The nail that sticks out gets hammered down

The culture in Japan is one of conforming. The saying in the title is a Japanese proverb that sums up the culture here. The people here do not want to stand out, especially when it comes to ideas. This keeps many people from accepting Jesus. Please pray that this idea will change.

Today we went out to our park and University site. We rode with our M to the sites. Riding on the highways of Japan was an experience. Most of the roads are underground in tunnels. Also, something I did not expect was that they drive just like the British, with different cars and everything. So when you look out and see someone passed out in what is the usually the drivers side is kinda scary.

The park where we will be doing ministry is actually where ruins of an early Japanese town is. The park is really large, it reminds me a lot of a Central park, just Japanese style. In the middle of the park is a lake, with a shrine in the middle. I have never experienced such spiritual darkness before. Just standing at the entrance to the shrine you can feel the oppression. You can smell the incense as people give offerings to idols that will not here them.

As Psalms 115 says "But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them."

Please pray that Father will impress upon these peoples hearts that He is the only only one we can turn to that will not fail us. It breaks my heart to see these people giving their money, lives, and prayers to idols. While I stand there, knowing I can talk to the living God.

Cultural differences:

I bought what is called a burrito today for lunch. It was not at all what I expected. Instead it had spaghetti sauce inside of it.

For dinner we went to a type of restaurant that is popular here in Japan. It had Italian style Japanese food. I had never seen that type of food before. It was quite an experience, but really good.

I have also never bowed much before. In Japan, when you pay for something, you bow your head slightly for respect. This has been a totally new experience for me.