In a span of one week, I have seen her for 4 days! That is a lot considering how much I see my other Japanese friends! She usually comes out to our Friday Night Cafes in Shimokitazawa, which is an outreach group, and she also comes out to have "church" with us on Sundays.
So I saw Shi-chan on Friday and then again on Sunday. For Sunday, we discussed what sin is. As a new believer, Shi-chan has many questions and many things she doesn't even know that she doesn't know yet (that makes sense I promise). She had asked KN-san, a Japanese man who has been Christian for ~6 years, "what is sin?" and I think to have an honest and accurate explanation that a new Japanese Christian can understand, that could take a while. Anyways, it turned out to be a good time and Shi-chan was able to walk away with more background understanding of what sin is. Then most everyone went out to eat Indian curry at a nearby restaurant, where the summer interns visited regularly. We were able to see and chat again with the man who works there. He came to our Friday Night Cafe once. When we were about to leave, he said "I love K's Cafe people!" haha that was nice!
Then Monday, I got to see her again! :) What wonderful times! Although this time, we gathered together to have a goodbye lunch with our friend who leaves Wednesday to Washington to be a college student. We ate sukiyaki, had good conversations, went souvenir shopping with our friend to help him find a gift for his host family.
Then Tuesday (today), my roomie and I met with her again! This time, it was special Shi-chan time hehe. We had lunch at TGIFridays, her first time, and we discussed prayer. We explained that it is simply talking to God, just like we talk to our best friends. We shared scripture with her, and then she came over to watch "The Hope" dvd, which explains the Bible in Japanese. She watched all of it my goodness, and it was great! I think she was shocked to see Jesus crucified, but after the movie she said something to the effect that she understands that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. I asked her if she believed all of the things that came out in the dvd, and she said yes to my surprise. I was afraid that it would be an overload of information, but she took it all in and was glad to learn. Something interesting is that it is definitely a new thing for many Japanese people to see a visual of life in the biblical times. It is just very different from how life was and is here. I noticed that culture wise, my goodness, it is so different! It showed the disciples running outside after the Pentecost in excitement, and it just struck me how that would never happen here in Japan. Everything is too orderly. Anyways, I am straying. It was a good good day. After the movie, she also said "Kami (God) is so good." Isn't that sweet? I could only agree with her.
I'm seeing her again on Friday as we are having a potluck at our building instead of at the usual Shimokitazawa cafe spot. It's gonna be a special night! I'm planning to make pasta salad and some chicken salad sandwiches! RN-san, also a new believer, will be joining us and she will be able to meet Shi-chan properly, finally! I hope that the two of them can become good friends and sisters in Christ. One thing that concerns me is that I know I am seeing so much of Shi-chan right now as this is summer break. Please pray that she will continue to be faithful to knowing Christ more even after school starts. That happens at the end of September. Also, please pray for our potluck that many people will leave the place closer to knowing Christ! Thanks :)
