Train Day

There's a lot to celebrate these days...Christmas, Train Day, New Years. Train Day is Russ' and my private holiday. The first time he told me he loved me was while riding a train on December 28, twenty-eight years ago. To remember that special day, we celebrate the anniversary each year. Up until 2006, the usual celebration involved taking a train ride together somewhere and sharing those precious words–I love you. Since Russ' stroke we've expanded what constitutes a proper celebration.

This year we celebrated by baking and admiring fresh loaves of homemade bread arranged to resemble a train. Well...I baked. Russ admired. We both ate and thought loving thoughts about each other.

It's been just plain terrific having Christie home! We've been able to have a wonderful balance of hanging out together and working on our ever-present to-do lists. She introduced me to the anime artist, Miyazaki. The Ghibli museum was great fun. Another treat was visiting a deaf school here in Tokyo that uses Japanese Sign Language (JSL). Christie had no trouble communicating with them even though she considers American Sign Language (ASL) her native tongue. (Do  you call it a native tongue when it's a sign language?) On Christmas Day at church I sang a solo while she signed the song. She heads back to Seattle on New Years Day.

It's been a joy to have several Japanese friends drop in to share greetings or send us gifts. We were particularly touched and humbled by those who gave so generously in spite of their great financial challenges. We feel so privileged to be able to minister in this land.

Our Hearts are Full of Thanksgiving

Russ was hospitalized for two weeks. I visited him every day. This post could go on and on sharing blessings. I'll control myself and only share a dozen.  I'm thankful for...

• Russ' successful surgery. The cancer is gone! The skin graft on his ear is healing well.

• Russ' surprise early release on Thanksgiving Day. Going from hospital food to Thanksgiving dinner was an unprecedented culinary leap!

• Russ made many friends in the hospital and was able to leave Christian literature with several.

• Russ did not lose ground in his mobility during his hospital stay. We actually had extra time for walking and speech practice.

• Russ' mother is recovering well from her fall and subsequent surgery to replace the ball in her hip. (Proverbs 25:25 Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.)

• I was able to easily get my 10,000 steps a day of walking in because of the commute to the hospital. In fact, 408 of those were stair steps. I'm feeling fit.

• I was able to listen to two inspiring audio books as I commuted (Crazy Love by Francis Chan and The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun).

• It was easy to spend time with God because I was alone so much. My Father and I had rich fellowship.

• I was able to get my work done in the office without stress. (Our house suffered since I only seemed to be home long enough to make a mess and not to clean it up...but, it's coming along.)

• So many people visited Russ that the staff wondered who he was! I thoroughly appreciated all the friends that went out to supper with me on my way home.

• Miraculously I never got exhausted even though commuting on Tokyo trains is an inherently tiring activity. Three and a half million people travel through Shinjuku each day. It's the busiest train station in the world. One day I was meditating on Mt. 11:28-30 and thought, "This is amazing. I'm happy to go to Jesus, but I really don't fell weary and burdened." What a God thing!

• I never got tired of the fascinating architecture downtown. I found several ways to get from Shinjuku train station to the hospital. I chose a few skyscrapers as landmarks and took off finding all kinds of cool artistic nooks and crannies.

New Walking Record

Cancer wasn't part of our stroke recovery plan. But God knew.

Before surgery the medical team marked an arrow to ensure that the correct ear was worked on. That big mole there was the cancerous culprit. Tuesday Russ' lovely nurse, Sato San, wheeled him from the 16th floor to the 4th floor where the surgery was performed. I sat out in the waiting room and had an amazing time talking to the Lord about our lives and then writing my last post.

Thankfully the surgeon was able to do the surgery with local anesthesia rather than knocking him out completely. This made his recovery so much easier. During the operation it was tough lying there still for two hours with a cloth over his face making breathing hard, but he said they let him have a breathing and wiggle break partway through. He looked chipper from the first day!

One of the more challenging aspects has been sleeping. He is not allowed to lie on his left side because it could mess up the skin graft that is getting accustomed to its new home on Russ' ear rather than his chest. He has trouble moving to his right side because that side is paralyzed. That leaves one sleeping position–face up...on a very hard bed in a hot room. After a few restless nights I took him a foam egg crate mattress pad which seems to help.

Another blessing is that another bed in his room opened up and he was able to move to that spot. This position allows him to swing his paralyzed leg up onto the bed without hitting anything. Now he's by a wall rather than in between two other beds. The extra six inches really make a difference.

And now...ta da! Russ is up walking around. Since his stroke Russ has progressed to the point that while he spends most of his time in a wheelchair due to stamina issues, at home he often gets around using his cane. He has even taken steps without a cane. The hospital corridor offers new possibilities. To make a long story short, Russ broke his record for how far he can walk without a cane! See that hallway behind Russ? There's a parallel hallway to it with short connecting hallways on the ends. Russ walked all the way around that circle (about three times what you see!) without any assistance. The hallway has a railing that he can grasp if needed and I walk behind him to grab his gait belt when he gets wobbly.

In the adult day care Russ attends, their concern for Russ keeps them from allowing him to try daring ventures. Our home obviously does not have a long hallway like this with a railing. The nurses here don't know what he "can't do" so give him freedom. By sending us to this hospital God opened up the way for this new adventure. Isn't God amazing?!

A Life of Simplicity

I'm thinking ahead. I spent a big chunk of a day recently praying and seeking God for His vision for my life, specifically for 2012. This is what God said to me: "Live a God-paced life. Ask yourself continually if a particular possession or activity enhances your ability to live a life of simplicity–one purely and wholly devoted to Me."

For the past six years I have been intentionally and sporadically systematically simplifying my life. Initially my efforts were to make my life easier and less stressful. I knew the great question, "Do you own your stuff or does your stuff own you?" One year I kept a calendar to track my efforts. For everything I sold, gave away, or threw away I circled a day on my calendar. By the end of the year I had 365 less things.

Bit by bit God is working in my heart to reveal to me why I crave simplicity. II Cor. 11:3 (NASB) says, "I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be lad astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ."

Donald Whitney* says, "We simplify, not just to be less busy, even though we may be right to pursue that. Rather, we simplify to remove distractions from our pursuit of Chirst. We prune activities from our lives, not only to get organized, but also that our devotion to Christ and service for His kingdom will be more fruitful. We simplify, not merely to save time, but to eliminate hindrances to the time we devote to knowing Chirst. All the reasons we simplify should eventually lead us to Jesus Christ."

One would think that Russ' sinus surgery, stroke, severe infections, irregular heart beat, broken bone, osteoporosis, cancer, and the literally hundreds of hospital visits I've made in the last five years would complicate my life rather than simplify it. Ironically God has used these to sharpen my focus on what really matters. Without a doubt I cherish my relationship with Russ, but God chose me to be single-heartedly devoted to Him. I knew that before 2006 when Russ' health took a nose dive, but now I'm experiencing it in a new way.

