One Year Later--March 11, 2012

It's been one year since the earthquake/tsunami/radiation disasters rocked our beloved Japan.

Are we encouraged? Yes. Japanese churches are working together in unprecedented ways and making an impact on their communities. People are coming to Christ. Here's a short article telling what happened after the Franklin Graham Crusade last week. I've heard from several missionaries who are working up in the hardest-hit areas that people have said that many came to help them initially, but it's the Christians who keep coming.

At the same time fear and hopelessness seems to be escalating. I have friends who have moved from place to place trying to find a home where they feel safe. The newspapers published the grim forecast that there is a 70% chance of a major earthquake in Tokyo within the next four years. I just learned that another friend's mother committed suicide in December. They didn't see it coming at all. I was shocked to hear that over 50 people committed suicide within our suburb of only 115,000 people in 2011. 

Please pray that we'll be lights in the darkness. We love these dear people. We will stay here until God leads us away. We live in hope and want to faithfully share that with others.

Embracing Change

I like my routines. A fresh cup of tea with my hearty breakfast daily. Using Saturdays to get things prepared for the week ahead (Russ' medicines distributed, menus planned, groceries purchased, bank statements settled, and bread and yogurt made). And one of my all-time favorites...reading before I go to bed at night so that I'm learning, being entertained, and making it easier to sleep all in one. (Except when I was reading that book on organization. That totally kept me from sleeping as all those great ideas bounced through my brain.)

Sarah Young in Jesus Calling (Feb. 17 reading) says that, "It is easy to make an idol of routine, finding security within the boundaries you build around your life...When you cling to old ways and sameness, you resist My [God's] work within you."

Is. 43:19 reminds us that God is doing a new thing! 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds me that He's making me into a new creation. Here in Tokyo we're making changes in the office where I serve supporting homeschoolers. There may be some loneliness with our staffing reduced to help balance our budget, but I'm excited that when God directs, He equips. Ideas for improving our services are flowing easily. I really think we will support missionaries in outlying areas of Japan better because we're willing to give up some comfortable routines in exchange for new ways of doing things.

Routine and sameness aren't intrinsically bad. I just need to hold everything in an open hand. You too? Is there something you love you need to unlock your grasp on and offer it to Jesus for a makeover?

Dr. Seuss' birthday

Today, March 2, is Dr. Seuss' birthday. It just seemed fitting this morning to make green eggs and ham for breakfast. I like to prepare real food and not use artificial coloring so I made the eggs with spinach and they turned the perfect shade of green. I covered the ham with kiwi so they looked green too. Just in case Russ missed it, I made a little Cat-in-the-Hat hat to decorate the plate. It all tasted great and was fun too.