G.R.I.T.

Tim Andrianoff

Hajimemashite. My name is Tim Andrianoff. I'm very pleased to meet
you; please look after me.

And so went my first introduction in Japan. My second was longer; I
threw in the fact that I am living with the Smiths right now, and that I
came from a small town in New York state called Portville. It has been
a busy 3 days since my first flight left the ground. Flying here was
relatively uneventful. Crossing the Pacific, I was entertained the
whole time by the very cool personal movie/video/music/game console
attached to my seat. I had a close connection in Tokyo/Narita. After
wasting some time being disoriented after I got through customs, I found
the counter to check my baggage in again. It was at the end of the
frighteningly long line of people. In the end, I had a personal escort
run me to the gate to get on the bus that took us to the prop plane that
would take us to Nagoya. Making my connection in Nagoya was a breeze
by comparison, and I even got to practice Japanese a very little bit
talking to the lady at the information counter. After that, it was an
hour or two hour drive, or so, back to the Smith's house, during which I
began to get to know one Norman Smith-Sensei.

My first real day in Japan was Wednesday, which started off with a Bible
study at Nagashima Grace Baptist Church. I was barely able to keep up
with even just finding the right verses during the service (which was in
Japanese, of course), and then only due to Seisaki-san's gracious help.
Both the morning and evening services were full of introductions, and I
met a great many of the people that we will be working with and getting
to know this summer. During the evening service, I got the chance to
meet Seisaki Yuya-san, the son of Seisaki-san from the morning service.
We had a language practice jam session, with Yuya-san practicing
English, me helping him to do so, and me also practincing Japanese.
Just so you all know, his English was very skillful; much better that
what I have heard the average Japanese person knows.

That same day, I recieved the grand tour of the Smith's home from the
kind and talkative Chloe Smith, with Cameron, who may possibly be the
happiest little guy ever, following along with us.

Today began with an early morning, with me and Norman getting up at 5 am
to take a train to the city of Kagoshima to meet Yoji-san, a friend of
Norman's. We spent the morning with Yoji, watching a movie, seeing a
bit of Kagoshima, and eating such delicious food as tendon (fried
seafood, etc. on rice) and taiyaki (red bean paste filled fish shaped
pastries). I was able to talk to Yoji-san for a good bit, aided by the
fact that he is skillful in English, and I think (or at least hope) that
I found a new friend in him. At least, I'd eagerly want to meet him again.

On the train ride home, Norman shared with me some about the situation
of the Japanese church. Most every city seemed to be described as "this
city of 100,000 people has about 123 Christians." These are just the
cities that have churches at all. At least two groups of people in
Japan, college students and "freeters," people characterized chiefly by
a lack of ambition, have perhaps one person or nobody in particular
focusing on ministering and reaching out to them. This is not for lack
of desire, but rather due to a simple shortage of people to do so.
Japan is in need of people to serve God in reaching the Japanese. I am
praying God will provide these people, and I am also praying he will
show me what he wants for my own life.

posted by Norman @ 9:26 PM