Stories from the Field

April-May 2006

Tokyo Summer
By Hannah Heinzig, a student from Prague, Oklahoma

Last summer in Tokyo, Japan was the most life changing experience I have ever had. The Japanese are the most giving and humble people I’ve ever encountered. I found out later on that less than 1% of the population of Tokyo is Christian. Japan also has the highest suicide rate.

My mission team was assigned to a college to make friends with students and to share Christ with them. It was definitely a challenge spiritually. Some students were desperate for something to hope for. Others were completely closed minded. I was able to talk to two girls and ask them what they believed. They said they don't believe in anything. I immediately started sharing with them about Jesus and how he loved them, I pulled out my evange-cube and they were enamored with the story of God's saving grace. We continued the conversation through lunch and one of the girls, Emma*, acted like she wanted to ask Jesus into her heart, but she was afraid. I began to pray that God would open her heart. I asked Emma if I could talk to her more after her morning classes,but she said she didn't know. I waited for her after classes and prayed for her, but she never came. I felt depressed because I was sure this was her time. Still, I knew God had other plans.

I was just about to leave the college when a Japanese girl came up to me and asked if she could interview me. She asked me all kinds of questions and I was able to share with her the word of God. We immediately became good friends. I knew it was God because in my mind, the Emma should have received Christ, but God had a different plan. I prayed that night for God to forgive my impatience and to fill me up with his will.

The very next day Emma came to our Bible study! She even agreed to eat lunch with me after the meeting. I took her back to my hotel room with another teammate, all the while asking God if this was the time for Emma to know Him. I asked Emma if she understood everything about God that I had told her and she said yes but she had some questions! I answered all her questions as best I could and I asked her if she was willing to let Jesus come into her heart. To God's glory she said "Yes!" There in my hotel room, she and I got on our knees and I was able to witness God's amazing grace through Emma coming to Christ. It was beautiful!

God changed my life that day and I know for sure anything is possible for God. So many times I try to do my own will when God is just waiting for me to submit to his will and see his power unfold. I can't wait to see how God is going to work in Nairobi, Kenya, this summer of 2006, I know God has given me a passion for taking his message overseas.

*Name changed for security reasons.