Japan Coming Into View - 4 months out
Hi everyone! Thank you for the response to my last newsletter. It means so much to have people come alongside me in partnership and trust God through this process. Right now I'm at 60% of my monthly needs and 100% of my one-time needs! The generosity has been overwhelming, and I thank you for playing your part in God's provision.
Every missionary I've talked to has a story of God providing miraculously, especially for that last stretch before launching, but it never happens apart from prayer. So I'm asking you to pray over this final 40%. In some ways it feels impossible right now, which is exactly where I know God loves to show up and make it clear that only He could have done it.
And if someone comes to mind who might want to partner with me (a friend, family member, small group, or even your church) please connect us by email: Potts500@proton.me
A Window into Japan:
So many of you have asked great questions about Japan, the culture, and what daily life actually looks like, and I've loved answering them, it's been so encouraging to share! So I'm adding a regular section to share a bit of that. Welcome to the first window in.
Just like we in the US identify with a state or region, like the Midwest or the South, Japan's regions each have their own distinct culture. I'll be in the far south, on the island of Kyushu, which climate-wise is a bit like moving to Florida or Georgia, and by Japanese standards is pretty laid-back. One city I visited there last October, Miyazaki, is Japan's surfing-and-golfing town, and I felt that difference immediately compared to the hustle of Tokyo or Osaka.
Like the US, Japan's climate swings wildly depending on where you are. The south is hot and humid half the year with mild winters, while the north gets cold and buried in snow. Tohoku is home to the snowiest city in the world.
On the left is Aomori in the north, just like the Mario Kart level. On the right is Miyazaki and is my photo
A change of pace
Over the last few weeks, I've started to get genuinely excited about Japan, which has been a real change of pace. For a while, the weight of responsibility and the spiritual darkness I'll be walking into had been dominating how I thought about the future.
Part of the shift is simply that I'm loving my Japanese lessons, including an incredible gift from God: in-person tutoring from a retired Japanese couple, both believers, who refuse to let me pay them. The other part has been pushing through the hard days and the spiritual warfare to simply abide with God and to stay near to Him. Songs like the one below help me get to a quiet place and turn my heart toward the Creator. In those moments, the anxiety and weight slide off my shoulders, and I can rest in the God who loves me, and in what He's inviting me into: His kingdom, and the joy of bringing it to people who have never heard of Him.
Personal Prayer Requests:
- Fundraising for the last 40% of my monthly needs
- Beloit language intensive, 40 to 50 hours per week for one month, starting June 15
- Schooling: Japanese (reaching N5 before I leave) and Bible school (finishing my certificate)
- To be continually reminded to abide with God
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." - John 15:4
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