And then on the day of Pentecost God fearing people are gathered from so many places (you know, that list of locations that almost every scripture reader inevitably gets tongue twisted on). And the Holy Spirit descends upon them and allows each one of them to hear the good news in their own language. God embraces their diversity, gives them the message of the Gospel in their own tongue, and then presumably sends them back to the places from where they came. It’s the gathering and scattering of God’s people once again.

These tulips open up every morning when the sun rises and wakes them up. Then in the evening they close again.

Morning Tulips

Morning Tulips

Morning Tulips

Morning Tulips

If you go to the bay you can see the water level rising up at high tide and going back down at low tide.

Often the wind will change directions near the mountains, flowing up toward the summit at first and then when it warms up, flowing back down to the flat land below.

It’s almost as if nature itself is breathing in and out, in and out. In some ways the repeated gathering and scattering of God’s people is like a natural rhythmic breathing of the church. God gathers the people and then sends them out, over and over again. So last week God send six individuals from Seattle and one from Chicago to Japan. There they gathered with two more individuals from Tokyo and were sent to Ofunato. Once in Ofunato they gathered with three others who live and serve there. Together each morning and afternoon they were sent out to temporary housing complexes where they gathered with victims of the disaster. Then they returned to base camp where they gathered for prayer, fellowship, and rest. This morning the nine were sent off from Ofunato to return to their homes and back to the people who sent them in the first place.

Gathering, scattering, gathering, scattering… the body of Christ breathing in and out.

Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye

The Ofunato Team

So please pray for those who remain in Ofunato; for Lina, for Chikako, and for Fred. And also please pray for those who will soon be flying back to the U.S. One is already in the air as I write this. The rest will return soon. Please pray that God will continue to gather and scatter God’s people; that the body of Christ will continue to breathe life.

Sakari Station

Back at Grace House we prepared for the day with breakfast and devotions.

Team Devotions

Today our team split into two groups, each of which spent the morning at one temporary housing complex and the afternoon at another. We interacted with the residents, all of whom lost their homes to the tsunamis of 3.11, in an informal and friendly atmosphere, doing little handi-crafts, sharing coffee, tea and refreshments, and enjoying singing and listening to music together. The format is pretty simple and flexible and the purpose is crystal clear. Motivated by the love of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are there to come along-side these people who have endured so much, to show love, to help them rebuild and regain lost community, to lend a listening ear, to offer care when we can, and to proclaim and exude hope no matter what! The funny thing is that we often feel like we are the ones who come away from these encounters as the recipients of rich blessing and profound encouragement.

Crafts

Making friendship bracelets

Crafts

Crafts

Getting to know one another

Small temp housing complex

The afternoon crowd

This lady did it better than any of us

Singing together

Tim’s music

Shakuhachi Hymns

One of the amazing aspects of these encounters is the eagerness with which 3.11 victims want to share their stories. One conversation in particular struck a very deep chord within my heart today. Mrs. K began recalling and describing what she had felt on that day two years ago, when she hurriedly ran from her home completely empty handed. As she stood on higher ground nearby the walls of black water rose up and washed away her home of 35 years. It was so unexpected, so far beyond what she had imagined, that she found herself almost void of emotion as she stood mesmerized by the surreal scene unfolding before her very eyes. She says there were no tears, there was no time for fear or sadness; all she remembers is an almost complete emotional void. The solitary emotion she does recall  is a momentary feeling of thankfulness for the thirty five years she had enjoyed in her house; a thought that crossed her mind as the house was being torn apart and washed away by the roaring seas.

Soon she found herself in an evacuation center but became ill and was diagnosed with pneumonia. After spending several weeks in a hospital she went to her son’s home in Sendai which is about 2-3 hours from Ofunato. When fully recovered she experienced the first wave of pain and sorrow, realizing that she had no home to which she could return. Eventually she got settled in government supplied temporary housing but as time has gone by she has found herself increasingly submerged in a profound confusion between reality and her subconscious memory of a past reality. She repeatedly finds herself unsure of, or mistaken about what she owns and what she no longer owns. She knows most of the contents of her wardrobe and will often find herself planning to wear this piece or that piece of clothing on a particular day. But then she goes to her closet and only then does it dawn on her that she lost every piece of clothing she owned, except what she was wearing. Only now, two years later, is the reality of that loss sinking in. Similarly, she knows the contents of her kitchen well in terms of supplies and utensils. So she will frequently begin to cook something, only to realize half way through the process that she no longer has what she needs to complete that recipe. She left it all behind on March 11th, 2013 and within minutes it was taken from her, never to be returned.

