Articles

The cherry blossom – or Sakura- is Japan’s unofficial national flower.
It has been celebrated for centuries as one of the most beautiful and delicate parts of the Japanese culture.
Sakura blossoms bloom for only a few days during the warmer months of spring. And so, every March and April millions of Japanese take the time to gather in parks, castles, along riverbanks and where ever the sakura grow for the past time of ‘hanami’ or flower viewing.

But why is this? What is it about these small pink flowers that draws people’s hearts and minds?

We asked one of our missionary-kids what life is like growing up in Japan, and here is her answer.
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A Wind of Grace is Blowing in Yoshino!

Yoshino church is located in the southern part of Nara Prefecture, and was planted by WEC International 55 years ago. At present, Pastor Ushiroyama and his family are working in Yoshino church. Our missionaries Richard and Candy Yim who are a Singaporean and Hong Kong couple moved to Yoshino 2 years ago and have been working together with this Japanese couple.

Die Rakusei Kirche ist eine der inspirierendsten Kirchen die ich je in Japan gesehen habe. Sie hat junge, mittlere und alte Mitglieder und viele neue Christen. Ich habe vier Monate im Jahr 2008 dort verbracht, dies als Teil meiner Orientierungsperiode als neue WEC-Missionarin in Japan. Ich genoss die Gemeinschaft mit den 10 Kids und 30 Erwachsenen die Teil dieser Kirche sind und ich konnte aus erster Hand erfahren, wie eine Kirche hier in Japan operiert, was ihre Evangelisationsmethoden sind und wie sie als Grossfamilie zusammenleben.

Rakusei church is one of the most inspiring ones I’ve seen in Japan. It has young, middle-aged and older members, and lots of new Christians. I spent four months with them in 2008, as part of my orientation period as a new WEC Japan missionary, to see first-hand how a Japanese church operates. I enjoyed spending time with the 10 children and 30 adults in the church, and learning about their ways of being family together and their outreach methods.