"I can understand the rebellious, party-type personality of the younger brother and especially understand the more rule-following, judgmental personality of the older brother, but the father in this story is so mysterious to me. I don't have a box to put him in."

Ayane, a student who recently returned from studying abroad in the US, and I have been getting together to study a story that Jesus tells in Luke 15 about a man with two sons. The younger one runs off from the family and wastes away his inheritance through reckless living. In his shame he decides to return to his father with hopes of being accepted as a hired servant. Instead, he's greeted by his father with kisses, generosity, and deep compassion. The older brother, who has lived and worked alongside his father the entire time, looks upon the scene with indignation.

While this is not an unfamiliar story to me, reading through it with Ayane is opening my eyes again to how perplexing it is. I really resonate with Ayane's response after she first heard the story. The behavior and personalities of the sons seem to be easier to fit in a box and wrap our heads around (as problematic as they might be), but the father? Who is like him? Ayane has no Christian background but while in the US she got connected to Bridges, Cru's ministry to international students. A Bridges staff friend connected me to her last month and we've been meeting regularly since. Each week Ayane is drawing connections and sharing insights that show me that God is moving in her mind and heart. Would you pray that she comes to see God through the father in this story? Join us in praying that she sees that this mysterious father is not some distant and unrealistic character, but that he represents the heart of the God who made her, who has been working in her life, and who desires that she be close to him.

Thank you all for the constant support, prayers, and love you pour into our ministry here in Tokyo. We're so grateful for your partnership with us. Below are some ministry updates and a special announcement.

Jessica & Dylan

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Just as the Japanese school year was wrapping up last month, God opened doors for me to begin meeting regularly with a handful of women individually to study the bible during the school vacation. Most are not believers and some have little exposure to the message of Jesus. Please pray that God's word would speak to the hearts of each of these women.

For any of you involved in ministry to Japanese people who are interested in the materials we're going through, please feel free to reach out. Mayu, a former non-believing student who became a Christian as a university student and then joined staff with JCCC (Japan Cru), teamed up with some other staff to develop a series of YouTube videos with accompanying bible study guides for the typical Japanese non-believer to be introduced to Christianity through the story of the Prodigal Son. The videos are posted online here and I would love to send you the bible study guides for those who are interested. The guides have been translated to English as well.

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Last month we finished up our weekly student gatherings with a time of reflection over the past semester, remembering and celebrating all that God did in us and around us. Our students grew in their understanding of what it means to start a new life with Jesus, as well as how to practically introduce Jesus to their peers. We saw non-believing students take steps closer to trusting Jesus and believing students take their trust in Jesus to new levels as they stepped out to make his name known on their campuses.

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I (Dylan) have now been on my baseball team for about a year and a half. My teammates make up a wide range of people—there are people in their 20's and people in their 60's, married people and single people, businessmen and artists and chefs. While I mainly have fun with them while we play baseball together, I'm also learning so much from them—their values, their passions, the ways they see the world and the ways they connect with others. I'm so thankful to God (and my former teammate Trevor who connected me to the team) for this community where I can combine a hobby I love with a place to practice and learn about Japanese language and culture. I have been encouraged lately that my deepening relationships and ability to communicate more in Japanese have led to a few conversations with my teammates about Christianity. 

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LIFE UPDATE ~

Dylan and I are happy to share that we're expecting a baby this May🐣

For those who also receive ministry updates from my twin sister, Rachel - yes, we're both pregnant (about 6 weeks apart!) and yes we're feeling how weird it is to stick out in Tokyo not only because we're foreigners and happen to have matching faces but also now because we have matching bellies🤰🤰 But I'm thankful to have family in a similar season, and thankful that Rachel and Akira are going first!

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PRAYER REQUESTS

For Ayane and the other women doing bible study - to discover God's heart through that time

For an upcoming national student conference - both believing students and not-yet-believing students across Japan have signed up to spend a few days at our "Spring Camp" in Kobe next month. Please pray that God would have his way in the hearts of the speakers, coordinators, staff, and students during the time

For our ministry planning for the new school year - that our team would be operating with wisdom, humility, and faith as we set direction and goals for the new school year. Also pray for creativity and wisdom as Jessica continues coordinating some of our overseas partnerships (we'll be receiving two summer teams, a handful of one-year interns, and possibly more vision trips this year) and professor partnerships (we regularly connect with Christian professors at universities across Tokyo to support them and work with them to reach their students with the gospel)

For Dylan as he continues in full-time language study - language school is intense and he also has other responsibilities, so please pray for energy, wisdom, and grace in the process

For us as we prepare to be parents - for wisdom and love and all the other things needed!

