Sorry blog world, for the lapse of blog entries. No excuses, just admitting it has been hard to get back in the swing of things after Christmas. I so appreciate that you, dear blog reader, take the time from your busy schedule to read about and pray for our family and ministry. Thank you! I am still committed to updating this blog weekly and I will do my best to keep up; so keep stopping by!
New Year's here in Japan, the biggest "holiday" of the year, has come and gone. Most businesses and small shops are closed from Jan. 1-3 and most Japanese get a week off of work. People return to their "hometown" to visit their parents where a special New Year's food is prepared and time is spent with extended family.
Another aspect of starting the New Year is visiting the Shinto shrine. Even though most Japanese would claim to be Buddhist, there is an interesting mix of Shintoism and even animism, along with the Japanese Folk Buddhism here (very different than the traditional Buddhism found in other Asian countries like Thailand). Japanese visit a Shinto shrine where they pray for blessing and protection for the new year. Even several weeks after the 1st we saw "Shrine Tours" sponsored by the train company where groups were led from one local shrine to the next.
We noticed fresh "offerings" of flowers, fruit, candy and even a glass of water on the small "alter" around the corner of our house (pictured above). Special decorations (pictured below) made of straw, paper and greenery are bought and placed on the front door during the first week of New Year's in hopes of keeping evil spirits from entering the house.
How sad to see so many Japanese around us blinded to the True Giver of protection and blessing! May God's Spirit come upon this country in a fresh, new way this year that they may clearly see the lie they are living and the Truth God's Word offers!
