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Friends At Christmas Dinner-Feeling the Gospel!
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This pole was not there when I took the picture!
Dear Journal Friends,
I think about you scattered all over the USA (and the world) and especially each time unusual weather sweeps through your area. I had business with the American Baptist Historical Society in Atlanta recently. It happened to be just on the same day as Atlanta’s unusual snow and deep freeze. Of course, people I knew couldn’t travel, so I had their full attention! But, they, along with my cousins who live nearby were constantly in my prayers for those few days. I don’t forget you.
It’s Not Really the Weather What is it that brings us together? It’s really our common mission, you partnering with me (or me with you!) and Japanese Christians here in the cause of bringing Christ to Japan. Thank you for all you do for me. Often, I am overcome with self-doubt as to my worthiness. I’m reminded in the Word that “worthiness” is not my concern. During my devotions, recently, I read a prayer by Eddie Askew in A Silence And A Shouting. Part of the prayer reads:
“What I’m really trying to say is this-
That when I face you,
when I think of your love,
and patience, and trust in allowing me
to share in the work of your Kingdom,
I can only say thank you, Lord.
I don’t know why you take so much trouble with me,
But I’m glad you do.
And in using me
at least you are showing
that your love and your Kingdom
are for ordinary people like me…”
Christmas & New Years I was not as busy at Christmas-time as in past years but on certain days busyness was incalculable! This is the first time since living in Japan that I have lived in a place where I can entertain more than four people comfortably. The number of dinner plates I could use always far out-number the number of guests. So this year, I pulled out the stops and did what I love doing so much, cooking for guests. This time, six more people came than plates and bowls, and seven more people came than there were chairs, making it a stand-up dinner. Not enough silverware either so of course the easy solution was chop sticks.
I always have a purpose to my entertainment and this was no exception. I was thrilled to receive a “yes” answer from the kindergarten teachers from the campus next door. Fourteen of the sixteen teachers filed in and ate their first ever turkey dinner. They had to bring something, so they brought platters of sandwiches which remained untouched. Perhaps four of the teachers are Christians so the little program we had following the dinner was special. Japanese are seldom asked to share, but leave it to me to make them feel uncomfortable in doing so. It was precious. I want you to hear the song they prepared for me! I’ll try posting it on my blog for you in the next few days. http://robertastephens.com .
The second dinner on Christmas Day was basically a repeat menu with primarily non-Christian relatives of my friend, Hiroko. Due to people coming late and others leaving early, we were not able to do the short Christmas program of singing and the Christmas story for them but we hit on some important Christmas themes during dinner. God blessed our time, and in addition, I learned from these two parties what my limits are since my illness.
New Years was special, getting up early with thousands of others to watch the first sun rise of the new year, and seeing the early morning Mt. Fuji from the window of the bedroom of a friend’s house where I slept.
Send Us Volunteers – Looking back in time, I wanted to report that volunteer Ashley finished her service and returned to seminary on Dec. 1st. The pastor she worked under asked if we could send another seminary intern like Ashley. That is a good sign that Ashley’s work was appreciated. As I recall her time, I’m reminded that we do need volunteers of all kinds. Japan is unique in its problems with housing so that one to four people at a time works better than large groups. It’s unique in many other ways. One of these ways is what I call “the ministry of presence.” Language is often a barrier and a bridge, but makes it necessary for us to comprehend the value of being the fragrance of Christ rather than the spokesperson for Christ.
Perhaps you would like to experience the ministry of being, the ministry of singing, the ministry of playing or the ministry of praying as a volunteer in Japan. Please contact me roberta@robertastephens.com or our volunteer office at International Ministries at Angela.Sudermann@abc-usa.org
In Christ, Roberta L. Stephens
“…There are folks around me
with bigger problems than mine.
Frightened, anxious and lonely,
wanting a little bit of human contact.
Needing a little courage to face problems and hang on to the life.
I can encourage them
just by being with them, just by listening.
Just by taking off a bit of their load,
like you take mine.
Is that what you want me to do?
