Asakusa Temple

The other day I was asked to play tour guide to a group of short term missionaries. It was a good chance to sight-see around Tokyo. We went to Asakusa and saw the huge Buddhist Temple. It was hot and rainy, so not the best day to see the sights, but the dreary weather matched my mood. Even though it was beautiful, it was sad to see Japanese honoring someone-something that deserves no honor and seeking help from someone-something that can't offer any help. Unfortunately the other foreneigners taking in the sights joined right in with burning insence, waving smoke, clapping their hands, bowing and even buying prayers of blessings, good luck, and protection.

"Why do the nations say, "Where is their God""

Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases him.

But their idols are silver and gold, made by hands of men.

They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes but they cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk,

nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

Those who walk with them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them."

Psalms 115: 2-8

Quilts in Japan...For Japan

In January my good missionary friend (who taught me to quilt) went with me to the International Tokyo Quilt Show. We rode downtown on the train to the Tokyo Dome which hosted the largest quilt show in the world.
The sheer number of people itself made me tired after just a few hours of walking around (and my friend said it wasn't crowded in comparison to other times). Viewing beautiful handmade quilts was inspiring and a little intimidating. I kept thinking these ladies are quilters...I just quilt. There is a difference.

Almost all Japanese piece and quilt by hand. I like to do my piecing by machine (it's so fast) and then quilt by hand. There is nothing like curling up under a cozy quilt I am working on in the winter while the boys are doing homework or our family is watching TV. Now that it is getting warmer I'd like to get some smaller (and lighter) projects going like table runners. I love this outlet-escape that lets me creat-be creative.
I was so excited to hear about Quilts for Japan. Please take a minute to check out their websight. These women are making and collecting handmade quilts to give to the Japanese victims of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disasters. CRASH Japan (where I volunteer) is helping to pass out these love-filled gifts to needy families that are relocating.

Keep Praying

Even though Japan has lost the spotlight around the world, please don't forget...and keep praying. Here are a few links we wanted to share.

Here is a great Music video made right after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Here is a missionary friend''s blog with detailed newsy updates.

Here is a helpful map with updated statistics to help put things in perspective.

Please pray specifically for our mission, OMF International as we have committed to opening a relief center for 2 years in Iwate (pronounced ee-wa-tey). Praise the Lord for 2 missionary couples offering to work there. This is the least evangelized area in all of Japan, with the fewest missionaries, churches and Japanese Christians. Pray for protection from Satan's attacks and for God's blessing.

This picture was taken by a Japanese Christian of a church in one of the hardest hit areas. Even though their building was greatly damaged, that didn't stop these faithful believers from clearing the rubble, erecting a cross and putting up some chairs to still worship together. Pray God will build his church in Japan!

our new normal

2 months after the March 11 earthquake finds our family getting back to normal...well, our "new normal" which includes life with earthquakes. Even though Japan is a country used to living with earthquakes, the almost constant, good sized quakes these past months have definitely shaken us all up. We were just commenting with relief that we haven't had any for about a week now. A few weeks ago we had 6 out of 8 nights with earthquakes which made us so tired since it was hard to get to sleep or back to sleep after those big jolts.

A teacher at the boy's school said that the kids too are used to the earthquakes. She said the other day while a student was giving a presentation, they had an earthquake. The kids immediately and silently dove under the desks. As soon as it was over everyone got back into their seats and the student just continued his presentation as if nothing ever happened.

Some of the interesting "gadgets" that you will find around our house to help combat the shaking are pictured here. Like I said, Japanese are used to earthquakes and are very prepared. Pictured above is this device that clamps tight between the ceiling and a big cabinet to hold it more secure and keep it from falling over. Pictured below you can see hooks on all of our cabinets in the kitchen. We usually don't lock these as it makes getting food and dishes rather bothersome, but lately they have been shut tight.

Another new normal for me is working at the CRASH Japan headquarters office 3 full days a week. This network of Christians ready to do relief work has become a fast-moving organization reaching out to those affected by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. A friend described the work going on at the CRASH office as building a plane, while it is taking off. I have been really stretched as I help screen and process Japanese Christian volunteers as well as volunteers from around the world. I am thankful for this opportunity that God has given me to be a part of the Christian Relief Assistance, Sharing and Hope that CRASH stands for.
(double click on any picture to see it bigger)

Praying for God to Work

Thank you for your ongoing prayers for Japan. Lately we have been specifically praying that OMF International will know how we as a mission can reach out to these areas hardest hit by the earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear incident.

Many have given generously to OMF's Sendai Earthquake Fund. Pray God will provide Japanese Christians and missionaries to reach out in these needy areas long term. Our missionary friend said that he has never seen rural Japanese from the farming and fishing villages so open and receptive. Click HERE to watch a 4 minute music video that our colleague just made and please share it with others. We are so encouraged and praise God that so many Christians around the globe are praying for Japan!

The Lord is My Way

Please take a moment to watch this 3 minute video HERE . The husband of the HS principle at the boy's school shares about his trip on a CRASH advance team last week to survey one of the most affected areas. We recognize the broken up road shown in the video as the same road in front of the beach that we stay at each summer for a few weeks at OMF's cabin.

Here is a picture from our vacation time last summer near Sendai City. The cabins on the hills were a safe refuge from the tsunami that came flooding into the lower beach areas without warning. Several missionary families were stranded for several days eating stored canned food and drinking melted snow. The fish hatchery, beach hut and houses that you see off in the distance here have all been washed away. Our hearts are heavy as we think of our Christian Japanese friend who worked in a fish hatchery like this one along the coast. His name is still among the missing.

Relief and Sadness

Once on the plane, seated in a comfortable first-class stand-by seat I started to cry. I treasured these few quiet and calm moments; something I hadn't experienced in the past week since the earthquake. A strange mixture of relief and sadness overwhelmed me. How can I feel glad and bad at the same time.

Relief. Relief that the decision was finally made. I would take the kids back to the States for a few weeks until things settled down. No more nerve rattling earthquakes to wake me at night. No more onslaught of news as we tried to make a wise decision back and forth, back and forth. The struggle to process life's turn of events in fact and faith, not fear; yet rumors often confused us. Relief that the kids were safe; at least as safe as we could possibly make them.

Sadness. Sadness that I was leaving my husband behind to be our family's lone rrepresentative in the land whose wealth and wordiness had been shaken and then washed out to sea. How I wanted to comfort and stand by our struggling Japanese believers; to encourage them to call out, along with me, to the God of refuge and strength; who promised help in times of trouble.

If ever Japan needed us, it was now. The desperate opportunities to help in the CRASH office set my heart of mercy on fire. How exciting to be a part of reaching out to the Japanese when they finally felt a need, when the cement wall of self sufficiency around their hearts had cracked. The Japanese were in need, not just for stability, a warm mat, dependable trains, gas or toilet paper, but in need of a God who holds the earth in His Hands and longs to hold their hand as they begin to shift through the rubble of their topsy-turvy world.

Earthquake

Thank you for praying. We are overwhelmed and immensely blessed by so many e-mails and FaceBook messages. Sorry I haven't posted. Life has been a little crazy. I did want to let you know we are ok and summarize our situation here in Tokyo for you.

First of all, we are extremely blessed that our family, house and possessions are safe. The 8.9 M earthquake on Friday and the many big aftershocks have left us feeling pretty wobbly. The earthquake caused a tsunami that hit the northeastern coast of Japan, where most of the pictures and footage you see on the news are taken.

After several big earthquakes on Friday afternoon we had to ride our bikes to the boy's school to pick them up personally since the trains were down. Since our cell phones weren't working, we were so thankful to finally hear they were safe. The school handled the crisis very well and we were thankful that just the day before the students had practicing an earthquake drill.

