Field Council - What is it?

What is Field Council?

• Yearly meeting of the missionaries in Japan that work for our misssion (Converge Worldwide= CW)
• We discuss ministry, take care of business matters, enjoy times of fellowship, and do a lot of praying.

Because I am currently the only CW missionary in Japan not living in Tokyo, Field Council has a Family Reunion feel. Co-workers are more like family members who rejoice with us at the good stuff and cry with us in the hard times, and share lots of inside jokes as well as sweet times of prayer.

(This was the view of Mt. Fuji I had from my room - yeah -although the ice covered trees were beautiful - the rain clouds hid the majestic mountain for 3 days straight!)

We met at Torchbearers in Yamanaka-ko, enjoying a feast of delcious creations at every meal and the care of an international staff.

Pumpkin Udon with Miso base - SO GOOD on a rainy day!

(Dessert with every meal really spoiled me!)

This year's Field council was unique in a couple of ways.

1. Numbers were small . . .

• Only 6 Career missionaries are on the field (2 are on home assignment).
• 1 short-term missionary is on the field.
• 1 missionary was unable to attend due to illness.
• Only 1 Missionary Kid came to the meeting
• No one from the US home office came.

So all 7 of us fit at one table - in fact we sat at the "Kids table".

(See how many attended in 2008 here!)

2. I was approved to return for a 2nd term . . .

Before CW missionaries go on home assignment (back to USA to visit ministry partners), we need to complete an evaluation process.

• The missionary completes a written evaluation of herself.
• Three or more Japanese nationals complete evaluations of her ministry/life in Japan.
• The Field Coordinator interviews her, reads evaluations from nationals, then writes a report.
• The missionary presents a report of her term (in my case 2 1/2 years) to the other CW missionaries at Field Council.
• The other missionaries give feedback, discuss areas of concern or give affirmation.
• The Field Coordinaor presents a report to the other missionaries (while the missionary in concern is out of the room)and discusses any areas of concern.
• The missionaries vote whether to approve the missionary return to the mission field.
• The missionary then returns to the room and receives the news of the vote.

In cases of a YES vote the missionary returns to the room and recieves a standing ovation, hugs and then prayer. In the case of a NO vote - other steps are taken to address the concerns discussed.

It's an intense process at points, yet its rewarding to look back and see how various aspects of life (physical, spritual, emotional, relational, vocational) work together for good or bad over the term. It's also rewarding to hear affirmation from teammates who have been on the field for many, many years. I look forward to starting my 2nd term September 2010.

For me - as a teacher, I missed 4 days of school to attend the meetings. I'm VERY thankful for Chris who worked as a substitute teacher with the lively bunch of 1st and 2nd graders in my class. The kiddos enjoyed their time with her - especially "Jelly Bean Day"!

I'm thankful for the time at Field Council and praise God for safety over the 900Km round trip. I'm also thankful for the smiley students who greeted me at my return on Friday with hugs and cheers.