mission.japan

Sports Day

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Every so often we have an outdoor worship service followed by a collection of sporty activities. That day was today.

It’s almost November and the leaves are turning in the Sports Park. Mostly cloudy today with a trace of breeze—perfect for a 10:30 worship service outside.

The park was rather abuzz with noise all day today. The Communist party (yes, Japan has an active Communist party) was holding some sort of festival in the center grounds. The Nationalists, on the other hand, were travelling the periphery of the park in a large bus blaring propaganda through loudspeakers. Surrounding and infiltrating the park were a few dozen police officers decked out in riot gear and waiting next to microphones (to make sure the Nationalists didn’t get too loud) and barricades on wheels. And meanwhile, off to the side of all of the action we had a worship service.

The attendance at the prior Wednesday’s student family group determined the cast for a (quite improvised and modernized) humorous skit somewhat connected to the story of the Good Samaritan in the book of Luke. Yamashita-san was the traveller, Matt the robber, Yamasaki-san the Levite, Boting the Samaritan, and Chin the innkeeper. The priest in the story was played by yours truly. Whether the skit helped or harmed the message I don’t know—I imagine it didn’t have much effect at all.

Since today was a special Sunday as morning worship goes, there was no 9:00 Kids Adventure session. That will resume in November, with my next turn as the storyteller coming on the 26th. Last Sunday the curriculum called for the 10 plagues on Egypt from the book of Exodus. I don’t think I put enough prep into it, but it seemed to go well. Although it’s hard to tell based on what other people say here. I always wonder how honest people are, because I don’t seem to get any criticism. Even when I know I did a lousy job of something people either say nothing or say I did fine. That’s the Japanese culture for you, but is it better that way? I wonder.

Anyway, the story of the 12 spies in the Promised Land is the story I’ll have this time around, so hopefully I can think of an interesting way to do that. Plus involve the camel somehow. Every story has a plastic toy camel in it—that’s become like a signature for me. The kids seem to like it, in any case.

Comments

Janet Schaab wrote on October 30:

Regarding criticism—I don’t think it’s any different here in America. We either say nothing (if we didn’t think it was that good) or we give praise. You get criticism from your “employer” and even then sometimes only when you ask for it.

David Schaab wrote on October 30:

Hmm – I hear pessimism and unfortunately some of your dad’s negativity about his own inadequacies! Anyway, I am reminded, and it happened to be today’s message at church, it is the influences that go a long way toward another’s growth (or in the negative, decline). What you have done may only be a seed – we simply plant the seed and we may not even see the harvest. Trust that He knows how to handle the gardening.
Camel and 12 spies – that can be interesting!