Memories of Japan

I remember dashing to the school library at recess when I was 10 and take out that red square book about Japan. I've borrowed it, took it home, brought it back and put it in a place in the library where only I could know where it is. I dreamed of becoming a swords-woman. A samurai. Seriously. I made plans of saving up money throughout high school and use that to fly to Japan and enroll in a school where they teach swordsmanship. I looked online and searched books about swordsmanship schools; dreamed of raining sakura as I read on histories, places, culture and values.

Because I didn't have proper chopsticks I brought barbecue sticks to eat my lunch at school and pretended I'm Japanese. I wanted to buy a kimono, a tabi and a futon for a start. I also began my self-study on their language but I guess the writing systems became the dead-end for me. It was too complicated for a 5th grader's brain, I guess. But still I continued reading more about Japan: how they sit, tea ceremonies and ikebana. I also decided that my Japanese name would be Yuki.

Well, so much for my memories about a land I've never been to...

Last week, Japan was rocked by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake followed by a heart-wrenching tsunami. Childhood memories of Japan wakened my heart to really pray for this country that I have loved even before Korea. Okay, so that statement may sound that I have lived in Japan when I was a child. No, I didn't. Never laid my feet on that land but I'd want to someday.

Japan is rich and economically advanced that they would seem needless but inside their souls are very dry. Even if Christianity is allowed in their country, there's so much thirst for materialism; Buddhism and Shintoism still prevail.

Pray for Japan. Pray that God would raise more believers and that the whole of Japan would know Christ.