It’s taken two years, but only now is she able to truly mourn her great loss; and yet it is a process that takes place in a surreal realm somewhere between her past reality and her present reality. And through it all what seems to disturb her most right now is the difficulty she has distinguishing between the past and present. While one might expect her memory of the horror of March 11th to be what feels surreal, it really isn’t. Its the present that she must live in every day that feels truly surreal to Mrs. K.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Mt.5:4

Tulips at Grace House

We left Tokyo at 6:45AM and were at Jay and Ellen Haworth’s house by a little after 8:00. They had prepared a wonderful breakfast for the entire team before heading north.

Gourmet Breakfast at the Haworths

The next several hours were spent on the road and by 1:30PM we were in Ichinoseki where we stopped for lunch.

Lunch in Ichinoseki

By mid-afternoon we were on the coast in Kesennuma. We visited the Kesennuma 1st Bible Baptist Church which was completely destroyed by the tsunami, then drove by the harbor where fires burned out of control for two days following the tsunami.

The Kesennuma Sea Wall

Continuing north, we were soon in Rikuzen Takata where we stopped briefly. I don’t have words to express the sorrow and sadness I feel whenever I’m in this city. After two years and more than ten visits, this city is still a place of abject horror and heartbreak for me.

By 7PM we were in Ofunato at our destination, Grace House, which is a base of the 3.11 Iwate Church Network. We will be staying here for the rest of our time and hope to be of service in 8 different temporary housing complexes over the next two days.

One of the news reports that particularly made me smile was about the April 1st entrance ceremonies at Ryori Elementary School. Ryori is a small fishing village on the outskirts of Ofunato, in Iwate Prefecture. I visited Ryori in February of 2012 and was deeply moved by the village folk who responded to a musical performance of a professional singer by singing their own song for her. Those people had all lost their homes and were living in government supplied temporary housing, but they had the good fortune of still being surrounded by friends and family, unlike so many victims who were moved into temporary housing that was far from home and populated by people they didn’t know. In Ryori community is still intact as almost all of the displaced were moved into the same cluster of temporary housing in the playground of the local Jr. High School. Their ability to sing the same songs served as proof that community was still intact. Here is a link to the video of that moment.

The last two engagements I had in Colorado before returning to Tokyo were at the University of Colorado, Boulder and Colorado College. In both instances I talked about the effects of broken community, and the ways in which we have tried to help Tohoku victims rebuild some sense of community. I shared the story of these people in Ryori as an example of community that was still intact. But I was asked a question about the young people of this town because all the people in the video are senior citizens. And that’s why I was so happy to hear the report in yesterday’s news about Ryori Elementary school. Unlike the Junior High School that sits on higher ground, the elementary school was heavily damaged by the tsunamis of 3.11 and it took several months for repairs to be completed. But finally in April of 2012 and then again yesterday they were able to hold entrance ceremonies. And these are no ordinary entrance ceremonies. In the town of Ryori the 6 year old kids celebrating their entrance into elementary school always do so in traditional Japanese dress. This year there were 17 new first graders, the girls wearing bright colors and the boys in the ever so cool black and gray haori and hakama. In a town that has been battered and beaten this was just one more sign that they are going to be O.K. Take a look at these proud little first graders in this news video.

In the NSKK (Japan Covenant Church) we have started the new year by recommitting ourselves to the ongoing Christ-centered work of mercy, compassion and justice in the ravaged disaster zones of Tohoku. Please remember the people of Tohoku in your prayers and join us in giving thanks to God for the signs of recovery and new beginnings.

The alarm woke me at 3:25AM. A quick shower, short drive to the airport and I was there by 4:25AM, ready to encounter the tedious side of sequestration. I guess word of the cuts in TSA staff hasn’t made it to our fair city at the foot of Pikes Peak but whose complaining? I zipped thru security with the obligatory shedding of my shoes and emptying of my pockets and was at the gate with loads of time to spare. News of the predicted snow storm apparently didn’t reach our city either so everything was clicking along in a timely fashion. But alas, trying to load 82 passengers into an 80 passenger regional (i.e. designed for people 5′ 8″ and shorter)  jet does present some tricks and by the time we got our wings de-iced we were about 30 minutes behind schedule. Normally that wouldn’t present a problem, but my layover in D.C. was only 45 minutes. Oh oh!

