Tuiwasa Anaseini Disaurara, Ana for short, is a long term missionary serving with YWAM in Japan. Ana is from Fiji and has been home in Fiji for the past few months on furlough. We decided to interview Ana and ask her a few questions about life as a Fijian missionary serving in Japan. Below is the interview with Ana followed by her contact information.
Praying for Ana at our YWAM Associates meeting Dec. 29, 1014
How long have you served in YWAM?
This year will be the 30th year of being in YWAM. I started in 1985.
Where did you do your DTS?
In Samabula in Suva. There was a YWAM base behind courts furniture in an old building. The base leader was Neville Wilson.
Where are you serving now?
Tokyo city in Japan. I have been there ever since I went to Japan in 1990.
When was the last time you were home in Fiji?
10 years ago.
Where are you from in Fiji?
Vanua levu in a village called Bua.
What is the hardest part about living in Japan?
I have been there for 24 years so I am used to the lifestyle there. When I was just beginning there were a few things that were really hard for me. One of the things was not being able to speak the language so I had to learn the language. Not being able to communicate was very hard.
The hardest part today is living with low finances. At the end of every month I have to think about how I am going to pay my bills.
How cold does it get in the winter?
Freezing cold! I get so uncomfortable with the heat in Fiji now. Winter in Japan is one of my favourite seasons. I am used the lifestyle in Japan now. Winter is about 0 degrees Celsius.
Do you have any advice for Fijians who are interested in overseas missions?
Yeah, when I went to Japan for the first time as a missionary I felt like I didn’t prepare myself well in terms of financial support, prayer support and this is what I learned is so important. I would advise them that this is not wrong but it’s much better to be prepared before coming to the missions field. I believe that we need to be obedient to God and follow Him.
You need to keep your focus and really listen to what God is speaking to them. God might have a plan for them in the nations.
How much missionary support do you need to raise each month to be a missionary in Japan?
About $1,500 FJD a month.
Where does most of this money come from?
International assemblies of God church in Japan have been faithfully supporting me for more than 20 years now. The rest is from teaching a few English classes and trusting God daily for the rest.
How much support do you get from Fiji?
None at all.
If someone in Fiji wanted to support you in missions, what is the best way to send you money?
I am trying to open a new bank account with ANZ bank so that I can take money out in Japan. My last bank account was closed because I was out of the country for the past 10 years.
If someone outside of Fiji wanted to send you money, how could they do that?
They could send me money into my Japanese bank account.
What is your main ministry in YWAM Japan?
Our team is an evangelistic ministry and we have different ways that we do this in Japan. Japanese people are very busy and it’s hard to get their attention. We teach bible and English to people. We also do homeless ministry and we just started a prison ministry. A few of our team members started doing a wedding ministry.
My main ministry is using the bible as a text book when we are teaching English classes. I also work with a local church doing evangelism.
What is wedding ministry?
They do Christian weddings for non-Christians. They counsel them before the weddings and share Christian values. They do gospel songs and read the bible during the weddings.
Is there anything else that you would like to say.
I believe that God is calling more young people to more nations in the world. They just need to ask God what nations they should go to. In Japan we need more missionaries. We need more workers, especially young people, in Japan. God will be with us to overcome those challenges. The nations will be blessed by your obedience to God.
What is your favourite thing to do in Japan?
My very favourite thing to do is getting together with people and spend time in a nice place like having a picnic by the river or having a barbeque. In the winter hiking with friends up the mountain just for exercise and spending time.
What is your favourite food in Japan?
Tempura shrimp and vegetable as well.
What do you miss most about Fiji?
The people, my friends, my family. The relaxation of being in Fiji, people in japan are very busy.
Do you like Japanese food more than Fijian?
Yes because Japanese food is lighter. But I don’t hate Fijian food! I still like it.
When do you think you will be back in Fiji?
Maybe in two years? I would really like to come every year.
How can we pray for you? What should we pray about?
Pray for God’s wisdom day by day for how I can minister to the people. Pray that I an effect them. Pray for their salvations for all those people.
How can we pray for country of Japan?
Pray that the church itself, the Japanese Christians, would be more bold and reach out to their own people. Continue to pray for the unity of the body of Christ to stand together to reach the nation.
This year will be the 30th year of being in YWAM. I started in 1985.
