Ted & Suzanne Shimanuki: Japan / Fall 2023
Who Are We Working with:
Pioneers, a missions agency that partners with local churches to make disciples and initiate church planting movements among unreached peoples. The Japanese people are the second largest Unreached People Group, with less than 1% of the population identifying as Christian.
Itinerary:
Sep. 3-23: Kyoto / Tokyo Full-time Japanese Language Acquisition (6-7 hrs /day)
Sep. 23 - Nov. 1: Fukuoka Serve long-term missionaries-in-training with the Pioneers Japan Launch Program via shepherding, development of training curriculum, and supporting Third Culture Kids (the children of the missionaries). Also continue with language acquisition on a part-time basis.
Prayer Requests:
That we would place our trust in God to have sovereignty over the details, and not in ourselves for the plans we have made.
That we would be able to adapt quickly and well to a different culture, food, living in a secular share house (community living, similar to a dorm or youth hostel), a 30-minute daily commute by bike & train, make good progress in learning Japanese, and be able to make friends with our housemates.
That we would build strong relationships and community with the Pioneers Team, be supportive and encouraging of the Launch missionaries, and for God to help us discern their needs and show us how we can best assist in training them and their kids.
Journal Entry / September 26th 2023
Shining the Light and Love of Christ in Japan
Dear Prayer Supporters,
Last week we concluded our time in Tokyo and 3 weeks of full-time language learning with Genki JACS School. Both of us even gave a little speech in Japanese at the “graduation” ceremony.
In Pioneers Japan’s September newsletter, they introduced us in interview format. We thought that you might also be interested in seeing it, as follows:
Please introduce yourself and what you did prior to coming to Japan.
Ted is a Japanese-American from Maui, Hawaii, and Suzanne is a Chinese-American from California. We first met through InterVarsity at UC Berkeley and got to know each other through church and a prayer group while working in downtown Oakland.
We spent our first year of marriage on the mission field in Kenya, serving with Food for the Hungry and starting a micro-enterprise loan program. Our home is in the SF Bay Area. We became empty-nested 2 years ago, and retired last year. Ted was a CFO for several secular nonprofits as well as for a Christian missions agency. Back in the ‘90’s, Suzanne was a marketing & communications manager for the same missions agency, and then became a stay-at-home mom for our 4 kids.
How has God led you to Japan?
Over the past few years, we've been actively searching for God's direction for this next chapter of our lives and have been led to short-term missions. In addition to Ted's interest in exploring his Japanese heritage, one of our daughters is finishing college in Japan and plans to work in Tokyo for the next 3 or so years. We know that Japan is the second largest unreached people group in the world. In all this, God seemed to be bringing together the details of our lives to serve His church in Japan for the next part of our journey with Him.
What has been a “high and low” of getting ready to come to Japan?
Frankly, I (Suzanne) feel a little intimidated by the thought of seriously trying to learn one of the hardest languages in the world at my age. I'm also not as hardy as I was in my 20's. But, nonetheless, we both know it's not about our gifts, strengths, or weaknesses, but our availability. So we're excited to continue the adventure with God and see what He does with this season of our lives.
How can we pray for you over the next few months?
In Fukuoka, we'll be living in a share house oriented toward "entrepreneurs" -- technically on a coed floor, but currently there are only males residing there. So this will be quite an adjustment for both of us, but especially for Suzanne as possibly the only female on an "all male" floor with a "coed" bathroom. Please pray that we'll learn to be content in any and every living situation and that we will be a light in that community. Pray for our language acquisition progress. Finally, please pray that we would learn quickly and be encouraging, supportive helpmates to Adrian and Becca and the Launch Team.
