24-7 Prayer’s first year in Japan

24-7 Prayer’s first year in Japan, a set by 24-7 Prayer Japan on Flickr.

Here is a short photo blog of 24-7 Prayer’s first year engaging and investing in the nation of Japan. I’ve gotten the great privilege of spending about 2 months out of the last 14 here in this island nation. I’ve had so much fun here, and I have experienced the strong jealousy of God for Japan – He is rushing through ancient doors to give the Japanese new life in every way.

We have been so privileged to have someone from 24-7 Prayer in Japan nearly every month since January 2011, and we are committed to praying for and loving this unreached nation for the long haul.

Umbrellas in Shibuya

Last night, Katie and I were walking around Shibuya, the fashion center of Tokyo and a major night life area – with one of the most high-traffic subway stations in the entire metro (nearly 2 million people a day pass through here!) and the highest revenue Starbucks in the world. It was rainy and wet and the number of umbrellas elegantly matched the number of people.

Dad, this is what I do

What do I do with my life, you might wonder? What exactly is my job with 24-7 Prayer? Like my friend Katie Cornick describes in the 24-7 Prayer Japan blog that she’s just put up, that’s a hard question to answer…because it’s more about who I am and the lifestyle that I am living rather than a job that I am doing. My dad and I have a running joke that my “job” mostly consists of me going out to coffee with friends of mine – most times that he and I would talk by phone, I’d be en route to or from one of those “important work meetings”, and so no wonder my life is a bit confusing!

I remember being in university and thinking that it would be so dreadful not to know Jesus, because I was just then discovering the joy of figuring out who I really am created to be and getting to discern and live out of my unique set of gifts and calling. Now, many years later, I actually get to be who I am for a living.

I am so grateful, and I recognize the privilege in this on every level. I know not everyone can live like I do. I’ve never intended for my life to be mine alone, though, either – I am blessed to be a blessing, from Wisconsin to Kansas City to the far reaches of the Far East…

So, what do I do? Good question, Dad. Here’s a microcosmic look from this last week, that you can extrapolate behind and before in order to get a bit of a picture of what I do, who I am, this lifestyle that I get to live…

On Monday, Jon Petersen, Katie and I went from a pancake breakfast at our host home to lattes at Starbucks to a Chinese lunch in the Yokohama Chinatown to pie at Bubby’s New York City Diner to a ramen dinner, talking, debriefing and praying for hours. Undoubtedly we ate too much, but we needed a venue throughout the day to talk through many things related to 24-7′s development in Japan and wider, in Asia. And Katie and I mined this spiritual father of ours, asking questions about pioneering leadership, intergenerational spiritual family and our own journeys into deeper depths as daughters of our Father.

Last night, I was glued to my little netbook, my travel computer. I emailed many folks one by one, following up on my invitation for them to join our 24-7 team in Jakarta, Indonesia at the World Prayer Assembly from May 14-18, followed by a two-week outreach that starts in Hong Kong. I am racing the clock to coordinate five legs of a five-week summer journey, where some of my best friends from our Kansas City family and my best friends in Asia will converge. 24-7 will meet Asia and Asia get acquainted with 24-7, in a new and deeper way this summer.

Last night I also Skyped with some of my best friends in HK, catching up, talking through some important things on the horizon and planning our time together in May and June, when my 24-7 friends and I are in their city once again – we’ll be ministering at a retreat for youth pastors & leaders, and we’re going to do some training for young leaders of a new church movement in Hong Kong. As soon as I finished, I got a Whatsapp message from another HK friend, inviting me to speak at their church’s young adult group in June, on prayer – our “Weapon of Mass Construction”. Yes! I’d love to. I’m so honored.

Last Saturday, Katie, Jon and I gathered with about ten others at a house in the Tokyo area, where we ate, prayed, worshiped, got to know one another’s stories, listened to Jon teach on what it means to be a son of the Father, and dialogued about what it looks like to love Japan in this season of her history. I cooked four meals for 10 or 12 of us each time, and I prayed while I bustled about the kitchen chopping cabbage and whipping up Japanese curry. I asked questions of our guests, listened and did my best to draw them out and cause them to feel loved.