I've started working through Cynthia Heald's study entitled Becoming a Woman of Simplicity. She says the purpose of the study "is to encourage [me] to live life the way God has planned." She thinks God's "way is one of inner preace and rest in the midst of a complex and busy world." She sums it up by saying, "My definition of a woman of simplicty is one who lives a God-paced life. She waits for God's leading, and she has time to be still and know her Lord. She has a deep abiding rest in her spirit. She is a woman of profound simplicty because she has only one focus: being simply and purely devoted to Christ."**

I just love the way God uses everything I see and hear to flesh out the message He's trying to get through to me. I was wondering how to purse this life of simplicity when I read David E. Shi's words.*** "The essence of simplicty is not in renunciation, but in discrimination. It requires learning to distinguish between the necessary and superfluous, between the useful and wasteful, beautiful and vulgar...Simplicity requires an individual commitment...rather than a particular standard of living. it preaches contentment and self-control and promises spontaneity and freedom."

I'm writing this as I sit outside the operating room. The doctor is cutting away cancer from Russ' ear and replacing it with healthy tissue. My heart is at rest not because I'm easy going. No one who knows me has EVER described me that way. I'm just enjoying God's sweet presence out here in the hallway and I'm confident that the Holy Spirit in Russ is radiating out to the surgeon and attendants around him. God has called me to trust and rejoice–to simply be devoted to Him.

* Donald S. Whitney, Simplify Your Spiritual Life (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2003), 26.
** Cynthia Heald Becoming a Woman of Simplicity (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2009), 15.
*** David E. Shi In Search of the Simple Life p.6

P.S. The doctor was pleased with how the surgery went. We'll know in a few weeks if it was completely successful.

Paying Attention

How I thank Jesus who is worthy of all power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise (Rev. 5:12) for the overflowing basket of blessings He is offering us. We feel no lack of goodness. These days are filled with joy! How can that be with Russ in the hospital awaiting cancer surgery and me trying to juggle so many responsibilities and making the tiring trek downtown each day to see Russ? It comes down to just paying attention. God is continually sending me love notes. I just need to read them.

Russ and I were concerned about him losing mobility during his hospital stay which to us seems incredibly long (2 1/2 weeks to just remove some ear and replace it with a skin graft.) We asked several times about some ongoing mobility therapy in the hospital, but it isn't working out. However, the therapist who regularly comes to our house gave me some helpful tips before Russ entered the hospital. I wrote down the exercises and took pictures so that each day I've been able to work with Russ and he's doing well. He is in good spirits and seems very healthy.

Admission day was a long day! We left at 6:50 in the morning and I got home at around 7:30 that night. I was amazed at how much there was to do. Before going to the hospital I pictured myself sitting around and reading, but it didn't work out that way at all. I was busy getting Russ settled, interpreting for the amazing number of medical personnel connected to his case, and helping him practice getting in and out of a bed that isn't ideal for his paralysis. But it works! He fits diagonally and we're both getting better at tackling situations that aren't ideal.

Russ is in the middle of a room for six so his curtained off area is about six feet by five feet. Our daughter went to Hong Kong on a school trip in 2003. They visited a man whose only living space was that size. Russ' is only temporary. And besides that Russ has a great view of Shinjuku from the dining area window.

A friend came to the hospital and went out with me for supper. Fun! Driving home I was pretty tired and had this craving for a piece of Japanese cake (the fancy bakery kind). I considered stopping somewhere but decided that was not a good idea. I did not NEED cake. I just needed to get home. I kept going back and forth in my mind, but the pull of wanting to get home was stronger than my desire for cake. It just surprised me because I'm accustomed to chocolate cravings, not cake cravings. I could not believe it when I pulled into my driveway and there was Yuki with a little cake box for me saying, "You must be very tired after such a long day."

The next day was 11/11/11. Koreans eat Pocky sticks (similar to chocolate covered pretzels) because they look like the number one. I'm all for adopting delicious customs from neighboring countries! As I was leaving school to go to the hospital I thought, "It would be fun to have Pocky sticks to commemorate this day." Just before I went out the door, in rushed my Korean coworker handing me a box of Pocky sticks!

I just love the way Japanese put beauty in the mundane. They have the most fascinating patterns in manholes, guard rails, and sidewalks. I smiled when I saw pictures of cosmos lining the utilitarian temporary encasement for a construction project.

Don't Forget Your Chopsticks–Preparing for Surgery

Last week Russ' PET-CT scan went well. He fell asleep during the procedure so it went quickly for him. I was able to get a letter written analyzing results of an achievement test so I felt accomplished. To top it off, as we left the hospital we passed a bank of red geraniums. Red geraniums always make me happy. They're like love notes from God to me showing me who He is. That's why this pot sits outside our dining room window as an earth-bound glimpse of God's beauty.

Today we heard great news from the doctor. Russ' cancer has not spread and appears localized in the top layer of his skin. We scheduled surgery for November 15 followed by a two-week hospital stay. The physician plans to take skin from Russ' upper chest by his collar bone to do a skin graft on his ear after he removes an area of skin about the size of a quarter. The doctor called it an easy operation. The biggest concern involves Russ' medication. The doctor doesn't want to take him off blood thinner because he is at a high risk for another stroke. However, if he doesn't go off of it, he could have excessive bleeding which would prevent the skin graft from taking and require another surgery. The doctor concluded that since the risk of another surgery is less life-threatening than another stroke, he will have Russ keep taking his usual medication.

After a chest x-ray and electrocardiogram we were sent to an office to explain what we need to do to prepare for surgery. The receptionist kindly went through all the instructions in Japanese as I wrote them down in English for Russ.

"No thank you. We do not need the $800/a day room complete with telephone, TV, refrigerator, toilet, and bathtub. The no-charge room with six people works fine for us." (This was not a hard question. On the way to the hospital Russ prayed aloud that most of all God would use this experience to led people to Himself and secondly to take care of his health. We believe we've been sent to this hospital because God has people He wants us to meet.)

Now for the list of things to take to the hospital. We need to be careful not to forget pajamas. Russ was concerned that he would have to fit his big American body into a little yukata (cotton summer kimono) like the medical staff attempted to put him into when he first had his stroke. It did not work. Among other things the list includes toiletries, chopsticks, a cup, tissues, medicine, a writing utensil, and earphones. I talked them out of the earphones to watch TV. If Russ suddenly has a hankering to watch TV while he's in the hospital I'll know that something happened to his brain during surgery to cause such a dramatic shift. He's a die-hard book fan.

While I've made light of a rather serious situation, be assured that we are very grateful to God for the fact that Russ' cancer was caught early. We know that the surgery won't necessarily be an easy recovery since he'll have general anesthesia and there is the danger of excessive bleeding. We choose to face each day with joy and prayer because we are in His care.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

"If cancer, okay."

As we approached the dermatologist's office, Russ prayed aloud, "If cancer, okay. We'll deal with this in faith." The doctor reviewed the results of the biopsy with us. It is malignant. This was a surprise to us, but not to God who loves us and grieves with us as we navigate through the challenges of life here on earth.

