SALT Japan Blog
OSAKA, JAPAN
July 17-27
Day 9: Last Day.. See You Next Time GC!
July 26, 2026
Our last Sunday at Gospel Center was so bittersweet. We spent the entire evening sharing about our experiences throughout the week and reflecting on everything God had taught us. Hearing everyone’s stories made the night so meaningful and memorable for each of us. We hugged and said our goodbyes for what felt like hours. It was heartbreaking to leave, but so heartwarming to look back on all the beautiful memories and genuine friendships we had built. Those relationships made saying goodbye one of the hardest parts of the trip
– Jenny Yi
Our last day in Osaka was very memorable. We went to church service and one of the students we were in contact with all week, Sakura, came to church with us for the first time. She is visually impaired, but made an effort to move closer up to the second row during worship to see the lyrics better. I felt God’s presence in the room, seeing Sakura sing and worship with other Japanese people and the missionaries and our team. Sakura joined Alex and I (Abby) for small group and we had lots of reflective discussions about the message. We explained to her the meaning of discernment and other terms from the sermon and she expressed her gratitude for teaching her. When she left, she gave Alex and I a nice gift as well as a handwritten four-page letter! Reading that letter, I felt so blessed to be part of God’s mission in reaching her. For dinner, we ate with four Kansai students who joined us at the Gospel Center, and there was a time for open mic speeches. One of the students, Yuto, spoke about how grateful he was that we reached out to him and said it must be God that brought us together. This was one of the most heartwarming moments of the day, as Yuto is not yet a believer, but had the courage to speak in front of the church about his gratitude and acknowledge God. It was sad saying our goodbyes to the Gospel Center, but I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time I would see them :))
– Abby Chung
The Japan missions team has concluded our time here at Osaka but just begun plenty of fruitful relationships. Today we were able to join the gosepl center for their sunday worship and were able to see friends that we have made throughout the week at Kansai University. For some, this was the first church service they had attended but what I feel I could say for sure was that they could see that the love the team had showed them was one that was very special. I pray that our relationships with our new friends would be able to continue even as we return to the United States and that God’s hands would be moving in the Gospel Center and the country of Japan.
– Alex Lee
The final day! On Sunday, we woke up extra early to support Kayli at her Band concert. Despite the heat and hour commute, it was truly so worth it at the end and seeing her smile with her friends. We headed to church after and I sat with Ellie. Ellie was worshipping right in front of me between my arms and I think I just kept thinking “how wholesome.” After service, we went to small group and I had Issac, Andrew, Christy, and Masako. Masako in particular stood out to me as she shared about the struggles of being Christian in Japan and the concern she has for her son. I could just see genuine concern she had for Japan. I really loved how in small groups nothing mattered: age, gender, or ethnicity. For dinner and open mic, I really thought nothing was going to happen but as soon as Yuto, our friend we found through our campus outreach, got up and shared. He said “I think it was a miracle I met you guys and idk what God you guys believe in, but I’m interested.” As he was a freshman in college doing football, I didn’t really imagine he would be able to fully understand what we came to do. I am beyond blessed to see GC and Japan like family. God has planted seeds in Japan and even shown us fruit! I can’t wait to see everyone agai
– Joelle Park
Today, aujin, kristen, joelle, and I woke up early at around 8 am to go watch Kayli (Pastor Justin’s second daughter) play in her band concert and brought her flowers! We then headed to the Gospel Center for Sunday service and Isaac gave the message (also his last Sunday before returning to LA to fundraise) which was about a warning and self check for people in the church that should be avoided. During small group, I was with Rie, Megan, and my new friend Yuto where I was able to learn about 3 very distinctly different perspectives from different people based on their respective life experiences. We then proceeded to have a fellowship dinner with all of the church members featuring a time for an open mic. Many of our team members went up to speak, but what really stood out to me was that Yuto went up to speak. Yuto is a current first year at Kansai University and we met through another new student (Mizutomo) Abby talked to who was half Chinese (since I am also half Chinese). He has never heard about Christianity before and to see him go up and speak about how he was so thankful for the kindness and love we showed him, he said he was curious about this “God” we talk about and would love to know more. Hearing this, I was very emotional because I did not expect there to be such presentable and real “fruit” from this mission trip. Especially for Japanese people, to volunteer themselves to be in a position of attention, I was very touched by Yuto’s heart and open-ness to Christianity. Moving forward, I will MOST DEFINITELY be coming back to serve GC one way or another, and I will continue to pray for all the new friends and people I met until I see them again!
