Missions isn't just about serving

As I sat in on the Asunción church's choir rehearsal tonight, I was blessed to see the way that God is using Pastor Koki and Mari in this city. God has given him wonderful music ministry gifts that make a non-musical guy like me just sit in awe with my two left thumbs. He doesn't just play, he PLAYS! It's great to see.

I thought about the July Paraguay Project and how we might tend to see the ministry as an expression of our service and sacrifice to the Lord. But then I realized that in the few days that I have been with Pr Koki that I have learned and grown so much in my understanding of ministry, people and the Lord because of his example.

And there it is! If you make the decision to come with JEMS to Paraguay, I'm convinced that you will be taking a giant step forward in your spiritual growth and development! Serving in Asunción and Pirapó will include the special privilege to serve side-by-side with someone with a wonderful heart for God and people.

Perhaps that's just what you're looking for at this point in your life? To take that next step of faith and growth in your walk with the Lord?

God bless you as you consider the possibilities of doing this in Paraguay in July 2009.

Please check back later as I try and figure out how to upload a video of the rehearsal to youtube. The internet is finicky in this country.

PJ

Asunción and the Japanese language

Saturday morning.

I hear thunder and see lightning through the wooden slats of my window shutters. Rain is pouring out of the sky!

Today will include a visit to the Asunción Japanese language school and the offices of the Japanese Federation.

Paraguayan scholar and social scientist, Emi Kasamatsu writes: "Young and adult Nikkei in Paraguay are considered to be among the most accomplished speakers of Japanese on the continent, and to live in such a way that most closely represents their ancestors' lifestyle and customs."

One of the principal reasons for this linguistic accomplishment is the Paraguayan Japanese language schools. This is where I went this morning.



Classes include kindergarten to high school. Peeking through the classroom windows.

Look! There's Mari sensei teaching her kindergarten class!

Pr Koki and I also sat in on this teacher's (Yoko's) class. She's serving a two-year volunteer term as a teacher in this Japanese school and doing a great job!

The morning included a nice reunion with my friend, Mana, whom we met during our mission earlier this year in February and March. Mana has also worked for the past year as a teaching volunteer in the Asunción Japanese Language school. She returns to Japan at the end of the year.

According to Kasamatsu, for the Nikkei who live in Asunción or other large cities, integration into the larger society commonly occurs, and later generations have substantially modified their sense of the importance of using the Japanese language. This is the great challenge facing Paraguayan Nikkei today.

This reality may also mean a bellweather change for the community as it seeks its next step toward the future. One thought is the question of where English language studies will ultimately fit in. And will JEMS have a place in filling that need?

Back to Asunción

After what can only be described as a whirlwind tour of the Japanese farming colonies of La Paz, Chavez, Fuji, Santa Rosa and Pirapó, Pr Koki and I returned to Asunción on Friday afternoon.

In a relaxing evening, I had the opportunity to reconnect with some old friends and make some new ones!

Two long time friends from Pedro Juan Caballero. They are two of the almost thirty children we ministered to when JEMS first began serving in Paraguay in 1992. Everyone asks "How is Tia Anna?" Tia Anna knows who she is. She's still a JEMS legend in Amambay Paraguay.

Pr Koki with one of his church leaders

The two women pictured above, departed for Encarnación (southern Paraguay) this morning to participate in a hospital ministry along with the woman (pictured, center) below.

The fellowship group of people representing Japan, Brazil, Paraguay and the USA.

Click to enlarge

PJ in a photo with the waitress who cooked sukiyaki dinner for us. She may look a little Asian, but she is representative of the blending of Spanish and Guaraní (Amerindian) culture. 95% of Paraguay´s population is mestizo or of mixed heritage.

Next stop: La Paz

Just as an editorial comment:
You are reading these blog entries in reverse order of when they were written. My hope is that you'll get a flavor of the ministry here in the Japanese colonies of Paraguay rather than simply a chronological narrative. Thanks for your understanding.

A major challenge of driving in Paraguay is dodging the combines. Hey! The roads are narrow, two-lanes of asphalt and combines are huge!

Our next stop after Pirapó was the farming colony of La Paz. La Paz has a population of just over 650 Japanese. Together with neighboring colonies of Santa Rosa, Chavez and Fuji, it is a significant concentration of nikkei in one area.

Pr Koki and I spent our day in La Paz, beginning with a Bible study in the home of the Yamagami's. The Yamagami's are a couple devoted to the Lord with a wonderful gift of hospitality. They are pictured photo right (back row, blue shirt; front row, black dress)

Strange, but true. After showering that morning in Pirapó, there was no mirror available in the house. Upon coming to La Paz, I would later (after this picture and others were taken) realize that my hair looked like a rat's nest. Ahh, but the mission field is no place for vanity. Right?

After the study, Mr Yamagami took us on a tour of the La Paz colony. Stops would include all important visits to the Japanese Association where here again, we were able to meet key leaders and share our plans.

