Summer Is Over!

Fukuoka Kids Gospel Camp

Hello from the USA! More specifically, hello from the University of Alabama. It has been almost one month since I came home. Here are some of my reflections on my time in Japan this summer. What a gift it is that God chooses to use ordinary people to accomplish the work of His kingdom! During my last month in Japan, I helped with a Kids' Gospel Camp in Fukuoka. I was the only native English speaker, and so all of the non-Japanese kids were in my class. That didn't mean that they spoke English, though!

One girl in the group asked me on the first night, "Teacher, what is the Bible?" It was a pretty good question, since we had been talking about John 3:16 all day! This Korean girl and I had a lovely conversation about the Bible and what it says. I was reminded that when we are weak, He is strong! Despite the language barrier, God made a way for His truth to be told.

Goodbye K-chan!

So many goodbyes! I said goodbye to K-chan, who just moved to Amsterdam for graduate school. She shared a photo of her first time at church outside of Japan, and it was so encouraging to see her actively pursuing her faith, even in a new place.

My heart is full of gratitude for you! Thank you so much for your incredibly generous support. I could not have done all that I have done over the last three summers in Japan without your faithful prayers and bountiful support. I thank God for you!

As I look towards the next stage of life after college, I am actively seeking several ways to continue in this ministry after graduation. For the time being, though, my main focus is on taking friends to church here at UA! More specifically, taking Japanese friends to church!

On Sunday, two new friends of mine are coming with me to Briarwood's Japanese church in Birmingham. They are exchange students who want to see what it is like to go to church in America. I would invite you to pray with me over our time together next week! I'm praying that the Lord will plant seeds in their lives during their time in the US, and that the Lord will provide Christians in Japan to water those seeds when they return home in 3 months.

After dancing together for 3 summers, I finally got to watch my friend perform! This was also our goodbye :(

Just to recap, here is how you can be praying!

Pray for K-chan and her faith to grow as she studies abroad in Amsterdam.

Pray for me as I actively seek ways to continue this ministry after graduation

Pray for my two friends coming with me to Japanese church next Sunday!

There is much work to do. Pray with me also that the Lord would raise up Japanese Pastors to serve the Church and advance God's kingdom in Japan!

The Church's one foundation

Is Jesus Christ her Lord;

She is his new creation,

By water and the word;

From Heav'n he came and sought her

To be his holy bride;

With his own blood he bought her,

And for her life he died.

Joyfully,

Anna Gardner Herren

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30