letter from Japan
If you have ever read the Chronicles of Narnia you may remember reading the words ‘Aslan is on the move’.
As you did so, perhaps a chill went down your spine as the prospect of the coming victory over evil becomes a palpable reality. Well, as I write, a chill goes down my spine as it would seem that the Lord is on the move here in Japan.
As some of you may be aware, Japan’s borders have been almost entirely shut to foreigners during the entire duration of the pandemic. With an occasional crack in the border a few were able to enter, but the class of visa held by religious workers was firmly shut out.
In November 2021 our family and many others thought their journey of waiting was finally over when Japan opened up; hopes were then crudely dashed by the discovery of the Omicron variant, and a three-week window of opportunity to enter Japan suddenly, and firmly, shut again. Our own family was only two days short of receiving a visa and, once again, flights which were only days off had to be postponed.
This was the same story for many individuals and families across the globe who were patiently waiting, and waiting, to see months, and often years, of preparation fulfilled in coming to serve Christ in Japan.
However, the story for Japan isn’t over yet. In March this year, despite the global pandemic rumbling on, once again the border opened and stayed open. We and many other Christian workers have flooded into Japan since March. OMF International has welcomed nine adults plus their children and is anticipating a further 11 adults and their children by the end of the year! Mission To The World has welcomed 15 adults and the Southern Baptist International Mission Board has welcomed 30 adults – and this doesn’t include children. That’s nearly 50 new workers from just three organisations!
There are so many new workers arriving that it is a daunting challenge to help people adjust to a new language and culture. One thing that is standing out is that many families with older children have taken the brave step to move their families to a new country at stages where it is a huge challenge for both the children and the grown-ups to acquire Japanese.
In Narnia when Aslan was on the move, people were transformed just by hearing about him and emboldened to do things beyond what they ever thought possible. In God’s amazing grace and timing, through seemingly endless waiting and obstacles, people have heard the call of Jesus to come to Japan and have been emboldened to face all the many challenges this brings.
