The Gushiken Family

The past week I had the opportunity to assist the musically talented family known as The Gushikens. The Gushiken family is a Christian family from Okinawa who perform traditional Okinawan music. They are comprised of the Father who plays a traditional Japanese stringed instrument called a Sanshin, a mother who sings lead vocals, and two daughters who sing as well. While in Japan, the two daughters completed in a televised music competition and won. As a reward they received a record deal with a Japanese record company. Currently, they are touring in several places such as Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and the United States. While they were here in Lima, they performed as several venues such as the Japanese Cultural Center, the Matsuri Japanese Festival, a church and even at a Nikkei school. Accompanied with the Gushiken family was a couple named from Argentina named Luis and Marissa. They were former missionaries in Japan and spoke both Japanese and Spanish. This made it easy on us since the Gushiken family had a very basic level of English. Even though I possessed little interest or knowledge about traditional Okinawan music, it was a blessing to see them touch the lives of their audience. We were able to use the concert as a way for the Gushiken family as well as Luis and Marissa to share the gospel with many people who we would have otherwise had no connection of reaching. We were able to invite several Japanese families who were are currently trying to reach to the church service that the Gushiken family performed at where they were able to enjoy the performance as well as hear the gospel in their native tongue. We believe that several of them made a decision or are very close to! Keep them in your prayers!