Japan: Concert of Prayer

Day 4: Wednesday

Concert of Prayer
Coming to Japan has been great...no question about that. The best part about being here is debatable--- time with family, fun food, new experiences--- but their is no question about the most impactful: seeing the Pfeil's ministry. We got to participate in their team's once-a-month prayer meeting during which we got a better glimpse of the great need for Christian churches in Japan. Most Japanese don't know anything about Christ. Often, they think "Jesus" is an American curse word because the only time they have heard it used is in American movies when they use it as such. Christian churches? -- maybe one for every 80,000 people in an area or one for every 120,000 people or even none in other areas. Sarah and Jon work with college students to build relationships to bring them Christ, but their team as a whole is focused on church planting throughout Japan. It is so humbling to think about how many Christian churches are in our little town of Twinsburg and yet how few are in this heavily populated country of Japan. There are a lot of souls who need to hear about Christ.

The Onsen
Hmmm... how do I begin to describe the Japanese bath house? Scary? Crazy?-- I would have definitely used these words to describe my anticipation of being naked in a public place with my sister-in-law. HOWEVER, my new words after experiencing the Onsen would be... wonderful, relaxing, magnificent. You don't even realize that you and everyone around you is naked!!! Who would have thought? In Japan an evening at the onsen is like and evening at the spa. Upon entering the female-only section of the bath house, you wash yourself thoroughly with the spa-quality soaps which are provided. Then you choose one of the many different types of pools (or hot tubs) to soak in. One of my favorites was the tea cups...you actually soak in your own gigantic cup of tea!!!