Russ has a large mole on his left ear that has been growing. When we were in the US this summer, Russ' mother urged us to get it checked. To make a long story short, it needs to be removed. Russ has been referred to a major university hospital in downtown Tokyo. Tomorrow he'll have a PET-CT scan to see if the cancer has spread and then we meet again with the surgeon on October 28 to schedule surgery.

Thankfully the cancer was caught in the early stages. Challenges include the size of the mole, his other disabilities, and the medications he takes. Please pray with us for successful surgery, that the cancer has not spread, God's continued peace in our lives, and that we'll be a light for Christ to those who do not have the hope we have.

"Make Me Three Nice "ch" Sounds"

A lovely Australian couple came to Japan for a two-week missions trip. The husband put his construction skills to good use working with two other guys giving the neighbor above us in our mission house a new bathroom. We are so grateful! The floor had rotted out and just in the nick of time we were rescued from having our upstairs neighbor's bathtub in our kitchen sink.

The wife is a skilled speech pathologist and worked with Russ everyday! Until she came, Russ only had one session since his stroke five years ago with an English-speaking speech therapist. This was the first time for Russ to have on-going speech sessions other than working with me. Bethany worked him hard and we saw progress! I listened in and learned things we can continue to try in the days ahead.

I was especially amused when Russ started picking up Aussie phrases and sprinkling them in his conversations. Now that Bethany is gone, he's back to American English, but it was humorous to have him ready to "give it a go" and call me "mate."

I used to work with Russ on speech everyday during his 8-month hospital stay, but haven't been able to keep that up since he's come home. I've been inspired with Bethany's visit and am trying to use pockets of time here and there that might otherwise be missed. We hope that by working on articulation and language processing, Russ will increase his ability to communicate with others. We welcome your prayers.

Church Retreat

The church we attend (Musashino Chapel Center) is celebrating 30 years of ministry this fall. The last week of September, 130 people traveled up to the mountain town of Karuizawa where we worshiped together and enjoyed rich fellowship at a church retreat.

Highlights included the small group we were assigned to, the natural beauty of Karuizawa, the creative architecture we found on our walk, and special friends. The pastors (English-speaking and Japanese-speaking) gave inspiring messages. An overseas visitor invited by a Japanese friend made the life-changing choice to follow Jesus. There was great rejoicing in heaven and on earth.

Musashino Chapel Center has three Japanese congregations and one English-speaking international service. We dearly love our brothers and sisters who attend.

Why I Love Higashi Kurume

I really love this suburb of Tokyo. We're only a train ride away from downtown, should I ever want to go there, but far enough out that we enjoy that hometown feel. The transportation system is great and the pollution levels are reasonable. At this time our radiation levels are well within the range of healthy. Two rivers run through the city flanked by walking trails and greenery. I can walk to a grocery store, the post office, the school where I work, and even to various doctors.

But the best part about Higashi Kurume is the people. Of course we have our missionary coworkers and school families, but it goes beyond that. The workers at the city office go out of their way to be helpful. The local merchants are great.

The other day I went to get my hair cut at the shop where I've been a regular customer for 23 years. They still charge me the same price they did when I began going there even though the posted placard has a higher price. The shop is run by a mother (now in her 70s and still doing hair!) and her daughter. The daughter and I are the same age and each have two kids (a boy and a girl) about the same ages.

When I entered the shop they already had one customer but they drew her right into the conversation because they were so eager to see our son's wedding pictures. They lined the pictures up against the mirrors and stared a hole in them. They were so excited and commented on how much he had grown.

I asked them how they got along in the summer heat with reduced electricity. They said they were fine but there were seven ambulances that passed by their shop on one particularly hot day. Elderly people would resist turning on the air conditioning and then pass out.

By the time my locks were chopped (she really gives me my money's worth!), there were no other customers. My hair dresser immediately brought out a cold drink to encourage further chatting. After getting all caught up on our summers, she sent me out the door with some fresh vegetables.

Yes, I love living in Higashi Kurume.

Remembering the Earthquake-6 Months Later

I actually wrote the following post on March 12, the day after the devastating earthquake. As we remember the earthquake six months ago on this date, I'm again reminded of how God kept my heart in peace through difficult circumstances. Isn't that just like God to offer peace in the midst of chaos!

March 12, 2011 Post
Thursday I woke up in the early morning hours with a debilitating migraine headache. I wasn't able to do anything for Russ. He made his own breakfast, put away the laundry, and even took a bag of trash outside for pick-up. Since he is paralyzed in half his body, carrying anything while grasping his cane and navigating the slope outside our front door is quite a feat!

God's timing is impeccable. He knew that the next day we would have a major earthquake and I would be stuck in the mountains far away from home. Russ would be home alone. The memory of what he was able to do without my help on Thursday assures me that God will help him manage. Since the earthquake yesterday I have had no direct contact with Russ but I'm totally confident God is caring for Russ. Russ is only theoretically alone.

Yesterday (3/11) I came up here to Karuizawa to meet with some homeschooling families. As my last consultation was coming to a close the building started shaking violently. We stood in the doorway until we heard over a megaphone that we needed to evacuate the building. Thankfully we didn't have to stand outside for long since the temperature was well below freezing. We gathered in the newest building and had roll call. All were accounted for.

I figured my 4PM train would be delayed, but at that time didn't realize the extent of the earthquake damage. I went to the train station and learned that they had no idea when the trains would be running again. Cells phones weren't working so I used a pay phone to try to make calls but couldn't get through to anyone. I decided to get a refund on my ticket and go to my friend's house.

I have no way to get home. I was able to go to sleep last night but woke up at 4:30 AM to two more 6.0 earthquakes. I decided it was a good idea to be dressed and ready to evacuate if necessary (though I still don't expect to). Aftershocks continue. What I used to think of as rather strong earthquakes, are frequent.

Please pray that I'll be able to talk to Russ and the Lord willing we'll be able to be united. I am grateful to be staying at the warm home of missionaries.

Please pray that God will use this to draw people to Himself.

Flossie

Choices

August 2 was a joyous day for us when our son Joel joyfully married Christina. At the rehearsal dinner Russ and I shared with the happy couple choices we have made over the past 27 years that have produced a deeply satisfying and cherished marriage. This special relationship didn't just happen. We intentionally have chosen to...

Spoil each other. Going beyond expectations keep our marriage full of joy and romance. Russ treats me like a queen and I do all I can to make his life special. Since his stroke he is not able to do all the things he used to. He desperately wants to make my life easier so he learned how to squeeze toothpaste from the tube and prepares my toothbrush as well as his own.

Memorize I Corinthians 13:4-7. We like the New Living Translation. When I'm not feeling very loving, God reminds me of what love truly is. It gives me focus. Regardless of how I feel, I can choose to be patient, choose to not be irritable, or choose to forget an offense.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Keep short accounts. We have chosen to never finish a day with hostility towards each other. By apologizing, offering forgiveness, or just making things right as quickly as possible, a root of bitterness never has time to develop.