"I've been feeling really depressed recently. I'm tormented by feelings of remorse as I think about all the mistakes I've made and the trouble I've caused people in the past. When I'm by myself, I feel crushed by guilt. I would like to ask you if there's any Christian teaching you can share with me?"

As December begins and with it the Advent season, receiving texts like this reminds me of the significance of the thing we're pondering over and rejoicing in this month. What a treasure we have in the coming of Jesus. While it can often feel like a foreign concept in a country with so few believers, opening this text from my friend (a woman I had only met a couple months before) assured me once again that not only is it relevant to people here, but some are sitting in darkness, waiting—asking even—to hear about God's response to our brokenness and despair. Would you join me in praying for my friend and for the millions of others here who have yet to hear about the treasure we have in Jesus—the comfort and security we have because of his coming two thousand years ago and the hope and joyful expectancy we have in his future return.

Thank you all for continuing to be in this with us. The past couple months have felt very full. Below are some ministry and life happenings we'd love to share with you.

Jessica & Dylan

At this semester's gatherings, our students have been going through a series where they learn how to introduce the gospel to others, as well as some basic foundational truths for starting a new life with Jesus. Almost every week we're joined by some students who don't yet identify as Christians. At the specific gathering pictured above, Toma (4th year) shared about how to introduce others to Jesus. Knowing the topic of the evening, when I saw two new students walk in the doors who were not Christians, I have to admit I got a little squeamish. What would they think? Would they be turned off and think we're pushy? Would they be so confused? As the teaching finished and we broke into pairs to practice sharing about Jesus and what he's done, I was paired up with Riho, one of the new students. Before jumping into the practice and knowing most Japanese people's weariness towards "outside" religions, I felt compelled to make sure she was doing okay. "Does all of this sound so strange?" I asked. Riho's response surprised me. She said she had heard a little about the Bible before and was tracking. I told her I could go first in practicing sharing about Jesus and she could give me feedback on my Japanese. When I got to explaining Jesus' invitation to us and asked her if she wanted to receive it, she said yes! But, was she just going along with the role-play or was this real? I had to ask. She quietly thought for a minute and then said, "I'll think about it some more." Would you join me in praying for Riho as she considers Jesus?

It's clear that God is also working in the heart of the other new student, Monami, who was deeply impacted by hearing the gospel that evening and has been joining every meeting since. In a conversation with her a couple weeks ago she shared that although she's not yet a Christian, through different events in her life she is starting to see that God has been pursuing her for a long time. Every week she looks forward to joining our community of students on Friday night and learning more about Jesus.

The week after learning how to share about Jesus with others, we had our students join us on campus to put our learning into practice. Recently randomly approaching students on campus hasn't been our main outreach strategy, but we've seen God bring people to himself through these "random" encounters time and time again, and it offers our Christian students a chance to take real steps of faith and see God show up (either that or get rejected and take comfort in his promises lol both so valuable!). We emphasize to our students that the goal isn't to rattle off four points or make someone believe, but to go out in love and obedience to Jesus and trust God to do his thing. Often here in Tokyo we close these evangelism times without seeing new students receive the gospel, but with new friends who have met a Christian for the first time and are one step closer to knowing the love of Jesus.

Mayu entered my life as a random first-year student I met on a campus in Tokyo in 2016. She soon became a friend I met up with often to learn about the bible and hang out. Then in 2017 she became a sister in Christ, and in 2020 a coworker in Japan Cru, and now Mayu is one of my closest, most-cherished friends. I had the privilege of giving a speech at her wedding at the end of November. Leading up to the day, as I thought about Mayu's journey and what to share, I was once again struck with awe at God's moving in her life and was brought to tears at God's response to prayers from 2016 (including those of many of you for her as you read my email updates!!). It was clear Mayu was a leader from the moment I met her; she takes initiative, can relate and connect with every person in the room, and is seemingly never hindered by fears (except for when she encounters a pigeon🐦). But, these things aren't what I'm praising God for. The thing I admire most about Mayu is that while she is clearly a super-star of a human, her confidence, joy, and identity don't rest in her skills and abilities. They are firmly in what Jesus Christ has done on her behalf, and this gives her a kind of humility and stability that stands out. I have no doubt that she and her new husband, Reio, will together shine so brightly here in Japan. Check out this short video to hear more of Mayu's story and join me in praising God for what he's done and for Mayu's new marriage.

