Off to the States

Two days ago, I came back from Mongolia. I still need to let you all know how I got back from Mongolia. I will write more about that story later. But today, I'm leaving for the States. This time I'm taking 30 Japanese pastors and leaders to Boston and NY City. We will visit churches to learn what's happening with them. We also visit places like Harvard University, Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty and etc. Why plan this kind of tour every other year. There are several reasons for doing this: 1) By leaving Japan, we can think about the issues of Japan better. When you are in the midst of the context, it is harder to see the real issues. You are mostlikely thinking about what you face currently. But once you leave the coutry you reflect about your context in a very different perspective. You can think out side the box. 2) By exposed to a very different model of doing thinkgs, you start thinking about things in a priciple level. Every effective model has universal principles woven in. You would not take the modelsa or strategies as they are but you will identify the principles by thinking the questions like Why do they do what they do? you also think about why don't they work in Japan. This process help you to identify the foundational principles. 3) By being the tourists, you can create a learning community effectively. Many of the people who participate in the tour don't have good opportunities to learn because they are constantly teaching. The tourists are learners. The setting aslo creates horizontal relationships. They bond much better with the "comon threat." Well, you may not want this long explanation of why we do this.

It's time to board...