Our days are quite long. That evening, we were warmly hosted by the Yamagami's to a dinner of nabemono (vegetables, tofu, chicken, mushroom and udon simmered in a large bowl with dashi stock). Other guests included three volunteers from Japan who were working in Paraguay through the JICA program. The evening became a wonderful opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with these young people.

Please pray that God will continue to work in the lives of these young people (front row, between Pr Koki and me: Makiko; back row, right: Hiromi).

Click to enlarge

And pray for my new buddy, Koske (yup, not Kosuke, but Koske). He really showed an interest in learning about the Christian faith.

Backtracking to catch you up

I wasn't able to devote much time to keeping you updated after the first few days after my arrival in Asunción.

It was a safe and yet somewhat wearying travel day. I left Camarillo by Road Runner shuttle at 2:30pm on Monday, September 29th. I arrived in Asunción on Tuesday, at 5:30pm Asunción time. You guessed it! 5:30pm Asunción time is 2:30pm Camarillo time. That meant that I had safely endured 24 hours of travel!

My first evening in Asunción was spent with my host family, Pr Koki and Mari Nowada.

Early the next morning, Pr Koki and I headed out for our first ministry contact in the Japanese farming colony of Pirapó in southern Paraguay, a six hour drive. Before arriving at our homestay, we made several visits to families in Pirapó.

Speaking briefly with the young girl in yellow above, I found that there was interest on the part of the children to learn conversational English in addition to the other programs we hope to bring to Pirapó.



We conducted a Bible study where I was given an opportunity to share.

The next morning we were up early to investigate areas around Pirapó where ministries might take place



Pr Koki conducted a Bible study and actively ministered to his flock in Pirapó. I had the opportunity to share vision about the ministries we hope to have in the colony next July.


Just before lunch, Mr Masaoka (center, below) introduced Pr Koki and me to Miss Yuuki (left, below), who is teaching English in the colony. We discovered that she had taken a bilingual Spanish-English course in Encarnación (southern Paraguay on the border of Argentina). We thought she would be an important contact for our ongoing discussions with the colony about our July JEMS program.

As we prepared to leave the colony of Pirapó, we stopped by the Japanese Association. Mr Masaoka again presented Pr Koki and I to the Association General Manager there. Those who know the Japanese culture understand the importance of these contacts and presentations.

Please pray for us that doors will be open. The colony has had a recent brush with a cult group who are very aggressive in their efforts to come into the colony. This caused some to express hesitation about the presence of JEMS' ministry. We pray that a good word in the right places, together with the work of the Holy Spirit will cause any resistance to JEMS to be diminished and removed.

"Pirapó" in Guarani

Your hot tip for the day: The "C" on the water faucet in Paraguay means "Caliente," not "Cold."


Mark 1:17 says, "Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

This invitation of Jesus resonated in my mind as I listened yesterday to Mr Masaoka, one of the pioneer settlers of the Pirapó colony in Paraguay. He said, "The meaning of the colony name Pirapó, comes from the Guaraní word, 'to catch fish by hand'."

To catch fish by hand is both personal and requires your full attention. In an age of automated gadgets, radar, fish finders and so on, the one thing that cannot be automated is the task of introducing someone to faith in Christ. Every encounter is an opportunity to "fish by hand," as it were.

Later that day I sat with Pr Koki Nowada at a home in the La Paz colony as he patiently and skillfully shared the good news of Jesus Christ with three Japanese educational and social volunteers who are working a two-year stint in the colonies of La Paz and Yguazu via the auspices of JICA.

The conversation went on for over 45 minutes, but not in a tiresome way. Pastor Nowada answered their questions in such an engaging and gracious way that they continued to inquire further. You could almost see their hunger for spiritual truth.

Catching fish by hand is like that, I suspect. It requires patience, skill and grace. And catching fish by hand isn't a spectator sport. You have to get into the water and get wet.

I want to invite my JEMS readers to "catch fish by hand" by coming to Asunción and Pirapó with JEMS for two-and-a-half weeks in July 2009. Applications for team membership are being accepted with a January 2009 deadline. Paraguay team training will begin in early March. Some Spanish or Japanese language is helpful.

Thanks for continuing to pray for me as I make these various contacts. Please also pray that God would specifically touch the hearts of 8 men and women at home who would be willing to serve the Lord in the nation of Paraguay.

PJ is back in Asunción at the moment and preparing for meetings this evening and tomorrow.

Thank you so much for your prayer support.

I arrived safely in Asunción!

Hi everyone!

Just a quick note to let you know that after 24 hours of travel, I made it safely into Asunción International Airport. Pr Koki Nowada was kind enough to meet me and together with his wife took me to my first meal here in Paraguay.

