Our First Japanese Baptism

Wow, what a day! Lots of firsts again today. Main ones being:

* Tried sugar coated TOFU donut - delicious!
* Tried some more Japanese side dishes I don't know the name or ingredients of :)
* Peter went to observe Koyo Chapel's monthly JSC (Junior Senior Church for Middle & High School students) worship service
* I got to meet and chat with Sa-chan while her 11 month old daughter Sakura-chan (yes, as in "cherry blossom") and Sungjae hung out together in Koyo Chapel's tatami room
* Ate bento lunches we bought at a supermarket this morning in between Sunday morning service (10:30-11:30) and the baptism service (1:30) and got to meet & chat with a few other ladies while they also ate their bento lunches
* Juhee met and played with lots of kids at Koyo today (1st pic) :)
* OUR FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN!!!


The baptism was such a special, really heart warming, spiritually exciting event. It was very... unique too. Everyone faced the front of the chapel (pic 2) during Pastor Haitaka's short message, the hymns, and the testimonies (pic 3) (oh how I wished I could understand every word!!! thank God for Sion-san who translated parts of them into Korean for me =D) but then when the time came for the actual dunking (very technical term I know =D), everyone got up and simultaneously turned their chairs around! And just like that, they were all in perfect lines, facing the back of the chapel (pic 4) where the tub was.





















The pastors stood outside of the tub with their sleeves rolled up and the six that were baptized today went in one by one and kneeled at the front (pic 5). After being dunked, they would come out of the tub, were wrapped in a towel/gown by the person helping them out of the tub and then they went downstairs to shower and get dressed.

A group of ladies wiped the water off the floor each time (pic 6).

Once it was all done, the water was drained (they used a bucket too to help speed up the process) down a sink that was hidden on the floor in the cupboard (pic 7).

The tub itself was amazing. It's a makeshift one with no bottom and they keep the water in it using just plastic! I managed to get one pic of the tub before they started dismantling it (pic 8). You have to see the video I took of them dismantling it & putting it away. Notice that there's no floor piece! I didn't catch the beginning but you'll get an idea...

In the first video, the older gentleman in the suit with glasses is Pastor Haitaka. He's in the second one too helping the others remove the plastic from the floor. He is a very humble, wise, godly, highly respected man and we're very honored to be working with him.

In the second video, the other big piece of plastic that's next to the flat one that they're peeling off, is the one that they used to keep the water in the tub. This tub was designed by a Japanese pastor, one of our pastors was able to get the blueprint and a church member made it. Isn't it pretty cool? :)




6 people made a public declaration in front of their Christian friends and family today. We look forward to helping to keep them accountable in their Christian walk and to pour out our love on them. It was a joyful event full of celebration and tears of joy and we know that angels in Heaven were rejoicing with us.

Thank YOU for rejoicing with us too. I'm so glad I have you to share this exciting day with. :)

With a warm and joyful heart,
Jenny