Hello from Hikifune!
- Anna Gardner Herren
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
A small station near Tokyo’s Skytree Tower, Hikifune is where I've been taking ballet classes for the past three summers. It has challenged me in so many ways — especially in my pride. They knew me three years ago, when I couldn't say a single word in Japanese —and now, when I know just enough to make big mistakes. This has been both extremely awkward and, at times, deeply encouraging. Somehow, God uses all of my mistakes — whether it's greeting someone with the wrong level of formality or misunderstanding a Japanese ballet combination — as opportunities to show the love of Christ.
When I mess up, I smile. My mistake doesn’t affect my eternal salvation — only my fleeting glory in this little room. And when I mess up and smile (apologetically), the person I've offended often smiles too — and we laugh together. It's still wildly uncomfortable, even after three summers of messing up in Japanese... but it's also a beautiful way to demonstrate my hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. So I'm learning to welcome it.
In fact, it has opened up so many good conversations with girls at this studio.
I will be a fool for Christ, if it brings more people to the family of God!
This summer has been so full already. I've already met up with a lot of old friends who are the main reason why I felt I had to return this summer. If Jesus came back today, there are so many people here that I would miss in heaven.
May started out with a month of babysitting and hauling heavy boxes and as we moved the church into a new location (photo above!). Since then, it has become a summer of talking about Jesus in Unexpected Places. Check out these articles above and click on the photos below for more stories and for ways to be praying!
This afternoon, Kanako and I will go with the other interns to Aoyama Gakuin to share our stories through dance. Always under prepared, and yet somehow perfectly so, God provides miraculously for every time we come here. May He do so and even more today!
Prayer requests this week:
Pray for the staff at Grace City Church. Pray for rest for them after the big church move.
Community Arts Tokyo event on July 3rd - Pray that outsiders would come and experience the common grace of being in a room full of Believers!
Praise the Lord for continued friendships and deepening connections with friends in Japan. I have several friends that went to church with me in America. Now that they are back in Japan, where it is weird to be a Christian, pray that they will have the courage go to church!
Joyfully,
Anna Gardner Herren
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
John 3:30
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