From Our Family to Yours
We know Christmas might be different for you this year. We get it, it has been different for us the last few years. It has taken a few years to add decorations to our collection as we got rid of most moving to Japan. This is our third Christmas in Japan and it is actually starting to feel a little like Christmas for us here. I guess it would be called our “new normal”. Even though it might look different or feel different than the past seasons, we hope you have the opportunity to embrace the reason of season in a new or unique way. We have and it is refreshingly simple and glorious. Read on:
Christmas Celebration
Last Saturday (December 19th) we had our 2nd Annual Christmas Celebration. We had 25 total in attendance with half of the people hearing about who God is and the true meaning of Christmas for the very first time. The conversations afterwards during our potluck meal were refreshing. Megumi and her friend, Mami, performed some classic Christmas Carols. Mami, her husband, Megumi and I first met at Indiana University 17 years ago! Mami and her husband also live in Kagoshima.
From Darkness to Light
Kanami was nine years old at the time she felt she wanted to die. What ever normal is, she wanted that – to be normal, to look normal. You see, she was born with a cleft pallet and she did not like the way she looked. Even after a couple of surgical improvements she was self-conscious about what others thought of her appearance. Kanami is now 23 years old. She loves her smile and she is my dental hygienist and also my English student. She attends our church and is a new Christ follower with the desire to share Jesus with others.
On Tuesday during our English lesson she shared this painful part of her life with me and how she wanted to use it to help others. I asked her if she would be willing to share this with our bible study group happening right after our lesson. She agreed and that is a clip I shared above. Until that day, Kanami avoided this pain and dark place in her life but now she has brought it to light and feels freedom in sharing her story with others. We were blessed to be the first to hear it.
This story is not over yet! One of our other bible study members has a daughter born with a cleft pallet who is now 9 years old and has undergone a few surgeries as well and most likely will have one more in her teens. Needless to say, she was moved hearing Kanami’s story and there is a beautiful bond forming between these two and there is no doubt Kanami will be a source of encouragement.
We love the front row seats we have experiencing God in our midst – freedom, hope, peace and joy to many around us. This is Jesus – the rescuer! This is Christmas! God has taken Kanami’s painful moments she used to avoid and kept in the dark and brought into the light allowing her to experience more freedom Christ has given her! And at the same time encourage and empower others pointing them to Christ – the freedom giver!
Experience (more) Freedom This Christmas
This Christmas, what areas of your life do you want to bring out into the open, and made visible so you can experience more freedom? … OR … have you been avoiding the light all together and want to step into the light?
Are you ready to wave the white flag and say, I surrender!
If so, you can invite Jesus into your life by praying this prayer:
Jesus, I surrender. I am tired of trying to do life on my own. I invite you into my life and into my heart. Forgive me of my sins (basically all the bad stuff you have thought, said or wanted to do or did). From now on, to the best of my ability I will follow you for the rest of my life. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, we would love to hear from you!
May the hope, peace and joy of Christmas cover you and your family this Christmas Season!
Gratefully Yours, Jack, Megumi, Chloe, Ethan