I wish I could remember where I first heard this but I don’t.  I may even have messed up their wording.   While I don’t remember who told me this (and they probably got it from somebody else).  I do remember I heard it in the context of training for short term missions while I was in college.  (Fight’n Texas Aggie class of 2002!  Whoop)Either way the meaning is still pretty much there.   

The point of the talk was that just because I go on a mission trip somewhere I am not going to magically start manifesting what I viewed is the attributes of a missionary.   I was not going to step off of the plane, meet the Japanese church I was going to partner with for the summer, and magically begin to act like the apostle Paul instead of a 21 year old ocean engineering student who was still relatively young in his faith.  (though that would have been pretty cool)  I was going to do whatever I always did; the difference was that I would do it more intensely.

Let me give you a few examples to show you what I mean.  It scares me, as it does many people to share my faith with my friends.  I really want them to know Jesus, but I also really want them to keep being my friend.  (I am not arguing that these two things are mutually exclusive, I was just afraid that they were)  When I was in college I really wanted to share Christ with my friends but I usually got scared and put it off until next time I would see them, and then the next, and then the next. (You get the picture)  When I got to Japan for the first time in the summer of 2001 with j-Teams (Summer Teams at the time) I really struggled with the same issue.  I did a little better because of the immediate pressure and expectations associated with being a “missionary.” That said the fear of messing up, offending people was exaggerated because of the culture and language barrier.  I didn’t become an evangelist just because I went.

The same thing happens with our interpersonal relationships.  I had a teammate one summer who I didn’t always get along with back home.  But back home life was relatively simple and we didn’t have to be around each other all the time so we did not address our differences during training and preparation.  Then we got to Japan, experienced the pressure of not understanding language, culture, etc and found ourselves outside of the church yelling at each other about chaining up a bicycle.  By the grace of God we talked through our differences, spent time together in prayer as a team, and were able to resolve the problem.  The point though is that small interpersonal differences did not go away by leaving the country, they were magnified.  By not practicing reconciliation in the states we modeled division overseas.

The good news is that the principle also holds true for the positive aspects of our walk with Christ.   In preparation for our j-Team in 2003 we spent a large amount of time praying and talking through potential conflicts together.  We also learned about how each member of the team best dealt with conflict before we faced any in the field.  Then, when a few weeks into our ministry we experienced a conflict on our team (which is normal and even healthy) we reacted by praying together and practicing the methods of conflict resolution we had learned during pre-field.  In the same way as I grew in confidence in sharing the gospel in America I became a more effective witness for Christ in Japan.  As I was able to have a consistent quiet time rhythm in the US I was able to have one overseas.  I was the same in Japan as I was in America and this was becoming more and more of a good thing.

God does sometimes use us in ways that are new and exciting while on a short-term ministry experience.   We frequently experience times of extreme growth during these trips.  My point though, is that we need to be conscious about cultivating the Christ-like character, devotional lifestyle, and ministry skills within the context of our normal daily lives before we get on a plane to go to a location that is new to us.  My prayer for you is that you understand this at a younger age than I started to.  Praying that God leads you clearly as you consider going to Japan.

Robert

Just a quick update: Roberta and I were accepted on December 20, 2010 to be career missionaries with Asian Access. This represents a status change for me and Roberta’s formal entry into A2.

Check out my blog for more updates soon...

(This kayaking photo was taken on our honeymoon.)

A2 Advent Devotional • December 18, 2010

by Robert Adair

It was December 25, 2005, and I was living alone in Japan. This was my first Christmas away from my family. Luckily for me it was a Sunday, which meant I had a full day with Sunday worship, lunch afterwards, and then some of my afternoon spent with responsibilities around the church. The problem was I was still going to spend Christmas evening alone at my apartment or, if I got adventurous, at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Two of my Japanese teammates knew that Christmas was an important time for American families to come together and were concerned that I would be lonely. Knowing I would most likely be home alone, they took me out to dinner at a local restaurant.

The fried pork we ate was not amazing and the iced tea from the drink fountain did not quite taste like home. I had trouble communicating with the people sitting across from me and, truth be told, the restaurant could have been described as a low-end Denny’s. That said, I had a great Christmas.

Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Looking back on the Christmas of 2005, I am reminded of Acts 2:42 and the fellowship of the early church. Sharing a meal at a key time is one of the most powerful things we can do as Christians. I encourage you this Christmas to consider if there is anyone you can share Christmas with who may be spending it alone. It can make a huge difference!

Prayer
Thank you, God, for the significance of following your example in sharing bread and fellowship together. Make my heart open this season to those who may need such encouragement. Amen.

Robert Adair
Short-Term Missions Recruiter
Wheaton, Illinois

• This is one of 29 devotional entries. If you would like to download a PDF of the entire A2 Advent Devotional to read along with us, click here...

I've had Silence by Shusaku Endo on my bookshelf for over a year now. If you are like me you have the pile or shelf where you keep the books that you have picked up along the way, wanted to read, had recommended to you, yet never read.  My relationship with the book Silence began about 5 years ago.  Before going to Japan as a Church Planting Associate with Asian Access a close friend recommended this book about priests in Japan facing persecution and martyrdom in Japan in the early 1600's.  I made a mental note about the book but didn't take any active step towards obtaining and reading it.  

After continuing to hear about the book over my time as a CPA the final straw in purchasing the book was when my dean here at Wheaton highly recommended the book.  So I went home, hopped on amazon, and made the few clicks necessary to set the novel on route to my apartment.  A few days later when the book arrived I did the obvious thing, set it on the shelf and didn't touch it for a year. 

This summer I had some time on my hands between summer sessions and saw the book on the shelf.  I decided to pick it up and see what all the talk was about. 

The book is amazing.  It tackles issues such as suffering, the role of clergy, and why God appears silent in the midst of intense persecution.  As a historical fiction certain details should be read with a grain of salt.  That said, both my faith, and my understanding of the socio-political climate when Japan closed it's borders in the 1600's were enriched.  If you are interested in Japan you should read this book.  If you are interested in the subject of the silence of God you should read this book. 

In my faith journey God has used books such as Silence, Shiokari Pass, and Confucius Lives Next Door.  Are there any books that have significantly shaped your heart for Japan, or your thinking about the need for the Gospel in Japan?  If so please go to the forum and join the conversation.