As we approached Dulles I scanned the skyline for familiar landmarks of the capital but saw nothing of the sort. Oh well; I guess the life size cutout of Mr. Obama welcoming us to terminal C was enough. Except that boarding for my next flight was beginning right about the time we touched down! No worries. I’ve been on enough of these flights to know that regional  (i.e. designed for people 5’8″ and shorter) jets are usually clustered at the far end of terminal Q or whatever so my transfer would probably involve just a few quick steps to the next gate. I hurriedly deplaned and asked the first agent I saw for a gate number for my next flight. I struggled to decipher the thick accent but definitely thought I heard “gate A… something”. “Terminal A??” “Yes sir, A… something”. Oh man! Time to start running. I began my trot, following signs for terminal A, but when you’re at the far end of the terminal it can make for a fairly substantial trot. I nodded to the life sized cutout but didn’t detect any response so I just kept my eyes fixed on the signs pointing to terminal A.

This is where it started to get weird. I saw something about a shuttle to terminal A and followed the signs thru a doorway and found myself in a vehicle unlike any I’ve ever seen before. Sort of like an over sized bus that pulls right up to the terminal gate like an airplane. Soon it started to move, pulling away from the gate and winding its way between airplanes, fuel trucks and luggage carts. Gazing out the window I saw more of these shuttles doing the same thing and couldn’t help but recall scenes of transporter pods from movies like Avatar or Matrix. Definitely the most unique vehicle I’ve ever ridden. In a few short minutes we arrived at another building and exited the transporter pod only a few gates from my destination. I got to the gate just as boarding was finishing up. Wouldn’t you know it! Another regional  (i.e. designed for people 5’8″ and shorter) jet. As I walked across the tarmac I noticed that it was a lot warmer than Colorado Springs. (Where am I now…?)

As we took off I once again scanned the horizon for any familiar sights of the nation’s capital but saw not so much as a hint. And we were airborne. Bye bye Washington D.C.! Several hours later I am comfortably settled on the shores of Lake Erie in Ashtabula, Ohio, getting ready for tomorrow’s sermon. But seriously! Where was I today?

As much as I think legalized abortion is a horrific tragedy that violates the sanctity of life, until I see a politician willing to put the full force of government behind not just changing laws, but actually addressing the social ills that lead so many women to the heartbreaking point of choosing to terminate their pregnancies and give up on their unborn children I refuse to let that single issue determine my vote. Why is it that every politician I’ve ever heard speak out against abortion refuses to address the deeper causes that lead to this tragic loss of life? And why is it that every politician willing to address those underlying issues seems to frame the legality of abortion question in terms of “choice” rather than “life”? I think both sides fail on this subject!

As for the economy, I’m no expert, but I do think Obama inherited the toughest job of any president in recent history when he took office in 2008 and in some ways it doesn’t surprise me that the recovery is going so slowly. But to hear Romney talk about going back to the policies of Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. and suggest that this is a new direction just doesn’t make any sense to me. Those were the years when the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. How can that be good for the country?

There are plenty of other issues, but in the end I find myself coming back to scripture. Over and over again God’s word reminds us of how much God hates it when people and especially nations fail to care for the weak, the needy, the sick and the foreigners in our midst. On every one of these fronts I find the policies and values of the right wing profoundly offensive. I’m not suggesting that those people aren’t compassionate or caring, but the policies put forth by Romney on these fronts don’t suggest that he really believes that a nation is responsible or will be held accountable for how it treats these people. Of course, I’m fully aware that there are just as many greedy, selfish and uncompassionate democrats as there are republicans, but at least the fundamental understanding of government as put forth by Obama suggests that he takes the scriptural directives mentioned above very seriously.

And I guess I can’t finish these thoughts without making some reference to the question of the personal faith of the candidates. Obama is a confessing follower of Jesus, and that is something to which I can relate very closely. Romney, on the other hand is a confessing Mormon. As much as I would like to say that the presidency is a political job and personal faith shouldn’t be a front burner issue, I have to be honest and confess that I have serious reservations about a Mormon president. I guess what bugs me more than anything else is the way he tries to hide his faith and somehow sell himself as being a Christian. He hardly ever uses the word Mormon in public and is constantly making comments about how we all worship the same God, are children of the same God etc. Frankly, I wish he would just come out and admit that he isn’t a Christian and believes that Christianity has it all wrong. I wish he would publicly highlight the fact that he believes that the Book of Mormon is the inspired word of God and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. But instead he intentionally blurs the lines and tries to look, sound and act like any other Christian when he’s in the public spotlight. To me that is just plain dishonest. I would be more likely to support a Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu presidential candidate if I agreed with their political stance because at least I know they would own up to the fact that they are believers of a different religion.

