The 7th Internatinal Summer Camp from July 30(Thurs.) to Aug. 2(Sun.)

2009/03/20 About our ministry, Missions in Japan No comments
7th International Camp

7th International Camp

From 2003, we have an international summer camp for learning English and have international cultural exchange. Of course, we share our life styles and share the Good News. This year, we are going to have 7th International Summer Camp in Urahoro town. So far, we have had many guests from many countries like Swiss, Canada, U.S.A., South Korea, Taiwan, England and other countries. We have specific teaching method to use and the teaching situations are already set. In the lessen, we make lots of repetition for them to get it almost perfect. During those times, they get to know each other and share a lot of things with them.

During this time, they began to understand how we value as Christians and they put down their wall against foreignness in whatever way they had before. Friendship is developed and this naturally raise questions and answers in many matters of life are given. One of which is about our faith and about God. This will generally introduce our testimonies and why we believe what we believe. It does not have to be religious in this camp. You can be what you really are as a normal human being, but you can share why you choose to believe in Jesus as a way of life.

For Japanese, Christianity is viewed as western religion and they are far away beyond their reaches. Therefore this camp will bring them closer to what the Bible says and our actual life together in various principles like being forgiven, God’s love, and loving our neighbors. Many had preconceived ideas about Christianity from their text books or TV programs, but sadly many of them present wrong images of what Christianity is all about. This even makes it difficult for them to open to hear the Good News.

At the camp, besides all of the free talking, there are several lessons like greetings, cooking, playing games, directions, shopping, showing appreciation in English. There will be lessons followed by practices with activities. These settings make it everything so fun.

It is now about time to plan and put things together for the upcoming camp this year. If you would like to participate this camp, or if you would like to help us out as volunteers, please do let me know. abraham@abrahamlee.com

If not, you can pray for this event and I would appreciate your prayers a lot.

Much blessings and hope that God will work in the lives of people as He did before.

Abraham Lee@Gospel House

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

2009/03/19 Life in Japan, My Story No comments

John 12:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

As I live in Japan, there are times when I feel lonely and homesick for a while. All the surroundings seem to be very foreign all of a sudden, and I remember the streets I used to pass by, parks I used to walk around, college campus where I used to chat with friends, and the aroma that brings all of my moments of memories.

Father's Funeral

Father's Funeral

It was about this time of my life, my dad passed away in California. He loved me and longed to see me while I was in Japan serving the Lord in His way. When I received the phone call from my sister, I was in Sapporo ministering to people we had met long time ago. It was while I was driving in Sapporo the phone was transfered to my cell phone. After I hung up the phone, I had to keep my emotions tight otherwise it would burst into tears. I had to keep silence for a while. While I was driving to the destination, there were many moments with my dad and I had to reassure myself that the Lord is with him and he is in God’s perfect hand. I had to lift him up to God’s hand again assuring that my dad is with the Lord now.

God had led me to Japan through marring my wife, Ayumi. Both Ayumi and I have common goal to share the Gospel to Japanese. A thought came to my mind that God could take care of my dad better than I could. In that thought, I released myself from guilt that I was not there to send him off to the Lord in Heaven. Death seems to be a part of my life now. One of these days, I also will take this ancient path to the Heaven for those who had believed in Jesus for his death and resurrection.

I had to hurry to go to the funeral. Ticket was arranged and I was on the way to California for the funeral. In the plane, I sobbed for a while, but then I saw a vision that my dad with the Lord and he had his smile on his face. It was telling me reassuring that my dad was with the Lord for sure. Somehow, in me, I could make sure that this was the case. The sorrow turned into joy of knowing where my dad was. He is happy with the Lord.

In Japan, we had very difficult times a few years ago that broke our hearts. They were from the people we ministered to and we were in great distress. God was testing our hearts. We had made a stake of faith to believe that the Lord had been with us and he was then. So, my original dedication to this nation resurrected in me, saying no matter what had happened, we would stay here. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” I myself should have been fallen into the ground and died, then it would produce much. This was my final decision.

When things were not going right, it could be a message for me to realize that God wanted my attention to where He redirected or reassured my path.

Abraham Lee@Gospel House

Commuting to Makubetsu town from Urahoro town each week

2009/03/17 About Hokkaido, Life in Japan 2 comments
cranes

cranes

Each week, we have classes at Satsunai, Makubetsu town. So we drive for about 50 minutes from Urahoro town to Satsunai, Makubetsu town. We take national route 38. On this route, we pass Toyokoro town. There is Tokachi river on the way and around there, we often see cranes. They usually roam as a couple. Sometimes with a child crane.