Post wedding vows. We have our vows framed and on the wall in our bedroom. Frequently we read them over and remind ourselves what we promised each other on July 21, 1984.

Learn each other's love languages. While all five love languages–words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch–communicate love, we have learned what each other most appreciate.

Express thanks often. Russ thanks me for every single meal I prepare with a kiss on the back of my neck. We are liberal with our thanks and choose not to take each other for granted.

Let traditions develop naturally. We have plenty–love notes in each fresh jar of peanut butter, an ongoing argument about who got the prize on our wedding day, and riding a train every December 28 so Russ can tell me he loves me just as he did the first time back on a train on December 28, 1983. (For the record...I got the prize! Russ is truly God's gift to me!)

Turn potential irritations into something fun. When we were first married, Russ was helping me by drying dishes. He reached right in front of me without warning to put away a sharp knife. It was a dangerous thing to do and frankly...irritating. I appreciated his heart and didn't want to be upset at my new husband who was trying to be helpful. I told him if he would warn me and put the knife away safely, I would give him a kiss. 27 years later he is still collecting kisses for knives safely put away whether he puts them away or I do. During his 8-month hospitalization I would visit him and report on how many knives I'd safely put away and collect on my reward. By the way, if you help with dishes at our house, don't even think of drying the knives. Those are reserved for us.

Be honest. Rather than holding back or speaking carelessly, speak the truth in love.

Never joke about divorce. Marriage is sacred and so before we got married we decided we would never joke about divorce anymore than we would joke about communion or Jesus' death. It is too sacred to take lightly. We have lots of fun in our marriage, but that's one thing we just won't kid about.

We aren't perfect people so we mess up sometimes. But these choices have really worked for us. Again today the Japanese nurse at the care center who was helping us commented several times on how perfect we are for each other. Isn't God good?!

God's Poppers

You've probably never heard of them. God's poppers are what I'm affectionately calling the people that keep popping up to help me with Russ during our travels. I stand by the car gearing myself up to lift his 13 kilo wheelchair into the trunk of car and out of nowhere someone will pop over to do it for me. It's been amazing.

We've had wonderful times with relatives and friends. Russ' sister and husband even built a ramp up to their home.

Tomorrow we anticipate the beginning of our mission conference followed by our much anticipated trip to Maine for our son's wedding.

This four-week trip to the US is a challenge, but God's poppers are making it very doable. We're grateful.

Mercy

God shows His mercy to us in many ways. For the past five weeks we've enjoyed having Mercy share our lives with us. She not only has a cool name, she has a beautiful spirit to match it. We've been blessed to have her with us.

Mercy is a homeschooled teenager from Texas. Since a major part of my ministry here in Japan is supporting homeschool families, it was a perfect fit for her to come and help us out. Japan has been on her heart for several years. We made plans for her to come before the earthquake plunged our lives into uncertainty. We waited until we were pretty sure she would be safe and then asked if she was still interested in coming. The disasters only heightened her desire to serve.

I love what I do, but sometimes the to-do lists in my mind threaten to overwhelm me. It's tricky to do it all. Mercy was willing to do all kinds of mundane tasks for the good of the overall ministry. She stuffed envelopes, cleaned book shelves, moved boxes, mopped floors, washed dishes, peeled off labels from discarded library books, emptied our dehumidifiers (often!), etc. She spent many hours helping us with our project of getting our cassettes converted to CDs. She especially enjoyed tutoring a student in writing. Whatever needed to be done next, she did it cheerfully.

My office is spread out into several small rooms. At this moment those rooms are better organized and more usable than they have been in the history of School Support Services. I love an orderly work environment!

Mercy has what I think is the most important quality a missionary needs–a servant heart. It will be interesting to see how the Lord leads her in the future.

Thank you, Lord, for mercifully sending us Mercy!

Love in Action

You've seen the pictures. You already know. The needs in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami are incalculable. What can we as a school do to reach out to those in need? What can I personally do? Love in Action isn't just our school theme. It's the Jesus-way of living life.


Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ) is focusing our assistance primarily on one area of Miyagi where we have developed a relationship with a middle school. Many of the students lost their homes and loved ones in the tsunami. That deprivation represents an accumulation of thousands of smaller losses as well. When we asked the principal of the Japanese school what we could do, he asked for recorders for the students. The CAJ volleyball team sold tee shirts to raise money for the recorders and now the students can make music again. But how do you make music at such times?

There are moments in all our lives when our hearts are so heavy that we need to just do something fun to help us think about something other than pain for a change. This past week a group of staff and students went up to the affected area offering soccer clinics and craft sessions for the children. Fun is great, but work is also satisfying. In the mornings our students cleared rocks from a field so a farmer could replant his fields and helped get a boat out of a tree so a fisherman could resume his trade.

For the last few months staff members have gone up on weekends taking fresh fruits and vegetables to people eating only rice balls. One weekend they arranged for a big cookout. An elderly gentleman wasn't quite sure what to do with the ketchup so he squirted it on top his hamburger bun. His buddies behind him in line followed suit. City folks are used to hamburgers and hotdogs. It was a new experience for these country folk. They ate with great gusto.

I often have this yearning to go up north myself to help with the relief effort. God keeps whispering in my ear, "Hold the fort. Hold the fort." So I'm still in Tokyo working in my office at school, caring for my husband, and hosting the people God brings to stay with us. Last week our summer worker and I made cookies to send with the high schoolers to pass out to the kids at the soccer camp.


The CAJ community is much more than a school. Many have commented on how our faith influences how we cope with tragedies like the earthquake and death of a student just three days before graduation. We hurt. Oh, we hurt. But we rejoice because God gives us strength and peace and clarity about what our part should be.

Ending or Beginning?

The last few weeks have been filled with endings and beginnings.


Our nephew finished well at CAJ graduating with awards in sports, music, academics...even in "collaborating." He's a well-rounded young man who loves Jesus. We're proud of Jared and praying for him as he finishes his last few weeks living in Japan by being a counselor at Joy Bible Camp. Then he's off to the US for college.

Thursday I watched the fifth graders say their farewells to elementary school. As they bowed in Japanese fashion and then youthfully skittered across the stage, I thought about their stories. If I were a kiddie lit author, I'd have plenty of fodder for fascinating tales. It's just plain cute to watch them jabber away in multiple languages.

One fourth of the students at our school have come through School Support Services, the division of Christian Academy that I oversee. I feel a special kinship to these students.

At the end-of-the-year staff party, both of my co-workers received awards for 10 and 20 years of service to CAJ respectively. After working with Jeannie for the past twenty years I can't imagine what it's going to be like next year when her family is on a one-year home assignment. Thankfully Gina will still be my able co-worker and God is sending us a young, talented, tri-lingual CAJ graduate to work with us for the year Jeannie is gone.

Even though we've officially ended another school year, I'm still working in the office tying up loose ends and planning for next school year. Our theme for next year will be Love in Action. In my next blog I'll tell you about some of the ways God is using CAJ staff and students to help out in areas affected by the tsunami.

