Dear everyone that follows this blog,
I have really stunk at keeping up with this blog the last month or so. And I don't really know why. I was moving around a little bit during that time but still no excuse so sorry if that has annoyed people. I sometimes just get busy and forget that I hadn't wrote anything in awhile. Anyways....I'm back to writing.
I feel like I'm way behind on things that are going on and don't even know where to start. The first things that comes to mind is that back home in ALABAMA....I'm missing family time. Which is totally fine because God has me here in JAPAN for a reason during this time. But the family is all together for several reasons this past week and one of them is a huge praise to our Heavenly Father because Seaborn Joseph Ketcham was born on Tuesday, Sept 21st to proud parents, Capt. Samuel and Dorsey Ketcham of Savannah, GA!! I can't believe that my brother is a father....so weird. But it is so encouraging to see how God works, how he changes hearts and lives and that He really can do what we think is impossible. Sam was in Afghanistan not be a few days ago and made it back to see his son born. Praise God!! Sam and Dorsey...miss ya'll a lot and can't wait to see the new little guy. I'm an uncle (for the 14th time.)
Back to Japan, things are definitely back into the swing of things. I have a full schedule of things going on every day. Like I posted about earlier, August was vacation time and September brought everything back to normal with busy schedules, classes, choirs, bible studies and full church services...and school started back. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I either have one or two English classes (EC) that I go too. They all range from teachers (Amy, Peter, Linda or Darlene) and difficulty (beginners to free conversation). I know I've also said this before...but I really love my EC! I love that I can get to know the people in there and hear about their week, share things about mine, build a smaller community for them to feel apart of and share the love that God has shown to us. I've made a lot of my friends through the EC and will be sad to see everyone the last time this next week. Since I leave on Oct 5th (a Tuesday), this next week will be my last full week of seeing everyone and "teaching" the classes.
Choirs are also in full swing. Tom and Teresa have 4 choirs going on. Three Gospel choirs in three different cities around Nagoya (Togo, Nisshin and Shiga) and one Christmas Classical choir that meets in Togo. This dominates their time. Well....actually what has mostly dominated their time is making the CD's for these choirs. I moved back in with them last week and they have been working on these CD's non-stop. I think that we all will finish them tomorrow. These CD's are used to help the Japanese learn the music better and to share the music with others. That last point is just a bonus because it's cool to see that the Wilson's might make like 50 CD's but about 300 people will end up listening to them (spouses, children, family, friends, etc). So that is another way that they share the Gospel is through these CD's that they actually just use to help the choirs learn the music. But the Japanese are hearing the Gospel proclaimed while listening!! The choirs are a lot of fun. I haven't got to sing a whole bunch because I am best used as a babysitting during those times so that Tom and Teresa can actually direct, talk and share during practices. Right now, the choirs need men though so I have been singing with the Christmas choir. Let me tell you...it's hard for a man who will not listen to Christmas music until AFTER Thanksgiving to sing Christmas music in September! I've also been helping make the CD's via copying them. We have to make almost 600 (i think) because Tom and Teresa have gotten so good at them that different choirs in Tokyo and around other parts of Japan want them too. A lot of copying and writing to do in the next 12 days.
Other than classes and choirs, I've been helping with music on Sunday mornings. Since being here, I've played with the praise and worship team by playing the piano. It's a lot of fun and I've been glad to help Tom out with some of the music on Sunday. I'm really glad his let me continue to play! I've also helped Amy Newsome and Michiyo Sakai (a very sweet lady in the church) run the Mom's and Kid's club that meets on Friday morning. I laugh while writing this because it's a bunch on young mothers and young children (ages 0 - 4) that come...and I'm the only dude in the building. haha but I help out by playing with the little boys and keeping them busy so that Amy and Sakai san can minister to the families.
I've sincerely enjoyed getting to know all the missionaries and their families better as my time has gone by. I feel like I'm apart of some of their families and it'll be so weird to leave my Japan family when that happens. I'm trying not to think about it but it's hard not too when the end is coming so fast. The team here in Nagoya had one of the short-term couples that are raising support to join the team come and visit for one week this past week. Jake and Anna Claire Gee are from GA and are hoping to be join the team in less then a year. Jake has been working in a church in VA as the youth pastor for the last two years and they have been married for a little over two years as well. These guys are AWESOME! Hilarious and will be a huge help to the team because they bring so much energy and excitement. It was cool to see them interact with Japanese and how the Japanese just gravitated to this couple. I got to hang out with them a lot and we actually went to Kyoto (about 2 1/2 hours Southwest of Nagoya by bus) on Tuesday for a sightseeing day. Kyoto use to be one of the old capitals. It's also known as "the city with thousands of temple." And they aren't lying....there's 1000's! We spent all day there and saw 4 but the whole city is full of castles, palaces, museums and temples, temples, temples. It's actually really sad because people will make pilgrimages to come to these temples and burn incense for their families or prayer or pay for different good luck charms that will bring them _____ (you fill in the blank). I'm there to see Japanese architecture and experience Japanese culture but these are places of worship for many. Very sad to see people offering fruit and flowers to statues! It makes me think how glad I am that I have a Father that loves me....that has mercy on me...and that is ALIVE and ACTIVE in my life. Great lessons learned and appreciation gained by getting to experience that.
This week hasn't been a totally full week because in Japan there has been two national holidays. Monday was "Respect the Elderly" day! Isn't that awesome!!?!? And Thursday is something that I can't pronounce but it's like Equinox day or something. So on Monday...a group of men from the church went on a hike in some mountains in Nagano ken (Nagano prefecture = where the Olympics were held in 1998). It was beautiful and I got to see a area of Japan I hadn't experienced yet....the mountains. From the top, we could see the Southern, Northern Alps and on a clear day (which is wasn't) Mt. Fuji. It really was gorgeous! I looked out and couldn't help but think how GREAT OUR GOD is! He made such beauty and allows us to enjoy it. What a Master that can paint such a beautiful picture! I hope to post some pictures so that ya'll can have a glimpse of it.
Please be in prayer for me as I only have 12 more days in Japan. :( I still feel like I have a lot that I want to get accomplished and not sure that I will get everything done. Pray that I'll stay focus and not be worried about what is going on at home. If it is God's will that everything be done...it will be accomplished.
Please pray for the church in Nisshin right now. Many people in the church are sick or recovering from surgeries and things. Lift them up and ask that God will work through this time to reach others that do not know Him.
Please pray for Tom and Teresa as they finish up the CD's and hope to get all that done so that they can move on to other things. This task has been over their heads for awhile and they would love to have it completed.
Pray for my family back in the U.S. this week. Many things happened and I know that they are all very stressed and overwhelmed right now. Pray that I'll be able to focus on things here in Japan and not feel bad for missing out on family time back home.
Pray that God will continue to reveal His plan for my life. I'll be going back and still not very sure about where the path leads. Pray that God will be gracious to me as I ask for His direction and that His wonderful truths will continually be revealed to me as I SEEK Him thought the Word!
I greatly appreciate all the prayers and support. Love you all and will talk to ya'll later.
-Mr. Richard
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