Introducing Seminarians 1

the wonderful training environment.

This Year’s Resolution

This training gave me the foundationof learning as a first year student.

Japan Lutheran

I have two resolutions this year. The

Theological Seminary 1st Year

first is to spend more time reading

Mari Amadabooks

andlearning,quietlyandrelaxed. Theology is a broad and deep
Dear sisters of the JELCW, thank yousubject; I, who am standing just at thefor all of your prayers and support.

beginning, feel overwhelmed by its

Time flies and in a blink of an eye, thesheer scale and not knowing where tocurriculum of my first year is over.

begin. I want to start approaching it

Looking back, in the environment thatfrom what is in front of me, slowly andwas different from the department oflittle by little.

Christianity, every single day was

The other resolution is, though it

passedtheseems opposite to the first, to meetassignments in front of me. My days

many people and experience many

were busy with classes, services andthings. While being a student, I can go

church trainings every Sunday, buton different adventures. I would like tothey were truly blessed and supported

challenge and experience different

by many prayers.

things by learning through trial and

What made the most impression on myerror, stumbling and trying out newmind was the summer break. For a fewthings.

days, I became a leader of a children’s

To be specific, I want to start bycamp and enjoyed going to the nearby

reading many books that are stacked

Nogawa Park and a public bathhouseup in my room; playing piano andwith the children and other camp staff.

organ, which I love; and writing songs,

I was impressed and inspired by thethinking about Martin Luther. And I

children’s ideas. Being around thewant to experience new things withhappy kids gave me a lot of good

many people.

justbydoingallenergy.
For church training, I left Hoya
Church,myhomechurch,

andattended Koishikawa Church. I cannot
thank Rev. Tokuno, his wife Setsuko
and everyone at the church enough for8

Introducing Seminarians 2that “I could do this” crumbled after

From the 2nd Station

failing over and over.
Rightnow,I

have

nosenseofaccomplishment or fulfillment. I’m also
Japan Lutheran

not sure what my future holds or evenTheological Seminary

about my current self. I feel as if I’m

1st Yearsurrounded by clouds. But when I

Yuko Nakagawa

think back, God is carrying me towhere I should be, even when I don’t
feel like I’m making a progress,

It has been a year since the time I wasconfused and frustrated by not being

aboutentrance

able to do anything I want to do. I feel

examination of the Seminary andthat God has been setting me at theprepare to dedicate myself. I have justpoint where I can see myself from afinished the first year curriculum, butslight opening in the clouds. The Lord

if I may use a metaphor of climbing a

who called me is surely leading me tomountain, I have just passed thewhere He wants me to be. I believe I

second station. I turned in my papers

should trust Him more and follow His

andrequired

way from now on. This is where I am,subjects. However, looking back at myat the second station, trusting andyear, I am wondering what I reallywalking this path while looking up atlearned and if I got one step closer tothe top of the mountain afar.

my goals.

Other than the classes, I had church

I went to the Seminary after spending

trainings,

nearly 30 years in a secular career.

many other events. In spite of nothing

Because of my experience in thegoing right, I enjoyed everything. I

previous life, my preconceived notions

would like to thank God again foroften had me thinking that “things willgiving me this rich experience inturn out this way” or “most people

learning.

toreceived

takethecredits

forwould behave that way.” Last year I
experienced continual upturns of thosenotions. I could no longer apply rulesof thumb the way I used to andnothingseemedtogowell.

My

confidence and expectation for myself
9seminary

programsand