– Sky Lan
Thank you, Jesus, for a beautiful last day in Japan. Fellowship with the Gospel Center and our new Kandai student friends was a blast. It was very emotional as all team members had an open mic moment. As GC members started to go up, one of our friends from Kandai went up to speak as well. Yuto, I will never forget you! Thank you for making a big impact on our team. From never attending a church before to now thanking our team for the love and saying that he is curious about what this “God” is all about really touched my heart and showed me how important this campus ministry is. Thank you, readers, for all the support; we love you all!! Auj out.
– Aujin Park
Day 8: GC Bible Study & Matsuri
July 25, 2026
I slept in today while most of the students were out for personal time. Because of my slow start, I was able to have an intentional conversation with one student who also stayed behind. It has been a joy getting to know this team while serving together.
In the afternoon, we participated in the biweekly Bible study that the Gospel Center hosts. We studied Titus 2, which seemed to emphasize self-control and a few other things that are deemed as Christian character or discipline. Katsuki (4th generation Korean-Japanese who serves as one of the translators at church) led us in a substantial discussion over 2 hours. I appreciated him, as well as Sachiko – an older woman who attends another local church. Sachiko openly shared about her raising two sons as a single mom. It was sobering to note that painful divorce and troubled marriages are common in Japan.
In the evening, we got to go to a local matsuri (festival) held at an elementary school. Think Japan county fair – some localized and small like the one we went to, but others much bigger. It was fun to see our students enjoy all the fair foods like sausages, croquette, shaved ice, and even churros! I also appreciated them for playing with Pastor Justin’s kids and their friends (they go to the elementary school together). This trip really has been just about making Japanese friends. I talked to two missionaries from YWAM (Youth With A Mission) as well, hearing from them the joys and challenges of living as foreigners who follow Christ among this unreached people group.
We capped the night at a yakitori place with missionary Chris and his wife Shoko. It’s unagi day in Japan tomorrow, so people are having grilled eel everywhere. It was sold out for us unfortunately. Nonetheless, I was grateful that Chris and Shoko hung out with us late. It was extra cute because they were wearing traditional jinbei and kimono as people do during matsuri season.
I can’t believe tomorrow will be our last full day in Japan. I’m so proud of our students for the way they have been relational with strangers. Thanks to their excellent fundraising and your generous support, we have also been able to treat the hosting church every meal time. Finally, would you pray with us? We are eager to see up to 6 Japanese students attend Sunday service for the very first time tomorrow!
– Pastor James Lee
Day 7: Kansai University Fellowship & Outreach
July 24, 2026
Today was another blessed day at Kansai University! First, Alex Lee and I met up with one of the Kansai students we had previously met on Tuesday. This was the first student we had reached out to and had been praying for throughout the week. From our conversation on Tuesday, we had talked about worship music and Alex shared his worship playlist with the student. When we met him today, we noticed he was studying while listening to the playlist. We sat down to do work with him and he turned up the music louder so we could hear (the song was “Holy Forever”). We grabbed food with him, discussed many topics (hobbies, relationships, travel), and eventually pulled out the bible and showed him Psalms. It was encouraging to see how open he was to getting to know us and how intrigued he was when we explained anything, including the bible. Could not have been done without God!
After our lunch with the student, we joined some more Kansai students and played games with them, some of whom had been building relationships with Chris, a missionary serving with The Gospel Center’s college ministry outreach. After card games, another student that Alex and I had met on Tuesday met up with us again and gave us a tour around campus. We ended up bringing him to go bowling with the rest of the team and Kansai friends which was a really fun time. After bowling, the team took all the Kansai friends to ice cream and then to The Gospel Center and played more games. At this point, there were about four Japanese students joining us, and at the church we met three more. It was a blessing seeing the students meet one another for the first time.