A joyful bonus to attending Mayu's wedding was seeing some of the faces that made my first couple years in Tokyo so rich. When I look at these former students, now all grown up and in the workforce, I'm reminded of stories of God moving in hearts to bring people to Himself, and also him sending them out in love to gather others. Please join me in praying for the graduates of our ministry as they enter jobs and neighborhoods and families with few believers, that they would connect deeply to their local churches and continue to experience the richness of the gospel.

When we saw Nozomi (a student Dylan has been hanging out with since last semester) walking up to the microphone at our weekly meeting we were surprised. We had just divided up our large group of students into smaller groups for some bible study, and now it was time for a representative from each group to share some findings. Typically the student who volunters to share is older, a little more experienced, and a Christian. Nozomi checks none of the boxes. We were so happy to see him up there not only because of what he's learning but because it's more evidence that he is really feeling at-home in our community of university students.

Part of my role as staff is helping to coordinate our overseas partnerships, and that includes hosting various Cru short-term trips here in Tokyo. The idea behind a "vision trip" is to help the American team learn about the culture and spiritual climate of Japan, as well as about our ministry, in order to find ways to partner effectively. Here's a snapshot of an American team joining one of our weekly meetings.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• For Jessica's friend who is feeling crushed by guilt - after texting a bit back and forth we planned to meet at a cafe and chat about her situation. But, I had to cancel because I was feeling sick. She plans to come to our church for the first time with me this week. Would you pray that God would speak to her through the worship, the message, and the community there, and that she would see Jesus as the light in her darkness?
• For the non-believing students who continue to join our student meetings - some are so close to surrendering their lives to Jesus
• For our Christmas outreach party 12/15 - that it's a sweet time of savoring the significance of this season, that our students would invite their friends, and that many who have never heard about Jesus would hear and rejoice with us at his coming
• For the various partnerships Jessica helps to coordinate - we are hosting another vision trip from the US next week. Also, we have partnerships with various professors at universities throughout Tokyo. Pray for wisdom and love as we decide how to engage in partnership in ways that are culturally-appropriate, sustainable, and effective for seeing the gospel advance here in Tokyo
• For Dylan as he continues in full-time language study - language school can feel intense and he is also juggling other responsibilities, so please pray for grace in the process

September has come and with it a little relief from the heat, humidity, and sweatiness that is Tokyo summer. As the new school semester is just around the corner, we are busily preparing for this next season. Our team here in Tokyo continues to undergo changes (there have been many staff transitions within the last few years) and we can feel the toll it's taken on our momentum. As the new staff that arrived last year will be in language school for the next one to two years and only able to participate in ministry minimally, our staff capacity feels low. It's easy to think about the upcoming semester and wonder how we will juggle the different roles or responsibilities, and even start to feel anxious about it. But in those moments God always seems to remind me of a fact that puts me at ease: He has a long history of choosing the weak, the broken, and the small for his glorious purposes. A look at scripture makes it clear; God is all about it. So what's so special about the weak? They're needy and they're usually aware of it. They're looking for help outside of themselves—outside of their skills, abilities, and resources—because they know they don't have what it takes. And, if they're wise, they look to the One who does.

Please join us in praying for our team and ministry this semester—that each of us staff would be operating out of our trust in God and delight in belonging to him. Dylan and I are so thankful for each of you and for all of your prayers, support, and encouragement. We're so grateful that you're in this with us.

Wrapping up the semester

Our last student meeting of the semester was "celebration" themed, to reflect on all God has done in and around us throughout the semester and give thanks. We were encouraged to see many students attend and express how much they've appreciated growing and learning together. It is especially encouraging to look at this photo and see Keiko (bottom right), who put her trust in Jesus just weeks before.

