... Really?

OH boy.  More than 2 months since my last post?  I would not blame you for abandoning my blog. 

Let me tell you.  The last 2 months... Incredibly busy.

That probably doesn't need to be stated, but it makes me feel better.

And if it makes you feel better, I already decided on a New Year's Resolution... be a better blogger.  And not to let my inbox get clogged.

But it's just barely hitting December, so I still have a month to slack.  ;)

So... The last two months. 
Retreat, special outreaches, Seminar, lots of admin stuff, trip to America, got engaged, came back, more admin stuff, giving messages, lots of evaluations on getting things to keep accelerating at church, preparation for Christmas play and production, playing bass, reorganizing lifegroups... teaching English...

I don't think that's all, but briefly that's what's happened over the last few months and why I've been away from the blog world.  All these things require a significant amount of my attention too.

Well, it's 11:57pm as I write, and this is all I've got right now.  I think I'll try again next week. 

Sorry my friends.  Don't give up on me yet.   ... :)

Updates and Origami

As I sit here another night in front of the fan and drinking cold water, I'm so thankful that in TWO days, we will hit the 70s and stay there... according to the internet weather forecast. [Yukata day at Fuse!]

Bring on the autumn!

So, last week I got home from Fuse and I just sat here staring at the computer thinking... I seriously doubt I can find the energy to write a blog tonight.  Today I have a bit more... but I'm not promising any cleverness.

For one awesome thing, we've been having new people.  We're doing a lot of inviting.  After lower numbers over the summer, we were kinda down though we continued outreaching and praying and all that.  As I recently heard Becky Hrubik (director of PAZ), pray-- We do care about numbers, because every number means someone who is getting called into the Kingdom of God and being saved.  But we've been seeing new people and following up on them... and praying for more breakthroughs!

I've been pretty busy with a lot of admin stuff at Fuse and trying to help things run smoothly... for it's own sake, but also to really support Mark and Yuiko and take any unnecessary pressure off of Mark.  That way, he can focus on what he really needs to focus on.

We also have a team from Brazil here.  They're here for 6-7 weeks.  They're not here in Tokyo during the week, but are up in Iwaki helping out.  But the two 20-something guys have been helping out with Friday night outreaches and at Fuse.  One of them, Paul, spoke today at Fuse.  So, it's been really cool to have them helping us out.

And on the side, I'm kinda starting an origami business.  It's not super-serious yet, but I do plan on following through to see success with it.  I've been making origami accessories (hair clips/earrings).  They are cute, durable and semi-waterproof.  I'm working on getting my webpage set up, and I recently found out that a friend of a friend will sell them in her beauty salon.  So, I am getting them together to send over.  Anyway, if you're interested, please let me know!  I'll post the page later; with everything that has been going on here in Japan, I've been super busy.  But I'm getting there!

Yawns and Tears...

I am sitting here yawning super big.  Btw, that is very rude to do at work or in meetings in Japan.  You can do it like, on the train or sitting by yourself at a table or something.  But don't do it anywhere else.  In fact, a good sign of being adapted here is when you can "swallow your yawns"... keep your mouth closed while you yawn!  I've seen lots of Japanese do it!

I prefer big yawns myself and bask in them in the privacy of my home.

That was a side note.  But yes, I am tired.  FUSE days are always very long (but good) days.  And since I do service coordinating at FUSE, it means that I'm always answering questions, making sure everyone knows what they're doing, making last minute switches and figuring out details.  I enjoy doing it, but sometimes... oftentimes I'm a bit tired after Life Group and finally making it home!

Today's FUSE covered a bit of things that have been going on this month.   Mark today brought the message about having Great Friendships.  He talked about the building blocks for great relationships being love, communication, trust (commitment) and grace.  When he got to the part about communication, he talked about encouragement and words of hope.  There he mentioned how it has been good for he and his wife to experience the comfort of great friends lately.  Two weeks ago, they lost their expected baby... She was 5 months along, and it was a big blow.  It was really hard for her to translate that part, and most everyone's eyes were filled with tears as Yuiko translated through her own tears about having lost her baby. 

Please pray for them!

They are still recovering.  It takes time, but we are praying for them and trying to support them the best we can and offer that hope that only comes through a relationship with Jesus!

Afterward, we had life group.  My lifegroup was pretty great today!  We continued the talk about friendships and the practicalities of it in life.  We shared from journalling time together, and got to know a new girl who joined lifegroup for the first time.  She still hasn't met Jesus, but we are praying that soon she will!

So, I'm sorry about this month.  We thought it was supposed to be a more relaxed schedule.  But it wasn't!  :)  My first two weeks, I took care of a lot of the responsibilities Mark take care of, since he was in New Zealand, and the last two weeks... well...

