Accepted
It’s official!
I recently was accepted into Ethnos360 as an associate!
I’m sure many of you expect a burst of Hoorays, Hallelujahs, Praise the Lord would be flowing out, and as excited as I am about meeting the first big milestone, my mind is filled with questions…
A little Backstory
I was visiting my parents in Japan when I received my news of acceptance.
This was my second visit in less than two years since my dad had suffered a stroke couple years ago and I could sense that my parents have both aged significantly in just that short period. We knew his stroke would be an adjustment but the toll has been great on both of them.
Japan has a great healthcare and many services provided to help but I am an only child living thousands of miles away leaving the burden for my mom to bear so I feel guilty not being able to help, and honestly even feels a little selfish moving to PNG.
Is this right?
Am I living out Luke 9:61 – 62 where Jesus tells a would-be follower who asks to say farewell to family first is not fit for the Kingdom??
Is this what He means in Luke 14:26(a) “If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower”?
Right now, I don’t know.
A chance meeting
A dear friend and brother in Christ contacted me while I was in Japan and wanted me to talk with someone he knew that used serve as an intern at my home church and was living in Japan now. I hadn’t mentioned to my friend I would be visiting Japan but somehow he got me while I was there and come to find out, this former church intern is living near the grade school I used to attend in Japan!
I had 3 nights left in Japan and we were able to meet up for dinner in Tokyo. We have many similarities from being Asian decent, experience living in Japan and living overseas in Americas, attending same church in Tennessee (though our times there didn’t overlap), able to speak Japanese and know Japanese culture first hand. Despite only learning about this person’s existence a few hours ago, it felt like I was catching up with an old friend!
To top it off, he’s also considering possibility of serving at RVA!
If you are a believer, you know there are no coincidences!
More questions
But this also makes me wonder was this meeting to really discuss RVA?
Two new teachers (not including me) were just accepted and will be joining RVA this fall. As great of a news as this is, does it also mean that there is less need for my Asian brother an I to be at RVA?
Wouldn’t 2 Japanese speaking missionaries with understanding of Japanese culture make sense to serve in Japan where only 2% of the population identify as Christian vs PNG where 97% of the population identifies as Christian?
Conclusion?
One thing I’m certain about is that standing still and asking questions won’t get me closer to an answer. I’m putting my faith in God that as I continue moving forward step by step through this process, He will guide me in the direction He needs me to go.
