Tonight after dinner I made a bath (Japanese style, of course).  The unusual thing about that is that it wasn’t for the kids — it was for me.  After I put them down, I just needed to soak.  To be.

After looking for a GPS that I had misplaced, Eric left with that to drive our friend Peter to pick up a van in Kobe.  Peter will be leaving tomorrow for 4 days up in Tohoku with the group that sponsored the prayer time we attended in Osaka.  Their group, the B-1 house church network, has been doing great, consistent tsunami relief, sending supplies up twice a week from a network of Japanese Christians and missionaries.  Eric interacted with Chad, the leader, a number of times while up in Sendai.  We are praying about Eric going on the next run, leaving this coming Tuesday.

This week my attention has been necessarily drawn to helping our three older children get adjusted back into school and all of the necessary paperwork and school supplies that come with that.  I would give myself about a C- in terms of being on the ball this week!  This morning after biking Olivia to school I had to bike over to Owen and Annie’s classes and take their gym clothes, both of which were my fault.  Last night I dug through the trash clad in Laytex gloves looking for Annie’s nametag for school;  Eric found it had slipped into a box in the hallway.  I am just  barely making it day to day, it seems.. .and pray my kids don’t suffer too much for it!

I have been thinking about what has been going on this week that has made me feel so draggy and unable to cope at full capacity.  One thing that has distracted my thinking and praying is that we went and looked at a home for rent last Saturday that is a real possibility… That is exciting!  But it is not in the neighborhood I would have chosen (the kids will still go to the same schools – actually be closer! – but the house is on a rather private road that feels a bit stodgy). So we have been praying and talking to friends and praying some more.  Still praying the owner will lower the rent one more time….

But I think as April 11th marked one month from the beginning of the Japan tragedies, and was marked by repeated aftershocks – again and again! — I feel weary of the suffering across Japan.  The announcement that the nuclear threat level has been raised from 5 to 7;  the perameter expanded;  increase in suicides and utter despair;  many who still need basic necessities… we are far away and yet I feel quite weary.

So tonight, I am sitting listening to Vivaldi’s cello concertos, praying, reading,  and journaling.  Here are two things that I have been reading that are unrelated and yet bring together my absolute need to be tethered to my master.

From A Praying Life, by Paul Miller:  (I went back and re-read this as we pray about this possible rental home):

“Abiding is a perfect way to describe a praying life.  For example, many Christians who are thinking of buying a vacation home might even pray, asking God practical questions, such as “Can we afford it?”  “Will it be too much work?”  “Should we make an offer on this house?”  These are good questions.  But we seldom ask God heart questions such as “Will a second home elevate us above people?”  “Will it isolate us?”  In the first set of questions, God is your financial advisor.  In the second set, he has become your Lord.  You are abiding.  You are feeding your soul with food that lasts.” (pg 143)

I read this paragraph with relief, actually.  these are the very questions we are asking God about this house.  If it is not an excellent place to center our ministry, we don’t want it!  If this home keeps people away, we would rather stay in our smaller, cozy home.  (You can pray with us about this home – we would appreciate it.)

But then I read some notes that were sent to our missionaries from our friend Scott Shaum, who was the speaker at our retreat last month.  He wrote about living a mindful life.  This paragraph didn’t make me feel as comfortable:

Living a mindful life is living on purpose at all times. I do not just do things because they need to be done. Jesus never did. If you read the Gospels carefully you will see that Jesus left people in their needs. Yes, he tended to many, many needs. He healed and delivered and comforted many people. But there were many more that he did not tend to. He sought solitude. He sought time alone with the Apostles even if that meant walking away from others with their needs (see Mark 6:30-32 for just one example). Jesus was never driven by need. He was driven by purpose – the Fatherʼs purpose for him in any given moment. We as well must never be driven by need.

I have not felt very mindful this week.  I have felt very busy, and very scattered.  I think Jesus was busy too – but He was purposeful.  I am very driven by others’ needs – at least as I perceive them.  There will continue to be many, many needs in Japan, both here in our community and more so up in the disaster zone.  But God is not calling me to care for all of those needs, but rather to be mindful, seeking His purposes.  I am sure that finding ways and means to be more mindful and tethered to Jesus will decrease my scatteredness, increase my love for my family and those around me, and allow me to focus on what he is calling me to.

Today marks one month since the 9. 1 earthquake and tsunami that came roaring in minutes later.  Here are the statistics at this point:  13,116 people dead, 14,377 still unaccounted. 151,000 survivors staying in 2,300 temporary shelters across the country.  I don’t know if there was much news in the U.S., but today both the one month anniversary remembrance — many places stopping for a minute of silence and remembering — as well as the news that the radiation evacuation radius has been broadened due to further suspicious findings of radiation. Many farmers and fishermen have lost their livelihood.  No one knows when – or if – they will be able to return to their homes in this widening area.  Farm animals have been left to die; other farmers have chosen to take their own lives rather than make the kinds of decisions that they have to.  Here is one article on this.

We continue to hear personal stories of loss.  We get the feeling sometimes that there are so many stories of hurt that are waiting to be told.  Japanese do not share their hearts easily.  One of our good friends in Sanda just told us that one of her colleagues at work had gotten married two years ago and moved to her husband’s hometown up north by the sea.  She was very pregnant when the tsunami came, and couldn’t get away… she and her unborn baby were washed out to sea.  Her husband remains, grieving the loss.

This evening has been a very strange night because of the amazing number of aftershocks that have been coming one after another the past few hours.  We have been searching news sites for more information;  one was a 6.6 with many coming after it.  The country does not stop shaking…  There have been reports of landslides caused by this;  four people right now are trapped because of this.

Yesterday we attended a prayer gathering in Osaka attending by several hundred from churches across our region for the purpose of praying for the Tohoku (earthquake) region.  It was great to join our hearts and beseech the Lord for mercy as well as to use believers to minister to those who are hurting.

About one fourth in the room have already gone up to do relief work – I love that!  One missionary who is up there now was interviewed on skype in the morning, and he was asked what is needed most right now.  He said, “Hands.  We need more Christians to come up and continue the work so we don’t need to stop.  So many people still need help.”  Many of the Japanese who shared testimonies said that they did not know what they could offer, but they felt the urge to go and saw God do amazing things once they were.

Eric stayed last night for a three hour meeting in Osaka to meet with other Christian leaders in the region.  About a year and a half ago there were some prophecies made about numerous earthquakes that would hit Japan.  After the recent earthquake, some leaders met to discuss the implications of the prophecy and the current situation.  Last night was a meeting to discuss that and next steps that Christians should be taking.  There are different interpretations of why these disasters have been happening in Japan.  Eric shared our convictions in the meeting, that these recent disasters are in no way a judgment from God on the nation of Japan itself.  It is possible that the large number of earthquakes happening across the globe are early signs of the end times, but that is something that we cannot know for sure.  Rather than instilling further fear of judgment on a nation that is already bound by fear, we feel that the only appropriate response for Christians is love.  The discussions at last night’s meeting, many wonderful ideas were introduced of how to show love to those who are hurting.

Tomorrow morning, Eric and the other three Asian Access guys here in Sanda will be meeting to talk and pray about our next steps.  We are thinking that sometime in the next few weeks Eric will again go up north.  Please join us in praying for strategic connection, collective wisdom, and God’s heart of love to flow across this land.

This weekend was busy with Annie’s opening ceremony for first grade, and participating in the wake and funeral of the grandfather/dad of our dear neighbor friends. Eric attended the wake and dinner last night, and today I went to the funeral and cremation. What touched us so much was their family including us in what were very intimate family gatherings, with about twelve or fifteen relatives in attendance at each ceremony. It meant a lot to be able to walk with our friends through their loss and grief this weekend.  Tonight we made some ravioli soup for them and our family and enjoyed a mellow evening.

 

It was a rainy day for Annie’s opening ceremony, which was a bummer, but it turned out to be fun using umbrellas (our friend Laura taught us that at her wedding!).

It was simpler to post the rest of the photos on Facebook – you can view them here. For those who read Annie’s prayer requests several nights ago – all three of her friends were placed in her class.  Thankful this weekend for God’s work and sweet care  in our family’s life.

Last night at around 11:30 pm, Eric’s cell phone started beeping and he said, “oh no.” While doing relief work up in Sendai, he had downloaded an app on his iPhone that actually beeps before an earthquake hits (App name: yurekuru). He had set it for above a 5.0 (otherwise he said it would be going off all the time!) We turned on the news, and watched as a long 7.8 earthquake hit off the coast of Sendai. Because of its proximity to land, it was the same size in Sendai as the original 9.0. There were tsunami warnings for the next hour and a half, and people near the coast were told to evacuate. I just read that there were 140 injuries and four fatalities as a result.

Tonight we talked to our friend Kazue, and then received a call from another close friend who had been our Sendai neighbor, Kyoko. They shared more about last night’s experience. Although their homes have electricity and gas, they shared that much of the city and surrounding areas do not have gas, electricity or water – again. Still. Kyoko said she debated putting her older mother who cannot walk into the car to drive away, but she looked out and saw that there was a terrible traffic jam — everyone trying to get away. So she stayed put. Thankfully, there was no major tsunami that came this time.

Kazue shared that it was quite traumatic and scary. They are living in someone’s apartment temporarily — the earthquake knocked the refrigerator over completely… all the dishes fell out of the cupboards and broke, their borrowed portable oven fell over as well. But, she said, “We are all okay and are very thankful for that. We have gas and electricity and many don’t have that so we are very lucky.”

Kazue’s mother’s home had been damaged in the first earthquake – they have spent the last few weeks trying to repair the broken roof tiles but have not known how to fix the large cracks in the walls and structure. After last night’s quake, her home is no longer salvageable. They will need to tear it down and rebuild it.

I asked if they need toys for her two month old granddaughter, Shuu-chan. She said that was one thing she got when she went back to the house. I was shocked – I hadn’t realized that between the earthquake and the tsunami, she had returned to their home! She said she realizes now it was not a smart thing to do — many of their friends from that neighborhood who returned to get things from their home did not make it out — but she thought she would just grab a few things until the next day (assuming everything would be fine). I asked what she took from the home- she laughed and said it makes no sense, but she had no real time to think: her granddaughter’s toys; a few floor cushions; their bag with some cash in it (yeah!); and — drumroll please — her makeup bag! This made me laugh – I would probably do the same.

What is amazing to me is Kazue’s response to all of this. She is a new believer, but tonight on the phone she said, “I am just so thankful to God and I am looking forward to seeing how He works through this and continues to show His care for us.” She asked us to thank all of you who have been praying for them.

For those interested in helping us to bless Kazue and her family with a financial gift, please email us: setakamoto@asianaccess.org . Our friends the Bernards in Los Angeles are collecting checks and will deposit the money so that we can give them a money gift. We are hoping to receive checks in the next week or so in order to help them as soon as possible. We want to help them to buy clothes and household items. These financial gifts are not tax-deductible but are a tangible way of blessing those with real needs as a result of this disaster.

Finally – I watched this 25 minute video tonight. (I’m not sure why it’s not showing up – but you can quickly go to youtube or google: “People & Power – Aftermath of a Disaster)

I thought i would just watch a few minutes but couldn’t stop till the end. I know I cry easily, but once again this found me weeping (I hid in the bathroom so the kids wouldn’t see me). It’s about one small town that has been wiped out twice in fifty years by tsunami. After the last one in 1960, they built a huge tsunami wall and then rebuilt the city. The tsunami last month had no respect for the wall and ravaged the city. I want to find the old man featured in this video and just hug him and weep with him. At the end he says, “I need to find my wife’s body. If I don’t, she can’t go to heaven. She’ll never have peace. I’m going to sit here until somebody finds her body.” I’m thankful we are in Japan; pray for Christians in Japan to shine the light and the hope of Jesus. I’m convinced it is desperately needed.

(The only tsunami updates today is a blog entry by one of Eric’s coworkers from Sendai, Jim Peterson. His photos are amazing; this entry brought new perspective for me to the breadth of the devastation).

In Japan, April marks the beginning of the new year. It is when people start new jobs, move to new neighborhoods, and when everyone goes back to school. Owen started back to school today — third grade! Tomorrow morning is Annie’s opening ceremony for first grade; Olivia starts her second year of youchien (preschool/kindergarten) on Monday.

Last night we had a special dinner as we marked the end of spring break. I didn’t tell the kids but I was grieving the end of spring break and starting again the daily low-grade stress of being a mom for three kids in Japanese schools. It is low-grade, and I rarely take the time to give it the label of “stress.” But it is stress, and probably is daily.

After dinner, we pulled out candles. Each child, and our friend Yasko who is starting another semester of training to be a Japanese teacher, on their turn lit a candle and shared a prayer request or two for this next school year. Then the child next to them prayed for those requests, and took their turn lighting a candle and praying.

Owen’s prayer was for God to help him to “do really good” at third grade kanji and math; and to become a good soccer player (he’s in his third year of YMCA soccer). Annie asked for prayer that she wouldn’t be scared to start first grade, and then Owen and Olivia said that she should pray that her good friend Asana will be in her class. Olivia wants her two good friends in her class, and that she could keep learning Japanese (that came with some parental suggesting). Yasko wants God’s help with her three classes, and guidance for the next steps after the class. After all the candles were lit and each individual had been prayed for, Eric closed our time in prayer. How good it felt as a family to commit our ways to God’s tender care. I looked around our table and knew without a doubt that our Lord is in control and will shower these His children with both His love and His discipline this year. We can entrust them to His care.

This morning I found out that Owen’s new teacher is the ONLY teacher in the school I really didn’t want him to have. I had even prayed he wouldn’t get this teacher! But they are entrusted to His care. One of my favorite hymns came to mind as I was processing the news- Children of the Heavenly Father. God never forsakes us. And I am ready and willing, once again, to be a Japanese-school mom.

Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

Lo, their very hairs He numbers,
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His ev’ry blessing
And His help in woes distressing.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.

Today Prime Minister Kan requested that all the colleges across the country send up volunteer teams to assist in tsunami relief efforts, stating that there is not enough help and not enough being done to help.  The needs are still so huge.  

Eric wrote this last night:  “Almost as quickly as the dreadful tsunami itself, the international media blitz covering it has come and gone and left in its wake a forgotten people stranded in hopelessness. For every tragic story aired during the news frenzy there are still thousands left untold. Entire populations are still struggling to find their way through the fog, so many dangerously close to the edge of despair. Who will rescue them? Now is the time for love to arise. Though the world, it seems, has moved on, the body of Christ continues to reach out to these hurting neighborhoods refusing to leave. The global church continues to bathe this beloved nation in prayers.  Never have so many been so close. Please ask our Father for multitudes to see and take the hand of salvation.”

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Eric just talked for quite a while with our good friend Kentaro. He and his wife became good friends when we were living in Sendai; for several years he oversaw earthquake safety for the fire department in Sendai. He was transferred down to Tokyo several years ago, and then next month will return to Sendai. He spent some time at the fire department headquarters in Sendai and touched base with Eric several times when he was up there. Tonight Kentaro shared that many of the Sendai firemen have been suffering severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. They are the ones searching for and finding the bodies of children and family members; many without much rest. Eric hopes to stay in touch with Kentaro for continued cooperation and support. Pray for those who continue doing the most stressful of all jobs.
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Today Eric’s partner and friend Peter Thomson got eight paragraphs in the Japan Times as he shared what the guys did up in Sendai.  You can read the whole thing here, but here is the part of his interview that shares more about what they were doing.

Christian organizations were also quick to respond to the unprecedented disaster, with many groups working together to organize support.

Peter Thomson, an American missionary and a longtime resident of Hyogo Prefecture who cooperates with Christian relief organization Crash Japan, was part of one of the first response teams to head north to provide aid and support to survivors.

Crash Japan has set up six base camps, in Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, to house volunteers and dispatch them to areas in need of help.

Pastors of the many churches in the area call to inform them of what each community needs, and Crash Japan volunteers go on “shopping lifts,” scooping up goods from the group’s warehouse set up in Sendai and delivering them to the designated areas by van and truck.

“We try to ask them to be specific. They would say ‘we need baby goods,’ and we’ll say ‘OK, what age group and how many do you need?’ ” Thomson said.

In Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, the group’s volunteers got in touch with community leaders to seek information on those who opt not to live in the relatively well-stocked temporary shelters and instead try to remain in their homes, where delivery of food can be rare.

“If a team can find a local community leader, then the leader knows who is in the community. We had great success by connecting to local leaders and asking them ‘where do you want us to go?’ And they will take us to them.”

In addition to connecting with the locals, Thomson said it is important for those interested in volunteering to recognize their own capacity and limits.

“The need is so astounding and overwhelming, so realize that the one act of kindness, like carrying bottles of water for those too old to take them home themselves, those acts of kindness with a smile is huge encouragement,” he said.

I have been thinking about these verses, and praying that God will show us how to do this for those who are suffering up in Tohoku:
“Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever, who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food for the hungry… sets the prisoners free;… opens the eyes of the blind,… lifts up those who are bowed down,…loves the righteous,….watches over the stranger; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” (Isaiah 146:5-10)

Today our family took off to enjoy the day together to the Kobe zoo.  It was the only day before school starts (Thursday for Owen!) that we could do this.  When we arrived, we were thrilled to discover that children could enter for free, and that somehow – mysteriously — spring had sprung and cherry blossoms were in full bloom.  Somehow this past month I have missed all the signs of spring coming.  It felt so freeing and fun as a family to skip around the zoo and soak up the beautiful weather and environment.  I think all six of us equally enjoyed our day.   We posted photos that you can view here.

We got home tonight and I read this about the typical hanami viewing and parties that happens across Japan — where groups gather under cherry blossoming trees and celebrate with picnics, drinking, and even karaoke: The governor of Tokyo has made public announcements to encourage people to refrain from holding these hanami parties in Tokyo parks due to the mood of the nation after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and power blackouts.

We are not surprised; Japan, as a nation, is grieving.  Tonight on the news they announced that in addition to the 15,000 some who are still missing and presumed dead, there are still five towns/cities who have not reported in number of missing because their city records were destroyed in the tsunami.  Two of these are towns where Eric had ministered the past two weeks — towns that virtually are already wiped out.  We just felt sick that there could still be many unaccounted for.  On the nuclear front, radiation has been found in some fish off the coast.  Fishermen have voluntarily stopped fishing while this is further investigated.  This isn’t good news for this island nation;  even if the reality is not serious the threat of it could cause a lot of panic.

So — I am thankful for cherry blossoms. I hope as they bud and bloom from the south to the north of Japan that they will be a reminder that spring does come, that there are still pockets of beauty and hope to be had.  The cherry blossom is the traditional symbol of spring — it is used often in haikus and is a nationwide symbol.

To cherry blooms I come,
and under the blossoms go to sleep –
no duties to be done!
-Buson

They blossom, and then
we gaze, and then the blooms
scatter, and then…
-Onitsura

On the plum tree
one blossom, one blossom-worth
of warmth.
-Rensetsu

My prayer for Japan:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
^(B) the desert shall rejoice and blossom… (Isaiah 35:1).

 

There are some stories that I (Eric) was made aware of during my two weeks in Sendai that aren’t making the news.  Abandoned homes are being broken into in the stealth of the night, and valuable items are being taken before the owners are able to return.  Gasoline is being syphoned out of cars in restricted areas before the owners can return.  One story that I heard was about a member of a church that we worked with in Sendai.  He returned to his home to retrieve their television set which was located on the second floor of their house, and presumed safe from the tsunami that ripped through their first floor.  Upon arriving, he noticed that the second floor was mostly the way they had left it, except that the television was gone.  After searching a bit more, they found the television wrapped in a comforter in the bedroom.  People had gone in and quickly concealed the television so that they could take it in the cover of darkness.

Iwaki is a large city that is close to the evacuation radius of the nuclear power plant.  People being forced by the situation to flee are being met with discrimination as they are turned away from restaurants and other places of business because their license plates  on their car bear the city’s name.

Please pray against these and other ongoing injustices being inflicted upon those who are already suffering so much.

Eric has had a chance to download more photos that he took during his two weeks up in Sendai in addition to those already posted.  Here they are, with some of his reflections.

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On the way up, we took a back route to Tokyo and had a great view of Mt. Fuji. It provided hope to some of the people I met to know that in spite of everything Fujisan was still standing. Yet I told them that even if it were to crumble, God’s love would always remain.

Here is the CRASH headquarters, with some of the supplies we brought up from Sanda.

On the way to Sendai. We were issued a special emergency vehicle badge that allowed vehicles like ours to be on the highways during the first week.  It turned out to be a great blessing because with the long lines of vehicles waiting for gas, we would often get waved to the front of the line.

When we were driving closer to the nuclear plant, we rolled up our windows and wore our masks… just in case.

Our second day in Sendai we went to wait for the amazing shipment coming in from Samaritan’s Purse – 94 tons of supplies.  Here is the group of volunteers waiting, and the trucks coming in.

I loved working with Samaritan’s Purse – they continue to be an amazing blessing to the communities in Tohoku.  Here are some new supplies that were purchased by SP at Costco – they bought out entire inventories of much-needed supplies.

Geared up….

