A Far Green Country

Came across this dude as we walked in Shizuoka City. He had this girl that was planted in the crowd to bring folks up to form a wall of people so that others would be drawn to watch his gig. This gig that I speak of was made all the more incredible by looping loud Michael Jackson music that got him hyped up. The Japanese girl who was assigned the task of "crowd gatherer" asked us to "please admire his work". She told us that we should clap, & when to clap. Apparently, he is supposed to be the greatest juggler in all Japan (at least that's what she said - that was for you interns!). You can faintly hear in one of the videos Mindy saying, "Sumimasen, nihongo ga wakarimasen," which means, "sorry, I don't speak Japanese." So, she started talking to us in very choppy english & it was all for promotional sake, but we got to practice the Japanese phrases we know so it was helpful for us. We came away thinking, "if this girl is willing to be so bold for a juggler's show & be willing to make a fool of herself in poor english in her own strength, how much more should we be willing & able to be fools for Christ, no matter how bad our language or how little we know someone." Like she did with us, we want to lead people to gather around King Jesus & worship, to praise Him, & to admire His "work."

She knows our names but she did not give hers, nor did we know how to ask at the time. But the Lord does & He knows who we're talking about - pray that she would become a bold witness for Jesus. As we were leaving she told us he was having another show sometime soon. Pray that she come to know Christ, & that she be willing to invite others to His coming banquet.