Missionaries of SI

This is a tremendous thread idea and I know there are ex-missionaries on these forums that would love to respond to this once they see it.

Just to let you know, I'm currently working as a missionary in Japan. I don't have time at the moment to answer all of your questions, but I will try to answer them when time does allow.

Hey,

Sorry it's taken a day or two to reply, but I'll try to do my best to answer the questions here.

Just as a bit of a header, my name is Grant, I'm 26 (I think :P), and I've been working in Japan as a missionary for a little over two years so far.

What do you base your success off of?

Interestingly enough, I'm asked this/I think about this on occasion, and there's really only one concrete answer I can come to when considering this:

Simply that there's nothing in this entire world I can base my success off of. The only time I'll ever truly know if I was successful in the task I was given is when I receive it directly from the Lord's mouth on judgement day.

I have to live, work, and strive every day in the firm belief that I'm doing exactly what Christ called me to do in following Him. If I start looking around to see sorts of "proofs" as my barometer for success it will only be to my ruin, as it has been to countless other missionaries before me in this country. In many circles Japan is nicknamed the "missionaries' graveyard" as many seasoned missionaries with good intentions came to this country also looking for results, and were absolutely staggered at the rocky hearts of the people, and eventually threw in the towel when they didn't receive the results that they were expecting/accustomed to.

If my sight is set on anything else than to fulfill the command of Christ and spread His Gospel, I've already started on the wrong foot, and can only expect failure and disappointment.

To work here, or on any mission field, I/we have to take to heart the men of Hebrews 11, and be willing to share in the lot of such men.

Hebrews 11:13

All these died in faith, WITHOUT RECEIVING THE PROMISES, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (emphasis added)

Expecting anything else, will only lead to frustration, doubt, bitterness, and questioning.

What challenges have you faced in the field?

One thing that's been a bit of a tough pill to swallow is the fact that from the very get go, the Japanese people will make it abundantly clear that as a foreigner, you are irreconcilably different than they are, but beyond that, you will never fully understand them or have any idea of what it feels like to "be Japanese", thus whatever you say to them has to be viewed through the lens of some "unknowing outsider" giving his irrelevant advice on something. This mindset permeates every part of the culture, and will even seep into the church.

However, there is quite a noticeable difference between Japanese people who've lived in Japan their whole life, vs. the ones who have lived in another country for a year or two. It's like their eyes are opened and they realize that there's this world outside of Japan that cares nothing about how the Japanese think things should be done, and there are other ways to think than they way they've been told to see things. Free thinking is not encouraged in Japan, and is viewed with skepticism. The most honest Japanese will admit this, and as strange as it sounds, some are even proud of this fact.

So when something new is presented to an individual, you must understand that it's not being presented to just one, but to the opinion of the entire country. They view ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING through the eyes of what their fellow Japanese people might think. They even have a phrase for their own people "the culture of shame" meant to describe how detrimental it would be to possibly be the one who dares do something different than everyone else. Everyone here is well aware of the old Japanese proverb, "The nail that sticks out shall be hammered down."

Another great difficulty when trying to open up doors and relate to/understand people, is the concept I guess that Japanese people can hold two completely polar opposite views at the same time, and somehow be OK with this. It's a country that redefines relativism, and makes the concept of something being completely true an alien way of thinking. There are no truths here, there are only ways of doing things.

At the same time one must accept that the way something has always been done by the Japanese, is clearly the best way of doing it, for no other reason than that it's always been done that way. Thus you must not do anything different than the way it has always been done, for this is truly the right way to do it.

If you're already scratching your head about how there are no absolutes about anything, yet there is a right way of doing something that is completely closed to interpretation, then you've just took your first step onto the foothill of the mountain of confusion that is the Japanese mindset.

And if you ever decide to ask anyone how these two concepts can coincide and be believed at the same time (which I have on a few occasions), you'll simply be treated to the aforementioned, "You're not Japanese and thus could not possibly understand the Japanese mind."

As basic as this may sound, this is a major hurdle, and one of the crowning features that makes it so difficult to work here. Christ is not the way things have always been done here, thus must be rejected from the start because it is not the native religion of Japan (most Japanese refer to themselves as Buddhists, which like Christianity, does not find its origins in Japan) yet practice a religion that is not indigenous to Japan either.

Romans 1:22-23

Professing to be wise, they became fools,and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

What about your children? How have they adjusted to the lifestyle of being a missionaries child? What about schooling them?

I'm unmarried, so I can't comment about this personally. I do know a few missionary kids around my city though, and some find it difficult especially in Japan because they're raised as what's referred to as "third culture kids". The Japanese do not except them as being like them because they're foreign, yet Japan is the only country they know, thus they do not fit into their home country either, and find it extremely difficult to find a place where they truly fit in outside of their own household. Many of them feel very alone here.

