It isn't very often here at Learning to Live in His Grace that I get a chance to write about anything of real substance, so I am ecstatic to steal Megan and Patrick's story! The ways that God has worked in their lives to prepare them for their journey, and the work that He is now preparing to do through them is incredible, so without further ado....
Our friends from our former small group Tom and Adrienne, invited us over to their place for dinner, to hear a presentation from Adriennes' sister Megan and her husband Patrick, about their upcoming mission to Japan. I was prepared for your run of the mill mission spiel, but I was not prepared to hear this young couple tell us that, because of the nature of Japanese culture, they are permanently relocating to Japan, to create long term relationships with Japanese people, and find innovative, culturally sensitive, and relational ways, to show the love of Jesus to people, and THEN, be able to introduce them to Jesus. Megan shared with us that she has been called to missions since she was thirteen, and Patrick informed her about his heart for Japan on their first date, so she would know that it would be a waste of time to pursue the relationship further if she was opposed to this life vision. Due to Patrick's experience with martial arts and time in Japan through his military service, he is uniquely equipped with a love for and knowledge of Japanese culture, and Megan's teaching experience and heart for women have led her to a program called Tea and Talk, where she creates relationships with Japanese women, while drinking tea and working with them on their English. In Japan, Megan will continue Tea and Talk, while Patrick will reach Japanese people through Fight Church. His vision is to create a safe place for people to express who they are, and explore that through martial arts, in an individually repressive culture, while sharing the love of Jesus.
Megan and Patrick showed level headed realism about the challenges before them, without ever losing the glow of passion for the work that God has given them. They let us know that because of intense respect and reverence for their ancestors, and a culture that enforces homoginy through social mores, only one percent of one percent of Japanese profess Christ as their Savior, and those who do are often ostracized! Lance and I were amazed by hearing about how God brought Megan and Patrick together as life partners and teammates with a shared passion and vision. We also loved how their unique life experiences up to this time have so clearly prepared them for the path ahead. Sometimes how God is working in your own life can seem vague, but when you see another perspective, it becomes so evident that His hand is in everything!
My bible study partner and I have recently been involved in an exploratory study of our spiritual gifts, and many of the issues with which I had been wrestling, came up in conversation as Patrick unknowingly reassured me that our spiritual gifts come to us in the form of our passions, and because they are so deeply ingrained in the way that God made us, they often don't even seem like gifts to us. God was reassuring me, through Patrick, that all you have to do is use whatever God gave you, for His glory. It doesn't always come as a revelation or accompanied by great fanfare. So, in that way too, God's hand was evident our being there to meet them, and we left feeling incredibly blessed by the conversation, as well as the opportunity to pray for Megan and Patrick's mission with World Venture, contribute financially when we are able (as they have to raise their salaries forever, since they will be full time missionaries!), and send them letters and care packages, with our children's involvement, once they are in Japan. They asked us to pray about these things for three days, which we did, and I am always incredibly moved by the power of praying hand in hand out loud with my husband!
I am so excited about the wonderful things that God has in store, and I just had to share it with you. If you feel, after prayerful consideration, that you would like to hear more about this mission, or contribute in one of the above ways that I mentioned, please let me know, and I will hook you up with Megan and Patrick! If this is not a mission that you are called to be involved in at this time, that's great! There are so many ways for each of us to use our gifts! I hope you are inspired that God is doing great work, out loud and behind the scenes.
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