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Looking for God under a Banyan Tree

Since May 2 we have been traveling through Okinawa Prefecture with a research team, interviewing people, learning about their language, culture, and religious practices. We have met many who are steeped in superstition and rituals and have an idea there is a god somewhere. We have met many (some over 90) who have never heard of Jesus or held a Bible.

Thursday, May 10, we visited a small island, Irabu, with about 6,500 people. We began like other days, walking around, meeting people who were out and about. After interviewing a couple in their late 70′s (most of the people on the island seem to be above 60), we noticed a very large house on the next street. As we approached we surmised it belonged to the owner of the construction company next door. As we were standing by the gate and gazing up at the open entrance, the wife of the president of the company came to the door and invited us in.

After visiting briefly in a beautiful traditional Japanese room which had statues (see pictures on website) of the seven happy gods, two of which were about 3 feet tall, she said she had to leave, that she had just returned home for a few minutes between the ceremonies for the wheat harvest festival. What a divine appointment. Only God could have arranged for us both to be in that spot at that time!!!

Mrs. Toku, the owner’s wife whose third son is 33, explained that this was the day when those who have a son 33 years old meet together to present sacrifices to the gods for the wheat harvest. She invited us to go along and took us to a neighbor’s house.

We sat in the yard and visited for an hour with folks from this section of the village as they waited for a group from another part of the island. When the other group arrived, we followed them to the “holy place” under a banyan tree. We stood outside what they consider the “holy ground”. It is marked with rocks and leaves. Three elderly ladies represented the gods. They dressed in white kimonos, made elaborate preparations, burned incense, presented rice wine and wheat sacrifices on a mound under the tree. A male priest led the people in songs as they clapped their hands and turned their palms upward.

Our hearts broke as we watched them go through this custom. They no longer grow wheat but still observe the ceremony because it is tradition and they are afraid to stop. They don’t know who the living God is, but they know there is a god somewhere. When you ask them the name of their god(s), their answer is always, “We don’t know”.

How can we get the gospel to this island where they have not even heard of Jesus Christ? There is not one church. We did not meet a Christian.

Please pray for Mrs.Toku, who seems to be a person of peace on the island. Pray as we contact her again by phone to thank her that God will open doors to tell her about Jesus. She has 5 grown children and 10 grandchildren, all living around Irabu and Miyako, (the adjoining island). Pray for this entire family to come to Christ. Pray that their witness will reach the island for Christ.

Claim His promises with us for these people,
Tak and Lana

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