Kami o sh�san shimasu! (Praise God)

[seichu kaisho]

Three of my Japanese friends from UNI went to the BASIC college ministry program this past Thursday night. They got to hear the message and I think they are willing to receive it!!!

Pray for them and pray for the rest of my friends from Japan. Pray that more will be willing to come to Basic. I can imagine them all turning to Christ! I can see it happening! My prayers are being answered little by little!
- - - - -

To explain - back in October I met a group of students who moved here from Japan. They normally eat lunch in the dining center I go to, so I get to talk to them often. They taught me some words and phrases, and how to write their names. They have really cool names:

Ai, Yuko, Kaori, Asako, Tomoko, Kyoko, Taka, Atsushi, Satoshi - to name most of them. Also among their "clique" is a girl from Taiwan named Ava. Taka moved back to Japan during Christmas break, so pray that he'll hear the message somehow while he's over there. I also know a Mina who came to my high school in Marshalltown, but now she's in Japan as well. While Mina was in the US, a couple of my (American) Christian friends brought her to church a few times and gave her a Japanese bible.

Kami wa subarashii desu yo! (God is awesome!)

[bakersfieldpethead]

I'll be standing in prayer..........remember God's word never returns void

[seichu kaisho]

D�mo arigat�, tomo. (Thanks, friend)

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I introduced myself to them as "Yamasaki" so when they see me they yell Yamasaki! or sometimes Yamasaaaaki! It's so funny. When I greet them, I like to say Wasabi! which is actually a name of a green spicy mustard, but it sounds like the English phrase "what's up."

[epdc]

I`m SO glad to hear that Dan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I get excited with ONE friend that gets to know Jesus now you must be a thousand times more excited

Ya know, I have a friend at school who really likes all japanese culture and he wants to meet japanese people someday and ya know, reading what you said made me actually see that happening to him someday THANK FOR SHARING!

[seichu kaisho]

I'll be standing in prayer..........remember God's word never returns void

D�mo arigat�, B�k�zuFiarudoPettoheddo-san! Gonna need it.

- - - - -

Here's a master list of their names:

Ai
Asako
Kaori
Yuko
Kaori
Taka
Atsushi
Satoshi
Tomoko
Tomoko
Ky�ko
Mika
Akari
Takao
Satoshi

And no, I'm not joking when I say there are 2 Kaori's, 2 Satoshi's, and 2 Tomoko's.
- - - - -

Some of them are still going to both ministry programs weekly, but I don't think any of them have become Christians yet. One of them believes all that Shint� junk about ancestor worship. I told her the flat out Truth (in love) and that the Holy Spirit is gonna eventually convict her of her sins. I don't know if that's happened yet but pray about it.

Almost all of these people are heading back to Nippon (Japan) after this semester. If they join the family of God, maybe they'll get involved in Japanese ministry!!! God does the unexpected!.

[seichu kaisho]

Hey yo Petheaders,

I feel the need to update you on this issue: my Japanese friends who came to Basic before have NEVER come again in, like, the last 3 weeks or so. And they've only been to Navigators ONE time. I've been e-mailing them (and sometimes talking to them, but maybe not often enough) with invitations.

They've told me they have hard time to understand the speakers because they talk so fast in English, but I normally bring my Jap/Eng. dictionary and Japanese grammar book so I can help them. And the Christians there who are truly full of the Holy Spirit are friendly and welcoming of them even though they're of a different race and nation, so I don't see how they would feel too out-of-place.

I don't want to force Christianity on them (and I'm telling them so) but I really wanna see them in heaven and I really want'em to make the decision that will allow them to escape God's wrath and enjoy God's heavenly presence for all eternity

- - - - -

Also, I have familiars (UNI students) from other Asian countries whose faith I don't know about yet. Here's list of them.

Kyosuke (also Japan)
Kyoung-Sun (Korea)
Ri (Korea) (I think he told me he's a pastor at a church in Korea)
Serena (don't know where from)
Ava (Taiwan)
Abdullelah (Saudi Arabia)
Megan (born in Korea, adopted and raised in U.S.)
Claire (don't remember)

They're all awesome people

Ato de aimash�,
Moto Yamasaki

[Shell]

Don't get discouraged; there has been a seed planted. Let God do His work now. Keep praying they'll come back and they'll accept Jesus. It's cool you're getting to interact and witness to young people from other countries.

[crossways]

I agree with Shell.

Don't underestimated the planted seed. I have seen so many people of late that I thought would never have come to know the Lord do just that. They had a seed planted and through prayer and letting God do the convicting they have come to a close relationship with the Father.

Also, don't dismiss their feelings of social discomfort. I confess I really don't know the situation in full. However, maybe their is a Japanese speaking church somewhere near you. I know that in Hillbillyland (East TN) we have a Korean congregation just down the street from me. I know also that there is a town nearby that has a Chinese congregation. So you never know.

Praying

[seichu kaisho]

How many times on average will someone normally hear the gospel before they believe it?

[Shell]

That's a question there are no easy answers for. It really depends on the individual and their circumstances. Some people need awhile before it will sink in; some people have to be hit over the head with a baseball bat or hit rock bottom before they get it. Others will be receptive pretty quickly. With a different culture, it may take awhile for them to respond.

Re: Hillbillyland-That's pretty funny.

[seichu kaisho]

Well, gotta letcha know:

The ones whom had gone to those things (Nav's and Basic) before, keep having "too much homework / studying" to do every single Tue. and Thurs. night. Of course it's important for them to get their work done and do well in their classes (I hope the best for them academically), but I think all this homework might be a devise of Satan trying to keep them from hearing the gospel. Pray hard that their load may be lightened and that they can have more free time on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Rock on. SK