Tuesday is always my busiest, but often the most rewarding, fun, exciting, and interesting days as well. It usually starts with a Circle of 12 Bible Meeting at a Center Church members house. We read the Bible together, discuss it, pray, and have fellowship. I always learn something new both because of the Bible time, and because it is all in Japanese so my brain is concentrating so hard to keep up! I usually have time to scarf down the lunch they have prepared or take it to go before I head to the Lutheran Center.
At 1:30 I lead an English Bible Study for three women before their English class. It is always a joy because they really seek to know and understand God's Word even though it is really むすかしい (difficult) as they often say. We have currently been using the Manga Messiah to study about the gospels. We had just read the portion for the day, and it mentioned that "these things happened so that the prophecy in Isaiah would be fulfilled". Yuki and Kumiko then asked first, what did that mean? What is Isaiah? and then they wanted to know what the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament was and why were there two separate sections? So, I had given a brief explanation and just then Hitomi (a Center Church member) who is also in their class came in late. Yuki and Kumiko looked quite relieved to have a Japanese speaker come in, especially one who is Christian to help explain it further. So, they re-stated the question and Hitomi jumped right in and gave them a wonderful explanation.
Hitomi is always so open in sharing her faith. And the thing that I love is that she shares a very personal faith with them. She never acts like she has all the answers, and she relates to them so well by sharing that the Bible is confusing for her at times too even after studying it so many years. She said that when she first started to study the Bible she thought that the God in the Old Testament and the God in the New Testament were different. Now she understands that they are the same God, but the God in the Old Testament just seems so scary, while the New Testament God is so kind and loving. As a New Years Resolution, Hitomi has been writing one Psalm a day into a notebook. Last month she finished going through all the Psalms and she will start to again. She took the opportunity to share this in our English class and read her favorite as well as my favorite Psalm for the women. She said in this Bible Study that reading through the Psalms has really helped her gain knowledge and understanding that she never had before.
Kumiko said "I want to know God more and more and more!". Charity and I were soo excited to hear her say that we couldn't stop beaming! I continue to see the amazing ways God's spirit is working in Kumiko's heart as she learns about God's love. I want her to just get baptized right now! But I know that is not quite God's timing yet, so I continue to pray and wait for his perfect timing. In the meantime, it brings me so much joy to see Hitomi have the opportunity to share her faith and Kumiko gradually grow closer to God.
Another exciting thing to me is that the discussion from Bible Time often continues even into our class time, even though we move into a different room! There is often a transition time for them to talk together in Japanese as I go into the office to get my materials for class. Yesterday, when I went into the classroom they had been talking about trials, and if we need them in our life.
So, we talked about how God does not want to see us suffer, but he can use all things for good. I talked about how we need both the rain and the sun to make it a little easier to understand. We also looked at Romans 5:3-4 showing that "Not only so, but we[b] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope." I said, God is with us in the trials, God is with us when we are sad, God is with us in the good and the bad,
I was surprised when Yuki, who usually isn't as interested in talking about the Bible or God as Kumiko jumped in and said, "Don't be afraid, God is with you always!" God's truth is being revealed to these women whether they desire to be Christian or not! I cannot praise God enough for his goodness and grace to these women.
One of my favorite songs to sing in Japanese is "In His Time" which talks about how God makes all things beautiful in His time. It is so difficult to wait for the beautiful blossom of a flower, or in this case, to see someone baptized. But, I know He is faithful and He will do it. (1 Thess.)
After the service we had a red foods potluck. We ate red rice with red beans, miso soup with red seaweed, red meat, and I made a tomato and chickpea curry. After eating we watched the movie "Paul" about his life and the first church. There was a buzz of God's spirit in the air and it was a wonderful Sunday.
