farmer was waving at us.
I was so excited that we called Mike, on the cell I carry since spraining my ankle last week. We also stopped to share with Windy on the way home. We've been praying to broach the silence. We have three years to live Jesus before our farmer. I pray we are an accurate example of His life and love. I'll bake something to take over. I've been composing a letter in my mind…..I need to get out the dictionary and try to get into Japanese what we want to say to go with the baked goods. Better yet, I'm trying to make contact with Akiko to begin our one on one language lessons. I bet she would translate it.
Still, God gently reminds me that though my less polite American neighbors have had the advantage of hearing of Him…I need the same zeal to live Him out before them.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.
~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...