How have you comforted your family from afar if you have been called away from home?

Because I live in a technologically advanced culture, it's not very difficult to keep in touch with my family via the internet. My parents were very happy about my decision to work in missions, thus they don't really feel that I've just gone off or left or anything of that nature, so I haven't had to comfort them much, or anything along those lines.

What someone (particularly the world) would call a necessity in life (owning your own home, the American dream, etc.), how are you content to live without those things?

The standard of living in Japan is about the same as in America, so I can't say there was a large transition for me personally. I live by myself in an apartment, and have the internet and a phone for communication. Japan doesn't use insulation, so that can be challenging at times,(especially in winter and summer:P) but apart from that I don't mind that I don't own my own home, or make much money or anything like that. I was blessed to be able to buy a smaller motorcycle to get around with (as owning a car, plus a parking spot, plus the money to pay the bi-annual tax needed to own a car is financially impossible), so it makes transportation quite a bit easier here, especially since it's just me. I don't have much money, but compared to others I could never call myself poor. I'm highly content with what God has provided for me.

What organization did you go through?

I actually didn't come with an organization. The way I got here is a very long story (which I might have posted forever ago on here, though I honestly can't remember), but basically a Japanese pastor needed a missionary to work with, and I got in touch with him and he asked if I could come out and work with them and their church, so that's what I've been doing. In all honesty though, as much of a blessing as sending organizations can be;

1. If God wants you to do work in a country it doesn't matter if you have an official sending organization or not, as He'll get you there.

2. I've seen just as much difficulty arise from being officially under an organization as I've seen blessing come from it (the details would be too long to get into here).

I currently know some missionaries who are trying to set up a girl to come over here as a missionary in a similar style, trying to avoid if possible coming under the umbrella of a sending organization (the one they're under themselves actually) because of all the difficulties that would arise from it.

Did you experience persecution?

Not in the way that believers are experiencing in other parts of Asia. Sometimes I even think the Gospel might flourish under some persecution (not that I want it), as it would give the Japanese a chance to see that Christ is just not a part of western culture that can be abandoned if it became an inconvenience. As grim as it sounds, that might just be what could wake this country up.

Pray for us.

-Grant

@ Solomon101

Thanks, Jason. I have to head out to work right now, but when I get back in later tonight I'll try my best to answer those questions.

-Grant

Sorry it's taken so long to get back on these questions.

To Solomon101:

What do you feel is the single most important spiritual issue to settle in a persons mind before they move into a transcultural ministry?

I think the most important thing a person has to settle spiritually is who they're truly working for when doing a job in missions. I understand that probably sounds redundant and obvious, so I'll try and clarify what I mean.

If you were to ask any missionary who they're working for, I would not expect to receive any other answer than Jesus. That's the correct answer, and I don't doubt for a second the sincerity of those who say the answer, however unbeknownst to many, they actually might be working for something else as well.

Many on the mission field work for a vision. Sometimes it might be a vision that Jesus may have given them, though sometimes it's easy to work for a vision that we want to see fulfilled. Some work for the vision of being the first church in their area, being full to the brim of new converts. Some work for the vision of seeing hundreds tens/hundreds/thousands of converts. Some still work for the vision of personally being a noticeably influential force in their community (for Jesus of course). And some work for any other sort of good Godly sounding vision you can think of.

Now, I don't think any of these things in and of themselves are bad things, but if they are left to stand on their own will obscure a persons focus on what is truly the only vision that matters. Some will strive and strive to accomplish these ends, and come crashing down when these things don't materialize. That's why I mentioned before that even many missionaries who have been "seasoned" on other fields come to Japan thinking that they're going to flip the country on it's head, and when things don't fly the same way they did in the previous countries that they worked in, they just get fed up and quit. I'm actually the replacement of a long line of those who just didn't "see the point in sticking around", as sad as it is to say. There's a large mission organization that recently cut off it's funding for Japan because they simply "couldn't see the fruit" or the reason they were putting any of their efforts into this country when it could go somewhere else.

