I like the idea of being a witness, bringing glory to God through the way I live, the love that I show others, and the things I say and do.

I think of my life this way: I’m not a canvas on which Christ’s image is painted, but rather a window through which others can see Jesus. Living a Christian life doesn’t mean covering up who I am underneath (like ink on a canvas), because God made me—and you—exactly the way we are for a reason. We each have particular gifts that we can use to glorify God like no one else can.

For we are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

For example, I’m terrible at conversing with others about spiritual things, and I don’t know much about the Bible, but that doesn’t stop God from using me anyway. One night I came across a student in a UCLA parking lot whose car wouldn’t start and who needed to be at the downtown Greyhound Station in 15 minutes. I told him that I’d drive him and when he asked why, I explained that God had blessed me with a car, a love for driving, and a free evening, and that I didn’t think it was just coincidence that our paths had crossed.

We got to the station with no time to spare, and he asked if there was anything he could do to repay me; I just told him to be a blessing to others as I was to him. I might not have shared the whole gospel with him in the few minutes we had together, but I believe that God was able to use that experience to work on his heart, and that Jesus was shining through my act of service.

So, why Japan?

I’ve been growing in my faith and my relationship with God these past four years at UCLA, especially through the campus ministry I’m a part of (In Christ Alone, or ICA). Last summer, I even went on a 3-week training program with them to San Diego that I really enjoyed and that I felt really helped me mature more, spiritually.

For this summer, I decided that I had the perfect opportunity to really show my trust in God’s sovereignty and provision by devoting my two months off from school to serving in Japan with the Navigators. God blessed me with a love for teaching, a heart to serve others, and a free summer between college and graduate school to do it, and I refused to pass up the opportunity to go. I also felt particularly drawn to Japan because of my heritage.

A group of us serving the community during
the 2006 ICA summer training program.

From June 18 to August 6, I’ll be in Shizuoka getting to know local college students through outings, small-group English classes, and some Bible study. Thankfully, knowing the Japanese language is not required, so I won’t be hindered by that (if you were wondering). I’m excited for this summer and I can’t wait to see what God does in me and through me.

I used to think that only ultra-spiritual people went on missions trips like this, but in the past three years I’ve seen many of my average college friends spend a month or more overseas to spread the gospel and serve others, and this year I’ve even felt called to go myself. I’m not writing to tell you to do the same, but rather to let you know that ordinary people actually do things like this, devoting an entire summer to being representatives of God all around the world.

I’d like to leave you not with a summons to missions, but an encouragement to show God’s love to others and be a witness for Christ in whatever way you feel convicted.

And whatever you do,
whether in word or deed
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the father through him.

Colossians 3:17

With Love,
Robert