week one in Japan!

     I have no pictures to show. It's quite sad, because I would love to keep all the things I see clear, in picture form.
   This week we have been focusing a lot on art, music, and dance outreach.  We held a meeting at a local church and performed various skits and dances, and I have begun to use large scale art in stage performance and street evangelism. I d I have begun to use large scale art in stage performance and street evangelism. I never thought art was actually a tool for God to use, but people beeline to beautiful things! I have started a series based on a red balloon in a grey world to symbolise hope. It goes along with my testimony. To me, the red balloon means being filled with Hope. Not from what you can see, but from Jesus Christ. That, with God, we can rise higher than the things that hold us down. And that God gives us the ability to have joy even when the world seems dark. The red balloon is a reminder of who God is, and how much he loves us.
   I have gained so much respect for my pastor though the recent experiences, I didn't realise how hard giving a testimony or a sermon was! I get pretty nervous beforehand, but I realise God is with me, and then the only thing on my mind is "People need to know this! They need to understand how great God's love is!' and everything turns out fine.
   We have been helping out the local pioneering churches(most churches in Japan ARE pioneering.)  Japan has a tradition of young dancers practicing in front of windows of the city council buildings,and so we have a chance to talk to dancers on the streets, as well as teach and learn some dance steps. Yesterday was really interesting, because in Japan, there is no "Oh no, what if I offend them?" when it comes to evangelism. As our team was haltingly talking in english to a group of JR. High boys, one of the church ladies starts talking to them  in rapid Japanese. Then she turns to us and says " I told them you were Christian missionaries from Australia, and if they had any questions about God, you could answer them. Would you like to talk to them one on one?" we were a bit stunned on both sides, Kids and first time missionaries!
      we have also been drinking lots of tea, bearing the cold to tract at train stations, and eating a lot of rice.
The first week, we bought a really big bag of rice because it was on sale. A few days later our hosts bought us a big bag. The next day, the church we were performing at gave us two shopping bags full! We have rice almost every meal, but it's ok, because the green tea that we drink with it helps. We have tried Mochi (green tea rice candy) Natto, which is moldy beans... uhm yeah. Stomach of steel over here had a hard time keeping that down! It's an acquired taste.
   We may not have a lot of down time, but we make use of what we do. We went and saw Hideyoshi's castle in Osaka, and as we were walking through  the cherry trees, we got to talk to a guy from Sweden about God. We really stand out in Japan, so people are either drawn to us, or try to walk around us.
   Seeing into people's lives around the city has been sad. They are wonderful people, very polite, but sometimes it seems hollow. They won't steal your wallet if you forgot it, but they also won't return it to you. They are dependant on their friends and Jobs, but won't let many others in to their self contained world. I think much of the world is like this. It's sad to think that even though the Japanese people are always smiling, they have the highest suicide rate in the world. I so want God to use me to bring hope and Joy, because sometimes, what looks like happiness is a facade.
   The second week is looking to be even more full of trains, churches, and walking, and after that Team Japan is off to Tokyo!  If you guy's want more info than my insight, check out Team Japan 2014