I'm writing quickly as I will be leaving in an hour or so to head to the Japanese colony of Pirapó. It will be a six-hour trip by car. Pr Koki will be introducing me to the community leaders there (and tomorrow in La Paz) to provide this opening for JEMS.

It is raining this morning. Please pray for a safe drive.

Thanks.
PJ

On the road again: Asunción

I'll be flying into Asunción at the end of September. I've never been to that city, but am excited about the opportunity to do some field work there. JEMS is planning to send a team to Asunción in July 2009, and never having been there, Rev Sam and I agreed that it would be important to become acquainted with the city and the ministry.

The city is a blending of the old and new. (The Spanish were there in the early sixteenth century).



In addition to Asunción, I'm very excited to go back to a town that I visited once before: Pirapó, Paraguay. Pirapó is unique in that it started as a Japanese farming colony. Evidence of the Japanese influence on the town is seen in the signage . . .

. . . as well as in the presence of the Japanese Cultural Center there:

Though much later than the US and Brazil, Japanese immigration to Paraguay began over seventy years ago, with 130 families arriving as agricultural laborers in 1936.



Some of Pirapó still looks pretty rural!





In addition to Pirapó, I will be visiting another Japanese farming colony in La Paz Paraguay.



Can you find Pirapó and La Paz on this map? It will mean a lot of travel (by car) in the southeast portion of the country. Please pray for open doors, open hearts and safe travel.

I will arrive in Paraguay on September 30th and leave on October 7th. From October 7th to 11th, I will be making JEMS-related contacts in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Lord willing, I will be back in LA on the 11th.

Summer 2008 - JEMS

I continue to marvel at God's wonderful provision in my life. The end of June provided an opportunity to re-connect with many dear friends and supporters at the JEMS Mount Hermon Conference in the Santa Cruz mountains.

The week served as a reminder of God's grace and the kindness of God's people. It was a special blessing to also meet with JEMS missionaries, Michael and Chris Mason, Kevin and Nozomi West, David Mills and Yoshihiro "Bambi" Kishi. It is my honor to work alongside these men and women of faith and action.

I was also reminded that it's been awhile since my prayer4pj site has been updated. Please find several links to various hardcopy publications:

JEMS Journal (May 2008)
Pastor John's Article - Link

Pastor John's South America Prayer Letter
Though you may have received this in the mail, you might appreciate the accompanying links which show the photos in color!

Page 1 - Link
Page 2 - Link
Page 3 - Link
Page 4 - Link

Celebration - June 2008

Click to see enlarged brochure

The English department leadership in Camarillo has affirmed the need to create a church identity that is inviting to the community-at-large and which reflects the changing demographic patterns of the Japanese American community.

We recognize the growing reality of blended families and the need for the church to be inclusive of cultures and groups beyond the JA community. Beyond our immediate community is an understanding that our society is increasingly multi-cultural and multi-ethnic. The name “Japanese American” was not seen as welcoming or inclusive of those outside of that community. The English Department leadership determined that in order to grow, the name and strategy of the church would have to become more inclusive.

In January 2008 at the annual congregational meeting of the church, the membership voted to permit the English department to rename the English-speaking ministry to reflect a more inclusive outreach strategy. The English department also voted to name the ministry, “Celebration.” The ensuing months have seen the development of this transition in the branding of the ministry.

The design and plan of Celebration revolves around the following statement:

Celebration is a family of believers in Jesus Christ. At the same time, we also recognize that there are unique cultural characteristics that we bring to our faith and spiritual journey.

Celebration is grounded in biblical values and priorities while acknowledging how our background and experiences can influence our growth in Jesus Christ.

Those Americans who come from Asian backgrounds know the challenge of growing up in shame– and performance-based cultures. Often, these values and attitudes can impact our understanding of God’s grace and provision for us. Those of us who come from blended, inter-cultural families have received mixed messages of love, affirmation and acceptance.

The message of the gospel is one that must be understood through the lens of our familial and cultural upbringing. The message of God’s Word is one that speaks to authentic living in the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Celebration welcomes everyone who wants to experience God’s provision, presence and grace. While the church has its roots historically in ministry to the Japanese American and Japanese national community in Ventura County, all are invited to join with us in worship, fellowship and service to the Lord Jesus Christ.

With a renewed vision for the future of the ministry, 2008 becomes a year of planning, prayer and anticipation. The English Board of Elders intentionally increased the number of elders by two, thus under-girding the re-branding and evangelistic direction of the church. New ministry start-ups have included the Home Fellowship and the Celebration Senior Adult Ministry. Both are designed to broaden our contacts with friends, neighbors and others in the community.

Our Stewardship Ministry has also launched a Building Committee which will begin looking at expansion needs for the congregation. We discussed the important role of the pastor and leadership in casting vision for the rest of the congregation. That vision and faith come from the leadership. There is a need for the leadership of the church to dream big. To believe that we have a God who can provide for our needs. That God can provide land or a building and financial resources beyond what we can imagine.