{"id":58962,"date":"2025-04-21T13:08:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T18:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/?p=58962"},"modified":"2025-05-08T13:55:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T18:55:19","slug":"community-at-the-asian-rural-institute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/community-at-the-asian-rural-institute\/","title":{"rendered":"Community at the Asian Rural Institute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Lauren Reddin<\/a>, Global Mission Intern at the Asian Rural Institute, Japan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been a crisp, frosty winter in Nasushiobara, Japan. The wind blows in huge gusts, kicking up the gravel dust on our makeshift volleyball court. Gangs of crows watch me as I wander our campus, trying to memorize my newcomer face in their home. I arrived here at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) only five weeks ago, in the middle of the winter season, when the farm population dwindles and prepares for a new class of Participants to arrive. For nine months out of the year, there are about 30 students (called Participants), primarily from Asia and Africa, who study here to learn organic agricultural practices, servant leadership, and sustainable community building. Ultimately, our work at the ARI is to empower these Participants and their respective home communities to build sustainable, self-reliant, and peaceful rural futures. At this point, there are still several more weeks until the Participants arrive and begin their nine month journeys here, but I can feel the excitement and anticipation for their arrival building day by day. I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to work and live alongside such a diverse and passionate group of rural leaders. In the meantime, though, I am still learning the lay of the land at ARI, getting accustomed to the rhythm of life, which can be as exhausting as it is rewarding, and getting to know my fellow community members. I have worked primarily maintaining crops and livestock and drafting grant applications and reports that are critical to the mission here at ARI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The community that has been built here is helpful, kind, and values sharing; sharing talents, food, and responsibility. I am amazed at the compassion and care that people show for each other here. I haven\u2019t seen a birthday go by when a cake hasn\u2019t been baked for the birthday person, and when communication lines get crossed there have been two, or even three, cakes made. When we have community events, like snowshoeing or beach trips, there is always someone staying up late the night before creating the perfect apple souffl\u00e9 for the car ride back. In our farm work, it seems like no task is ever too small or too uncomfortable for someone to offer their help. Rinsing off freshly harvested vegetables in the freezing, snowy winter weather will make your fingers tingle and burn, but still, help is freely offered and gladly received. The ripples these small acts of kindness spread throughout our entire community. They pick me up when I feel down, and they inspire me to pass on the spirit of grace onto others. The nature of the international ARI community also encourages a bountiful exchange of ideas and perspectives on rural development, a personal interest of mine. Yesterday, I had a great discussion with my new friend about what type of development projects really work to uplift rural communities around his hometown in Kenya. These discussions inspire me to reflect about projects that can uplift my community at home and other communities around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My name is Lauren Reddin and I am a 23 (almost 24)-year-old Global Mission Intern from Kansas City. I love my hometown, and I feel called to work at making it a more healthy and united community. I love reading, learning new skills, and practicing yoga. At university, I trained as a historian, practicing to analyze how factors such as economy, religion, war, and revolution turn the tides of the past and present. I enjoy interacting with the past and continuously having my preconceptions about what is true be shattered. I\u2019m drawn to meet people from all corners of the world. I love hearing stories from people\u2019s lives, and I love to laugh. I feel passionate about working as a GMI because I want to contribute to an organization that pursues God\u2019s mission and be immersed in a culture that I have never experienced before. I want to be close to nature and agriculture, growing food for nourishment, because I am fascinated by life cycles and self-sustainability. I hope that throughout my internship, I will make friends, develop my leadership and community building skills, and learn about effective development and organic agriculture projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Lauren Reddin’s work with the Asian Rural Institute is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church\u2019s Wider Mission, Week of Compassion, and special gifts. Make a gift <\/a>that supports the work of Lauren Reddin. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Lauren Reddin, Global Mission Intern at the Asian Rural Institute, Japan It has been a crisp, frosty winter in Nasushiobara, Japan. The wind blows in huge gusts, kicking up the gravel dust on our makeshift volleyball court. 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