I only have a few weeks remaining to finish my mission trip in Japan. There are more than 7 things, of course, that I learned in this journey of following God and serving His kingdom.
I’ll make sure to write more when I get back to the Philippines.
Godly families are God’s design
Growing up with a broken family, being surrounded by separated married people, and witnessed abusive parents (both mental and physical) both in my close environments and the people I know, so having a godly family is more than just a fantasy. I thought it was impossible!
I’ve always been afraid to marry because they might just cheat on me and leave me alone in the end. I thought it was the norm. Men, doing whatever the heck they want. And women, suffering for it.
Coming to Japan, God showed me families who love Him, love each other, and serve one another. It was mind blowing. I’m usually the expressive one but as I observe these families, I couldn’t say anything. I was left speechless! Not just one family, two families, or three families, but a lot!
It was a sight for me to behold. For the past decade that I’ve been a Christian, God is slooowly healing me of my childhood trauma and wrong perception about men and marriage. But in this trip, I think, finally, God has fully healed me. I can trust Him with my future marriage and with my future family.
Kindness culture
“A person doesn’t become kind by telling them to be kind. A person learn to be kind by experiencing kindness.”
Christians are normally kind. I’ve heard nonbeliever friends who say that we are so kind, loving, and peaceful to be around. I think I’m used to this kindness because of church 🙂 and I thought that was the depth of it.
But wow, there’s a deeper and flowing kindness I haven’t encountered before. It’s the OMF Japan field’s kindness (I had a glimpse of this during my birthday last year in OMF Philippines but I’ve only been with them for a day).
They are kind by character. All the missionaries here are!
And I remember thinking, they must be this kind because of the humility in them. All missionaries are supported. No missionaries here earn like most people do. We are all supported financially by our family and friends.
I think that’s the reason why there’s no hint of pride to the OMF Missionaries here. [[after a few weeks edit: Another reason, I think, is that they do not take pride in the work they do because of full awareness that God is the one at work, not them]]
God’s calling is true
When people hears that you have a calling, they won’t always support and encourage you. Some would doubt you. Some would give you looks. And some, even, would stop you.
I’ve always doubted if the calling to do cross-cultural missions was for me. I don’t know anyone from my church who did it. And the only one cross-cultural missionary friend that I have is doing it with his family.
Being called to do what people around you haven’t done yet seems daunting. At least it was for me.
I didn’t get a full understanding and acceptance of God’s call until I actually followed and stepped on Japan.
The call stops ringing when you answer.
And answering means that we step in faith.
When I talked to the other OMF Missionaries and learned about how God called them to go to Japan, I felt so validated, heard, and understood! Different people from different countries with different stories had the same call.
We’re all here! Contributing in His work, no matter how little it may seem. God’s calling is real.
The power of rest boundaries
There were several boundaries set for Japan Serve Asia Workers (or OMF short termers) like no dating, no working, no drinking alcohol or partying, etc.
This might seem “strict” for others but as I continue to work here, I understand why they gave these guidelines for us. It’s so easy to slip in to distractions. It’s easy to forget what we came here for.
Among these guidelines, I learned the boundary between work and rest. OMF Missionaries are great at this. Making sure there’s a day off, I sleep well, and that work and rest do not overlap.
The other day, as I was assessing why I always want to be busy and productive each hour, I think it’s because my first work experiences were in customer service- every minute must be productive. The real life doesn’t have to be like that.
Sometimes working takes more mental load than it looks in the physical. So every hour cannot be full of tasks. We have to allow our heart, body, and mind to rest.
God really provides
After countless times of God’s provision over my life and my family’s, I don’t know why I still questioned this.
My first mission trip (although I think it is also God’s will) is short because the budget for a long term was too high for me. I didn’t have any concept of prayer partners, mission partners, and raise support. I chose the 3-6 month route because that was the budget my mind could comprehend of offering to the Lord.
I came to Japan without a full budget (this is a special case and most of the time, they don’t give financial clearance without it) and went almost crazy on December because nobody knew except my coordinator the Lord. Hahaha. I eventually shared with my prayer partners, they prayed for me, and the Lord provided. Writing this 2 months after those crazy days. Earlier as I was singing to God in worship, I prayed
Lord, You really did it. You provided. You didn’t fail me.
I can go home to the Philippines! Hahaha. I was so afraid of being jailed or shamed because I wouldn’t be able to go back or go homeless because the accommodation is so expensive! But wow, the Lord provided for those 3 months in sooo many ways <3
Ahh but that isn’t the main point! Haha. I’m only here for a short time right? Other missionaries are here for 4 years, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, or more. All supported by church, family, and friends.
Some of them even have children of their own. God truly provides for His people. As Hudson also says
“Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. He is too wise a God to frustrate His purposes for lack of funds, and He can just as easily supply them ahead of time as afterwards, and He much prefers doing so.”
Hudson Taylor
And as Meg told me in my first week here, “God will provide. That’s a 200% assurance.”
If you have a dream or calling in your heart. If it’s from the Lord, He will provide for you.
God is at work
Is the Lord doing something in unreached countries like Japan? Yes. As much as He is at work in reached nations.
God is at work everywhere. In million of ways we cannot see. God is at work in every person, every nation, and every tribe. He is always present.
Wherever the Lord calls you to serve, whether it be in your home church, your community, your workplace, or even to a totally exotic place or unreached nations, God is at work there. If you will pray and ask Him to show you how He works, He will show you.
At the same time, God is also calling people to work with Him. Alongside Him.
These are some of the lessons that I’ve learned while working as a full time missionary.