Mission Trip to the Philippines

This month three of our students and two of our staff here in Tokyo have joined students and staff from other cities in Japan on a two-week mission trip to the Philippines. They will be coming alongside the Cru movement there and engaging with students on campus about life and Jesus. Please join us in praying that this trip blesses the ministry and campuses there, as well as each of the seven students participating. Although there is evangelism and cross-cultural training involved, our ultimate goal is not to produce a bunch of students who can rattle off a summary of the bible or have all the answers to people's doubts about God. Through this trip we want the students to grow as disciples of Jesus—becoming more confident in and dependent on God's grace, power, and faithfulness. There's nothing like serving in a culture that's not your own to throw you into dependence on the Lord! Each of these students has taken major steps of faith by raising their own financial support, speaking in a language not their own, and talking to other students about their faith, and we're praying that they experience God in a way that changes them. How amazing would it be if these seven students returned to Japan with a greater desire to see God work on their own campuses and a heightened sensitivity to God's nudging to be a part of it?

Parents in Tokyo

A couple weeks ago, Dylan's parents made their way to Japan to spend some time with us. One of the highlights was a meal with Rachel, Akira, and Akira's parents (who are Chinese) so they could meet for the first time. Although the two sets of parents don't share a common language and the table was a mess of Japanese, Chinese, English, and many misunderstandings, it felt nice to have a big family get-together in Tokyo.

PRAYER REQUESTS

For our team as we step into the new semester - that our confidence for ministry would not be in ourselves but in God

For the trip to the Philippines - that it would bless the campuses and Cru ministry there, and that each student participating would grow a deeper trust in God and desire to make his name known

For Chiharu and Nozomi as they continue to learn about Jesus and following him

For Dylan as he begins full-time language study - language school can feel intense and exhausting, so please pray for grace in the process

For Jessica as she continues on the staff team in her overseas partnership coordinating role, her HR role with our new staff, and her ministry with Japanese students—that she can gracefully navigate the complexities that those roles entail and serve with love and faithfulness

The pace of ministry in Japan can seem slow at times. Relationships with students don't always progress linearly, and it's often the students we don't expect who end up becoming involved in our ministry. This was definitely true for Chiharu and Nozomi.

I met Chiharu first through a connection with one of the long-term staff here in Tokyo. She was (see if you can follow this connection) friends with the mom of Chiharu's friend, Hayate, and she wanted to introduce me to Hayate because he was interested in studying in the US. She also knew that Hayate's friend, Chiharu, was interested in improving his English as well, so she invited him too. It turned out that Hayate was not able to come, so I ended up having lunch with Chiharu, and then soon after that he introduced me to his friend Nozomi (when the photo above was taken). My first impression of both of them was how warm and enthusiastic they were, especially when talking to a stranger in their second language. They were quick to laugh and smiles came easily to their faces. During that hangout I shared about some of our more fun ministry events geared towards those who didn't know anything about Jesus, only to hear that they were too busy, which is often code for "I'm not interested".

After a few weeks, a few more hangouts, and a few more rejected invites to our ministry events, Chiharu told me that he and Nozomi wanted to start coming to our weekly Friday English conversation time. I was surprised, but I thought I might as well also let them know that, after the English conversation time, in the same building downstairs, we were having a large-group bible study time for students, which they were also welcome to attend if they wanted to.

That Friday after English conversation time wrapped up I asked Chiharu and Nozomi, "What are your plans tonight?" thinking they might be interested in getting dinner with me. I actually wasn't assigned to help with the large group bible study that week and was ready to eat some ramen or something else tasty nearby.

Chiharu replied, "We're going to the meeting downstairs." My first thought was that I misheard him or miscommunicated about the nature of the meeting (a bible study), but I soon realized I hadn't and they did end up attending. As people with no background knowledge of Jesus or Christianity, I'm sure not everything clicked, but they did connect with our community of students. They even lingered after the meeting was done, so much that they missed the last bus and had to walk one hour back home!

Since that first meeting they've joined our meetings consistently, slowly learning more about Jesus and growing in friendships. I've also enjoyed playing basketball with them almost weekly and helping them navigate their transition from high school to university.

I can't help but be excited for what God might be doing in their hearts right now. For one, these kinds of situations are why I came to Japan. I want students like them to experience the joy that they were created to experience through a relationship with the God who made them. I went to school at UNC years ago not expecting to have my life changed by God through Cru's ministry there. I want these guys to have a similar experience. Furthermore Chiharu and Nozomi aren't just any first year Japanese students; they have also become my good friends. I can really see God's work in my own life as I interact with them, and I learn a lot from them each time we hang out.

Would you pray for them with me? Pray that through our community and through their study of the bible (in our large-group meetings or in a more personal small group setting, which we hope to start with them), they would come to hear Jesus speaking to them.

As always, we appreciate each of you so much. Thank you for your constant support and prayers that allow us to serve here in Tokyo. The past couple months have felt like a whirlwind of events and busyness.

