What Thankfulness Can Do
Nov 24, 2023
What’s the first phrase you learned in Japanese? Even people with nearly zero Japanese language ability may know “thank you” — arigatou gozaimasu. As a new
Archive Category: Japan
Thankful on Challenging Days
Nov 24, 2023
Upon arriving in Japan, I was brimming with gratitude and a profound sense of awe at the opportunity to serve as a missionary among the
Preparing your heart, not your suitcase, for Japan
Nov 10, 2023
Are you looking for the nuts-and-bolts of “What to bring to Japan”? Originally I thought very practically about this question, too. But I realized it might
Expect to be humbled
Nov 10, 2023
Out of all the changes that come with becoming a missionary in Japan, this one hits me hardest: frequently feeling humiliated.
Spinning Plates
Nov 10, 2023
I’m sure you’ve seen those performers who spin plates. They balance plates on the top of sticks, adding more and more plates while continuing to
Biblical Unity
Nov 10, 2023
How is true biblical unity possible? Mura-hachibu was a practice in Edo Japan of ostracizing any family or individual who did not comply with village
Unity as delicious as bibimbap
Nov 10, 2023
Among Korean dishes, I like a dish called bibimbap. “Bibim” means mixing, and “bap” is rice. Bibimbap is made by frying various colorful vegetables and
Building trust-filled community
Nov 10, 2023
Before coming to Japan, my wife and I prayed that we could serve alongside Japanese Christians and learn from a Japanese pastor. After language school
Knowing Who to Thank
Nov 10, 2023
When we were studying Japanese, one day I told my teacher that my husband did the washing. She corrected me because I had failed to
Rice Balls and Grace for Missionary Kids
Nov 10, 2023
Growing up in Japan as a missionary kid, there were times I didn’t feel like I quite fit in because of my foreigner parents. One