Where did you do your DTS?
In Samabula in Suva. There was a YWAM base behind courts furniture in an old building. The base leader was Neville Wilson.
Where are you serving now?
Tokyo city in Japan. I have been there ever since I went to Japan in 1990.
When was the last time you were home in Fiji?
10 years ago.
Where are you from in Fiji?
Vanua levu in a village called Bua.
What is the hardest part about living in Japan?
I have been there for 24 years so I am used to the lifestyle there. When I was just beginning there were a few things that were really hard for me. One of the things was not being able to speak the language so I had to learn the language. Not being able to communicate was very hard.
The hardest part today is living with low finances. At the end of every month I have to think about how I am going to pay my bills.
How cold does it get in the winter?
Freezing cold! I get so uncomfortable with the heat in Fiji now. Winter in Japan is one of my favourite seasons. I am used the lifestyle in Japan now. Winter is about 0 degrees Celsius.
Do you have any advice for Fijians who are interested in overseas missions?
Yeah, when I went to Japan for the first time as a missionary I felt like I didn’t prepare myself well in terms of financial support, prayer support and this is what I learned is so important. I would advise them that this is not wrong but it’s much better to be prepared before coming to the missions field. I believe that we need to be obedient to God and follow Him.
You need to keep your focus and really listen to what God is speaking to them. God might have a plan for them in the nations.
How much missionary support do you need to raise each month to be a missionary in Japan?
About $1,500 FJD a month.
Where does most of this money come from?
International assemblies of God church in Japan have been faithfully supporting me for more than 20 years now. The rest is from teaching a few English classes and trusting God daily for the rest.
How much support do you get from Fiji?
None at all.
If someone in Fiji wanted to support you in missions, what is the best way to send you money?
I am trying to open a new bank account with ANZ bank so that I can take money out in Japan. My last bank account was closed because I was out of the country for the past 10 years.
If someone outside of Fiji wanted to send you money, how could they do that?
They could send me money into my Japanese bank account.
What is your main ministry in YWAM Japan?
Our team is an evangelistic ministry and we have different ways that we do this in Japan. Japanese people are very busy and it’s hard to get their attention. We teach bible and English to people. We also do homeless ministry and we just started a prison ministry. A few of our team members started doing a wedding ministry.
My main ministry is using the bible as a text book when we are teaching English classes. I also work with a local church doing evangelism.
What is wedding ministry?
They do Christian weddings for non-Christians. They counsel them before the weddings and share Christian values. They do gospel songs and read the bible during the weddings.
Is there anything else that you would like to say.
I believe that God is calling more young people to more nations in the world. They just need to ask God what nations they should go to. In Japan we need more missionaries. We need more workers, especially young people, in Japan. God will be with us to overcome those challenges. The nations will be blessed by your obedience to God.
What is your favourite thing to do in Japan?
My very favourite thing to do is getting together with people and spend time in a nice place like having a picnic by the river or having a barbeque. In the winter hiking with friends up the mountain just for exercise and spending time.
What is your favourite food in Japan?
Tempura shrimp and vegetable as well.
What do you miss most about Fiji?
The people, my friends, my family. The relaxation of being in Fiji, people in japan are very busy.
Do you like Japanese food more than Fijian?
Yes because Japanese food is lighter. But I don’t hate Fijian food! I still like it.
When do you think you will be back in Fiji?
Maybe in two years? I would really like to come every year.
How can we pray for you? What should we pray about?
Pray for God’s wisdom day by day for how I can minister to the people. Pray that I an effect them. Pray for their salvations for all those people.
How can we pray for country of Japan?
Pray that the church itself, the Japanese Christians, would be more bold and reach out to their own people. Continue to pray for the unity of the body of Christ to stand together to reach the nation.
Can people contact you with questions? What is the best way to contact you?
My address is:
Ana Tuiwasa
1-28-21 Kosuge
Kalsushika-ku
T124 – 0001 Tokyo
Japan
Phone number: 03-3826-9815 The country code for Japan is 81.
Email address: [email protected]
My address is:
Ana Tuiwasa
1-28-21 Kosuge
Kalsushika-ku
T124 – 0001 Tokyo
Japan
Phone number: 03-3826-9815 The country code for Japan is 81.
Email address: [email protected]
RSS Feed
