THE BLUE TENT HERO:
The story of the "Blue Tent Hero" in Japan is published in the Hippopotamus Postman, Volume II, but sadly, I must report that the book is sold out.
The story of the "Blue Tent Hero" in Japan is published in the Hippopotamus Postman, Volume II, but sadly, I must report that the book is sold out.
The photo of the 3 men with me was taken years ago in Tokyo and they are all "homeless heroes," men with great love and courage in the face of very trying circumstances.
This story has led to a touching reply from Pastor Takao Okutsu, the young man who was the pastor of the homeless ministry in Shinjuku Chuo Koen in Tokyo (photo above rt w/ wife, Maiko).
This story has led to a touching reply from Pastor Takao Okutsu, the young man who was the pastor of the homeless ministry in Shinjuku Chuo Koen in Tokyo (photo above rt w/ wife, Maiko).
Following from Pastor Takao-san:
Mr. Yamamoto Has Become a Hero
Mr. Yamamoto, who got saved at Shinjuku Horizon Open-Air Chapel three years ago, has become a hero in a book. He was a homeless before, but no more now. How did he become a hero in a book? The story is this:
I saw Dr. Joe Ozawa on 25 in March after a long period of time. He used to come to help us with making rice balls in Shinjuku. He is famous as a Hippo Postman, which means he delivers "God 's love letters," which is Gospel, to people all over the world, and he looks like a "hippo." He wrote his book, The Hippo Postman and Other True Stories of Love Vol.1 before. And this time he wrote that of Vol.2. He wrote about Mr. Yamamoto in that book. The title of the story is "The Blue Tent Hero." I found it when he gave me a copy of the book, and I was very surprised to find it. And at the same time, I was very happy.
How can you think of a hero? He should be a man who is strong, help a woman, and go away soon after he gets his job done. Mr. Yamamoto is not that kind of a hero. He is not so strong, nor goes somewhere and helps a woman. He is a compassion man who can think of other poor men. He once got a job, and he told Dr. Ozawa about it. But he was not happy at all. So Dr. Ozawa asked him why he is not so happy. He said, "If I start the job and leave the park, who will help other homeless men? I want to help other poor people
Mr. Yamamoto Has Become a Hero
Mr. Yamamoto, who got saved at Shinjuku Horizon Open-Air Chapel three years ago, has become a hero in a book. He was a homeless before, but no more now. How did he become a hero in a book? The story is this:
I saw Dr. Joe Ozawa on 25 in March after a long period of time. He used to come to help us with making rice balls in Shinjuku. He is famous as a Hippo Postman, which means he delivers "God 's love letters," which is Gospel, to people all over the world, and he looks like a "hippo." He wrote his book, The Hippo Postman and Other True Stories of Love Vol.1 before. And this time he wrote that of Vol.2. He wrote about Mr. Yamamoto in that book. The title of the story is "The Blue Tent Hero." I found it when he gave me a copy of the book, and I was very surprised to find it. And at the same time, I was very happy.
How can you think of a hero? He should be a man who is strong, help a woman, and go away soon after he gets his job done. Mr. Yamamoto is not that kind of a hero. He is not so strong, nor goes somewhere and helps a woman. He is a compassion man who can think of other poor men. He once got a job, and he told Dr. Ozawa about it. But he was not happy at all. So Dr. Ozawa asked him why he is not so happy. He said, "If I start the job and leave the park, who will help other homeless men? I want to help other poor people
How can you think of a hero? He should be a man who is strong, help a woman, and go away soon after he gets his job done. Mr. Yamamoto is not that kind of a hero. He is not so strong, nor goes somewhere and helps a woman. He is a compassion man who can think of other poor men. He once got a job, and he told Dr. Ozawa about it. But he was not happy at all. So Dr. Ozawa asked him why he is not so happy. He said, “If I start the job and leave the park, who will help other homeless men? I want to help other poor people.” (So, Mr. Yamamoto remained on the streets in order to love and care for other homeless men!).
It reminded me of a story about Mr. Yamamoto myself. It was after he got baptized. He was hungry for telling Gospel to other people. So he started talking to businessmen who came to the park for lunch and break. One day he met a man, about 30s. Mr. Yamamoto found out that the man was depressed very much. He began to meet him once a week and tell him about Jesus. The man disappeared one day and he didn’t get any contact with him after that. But after a long time later, Mr. Yamamoto said to me, the man called him and said, “I got baptized.” (Mr. Yamamoto would do anything to help others who had fallen down on life's pathway).
Yes, he is a hero to me, too.
Pastor Takao Okutsu, Saitama, Japan
It reminded me of a story about Mr. Yamamoto myself. It was after he got baptized. He was hungry for telling Gospel to other people. So he started talking to businessmen who came to the park for lunch and break. One day he met a man, about 30s. Mr. Yamamoto found out that the man was depressed very much. He began to meet him once a week and tell him about Jesus. The man disappeared one day and he didn’t get any contact with him after that. But after a long time later, Mr. Yamamoto said to me, the man called him and said, “I got baptized.” (Mr. Yamamoto would do anything to help others who had fallen down on life's pathway).
Yes, he is a hero to me, too.
Pastor Takao Okutsu, Saitama, Japan