Before we knew it, it was dinner time so we all split up into smaller groups and grabbed food together to bring back to the church. Breaking bread together was so memorable and joyful. We shared our food with one another and this encouraged the Japanese students to share their food as well. After dinner, we split up into two teams (my team was “2 Kawaii”) and played fun relay games, bonding further with the students. Seeing them film one another and cheering each other on was a great blessing to witness. All the students stayed until the end and we were able to invite them to church on Sunday and pass out some mini bibles to them. Praise God! This day was full of giving and pouring into the students, but also full of joy and heartwarming fellowship.
One of the most impactful moments that the team recounted from this day was when we were riding home on the train together with some of the students and three of the Kansai students got off on the same stop. Our team saw them talking and walking out of the station together, and were grateful to see the root friendships forming through our outreach efforts and through God. I hope that as our team moves forward beyond Kansai, we would continue to foster these friendships and pray for them to experience God’s community and love :)))
Team 2 (too) Kawaii (cute) forever!!!
– Abby Chung
Day 6: Gospel Center Game Night
July 23, 2026
Today started with a little bit of free time! I went to Umeda and did some shopping for gifts to bring back to friends before meeting up with Isaac (an intern missionary at Gospel Center) at the cafe where Kanon works. We ordered a matcha affogato, and it was honestly one of the best matcha desserts I’ve ever had! During Kanon’s lunch break, we ate pizza together and had time getting to know each other better.
That evening, we hosted a game night at Gospel Center! We had spent the previous day planning a variety of games, so I was both excited and a little nervous, hoping everyone would enjoy them. We split into three teams and spent the evening playing different mini games together.
One of my favorite parts of the day was watching our team, the church members, and Sakura (one of the Kansai University students we were able to invite) work together, laugh, and encourage one another. The highlight for me was the challenge where we had to move a cookie from our forehead to our mouth using only our facial muscles. It was sooo funny! The room was filled with laughter, and it was so heartwarming to see not only the students but also the core church families and adults having so much fun together. It reminded me of the unique joy that comes from fellowshipping across multiple generations.
The game night was a huge success and although not many of the university students we befriended were able to come, I am so thankful that we had the opportunity to serve the families at Gospel Center and intentionally spend time with Sakura. Before she left, we were able to invite her to join us for Sunday worship, so please pray that she comes with an open heart and that God continues to work in her life.
Please also keep Gospel Center in your prayers, that this church family would continue to faithfully serve the Lord and joyfully fellowship together for a long long time.
Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for our upcoming posts!
– Jenny Yi
Day 5: Kandai University Outreach Day 2
July 22, 2026
All glory to God for problems I never expected our team to experience. I never once imagined that a struggle we would have to face would be having too many time commitments with new Japanese friends. All the praise to our Lord for keeping us busy with Japanese students who desire genuine connections and friendships. Today was a great day two of campus outreach. Today the Lord has blessed us with fewer but more intentional encounters. Talking with the same students for over an hour about our hobbies and similarities was a joy; it was a joy to interact with people who desired to connect just as much as I did. Today the team made great efforts to invite our new friends out to our Thursday “Game Night” and even got gospel opportunities!!!! One of the friends even made a verbal commitment to come with us to church on Sunday!! To be used by God in these ways has left me in awe. Even talking to students who have never even heard the word “Christianity or pray” again revealed to me how needed outreach is. God continues to reveal new strengths of this team. Gifts coming in the form of language or hobbies have opened so many doors to new conversations and opportunities. Please continue to pray for us as we continue to invest in our new and existing friendships and reach more students. Thank you for keeping updated! We love you all. Auj out.
– Aujin Park
Day 4: Kandai University Outreach Day 1
July 21, 2026
Today was our first day stepping foot onto “Kandai,” short for Kansai Daigaku, which means Kansai University in Japanese.
As soon as we got off the train, we were caught in the flow of students heading to campus. Some were attending classes, others were studying for upcoming exams, and many were preparing to take their final exams. Once we arrived at the front gate, we prayed with Chris, a missionary serving with The Gospel Center’s college ministry outreach. This helped orient our minds and remind us that the work belongs to the Lord, not to us.
We first went to the cafeteria and experienced what a typical Japanese college student meal might look like; I chose to get the udon and gyukatsu. Upon completing my meal with some of the team and Chris, I initially found it intimidating to approach and speak with students. Every single student seemed busy, especially due to the fact that they were in the middle of an intense final exam period.