Beauty in Rough Places

Out here in the suburbs of Tokyo, our city of Higashi Kurume sprinkles nature trails amidst modern ten-story apartment buildings.

Yesterday I went on a walk to show our house guest a nearby bamboo grove. To preserve the natural walkway, the path was somewhat treacherous in parts. A man with a leg brace similar to Russ' walked on that path using his cane. Disability could not keep that man away from beauty. He gave me courage to think that Russ could still improve if we don't give up.

Further into a secluded area along a brook, I noticed the artistic way pieces of wood had been placed to make a little foot bridge. Each board individually was worn and even appeared rotten. But together it was beautiful. These days almost every thought takes us back to the earthquake. I wondered, "Can God bring beauty from the ravages of the tsunami?"

Yes. God can. Just as Paul found "a great door for effective work" opened up for him in the midst of opposition, (I Corinthians 16:9) so God is opening up the way for beauty in the wake of unbelievable destruction.

There is a Christian retreat center in the picturesque Ome area. They have conducted successful ministry at this site for fifty years. Unfortunately, the neighbors have resented having Christians in their neighborhood. They can't get rid of the Christians because they own the land.

A Baptist church in Fukushima was totally washed away by the tsunami. People cannot live in the area because of the close proximity to the nuclear power plant. The pastor went around and gathered his people together.

The retreat center invited them to come stay in their facility. The days turned into weeks. The camp canceled all their guests for the rest of the calendar year to provide housing for these refugees. Food donations have come in to feed the people. The neighbors got wind of it.

The Christians are providing housing for Fukushima refugees? Suddenly attitudes changed. The towns people are proud that their town is actively helping their nation in this tangible way. The Christians turned from unwanted intruders in this tight-knit community into heroes. God is bringing beauty to rough places.

Contentment in the Rain and Heat

The weather is absolutely perfect right now. We are in that brief window of time between needing both a heater and a humidifier and starting up our air conditioner and dehumidifier.

Most of the time I'm fairly content. A little (or a lot of) rain doesn't usually cause me much distress. But every once in awhile when the combination of heat and rain makes me feel like a wet garment being ironed as steam escapes from every pore of my body, I just don't like it. Rainy season usually begins in early- or mid-June here in Tokyo and lasts for about a month. Some years it rains pretty much all day every day. Other years we only get rain every few days but it comes in torrents. I don't know what this year will be like.

What I do know is that I've never really thought to prepare my heart for this season of the year. It just comes. Some days I complain and sometimes I don't. But this year I decided to think about rainy season and the sultry days that follow and formulate a plan. What prompted this?

We are looking forward to having a 17-year-old young lady from Texas come in a few weeks to spend a month with us to help us out. I wrote and told her about rainy season thinking it was only fair to warn her. She replied, "I'm so excited! I love rain!" Now there's a perspective to consider. Hmm...

Then I read about a missionary back a few generations who always exuded contentment. Her daughter discovered a list of this godly woman's intentions. Her first goal was to not complain about anything, ever...not even the weather. She served in a harsh African climate without the luxury of fans or air conditioning. I find her resolve amazing.

This summer with the need to cut down on electricity in Tokyo due to the nuclear reactor problem, we've been told to prepare to use air conditioners as little as possible. This will not be easy in this hot and humid metropolis where people breathing and sunshine radiating off of cement produce more heat than many man-made heaters.

We had a light rain today. It was a piece of cake. I didn't even have to try not to complain. I know there will be days it will be more of a struggle. I've never been a huge complainer, but my husband doesn't ever complain even though with his disability he has so much he COULD complain about. He lost his speech with his stroke. He worked and worked to be able to speak again but never regained his ability to complain. He makes good choices!

I'm taking the challenge. I will not complain about the weather before September 31. Right around that time the weather gets gorgeous anyway. I'm allowing myself the privilege of sharing weather reports...just no disparaging commentary.

Enjoy your weather today!...By the way. As long as I'm not complaining I do want to take the opportunity to do the opposite. After battling pain in his overused left arm for nine months, Russ is now pain free in his elbow! Thank you, Lord!

Steps of Faith

It's encouraging to see faith grow in the lives of our friends who were baptized on Easter Sunday.

Thursday the mom and daughter came over. When my rice cooker died I took it in for repairs but it was going to cost almost as much as a new one so I took the plunge and purchased one. This one has a cake cycle. I decided to have my friends come over so we could try making a cake in it together. Actually the mom misread the directions and it really wasn't turning out. While we waited for it to cook we had some left-over pizza for lunch. The five-year-old daughter prayed for our meal. She told God that the cake really flopped, but could He please fix it. When we opened the lid, the cake worked. Immediately she said, "I prayed!"



The mom told me about what I really think is a miracle. She said she thought the Holy Spirit was telling her that they should tear out the ceiling in their house. She is a new Christian so listening to the Spirit is something she is learning. She asked her husband to tear out the ceiling and he did (pretty trusting husband!). While tearing it out he discovered that someone who had remodeled the house years ago had put cement blocks up above the ceiling.

It is not permissible to throw away cement in Tokyo because of the landfill problem. You can't put it out in the trash and they won't even take it if you pay for "big trash." I know. I have a cement block from an old laundry pole that I can't get rid of.

Back to the story...It is such a blessing that they discovered these cement blocks because it is a very old house and with all the aftershocks we're having, their ceiling could have easily caved in and killed them. On top of that the dad discovered that a mouse had chewed through electrical wires and they easily could have had a fire. The husband was able to fix the wires and they are all working hard to break down the cement blocks into little pieces. God protected this Christian family growing in their faith.

The Best Easter Ever!

I could hardly contain my joy when this family was baptized Easter Sunday. Over the past five years we've shared the Word with them, lived life together, and become dear friends. Now they are truly family. Praise God!

Faith, Hope, & Love Coming to Japan

In the entryway of our home we have this placard that says, "Faith, Hope, & Love." We are here in Japan because we so long for these words to characterize our Japanese friends.

April 14 I wrote about a missionary friend of ours who befriended a priest up north who is housing 100 evacuees. Over the weekend he went up again with meat (something they said they longed for), duffel bags (because they have no way to keep their few belongings together), and cookies (because life is always better with cookies.)

The CRASH team was welcomed warmly. The priest's wife said she wants to start reading the Bible and the priest himself said he think he'd like to become a pastor. Maybe he doesn't quite get what being a pastor is all about, but praise God for these steps towards the Savior!

This morning I was doing baptismal preparation with a friend who told me, "Japanese know there is a God. They just don't know who He is so they make offerings to idols out of a need to do something just in case that's what's required of us." She is so grateful she heard the good news and is full of faith, hope, and love.

Later today I was talking to one of Russ' therapists telling him about Easter (not a familiar term to the average Japanese.) He said, "Japanese don't have hope." I told him about my friend who had no hope until she met Jesus and how now her whole family is living in hope.

Sunday in church a Japanese man talked about his experience with a CRASH team last week. He said that Japan is experiencing a spiritual vacuum. He confessed that he didn't used to think revival could really come to Japan, but now he's living in hope that a door has been opened. He says the next 1, 2, or 3 years are a critical period.

