STEP #3: Raise Support, Get Your Missionary Visa, and Pack
Your PIONEERS office will help you get
going in raising the funds you will need to pay for about half of your living and ministry expenses in Japan. You
will need to have 90% of these funds raised before you can purchase a ticket to come to Japan.
Its always helpful to get an early
start on your visa (at least four months before departure). You can visit this Japanese government site for the official details if you are one of those
who like to have as much information as you can get. However, here
is a basic overview of what you will need to do in simple English in order to receive permission to enter Japan. The
materials you need to prepare or have PIONEERS prepare are in red and the
items we will prepare are in italics):
1) PROVE THAT YOUR HAVE A PASSPORT:
Post a copy of the main pages of your country's passport (make sure it will not expire
soon) with two 40mm X 30mm (NOT passport size) photos to the church's address below.
2) PROVE THAT PIONEERS IS A REAL
MISSIONARY ORGANIZATION THAT IS SENDING YOU: Have PIONEERS mail to the Japanese church address a
letter of guarantee that shows their missionary organisation is sending you and will take responsibility for your welfare
(we have a sample letter that we can send by request). Have PIONEERS also include in that envelope brochures,
financial reports, etc. that prove helpful in showing that they are a real missionary sending organization.
3) PROVE THAT YOU HAVE
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE SUITED FOR A MISSIONARY: Write and e-mail us your resume that
focuses on your training and experience in promoting "religion". We will translate your resume
into Japanese. Also, send us a transcript from your college/university that shows your
Bible/missionary training.
CHURCH ADDRESS:
Shimonoseki Christ Bible Church
11-3 Kawanaka Honmachi
Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi-ken
JAPAN 751-0859
The pastor of Shimonoseki Christ
Bible Church will write a letter of sponsorship for you and have someone submit an application for your
"certificate of eligibility" to the immigration office in Shimonoseki with the two photos and all the above documents you
and PIONEERS post to the Japanese church. It usually takes about a month for the immigration office
to process your application. Then someone from Shimonoseki Christ Bible Church will pick up your "certificate of eligibility",
mail it to you, and you will take or mail the following documents to the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate: passport, two 45mm x 45mm passport-type photos taken within the previous six months,
two official visa application forms (available at the embassy or consulate),
AND your "certificate of eligibility".
As for getting a head start on your packing, don't hesitate
to e-mail us with any questions you have about your living arrangements and what to bring. In your planning, be sure that you have
a professional yet comfortable wardrobe for teaching both children and adults for five days a week. It is often
difficult to find sizes and styles that fit us "Westerners" once you get to Japan.
Also, if you have received PIONEERS approval to purchase your airplane tickets
and you are wondering where to buy your tickets here are a couple of places you may be able to find a good deal:
Raptim Travel
http://www.raptim.org/
MTS Travel http://www.mtstravel.com/
SIAMA Travel
http://www.siama.nl/
IACE Travel http://www.iace-usa.com/index_us.htm
Side Step Discount Tickets http://www.sidestep.com/