Well, I am going to get to bed!!  It's only 8pm, but I'm ready!

Hope you guys have a blessed day!

July

Yeah, July has been busy.  Beside having 2 back-to-back teams for more than the first part of the month, we are in the nice summer heat and humidity.

I also started teaching another couple of classes on Wednesdays, which has made for a lot of preparation work.

Anyway, that's kinda the gist.  We continue on, working.  We've been really going at Street Live (Street Outreach).  Having the break dance team here from California was a huge boost to our efforts.  Not only did they draw along huge crowds, but they were each very passionate about making the most of every opportunity they had, even the ones they didn't have.  In other words, they scheduled more outreach for themselves as a team.  The next team, from Korea, was also very passionate, and typical of Koreans-- they were pray-ers.  We really enjoyed being with them.

So, yeah, since then, we've been really going at street outreach hard, and it gave us an added boost to be more intentional with our opportunities.  Even Tuesday night, I met 2 young college girls, and shared who Jesus is to them, and shared my testimony, all in Japanese.  We finished and Ty asked if there was anything they wanted prayer for.  Nothing specific, but we prayed for them anyhow.  I've been following up with them through texting since then, and I hope to see them on Sunday.

Also, on a side note, I've been reading a book called "Not for Sale" by David B. Batstone.  It's about human trafficking.  I really encourage you to get it, and once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down.  It's very well-written, easy to read, and with stories from those trafficked, the history and tactics of trafficking and the stories of ordinary people doing things to make a difference to stop the suffering of hundreds of thousand, maybe millions of women and children trafficked in this world today.  Don't choose to keep yourself in ignorance.

Well, gotta get running... but hope you find yourself well in this summer season!

Stories

There was so much to be heard this week.  So much to see, so much to do, so much to hear.

On Thursday this week, I was excited to go and work hard in my awesome, borrowed bright-blue jump suit.  We went to a Ramen and Hamburger Joint called the Clock Tower (Tokeidai).  The owner had been running the business for 40+ years.  However, the tsunami waves came in a destroyed much of what was inside and took out a few walls.  I heard earlier teams cleaned out a lot of sand while taking everything outside and dividing the trash. 

I never really thought about that part-- all the sand.  But other teams have spent days at another restaurant trying to clean up dishes and other supplies from sand and oil and otherwise caked stuff.

Anyhow, this owner of the business, who is in his 60s, has decided to have the house destroyed and start over.  When asked what will he do after that, his answer is that he doesn't know.  He will figure that out once all this is taken care of...

As we were going through the piles of things to be thrown away, there were books, photo albums, stuffed animals, clothes.  It was a little disconcerting to be going through someone's stuff like that-- knowing that it wasn't their plan to have all this stuff disposed of in this manner.  However, a few things were salvaged.  Among those things was the deed to the land.  The owner could not find it, and that was one of the things he seemed to be worried about.  However, someone was going through the piles as we were bagging things up to carry to the dumpsters, and found an old, flimsy deed.  Sure enough, it was the deed to his land, and the owner was very happy about that.

On Friday, I was going to finish some painting for the church cabinets housing tools and other manly things.  I had found out on Wednesday that they wanted one done, and on Friday, I planned to do the other cabinet.  Anyhow, while I was finishing the first one, Ijima-san came up to me.  Ijima-san is a man about in his 50s or 60s, I would guess.  He communicated with me that he wanted a sign made for a family that had a fishing business-- for bate.  Anyhow, their house was destroyed, but they are still in business.

So, I got to work on it.  I was really excited to make something for a family.  Ijima-san later told me that he would take me to the family to give it to them.  That was even cooler, because I wasn't expecting it.  Anyway, I finished in the afternoon, full of paint everywhere on me, but happy to have finished something (and with limited paint and brushes (amazingly expensive here, let me tell you... I shouldn't be surprised though) that would bless a family in need. 

Later, Benjamin and Ijima-san and I went to the family's house and delivered the sign.  They were happy to receive it, and we had the chance to chat for a bit about their experience.  They are now living in the addition that they had built on their house.  The original part was built some 100 years ago, in the traditional Japanese style.  Because it would cost so much to rebuild it, they tore it down and are now living in the addition, which has a tarp for a wall and a half.

Their next door neighbor received work from some of the team.  He owns a rice factory, and his machinery was also destroyed.  Only some 5% of it was insured.  He will receive some money from the government and some from the insurance company, but he will have to borrow much in order to restart.  It seems to be the case for many businesses and families.

But the Japanese people go on, and Global Mission Center and the volunteers that all work with them continue to offer hope not only for the current situation, but that hope you need on the inside-- the kind that comes from God.  It is truly amazing to see all the opportunities to serve through this church.  See earlier blogs for more..

