JohnstonJournal.com | The official website of Jeff & Nozomi Johnston

- by Jeff -

This month my original 3-year spousal visa to Japan was set to expire—August 20 to be exact. So I started the renewal process the recommended two months prior to the expiration date.

I thought to myself, "No problem, plenty of time."

I started filling out a bunch of paperwork—one of the joys of being a foreign missionary. Nozomi and I worked diligently to complete everything as carefully as possible, even including our marriage certificate and a legal copy of her Takeda family record. When everything was in order, I took my first trip to the Immigration Office.

Being that it was summer vacation for the kids, I took the whole family. To get there, we road our bicycles to my local train station and parked them... then took our first train about 25 minutes to downtown Tokyo... then transferred to another train for 30 more minutes. Then we walked a few minutes to the bus stop, and boarded the bus over Tokyo Bay to a small peninsula.

Upon arrival, we looked for the right window at the huge Immigration Office. I pulled my ticket number and sat down.  The family went to find some lunch.

When my number was finally called, I submitted my paperwork to the agent. She looked everything over, then told me to come back between August 5-19 to pick up my new extension permit.

I reassured my family, "No problem, plenty of time."

You see, the kids were just a tad concerned because we had read a notice saying I was subject to deportation two weeks after the expiration of my visa, even if my renewal application had been submitted and was still pending. Ellie even had a nightmare that I was sent packing!

On August 5, two full weeks before my original visa expired, I returned to the Immigration Office to pick up my new visa. My family again accompanied me on the journey. Because I have a September 7 airline ticket for Singapore to attend meetings, I also planned to purchase a re-entry permit the same day I got my visa. Without that re-entry permit, they would not let me back into Japan after my trip to Singapore.

After my number was called, I approached the counter. Uh-oh! Something looked wrong. I could see two agents talking about my paperwork, looking concerned.  It seemed as if the man and the woman were doing "Rock-Paper-Scissors" to see who would tell me the bad news.

The man lost. His hands were literally shaking as he explained to Nozomi and me that one important piece of paperwork—namely her family record from her hometown's city office several hours north of Tokyo—was obsolete. Though nothing had changed on the document, it was older than 3 months. Since it was actually 6 months old, it would not meet compliance.

He reassured us, "There's plenty of time to get your wife's paperwork from Sendai and submit it."

With no new visa or re-entry permit, we all were a little bummed. So we decided to hit Sony Explora Science museum nearby before heading home. We actually made it onto their blog (http://sonyexplorascience.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2010-08-05), having our photo taken for promotional purposes!

FROM SONY'S BLOG: "When we were taking photographs on the third floor, some guests who were passing by joined in the photo with us. They were fun-loving, photogenic customers. Thank you for your participation."

Afterward, we worked quickly to obtain a fresh Takeda family record from Sendai, and I headed back to Shinagawa for the third time—this time alone—to get the visa "extension of stay" permit and multiple re-entry permit.

Fortunately, I successfully obtained both permits that day, with two days to spare! No problem, plenty of time.

My wife and kids are glad this alien didn't get deported.

 Japan's Yen rate continues to climb, pressure missionaries

- by Jeff Johnston -

The Japanese Yen (¥) rate is approaching the strongest level in 15 years recently — hitting ¥85.33 to US$1 earlier this month.

According to Bloomberg's Alex Kowalski, the Yen rate has climbed 3% against all 16 major currencies this year. He writes:

"The yen typically strengthens in times of financial turmoil as Japan's trade surplus makes the currency attractive as it means the nation does not have to rely on overseas lenders."

Though many experts view the 85-Yen mark as the time for the government to take steps to weaken the currency, Kowalski says it's doubtful that it will do so.

Combined with a bad economy and soaring health care costs, it's a tough recipe to swallow. It's a struggle for missionaries to stay on the field. You cut where you can and then pray you can survive the onslaught.

We're not alone, as missionaries are feeling the pinch in many places, not just Japan. Churches in North America have had to cut back their support to missionaries due to a difficult economy. We know of a dozen or so families across the globe have reluctantly had to leave the field because they can no longer sustain the level of support needed.

What can we do? Do we just fold up our tent and call it a day?

Actually, I think there are several things we should be doing to address some of these core challenges. Here are a few:

1) Pray for God to send laborers and to provide the funds for the laborers He has sent.

Matthew 9:37-38 "Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.' "

Pray also that the U.S. Dollar would strenghten against the Japanese Yen.

2) Give to missions where God burdens you. Praise God for many who are giving sacrificially to advance His work in the world.

3) Stewardship - Mission organizations need to continue to look for creative ways to achieve a greater degree of stewardship. J. Hudson Taylor said: "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." If He's not providing, then maybe we need to look hard at what we're doing and make some changes.

4) Partnership in the Base Camp - That said, I think there are good missions doing good things, but they just don't have a good economy of scale. Organizations will need to consider whether they can achieve more together than separately. Leveraging resources and administrative support is one way to achieve a better economy of scale. These difficult economic times could be God's way of bringing together more partnerships in the base camp.

This is what Asian Access is now seeking to do. (See "Asian Access seeks sizable ministry expansion".) We have a great mandate in Japan, but think it's time to join together with others to accomplish something bigger for God than we could do separately. The risk for losing some control is there, but the potential upside to foster a movement could be huge!

5) Partnerships on the Front Lines - Missions is undergoing some real changes. A documentary I helped to produce, Missions: Redefined raised some of these issues. It was an eye-opener to see how Western missions have been perceived.  As the landscape changes, our partnerships with national-led movements might be a key to achieving something greater together.

Sharing our kingdom resources for the greater good seems like a God-thing.

I certainly don't have all the answers. There's much more that we can do to address the current economic challenges.

What do you think?  Please give me your ¥2 . . . because it's now worth more than 2¢!