Summer Teams

Last month we welcomed two short-term teams (24 people in all) from the US. During their 4 weeks here they met students from campuses across Tokyo, and connected us to students who want to learn more about Jesus or get plugged into our ministry. Please join us in praying for all of the students they met. Above is a snapshot from a ministry and culture orientation we hosted for these teams at the beginning of their trip.

Outreach Party

A couple weeks ago, one of the summer teams hosted a "Culture Night" outreach party. The team, who was mostly Korean-American, shared some things from their culture (including topokki and a k-pop performance🕺🏻) and invited their Japanese friends to share about some things from theirs. They also took the opportunity to share about how Jesus has personally impacted their lives. About 10 Japanese students joined and some of them heard the gospel for the first time.

Falling Plates

At the outreach event, we showed a short video called "Falling Plates." It's one of Cru's gospel presentation videos and a few years ago the team here in Tokyo helped translate it into Japanese. Since then, it's been shown to hundreds of Japanese students, most of whom had never heard the message of God's redemptive love. The last line in the video is Jesus's voice asking, "Will you follow me?" At the outreach event a couple weeks ago one student, named Keiko, responded to this invitation with a resolute "yes" 🥳

Keiko's Story

Keiko studied abroad a few years ago and her host family took her to their church. At the time she couldn't understand everything, but she knew there was something special about this Jesus that people were worshiping. Fast forward to this year and she took a class at her university that is taught by a Christian man who happens to go to our church in Tokyo. As our ministry loves having the chance to partner with professors, we had asked if some of the Americans on our team could join his class and offer English support. He happily agreed and the very first day in his class Dylan met Keiko. As he (and others on our team) talked with her, it was so clear that God had prepared her heart to receive the gospel. She had just never heard the invitation so clearly. At the outreach party a couple weeks ago, as she was walked through what it means to follow Jesus and led in praying, she said she saw a vision. Jesus was reaching his hand out to her and she grabbed it 🤝 Since then, she's been thirsty to learn more at church and at our student gatherings. Last week she told me that she wakes up every morning feeling like a new person with the freedom that Jesus has given her, and that she wants so badly for more people here to experience it.

Motoka, who many of you know, is back in Japan for the summer! Her parents continue to express their thanks for all of you in the Bay Area who are caring for their daughter while she studies at SFSU. From recent conversations with Motoka, the impact that you all are making in her life is so clear.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• For Chiharu and Nozomi as they continue to learn about Jesus and following him
• For Keiko as she begins her journey of following Jesus - that she would continue to grow and experience the freedom of the gospel, and for protection for her heart and mind
• For new students we and others on the short-term teams have met, as well as those who have been coming to our events
• For me and Jessica - that we would serve with love and wisdom. As I transition to more full-time language study in the fall, Jessica will continue her HR role with our new staff, as well as her partnership coordinating role, so pray that she can gracefully navigate the complexities that those roles entail, as well as continue in her ministry to Japanese students
• For Christian professors and faculty in Tokyo - for courage, love, and wisdom as they seek to be faithful with the spheres of influence they've been given and care for their students well

"Tell them about the true meaning of Christmas!"

These words, directed at me (Dylan), less of an encouragement and more of a command, came from the lips of a professor we've been partnering with at Waseda University. Obari-sensei is a unique Japanese man in many ways. His small stature is paired with a commanding personality and a very direct style of communication that doesn't seem common in Japan. The most unique and special thing about him, though, is that he is a follower of Jesus.

Obari-sensei teaches students in the school of commerce at one of the top universities in Japan and his classes are designed to help them grow in cross-cultural communication. Even though most students come into his class expecting to learn about leadership and maybe improve their English skills, he considers one of his main purposes to challenge Japanese students' worldviews and use his position to expose students to a Biblical worldview. While we regularly join his classes to help students practice English conversation about a number of topics from cultural intelligence to the implications of artificial intelligence on society (which we feel quite under-qualified to speak on), during the month of December Obari-sensei invited our team to share with his students the true meaning of Christmas. Over the course of the month we attended seven classes and had the opportunity to share about Jesus with over 100 students.