Despite my nervousness, I was able to connect with a graduate student named Sato through the initial bold efforts of Aujin. He wants to become a counselor when he grows up and currently performs in a Japanese rock band. I also met Mayo (pronounced “mah-yo-u”), one of Chris’s existing students he has talked to. She studies psychology and was preparing for a Korean test. Seeing how hard the students were studying made me realize how much pressure many of them were experiencing during this season.
While walking around campus, we also interacted with football players and two mathematics majors, one of whom was named Hamada Aoi. We played Frisbee with them even though they had an exam in only five minutes. Afterward, they told us, “Wow, that made me feel so refreshed!” That moment stood out to me because such a simple interaction was able to give them a short break from the stress of studying and exams. We did not need to do anything complicated, all we did was simply spend time with them and gave them an opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves.
Earlier in the day, we also met missionaries from a church in Texas. It was encouraging to see the different ways their church supports missions in Osaka. They had sent a team of around 30 high school students, while also supporting long-term missionaries who live in Osaka, month-long student trips, and week-long mission teams. Seeing the structure they had created reminded me that missions can take many different forms and involve people of many different ages.
Today showed me that college outreach can begin with something as simple as sharing a meal, asking someone about their life, or playing Frisbee before an exam. Even when approaching students felt intimidating, God used small conversations and ordinary moments to encourage people and create genuine connections that are still continuing throughout this week.
I am excited to see how God continues to work through our time at Kandai!
Mata ne! (see you later!)
– Sky Lan
Day 3: Brunch&Bible and Fellowship
July 20, 2026
Today was a packed and very eventful day!
We started off earlier than usual, heading to the train station at 8:40 AM, where we bought a bunch of ingredients to serve sandwiches at the Brunch and Bible event at GC.
I think many people view missions as something that has to involve suffering in order to serve others, but today was instead about being joyful with one another and being excited to hear what God has done in each of our lives. I was paired with Pastor Justin and Hannah during our Bible study to read 1 Peter 1. Unlike yesterday, where I was pushing myself to ask questions to get to know others, today I wanted to ask questions about things I related to and struggled with throughout this chapter.
In 1 Peter 1, God constantly mentions the idea of sanctification and how we ought to live after we accept Christ. It is often easy to forget and go back to the ways of this world, and Pastor Justin mentioned that we must remind ourselves that it’s okay to be broken and it’s okay to be slower than others, but also remember that we are all one church and work together. I asked the opposite question, saying, “When struggling in church culture, it is often easier to put on a show and act extremely ‘sanctified.’”
Pastor Justin mentioned something that was actually very surprising to me. He told me, “Don’t read the Bible. Take a break.” He talked about the importance of actually reading your Bible with the right heart posture. If you take a break, you will realize whether you genuinely miss talking to God or whether you simply feel guilty because you think you are not doing something you’re supposed to do. If you feel guilty, take it back to step one and remember that when Jesus was baptized, the Lord was well pleased with Him and loved Him. This was before He even started His ministry, when He was a carpenter, yet the Father was still so proud of Him. Nothing we say or do makes Him think less of us.
After Bible and brunch, we had our Osaka Kandai University outreach orientation, where we got to understand the culture a bit more in order to approach students and invite them to know the love of Christ.
Finally, we were given some free time to go to Umeda Mall with Pastor Justin’s oldest daughter, Hikari, and her friend, Runa. One thing that stood out to me was that they came all the way with us to the mall and then mentioned they didn’t buy anything because they didn’t have any money. Knowing that they came simply because they wanted to spend time with us and help us get around was so heartwarming. Having dinner together and learning what was popular in Japan was so enjoyable, and it allowed both our team and the girls to genuinely care for and love one another.
I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us this week.
Arigato go zaimas!
– Joelle Park
Day 2: Sunday Service at Gospel Center
July 19, 2026
The SALT Japan team has arrived!
Today was our first whole day on our trip and we had the chance to be able to join the Gospel Center for their Sunday worship where we were able to meet and spend the day with the church members. Sundays at the Gospel Center is a full day schedule, consisting of the Sunday worship service, small groups, dinner, and lots of fellowship time.
