November 25, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of you from Nagasaki, Japan.

Any time is a good time to be grateful, as we are reminded in the letter of Paul to the Ephesians (5:70), which emphasized the importance of “always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” Therefore, I want to express my thanks to all of you who pray for God’s plans to be fulfilled in the world. Thank you for your gifts that are used to help others come to know Jesus Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit. This year, November 23 was not only Thanksgiving Day in the United States but also Labor Thanksgiving Day in Japan, an opportunity for people to be conscious of the benefits of work and to feel appreciation for all who have made efforts for economic support. In that week, I was able to speak to all of the students at Kwassui Women’s College during chapel hour in Japanese about the gratitude that is associated with American holidays. This followed a special talk the previous week by Ms. Kim Kayuri for the annual special religious lecture, focused this year on “encountering God.”

Ms. Kim began by telling us about her own experiences as a hearing-impaired young person of North Korean background growing up in a single-parent family in Japan not long after the Korean War. Even though she graduated from a Christian, mission-related university, she said that while she was a student she was not interested in religion and had no plans for the future except marriage. However, she went to a job interview at the YWCA, without knowing that this meant “Young Women’s Christian Association.” Soon she was very surprised to find herself employed in a situation involving daily Bible study amidst caring co-workers. Gradually her heart was softened, and she was able to begin to receive healing for the hurts that she had experienced while growing up. Now, in telling of her weaknesses, she can boast of the Lord.

She told the students that they were born to be loved by God and to love in response, not only themselves but also others. This is an important message, particularly in Japan, where the teenage suicide rate is comparatively high and such incidents stemming from cases of bullying are frequently reported in the news. Ms. Kim went on to give the students some pointers for good health, concerning both physical and mental “nutrition.” She concluded by sharing a children’s picture book story about the “Lonesome Puppy,” in which an unimaginably large puppy towers over the world without people’s noticing except for one small child who climbs up unknowingly until she encounters his personality in his face. Ms. Kim’s point was that although too big to be seen directly, God is waiting for us to come to the friendship that we are being called to through Jesus Christ.

The students were considerably more attentive to the message in this dynamic lecture than is frequently the case in weekly chapel. Now that they have begun to recognize an encounter with God, we pray that the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives will continue to bear fruit. Please pray for students and staff at all levels in Christian education institutions in Japan—that they will experience meaningful encounters with God as we celebrate the Incarnation through the festivities of Advent and Christmas.

Wishing you joy and renewal as you celebrate the season with friends in the family of God. May our gift-giving contribute to enabling more people to encounter Christ and “increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).

With prayers for a blessed new year for all,

Barbara

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 252