30th Year as a Missionary to Japan

I wasn't going to do this, but I'm sitting here listening to "My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)" and revising our translation of Rom. 15:20-21, which God used to confirm my call to Japan on my knees in the fall of 1976. I'm just filled with the privilege of being a missionary, my own smallness, and the hope that God is glorified through what we do here.

We arrived in Japan for our first term 30 years ago today, which is June 6 in Japan. Just before midnight we got on an airplane in California on the 4th. Not realizing what time it was there, but in answer to his request, I had called my college friend in Hawaii and woke him up in the middle of the night to tell him we were heading out. We've been paid back for that many times (got a phone call from America late last night)!

So we left the US on a China Airlines flight just a few minutes before midnight. No one was there to see us off, since we were far from home and the church we ministered in there had no time for us. We celebrated our 2nd anniversary on the 5th, which lasted just a few hours before we crossed the international dateline. I gave Patty a Belgian crystal necklace, I remember. Our baby boy didn't seem to care much about any of this!

We landed at Haneda Airport on the 6th since China Airlines was not allowed at Narita International Airport, being the Taiwanese airline. I came off the airplane expecting to see kimono all over, but saw nothing but suits and dresses.

Three missionary couples met us, the Nortons, Kuehlmans and Robinsons. On the way to Dr. Norton's, were we would stay until we moved into our first home, we stopped for a bite to eat. I was looking forward to my first Japanese meal when lo and behold, the missionaries saw a Denny's and all wanted to stop there!

The years have been full of both joy and frustration--joy at the Japanese sometimes saved, and frustration at the hardness of their hearts. Only 0.5% are evangelical Christians after over 150 years of Protestant missions. That's less than the Muslim countries! But I wouldn't trade any of it for all the gold in the world.

If God ever calls you to be a missionary--say yes as quickly as you can!

 

Thanks, Rip. Too bad we don't live near Tokyo or I'd run out to the airport for a cup of coffee with you. :wavey:

 

Thanks much, menageriekeeper and Scarlett O. :wavey:

 

Thanks much for the encouragement Jim. I appreciate you!

 

Thanks much, annsni. God is so good!

 

He was a great missions pastor. I have a book of his missions messages, The Cry of the World.

 

Thanks, brother. You've been on the field your self for more than a couple of decades, right?

 

Praise the Lord for your missions burden, and thanks for the encouragement.

 

Amen. If God hasn't called, it's foolish to try!

 

I want to say that I truly thank God for my missionary wife, Patty. I wouldn't have been here for this long if it had not been for Patty. She's my sweetheart, my best friend, my partner, my church financial officer, my evangelism partner, my secretary, my janitor! In short, the one person I could never be a missionary without! :love2: