Eric and Annie should be in the last leg of their twelve-hour drive up to Ishinomaki.  I’m looking forward to getting the call that they have arrived safely!  The Huddlestons have had a full day of meetings, guests, and volunteers… I hope Eric will be able to help out for the next couple of days.

We just sent out our newsletter a few days ago – I will post the whole thing soon- but I wanted to post one of the articles that we wrote and include a neat update.

On our family’s “vision trip” to Ishinomaki in November, Eric took us to a famous attraction there – the historic ship San Juan Bautista, which remarkably suffered only little damage from the tsunami.

The existing ship is a replica of the Spanish-styled vessel that was built four hundred years ago by the Lord of Sendai; Date Masamune. During our last term in Sendai, we were intrigued by this legendary leader who, contrary to most other rulers throughout 17c. Japan, showed sympathy to Christians and allowed the gospel to be preached. 

While most of Japan was extremely closed to foreign relations, Date modeled the opposite. He ordered the building of the San Juan Bautista in Ishinomaki, and sent an envoy of 180 to trade, establish diplomatic relationships with the Pope, and to bring back missionaries to Tohoku. Led by a Franciscan friar named Luis Sotelo, this voyage was the first ever from Japan to sail around the world. Some of the expedition members became Christians and ended up staying in Spain to escape the persecution of Christians which had begun back home. 

Date wrote this in a letter to the Pope, “I’ll offer my land for a base of your missionary work.  Send us as many padres as possible.”  

While still in Rome, word reached them of the seriousness of the persecution, and the Church determined it was too dangerous to send more missionaries at that time. Date’s wish was never fulfilled. Sotelo and the rest of the embassy eventually returned to Japan, where Christianity was being ruthlessly abolished. Sotelo himself was later burned at the stake for his faith. 

Japan entered a long period of isolation from the rest of the world. Yet even after this nation reopened its doors to the West centuries later and Christianity once again was permitted to spread, the Tohoku region has remained very resistant. 

God has been doing amazing things in the hearts of the people here as Christians from within Japan and from all over the world answer the call to come to the aid of this devastated region. We reflect on the four-hundred year old wish of a Japanese lord and the ship that stands as a symbol of his desire for this land to prosper.

 

A few friends have written to ask if there are any housing updates — so we wanted to let you know that we still don’t have housing, but we still do have faith (most of the time!) in a God who loves to do the impossible… who makes axes swim… who brings life from death… who calls and provides, every single time.  (Though not necessarily in the timing of our liking).

A realtor in Ishinomaki sent a house link to the Huddlestons last weekend as they were coming to Osaka for a week.  It is not listed yet, so there is no price on it.  The realtor said to Jennifer, “Is big OK?”  And she said, “Yes, big is good!”  And then she – and we — saw just HOW big.  It is huge.  It is a compound.  It is almost funny how big it is.  From the google earth photo, you can see that the tsunami came into the home, but we don’t know how extensive the damage is.  For the price to be anywhere near possible, there will have to be some tsunami damage!  If God were to provide this home, it could be an amazing place for volunteers, as well as to start a business for the locals in Ishinomaki who have lost their jobs.

Other friends/realtors are also looking.  We are praying for whatever housing the Lord will provide.  A rental would be the easiest.  If it is a home for sale, we still are not sure how that will work.  (We can’t take out a loan on a home because we don’t have permanent residence here).  We are looking into different options, such as an organization/individuals who could help fund the home, and then we would pay them monthly like a mortgage.  If you have any creative ideas, please share with us!  More importantly, please keep praying.  We have given notice to move out of our home here in Sanda by the end of March, in order for our children to start the local schools up there in early April.

On Sunday we were greatly encouraged by a gathering in Osaka for Hope for Japan, sponsored by Be One.  It is a wonderful “family” of people from the greater Kansai region with a heart for helping those who have had disasters this past year, including Wakayama.  Scads of churches from across the region are represented, which is one of the sweetest things about these gatherings.  Olivia and Ian couldn’t figure out why many of us were crying as they gathered around and laid hands on us… but it was touching and faith-building to realize that many are “with” us in this move.  Thanks for joining us in prayer.

While doing some research tonight on the history of Ishinomaki, I found a heart-wrenching blog by a Japanese professional photographer whose parents had lived in Onagawa when the tsunami came.  Their bodies were never found.  She and her sister finally had their funeral in September, sans bodies.  Her father and her grandfather had been photographers, as well.  Her blog is brave and beautiful as she writes (in English, though she is Japanese), of the process of grief.  She took photos of her childhood city in the weeks and months following the tsunami to help raise money to reconstruct Onagawa.

I am going to contact her and let her know how much her blog touched me.  Perhaps I will have a chance to meet her and see more of her work when we are living in Ishinomaki…

One of her blog posts was about a book that she read since the tsunami (in Japanese) that detailed the history of three other tsunamis to the region in the past one hundred years.  I learned a lot just reading this summary:

Last week I spent three days at the SIM headquarters in Charlotte, NC.  After many months of discussion, Asian Access has formed a strategic partnership with SIM USA.  Several friends have asked, “doesn’t that stand for Sudan Interior Mission?  Isn’t it strange to be partnering with a mission to Africa?”  It used to be called that… now it is simply SIM, with a tagline of “Serving in Missions.”  And I discovered that while it is a mission that began in Africa, “SIM has more than 1,600 active missionaries (from 40 countries) serving in more than 50 countries on five continents and 2 islands in the Indian Ocean.”   (I really love the chance to reconnect with my Zimbabwe roots!)

One highlight of our times of collaboration was a visit to SIM International, where we saw the archives of the mission and heard some of the history.  I loved hearing about the missionary saints who have gone before!  Although Asian Access is their first partnership, SIM has merged with numerous other missions over the years.  But it was first started in 1893 by three men who could not find an established mission to sanction their desire to take the gospel to the country now known as Nigeria.  While in the archives room, we saw twenty-six year old Walter Gowan’s original journal from that first year, written for his mother back in Canada, which was also the last year of his life.

Here are some of the excerpts that caught my attention:

“‘He restoreth my soul.’ Hallelujah!  I know what that means; how often when I have been so cast down and the evening has come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord has raised up a standard…Written in view of my approaching end which has often lately seemed so near but just now seems almost imminent, and I want to write while I have the power to do it.

…Well, glory to God.  He has enabled me to make a hard fight for the Soudan and although it may seem like a total failure and defeat is it not- we shall have the victory and that right speedily.  I have no regret for undertaking this venture and in this manner my life has not been thrown away…

Don’t mourn for me dearest mother if the suffering was great;  remember it is all over now and think of the glory I am enjoying and rejoice that ‘your boy’ was permitted to have a hand in the redemption of the Soudan…”

Separated from his coworkers, Walter was desperately sick with malaria, captured by an Emir raiding for slaves, and starving.  After being released, he tried to return to the coast, but he died alone in a town called Girku.

Thomas Kent also died during that first year.  Rowland Bingham, still very ill, returned to Canada and took Walter’s mom the few belongings left from her son.  Mrs. Gown said, “Well, Mr. Bingham, I would rather have had Walter go out to the Sudan and die there, all alone, than have him home today, disobeying his Lord.”

Hard words!  But a mom who knows what is ultimately important.  And through her son and two others, a mission that has played a strategic part in reaching Africa, and is now reaching across the world, was born.

I have read and re-read this page, and thought how thankful I am to be “permitted to have a hand in the redemption” of…  Japan.  The crowd of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1) that surround us encourages me so much to press on with the light pressures and perplexities that we experience, knowing that our obedience to Jesus is worth it all.

Just before dinner, a friend sent me an email that said, “Hi Sue, You’ve been on my mind for some reason today so I’ve been praying for you.  Hope you’re ok….”

It made me happy, but I thought –I’m completely fine – having a good day, got a lot accomplished…

Then the email came.  And another one shortly after that.  Both unrelated, but  concerning our move up north in two months.  Both very discouraging and disheartening. One evoked anger; the other fear.   Eric came home from teaching a class, and we were trying to process both things in the kitchen and over a late dinner while having a family movie night. We both came to the same conclusion:  We have to pray!

While trying to enter into the Ponyo movie (it is really delightful!), my mind kept whirling with so many thoughts.  I went back to re-read one of the emails (really not a good idea!)and my eye caught the devotional that had just come into my Inbox from my favorite, Charles Spurgeon.  I knew I had to read it.  The title verse caught my attention.  It is on one of the miracles of Elisha, in which God caused an axehead to rise to the top of the water in response to the faith of this one man.

“The iron did swim.”
2 Kings 6:6

The axe-head seemed hopelessly lost, and as it was borrowed, the honour of the prophetic band was likely to be imperilled, and so the name of their God to be compromised. Contrary to all expectation, the iron was made to mount from the depth of the stream and to swim; for things impossible with man are possible with God…

Beloved reader, what is thy desperate case? What heavy matter hast thou in hand this evening? Bring it hither. The God of the prophets lives, and lives to help his saints. He will not suffer thee to lack any good thing. Believe thou in the Lord of hosts! Approach him pleading the name of Jesus, and the iron shall swim; thou too shalt see the finger of God working marvels for his people. According to thy faith be it unto thee, and yet again the iron shall swim.

My heart is so encouraged again to remember Who I am following.  It is the same God of the prophets, who “lives to help his saints.”  Earlier this week as I set aside some time to focus on praying and fasting about a home in Ishinomaki, I was convicted of my praying to try and convince God of what I thought we needed (a house NOW!).   I realized that I was trying to control God – how absurd!  He does not need my opinion on timing or what our children need.  As it says above – “He will not suffer thee to lack any good thing.”  As I prayed and surrendered again my will to Him, He brought tremendous peace and freedom to trust Him.

This week — tonight! —  I really don’t know what God is doing, but I believe in a God who can make axes to swim; who works contrary to all expectations;  who has over and over again proved himself true.  I can’t wait to see how He answers.

The past few days we have had numerous reminders of the unique and wonderful Providence of God.

Over the past two days we had a chance to get together twice (and then a chance encounter at Costco to boot!) with our friend Dr. Sharon.  She lives here in Kauai. She had been Asian Access staff before I was – for many years I had heard about her and seen her picture but we had never met.

 Here is part of an email that she sent to us today:

Spent time this morning thanking God for you and your family and the incredible way that the Lord has allowed us to partner.  For years, I had been hearing your name from Teri, Alene, Mary Jo, etc.   Always with the same incredulous exclamation, “What???  You don’t know [each other]?”

We spent much of the last night of the year with Eric’s family, amazed at the continued popularity of homemade fire crackers and fire works even since they have become mostly illegal.

We had the privilege of starting 2012 by sharing about God’s work in Japan.  We spoke this morning at West Oahu Christian Church.  I was pretty emotional. We showed the congregation the Healing Hands video made about Ishinomaki – we hadn’t seen it for a long time.   The reality of the situation in Tohoku  hit both of us hard again.  And with the new year starting, our upcoming March move feels pretty imminent.

I shared a verse that  Eric’s mom shared with us last night.  She had read it yesterday morning and felt like the Lord wanted it for us.  It is Deuteronomy 11:12 – “It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.”

This verse is so beautiful;  how good it is to be reminded of God’s continued care for Tohoku, for the people of Ishinomaki, for our family.  That from the beginning of each year through its end, God does not cease to show His love.  What a wonderful reminder for January first.

Merry Christmas from Japan via Hawaii!  Our family has enjoyed two days so far with Eric’s family, and are looking forward to visiting Eric’s home church tomorrow morning and celebrating Christmas there as well.

Our first day of travel to get here was crazy — reminding us of our humanity!  As we were loading our luggage onto the luggage belt at Kansai airport, we realized that one of our backpacks wasn’t there – the one with my computer in it.  Ouch.  We were getting to get the battery replaced in Hawaii, and I was hoping to make several photo albums for some Sanda friends.  Bummer.  While we were waiting for our boarding passes to get printed, I checked all of our flight schedules in my notebook.  And it dawned on me that I had bought our tickets for our three-day trip to the island of Kauai over new years to Kona (the Big Island) instead of Lihue (Kauai).  I felt sick.

We went through immigration, and as the officer was checking all of our passports, she stopped at Olivia’s, and pointed to the expiration date.  It had expired last MAY!  Our mission requires us to check all of our documentation twice a year and send the dates in to the office.  We still don’t know how this got by us and them, except that Olivia (and two of her siblings so far) have two passports – a US and Japanese one.  At any rate, we were moved over to a special office, and after ten minutes of discussion were allowed to pass through (in reality, because she had one passport that was not expired, we were ok.  But it was still unnerving!).  To top things off, I realized that we had never sent in our official mission travel form for our trip to Hawaii.  Strike four.

The day after we arrived, I was able to change our island tickets for a fairly minimal cost.  We are fine without the backpack and computer.  We can get Olivia’s passport renewed when we get back home.  I sent an apology in for the travel form.   But I just felt so deflated – exhausted –almost numb.  The past month feels like a blur of many special “lasts” in Sanda, milking the season with lots of people over, special events for friends and our family, lots of occasions where we had to prepare and be “on.”  I got on the plane and just wanted to collapse (which doesn’t really happen when you are flying with four kids aged two to nine).

Two days here and I feel my tanks being restored.  Tonight is Christmas eve, and we have been very blessed and taken care of by Eric’s family.  And in a strange way it’s been good to be reminded of our humanity.  Today we received a digital Christmas letter from our friends Jay and Elisha Case.  It was just what my heart needed.  I quote the last paragraph:

It seems to me that a fuller understanding of Christmas gift-giving would lead us to see that God has given each of us talents, resources, and opportunities that we are to share, enjoy, and use for His purposes.  However, we should also recognize that each of us is beset by flaws, sins and limitations, some of which run much more deeply than escapades with air conditioners and trenchers.  We are not able to make everything right by our own power.  But, as I understand the Christian faith, God has given us the gift of Jesus Christ, so that we might be able to accept the grace that we all so desperately need.  May we all be willing to open ourselves up to that grace this Christmas.

Our flaws and sins and limitations have come out this week in me through lots of forgottenness  and mistakes….  There are gonna’ be days like this.  How desperately I need the grace of Christmas;  the grace of Jesus this Christmas.  I’m happy to receive it all.

And my greatest present this Christmas is a reminder of the amazing family God has given us.  These four children are probably part (a lot?) of the reason I am more tired and forgetful, but they are the greatest daily displays of God’s grace that Eric and I have in our lives.

Grace upon grace upon grace.  Merry Christmas.