Passion 4 Japan

Who are we?

We have different nationalities (South African and North American) and were born in different countries (South Africa, Japan and USA). Where is “home?” is a difficult question to answer - especially for TCKs (Third Culture Kids; in this case: Stephen, Peter and Luke).

One common denominator for us is Japan, where we are all currently living. Two of us were born in Japan; Dale has lived more than half his life in Japan; we all have Japanese Permanent Residence; all of us like “natto” (fermented soya beans); and all of us love “onsens” (Japanese hot spring baths.) Yet we are not Japanese and will always feel the linguistic, cultural and “fair-skin” barriers of not fitting in completely in Japan.

In 1979, when Dale and Maude left South Africa with OMF, we first went for a (then) three month OMF International Orientation Course in Singapore. Imagine our surprise when the immigration authorities did not want to let us into Singapore because we were South Africans! (This was the height of the international backlash against apartheid.) We were finally alllowed into Singapore temporarily and were given 24 hours to leave a week later. Through this, God used Philippians 3:20 to teach us a vital and important lesson:
“We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” (Philippians 3:20)

Maude entered heaven on August 20, 2007. Dale and Karen met for the first time January 2008 in Nagoya and were married in October, 2008.

Louis Giglio has written a great book called, “I Am Not But I Know I AM” referring to God revealing Himself to Moses as “I AM”. Pray that we may find our self-identity in Christ as we see our smallness and as we grow in knowledge of the awesome “I AM” Living God. May we also grow in the knowledge that this “I AM” also walks with us each day and reveals His Presence with us each moment of each day!

Stephen・ Karen ・Luke・ Dale・ Peter