My ministries here include English language teaching at the Church, a ‘learn to surf’ ministry and working in a coffee shop called J Lodge, started by another missionary working with the same church.  J Lodge is about a 55min train ride from where I live and is located near a big university.  It is the reason for the large amount of youth in the church.  English classes are also taken here.  To see God working here often leaves me speechless and in awe at the way things work out.
Just after arriving in Chigasaki in late March I was wondering why I was here and how I could possibly make any difference amongst such an enormous amount of people here.  The following week I had to travel back to the OMSI campus in Tokyo for Field Council Meetings.  This takes about two hours on the trains.  I was pondering why I was here while travelling and when I got off and changed to a different train line I found that my train was delayed.  I stood there not really paying any attention to the cause of the delay.  People were getting impatient and running all over the place.  This was of course the Tokyo loop line (the busiest) and people depend on the trains to get around.  Japanese trains are never late I might add.  We finally got moving after about 40 mins and were on our way again.  As we approached the next station we all witnessed the cause of the delay.  Someone had committed suicide by jumping in front of a train.  There were station staff everywhere and the scene was cordoned off with tape.  However I saw the men putting the blanket over what was left of the body.  I stood there staring and thinking.  If only I had been able to talk to the person and shared my faith with them, maybe things would have been different.  I returned to Chigasaki that weekend determined to meet as many people as possible and share my testimony with them.
Since then God has blessed me with so many new friends, both Japanese and foreigners.  I’ve been able to share how God has impacted my life and even saved me from suicide on more than one occasion in the past.  Each day brings new things and I’m honoured to be here serving our Lord.