Second Week!

Konnichiwa!!

We have officially completed our second week in Japan, and what a blessing it continues to be. I feel like I am learning so much about what it truly means to be a Christian in Japan. Being here has allowed me to see God as so much bigger than what I make Him out to be in my head. In America, we can get so caught up in the comfort of our own lives and be so consumed by what the next best product or thing to buy is or even make an agenda each day, not slowing down and seeing God in the still moments of our life. 

In Japan, I have been learning so much not just about the culture and Japanese people, but who God is and who He calls me to be as His daughter. I have truly understood the depth of the gospel and how I have been redeemed by Jesus, who died for me. One thing I have been learning from God over the course of these two weeks is the importance of living with CONFIDENCE in Christ. Because I have been given a new identity in Him, I get to live in freedom and in fullness of joy even when the circumstances aren't ideal, rigid, or uncomfortable. I get to approach God, the perfect and holiest Father, with complete confidence, too! Reflecting on these truths has allowed me to outwardly approach and love the Japanese people more deeply. 

A verse that reflects these truths is Ephesians 3:12, which says:

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."

It has truly been a blessing to meet university students on different campuses, hang out with them, and share who Jesus is. There is the spiritual reality I have mentioned before in sharing and having spiritual conversations with them. I am experiencing it more firsthand when hanging out with our new friends. Some have never even heard of the name Jesus, often asking us, "Who is that?" and never hearing the gospel. This is a sad reality because the joy and freedom we as Christians get to experience in Christ is something many of the Japanese people don't even have the option to do. After all, they don't know anything about where or who that freedom and joy come from. 

With that being said, I ask that this week you would pray for

+ Nigisa's and Wakana's hearts to be softened to the gospel, and they would be deeply impacted by God's Word and the stories we will share with them next week.
+ My friend Yuriko, whose heart would be softened to the gospel, and that she would crave the freedom and joy found in Jesus
+ Motivation to share the gospel and meet new friends... It has been exhausting and hard to find motivation on some days to go to campus and make friends
+ That my eyes would see the souls of our friends and not just the outer shell.. seeing our friends as Jesus does, in other words
+ To have patience with the team... we spend A LOT of time together, and it can be easy to quickly become impatient or short with one another
+ For rest at night
+ For the Japanese mom friend groups in elementary schools to have their hearts softened to the gospel... these are some of the hardest people to reach
+ For me to not be homesick 
+To be content exactly where God has me... not longing to be back in America just so that I can be comfortable.

Thank you for praying and loving me, the team, and the Japanese people with your prayers. I truly am grateful!!

Now for some of the fun updates!!!!
 + We got to eat at a Mexican restaurant called Hacienda, which felt a little like home
 + I officially have cut myself off from caffeine for the remainder of the trip because my addiction to cappuccinos got OUT OF HAND.
+ Elly and I got lost in a train station because I was directing us, and I don't know how to get around here still
+ We went to Shibuya Sky (which is where you can see all of Tokyo; it's pretty incredible)
+ I told my friends about Nicki Minaj (because I love singing her songs during karaoke), and they loved her.
+ They have a place called CRISP here, which is a mix between Chipotle and Cava, and it's so good
+ We have gone to this one restaurant called Sushiro four times now, and I cannot get enough of their mozzarella cheese sticks
+ Tried A5 wagyu, which was SOOO good and sooo cheap here (like $15 max)
+ I just learned that the Japanese people use the numbers we use in America (and apparently the rest of the world uses the exact numbers as we do)
+ The pens at the university konbinis (convenience stores) are AMAZING. 
+ I have been running a few times here and have realized how horribly out of shape I am since my half marathon in April. 
+ We have about 20 baby spiders living in our bathroom right now. 
+ There is no fiber in anything we eat here... just so much sodium, and it has been affecting all the girls pretty horribly
+ The ants and mosquitoes in Japan are MASSIVE
+There was a baptism at church last Sunday



Also, I will be doing updates every Saturday morning here (so Friday night in America)!

With love, 
Mia <3

In the middle of Shibuya

Found a little hole in the wall taco place

At Yoyogi Park

At Shibuya Sky

My Favorite Cappuccino and grilled cheese 


The Team at Shibuya Sky



































 

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