Aomori Mission Trip Winter 2019

Welcome to my third blog post! Apologies to everyone for the late and sporadic blog posts - there are so many things to do here (work-related and fun-related) and I have been WAY too excited working and exploring. Thanks again to everyone for your prayer and support. Tavi (my fellow German missionary), the missionary family, and I have been hard at work here at the Aomori Christian Center. Through our and the missionary family's efforts, we have kept the Aomori Christian Center ready for student and church retreats to happen even despite the snowy winter. This past week, a university group held a retreat here, where we were the support staff. In a few days, a local church will also hold a day retreat here. Here is Tavi hard at work shovelling the parking lot: Luke made these beautiful snow block walls that encompass the parking lot: We have also been working to prepare the camp grounds for renovations. In the next few months, several new buildings will be constr...

Hello there and thanks for stopping by my second blog post! :) I will be detailing my experience at Japanese churches this week - I hope that this is both an informative and interesting read! Since I've arrived in Japan, I have attended 4-5 church services each week, visiting about 5 unique churches so far. On Sundays, I attend a Japanese church service in the morning and an English service in the evening. Throughout the week, I also attend various weekday church services, testimonies, etc. All of the churches are small, varying in number from 2 to 15 members. Unfortunately, I've learned from my supervisor that Japan is one of the only Asian countries with a declining Christian population, especially in the rural areas. It is sad to hear this, but it is also so encouraging to witness the authenticity and strength of the Christians who are here. The vast majority of the church members I've met are over 50 years old, and they have been so kind to my coworker and I (Otavian)...