Today is Tuesday in Japan and our team spent the bulk of the day in a day of prayer. We went to Chuo University (top law school in Japan) near the Roods house where many of the BEST Club members attend school and immersed ourselves in the busy Japanese university atmosphere. We spent the day praying for the Rood's ministry, about 25 specific students that are attending BEST, for our time here, as well as our personal confessions and "impossible" prayer requests. It's been a comforting experience to feel God with us and hearing what's on our minds and in our hearts. It's also good for our whole team to pray rather than spend the day on the seat of our pants waiting to do something of "value".
One thing that has been on my thoughts is that God's ministry here in Japan is so radically different than any I've seen or experienced. There is no typical church set-up like we are familer with in the West. God is absent is almost every aspect of everyday life here. You couldn't simply start a conversation with someone and tell them that you go to church on Sundays or that you lead youth fellowship, or even talk about what the government is doing lately that goes against what the bible say.... none of this is the normal range of experience for a Japanese person. Their culture is so void of Christianity that it's very stange to me, and very sad as well....
(pic#1: entrance of Chuo university from the Tama Tram station - pic#2: Eli and his new friend Kayla Rood )
