Fast and slow

Sometimes mission work can feel frustratingly slow, and other times it feels dizzyingly fast. It’s important to remember that one outcome is not necessarily better than another. God is always working on his own time through our faithful witness. Here is a story to illustrate this point.

Role models and evangelism

This past week in my adult beginner/intermediate English class, I taught the new vocabulary word “role model.” I explained how a role model is someone we respect and want to be like. I used the example of my mom – she is kind, helpful, and patient, and I want to be like her. I want to be kind. I want to be helpful. I want to be patient. After taking a slight detour to explain what "patient" means, I returned to the original question – what is important to you in a role model? What characteristics do you think a role model should have? 

I was expecting answers such as smart, hardworking, kind, respectful - English words that they know. But quite unexpectedly, one of the students said in a mix of English and Japanese that Jesus was the #1 role model! Sure, that doesn’t answer the question I was asking, but what a cool thing to hear. Yes, Jesus is the best role model we have! This woman is not a Christian, but over the past three years as her English teacher, I can say with certainty that the Holy Spirit is working in her heart! She is engaged during the Bible study portion of class, asking thoughtful questions, and even brings in things she remembers from past Bible studies or from the devotions she hears during her kids’ English classes. She’s been attending English classes at Megumi Lutheran Church for around seven years, almost since they began. She and her kids have even come to church a few times, which shows a comfortability with Christianity. 

Evangelism in Japan can often feel slow, especially in a culture where Buddhism and Shintoism are so deeply rooted.

But moments like this – small yet significant glimpses of growth – give me so much hope, reminding me that progress often happens quietly and slowly.

The work that we all do – whether it’s in Japan, the US, or elsewhere in the world – has meaning, even when we don’t see immediate results, or even if we never see the results. It’s a humbling reminder of God’s perfect timing, and that our work is never in vain.

Annalisa Schuette | Mito, Japan