My First Japanese Embrace

One time I tried to hug my cousin good bye, and it was probably one of the most awkward things I've ever done... I think she actually tried to push me away! Typically, it's not very culturally accepted in Japan. But today, at Vila Ema, a Japanese-Brazilian church plant here in Sao Paulo, I received my first hug from a Japanese person..

Last night when Alex and I were discussing schedules and times to be ready for church, he said that Vila Ema started at 10:00am. Being aware of the Brazilian time schedule, I understood it common and accepted to be at least an hour late. So with that assumption, I responded, "So church actually starts at 11:00am right?" And Alex's response was, "Nooo, they're Japanese." haha...

The church was held in a garage with about 30 or so attendees. Most everyone was Japanese, with a few Europeans. All of the worship was done in Portuguese. Fortunately, I understood because they were all songs I recognized, but it was still fun following along in Portuguese. At one point, they switched gears and sang "Shout to the Lord" in Japanese, but that's all the Japanese that was spoken the whole time. I was glad to have the opportunity to move over to the corner with a translator and two other elderly Japanese people to hear the message in Japanese. I think they were really confused when a gringa like me busted out her Japanese Bible and nodded at every good part of the message!

At the end of the service, I was blown away, and really thrown off into confusion when a mob of elderly Japanese ladies and men attacked me with elongated embraces, stretched smiles, and pecks on the cheek... I have never seen such warm greetings come from Japanese people. I can honestly say that that was the first hug I received from a Japanese person. I suppose that warmth and charisma is what makes them also Brazilian. I hope and pray that that is a door wide open for evangelism! I was touched by the conversations I had, and my time at Vila Ema only makes me more excited for the ministry I have prepared for me in Brasilia for the coming weeks..


Christian and Missionary Alliance Church (at Vila Ema)



If you look closely at the screen, that is "My Jesus, My Savior" in Japanese.

The Brazilian family sent by the Brazilian C&MA to Japan. I believe they are specifically ministering to the many Japanese-Brazilians who have reverse-migrated back to Japan for economic reasons. The Brazilians in Japan are considered "dirty people" because they mostly work the "dirty jobs." Japanese people tend to be racist against people who are not pure blood. Therefore, the Japanese-Brazilians in Japan have been very open to the Gospel.

Lunch after church: Brazilian BBQ, all you can eat steak! Pretty much, they come around with different parts of a cow on a stick and you say yes or no to it... and WHY don't we have this in the states? Oh, and it's only like $R20, like 15 U.S. dollars...

The Zell's passing me on the the Bubna's until Tuesday

An interesting fact I learned about Brasilia today: the city of Brasilia has only been in existence since 1956! A bit more history for ya.. for the next 5 weeks, I'll be in a "planned city." The capitol of Brazil was always Rio or Salvador, so in order to get some of the population to move inland, the government hired people from all over Brazil to construct the city. The Japanese population is there now because of relocation and farming. As you can see, Brasilia is a very modern looking city.. my kind of city!


Well, for two nights until my flight to Brasilia, I'm with Tim and JoLee Bubna, the C&MA field directors of Brazil. I haven't had any bad host family experiences yet... even if I did, I wouldn't post it anyway ;-)

Later gator