Well, after more than two weeks of concerts and travelling throughout Japan, the "Cherry Blossom Tour" has finally come to an end. Each concert was a unique experience and His Spirit was among us.
On 3/22 in Yorishima about 40 people attended. At the end of the concert Bard shared and eventually lead the group in a prayer for salvation. After all was said and done, the next day we received an unexpected and very generous donation from Saho and Rio's family. It was particularly surprising because their father is a Buddhist monk. Only God knows what is going on with this situation.
The next day 3/23 in Fukuyama the group performed at Takeshima Chapel because it was raining. This concert turned out to be a wonderful blessing for the church. Once things got going the whole church (about 50 people) was dancing and full of life, praising the Lord! The Lord really encouraged the church so much that on the next day Setsuko got an email from Masahara san saying he was touched and moved by such an unforgettable resurrection day celebration. Praise the Lord!
Even Bard and Henry commented that it was one of the highlights up to that point.
On 3/24 in Hiroshima there were more than 100 people. We had trouble with the PA system, but some how despite the technical difficulties, people were blessed. After the performance Bard again lead the group in a prayer to receive salvation. Following that we enjoyed great fellowship with the regulars from the "Mountain Worship" Christian fellowship. Another blessed time!
The next concert was on 3/26 in the busy little "Sunsutei" shopping center at the Fukuyama station. There were rules and regulations about what could be said since it was a commercial location. But despite everything, many people seemed to enjoy themselves and were blessed. An example on how we got around the regulations was when Bard gave his testimony of how his "Best Friend" is always with him. Also, the PA guy was not a Christian, he was a friend of Masahara san from Takeshima chapel, so it was good opportunity for him to hear the Gospel too. Another interesting point was the fact that it rained that day, especially since we had originally wanted to play an outdoor concert and were a little discouraged when things didn't work out. It just goes to show that God is in control!
On 3/27 we travelled up into the mountains to a little place called Niimi, it is the town I worked in this past year. There were about 50 people who showed up. The concert was a success, especially since two of the ladies from the Niimi Bible study accepted Christ when Bard gave the invitation prayer! This was the highlight of it all! After a year of living in a secluded town and struggling at various times to understand why God had allowed me to end up there, I was able to see one of the reasons why...It was all worth it in the end...Praise the Lord for His wisdom!
After a long drive through the heart of Japan, we ended up in Tokyo where we played two concerts at the Kick Back Cafe. Overall, these concerts were performances rather than outreaches due to the relationship focus that the Kick Back ministry emphasizes. The believe in sharing the Gospel gradually and building relationships over time so that people will continue to return to the cafe and perhaps a Sunday or a Wednesday service and eventually be saved. The cafe was a great place where people could enjoy great food and enjoy live music. Despite the restriction on prayer, Bard was still able to share the Gospel. God used these concerts to bless many people through new relationships and great fellowship. Many thanks to Mare san and Kohashi san along with the Kick Back staff for their wonderful hospitality and kindness!
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