We have heard of two explosions now at a nuclear plant about 130 miles away, but only those living close by have been evacuated. We'll continue to keep an eye on this situation. Please pray for wisdom and protection.

CRASH (Christian Relief Assistance Support and Hope) is a network of Christians (Japanese and missionaries living in Japan) ready to do relief work. http://www.crashjapan.com/ I attended the first meeting yesterday to see how our mission organization OMF International, as well as our family personally, can be involved in the relief and recover stages. Pray for God's clear leading and open doors to serve and share Christ. OMF has started a Sendai Earthquake Relief fund and more information can be found at this link if you are interested. http://www.omf.org/omf/japan

We have heard about possible power outages here in Tokyo, but haven't experienced anything yet. So far we are thankful to enjoy hot food and warm feet. But today we went shopping and were surprised to see many of the shelves empty. There was no milk, eggs or bottled water. I have to admit it was a little un-nerving. We don't want to panic, but want to be careful and prepared.

Millions of Japanese were stuck in downtown Tokyo on Friday evening and couldn't get home after the earthquake. Like our family, many Japanese in Tokyo don't have a car and rely daily on trains to get around.The trains have been running off and on. Today our station was closed with big gates in front locked shut.

Psalm 46 has come to life for us the past few days. "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though the waters roar and foam; Though the mountains quake at its swelling."

Good luck in, bad luck out

Throwing beans to keep out the evil. This age-old ritual will be occurring in homes, schools and temples all over Japan tomorrow, the day that marks the change of seasons according to the lunar (Chinese) calendar. Below you can see the store display for masks and packages of beans for sale.

At school one of the teachers will come into the classroom wearing a scary mask trying to frighten all the children who in turn throw roasted soybeans or peanuts at him. When our boys were going to Japanese school, we kept them home that day. We didn't want them participating in anything that was to ward off evil spirits. For play or real, it's just another reminder of Satan's evil grasp on this nation.

Happy New Year

Sorry blog world, for the lapse of blog entries. No excuses, just admitting it has been hard to get back in the swing of things after Christmas. I so appreciate that you, dear blog reader, take the time from your busy schedule to read about and pray for our family and ministry. Thank you! I am still committed to updating this blog weekly and I will do my best to keep up; so keep stopping by!

New Year's here in Japan, the biggest "holiday" of the year, has come and gone. Most businesses and small shops are closed from Jan. 1-3 and most Japanese get a week off of work. People return to their "hometown" to visit their parents where a special New Year's food is prepared and time is spent with extended family.

Another aspect of starting the New Year is visiting the Shinto shrine. Even though most Japanese would claim to be Buddhist, there is an interesting mix of Shintoism and even animism, along with the Japanese Folk Buddhism here (very different than the traditional Buddhism found in other Asian countries like Thailand). Japanese visit a Shinto shrine where they pray for blessing and protection for the new year. Even several weeks after the 1st we saw "Shrine Tours" sponsored by the train company where groups were led from one local shrine to the next.

We noticed fresh "offerings" of flowers, fruit, candy and even a glass of water on the small "alter" around the corner of our house (pictured above). Special decorations (pictured below) made of straw, paper and greenery are bought and placed on the front door during the first week of New Year's in hopes of keeping evil spirits from entering the house.

How sad to see so many Japanese around us blinded to the True Giver of protection and blessing! May God's Spirit come upon this country in a fresh, new way this year that they may clearly see the lie they are living and the Truth God's Word offers!

Christmas Outreach

Thank you for praying for our Christmas worship and party at our church last week. Praise the Lord for 20 new people who could hear the gospel for the first time! We were especially blessed to see our church people reaching out to their friends and family who they brought with them.
Our church people did almost all the preparation for invitations, food, games, songs, gifts and skits. Praise the Lord for a warm, friendly atmosphere. Praying God will open the hearts of these new Japanese friends as they heard the real meaning of Christmas!

Smells and Sounds of Christmas

You know it's Christmas time in our house for several reasons. One is that the doorbell is ringing more. How exciting to answer and find the delivery man bearing a package sent all the way across the ocean with Christmas presents and goodies from home. We are blessed and encouraged by our thoughtful family and friends!

Another reason we know it's Christmas is that I am in the kitchen baking. Like I mentioned before, if you want some special cookies or treats you have to make them yourself. I did start about a month ago and was able freeze a few zip lock bags of cookies for our family to have closer to Christmas. Now I am baking for the "Open House" on Saturday in our home. We invited friends and contacts from church. Trusting the Lord to give us a good time of connecting with these dear Christian and non-Christian Japanese friends!

Baptism

Our son wanted to be baptized at the Lighthouse, a place that felt like home to our family since we worked there for 7 years. Our oldest son was also baptized there. It seemed like a near impossibility though since now we were working in a different city at a different church. But God in His goodness allowed our family to be blessed and to bless others through this special day last June.

Since we were already going up to the northern city of Sapporo for our all field Japan conference we were able to stay over the weekend and attend worship on Sunday at this precious church that we helped start 10 years ago. The missionaries now leading this church were very willing to accommodate our request. There were still several young people who showed up at church once in awhile who were original contacts of our family's from our boys going to the local Japanese elementary school. We hoped this baptism would be a great opportunity to invite some of these old friends to church again.

We thank the Lord that several friends came to church that day and heard our son's testimony, which he wrote out himself and then read in Japanese. Many of our church friends said they were blessed and encouraged to hear our 13 year old explain his simple, yet heartfelt faith.

The "baptismal" at the Lighthouse Church is just a free standing tub that is stored in the closet. For a baptism it is moved out into the kitchen and filled with water.

Baptisms in Japan are important since most Japanese don't consider themselves a Christian until they are baptized. Even though we know becoming a Christian is a work of faith by God in a person's heart, we also have come to understand that this outward profession of faith is an important "milestone" for these Japanese believers who often find it hard to be bold about confessing their faith in Jesus to non-Christian family and friends.

Baptisms are a real celebration here in Japan. The worship service is centered around it and the person getting baptized gives a lengthy, testimony of how they came to faith in the Lord and how God has changed their life. In typical Japanese style close friends and church members give the person gifts, flowers or cards. Also friends take pictures together and the whole church has a special potluck meal together after the service.

the Scatterer

As I walked out of the train station, an Asian girl warmly smiled at me. Her big, black Bible inscribed with gold letters held close to her caught my eye. I stopped and asked if she was a Christian, motioning to her Bible. She introduced herself and we talked just a minute about where we lived and how long we've been in Japan. As she affectionately addressed me in her broken English as "Sister Susan" she gave me a tract and we parted ways heading opposite directions. This has never happened to me. I have never received a Gospel tract with a clear salvation message and Scripture verses in all our years of living in Japan.

The first thing I did was check the back of the tract to make sure it wasn't Later Day Saints or Jehovah Witness. You might be surprised that we see quite a few of these here in Japan. You can pin-point Mormons on their bikes wearing white shirts and ties; usually a white faced foreigner and a Japanese labeled with name tags and helmets, always helmets. The JW's also go around in two's and look very proper in their 1950's style hats and gloves as they pass out their Watch Tower pamphlets door to door. Interestingly, the Japanese are rather suspicious of both of these groups. When we share with someone that we are Christians, we quickly clarify that we aren't Jehovah Witnesses or Mormon.

I was challenged that day by my new friend, a Filipino women married to a Japanese and attending a Pentecostal church in Tokyo. Her warmth and friendliness drew me in. Her eagerness to make sure I walked away with a little piece of paper that explained the clear message of the Gospel challenged me. Her easy manner and genuine care made a deep impression.

Even though I wear the label of "missionary" I still find it hard to be bold and forward enough to start a conversation with a stranger or even just hand them a tract. My wonderful husband on the other hand amazes me...or rather God amazes me through him. He has the unmistakable gift of evangelism. Any time non-Christians come onto his radar I see him tune in, looking for a natural way to connect to them. His heart beats for those who have never heard. He can talk easily with people on the train and can share even just a hint of God in his life within a few minutes of conversation with a complete stranger. And the person leaves smiling and blessed, never offended or taken aback.

The Lord is challenging me though. It has been a long process but I think God turned up the intensity last year when I read "The One Thing You Can't do in Heaven". One of the many things I learned in this book was the power of handing out a tract. This is something anyone, even someone like me, can do.

As I read the parable of the 4 soils in Mark recently, God reminded me that I am the farmer. And my simple job is to scatter seeds...and lots of them. It is His job to help that seed take root and it is His responsibility whether fruit comes from my labor or not. I just faithfully scatter.

My tract bearing "angel" challenged me that day...or rather God challenged me through her. He is always working on me, little by little, easing me out of my comfort zone and arming me with boldness and confidence. After all, He is the one who sent me here and He is the one whose work it is. Thankfully He also is the one who will accomplish it, one little seed at a time.

all the way to the top

This past week our family climbed Mt. Fuji. We are so thankful for God giving us this unforgettable memory through this challenging, strenuous and breath-taking (in more ways than one...) experience.
Just driving up to "Station 5" where we started hiking gave us a beautiful view at 2, 305 ft. elevation. We were already walking in the clouds! I think the best thing about the climb was the magnificent view of other mountains, lakes and the green valley below. It was amazing. It felt like you were literally on top of the world.

We started about 7:30 am with our newly bought walking sticks from the souvenir shop. Our friend warned us that we would need them to stable us and also that we would need lots of water, as well as layers of clothes as it gets colder the higher you climb. We were also armed with hats and lots of sunscreen, although our lips and the back of our calves still got pink.
There were a lot of people climbing that day, although not as crowded as it gets in August during the Japanese most traveled holiday of Obon. There were about 7 stations along the way up that sold food, water, snacks and compressed cans of oxygen. (I would definitely use the oxygen next time as we were fighting altitude sickness most of the way up.) The food and water got more expensive as you get closer to the top.

At these stations there are "huts" where you can pay about $80 a person to stay the night. These huts are old, Japanese style with everyone sleeping on futons on a communal woven tatami mat floor. Often people climb part way up and then stay overnight. Others climb during the night so that they can see the sunrise in the morning.
Even though there was a path, it was hard climbing. A lot of black and red lava, gravel, ash and rocks. Many of the Japanese had Nordic walking poles. I can see how this would help steady you, especially on the steep, slippery climb down. We just had tennis shoes, but hiking books would protect your feet and give you more traction. Also, most of the Japanese looked like they had just stepped out of camping catalog since they were outfitted with stylish, brand new packs, boots, and clothes. Most of the other foreigners we ran into were more mismatched like our family. But, hey, we still made it.
Right before the top was a Shinto gate that you pass through with coins all over that people had left. When Tim and the boys got their sticks stamped at the top, the Japanese man offered them a little wooden plaque written with special blessings that supposedly one receives because he has made it to the top. How wonderful to know we receive God's blessing freely out of His goodness and love, not based on our achievements.

When we finally got to the 12, 388 ft. peak it was pretty cold, rainy and windy with thunder bellowing all around as the fog and clouds hovered. We didn't stay too long since we were in shorts and weren't sure that the great weather we had hiked in all day would hold.
Look, after 9 hours of climbing (5 1/2 hours up and 3 hours down) we are still smiling, although extremely exhausted. And yes, are muscles are still sore. What a great feeling though to look up to the top of that mountain and know we were actually there...standing on the very top.