One of the joys of coming to Fukushima is to meet young people who are committed to Fukushima and want to dedicate their lives to serving their homeland even after so many other young people have left Fukushima in search of better futures, better education and better jobs.
The children who just finished elementary school 8 years ago at the time of the 3/11 triple disaster are now young adults studying in universities or working. They are the direct fruit of the faithful ministry of Reverends Yoshio and Toyomi Sanga at Grace Garden Chapel in Koriyama. These young people spent their entire teenage years learning to serve their hurting neighbours in the most practical ways by serving the disaster victims in their communities. During high school, they formed music bands and created music to offer safe places for other teenagers to hangout after school. They volunteered helping after-school programs for young children or helping at their church. These "kids" that I knew are now young adults preparing themselves to serve Fukushima in the near future as they are now all in their twenties, not teenagers any more.
"20" is a big year in Japan as there is a public ceremony in January for young people turning 20 that year in every local community. These young attended the public ceremony of the rite of passage. This means that these people are not children any more and they are responsible for their own life. So I asked them to share a highlight of the year since I saw them last year.
Noah is a dietician working in the food industry. Noah loves food and loves cooking and serving food. She and a few other young people from the church went to Hiroshima after a bad flood and landslide to help in the relief work. Serving gives her joy.
Yui is studying to be a kindergarden teacher. Her biggest news this year is that her parents accepted Jesus and started attending church. Yui started coming to church as a child by herself and her parents were not supportive of her becoming Christian. After praying for them for a long time, they finally accepted the faith Yui demonstrated to them day in, day out. "It was God's divine timing and God's way is so unique," Yui said with a smile.
Ayana's highlight of the year was that she went to Hawaii on a short term mission trip with a few other young people from her church. During high school she had to persevere under pressure (and persecution) from her parents because she became Christian. Praying for her family is her ongoing mission.
Kota is not a Christian but found a family and friends when he first stepped into the door of Grace Garden Chapel. He had been introduced to a church before when he was living in Tokyo but it didn't mean much to him as he didn't know how to related to people there. He comes from a family that do not value religion but after he moved back to Fukushima he started hanging out with these wonderful young people here who made him feel welcomed like his own family.
Yui turned 20 this year. For Yui, this meant that she can decide matters of her own life and she decided to be baptized, finally. Her parents are against Christianity and never allowed her to be baptized until she turned 20. The first thing she wanted to do is to make a public statement of following Jesus! She is very happy as a baptized believer now.
Akito studies psychology and social work in university in Fukushima because he wants to serve suffering people in Fukushima. He is passionate about the younger generation. He is passionate to see children and youth thriving at church. His highlight of the year is that he was able to lead some of the high school students to Christ he teaches at a cram school (as his part-time job while studying at university).
I met Akito when he was just a kid after elementary school. He was following his parents to go to the evacuee shelters to serve disaster victims. A few years ago he was still in high school busy studying and making and playing music with friends, Akito already demonstrated a deep faith in Christ and prayerful thoughts. When I asked him about what he thought of Fukushima and disaster as a teenager, this is how he answered.
The children who just finished elementary school 8 years ago at the time of the 3/11 triple disaster are now young adults studying in universities or working. They are the direct fruit of the faithful ministry of Reverends Yoshio and Toyomi Sanga at Grace Garden Chapel in Koriyama. These young people spent their entire teenage years learning to serve their hurting neighbours in the most practical ways by serving the disaster victims in their communities. During high school, they formed music bands and created music to offer safe places for other teenagers to hangout after school. They volunteered helping after-school programs for young children or helping at their church. These "kids" that I knew are now young adults preparing themselves to serve Fukushima in the near future as they are now all in their twenties, not teenagers any more.
"20" is a big year in Japan as there is a public ceremony in January for young people turning 20 that year in every local community. These young attended the public ceremony of the rite of passage. This means that these people are not children any more and they are responsible for their own life. So I asked them to share a highlight of the year since I saw them last year.
I met Akito when he was just a kid after elementary school. He was following his parents to go to the evacuee shelters to serve disaster victims. A few years ago he was still in high school busy studying and making and playing music with friends, Akito already demonstrated a deep faith in Christ and prayerful thoughts. When I asked him about what he thought of Fukushima and disaster as a teenager, this is how he answered.
"It's like the story of the blind young man in John's gospel (ch. 9). It's not his sin that he was blind, but it is to glorify God. It is not our fault that we live in Fukushima or that Fukushima had the terrible disasters. Some say we are cursed, and others urge us to escape from here. But I believe we are blessed to live in Fukushima and serve the hurting people here, because we know Jesus and have hope in him."These young people are the true future of Fukushima and the hope for the coming generation!
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