A week ago today, I was in Iwaki, in Fukushima prefecture, 25 miles from the nuclear reactor that melted down but without serious threat of absorbing radiation. We accompanied Mori-sensei on a prayer drive and walk through Usuiso, believing with this faithful man that the God of hope is bursting through the darkness to restore every aspect of this village’s life. After this, we dreamt over a Japanese Denny’s breakfast what it would look like to partner together in this work over the long haul.

The day before that, I Skyped for three hours with a roomful of friends in Hong Kong. For half of that time, we had a powerful internet-connected time of prayer and intercession for Hong Kong, that she would fully grab hold of her destiny on behalf of her nation (she also is blessed to be a blessing). We laughed and talked together about some things we want to do in the future to serve that unique nation from Hong Kong. One nation, two systems, and a lifetime of significant opportunity that matters in the global scene in this stage of history.

Dad, that’s what I do. That’s some of what I do. I love my “job”. I love my life.

Mischief in Japan

Katie, Jon and I were together in Japan for the last week, stirring up some trouble in a very natural way! We are so privileged to get to pioneer this work for the 24-7 family alongside and under the oversight of this spiritual father to us. We have so much fun together and as young leaders, we learn so much from this very seasoned and incredible man of God!

Usuiso: Graves restored first

This is a photo of the village of Usuiso, in Fukushima prefecture: It was leveled by the March 11th tsunami (you can see the foundations of their homes there). There are only a few buildings left remaining, but the Shinto temple (roof on the far right) and the graves have already been restored, before human dwellings or any other structures. What a look into the fear-based religion that most Japanese hold onto.

Past walls

With finesse, we weave in and out of masses of fast-moving people in the maze of subways that criss-cross the Tokyo area. It’s always a serious eye-foot coordination feat (with luggage in tow, no less) to zigzag through those stations without whacking a purposed Japanese business-man or -woman. And, escalators rank up there in need for skill as well, even without suitcases but especially with: both me and my luggage have to get on two moving stairs right next to each other, both of us hugging the left side of the tracks so hurried walkers can move past us on the right. I’ve got that pretty well figured out now, except for that first day when I arrived to Japan from Hong Kong. In HK, we stand on the right and walk up or down on the left…in Japan it’s the opposite. In both places, cars drive on the left side of the road. I don’t know the whys in it all, but I learn and conform, at least in this. I can’t do anything about my bright red hair, but I can keep the flow of traffic moving in these public transit areas!

Japan is the most ordered and principled place I’ve ever visited. I have been reminded quite a few times these few days in Japan that I don’t know what I’m doing (or that I come from a much less ordered culture, depending on if I pick up shame from the experience or not).

In Starbucks, if every table is occupied, you’re to go to the end of the nice, neat line and wait till an employee seats you – in turn, of course. I was ready to get myself a table (i.e. hawkingly watch for a finished customer and rush toward a table that was opening up, like I would do in China), till the helpful woman gestured and told me in Japanese that I needed to go to the end of the line and wait my turn.

There are good reasons for all of these kinds of unspoken rules, and the mechanics of life function nicely when you obey them. I realize, though, that I need a little grace margin in my own heart’s allowance, as a foreigner still figuring out how to live out honor in this nation.

Don’t place your suitcase or bags on the tatami mat floors that cover most bedroom floors in Japan. Slippers off on those floors, too, I think. Burnable trash goes in the burnables bins. Plastic anything, including food wrappers without food on them, go in plastics for recycling (but if you’re unable to clean the food-stuff off, put it with burnables). Milk or juice cartons get cut up exactly according to the little picture on the box, and recylced accordingly. (They have a brilliantly efficient and space-saving trash system, necessary for this small, island nation.) Don’t talk on your phone on trains or buses. Sit on your seat on the train with your legs together, so that you only inhabit a seat space the size of your bottom. Eat every grain of rice out of your bowl, so as to honor the hard work of the rice farmers. Learn to bow like a woman (hands folded nicely in front of me, and bowing from the waist) in order to greet, show honor, respect and thanksgiving. Turn off and unplug the kerosine space heaters when you leave the room.

I watch Katie, Jon and others around me, picking up little cultural tips that when employed enough become habitual and will eventually enable me to function here on deeper levels than just the practical. I’ve got a month here this time, so there’s plenty of time for this.

