Observation 1: Whenever it rains the umbrella's come out. In America people use umbrella's for the typical rain storm but only a select few would actually use them on a regular basis. In Japan the nation blossoms into a sea of umbrellas. From black and blue to multi-colored patterns and florals. Everyone in Japan seems to have an umbrella and more than likely several umbrellas stashed around the nation in any number of locations for easy usage. Here at center we have a closet dedicated to umbrellas left behind. I used one today in fact to get from where I was to where I was headed. They even have umbrella vending machines!!! It's awesome!
Observation 2: Pastors in Japan are amazing in my mind. They have a ridiculous amount of work and stress, more so than I've ever heard of in the U.S. and they keep on going. Here they have to transition every few years because of the lack of pastors and money and various other things. However, with all the stresses, one of my favorite aspects of the pastors in Japan is the way they worship. Specifically the way they offer their gifts to God. In America you rarely ever see the pastors put their offering into the offering plates. Here the pastors put in an offering every Sunday. Not that they do it to be seen or to show the people what it is like to tithe, but to give their tithe to God for his blessings. They casually slide their offerings into the baskets and go on with their worship. I don't know what it is about this simple act of faith but it fills me up inside.
Observation 3: This one is considerably less common than the others because this one comes from a very specific situation. One Sunday the pastor at Center Church was giving out communion. It so happens he was recently told about Katrina's and my engagement. As we went up for communion we ended up square in the middle of the group! As we walked up you could see him fight to suppress laughter. As we awaited communion we had to fight hard not to laugh ourselves, but it just got better. Once he had handed us the bread of life he stopped and asked us whether or not he could announce it to the church afterwards?!?!? At this point there was no point in trying to suppress laughter because a chuckle was impossible not to be let out. We consented and he moved on. Both Kat and I loved the fact that he stopped and asked if he could tell people, he was the first to do so, but more than that, the fact that he asked us during communion is amazing!! Something that would be unheard of in the U.S.
It's nice to know that even amidst the seriousness of church there can be time for personal interaction. I love the church in Japan and cannot wait to see where God has planned for me to go once I have graduated Japanese class...if I can. :P