We agree with him! Please keep praying for Japan that faith, hope, and love will become common.

Sakura on My Pillow

Jesus says He is always with us. I believe Him. This afternoon we had a fairly strong aftershock at a time Russ and I "just happened" to be passing each other under a door frame. That was the perfect place to be–where things are least apt to fall on us if things start toppling. We were already in our preferred location so we just stopped and prayed until the house stabilized. Recently we had a shaker and I realized later that I went through the whole earthquake without praying. I definitely don't want to get that used to earthquakes. But even when I'm not consciously communing with Him, Jesus never forgets me.

The tulips in our garden are just beautiful this year! The cherry blossoms were slow in coming, but now that they're here, they are lovely and lasting just a tad longer than usual. We've all needed this reminder of God's care and love for us.


When Russ rinsed out my lunchbox last night he asked, "Did you eat your lunch out under the sakura?" He found delicate pink petals that had fallen in my lunch when a breeze created my favorite kind of snow-pink snow! Russ' reminder of God's handiwork caused me to once again hear God whisper in my ear, "I'm with you. I care about you."

And just in case I missed the message, this morning when I made my bed, I found sakura on my pillow. Surely God wanted me to start another day thinking about His presence.

Maybe it's not flowers and sunshine that are shouting God's mercy to you right now, but I'm sure God is giving you glimpses of His character in ways that speak to your heart. Are you listening?

Giving and Receiving

Giving and receiving can be tricky in any culture, but it is especially so here in Japan. To receive a gift obligates one to give something in return. Depending on the situation, being too eager to receive a gift is considered impolite. What happens when polite people who are used to a certain standard of living suddenly lose everything? To survive they have to receive, but it just isn't easy.

In the last several days I've heard of three situations where the recipients of relief supplies were reluctant to receive them, but after establishing a connection with the giver, the donations were happily received. I love how God understands cultures and years ago was working out details so that needy Japanese today are getting what they need.

Fifty years ago a missionary kid (MK) went to a Japanese kindergarten. 3-, 4-, and 5-year olds across the nation attend kindergartens. There are so many of them I can't begin to imagine how many there are in Japan. This MK grew up in Japan, returned to the US for college, and ended up returning to Japan as a missionary. (He and his wife are in the same mission we are in –TEAM.) Fluent in Japanese culture and language he has made several trips up north delivering relief supplies. He found a temple where 100 refugees were staying with a Buddhist priest. The missionary wanted to share what he'd brought with the refugees, but the priest said they had what they needed. Undaunted, the missionary kept talking to the priest. The longer they talked, the more they realized they had in common. Then it came out. They attended the same kindergarten! Suddenly the relief supplies were very welcomed. It's hard to accept aid from a stranger, but from someone who knows your roots? That's a different story.

Go God!

There are many wonderful organizations helping with the relief and recovery effort here in Japan. We are closely connected to these three organizations and recommend them for your gifts. I am confident that all of them will use the funds carefully.

Christian Academy in Japan is the school where I work. We are collecting money to gather supplies that staff and students will use to help with the recovery effort.

CRASH Japan is a group of missionaries and Japanese Christians who are working together using churches as bases of operation to distribute supplies and emotional care

TEAM is the mission we are a part of. They will funnel the funds in consultation with our mission leaders here in Japan.

Many Parts; One Body

Romans 12:4&5 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body,and each member belongs to all the others.

Many Parts; One Body is our school theme this year. Mr. Potato Head toys are given out at staff meetings to recognize the unique gifts people contribute to the school body.

The theme is appropriate anytime, but I'm especially thankful this is our focus this year. Why? Because the magnitude of the needs in Japan right now are so unending, that everyday I feel torn. My part in the recovery effort feels so insignificant.

A trip to our grocery store ends up being an emotional experience for me. My eyes gaze at the vast array of vegetables and tears well up. My friends on the coast who used to grow the vegetables my family ate every summer, now are only getting rice balls. They can live on that, but their health will be affected.

I cannot mother every orphan, clean out every muck-filled home, feed every hungry person, or build a house for every homeless person. But each time I buy groceries I can buy extra to donate to the relief effort. We can continue to house volunteers. We can comfort the hurting. We can give money to CRASH. I loved it that I was able to buy fresh fruit and vegetables and send it with a friend going up north.

Right now the house smells like chocolate chip cookies. A friend in the US sent us a care package with cookie ingredients so I'm making them to give to our Japanese neighbors tomorrow on the one-month anniversary of the earthquake. I want them to know that you care.

I'm only one part of the body. I think God can take my teeny contributions and make them useful in His kingdom, but sometimes I forget. My Mr. Potato Head is a good reminder. Thanks for praying for us!

Praises

I'm full of thanks to God today as I reflect on the last few days.


• Over Spring Break a free soccer day camp for elementary students was held on our school playground. Kids needed something to do. With less than a week's notice the organizers hoped for maybe 50 kids. CAJ students, homeschoolers, and church kids started inviting their friends so that around 200 kids came. They played soccer and heard the gospel. One Japanese mom expressed how happy she was for her son to have this unique opportunity to learn about morals and sportsmanship.
• T came to church for the first time saying, "I'm interested in English and what you Christians think."
• J accepted Christ
• The first day back at school since the earthquake went very well. The day was punctuated with broad grins and hugs. While sadness clings to each of us, the joy of togetherness brought another layer of healing.
• I started reading Fearless by Max Lucado aloud to Russ. I'm motivated to write out and meditate on Bible verses about not fearing, having courage, and not losing heart.
• We have been blessed to have S living with us for 2 1/2 weeks while working at CRASH. She left Sunday and we'll receive our next relief worker into our home tomorrow.

Today I heard eye-witness accounts from people who've been involved in the front lines of relief. My friend told me that even the worst pictures in the media cannot begin to show the extent of the devastation. The destruction goes on and on and on. I'm comforted by this thought: God's mercy, love, and goodness go even further. He sees Japan's pain and offers hope.

School Scheduled to Reopen on Monday

Please pray for us as we reopen school on Monday after abruptly closing on March 11. Whenever I see a Japanese friend at church or on the street for the first time since the earthquake, it's often a rather emotional time–You're okay! Where were you when the earthquake struck?

Monday some staff and students will have their initial post-traumatic-event reunion. None of our immediate staff or students lost their lives, but we all know someone whose life has been dramatically altered. We all shook and have continued to shake during the aftershocks. Please pray that we'll listen well to each other and that we'll be clothed in the power of the Holy Spirit as we go forward in hope.

Some will not be joining us because they have left the area either permanently or until the nuclear reactor power plant situation has been resolved. Please pray that God will continue to clearly guide each of us and give us grace to trust each family to follow God's leading.

Blog Entries Sent by Email

If you would like to know when I've posted a blog entry, you are welcome to scroll to the bottom of this page and enter your email address. You can read the content of the blog entry in the email sent to you or click on the link to go to the actual site if layout is important to you as it is to me.

