Called to Tokyo

Even after sensing the Lord's leading into cross-cultural mission, I still had a lot of questions. What could God use me for? I didn't fit into the “normal” international worker route. In fact, I felt like I had nothing to offer. As I wrestled with God, He reminded me of a passage in 1 Samuel 15. God does not delight in what I bring to the table, or what I can give Him; He simply desires my obedience. I stopped asking whether or not He had called me to missions; He calls all of us to make disciples of all nations. The question was whether or not I was willing to obey Him, even if that meant allowing Him to lead me half way across the world. 

I had no clarity with regard to a people group or type of ministry, so I embarked on a two-year apprenticeship with the Alliance, trusting Him to lead me to the answers I needed. I visited three teams doing three very different types of work over those two years. In the process, I learned more about how God has wired me, and how the experiences I've had were all ways He was preparing me. I first thought He might call me to cross-cultural work in a developing country, helping the poor within a Muslim context. This seemed to be the trend of the missions movement at the time. Through my apprenticeship God opened my eyes to see that He calls us to the spiritually poor, not just the materially poor. God has gifted each one of us differently, and He helped me realize that I didn’t have to fit in with whatever cross-cultural mission trend I had imagined. 

Tokyo was one of the places I visited during my apprenticeship. I’d visited Japan a few times for vacation before, and I would have never thought God would call me there. As I spent time in Tokyo, the Lord began to open my eyes to see the spiritual need. I had the opportunity to share a bit about my own journey with some Japanese believers, and it was encouraging to see that they found my experiences relatable. 

Growing up as a first-generation Chinese Canadian, I wasn’t taught or given space to verbalize emotions. It wasn’t until walking through Deeper Life material in my district that I realized I had been carrying a lot of unresolved hurt and pain. The Japanese culture is similar in that people are often encouraged to suppress their emotions. They are taught not to stand out in order to maintain harmony. As I learned more about their culture, I felt the Lord was asking me to be His vessel here in Tokyo to create a safe space for people to process emotions and access the healing and freedom offered to us through Christ. I’d received access to the Father’s healing in my own life, and He invited me to come and share that gift with the Japanese here.

The Lord also opened many doors for me to make friends in Tokyo. In most cases, I am their first, and perhaps only, Christian friend. Tokyo is a busy city and the greater metropolitan area has a population of about 37 million (nearly the population of all of Canada). In such a highly populated area, there is so little Christian presence. The Japanese are the second most unreached people group in the world, and there are still many who have not heard the Good News. 

Though they are few in number, God allowed me to see a glimpse of what He was doing through small pockets of Christ-followers during my apprenticeship. Our Heavenly Father has not forgotten about the Japanese. I never imagined I’d wind up serving Him in Japan, but I count it a privilege to join Him in what He is doing here.