Day 8 - April 2 - A Day with old friends

'Tom' Hayashi (the name he adopted while living in the USA) is a retired Japanese businessman (or salaryman as they are quaintly referred to) that Aaron met during his first year in Japan in 1997 (almost 20 years ago - how time flies!).

I struck up a conversation with him at a supermarket right across the road from his apartment. He had a tennis bag with him and I casually asked him, 'do you play tennis?' and was promptly invited to play tennis with him and his work colleagues at the company tennis courts in Ikoma, not far from Japan Mission.

Over the 20 or so years since I met Tom, he has graciously given me many opportunities to share the Gospel with his co-workers and allowed me to distribute Christian leaflets (Fountain of Joy monthly Japan Mission publication) to those playing tennis each week! I was even invited to the end of year tennis party and given a platform to share the Gospel at one of the Christmas parties (at least one that I can remember). Tom asked me at the party to share with the 10 or so colleagues the hope that Jesus brings a person in the face of death - one of the co-workers mothers' had just passed away. What an amazing opportunity.

The plan for today was initially to go to Nara Park and see the cherry blossoms and also to visit Todaiji (the famous temple in Nara that houses that 'big Buddha'). All the years I lived in Japan, I had never once set foot in Todaiji, and wasn't particularly looking forward to doing so today, but thought, 'perhaps the Lord could use this opportunity to share the Gospel with Tom in a meaningful way'. As it turned out, when we arrived at Tom's apartment to go to Nara, the plan had changed. He instead invited us in to his apartment where we had tea and cake and then went for a short hike followed by sukiyaki (thinly sliced beef with vegetables cooked in a hot pot with soy sauce and sugar - very nice).

Shortly before we left, Crystal and I had a wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel with Tom and his wife, Emiko.

I just got an email from Tom the next day when he mentioned how nice it was to spend time with us. He also mentioned that he will be 70 next month and feels his age! I pray that something of what we shared with this couple would, by God's grace show them the hope that they can have in Christ.

Please pray for this couple, that they will think seriously about what they heard. Humanly speaking, I feel that Tom has not responded in almost 20 years of witness, why would he respond now, and yet Scripture reminds us in John 3:8, 'The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The day didn't end here, and we decided to finish it off by checking out a new mall that we had heard about, not far from where we are staying. It was absolutely huge. We were amazed by how well organized even the parking was and have never seen anything quite like it. They even have little markings on ground that you can easily see from a distance where the open spaces are - something very necessary in a country with so many people, and yet such a simple idea that could be effective anywhere.