Many tourists come to see cranes in our area. They are most well known in Kushiro city where marsh is. There are areas where they protect so that cranes and other animals would keep habitats in those areas.

lots of stars

lots of stars

On the way back from Satsunai, Makubetsu town to Urahoro town at night, we see stars on the sky. They are just awesome and beautiful. One of the merit we moved to Urahoro was so many chances to see the stars. It reminds me of the story of Jesus’ birth where the wise men from the East came to greet Jesus by following the star. They finally found the baby Jesus by the lead of the unusual stars. Likewise, every time we come home, we really enjoy watching the bright stars.

In summer, we go to the mountain and lay down of the ground and see the shooting stars. Each night we usually see about 10 of them if you stay there for about 1 hour or so. Each time we found one, we exclaimed pointing where we found it. What a fun and exiting time we had!!

God made all things for men to enjoy and I hope we do not miss them in our lives.

Abraham Lee@Gospel House

Kushiro, a port city near my town

2009/03/16 About Hokkaido, Life in Japan No comments
Kushiro

Kushiro

Kushiro has become very close in my mind after we moved to Urahoro. It takes about 1 hour by car from Urahoro to Kushiro. Kushiro is 4th biggest city in Hokkaido. #1 is Sapporo, #2 Asahigawa, #3 Hakodate, #4 Kushiro, #5 Tomakomai, #6 Obihiro, etc. Well, we often go to Kushiro for swimming and eat out there. Sometimes we go grocery shopping too. Kushiro is known for good fish since Kushiro is a port city, and there are lots of choice fish on the market.

Of course, there are many good restaurants in Kushiro. It has also wet land (march) as tourist attraction.

Yesterday we went to Kushiro for lunch, shopping, and swimming. It was a fun trip and refreshing time as a family. From the end of March and begging of April, the new spring season starts. Life around us seems to be as lively as new beginning of the year. Maybe that is one of the reason why new year starts in April in Japan. Well the school starts in April, new fiscal year starts in April.

map of Kushiro

map of Kushiro

The spring warmth brings many people outside for walk and often takes us to new ideas in life. Something lively is starting everywhere. Farmers begin to be busy for seeding. Snow melts everyday. You begin to see the land more and more each day from the snow covered area. Sparrows came to our home again breeding as usual.

The sound of spring can be heard everywhere just as our hearts are ready for new beginning.

Abraham Lee@Gospel House

A Father and A Son: sharing our hearts together

2009/03/14 Life in Japan, My Story, Raising Kids No comments
Father-son

Father-son

Yesterday was one of the most memorable day in relation to my son, Samuel. There was a writing project to submit to one of the homeschooling meeting. He did what he could and there were lots of suggestions. He took it well, but he wanted to do his own way.

This broke open his heart about what he wanted to say in the past 7 years of his life with us. While Ayumi had a class to teach English, both Samuel and I were in the room sharing together as a father and a son. He shared for the first time his heart out. Lots of crying together as I listened to his heart. Why he acted the way he did was very understandable. He had this weight on him for a long time. Lots of his sharing brought about my mistakes in dealing with him. I had to ask for forgiveness to Samuel and he forgave me. We prayed for each other and big hug was given to each other.

He has grown up so much and we have become buddies and he released all his burdens to God and me.

It seemed that we were starting something together and it was a new beginning.

Abaham Lee@Gospel House

Hokkaido’s Spiritual Root

2009/03/13 About Hokkaido, About Japan No comments

When I first arrived in Hokkaido, it was for my wedding preparation and greeting to my wife’s family. But when I came back to Japan later in 1995, it was to pray for the mega-city, Sapporo. During this 1 full month of prayer journey, I began to understand what was causing what was obvious in the spiritual realm from my study of the history of Hokkaido.

Ainu Couple

Ainu Couple

One of the first thing that was very obvious was the relationship with the native Ainu people. They were mistreated by Japanese and forced to abandon Ainu language and culture replaced by Japanese and Japanese culture. This deeply wounded Ainu people. Now most of Ainu are not 100% Ainu anymore since they are mostly inter-mixed with Japanese and carry Japanese names. When you meet them on the street, you may not recognize them as Ainu unless they have Ainu’s facial structure on their faces. Just like Hawaiians in Hawaii, they are not pure any more.