Obari-sensei will be retiring soon, so we've been reflecting on his far-reaching impact on our ministry in Tokyo. Many of our ministry activities this year have a direct link to his influence. Students we have met up with one-on-one or invited to our holiday outreach events have largely come from his class. In fact, there was a student we met last year who, we discovered, had decided to become Christian after his family received a Bible from a stranger at a train station. He didn't know any other Christians and wasn't plugged into a church. Now he is a part of our ministry and testifying to other students about God's work in his life. Lastly, one of the most obvious ways our partnership with Obari-sensei has blessed our ministry happened early on when Jessica attended one of his classes in 2016 and met a freshman named Mayu, who eventually decided to follow Jesus and then join staff with Cru to work alongside us in reaching students with the gospel.

Reflecting on the fruit of our partnership with Obari-sensei makes us so grateful for our brothers and sisters who make up body of Christ, and for the ways we can partner together with the positions and resources God has given each of us to carry out His grand mission. Thank you for the role you're playing as well. Your partnership with our ministry through your prayers, giving, and encouragement is essential as we work toward the goal of giving every Japanese student an opportunity to hear about Jesus. We're so grateful for you all.

Love,

Dylan (& Jessica)

A few weeks ago our team spent some time 200 meters above the streets of Tokyo, praying over the city.

We were at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building 45th floor observatory, where the photo we always include in our newsletter (above) was taken. Jessica and I (Dylan) brought our new teammates there to give them a bird's eye view of their new home, the most populated metropolitan area in the world.

As I began to consider what was in front of my eyes, I realized I might be standing at one of the places in the world where you can look out and see the most people who don't know about Jesus. When that thought crossed my mind I felt that I was experiencing a heartbreaking paradox. I was looking out over this huge city that had been constructed so intricately while in the background listening to beautiful piano pieces that were being played so skillfully. Both the sights and the sounds I was taking in were testaments to the amazing creative ability of the people here. Through city planning, engineering and construction the Japanese people demonstrate they are made in the image of a creator God, and through creating and playing beautiful music they show the same. And yet so few of these people know Him personally. I felt like I could look down and see all the people toiling away, working tirelessly without a firm hope or a greater purpose.

At that moment God brought to my mind some of his words in the book of Jonah: "And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"(4:11).

God knew what I was seeing and feeling because that is what he always experiences. He looks down on the cities of man, full of pity and compassion for lost people. In those moments praying 200 meters above ground, God wasn't just stirring my heart for the people of Tokyo, he was showing me more of His.

Fall is around the corner and we're ramping up for a new semester. 

The next few weeks will be filled with lots of new things—new schedules, new responsibilities, new staff joining us, and new friendships with (hopefully) many students. As we step into this next season of ministry, would you pray for us and our team? Next week we will have our fall camp, where we'll retreat outside of the city with staff and student leaders for a time of connection and planning for the upcoming semester. Even with so much newness, our big-picture plan remains the same: (1) introduce students to Jesus (2) provide them with opportunities to grow and be equipped as Jesus-followers and (3) send them out to impact their communities, their nation, and the world. Together, we are working toward the day that everyone on a university campus in Tokyo knows at least one person who truly follows Jesus. Thank you for fueling this ministry through your prayers and giving. We're so grateful you're on our team.

A couple days ago marked two years of being married. We celebrated with tacos and this cookie milkshake, bought to share and drank entirely by me.

Summer is in full swing here in Tokyo

Watermelon-flavored items are being sold everywhere and stepping outside means stepping into a constant state of muggy sweatiness.

After a very full few weeks of meeting students on campus, spring semester has come to a close. Although Dylan and I missed the first couple months of the school year when it’s most easy and natural to meet new students, our team’s partnership with a couple professors at nearby universities opened the door for us to meet so many more students than we would have on our own. One of these students is a boy named Takumi.

I first met Takumi in a university English class our team was helping facilitate discussion in. When he was assigned to my small group, my first impression of him was: he wishes he hadn't been. As a very shy people-avoider for a good portion of life myself, I quickly picked up the vibes. The other students in the group weren’t necessarily pouring their hearts out during our discussion either, so rather than pulling teeth the whole period, I let go of any expectation that the conversation would go deep or touch on anything spiritually significant. And for the most part it didn't. Soon enough the period ended.

