Even though many Japanese speak English, making communication possible on one level, the Daniels know that hearing the good news of Christ in their native Japanese will have a deeper impact. That’s why, after seven patient years of raising support and finalizing their vision, one of the Daniels’ first steps on arriving in Japan this past September was to enroll in Japanese language classes.
When the Daniels stepped off the plane to make Japan their new home, they were met by Encompass Global Workers Ralph and Joan Justiniano, who have lived in Japan for years. The Justiniano Family helped them set up a bank account, buy furniture for their apartment, and get internet with cell phone service. Registering for language school was the next priority, and they praise the Lord that they got into the last two remaining spots in the class. Missing that would have set them months behind in their cultural learning progress.
So far, the Daniels have been in class for only a few days, and the workload is already heavy. From day one the classes have been taught entirely in Japanese. The school is very fast paced, and all the students are starting from the ground up. The Daniels are the only Americans in a class of mostly Chinese students.
One of the aims of the language school is to have the class members get to know each other so that they can learn the language as a group rather than as individuals. They have already started introductions in Japanese, and soon the class will take a field trip to Kyoto together. The Daniels are praying that God uses this trip as an opportunity for them to make new friends.
Learning Japanese will take enormous effort, but the Daniels’ motivation is strong. Their desire is to develop deep, authentic relationships with the people around them, and speaking the same heart language is the first step toward that goal.
Will you join us in praying for the Daniels as they take on this difficult but critical task?
“But what does it say? The word of faith that we proclaim is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” –Romans 10:8