We are realizing the immensity of the problem of the hundreds of thousands in Japan who have been displaced by the tsunami or nuclear problems.  Even though we are a 14 hour drive from Sendai, we continue to find people around us who have come as a result of the disasters.  Last week while I was at a weekend clinic (our week of flu!), a woman sitting next to me in the waiting room with two small children suddenly leaned over and said, “Are you Takamoto-san?”  I was rather surprised- I had never met her before.  She said she had just come down from their home above Tokyo to stay with her parents in Sanda because of concerns of radiation for their children.  She had had tea at a neighbor’s home, who had mentioned  her new American friend (me) who had adopted four children.  I guess we sort of stood out and it was obvious…

Today one of our church member’s mother came to worship for the first time.  She is staying indefinitely with the Yamane family because another family who lives one prefecture (state) over from Fukushima is staying at her home.  There is a government hotline that anyone can call to find out about possible housing openings in various parts of the country.

This is an update that was sent out by a pastor who has worked for many years with Asian Access at Fukushima First Bible Baptist Church (located just 5 km from the troubled nuclear reactor). I worked with Pastor Sato many years ago when I was summer advisor. His whole community is needed to relocate indefinitely because of their close proximity to the reactor.

Pastor Akira Sato: Evacuation Report, March 18

Every day we are supported by so many people’s prayers.  It already feels like much time has passed.  I feel as if several years’ worth of drama has been packed into the last week.  After reuniting with my Christian brothers and sisters at the evacuation site, I often will mistakenly refer to it in conversation as the concentration camp.  It feels like we’re living in a war zone.

Whenever I hear people’s stories of their evacuation, I feel as if they have escaped through their fire or slipped through the middle of the tsunami.
Yesterday I got word from a church member I had been worried about, “I was truly saved by God” he testified.  As I listened, he explained that immediately after the earthquake, he had suffered a heart-attack, and half of his heart had stopped.  If the emergency surgery had have been delayed by just 30 minutes, he would have died.  “I can see the hand of God in the leading me in a path to life” he testified.

Another woman in our church was at work and had switched seats just before the earthquake hit and as a result was spared death and was able to escape by car.  The roads were terribly damaged, but as she was escaping she gave a ride to several people and they were able to show her how to avoid the broken roads, and make her way through the mess of cars disabled by flat tires and other damage, and arrive safely at the evacuation site.  From there she was able to move to another evacuation site and miraculously find her relatives.

But the most miraculous thing is that I haven’t heard anyone say, “How could God allow this?” or “There is no God.  I don’t believe anymore.”  Having confirmed the whereabouts of 160 Christian brothers and sisters now, what I am regularly hearing is “The Lord is wonderful,” and “I want to trust God more fully from now on.”  I wonder to myself, “When did they get such strong faith?”

Yesterday, three of the people travelling with us, shed tears as they put their faith in Jesus and testified to their new faith.  Hallelujah!  What joy there must be in heaven.  There’s nothing like seeing fruit first-hand like this, in the midst of such a gloomy disaster.

By the way, yesterday before we moved from Fukushima to Yamagata, some of our people were able to move to the homes of family and relatives.  While we know that life is a series of encounters and farewells, there’s something special about time spent with people who have come through the same trial and shared meals together.  While I wondered, “When will I see them again?” I struggled to hold back feelings of loss.  I get tired of keep shedding tears like this.  I try to tell myself that life is about hellos and goodbyes but it’s not so easy.

Yesterday we loaded into 12 cars, and headed to our next refuge, which required crossing over snowy paths with walls of snow a metre high on either side of us.  But it wasn’t as if after we reached that tunnel of snow we were in snow country, but even before, it felt like we were in a world of silver and white.  Yonezawa Chapel is in the midst of completely white snowy surroundings.

We stepped out of the shivering cold and were welcomed by our church hosts with bowls of hot udon and soba noodles.   I had the experience of holding back tears while I ate the food made for us.  If this is I feel now, I hate to think what will happen in the future.  Lord, like the silvery white snow we see all around us, renew my delicate heart.

We are now living life as “diaspora” (scattered peoples).  In the end, “Where will we lay down roots?  Where we will settle?” I wonder.  What is clear is that through these unusual times, the Lord has stirred up everything.  Some have been freed from their excuses and received the Saviour, others have repented that their faith had been sleeping.  Still others have expressed their realization of how little is really necessary for life.  In each of these souls the Lord has been powerfully present, rousing their very being, and over-turning the foundation of their lives.

Perhaps the Lord is inviting us to a new work.  Perhaps the curtain is rising on a great drama like the exodus from Egypt.

(For those who have asked how to help our friend Kazue and her family in Sendai- we will get details to you very soon.)