Search results
250 results found containing .
A Country Shaped by Seasons
Japan pays close attention to the seasons. Spring arrives with cherry blossoms that draw crowds into parks and streets. Summer brings festivals and fireworks. In autumn, mountains glow with red and gold leaves, while winter covers parts of the country in deep snow. The changing seasons are not treated as…
I Will Never Forget How Jesus Came to Our House
It was busier than usual at our house. Mom and Dad were talking with people I did not know. They came and looked all over our front yard, taking measurements and talking about lights, speakers and a big tarp. I had no idea what was happening. The next day, a…
Now It Makes Sense
You may remember Jamil, our friend from Youland, who now lives in Europe. A while back, our family went to see him again. The three of us filled the one room, typically only inhabited by bachelor Jamil, while he lay down on a mattress in a room used as his…
Don’t Rock the Boat
The feeling was bittersweet. After 20 weeks in a beginner-level language class in Kyoto, Japan, I was graduating from Book 1. My understanding and comprehension of Japanese had dramatically increased. However, the more I learned, the more I realized how little Japanese I actually knew. But I was making progress.…
Waiting . . . Not for Naught
Waiting is never easy, especially when you already know what lies ahead. For most of us, it is the anticipation that builds anxiety—the same feeling you get as a roller coaster pauses at its peak, just before the thrilling drop. Suspended at the edge, waiting to dive into missions, sums…
Unexpected Visits
“Sorry, I’m going to have to admit you into the hospital for a few days.” the doctor said. Caitlyn, Hiroko (our short-term missionary) and I tried to process that statement while the doctor continued to consult with the attending nurse. Moments later, Caitlyn was sitting in a wheelchair, being whisked…
They Remember
Looks of shock, surprise and then extreme joy greeted me as the door opened. Next came hugs from a husband and wife whom I have had the privilege of getting to know over the last several years while visiting one of my projects in Japan. I first met the pizzeria…
Do You Love God?
How do we know that God is real? Sometimes, the answer comes not through arguments or explanations, but through simple moments of faith. The Bible tells us that God has made Himself known through what He has created. “For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world…
P.K. Confessions Lessons From Foot Washing
I found foot-washing stressful, even growing up a pastor’s son and having the Lord’s Supper at least once a quarter. I mean, it should have been pretty straightforward, right . . . right? Deacons and deaconesses would put out the wash basins and towels in at least three rooms the…
The Great Distribution
Members rallied around with copies of The Great Controversy to distribute. It was a special Sabbath. The Benin Conference of Seventh-day Adventists had decided that, this time, churches and groups would visit their local police stations to pass out the books. Their goal was for the Adventist church to become…