I can’t do it on my own---but thank you, Lord.
I don’t have to.” Eddie Askew
I think about you scattered all over the USA (and the world) and especially each time unusual weather sweeps through your area. I had business with the American Baptist Historical Society in Atlanta recently. It happened to be just on the same day as Atlanta’s unusual snow and deep freeze. Of course, people I knew couldn’t travel, so I had their full attention! But, they, along with my cousins who live nearby were constantly in my prayers for those few days. I don’t forget you.
It’s Not Really the Weather What is it that brings us together? It’s really our common mission, you partnering with me (or me with you!) and Japanese Christians here in the cause of bringing Christ to Japan. Thank you for all you do for me. Often, I am overcome with self-doubt as to my worthiness. I’m reminded in the Word that “worthiness” is not my concern. During my devotions, recently, I read a prayer by Eddie Askew in A Silence And A Shouting. Part of the prayer reads:
“What I’m really trying to say is this-
That when I face you,
when I think of your love,
and patience, and trust in allowing me
to share in the work of your Kingdom,
I can only say thank you, Lord.
I don’t know why you take so much trouble with me,
But I’m glad you do.
And in using me
at least you are showing
that your love and your Kingdom
are for ordinary people like me…”
Christmas & New Years I was not as busy at Christmas-time as in past years but on certain days busyness was incalculable! This is the first time since living in Japan that I have lived in a place where I can entertain more than four people comfortably. The number of dinner plates I could use always far out-number the number of guests. So this year, I pulled out the stops and did what I love doing so much, cooking for guests. This time, six more people came than plates and bowls, and seven more people came than there were chairs, making it a stand-up dinner. Not enough silverware either so of course the easy solution was chop sticks.
I always have a purpose to my entertainment and this was no exception. I was thrilled to receive a “yes” answer from the kindergarten teachers from the campus next door. Fourteen of the sixteen teachers filed in and ate their first ever turkey dinner. They had to bring something, so they brought platters of sandwiches which remained untouched. Perhaps four of the teachers are Christians so the little program we had following the dinner was special. Japanese are seldom asked to share, but leave it to me to make them feel uncomfortable in doing so. It was precious. I want you to hear the song they prepared for me! I’ll try posting it on my blog for you in the next few days. http://robertastephens.com .
The second dinner on Christmas Day was basically a repeat menu with primarily non-Christian relatives of my friend, Hiroko. Due to people coming late and others leaving early, we were not able to do the short Christmas program of singing and the Christmas story for them but we hit on some important Christmas themes during dinner. God blessed our time, and in addition, I learned from these two parties what my limits are since my illness.
New Years was special, getting up early with thousands of others to watch the first sun rise of the new year, and seeing the early morning Mt. Fuji from the window of the bedroom of a friend’s house where I slept.
Send Us Volunteers – Looking back in time, I wanted to report that volunteer Ashley finished her service and returned to seminary on Dec. 1st. The pastor she worked under asked if we could send another seminary intern like Ashley. That is a good sign that Ashley’s work was appreciated. As I recall her time, I’m reminded that we do need volunteers of all kinds. Japan is unique in its problems with housing so that one to four people at a time works better than large groups. It’s unique in many other ways. One of these ways is what I call “the ministry of presence.” Language is often a barrier and a bridge, but makes it necessary for us to comprehend the value of being the fragrance of Christ rather than the spokesperson for Christ.
Perhaps you would like to experience the ministry of being, the ministry of singing, the ministry of playing or the ministry of praying as a volunteer in Japan. Please contact me roberta@robertastephens.com or our volunteer office at International Ministries at Angela.Sudermann@abc-usa.org
In Christ, Roberta L. Stephens
“…There are folks around me
with bigger problems than mine.
Frightened, anxious and lonely,
wanting a little bit of human contact.
Needing a little courage to face problems and hang on to the life.
I can encourage them
just by being with them, just by listening.
Just by taking off a bit of their load,
like you take mine.
Is that what you want me to do?
I can’t do it on my own---but thank you, Lord.
I don’t have to.” Eddie Askew