PREVALENCE OF CULTS IN JAPAN
The Pioneers Japan newsletter also included an article about the prevalence of cults in Japanese society. From one of the Pioneers missionary: "Japan is one of the few places in the entire world where there are more "Christian" cults (ie. Jehovah's Witness, Mormons, Unification Church, Shincheonji/ New Heaven & New Earth) than there are evangelical Christians. Several years ago, I was reading the Bible while riding the subway when a young woman came over and introduced herself as a Christian... and in the course of our conversation I realized she belonged to a cult. I've heard numerous stories over the years where cults have intentionally targeted and broken up churches. It's not just a fear of what may be. This happens to brothers and sisters we know. Jesus' warning about wolves in sheep's clothing is still relevant today (Matt 7:15; see also Jude 4)."
TOKYO SUMMARY:
Because of our love for InterVarsity, we had dinner with a Regional Director of IFES (InterVarsity) and were able to hear how God is moving on university campuses in Japan. One of his primary challenges this coming year is recruiting campus leaders to replace the 3 or 4 staff who will be moving on at the end of the school year.
Monday, September 18, was a national holiday. As such, our language school did not hold any classes but instead offered an outing to watch a professional baseball game, the Yomiuri Giants vs. the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. As the Japanese are obsessed with their national sport, it was quite an experience! Since the Yomiuri Giants colors are orange and black just like the SF Giants, it was also a bit surreal! Both sides had drums and chants and songs for each player. And, with each run scored – out popped tiny Japanese parasols that the fans swirled.
As our daughter, Stacy, is doing a semester abroad in Tokyo at Hitotsubashi University, we had the delight of spending both weekends with her! We visited her church, Tsukiji Fish Market, the National Museum, Tokyo Skytree, the Sumida Hokusai Museum, and the grounds of the Imperial Palace together.
Suzanne also had the privilege of leading a 1-on-1 Bible study (Philippians 1, II Cor. 11 & 12) with a young lady, formerly from Valley Bible Church, who is living in Japan now. We only met twice over dinner, but our time together was rich for both of us. Afterwards, she said, “I feel like you came here just for me! What are the odds that we’d both be in Japan at the same time?” Ironically, Ted and I weren’t supposed to be doing language study in Tokyo at all – it was only because Genki JACS School in Fukuoka didn’t have any space for us. Yes, it was a God thing! Then last night we found out that our Pioneers house church is also studying Philippians and is in the middle of chapter 1. Doubly a God thing!
Our study in Philippians reminded me, Suzanne, to boast in my weaknesses and rejoice as I was struggling with Nihongo lessons (Japanese language) and that His grace is sufficient for me.
Also, Paul’s one compelling drive to proclaim Christ – and all that he suffered in order to do so – strengthened my resolve that Jesus really is worth our everything.
“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”
So I encourage you too, our wonderful prayer supporters, wherever God has placed you, to go “All In” for Christ’s sake, “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”. (Philippians 1:27-29)
Thank you, for with your prayers, you are striving together with us for the faith of the gospel in JAPAN! We are so grateful for your support, both financially and in prayer!
In closing, please pray for us as we begin our time in Fukuoka this week!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
That we adapt well and are content living “dorm-style” in our entrepreneurial share house in Fukuoka and that we exude Christ’s love there. So far, we’ve already met 4 male residents who speak enough English to have meaningful conversations with us! One of them will be attending a conference for startups in the SF Bay Area in December and we’re already planning to meet up! Ironically, last night it was relatively quiet and empty in the common lounge until about 9:30-11:00 pm – then it was a hopping place with several residents making dinner or late night snacks – with great opportunity for long conversations!
As we begin our time in Fukuoka this week with orientation and getting to know the Pioneers Launch Team missionaries, please pray that we would build strong relationships and community with the Pioneers Team, encouraging and supporting the long term missionaries and their children.
That IFES (InterVarsity) would have significant impact as they reach students for Christ on university campuses throughout Japan and for the leadership challenge of dealing with staff turnover and recruitment of new staff.
That we adapt better to the new language school in Fukuoka that we’ll start attending part-time on Oct. 2 and be able to balance language acquisition with relationship building and our other Pioneers-assigned tasks.
Trusting in His direction,
Ted & Suzanne