I don't know why I'm still surprised when I see evidence of God working in someone’s heart. He’s been in the business of working in hearts since the beginning. And yet, I felt that very familiar feeling of surprise when Takumi messaged me later that week to say that what I shared about Jesus (probably a couple sentences I spouted out during one of our group’s awkward silences) impacted him. He said he struggles with the same struggle I had shared about my life and wants to read the Bible during his summer break. He asked for our help. Would you join us in praying for Takumi, and for us as we come alongside him? Mayu (a former student, now on staff with us) is helping to develop new bible study material specifically for Japanese university students who, like her as a freshman, have never heard the message of Jesus. Please pray for Mayu and our team as the material is being developed. We’re hoping that through it, Takumi's search for a solution for his struggle becomes his discovery of a Person—one who won't just give him a solution but who promises to be his solution. Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and support for this ministry we share. We hope you know what a big impact you make!

Love, 

Jessica (& Dylan)

It's one year later than we had planned, but it looks like we'll soon be headed to Tokyo.

We picked up our visas from the Japanese consulate in SF a couple weeks ago, bought flights last week, secured an apartment in Tokyo a couple days ago, and have now started to organize our belongings and strategize the best way to pack up (and by we I mean Dylan; I'm a stuff-everything-in-my-suitcase right before leaving kind of packer). Thank you all for your prayers throughout this process! We are officially set to move to Japan early next month. We'll be leaving California towards the end of this month to spend our last couple weeks in North Carolina before heading overseas.

As we reflect on the past year and a half of what could seem like a long season of standing in front of a closed door, we are so thankful that it hasn't really felt like that. Our time with Bridges International filled each week with meaningful work, as well as helped us grow as ministers of the gospel and campus movement launchers. We got to take classes on theology, second-language acquisition, and transformative prayer. We began healthy rhythms of Sabbath and other practices that we trust will shape and form us into people who know the love of Christ more deeply and share it with others more readily. Even the times of ramping up to leave and then suddenly pushing the brakes, while somewhat disorienting, gave us a deeper sense our our rootedness in and calling to Christ and not any place. And lastly our extended time with family, friends, and supporters filled and refreshed our hearts.

Thank you all for being in this with us. We're grateful for your support that allows us to continue sharing the love of Christ with those who haven't heard. We cherish your continued prayers—that we would leave and transition overseas well, that we'd be a blessing to the team in Tokyo, and that Dylan wouldn't have a heart attack when he sees me still packing 15min before we have to leave for the airport.

Love,

Jessica (& Dylan)

Hirari, an international student from Japan, and I have been talking almost every day—in-person when I visit her campus and via video chat when I don't. I help her improve her English conversation skills. She patiently listens to me practice Japanese with topics that are probably too advanced for my level, and each time we end up learning a little more about the world through the other's eyes. I wouldn't say she's someone who's eager to learn about the Bible and she definitely doesn't light up when we talk about religion, but when we talk I get the sense she is searching for Jesus.

Recently I shared with Hirari something my Japanese tutor, Mika, said to me shortly after she started reading the Bible: "I used to think I was Buddhist or Shinto, but I realized that actually society was my god." I asked Hirari if she could resonate, to which she replied with a resounding YES and shared some examples from her life—times when fear of being in disharmony with (or disliked by) another dominated her heart, causing distress and inner-chaos. I could relate. Hirari and I talked about how we all have things we are inclined to chase after—approval from people, control over situations, comfort, etc. When our pursuit of these things dominates our hearts, they become functional idols in our lives. They rule over us and cause us to freak out when we don't get what we're striving for. Hirari shared that she knows her heart idol (which she admitted was approval from others) consumes her. She thought maybe if she had a different one ruling her heart—self-sufficiency or maybe achievement—things might go better for her and she might finally feel more free. At least she'd be less swayed by the opinions of others.

Our conversation that day continued until we eventually landed on the conclusion that any potential heart idol we adopt (self-sufficiency and achievement included) will continue to take from us and keep us feeling enslaved. But, I told her about one who is different. There is a man who already gave infinitely more than he will take, and who promises to set us free. He came 2,000 years ago so that we "may have life and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10). Would you join us in praying that Hirari would come to see that Jesus is the one she's searching for?

Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement, and support as we continue our ministry with international students here in the Bay Area. We're praying that each of you knows more deeply the love of Christ, that you might be filled with the fullness of God and experience the abundant life Christ came to give.