For many of us, this was our first Japanese sunday service where we were able to sing songs of praise in both English and Japanese and hear a message preached by Pastor Justin, which was translated for Japanese speakers. Because it took twice as much time to speak every sentence with the Japanese translations, the sermon ended up being much more concise than what we were previously used to at Open Door. Notably however, our team highly praised the sermon of delivering such a powerful message in a shorter length and time span. Following the Sunday service, our team had split up either into various small groups with the adult church members or volunteered to serve the children ministry. For the small groups, we split off from the church to nearby cafes and had the chance to discuss and reflect on the sermon, connecting with and sharing life with one another at the church. As for the children’s ministry, the team was able to connect with the small but present children’s ministry through learning about the differences in Japanese and American culture. The day was concluded with the team sharing a meal over dinner with the congregation where we continued to fellowship and relationally connect with the church.
I feel that going into this missions trip, it was difficult to actively prepare for the heavily relational ministry that our team is asked of in our time at Japan. Our preparation efforts were more directed toward preparing our own hearts in a manner of serving and being able to achieve our fundraising goals but this task of building relationships with people living across the seas from us was only one that could be experienced in the moment of serving itself. Today, our team was able to get our first experience of this relationship-building manner of serving and as the week progresses, I feel we would be able to get a better understanding of how spiritual work in Japan is different than America.
Thank you for reading! Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to serve the Gospel center and the country of Japan.
-Alex Lee
OSAKA Sunday Lunch Fundraiser
June 28, 2026
I felt so blessed from our Japanese hotdogs + matcha fundraiser. From brainstorming sessions to prep day, to the official day, every part of the process was joyful. I was so encouraged by the positive attitudes of the team and the extra hands that helped. A big thank you to the Salt core team, Pastor James’ family, former Salt Japan team members, Director Todd, and many others. When we were brainstorming for the fundraiser, there was so much excitement and enthusiasm about which types of matcha drinks we could make, what kinds of Japanese toppings we could have, and how much to sell each item for.
There was zero grumbling or complaining on prep day when we went grocery shopping, made posters, and prepped ingredients all day. Even with tears shed from cutting green onions, sweat from running to and from the kitchen and the tables, and soaked shirts from the pouring rain day of, we had a fun time serving through it all. These experiences all point to God’s provision and His Spirit shining through His people. The patience we had for one another and the joy we felt from serving were possible through God. The team is so grateful for the generous donations from the church and for all the people who made this fundraiser possible. We are excited to pour into The Gospel Center, and these funds will not go to waste! “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). God is good!!!
-Abby Chung
OSAKA 5K RUN/WALK
June 20, 2026
Our team this year has decided to put a spin on our usual SALT merch sale by creating a new 5k fundraising run. At the time of writing, the fundraiser has been completed, and I am beyond grateful to everyone who came out to support and run.
This year, our team has been very proactive with our fundraising efforts, and throughout the planning process, I found myself inspired by my teammates and their ambition to go above and beyond what was asked of them. From making two promotional videos and handling all the logistics, from choosing a date to selecting a location, God provided us with all the opportunities to grow as a team. We ended up having to switch event dates and locations due to weather and availability issues, but in the face of trials, we remained faithful and continued promoting the event prayerfully. There was a pre-registration link that would give us a rough estimate of the participants. With around 30 sign-ups, we continued to pray, and on the day of, we had 40 participants. PRAISE THE LORD!!
Setting up the day of the event showed me a glimpse of our team’s strengths and what it might feel like when we go to Japan. People actively seeking ways to help other team members, being thoughtful and intentional with all the different aspects of the event, and a common joy we shared in serving. The run began with a prayer time and group photo. It was truly encouraging to see people of all ages coming to run and support missions. Even while the run was underway, the team stayed active by making posters and cheering on the runners in run-culture fashion. It was a great time of exercise and fellowship. As runners finished their 5k, the team handed out shirts and popsicles. Conversations about our trip and ways people could pray for us more intentionally reminded me again of how blessed I am to be a part of such a loving community, and the only one I can thank for this is God.
In my prayers that night, I felt so thankful for all he had been doing. Through our team, in our team, and in my heart. I am so excited to see who God has planned for us to encounter in Osaka, and I pray that you all reading will continue to keep us and the hearts of the Japanese people in your prayers! Thanks for reading! Auj out
-Aujin Park
Thank you for your prayers and support!
Sincerely,
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