Today we gave the students the morning off to just rest and man, jet lag stinks! :) Waking up at 4am and wanting to sleep by 8pm just isn't helping. We started the day by taking care of some logistics with bank stuff and then emails. Officially, we met as a team at 1pm and today, in light of learning a new culture, we wanted to take the team to one of the biggest shrine and temples in Tokyo and expose them to just a little bit more of the spiritual climate here. It was kinda crazy. We took a few trains and ended up in Asakusa where we headed towards the shrine and temple.
It was crazy to see the number of people going to pray and give money to their gods. As soon as we walked in, on the sides there were different stations where you could buy fortunes and then hang them up for whatever reason. In the middle as you got closer, there was a well-like thing where incense would burn and people would surround it fanning the smoke on themselves for good luck or protection from the spirits. Then up the stairs, people would walk and throw their money and stop to pray. I stopped and couldn't help myself from just starring for a while at each of these people wondering who are they praying to, what are they expecting, and what are they praying for... they need Jesus. I wanted to stop them and ask If I could pray for them to a God who loves them and wants to hear from them without their money. The One and Living God who stoops down and calls each of them His children. My heart broke.
God is opening my eyes each and everyday to the people here in Japan and just how much this is His place. He loves it and His heart breaks for it that much more. Continue to pray that every time we step outside these four small walls of our apartment, He would open doors for us to share Him with these people in whatever way that means.
It was crazy to see the number of people going to pray and give money to their gods. As soon as we walked in, on the sides there were different stations where you could buy fortunes and then hang them up for whatever reason. In the middle as you got closer, there was a well-like thing where incense would burn and people would surround it fanning the smoke on themselves for good luck or protection from the spirits. Then up the stairs, people would walk and throw their money and stop to pray. I stopped and couldn't help myself from just starring for a while at each of these people wondering who are they praying to, what are they expecting, and what are they praying for... they need Jesus. I wanted to stop them and ask If I could pray for them to a God who loves them and wants to hear from them without their money. The One and Living God who stoops down and calls each of them His children. My heart broke.
God is opening my eyes each and everyday to the people here in Japan and just how much this is His place. He loves it and His heart breaks for it that much more. Continue to pray that every time we step outside these four small walls of our apartment, He would open doors for us to share Him with these people in whatever way that means.
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