The Man in the Dress

So in Shibuya, once in awhile there is this man who appears, and he is completely decked out in all girl clothes. He will wear a short skirt, a wig, lots of face make up, a pretty top, super high heels, and a purse - and of course everything is lacy and frilly and pink. It's the whole deal. The sad part is, that he is always standing off by himself, looking like a shy little girl, and crowds of people will walk by (this is Shibuya people) and will laugh at him, point at him, and be mean to him.

Well last night was my second time that I personally saw him. The first time I saw him I was so shocked I made a loud involuntary gasp. This time I saw him I was prepared and so I brought out my iphone and took a picture. The people I was with saw me and ended up insisting that I go share a gospel of John with the guy, and I reallllly didn't want to do it. But as I kept looking at the man while everyone was trying to get me to go, I just felt so sad for him. I was of course really dreading it, and I knew everyone around would be watching because everyone was looking at this person as they walked by, and people were making wide berths to avoid being so close to him. So out of crowded Shibuya, he had like a bubble of space around him, which is never possible otherwise. With a tunnel vision, I just walked up to him (and a volunteer, super cool rapper/pastor C-Flo, was behind me) and I offered a Steps to Peace with God track and a gospel of John. He looked at me kind of scared I think. And I introduced myself, and offered him the materials, and he kind of hesitated but then denied it. And so I tried again and got another no. And again but he said no no so I left. But man walking away from that was so hard.

I made eye contact with him the whole time, and I just realized that he was another person, confused, scared, everyone making fun of him and I had too, everyone just wanted to take pictures of him. And I felt ashamed, and sad that he didn't even give Jesus a chance. Now every time I walk through Shibuya at night I hope to remember this man and pray for him.

One of the Best Bible Studies...Encouragements for My Heart

Hello! Sorry it's been so long!

The past several weeks have been full of big ups and downs for me. Satan really knows how to tamper with us eh?

Today was such a long day (surprise surprise :P) and I had scheduled a Bible study after being out with volunteers (great volunteers btw though hehe). It was my first time meeting the girl K for a one on one Bible Study time. She is a Christian, plugged into a church; she just doesn't have many Christians friends her age. She brought her non Christian friend S. We were planning to go over Acts and I had been too busy to prepare much of anything.

Well the Bible study just went perfect. It was spectacular. I am not meaning that I had the best words to say or anything, but it was completely what each one of us needed. It's amazing. God is amazing. K asked a question about Acts 5, with Ananias and Sapphira, and I didn't know the answer. But it was a very good question. So I told her I honestly don't know, and I will try to answer but be careful because I could be making up junk. I told her I'd get back to her after I studied it and found out for sure, but I tried my best to give her some answer that was biblical. Then I came home like two hours ago, and I did some searching and it's amazing, but everything I told her so far that I know, is all correct! And it's just crazy, because through that God was reminding me of who He is. He is the ultimate provider. He makes me able at the perfect time, He knows exactly what I need.

I had shared with them this fact (that God is our abler, providing us with exactly what and when we need it), with a previous example, where I led a Korean girl to Christ in Korean last summer, not of my own knowledge, because I couldn't repeat that again on my own. I didn't know I knew the Korean words to explain the gospel to this Korean girl. I surprised myself as the speech flowed out of my mouth that summer night, and of course it is because the words were not of me. And then to realize that this whole night was again a repeat of that, of what I had so explicitly shared with them, it puts a ridiculous grin on my face because God was revealing to me His awesomeness. So that is just a part of the amazing Bible study I had tonight. The whole night was cycles of that. I mean seriously, that's not a coincidence. If you think that's a coincidence, well I don't know what to tell you. Just keep thinking I'm crazy ;) I don't really care because I know what I know.

God knows how to provide exactly when we need. I know this, but to experience this tonight in the midst of my struggles, it's amazing. My heart overflows with joy. I want to praise God!