But whether I’m relieved or not, I think the most important thing I can do now is to pray; to pray for the president, to pray for the government, to pray for the nation and especially to pray for those who are suffering, those who are needy, those who are unaccepted outsiders, those who are marginalized, those whose lives aren’t valued, and those who are disenfranchised. Jesus cares about them and reaches out to them. As one of his followers I hope and pray for the courage to do likewise.

Today we got new stamps in our passport that indicate our status as permanent residents, and we received new residence cards that look quite similar to the old registration cards. But I immediately noticed a couple of differences. First, under the item “status” it no longer says “religious” but rather it says “Permanent Resident”. And even more noticeably, there is a line for “period of stay” which would normally show when we were required to leave the country. But on our new cards those spaces are filled with asterisks. In other words, the place that shows the date when we are required to leave Japan is conspicuously blank! It still hasn’t really sunk in yet, but as far as the Japanese government is concerned we can apparently stay here as long as we like! Of course we are free to leave whenever we want as well, and if we keep our paperwork current we can leave Japan for as long as five years at a time without losing our permanent resident status.

In some ways it may just be the natural result of how God has led us and our families. Hydi’s paternal grandfather first came to Japan as a German missionary in 1928, serving under the Liebenzeller Mission. His bride to be followed a few years later. Then Hydi’s parents came to Japan as missionaries in 1961 serving with The Evangelical Alliance Mission. My parents came to Japan as ECC missionaries in 1955. Hydi’s father was born in Japan. So were her sisters and so was she. I was also born in Japan in 1962 as was my older sister. Hydi and I have been missionaries here since 1993 and two of our three children were born here as well.

We still haven’t fully figured out all of the ramifications of our new status but are thankful that God has allowed this to proceed. The only remaining glitch is that Hydi and Eli will need to make a quick trip back to Japan to pick up their new status some time in the next few weeks. It’s a stretch for us financially, but we’ve been working on this too long to let it slip through our fingers now!

Of course when I hear the words “permanent resident” I’m reminded of Jesus’ parable about the rich fool or the words of James 4:13-15. We are here only because God has seen fit to allow it. No card or passport or legal status can ever change that fact! We hope to remain here as long as God wants us to continue in this work. And we are confident that God will make God’s will clear to us, and more importantly that we will have hearts and minds that are open to whatever God desires of us and for us.

I have no idea whether our parents or Hydi’s grand parents ever imagined that we would become permanent residents in this country. But I do know that God worked in and through their lives to bless many because they were open and willing to respond when they heard the call. Our lives here in Japan are no coincidence! And for that we are humbly grateful!

The bottom line is that there is so much to do that we could keep volunteer teams busy for a long time. But in the end our goal is to communicate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ to these needy people. The beautiful part is that God opens doors in so many ways. We are continually amazed at how open and friendly these “victims” are. Serving them is always a blessing!

Friday is a travel day with the long drive back to Tokyo. Then Saturday it’s time for the Newsong team to fly back home. I don’t have any clever words to conclude this trip but it truly was a joy to watch this team, to work with this team, and to serve with this team. God is doing a great thing in Tohoku! “Sing unto the Lord a new song!”

Stephen painting in the kitchen

Shinji takes his turn with the paint roller

Hard at work

Carpentry

Painting

Another group from our team spent the morning shopping and baking cakes. In the afternoon they visited yet another temporary housing area and did crafts with the elderly women. Even though many of our team members don’t speak Japanese they found that  something as simple as making  a lanyard key chain can often lead to wonderful encounters and friendships.

The third team stayed at base camp and did general maintenance and carpentry work. The network has only had this base camp for a few weeks but it clearly needs some love and attention as it was severely damaged by the tsunami and hasn’t been lived in since. By the time we came home in the afternoon there was a new floor in the entrance area, several new sliding doors between rooms and even some crown molding on the ceiling! Tomorrow we will once again be split up into several teams as we seek more opportunities to share Christ’s love with the people of Ofunato.

Carpentry work

Jeff really "getting into" his work!

Building shelves

Carpentry work

Tomorrow will be our last work day in Tohoku! Please pray for safety and for divinely inspired encounters.