In Japan it is hard to bring the Gospel, because of various ideas about Christianity that got in to the Japanese mind set during the 300 years of isolation. At that time the Tokugawa shogunate did everything destroy the church and defame Christians and Christianity. Even 141 years after the end of the Tokugawa shogunate many people still have those attitudes. However in Nagaokakyo people are a little more open, since the town Heroine was a Christian. Her name was Hosokawa Gracia (or better know in Japanese as “Garasha”). She is famous for kindness and generosity. For a time Hosokawa Gracia and her husband Hosokawa Tadaoki lived at Shoryuji Castle (in the photo) in Nagaokakyo. Now-a-days this cutesy (top left) representation of “Garasha” adorns many publications from the local city council and street signs. Souvenir shops sell Garasha sweets. You can read more about her life here:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garasha
It's so true in God's kingdom, that some plough the fields, some so the seeds, some water, and some reap the harvest. Garasha is just one of many of God's people who worked tirelessly in Nagaokakyo and people have a more soften heart towards the Gospel here today because of their faithfulness. There is the more visible work such as Megumi (“Grace”) Kindergarten and the Evangelical Free Church's various play groups, English classes, etc. The various missionaries from Pioneers International that came here over the last 15 years. Then there is the less visible workers who faithfully serve God in the community building relationships. We are so grateful to God for all you have done and/or are doing here, even if we have a bit different approach to the way we do mission than you, we are all serving God. We've come to see over the last 6 and bit months here that He is co-ordinating it all.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1 (King James Version)