Dylan & Jessica

We're back in-person! The start of the semester was mostly online (for classes and for our ministry) but we're now back to meeting students on campus. Last week at our Valentine's picnic event at SJSU we felt just how eager students are for connection and meaningful conversation. Dylan led a discussion about how love is expressed in our different home cultures, and while we ended up spending the first half of our discussion fielding questions about dating in the US (gotta meet these students' felt needs), each student ended up sharing so openly about their views on love and their experience in various relationships. One student from Malaysia admitted that he'd been depressed for the past year and rarely opens up to people. After others shared, though, he was so moved by the vulnerability of the group that he felt compelled to say "I love you guys" as our discussion was wrapping up. At the end, another student from India admitted she'd been depressed for a while and had to be dragged to our picnic by another student. She teared up as she told me how grateful she was for this community where she felt so cared for. "The past two hours were like a dream," she said as she gave me a long hug. Would you pray for each of the students in this photo? I think most of them heard about the love of Christ for the first time at our picnic.

One of the ways we meet students is by approaching them on campus and introducing ourselves, something Dylan and I both are not naturally inclined to do. Although we've each done it hundreds of times over the years, we still sometimes have to fight the little voice in our head that says, "you're going to be a bother to them!" That little voice was silenced a couple weeks ago at our hiking outreach we organized for SJSU when we saw that six students were there because we had approached them on campus the week before. They each thanked us so much for walking up to them and inviting them into our community. Please join us in praying that these students would see that the love they feel in our initiating with them on campus—our moving towards them and inviting them—is only a tiny reflection of the initiating, action-taking, social norm-breaking love that Jesus has for them.

Thank you all for praying for Vision Conference over winter break! Hundreds of international students from around the world (studying on campuses across the US) gathered in Baltimore for a week to experience the global community, tour a new city, and learn about Jesus Christ. Dylan and I had such a good time connecting with students and facilitating discussions about who Jesus is and how he relates to our lives. During the last night (the night we asked you all to pray for) we each had really honest and meaningful conversations with a couple of students at our discussion table who are wrestling with questions they have about following Jesus. Join us in praising God for all his work in students' hearts over the conference and asking that he continues it as these students return to their campuses and home countries.

JAPAN DEPARTURE UPDATE

This may sound familiar (from the past two times we announced this in our prayer letter) but - just last week Japan announced that they will begin easing travel restrictions starting March 2022 (next month). As long as the restrictions stay lifted we will begin the process of applying for a visa in the coming weeks. We aren't yet sure when we will be able to leave for Japan but will continue to keep you updated on our progress. In the meantime, will you continue to pray for us to focus on loving and serving international students in our work with the SF Bay Area Bridges team?

PRAYER REQUESTS

For international students at SJSU - that many students would hear Jesus' invitation to life with him and receive it

For our ministry with Bridges - for wisdom and love for us (and our teammates) as we reach out to students at SJSU, Stanford, UC Berkeley, SF State, and Academy of Arts in SF

For me and Dylan - that we will continue to invest well in the places and people around us, even as we prepare to transition to life in Tokyo

Financial Update:

Recently we had a decrease in our monthly giving so that we are $300 per month below the minimum amount of support needed to live in Tokyo. Would you consider joining our team by starting to give monthly, increasing your monthly giving, or connecting us to someone you know who might want to join our team? We're so grateful for God's provision for our ministry through you! For those who haven't yet but would like to give, our joint staff account is designated by Dylan's previous staff account number: 0729082. You can click here to go directly to our giving page.

Starting Life and Ministry Together in Tokyo

Update: our marriage survived packing and moving to Tokyo! Jessica and I thank you for your many prayers. God has been gracious to us and we've experienced a pretty smooth transition so far.

During the summer of 2018 at our summer-long training for long-term overseas ministry we were encouraged by a teaching on Jeremiah 29 to make decisions about how we would live in a new culture based on a long-term mindset. God, through the prophet Jeremiah, tells the recently exiled Israelites to settle into Babylon and seek the good of the city. Our apartment here in Tokyo is the eighth apartment or home I’ve lived in since that summer four years ago. Most times I haven’t heeded that advice so well and I’ve been slow to settle in to a new place, knowing that I might only be there for a short period of time. Each time I’ve regretted that decision, first because my timing and God’s timing have been vastly different. And second, because it has really delayed both my ability to feel settled and more importantly my readiness to seek the good of the place I am staying.

As I have spent the last few weeks settling into a new culture, new team, and new apartment (I guess only the apartment is new for Jessica) I want to have that mindset. I don’t know how long God will have us living in Japan but I know that if I am to thrive here personally, feel at home, and seek the good of this city then I must live like this is my home.

So thankful for you all,

Dylan

(this message is approved by Jessica)