This dark history of early settlement in Hokkaido from main island of Honshu caused deep root of spiritual darkness. Many of them were cheated by Japanese in their trade since the Ainu did not keep accounting often. Many promises were broken and finally the war between them was final blow against them for the total surrender.

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Ayumi’s mother whom I adore

2009/03/12 Life in Japan, My Story No comments
Ayumi's family

Ayumi's family (father-mother-sister/back:myself-Samuel-Ayumi)

When I first met Ayumi’s mother was back in January of 1993. Since it was rather speedy wedding between Ayumi and I, Ayumi’s parents were surprised to know that we were getting married. I was supposed to meet Ayumi’s parents in Hokkaido to greet them and prepare for the wedding in California. Back then, I was living in Kona, Hawaii.

In order to meet Ayumi’s parents, I had to prepare myself ready to be able to at least greet in Japanese. So I went to public library in Kailua-Kona. There I found an introductory Japanese textbook. I had to memorize all the potential greetings. I learned how to write Hirakana and Katakana. I already knew some Kanji. It took me about 1 month to learn the basics of basic about Japanese.

When we agreed to get married on Dec. 5th, 1992, I had to know her parents’ approval. Ayumi briefly mentioned that they followed God’s direction, I was not sure whether they approved our wedding or not. I had to ask her again to see if it was yes.  It meant Yes, but since I was physically disabled, I was really wondering how they would respond when they saw my disability. I had walked with a walker and still use it to this day. The doctor in California told me that I would not be able to have a child in a normal way. All these things were bothering me before I met Ayumi’s parents.

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People in Hokkaido

2009/03/11 Life in Japan 3 comments

hokkaido mapHokkaido people (Dosanko道産子） are immigrants like Americans. They are from all over the Honshu (the main island of Japan) and other islands like Shikoku or Kyushu. Not many are from Okinawa. It was only a little over 100 years when Japanese government decided to expand their territories to other places. This expansion policy affected to form a pioneering companies to move farmers to Hokkaido. Many were promised to receive large land after they cultivate the land for farming. Usually it was those of 2nd child or later since they could not inherit their parents’ land. It was the 1st son who will inherit the land and 2nd, 3rd, 4th and forth are not the heirs from their parents. They will either be renting portion of the land and become very poor in the future ending up helping their elder brother. If they are lucky, they can survive in their lives. It was that harsh for the farmers in Japan back then. So this expansion policy attracted many, but the sad thing about moving to sepearte and unknown island of Hokkaido was emotionally heart breaking. Seperating from their parents and their home land was not an easy decision. It was many times one way ticket.

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My 10 year goal: building an international community with missions

2009/03/10 Life in Japan, Missions in Japan No comments

Last year in 2008, the Lord had laid a thought in my heart regarding building an internatinal community focusing on missions.

I began to see how this could happen. This international community of people are committed mission-minded people with business skills who will produce their own country’s specialties in Hokkaido, JAPAN. Each country would represent their own heritages including their national food, constructions, language, culture, and their goodness God had put in them. There should be productions of some kind that represent their nationalities. These would be products to sell to Japanese. They can teach the language, open a restaurant, or anything that the Lord has for them. These countries represented will attract Japanese for tourism. Well Hokkaido is already well known for its tourist attractions.

Canadians can come and produce maple syrup, Americans can come and produce muffins, bagels, hambergers, chocolate chip cookies, etc. and Koreans can come and make KimChee. But all come for one pupose to share the Good News for God.

So at the center of all these, there will be a congregation of people to worship each day. This can be a new wave of movement to sweap down Japan with positive impact for this nation. Creating new jobs for the local community, and the international cultures will enhance the quality of life for the community. There will be an international school around this area. It is an international community with missions.

Self-supporting, but inter-dependent community of people who love the Lord with all their hearts and minds, will live and produce together for God’s Kingdom. Wow!

Can this be done in about 10 years from now? Only God knows and I hope to see it pass in my life time. If not, it will be passed on to the next generations.

Abraham Lee@Gospel House

Another Healthy Japanese Food

2009/03/09 Life in Japan No comments
Miso Old Sytle

Miso Old Sytle

Japanese food is known as healthy food. One of the reason why Japanese food is healthy is because of the use of lactic acid from fermentation. Miso is one of them. I know what you are thinking now, Natto – fermented beans. But I am not talking about Natto, but Miso. Miso is also another fermented mashed or chapped beans.

Here is how to make miso:

Make miso

Not many people make miso at home because it’s a very lengthy process and requires some experience. Nevertheless we will try to explain how to make miso at home.

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