Conditions such as these are honestly I believe the results of many being unsure of who they're solely working for, and the cost of what it might take. My grandfather's brother actually has been a missionary in this country since right after World War Two, but had never returned to the States, so I was never able to meet him growing up. He doesn't live anywhere near me here in Japan (opposite side of the country actually), but I was able to meet him once when he came to do street ministry in the area. He took me out and around and said something quite interesting to me. As he sat with me explaining mission work he told me something along these lines,

"Grant, you've come to work in a very hard country to share the Gospel in. People here are hard of heart and are not going to want to listen to you. You're going to work very hard, and it's not going to look like you're doing anything, but let me tell you something; You may stay here working away your entire life until you're an old man like me, and through all of your struggle, perseverance, prayer, and everything else, it's possible that you'll only see one saved. Yes, just one. But I want you to understand something, it will be worth pouring out your entire life just for the sake of the one. That's truly the heart of Christ, Grant."

My gradfather's brother was quite aware who he's working for. And I would encourage any considering going into the mission field if they can grasp only one thing, to make sure that it is that. Know EXACTLY who you're working for, and don't let any ambitions get in your way, as they'll only cause one to falter if they put their stock in them (and let me assure you that it's probably the easiest rut to fall into when on the field). You put your full effort into serving Christ with your whole heart, no matter what it entails, and let Him worry about the fruit. Make good and sure you know what you're getting into.

What do you feel are the 2 or 3 most important natural issues for a person to prepare for that is feeling they may be called to transcultural ( missions) ministry?

Natural issues, hmm. There are a few basic ones I think you should be aware of. One is food. If you're going to a culture radically different than yours, you're probably going to be presented with a fair amount you've never seen/heard of before. In Japan I've eater parts of animals that I wasn't even aware could/should be eaten. GFA's website said one of the reasons that they prefer regular native missionaries vs foreign ones (that is if I remember correctly) is that foreigners many times just don't get into eating the local food (amongst many other things of course).

This can be problematic on a few levels.

One, it's going to be difficult if you're offered to eat with someone else and they make something that grosses you out (being very picky about food as a kid I fully understand the concept of being physically unable to put something in my mouth and swallow it without my gag reflex going off the charts).

Two, the Western diet can be maintained in many foreign countries, but at a hefty price. I know missionaries that have been here for YEARS that have never accustomed their diet to that of the locals.

If you're in a foreign country and have to pinch pennies, I personally think it's just a bit much to have to pay double (or more) to suit the tastes of a lifestyle that goes beyond how most of the locals are living. And I'm not going to lie, some stuff I just had to force myself to come to appreciate. Bite after bite, at my house, gagging it down (Haha, I won't say what I was eating lest it grosses some out) until finally I was able to eat it without a problem, and eventually went from tolerance to acquiring a taste for it. But I had to do that in the event that I was ever offered it (being a widely accepted food) at another's home, I wouldn't turn my nose up at it, or have to sit there turning green bite after bite :P.

My mom always jokes with me that it was probably an act of God that I'm able to eat what I eat here, considering how I was one of the pickiest kids she had ever seen when it came to food (and I'm probably inclined to believe her).

Another natural thing that's worth looking into is what might be required of you physically from day to day life. Westerners take a lot of things for granted (cars, public transit, things being close, etc etc) that might not be as RIGHT THERE for you as in your home country. When I came to Japan I had to learn how to walk. EVERYWHERE.

In the States, the farthest I could recall walking was from my front door to my car door in the years right before I moved here. I was in for a surprise that in Japan, if I wanted to get places, I had to walk. Sometimes rather far, and in all sorts of weather conditions. It took me a few months to not get winded walking to the train station, but I eventually got to that point. And Japan is a walk in the park compared to many places that missionaries might end up.

I think it was Jim Elliot (though I heard this when I was very small so I could be mistaken) that really trained up to be physically fit to make sure he was in fit enough shape to survive well in his mission field. It makes a rather large difference, and I honestly think is something that should be considered.

Now both of these things are non-consequential and don't say much about the heart, but they are two things that will be beneficial to anyone willing to serve in a foreign country.

There are actually quite a few other things I can think of as well, but my response is getting quite long-winded as it is, so I'll elaborate more in a different post if any are curious.

To dvndsn:

How did the earthquake experience roll over with you in regards to your ministry? Was it easier to share with people because of their calamity, or did it not effect you at all?

Because the earthquake was so far removed from where we are, it effected us a bit like the way the Katrina thing (if you're from the US for a reference point) effected people who didn't live directly around it. People talked about it, and showed a sort of comradery towards the victims, but like Katrina, soon found that it really didn't effect their day to day lives, so it made no noticeable impact. That's in my area though. My grandfather's brother that I had mentioned earlier and his group of missionaries live right up in that exact area (which is an interesting side note, and one of the reasons I believe personally that the disaster might have struck there, though I'll leave that for another thread) and have been able to do quite a bit of outreach because of all the need then, and now.

If I missed something, or if you have any other questions, I'll try to answer them to the best of my availability. Thanks for taking the time to ask.

-Grant