I tend to write daily during crises like Russ' stroke (when he was fighting for his life and trying to learn to walk and talk again) or during the earthquakes. Writing gives me an opportunity to share how you can pray and helps me process what's happening. When life is more routine, I usually just write once or twice a month.

5 Years Ago This Week

Five years ago this week Russ had his stroke. We rejoice that against all odds Russ is alive and getting along amazingly well. He walks around the house with a cane and is able to do many things on his own. He continues to go to an adult care center three times a week for therapy. I'm going to get in big trouble for posting this picture with chocolate smeared on Russ' face after licking the beaters. But doesn't he look content...or is that sheepish?

Strength and Hope

This morning I opened God's Word thirsty for refreshment. These words in the Phillips Paraphrase spoke peace to my heart.

Hebrews 6:18-20b
So that by two utterly immutable things, the Word of God and the oath of God, who cannot lie, we who are refugees from this dying world might have a source of strength, and might grasp the hope that he holds out to us. This hope we hold as the utterly reliable anchor for our souls, fixed in the innermost shrine of Heaven, where Jesus has already entered on our behalf...

There are still thousands of Japanese in shelters due to the Tohoku earthquakes. They've lost so much. These refugees live in a dying world. To have someone come and offer them strength and hope must be amazing.

God offers me that same strength and hope today. Though not a tsunami refugee, I am physically and emotionally tired. I'm taking God up on His strength and hope offers and finding fresh joy for this day.

In addition to the treasure I read in the Bible today, strength and hope came in the form of carrots. Russ' therapist brought us fresh carrots from Kiyose (neighboring town). They are beautiful, reportedly sweet, and not contaminated. How like God it is to bless us with both an abstract and a tangible display of His care for us.

A New Normal?

Saturday a friend said it was the first day since the earthquake that it felt like a normal day for her. The next day another friend said the same thing. Today was my first day for things to feel a little more routine. I rode public transportation that ran according to the posted schedule, I passed a gas station that was open but didn't have a line of cars waiting to buy gas, and I even saw toilet paper for sale.

But then tonight I received a phone call from someone asking a favor of me that would require several hours of time. It felt like an overwhelming request even though it wasn't something difficult for me to do. Under ordinary circumstances I would have just made the time to do it, but tonight I hesitated and said I'd get back to her.

I've realized that even though we are not in a hard-hit area, we are all affected deeply by Japan's pain. Every time I think about how cold it is for late March, I think of those up north struggling to keep warm with snow and no heat. The young woman staying with us while she helps with the relief effort is working so hard. Stress is really exhausting.

This week is Spring Break at the school where I work. Please pray that each of us (staff and students) would be refreshed.

How to Pray

You could help me celebrate my birthday today by praying for Japan. Here's a list of prayer requests from CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support, and Hope).

http://www.crashjapan.com/crashjapan/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=315

If you're wondering how old I am, I'll give you some clues. My age is equidistant between two prime numbers. I'm too old to be a mere 50, but too young to be 60. I hope this won't keep you from praying. Sometimes I just need to think about something other than disasters.

Wise Words from Jeannie

We appreciate everyone's concern for our well being. Yesterday I asked the Lord to in His mercy cause the temperature to rise and the radiation level to drop. Though there is a chance of snow tonight, we had a good hour of beautiful warm sunshine today. That was a huge blessing! The radiation level found in Tokyo water has gone down well below the safe mark. Thank you Lord!

Many foreigners have left Japan in the last two weeks. Some of our friends here have people begging them to leave Japan. We are thankful that our mission, friends, and family have not put that kind of pressure on us. We are counting the cost and believe that until God leads us differently we should stay here. We certainly have no desire to be foolish. We do want to listen carefully to God's leading. He is the only one who knows all the details including what is yet to come! What a privilege it is to rest in His all-knowing leadership.

We live just three kilometers from my brother Tim who is also a missionary here in Japan. I asked my sister-in-law if I could share her thoughts in my blog today. I think she's "spot on" as my Australian friends say.

I have slowly been developing my own Biblical perspective on the fight or flight tension. I've come up with the decision that it is so important for each one to stay very close to God to hear what He is saying to him/her individually. God may give one command to one and a different command to another.

In the Bible, Jacob's family left Israel for Egypt in the famine of Joseph's day, Paul fled from Damacus in a basket, and Jesus himself was carried out of Israel to Egypt by Mary and Joseph. On the other hand, Paul stayed in the Philippian jail rather than running away at the time of the earthquake and Jesus stayed and endured the cross to the finish.

This whole crisis is an exercise in listening carefully to what God is saying to me personally. I love John 21 when Peter was trying to get Jesus to give a cookie cutter response regarding the future of John and the other disciples. Jesus replies to Peter, "If I want him (John) to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."

God's Mercy in Spite of Tainted Water

The big news yesterday was that they found radiation in Tokyo's water supply above the recommended limit for infants. We live in the outskirts of Tokyo that has a different water supply from downtown. As adults we are presumably not in danger at the current levels even if we lived closer to the center of the city.

This is little comfort since we personally know many precious young children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers in the affected areas. Already the radiation levels have dropped, but as an extra precaution they are encouraging using only bottled water for infants. The stores shelves where bottled water used to be, are bare. The city is distributing water directly to families with infants.

As each new difficult development comes, I've realized anew how the only sure thing is God's character. I'm seeking to focus on Him–the unchanging One–in the midst of the unpredictable.

Today I've been thinking about God's mercy. The 9.0 quake did horrible damage, but if the epicenter had been farther southwest, it could have been even worse. In our suburb the water has been fine even when radiation was found in other places. We've escaped all the power outages characteristic of other suburbs. I was able to buy one liter of milk today. Our trains are even working again. Maybe God is sparing us because CRASH's command center is right here in our neighborhood and He wants this ministry to be able to carry on in the relief effort. I don't know why He has spared us so much, but I do know He is merciful.

Tonight I am appealing to God's mercy and asking Him to bring warmer weather. It's supposed to be in the 40's (Fahrenheit) tomorrow. That's difficult for the many Tokyoites who have no power for several hours each day, but even more brutal for the homeless in Tohoko cramped in cold shelters. Usually by this time the cherry blossom trees are beginning to bud. Spring feels late this year. Lord, please let the mercury rise, but keep the radiation down.

It's hard to complain when...

Many good things are happening, but uncertainty is stressful. Ordinarily it comes pretty naturally for me to see the bright side of life. I think when God created me He put in an extra happy gene. But even happy people get tired.

Today I felt grumpy. Not all day, but I had my moments. I sprained my foot, but it's hard to complain about a little foot pain when I'm married to someone whose entire right side is paralyzed and he's not complaining. At school we're cutting down on electricity by not using heat. I got so cold in my office today I could hardly type and my throat started hurting. But it's hard to complain when people up north don't have an office or home to go to.

We're thankful that today Russ' adult care center resumed service so that he was able to get a warm bath and therapy again. I was able to go to work fully confident that he was well cared for. This step towards our normal routine was very comforting.

