Out of the Desert into the Garden
For months I looked out from our room on the 3rd story of the Church at the garden across the street. In a world of concrete it sat there, brown dirt and green plants. A little shanty, worn with age stood in the front for passerbyers to purchase the vegetable in season. The gardener, who I barely saw, planted, but like clockwork moved those growing plants around. I was memerized by how the plants could be dug up in the midst of growing and be replanted only to be able to flourish more. The most impressive move were the eggplant vines.
Later, Emmaly came home from school and said that her friends and her have stopped to talk to the gardener for quite sometime and every so often he has free transplants available. So apparently, what he is able to replant he gives out the excess.
It's feels like it's been forever since we lived in the Church but living near this garden, I still see it and finally met the gardener. Usually he's coming or going on his bike to another garden he has nearby but he's very friendly.
It dawned on me while walking past the garden the other day that God was showing me a metaphor for the situation we are finally seeing the other side of. For months since returning we were trying to focus on what direction God wanted to take our ministry. There was no clear answer. It was frustrating. We knew we couldn't rush God's plans but just wait it out. There were times it was obvious what we weren't supposed to be doing but because Japan is sparse in Churches again we wait. We were never without a church, just not quite finding the "one."
In my grandma's living room hangs a large tapestry with the poem "Footprints." I remember reading this many times as a child and I'm reminded of it's significance to help us picture that during those hardest times Jesus is carrying us. I'll post it below for those who haven't read it.
Not having roots so quickly made me feel spiritually dry. We know of these desert times, God said they'll come. We felt plucked up, out and wilted for a spell. But, just as they'll come, God is the gardener here. During those dry times it's important to get the best spiritual nourishment. It means admitting that I'm needing prayer to a friend, encouragement when I can't see a way, being vigilant and fighting your way back up to the sunshine. Watered in here are are the roots; raw, unrehearsed prayers, quiet meditation on God's word and releasing control into the soil. Last but not least being given a rain shower of good and honest preaching. Recently, our church did a Bible series over Ecclesiates. It was a great reminder that there is a time for everything. All is vanity and our relationship with Christ will be the only thing that matters.
Finally the other side. We are coming up to our 3rd year anniversary of being in Japan. This was the year it would be decided if we continue on. So recently, after mentoring and prayer we feel that there are new possibilities to keep going. We have recently found a new church home in Shibuya with many ministry opportunities. Before we jump into that we are going to come home for a furlough. To rest and recharge ourselves for the next venture into Japan however long that may be.
We will be arriving in the U.S. October 11th and returning to Japan on February 23rd.
It's important to continue trying to raise our support to accommodate our growing family and future ministries. If you are interested in partnering with us please click the link up top or below.
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We will be scheduling dates to speak at our supporting churches and let you know closer to time. If you know of a church that would love to hear about missions in Japan please let us know because we love to share. Can't wait to see you all!
Photo taken in Yoyogi Koen (Yoyogi Park.) On Sunday afternoons it's filled with people from all over the world due to the popularity of the area (Harajuku, Shibuya and the Meiji Shrine.) What you obviously can't hear are the bongo drums that were being played beside us.
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