Reflections from Jeremy Lim

6-13 July 2011 (Team 9)

A disciplined lifestyle

Firstly, the lifestyle in Japan led me to a more disciplined life with healthier habits like waking up early and sleeping early. This was something that I struggled at as I usually sleep around 3am and get up around 12pm. However since this trip, I've been sleeping much earlier and getting up at timings that once seemed impossible to me. Even simple things such as taking the effort to make my own bed every morning was another routine that I've changed in my daily life.

Kindness & Love

During the volunteer work, I've learnt that as Christians we have to show kindness and love, and to show it excessively. We have to go beyond what the world can offer. I remembered one of the leaders of the Samaritan's Purse sharing that many of the Japanese folks who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami asked volunteers whom they have met: "Are you Christians?" When the answer was affirmative, they replied was that it was kind of expected as most of the people who have come to help were Christians.

That really got me meditating on how we, through the desire to bless and help people, have separated ourselves (Christians) from the rest of the world. If we are truly to become the light of the world, we have to stand out in many areas, especially in kindness and love. In my opinion, the world is really lacking in love - which is why most pop songs released today, are love songs that are seen as 'solutions' to relationship problems. Thus as Christians, we have to be excessive in our love and kindness towards others.

I've learnt that even a little effort and kindness goes a long way. When we were doing construction work, the daily delivery (blessing) of ice cream was something that I was really grateful for and something that I looked forward to. Even though blessing us with an ice cream everyday was something that was neither required nor requested, the owners of the house were always very kind to us. Thus, I made a promise to myself that if I saw a construction worker in Singapore, I would definitely try my best to buy him an ice cream too.

Pace of life

During the time spent in Sendai, Miyagi, where we did construction work, the simple lifestyle of the country side led to a different pace of life - one that I actually liked and desired since the time of my youth. When we travelled to Shinjuku, Tokyo, the pace of life returned to a city pace, which was similar to Singapore. It seemed to me that my entire life had been assimilated into a city pace, where one's sight might not have always been focused on God, as there were many distractions around. This was something that I had learnt, not to be caught up by the pace of the environment and to focus on the important things in life.

The "parable" that Pastor Patrick Chew shared

There was something that caught my attention and is still hovering in my thoughts. When we were doing construction work on the 3rd day, Pastor Patrick shared how construction work was actually related to our lives - when we become Christians and when we live on as Christians. Pastor Patrick related how removing "walls", which were the major problems in our lives, were the first and actually the fastest things to be taken by God. The nails, clearing up and chipping of small areas, actually represents the smaller areas in our lives that God wants us to change and they usually take the longest time. Being there and being part of the team that went through the construction process, I was able to fully understand that concept and teaching. I was struck by such a simple and yet profound message - something that I always knew yet overlooked.

Japanese working culture

During the time spent in Japan, I've gained a greater understanding as well as a firsthand experience of watching how the Japanese work. Though I've always respected and knew about their work culture, they still really impressed me. The amount of effort and respect they have for their work is simply amazing! They put in their best efforts in every task, even menial jobs like a train cleaner or a police officer in charge of directing traffic. The train cleaners in Japan would line up outside the train after cleaning, bow and say thank you very much before politely asking commuters to enter the train. The way they were operating, made it seem like it was a great privilege to work and assist train commuters. This was something I felt that Singaporeans greatly lacked in and is something that I, as well as many Singaporeans, have to work on. We have to do our best in whatever job or function we're doing and not look at it simply as an 8am to 5pm job. Instead, my outlook in life has changed. Drawing lessons from how the Japanese work - now I know that it is a privilege to work and it is my duty to do my best!

Operating in society and work

What inspired Team 9 to be able to do speedy construction work was our mentality that we were not doing this to be paid but we were doing this to bless Japan. I think this separated us from some of the other volunteers that might have chosen to slack during work. We chose to continue and work the best that we could, even though we were tired and hot. It was this very mentality that constantly encouraged us not to give up and remind ourselves that we were doing this to benefit the Japanese society. Team 9 was also willing to do any of the jobs that were delegated to us. Whether it was sweeping, hammering, chiselling or drilling, if help was needed, the team always volunteered and just went ahead without complaining. This was something that I've reflected and realised how we should also apply it in our daily lives.

Thankfulness

Whenever I mentioned that I was on a volunteer trip to help Japan, I would receive a profusion amount of thanks from the locals. I could see genuine thankfulness and gratefulness in their eyes. I'm not too sure if Singaporeans can ever achieve that standard of simple gratefulness but it is something that I will definitely try to thrive at.

Testimonies I've came across

Through the tsunami, the opening of doors in Japan is just simply amazing. I remember the testimony that Andrew from Samaritan's Purse shared. He recounted how he gave out a few Bibles in a centre where the tsunami and earthquake refugees stayed at. The next day, another group came by and found this old lady happily reading it and saying that it was interesting and that it has been given to her by a group that came by yesterday. Two weeks later, when Andrew and his group went back to the centre and were giving out Bibles, they were swarmed by people who were requesting for the Bible as well! Elderly people went up to Andrew saying "Watashi-mo (私も)" which means "Me too" - and were eager to read the Bible. One of the elderly women who requested for a Bible said that her friend had told her that the book was very interesting and had many good principles to learn from. Another testimony shared by Samuel - testified how an old man told the Samaritan's Purse staff that in the past, he had received various Christian books but he has never bothered reading them. However, after the disaster occurred and after seeing how Christians came over to help, he began to read what had been given to him.

Church in Japan

Growing up in a mega church, it was my first time seeing an entire Church the size of an average cell group. It was just strangely humbling to me and very insightful. I really loved how everyone was close to each and how everyone knew each other. The culture of the Church was quite an eye opener. They would initiate sharing sessions such as "The most memorable summer of your life" and got everyone to contribute. I knew that sharing sessions were common in the Japanese culture, but I had never imagined the Church doing it. In fact, I've never been to any cell group in Singapore or in Australia that had anything like that. It was warm, friendly and bonding. Even the simple singing sessions with Andrew at night were actually very fun. Whenever I try to initiate something like that in Singapore, I would be faced with a lot of objections from Christian friends who either can't be bothered or did not enjoy the hassle. In fact we should embrace sharing sessions like these and not look down upon them!