My brother reports being able to purchase gasoline today here in Tokyo without a long wait.

More teams from CRASH are being sent into Tohoku with supplies. Since we are not holding regular classes at school until after spring break, our dining hall is temporarily being used as a gathering place for donations.

We are about 250 kilometers away from the struggling nuclear power plant. Radiation levels are reportedly not a problem for adults at this time in our area. We are not overly concerned for ourselves, but do pray for God's mercy.

Tonight our house guest fixed supper for us and did the dishes. That was lovely. It's just plain hard to stay grumpy when we're so spoiled.

Ten Days after the 9.0

I'm cheered by these happenings...

• My sister-in-law rode over on her bicycle and brought us two liters of milk. I haven't seen any for sale for a week, but they sell it in her neighborhood grocery.
• One of my co-workers and her husband spent almost five hours yesterday talking about God and the Bible with a long-time friend, an air traffic controller from the Sendai airport who escaped with his life but has lost everything else.
• God has given the school where I work incredible administrators who are competent, resilient, and innovative. I so appreciated meeting with them today to discuss where we go from here.
• A missionary friend who lives near the nuclear reactor says the last ten days have been the most amazing days of their ministry. They have been difficult to be sure, but also offered unprecedented opportunities as their church has turned into a rescue center.
• I was able to hook up two women who share a native tongue. The younger woman has temporarily relocated near us and needed to debrief with someone in her heart language. The other young woman is mature in her faith and eager to let God use her.

Sunday in Japan

Russ and I appreciated our pastor's sermon this morning. He talked about how God graciously takes what is evil and redeems it for good. We're all conserving gasoline so I was surprised to see the church full. As we walk through this time of crisis in Japan, we have this desperate need to live in community.

This afternoon I had a little rest before cooking for relief workers and then attending a seminar on emotional care for those who have been traumatized. At the seminar I sat by a missionary friend on one side and a sign language interpreter on my other side. The room was filled with Japanese from different generations as well as other Christians from many nations and mission organizations. It is amazing and deeply gratifying to see the church of Japan working together.

I've been so touched to hear how my former students are stepping up to the plate and doing what they can. They've stood on street corners collecting money for relief and offered to pray for people. One talented young adult was just laid off from her job and immediately started using her skills in the relief effort. Our kids are praying. They're volunteering their time. They are doing just what the mission of our school aspires to–Equip students to impact the world for Christ.

Encouraging Signs

As I walked to the grocery store today the sun shone brightly and the fragrance of daphne plants added a spring to my step. I was asked to help cook Mabodofu for the relief volunteers tomorrow so I headed into "Marufuji" with three things on my list (tofu, hamburger, and seasoning). I came out with the very three things I hoped for.

Yesterday I had a different experience. The store that usually is so bright and cheery looked like a third world grocery. Everything looked drab inside with minimal lighting (we're all conserving energy) and many shelves were bare. By today I was already used to the new look and they are restocking some supplies.

I read a message from the Tokyo electric company. Apparently everyone is doing such a good job of conserving energy that many planned blackouts have been canceled. They even encouraged us to protect our health and not be too stingy with our heaters. Since Russ is paralyzed in half his body, it is difficult for him to have the house cold. That encouragement to use our heat was very welcome.

I am well aware that farther north things are much more difficult. I can only report with authority on what I see firsthand. I do have it from a reliable source that supplies are beginning to get through to those in need.

We keep praying about the nuclear power plant. We are concerned for the workers there and those who live nearby. We are well out of the 50-mile radius ourselves, but millions are not.

Tonight we have a couple coming for supper that are temporarily living near us. They were not comfortable in their own apartment. We pray that we will minister to them as we get acquainted and welcome them to our home of peace.

What can I do?

When we hear tragic news such as the earthquakes and tsunamis here in Japan, we want to DO something. I've been wondering what God would have me to do. With Russ' disabilities I'm not free to spend hours volunteering at CRASH, but each of us can do something. Today I figured it out. This is what I can do...

• Pray
• Donate money to CRASH (http://www.crashjapan.com)
• House a CRASH volunteer for the foreseeable future
• Encourage the people God has brought into our lives
• Carry on with my usual responsibilities/ministries

Today that meant helping my sister-in-law with a storytime for preschoolers, having friends in for lunch, making strawberry shortcake for our neighbor, and living this day in hope.

Live Your Life Normally

We are attempting to carry on with life as normally as possible. A number of things make that challenging. Russ' care center doesn't have enough gasoline to pick up patients so he is home all week. The school where I work has switched over to virtual schooling with some activities for students who live close enough to walk or bike to school. I have my work computer at home and am trying to keep up with things as best I can. Tomorrow we plan to have a storytime for preschoolers on campus.

We get news from the American embassy once or twice a day with updates on the nuclear power plant situation, aftershocks, and additional tidal wave possibilities. I feel these reports are a more reliable source than the media. I believe we are not out of danger, but are not necessarily in danger either.

I was walking along outside and heard myself say, "Just live your life normally." I am not in the habit of talking aloud to myself. Did the Holy Spirit prompt me to say those words to speak to me? I think so. We know God does not mean for us to live in fear. We choose to trust Him and believe He will guide us to make wise decisions.

Just as Esther was in the king's household "for such a time as this," we feel God has called us to minister here in Japan at this time. (Esther 4:14) We need your prayers. It's beautiful to see missionaries and Japanese Christians working together for His glory.

CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support, and Hope) is making good progress in their efforts to equip churches in the hardest hit areas to be centers of help and hope. The organization is currently headquartered next door to school and able to use some of our classrooms since we are not holding regular classes. Our students and staff are volunteering. We're housing a volunteer from Hokkaido for an indefinite period of time.

Why is it we have earthquakes whenever I write this blog? Maybe we're getting used to them. I didn't even go stand in the doorway for that one. In the past, one that strong would have sent us for cover. In comparison, it felt quite weak. The Lord willing, we won't get too complacent.

Signs of Life

Everyone is under stress. There is so much uncertainty. The ground keeps shaking. We all react differently to stress. My way of coping is to look for signs of normalcy. This is what I found today.

The daffodils in front of our house are beautiful.



Our city is sprinkled with little farms that have roadside stands. Even with the shortages found in grocery stores, there was produce available at this unattended booth. I plunked in my hundred-yen coin and with great delight carried home a bunch of spinach. Spinach isn't in short supply right now the way other things are, but it was symbolic to me of life as we knew it before the quake.

As I walked by the grocery store this morning a man was speaking to the crowds ready to enter as soon as the doors were opened. He was pleading with them not to run. While many are panicking about food, my spinach lay there placidly waiting to be purchased.


I saw some seniors walking along the road picking up trash. I thanked them for their service in the midst of uncertainty. Our conversation went right to the proverbial, "Where were you when the quake hit?" They were picking up trash and clung to a pole to keep standing. Here they were again picking up trash. We have a beautiful clean city thanks to people like that. It felt so normal to walk behind them...and good.

Thank you, Lord, for my encounters with the familiar today.