Since the beginning, when the earthquake and tsunami first took place, I was impressed by the world's reaction to and support of Japan.  It really touched me.  But on my first night, I stood in a room with people from all over.  From around Japan, from the States, from Canada, from Korea.  From all different churches and backgrounds.

We stood in a circle, and Mori-sensei (the pastor) said, you know-- we come from all over and from different churches, but together we are the church of Jesus here. 

And it's true.  We are the church, the body of Jesus.  And we carry the hope with us-- and the knowledge that we do not face the world alone-- God, who created us, loves us and is with us.

It's easy as time goes by to forget the tragedies that have passed.  Or at least the ones that we don't see everyday.  I probably tend to think that because I don't see it on the news anymore, that everything must be fine. 

But, the people of Japan still hurt and still are affected by the events of March 2011.  There are still families without homes, without jobs, trying to rebuild.  There are still those grieving for lost loved ones and friends.  There are still some very, very difficult situations. 

If you are able to, you can volunteer to help.  Please contact me for more info.  You can pray, because prayer is powerful, even from across the world.  And you can do your part from where you are by offering the hope you have and can find in Christ to the people around you.  You don't have to wait for disaster to strike your area.  You, if you believe in Jesus as your Savior, are the church and you have the hope for all situations of life.

Thank you for your prayers for Japan and encouragement.  The Japanese people need it.

Tsunami Damage

I leave it to this video to tell the story.

More to come, I'm sure.

Global Mission Center

One of the things that I was really impressed with on this trip was the organization of the staff up in Iwaki.  There was so much stuff going on, so many people doing so many things.  And, like I was discussing with a guy from Hawaii that I met there, it was pretty organized but not in the strict, rigid way-- rules, rules, rules!

Instead, after 3 months of doing stuff everyday (except Sundays), the staff who works amazing hard is joyful and can definitely multitask.  The meeting room has signs everywhere, and sheets of things so that they can simply understand what's going on.  The schedule for the day is written on the white board (ha, but only in Japanese-- there's an English version on the board on a piece of paper).  The first thing I did when I got there was sign in, was asked about insurance, and quickly found a room among a few...  At night, the house becomes a maze of places where people are sleeping.  Tim said there are usually 25-60 people there at a time.

At the meeting in the morning, what things are going on that day are discussed and leaders let the volunteers know about how many they will need.  Volunteers decide where they want to participate that day.

Here are some of the opportunities to serve:

-"Gareki" (rubble- new Japanese word for the week)-- there are different projects going on that day. Each day that I went, there were 2 or 3 opportunities.  Sometimes only carpenters are needed.  Sometimes they say that at a particular place there will be hard labor.  But basically, you go and do whatever is needed there.  While I was there, one team was putting up temporary walls at a house/rice factory.  Another was washing dishes and supplies at a traditional Japanese Inn.  The water brought in sand and mixed oil with it. In order to reopen, all the supplies had to be cleaned-- which was pretty hard work.  And then there are teams that clean out houses and divide the trash into burnable, glass, wood, etc. and throw it all away.

-Cafe-- Downstairs at the church, there is a center where those in need can get supplies-- anything from clothes, shoes, diapers, milk, blankets, etc.  But they have to let the people know what they need.  So, while the workers arrange stuff so that the people can come get what they need, there are other workers in the cafe.  Those waiting for supplies for their families sit there and can have some free coffee/tea/cake.  The workers sit down and have conversation with those waiting and listen to them.  This is a great opportunity to share the Gospel and to minister to them.  This is also an important part of disaster relief.  I think another girl who is a hair stylist came in, and gave free hair cuts to people, which is another opportunity to talk.

- Kitchen/Clean Up-- There are also those who stay at the church to make breakfast, lunch and dinner for staff and volunteers.  They also help clean up the bathrooms, living room, and other things.  This is a very daily job!!

-Foot washing-- A couple of times a week (?), people go up in the afternoon to the refugee centers and wash feet, give foot massages to those living there.  This is another opportunity to listen and minister.

-Takidashi-- ...which means giving out food.  So teams will go to some shelter at dinner time, give out food, clean up and sit down to converse with people.  Yup, more opportunities.

-There is more, I think but I can't seem to remember...

So, in case you're wondering-- here's what the day looks like

6am- Devotional (not required, but it's good!)

8am- Breakfast

9am- Morning Meeting (a bit of music, day's events and short prayer time)

10am- Teams head out

4:30pm- ish-- If there's foot washing, you go there...

6pm- Dinner

8pm- Evening Meeting

More blogs to come...

Tsunami damage

Impressions and Stories from Iwaki