がんばて

Sarah Sherod in Kessenuma, Japan – May 24, 2012

がんばて (Ganbate) is one of the many Japanese words that is hard to translate into English. It means something along the lines of “Give it your all!, Keep it up!, Hang in there!, Good luck!” Iʼve seen the phrase posted on buildings, taxis and other places in Kesennuma all over in the 2 days Iʼve been here. Ruth thinks Iʼm crazy for taking pictures of this encouragement, but I donʼt care. I love the tenacious spirit of the Japanese people (and the fact that I can read what it says).

My time in Japan has been eventful so far. I got to ride a shinkansen (bullet train) for the very first time. Iʼve wanted to ride a shinkansen ever since I found out there were different kinds of trains – like most kids raised in Japan, this was probably at around age two or three… You canʼt imagine how excited I was.

Here in Kessenuma, I’ve become an international driver, braving the streets in a giant van.

Besides traveling, Iʼve also met many of the students who come to the center for classes and some of the other contacts the volunteers before me have made. (Iʼm terrible at remembering names, so this part of my time in Japan will be a whole adventure in itself.)

Last night, Ruth, Anna and I went to a juku (a school to prepare students for entrance examinations) across the street to talk to 4 students about life in America and Korea. God has been giving us many unique opportunities to meet new people in Japan.

After our mini-presentation, I got the chance to meet the “King of the Kassesuyataimura.” (Anna talked about him in the post “A night out in Kessennuma.”) Although we were eating at the restaurant across the walkway from his, he came into the Korean restaurant to have a drink and watch the Japan-Korea volleyball game. (Korea won in 4 matches.) He is quite the character. We found out he used to play volleyball professionally. Anna and I are already scheming on how we can convince him to teach us how to cook Japanese food.

It never ceases to amaze me how God prepares his children to do his work. I had always hoped to come back to Japan to do mission work, but I never would have thought I could use other random skills I’ve picked up, like basic knitting, to meet people and possibly have a chance to show what a “Christian” is.

Being back in Japan is a strange feeling, but a good strange. I can tell that the next month is going to be a challenge for me in many different ways, but I know I can match the tenacity of the Japanese people by relying on my Heavenly Father.

Read more at WELS Christian Aid and Relief