I’m learning which drinks from the vending machines I like (i.e. cans of hot coffee without sugar added, or our new favorite, green tea with a shot of espresso added), which meals I enjoy from the 7-11 convenience stores (don’t knock it till you try it in Japan!), and how to read charicatured pictures for instructions where there is no English translation. I’m picking up Japanese words that will be helpful for me, as well: nishi (west), higashi (east), sei rei-sama (Holy Spirit), karage (fried chicken), arigato gozaimas (thank you), sumimasen (excuse me).

I love the cross-cultural. And I love getting familiar enough with living inside another culture that I can begin to have energy to earn trust and eventually get let in past walls around the hearts of the people, my ultimate goal being Jesus flooding in, unhindered, with His tender and fiery love. In Hong Kong, for instance, I’ve begun to see walls fall down and hungry hearts receive love, and these stories are mirrors reflecting back to me my very own. This is my joy. This is what I want to do with my life. This is what I do.

Mirror: #1

Katie, myself, Dayn, Jennifer and Marcus. I love these friends. I love photos in mirrors.

Hong Kong

This is the city I love. This is where I am right now…

Super (very) natural

It’s sunny and 60, and I’m sitting like a cat in the stream of light coming into the front porch of this retreat house. A light breeze blows the hanging fabric that designates an outdoor space for prayer and worship, and I’m so thankful for this luxury afforded us during these winter months. Hong Kong is such a wonderful place to be.

I walk her streets, taking in both familiar and new images, and none of it feels out of place on the internal grid of my soul. I have been here before. I have worn the tread from many bottoms of shoes from walking between trains and buses and ferries in this city. I have only not experienced the months of March and December here, and it’s getting difficult to recall on which visit I did that thing or on which stay I met so-and-so. I used to experience a sense of loss if I didn’t get to eat each of my favorite foods, see each of my dearest friends and visit each one of my most delighted-in spots – on every single visit – but this time, probably because I’ve been here five times in the last 13 months, I am at ease.

I’m enjoying milk tea when it comes around, I’m frequenting my new Japanese friend who serves hand rolls with crab and some kind of fish eggs from her little stand that was highlighted by the New York Times, and I’m captured by my mango mochi ice cream find. I am sleeping well, feeling my Father’s presence as I come and go and pray and listen and laugh and sing, and it is well with me here.

These last two days have been spent ministering to a group of 20 missionaries to China, who are here on a retreat. They’re 20-, 30- and 50-something women and men, mostly Americans, and we’re here for them. Sowing into those who are sowing their lives into the Chinese, whom I so love. They’re an ordinary bunch of folks, just like me and my friends, but when we sit down to pray for each of them in 45-minute slots throughout these days, I get to see something more. I get to catch glimpses of what He sees.

What do You see, Father? She feels quite plain, but You see a beauty. Another feels ruined by these last years of doubt, but You call her a woman of radical faith. This one’s unsure if what’s going on inside is her disqualification, but You say there’s no blemish there at all. Another fears he’s inadequate, not measuring up as a husband or father, and You take Your son by the hand and speak over him, “Well-pleased, beloved…” That one has been hiding behind others for years, a “follower”: You, You call her out: “Leader.” For the one wondering if she’s really delighted in, You surprise her by sharing Jesus’ experience of being bathed in Father’s love. One girl experienced more love in the last three days than ever in her life. Another has hope for the breakthrough she’s been crying out for. Each one is hungrier and more full, both at the very same time.

And, I got to feel His presence for long periods of time throughout these days of non-stop pouring out, and I experienced joy and His perspective and gladness at seeing my God on the move. No matter that our focus these past four days were primarily on these others: I benefited from ministering to them.

I suppose this is how it’s supposed to be. Natural. Like breathing in and breathing out, walking streets that are gladly familiar and that are pleased to support my frame. Like living and being me is really enough.

My Life: Part #2

Getting ready for a 6-week journey to Hong Kong and Japan... Starting the practical readiness by throwing stuff I'll need on my floor. The stack is going to grow...

Life: Part #2. I’m not calling these “trips” anymore, these journeys to Asia that I’m doing. It’s really more like My Life: Part #2. Part #1 happens in Kansas City with my incredible Boiler Room family. Part #2 is in Asia, with my family over there. Two lives but really just one. Two worlds in one big one. One God. One me. My life. Here we go.